10 Awesome New Wave Songs that Should've Hit the Top 40

[@raymondeichler442]

Games without Frontiers is one of my favorite songs ever,

[@BeastOfTraal]

Missing Persons with "Words", "Destination Unknown", and "Walking in L.A."

[@richardhal]

Loved the video as usual, I had forgotten Plastic Bertrand! lol Of course, Kate Bush is a goddess, but wouldn't have thought to class her as new wave. But, she gets a pass because she's awesome (so many other incredible songs in her catalogue). Shout out to Party Fears Two by The Associates, which was resurrected even greater by Heaven 17 in an acoustic style...

[@DadgeCity]

I class Wuthering Heights as the first #1 (in the UK) of the modern era of pop music. Her album is definitely part of the new scene rather than a part of the sounds of the 70s.

[@tag1462]

Kraftwerk anyone? New Wave before it was New Wave. Ii had my introduction to this hidden gem thru an unusual means. Black people. Kraftwerk wasn't being played on any of the radio stations I listened to but the Black community definitely was. I recall hearing it played during homeroom and at the dance events at school in the late 70's. I also recall not being able to find it, even in the import bins at Coconuts. Three words drove the experience... Trans/Europe/Express. Followed by Faharn, fahrn, farhn I hope I got that right, or in English Drive, drive, drive or the autobahn song for the English speakers. At the time it was all new to me. So new wave. yeah.

[@gunclemark8440]

Autobahn was their only top 40 hit and came out before T-E-E. I wasn't sure if I should include that one for new wave or disco, but it would be a good fit for a future video. Thanks for commenting!

[@jricoc3475]

I first heard (parts of) Rock Lobster in '79. I say "parts of" because it was totally by accident. The teacher in my Electronics class was attempting to play some synths tones for us on a cassette deck, but his kid had gotten a hold of the tape and recorded over a section. I was a rock and Top 40, guitar-playing, inner-city kid, and had never heard anything like it before. In a way, it probably changed my life, because it let me know that some of those "weird groups" were very talented. By ensuing 6-8 years (high-school and college) had me steeped in The Cars, Pretenders, R.E.M., and The Police. Since then my new music sources have pretty much all been College and Alternative radio ...

[@ulfvinr9364]

Athens, GA produced THREE great groups! B-52s, REM and the Indigo Girls. All three are amazing.

[@homeaccount5943]

The B52's create amazingly BAD music. I think God allowed them to exist to punish us for one reason, or another.

[@mofolk8896]

Oh the memories! I was around 20 at this time. Loved Kate Bush, loved Devo esp. Satisfaction, and pogoed to Jet Boy Jet Girl by Elton Motello… Love love love New Wave- the soundtrack to my misspent youth.

[@haweater1555]

11:40 "Money" was on a "pop hits of '81" album we owned. My 13 year old self and 10 year old brother absolutely cracked up the first time we heard this part!

[@trao1938]

Always thought Gabriel was singing "She's so POP-u-lar."

[@michmash7888]

I was born in 1968 and was pretty sheltered by my parents…my mom controlled the music in the house and it was usually 70s easy listening (ugh to most of that) or Beach Boys/Ventures/50s (good stuff, but sort of repetitive). I kid you not that I was first exposed to the B-52s by watching The Guiding Light (I was probably 11 or 12) and that was a huge wake-up call that there was a whole lot of music I was missing out on! I finally acquired a tape cassette/radio and there was no more adult contemporary for me!!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!!!

[@rockubtzer]

Oh, I loved the Flying Lizards!!! I had a friend from the UK, We exchanged pop music mixtape's, I sent him new US music He sent Europe hits back. We enjoyed music sometimes a year before it was introduced to our countries some stuff never was... People were always asking, what band is that???, while I cruised town in my 65 Delta 88 blasting UK's New Wave/Punk tunes all through the 80's. I had the quadraphonic car stereo from hell you heard me coming blocks away.

[@seanswinton6242]

The first version of this song wasn't the one I heard. I heard the John Belushi version from Animal House initially. The Flying Lizards were the coolest. I began to play synthesizers soon after hearing it.

