How New Wave Ruled The 1980's

Hello All! Just wanted to correct something. In the Roxy Music section I mention that Brian Eno produced David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy which he did not do. While Eno was a heavy collaborator, songwriter, and influence on the sound and style of those albums he technically does not have a producer credit. The producer credit goes to Tony Visconti. Apologies for any confusion

I was 20 years old in 1980, and started working at a record store. Music was my life for the following decades. I was so into New Wave, and it's still my favorite genre of music all these years later. I was able to see many of these bands live at the time, and I cherish the memories. It warms my old black heart to see a thoughtful video essay about my lifelong favorite music. I think anyone interested in getting into New Wave should make a playlist of all the songs you featured as a starting point. Great job on the essay, you have a new subscriber.

Thanks for mentioning A Flock of Seagulls in a good light. The band has been unfairly labeled a one hit wonder . Go beyond the haircuts and you'll discover their first three albums are actually quite good.

Today is my 61st birthday. One of the only things I enjoy about growing older is this type of retrospective - hearing thoughts from a modern perspective on pop culture from back in "my" day. Their legacies, their places in history. It's a feeling of having one foot in the past and one in the future. The 80s really were a fun time to be young. Fashion was ridiculous, music was exciting, there was a "do your own thing" vibe in the air, and it seemed like something fresh and new to see or hear would pop up all the time. I remember going to Record World and buying record albums of bands that I'd seen on MTV (later cassette tapes for my boombox and Walkman!) I really can't describe how exciting it was to discover people like Prince, U2, Blondie, the Police, and so many others. Then again, all young people know that feeling - when you branch out from music you grew up with to music that you're discovering on your own, but not only that - you're discovering who you are in part through that music. Thank you for the walk down memory lane; this was a well researched and enjoyable video, and I'm going to check out your post-punk video next.

Watched it right to the very end. I’m 61, and lived through all this glorious music! Great video!

Adam And The Ants, Bow Wow Wow, The Police, Blondie, The B-52’s, The Human League, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Soft Cell, Duran Duran, Tears For Fears, The Go-Go’s, Missing Persons, Talking Heads, Devo, Psychedelic Furs, Culture Club, Grace Jones, Prince and The Revolution, Haircut 100, The Fixx, JoBoxers, Depeche Mode, ABC, INXS to name a few were one of my favorite new wave bands and artists.

Some mention of Sparks (another group dating from the 70s glam era that were highly influential on this genre) and Oingo Boingo (Elfman's old group before he turned to movie scoring) would have been in order. Also, no mention of KROQ. That's a radio station in Los Angeles that was playing THIS music even when nothing else was, including MTV, and was secretly instrumental in launching it into American popular consciousness.

I was a teenager in the 80's . This was very special to me . Thanks

Missing Persons, Smithereens, Talking Heads, The Fixx, OMD, The Go-Go's, Tears for Fears, The Cure All good stuff

It's amazing how you can talk in depth about a musical genre you weren't even born to appreciate when it was around. Trust me; it was a brilliant time musically to be alive. many of those acts are in their 60s and 70s now and still have it.

New wave is basically Punks that went to college and got nerdy.

Truly a great era in modern music history. Besides having a cool and novel musical sound these groups seemed to have a real sense of style and theatricality and were often good performers as well as musicians. A movement in which imagination and pioneer spirit truly abounded and ruled the scene.

From someone who lived through this time you did any excellent job.

I love it when the algorithm serves up gold like this.

Just as I was thinking to myself "no one ever mentions Aztec Camera in videos about New Wave history"...but then you DID! They are my absolute favourite, but they're so often overlooked. Roddy Frame is a ridiculously talented songwriter. He was a guitar prodigy, too! I still have all of Aztec Camera and RF's solo stuff on heavy rotation in my home/car!

In the 80s, New Wave was what you listened to when you weren't listening to Hair Bands, Rap, Club Music, actual Punk, or any indescribable sound which there were many...and trying to decide what you liked more! 80s had so many genres at once it was a feast for the ears and tickled any taste. I guarantee anyone not familiar with the real diversity of sound then would find a dozen or more artists they'd fall madly in love with.

duran duran will always be number one in my heart but i also LOVE LOVE LOVE til tuesday, missing persons, the go go's and adam ant also dude this video was really good. appreciate it keep doing it !!!!

The Ramones performed on the Sha Na Na show once. Bowser called them new wave. Punk was seen as a dirty word, so the mainstream media and radio between 79-81 were calling everything new wave. Even the Dead Kennedys were labeled new wave. As the 80s wore on, new wave adjacent bands (goth, industrial, post punk) along with hardcore and post-hardcore punk, jangle pop, noise, and early dream pop became the backbone of UK indie and American college radio. The original alternative music scene.

This is a fantastic well put together video/documentary, well done 👍

Songs From The Big Chair is the greatest pop album ever made, great video!