Best of 80s synth pop

Bulldog · 03-10-2010, 07:10 AM

I've rattled on about Scritti Politti's Cupid & Psyche a few times before here, which isn't strictly synth-pop (there's a lot more funk in there than usual), but it'd be my favourite 80s pop album if it weren't for the Human League.

There aren't many videos of it on youtube, so here are some LastFM links...

Small Talk
Perfect Way
Lover To Fall

scottsy · 03-13-2010, 07:54 PM

I dunno, i think Depeche Mode and New Order were churning out some pretty awesome synth pop all through the eighties.... I know I'd definitely take anything by them from that era, for sure...

Guybrush · 03-13-2010, 08:02 PM

This one is rather memorable to me .. Sandra's "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena", most successful single in Norway, 1985

For added trivia, she was also married to the Enigma guy, Michael Cretu. She was widely popular here in Europe, but have you americans heard this one before?

scottsy · 03-13-2010, 08:13 PM

She had Keytar player too, which puts her at the forefront of all things "80's" and "synth"...

Liljagare · 03-16-2010, 12:29 AM

Ultravox should have a mention as well here. One of my favorite synth bands.

Flock of Seagulls as well.

Sweet Jane · 03-21-2010, 09:33 AM

Listen to Japan.

jackhammer · 03-26-2010, 09:15 PM

What a track:

ikvat · 03-27-2010, 05:39 PM

Neapolitan · 03-28-2010, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

My NEXT synth pop song for your thread IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS OF ALL TIME!!!! Peter Schilling's "Major Tom." Since Peter Schilling is supposed to be a synthpop musician, I hope this song counts!

I like both the German and English versions of "Major Tom." I could listen to this song again and again. I remember being in a high-rise hotel in Kenya in Nairobi when this song came on a radio station. I was ecstatic! It seemed very surreal to hear the song there.

Why do I love this song? I love the hard driving beat and the synth sounds, the story, the gritty rhythm guitar, the bursts of guitar chords, the feeling of suspense, the smooth, silky vocals, and the angelic-feeling chorus that sweeps me away.

When I listen to this song, I always feel like an astronaut looking down on my beloved earth, feeling the distance from my human family (all you folks) growing, growing, growing...ending in the apparent final isolation of a single human life. I don't get how the protagonist can end up alive, though. Where does he come home to in space? What does this mean? I ponder...

Peter Schilling - "Major Tom" (1983) (English):
Peter Schilling - "Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)" (1983) (German):

Dass ist sehr gute Musik, ja!? You stolen my thunder, I was going to say pretty much everything you said, except the part about hotel in Nairobi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

Since I'm norwegian, I should of course mention A-Ha. Take on Me from their album "Hunting High and Low", while not as good as the title track, might just be the definitive synth pop song for me.

Another song I was going to pick. I thought it was a pretty good debut album altogether, don't you think?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liljagare

Flock of Seagulls as well.

I wanted to lead off with this song, it's one of my all-time favorite songs including all genres. I think it's one of the best Love songs of the 80's. (That's what we need, more Synth-Torch song, if there's such a thing.)

I really don't know the diffence nuances between calling something New Wave, Synth Pop or 80's Pop.
I love Missing Persons, they were one of the best bands in the 80's with an errie futuristic synth sound. There were a couple of songs I was thinking of posting by The Fixx, hard to choice from, so I went with Red Skies at Night. The Motels are a great band, this song isn't too synthy; it sounds more like a synth imitating a Fender Rhodes, but overall it's still a great song. INXS Don't Change (I hope it's not to overplayed for anyone) I still like and think it's one of those songs that defined 80's music.

scottsy · 03-28-2010, 10:56 AM

I TOTALLY forgot about INXS 's Don't Change... it's actually quite an amazingly tuneful melodic song, definitely one of the best things they did pre - fame / big bucks... sounds a bit like some of the Church's earlier stuff, probably why i like it.... hehehehehe

03-13-2010, 07:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
scottsy Untalented Drummer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sussex, Wisconsin Posts: 2,900	I dunno, i think Depeche Mode and New Order were churning out some pretty awesome synth pop all through the eighties.... I know I'd definitely take anything by them from that era, for sure... __________________ "If you're like me, then it's possible you're a clone generated from my stolen DNA. I suggest you turn yourself in for destruction immediately" - Shaun Micallef.

03-13-2010, 08:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	This one is rather memorable to me .. Sandra's "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena", most successful single in Norway, 1985 For added trivia, she was also married to the Enigma guy, Michael Cretu. She was widely popular here in Europe, but have you americans heard this one before? __________________ Something Completely Different

03-13-2010, 08:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
scottsy Untalented Drummer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sussex, Wisconsin Posts: 2,900	She had Keytar player too, which puts her at the forefront of all things "80's" and "synth"... __________________ "If you're like me, then it's possible you're a clone generated from my stolen DNA. I suggest you turn yourself in for destruction immediately" - Shaun Micallef.

03-16-2010, 12:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
Liljagare Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sweden Posts: 182	Ultravox should have a mention as well here. One of my favorite synth bands. Flock of Seagulls as well. Last edited by Liljagare; 03-16-2010 at 12:36 AM.

03-21-2010, 09:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
Sweet Jane Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 547	Listen to Japan. __________________ Calvin: "Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbes: "I'm not sure that man needs the help."

03-10-2010, 07:10 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	I've rattled on about Scritti Politti's Cupid & Psyche a few times before here, which isn't strictly synth-pop (there's a lot more funk in there than usual), but it'd be my favourite 80s pop album if it weren't for the Human League. There aren't many videos of it on youtube, so here are some LastFM links... Small Talk Perfect Way Lover To Fall

03-26-2010, 09:15 PM	#17 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	What a track: __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

03-27-2010, 05:39 PM	#18 (permalink)
ikvat Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 625	__________________ But who cares ?

03-28-2010, 10:56 AM	#20 (permalink)
scottsy Untalented Drummer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sussex, Wisconsin Posts: 2,900	I TOTALLY forgot about INXS 's Don't Change... it's actually quite an amazingly tuneful melodic song, definitely one of the best things they did pre - fame / big bucks... sounds a bit like some of the Church's earlier stuff, probably why i like it.... hehehehehe __________________ "If you're like me, then it's possible you're a clone generated from my stolen DNA. I suggest you turn yourself in for destruction immediately" - Shaun Micallef.