[@markheyliger533]

Just watched all your videos this weekend with my buddy, love your channel. Funny, witty, and like most of your takes

[@garykristjanson4689]

I've never come across a list I agree with 100%...until now.

[@anadraham2995]

Just found ya - loving the commentary and a different take on lists‼️ You earned a new sub brotha 🎉👍🎶💯💙

[@glennstover3399]

There were a few bands, as you illustrated, that did good stuff, but just never got out of the gate to massive acclaim: The Pandoras, Smithereens, Lone Justice, Breeders, Belly, Harvey Danger, The Muffs... You gave a great peek at some enduing classics

[@gunclemark8440]

I would definitely love to include Only a Memory, Cannonball, Shelter in later videos for songs from 80's/90's that should've hit the top 40. Thanks for the comment!

[@oldladycrow5643]

I don't think I've -ever- seen a music list I agree with more.

[@seanswinton6242]

Psychedelic Furs were awesome! I have their entire catalog.

[@johnschnellbach986]

Just saw the B-52s in Atlanta for their farewell tour. See them in Vegas while you can. They still got it!!!

[@cygnals524]

Thanks for posting a fun video and a nice trip down memory lane. I just wandered across your channel today ans just subscribed. @1:14 I got so psyched when I saw Gary Numan at the start of your video! What an awesome way to start off your video. I was and still am a huge fan of Gary Numan. I bought his first two LPs and remember seeing him play the song "Cars" live on SNL during season 5 on February 16, 1980 a few months after his second LP "The Pleasure Principle" was released. I was 13 years old in 1979 (yes, I will date myself) when his first release "Replicas" came out. That was technically by his band "The Tube Way Army". I love many genres of music and was a fan of New Wave when it came out. I wore out those first two releases by him. I did sort of lose interest in several of his later releases but I did occasionally hear songs I liked from them. When I first heard "Replicas" I remember hearing the first two tracks "Me! I Disconnect From You" & "Are Friends Electric" and then hearing "Praying To The Aliens" & "Down In The Park" and was instantly hooked before I had even heard the song "Cars" I love many genres now and did back then as well. I am a guitar player and can not only listen to or play one genre. I had never heard anything like Gary Numan before & I loved it. I was/am still a fan of the B52's & even bands like "The Cars" from Boston were considered New Wave. Gary Numan put out an interesting release in 2013 titled "Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) I LOVE the track "Here In The Black" In 20127 he released another excellent release titled "Savage (Songs from a Broken World)" and his daughter "Persia" sang on the track and was in the video for the song "My name Is Ruin" which is another awesome song. His daughter Persia also joins him on stage for live shows singing with him which I think is amazing & she sounds incredible & blends in just fine with him and his band. I also bought the LP in 1980 by Robert Palmer titled "Clues" There is an excellent track the Gary Numan & Robert Palmer co wrote together. The song is "I Dream Of Wires" This was Robert Palmer before he sold out and this particular LP has a New Wave sound to it.

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

I'm just watching the video and I was surprised by Kate Bush, here in the UK her first single was number 1 for 4 weeks!

[@raymondeichler442]

So glad I discovered this channel. This was my college music

[@sandraweilbrenner67]

These really surprise me. I love these songs.

[@krisstarring]

LOL, I shared in that mondegreen. I had thought Kate Bush's line in "Games Without Frontiers," "Jeux sans frontiers," the song title in French, was "She's so funky, yeah! But really, it always made no sense to me in the context of the song. Though, it is and remains one of my all time favorite Peter Gabriel solo songs.

[@stevendonoghue2499]

Love your channel. Your sense of humor is brilliant. This music deserves it’s credit.

[@cosmicHalArizona]

Bro the "Metro" is extremely LOOUUD!!

[@laurahubbard9470]

Oh the memories you have brought back. Thank you 😊

[@gunclemark8440]

You are welcome. Thanks for commenting!

[@ivandillardmusic2042]

I enjoyed this!

[@gunclemark8440]

Glad you liked it. Hope to have another list of these in the future.

