Don't You Want Me - The Human League | Andy & Alex FIRST TIME REACTION!

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[@iangrant3615]

Your scores make sense in 2024. In 1981, this was S tier because of the production, the synths, the way it puts together such an infectious set of verses and chorus. It was truly revolutionary. The lyrics are meant as a threat. If you watch the video it is telling a story about a guy who is a menace. It was fully conscious of that.

[@Great-Documentaries]

When I think of all the shit songs Alex has given an A+ or an S to, then consider what he did to Ride Like the Wind, Lowdown by Boz Scaggs, just about anything from the 80s (even some 70s songs he thought were from the 80s, and now a B+ for Don't You Want Me. I mean he either really doesn't get it or he's decided to be the hot take personality in the band.

[@gershman23]

Their scores doesn't make sense in any year, let alone this year. This song was always highest tier within the pop world.

[@DDK62]

My fear gentlemen’s I have requested a most instrumental , over the top song ! Please take it in to consideration to play it in your future!!!! My humble thanks is truly appreciated! ALLMAN BROTHERS- IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH REED! Please take in consideration my request! God bless!✌️

[@briangray00]

Fine. I think You have better taste than them ' The Human Leagues own League Unlimited remix album was fncking ace. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5eqep9ma9Kknqs Dare was a massive album. The remix LP is sublime.

[@skolvikings5263]

Still early 80's euro crap!!

[@markgrant5305]

Guys you’re missing the context. This song was revolutionary when it was released. There was nothing like it. Still sounds amazing. Hard to believe I was your age (or close) 28 when it was released. Now I’m 71 this week!

[@DianaJG8]

Happy Birthday!! My husband is also 71 this week! 🎉❤ (1/18)

[@kazshaw3945]

I'm 61,boy,time flies !😲

[@Mr05Chuck]

Ya old fart. I won’t be 71 till fall lol

[@badkitty4922]

Happy Birthday, Capricorn!😅❤🎉🎉 I'll be 55 on the 30th. ♒️😉👍😘 You're right about them missing some important context. Gloria Gaynor may have had I Will Survive, but back then there weren't a lot of songs about women who stood on their own two feet and found their own way. This is a chick song in a sense. 😉👍😘🫂

[@terriemartinez9989]

I might grow old, but I promise I will never get old. Rock On Boomers 🕊️✝️♥️🇺🇸🎼

[@swordmonkey6635]

The line "I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar. That much is true. But even then I knew I'd find a much better place, even with or without you." was such a mic drop statement on the woman's part, basically calling out the guy's delusions.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

*either* with or without you

[@jongroubert4203]

Came here to say the same thing,@@Cosmo-Kramer, or whatever the hell your name is.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@jongroubert4203 I admire your pedantry, jongroubert4203...if that's even your *_real_* name??

[@beatlesgirl2782]

I was spending the first of many summers at my grandparents in the UK when this song came out. I was 14 . When I got back home to Canada nobody had heard of it. It was then that I realized how far ahead the UK was when it came to music & fashion. It was great, I came back every fall wearing clothes and listening to music that didn’t reach North America for at least 6 months.

[@badkitty4922]

@beatlesgirl2782 NIIICE! I was growing up in S FL so, you were at least a year ahead of Florida in your fashion, lol! However, I was able to get music from the U.K. before it hit the States a lot of times because of the local record store having EPs of British hits. 😉👍

[@Gamesso1slO0l]

Hard to judge 80s without being there. Sure it wasnt perfect but it was such a unique, fun and cool vibe and time, unlike the soulless isolated empty times we currently live in

[@cdcaleo]

Amen brother.

[@dougharper2312]

I was there. And like Alex and Andy say…. Most of the 80’s music sucked.

[@cdcaleo]

I was there too, and no, most of it didn't suck. At the very least, it was significantly better than anything produced in the last 20 years.@@dougharper2312

[@chompyb]

Don't know where you were living, but I was just married and raised two children in 80's UK, and it was anything but a fun time. Brutal industrial relations, crazy high interest rates, high unemployment , rising crime ... yeah, it was a really fun time.

[@timandmonica]

The main thing that I wish you guys could really understand is just how completely different and futuristic this sounded in 1981 on the regular radio. We were all being fed Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and stuff like that. Then this came out! Also, I was just hitting puberty so I coupled all that emotion to this new sound on the radio. I would say it was a bigger change than Paula Abdul and all that turning into grunge on the radio. Can't tell you how much it felt like we were entering a truly new era!

