Number 182: Alphaville - Big In Japan

I am a huge Alphaville fan. Let's get that out of the way straight off. I still buy each album Marian Gold and company release (yes, Alphaville is still around). Germany's finest New Wave outfit scored a string of hits throughout the decade of the 80s, the first of which was "Big In Japan", from their 1984 debut album Forever Young. Just listen to that driving beat and those layered analog synths. A great song that gets the #182 spot on my own personal Top 200.

Number 183: The Fixx - Red Skies

I grew up in the late 70s and 80s, and the threat of nuclear war between the superpowers - the United States and the Soviet Union - was always present. Cold War nostalgia is now a thing, but back then it was no laughing matter. "Red Skies" by Cy Curnin's band The Fixx is about this ever-present menace hanging over everyone's lives at the time. The Fixx had a string of hits during the 80s, and we'll see them again before we hit #1 on this list. For now, "Red Skies" comes in at #183 on this Top 200.

Number 184: Planet P Project - Why Me

Tony Carey, who continues to produce music today, named his early-80s experimental New Wave band "Planet P" after the bug-infested world in Heinlein's Starship Troopers novel (and Paul Verhoeven's excellent 1997 film). That fact alone is all kinds of awesome. The lead single from their 1983 LP Planet P Project was "Why Me?" a song that does a good job getting across the absolute loneliness and anxiety an astronaut waiting for launch must feel. With an awesome combination of synths and electric guitar, "Why Me" nabs the #184 slot on my Top 200 list.

Bonus! Just because.

Number 185: Peter Baumann - Be Mine

I was too young to be aware of German group Tangerine Dream during their heyday in the mid- to late-70s. In fact, my cognizance of that synth-based experimental group was limited to the theme song from the 80s action series Streethawk, of which I was a committed viewer. One of the driving creative forces behind Tangerine Dream in the mid-70s was Peter Baumann, who went on to a successful solo career after he left the band in 1979. His seminal 1983 album Strangers In The Night spawned two singles, one of which was "Be Mine". I have this great New Wave song slotted in at #185, and we will see the other song later on this list.

Number 186: Spoons - When Time Turns Around

I don't think it's a stretch at all to declare the Spoons to be the greatest Canadian New Wave band of all time. Gordon Deppe and Sandy Horne produced some absolute classic music during the 80s and have multiple entries on this Top 200. By 1988, however, the genre was fading in popularity, and the group changed their sound for the Vertigo Tango album, infusing it with more of a rock vibe. The resulting LP was one of their best, and lead-off single "When Time Turns Around" marked their return to the Canadian charts. I have it at #186 on my list.

Number 187: Dial M - Secret Sound

Dial M - consisting of Mike Kapitan and Mark Maier - only produced one full-length album (their self-titled 1983 LP). Chart success eluded them, which is strange when you listen to this single. It sounds innovative and fresh, different even than other synthpop appearing at the time. We all know bands form and split up for all sorts of reasons, from personal conflicts to musical differences and everything in between. We can only speculate why Dial M didn't last. In any case, their "Secret Sound" has a sparse and haunting quality, and makes my list at #187.

Number 188: SSQ - Synthicide

Stacey Swain's short-lived SSQ project would release only one album, 1983's Playback. Three singles were released, but "Synthicide" was the only one to crack the charts. The video got solid airplay on MTV in the USA and MuchMusic in Canada, but the LP failed to catch on and the group soon changed their name to Stacey Q, focused attention on their lead singer, and turned musically into a dance-pop outfit (they had a hit with "Two Of Hearts" in 1986). But it's "Synthicide" that represents their best sound in my opinion, and gets them to #188 on my Top 200.

Number 189: Nik Kershaw - Dark Glasses

"Wouldn't It Be Good" and "The Riddle" may be Nik Kershaw's biggest hits, but in my opinion his best song is this one, from his 1984 debut LP Human Racing. Kershaw had an up-and-down career, from obscurity to headlining Live Aid and back to obscurity again. One thing that never changed, however, was his songwriting ability, which still has him in high demand today. "Dark Glasses" tells the story of a policeman or soldier who, while following his orders, reminds people that he has his own opinions and feelings. It's a great mid-tempo New Wave tune and hits #189 on my Top 200.

Number 190: The Cure - Just Like Heaven

Robert Smith and the Cure for me epitomized "alternative" in the 80s. They released many excellent songs during the decade. That having been said, I was never a gigantic Cure fan. I found their music, like Morrissey's, somewhat of a downer. This wasn't music to listen to on a sunny day. Well, maybe with the exception of "Friday I'm in Love" (but that's from the 90s). It's 1987's "Just Like Heaven" that marks the first appearance of the Cure on this list at #190. The first, but not the last.

Number 191: Ultravox - Sweet Surrender

I generally prefer the John Foxx version of Ultravox, although Midge Ure is a great frontman as well. By the time of 1986's U-Vox album, they heydey of the band was behind them chart-wise. They released three singles from that LP, but not "Sweet Surrender", one of several Midge-era Ultravox songs on this Top 200 list. I suppose the A&R people at the record companies know best, but I still say this song should have been the first release off U-Vox. I'm slotting it in at #191.