[@ivandillardmusic2042]

@@gunclemark8440 I appreciate all the work you put in

[@roypartible9759]

For Devo, I would've chosen "That's Good." I remember first hearing it on an episode of Square Pegs. Don't know why it never took off here in the US. It's such a good song.

[@FionaOfMountLawley]

Melt With You by Modern English is a great choice. On the subject of anti-nuclear songs Forever Young by Alphaville is a favourite of mine too. They topped out at #65 with that and #66 with Big In Japan. The album Forever Young was on (also called Forever Young) made it to # 180 on the album chart. These three times and the following album Afternoons in Utopia (which reached # 174 on Billboard, but only had successful singles in Europe and South Africa) amount to their entire chart history in the US.

[@gunclemark8440]

I know the Alphaville songs and love both of them. I Melt with You will be included in my next video that I'm currently writing the script for. Thanks for commenting!

[@josephwest124]

With Devo, "Coal Mine" is only their second-biggest hit if you discount their back-up vocals to Jermaine Jackson's "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" (#18, 1982).

[@gunclemark8440]

Wow, I didn't know that! I don't remember Casey Kasem ever mentioning it on AT40. And I do like that song. Thanks for the comment!

[@robertdoherty2001]

Rock Lobster only made #56? The damn thing was EVERYWHERE!!

[@Poppaea-Sabina]

"Ça plane pour moi" (French pronunciation: ​[sa plan puʁ mwa]) is a 1978 song by Belgian musician Plastic Bertrand, though its vocals were actually performed by Lou Deprijck, the record's producer and composer. Every song Devo ever performed was a masterpiece. Coal Mine was on the Heavy Metal movie soundtrack FYI. I agree with every song

[@RadioLaPrincess]

A song I thought of never hit the top 100 even, although the band is probably the biggest band to come from England in the 80s and is the epitome of New Wave and that is Girls on Film by Duran Duran. It made a chart (I think the rock chart which back then included alternative bands along with classic rock).

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

Depeche Mode's Everything Counts never made the top 100 in the US, check that one out

[@RadioLaPrincess]

@@OnlyGoodMusic_ That's a great song.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

From the UK again. The tragic tale of Susan Fassbender and her (and her erstwhile collaborator Kay Russell) only pop hit in the UK, "Twilight Cafe". Despite a couple of good follow ups - "Stay" and "Merry-go-round" - they never quite got there, and, whilst still dabbling in music, retired to marry and raise kids. It didn't work out for Susan. Ten years after her hit, depressed, drinking too much, and feeling overwhelmed by her young family, she commited suicide. She was only 32.

[@steelethescene]

My favorite kate bush song is hounds of love.

[@gunclemark8440]

Another great song, but it didn't make the top 100 in the US. If I make a list of new wave songs that should've made the top 100, I would definitely consider this. Thanks for commenting!

[@steelethescene]

💜🎶👾 Lots of cool songs on this list btw.

[@avnostlga]

More new wave...

[@chasx7062]

Kate Bush is wonderful Voice

[@vinylrichie007]

In LA KROQ played all these songs.

[@AlligatorArms]

Man, I love some new wave, and as someone who isn’t really too fond of 80’s pop, rock, or R&B, it’s frustrating how many great new wave gems were pushed out by so much of the other stuff that was popular in the US. Japan - “Ghosts” #5 UK, did not chart US (Speaking of Halloween tunes…this is the one! I had 8 year old kids asking me what this was in multiple years of the 2010’s) The Jam - 18 UK hits, 0 US hits (though they did at least make the US rock charts) Echo & the Bunnymen - “The Killing Moon” #9 UK, did not chart US (at least it eventually became a part of popular culture here). Ultravox - “Vienna” #2 UK, DNC US Oingo Boingo - “Weird Science” #45 US-closest they got to the top 40, though Danny Elfman did just fine in life without an official hit single. The Specials - “Ghost Town” #1 UK, DNC US (seriously, I can’t think of any US #1 hit, ever, that is cooler than this song)

[@gunclemark8440]

Lots of great choices on your list. The Jam's "A Town Called Malice" is SO good, I love Echo & the Bunnymen's "Bring on the Dancing Horses", and I find it funny seeing so many memes using "A Message to You, Rudy" regarding Rudy Giuliani, but "Ghost Town" is sheer excellence.

[@Grandmaster__Gee]

What's up with picture color?

[@zelphx]

"Cool for Cats"- Squeeze

[@gunclemark8440]

Great song, but Squeeze didn't have many US hits. Tempted was their first Hot 100 song. I'll consider it for a possible list of UK hits that never made the US charts. Thanks for commenting!

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

Peak #2 in the UK

[@patrickkirkham]

Money was also in the movie Empire Records

[@cosmicHalArizona]

B52s YES

[@kevinpoulton]

Should take a look at hazel o conner some great song

[@ReleaseTheQuackers]

I don't know why you didn't include EARLY Adam Ant in your list! Xerox, Kings of the Wild Frontier, Physical or Antmusic would have been perfect in this list.

[@BenTaylor1]

Really good work and THANK YOU for turning me on to Plastic Bertrand which I somehow missed all these years (despite you and I being close to the same age). Never too late to learn new (so to speak) music and some cool fun facts like what Gabriel is really singing; I won't even say what I thought but, trust me, it was worse than your guess. In exchange for Bertrand, I offer you this one from a guy I met in the '90s who had this big hit when The Deutsche New Wave was going -- and he was 15. Surreal but oddly wonderful video. Thanks again. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2jIZJuqaJaGbrs

[@tenofivelips]

Wait a minute. The Talking Heads only had 3 top 40s!?!

[@AlligatorArms]

I was shocked when I found this out too. They only made AT40 twice, with “Burning Down the House” (#11) and “Wild Wild Life” (#25). I guess “Take Me To The River” is the third hit, which went to #26 on the Hot 100 but somehow missed the radio charts.

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

Don't you think this shows that the UK had a much more advanced taste?

[@gunclemark8440]

Well, when you consider Mr. Blobby, Teletubbies, and Bombalurina have hit #1 there, I'd have to say not quite...but I do agree a lot of great songs hit #1 there that weren't as successful in the US. Can't wait to make my lists of the best and worst UK #1's of each decade. Thanks for commenting!

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

@@gunclemark8440 Think that at the beginning of the 80s the big stars in the UK were bands like the jam or adam & the ants, the one hit wonders do not indicate anything.

[@kylewoolsey6635]

For a short time Thrashing Doves got some attention. Jesus on the Payroll and Beautiful Imbalance were poppy but Matchstick Flotilla contained biting lyrics, criticizing Britain’s immigration policies, and featured a wicked slide guitar solo. In 87 Bedrock Vice was a cool record. Your thoughts on that or another overlooked gem was Erie, PA’s Stabilizers hit One Simple Thing. Thoughts on either of those.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I like many new wave songs. Here's one by the Teardrop Explodes (starring Julian Cope): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKrGdGt7f7eUr6M

[@paulcurtis5317]

A bit of useless information. The original 'ce plane pour moi' was by Elton Motello and had a totally different meaning, its called 'Jet Boy Jet Girl'. Its on you tube. The Damned did a cover of it kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZjFpX-ArrF3q5o kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYKuqoCQbcymhqs

[@ChristyAbbey]

This is messing with me, considering how many of these I've covered in my career. (8 out of the 10) Is it a queer thing? Huh. Maybe.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

It is the WORST concert movie ever. They did everything wrong, from playing Psycho Killer WITHOUT BASS (who thought that was a good idea), to having Pigface numbers of musicians on the stage who offer NOTHING but mess up songs by an incredible 4 piece band. That and all the distracting costumes and theatrics. The is supposed to be a CONCERT FILM, not a film with some good music. Everything that's not the 4 musicians playing their amazing songs is just a waste.

[@homeaccount5943]

I like most of your list, because I'm a big New Wave fan, and was in the 80's, too, but Rock Lobster is absolute shit. The Psychedelic Furs Love my way is one of my favorites. That song definitely should have hit better than it did.