Number 192: David Bowie - Blue Jean

I've never been a huge David Bowie fan. I know he's a legend, I know everyone from Duran Duran to The Cure have been inspired by him. Maybe I was born a bit too late to really appreciate his music. Growing up I was mostly aware of Bowie from the appearance of his Let's Dance album in 1983, which contained "Modern Love" and "Let's Dance", both of which missed inclusion on this Top 200. The next year, the Tonight LP gave us "Blue Jean", which is my favorite David Bowie song. It reached the top 10 on the US hot 100, and I have it at #192 on my own personal list.

Number 193: Paul Young - I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

One of several remakes on my Top 200, "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" also marks the only appearance of Paul Young on this list. This song straddles the line between New Wave and pop (okay, maybe it steps right over it), but I have an affection for it that demanded its inclusion. And that bassline! Man, that bassline. Released in 1984 on his album The Secret of Association, "Playhouse" reached the top 10 in numerous countries across the world. It sits at #193 here.

Number 194: Images In Vogue - Lust For Love

More great New Wave from Canada. 1985 saw the release of Images In Vogue's debut full-length album, In The House, which contained "Lust For Love", a song that had been written two years earlier. With its driving beat, great analog synth sounds, and creepy murder-mystery video (complete with courtroom scenes and a real tarantula), it hit the Canadian top 10. I've got it slotted into my countdown at #194.


 

Number 195: Mi-Sex - Computer Games

Can you imagine what this sounded like in October, 1979? Talk about freaking out the squares. Both disco lovers and punk fans must have had their minds totally blown. Mi-Sex hail from New Zealand and these guys were years ahead of their time. They released four albums from 1979 to 1986, including Graffiti Crimes, the LP that contained "Computer Games". I love the great analog syth melodies and the inscrutable, odd lyrics. A fitting tune to listen to any time you are busy fidgeting with the digit dots. #195 with a bullet!

Number 196: Platinum Blonde - Situation Critical

More Canadian New Wave! Platinum Blonde have multiple entries on this Top 200, and this is their first. "Situation Critical" hit the airwaves in 1985, the second single released from the band's blockbuster Alien Shores LP. It rocketed into the Canadian top 10, making it their second straight song to do so. With "Situation Critical", Mark Holmes and crew take spot #196 on my Top 200.

Number 197: Red 7 - The Way

Their best-known song is "Heartbeat" from the movie Manhunter, but 1985's "The Way" is my favorite Red 7 tune. I like how the drums and the synths work together, and the vocals on the verses are great. The entire song leans 80s-rock, without the worst excesses that the term "80s-rock" invokes. At least there are no long guitar solos. Anyway, Red 7 disappeared after a short career, but press play above to enjoy their only appearance on this Top 200 countdown.

Number 198: Rational Youth - Saturdays In Silesia

Here comes our first Canadian entry. At #198 we find Rational Youth's "Saturdays In Silesia", released in April 1982. A pure synthpop tune that reminds me of Vince Clarke-era Depeche Mode. The album, Cold War Night Life, is awesome, start to finish. 

Rational Youth's original lineup didn't last long, but they lasted long enough to make my Top 200 list, so that's something, right? As the band says, "we don't have much, but what we got we're gonna keep."

Number 199: Scritti Politti - Perfect Way

I don't know much about Green Gartside's band Scritti Politti. I remember listening to all their material and not really liking much of it. I'm a fussy person, I guess. I'm not one of those people who finds something to like about every artist. I'm sure these guys have legions of fans who would break out the pitchforks for me, but this is the only song by Scritti Politti on my WinAmp playlist (yes, I still use WinAmp). Their other hit, "Wood Beez", is terrible. "Perfect Way", however, has a bouncing backbeat and Gartsides's light-as-air vocals, bordering on falsetto in places. It's a nice combination and the synths weave through it with a breezy insistence. A minor hit in 1985, it hits my list at #199.

Number 200: Baltimora - Living In The Background

We start things off with Jimmy McShane and crew, who enjoyed vast European success but are best known this side of the pond for the single "Tarzan Boy", also on this album and also on this Top 200 countdown. "Living In The Background" (from 1985) is, in my opinion, their second-best song. I like the quirky guitar and the placid synths and drums. It's a mellow tune, nothing spectacular, but I'd rather listen to this than thousands of other songs, so here it sits, anchoring our whole countdown at #200. While McShane has unfortunately left us, he achieved fame in Europe and at least made a couple of minor splashes here in North America. Although "Woody Boogie" and "Jukebox Boy" didn't quite make my top 200.

A Welcome And An Explanation

Welcome! Marc D here. I will be your guide to my top 200 songs.

"Top 200 songs?" I hear you ask. "What top 200 songs?!" Well...as I said, my top 200 songs.

Not exactly top 200 New Wave songs. Not exactly top 200 synthpop songs. Absolutely not top 200 '80s songs. But some of all three of those things.

These are the top 200 songs that I like. That's all. After you see the whole list, and read my comments, all I can promise is that you will know what kind of music I listen to and appreciate. I make no claims beyond that.

A few disclaimers before we begin.

First, I like a lot more music besides the songs on this list. I like 80s pop, some 90s pop, some 2000s pop, some (very little) 2010s pop. I have an odd penchant for early 90s techno and rap. None of that is included on this list (except for some fringe 80s pop, I guess).

Second, as I said I am Canadian. Some of these songs will be unknown to US readers. I encourage US readers to check out some of the excellent New Wave that came out of Canada in the 80s. The country was second only to the UK in my opinion in terms of great New Wave output.

200 songs. 134 different artists. Ranked from the bottom up. It begins now. Hope you like it!