[@DreamsSketcher]

THIS!

[@leepatrick5856]

Well said,also cars gary newman was great

[@cls6055]

So TRUE!!!

[@jackempson3044]

These reaction videos always do miss the point of view we had because many of these sounds weren't used before. They were fresh sounds breaking new sound territory.

[@chrisross-fd3fo]

hate to be this guy but we were fed ehhhrything....radio and tv are devious promotional tools...even tho they give you a little filet i was 7 wanting to off myself from being subjected to my name is michael by clit holmes 8 times a day. i had to stumble across maggot brain,john prine,mahavishnu orchestra,caravanserai in the 70s...transfiguration,killdozer,plasmatics,virgin steele,skinyard in the 80s.i finally discovered goldmine magazine...which got me to internet times but youtube is a fricken game changer soooooo much good stuff.then and yes now... just gotta keep mining

[@kettitiled]

I seem to recall Elton John saying the first time he heard this song he was driving and had to pull over to give it his full attention. There's an endorsement of quality songwriting if ever there was one.

[@rickb.4168]

If it had been Bernie, then I’d agree. 😂

[@bobbyreno2990]

Your next song in the 1980's synth bass lineup should be "Hold me now" by the Thompson Twins. Some seriously excellent synth bass on this song and an unforgettable chorus that will stick in your brain like bubble gum.

[@badkitty4922]

YEEESSSSSS!👏👏👏

[@TallyDrake]

Killer song! ❤❤❤❤

[@morgananderson9647]

Completely have to agree with you! I was about to type your exact recommendation.

[@burtreynolds2969]

That song defines the 80's for me.

[@macelven]

Oh god yes. The Thompson Twins are a cut above a lot of 80s bands. I prefer them to Human League.

[@cdcaleo]

Andy and Alex show their age with ratings on songs like this. They don't understand the context in which music like this was produced. There was nothing like this when it was released, and it opened up an entirely new frontier in sound and style.

[@patrickmichaelrosser6287]

This song was revolutionary in 1981. The Human League was part of the "New Wave" that essentially killed disco! IT ranks right up there with I Ran (Flock of Seagulls) and Tainted Love (Soft Cell) as iconic new wave tunes. STill on the playlist in 2024!

[@827dusty]

And where are they now? Nowhere to be found.

[@brianwilson49]

@@827dustystill touring. this year as well.

[@brianwilson49]

many of these groups took their inspiration from Motown and disco.

[@RobVon]

THIS! for the love of God! Sounds like these, Dire Straits, Tubes, AC/DC, and Ozzy helped put the stake thru the heart of disco and lift humanity out of that dark age. Kids these days! (and yeah, I'm an old patreon)

[@brianwilson49]

@@RobVon Disco created some of the most iconic and influential productions of the late 20th century for many reasons musical, technical, aesthetical and sociological. Whether you like the genre or not is irrelevant because disco had the last laugh when acid house bought the disco ethos back to the masses where it belonged, putting the tedious, boorish, over compensating masculinity of rock back in it’s neanderthal box where it has, in the main, remained ever since. well, perhaps spinal tap should take some credit for that too lol

[@SpaceCattttt]

Extremely obvious S-tier song. Masterpiece.

[@Willie_McBride]

I’m 57, so this is S tier for OUR generation. I honestly didn’t expect the fellas to ‘get it’. To me the line. ‘… The five years we have had have been such good times, I still love you…’ is one of the most poignant lines ever delivered that wasn’t a specifically intended bitter love song.

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@Willie_McBride A good song is ALWAYS a good song.

[@armandourso1526]

It was a HUGE hit in the entire world, even here in Brazil. I’m 56 years old and i remember the first time i’ve heard this song on the radio.

[@mattjohn4731]

I like Brazilian acts Os Mutantes, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Grenade, Sepultura, Ratos De Porao, Tim Maia, Marisa Monte...

[@armandourso1526]

@@mattjohn4731 good taste, man !

[@gameswithoutfrontears416]

"you were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar" is a line that nearly every Gen X-er in the UK knows deep down inside and can never be dislodged.

[@MattKrogmeier]

In the US as well.

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@MattKrogmeier The US doesn't exist.

[@heatherk1200]

And in Canada

[@EchoBravo370]

And in Australia

[@kbusby4824]

Not just in the UK.

[@chicagojon1972]

This was all over the radio in the early 80s. Great song choice!

[@tonymeehan7859]

still is

[@rosariccardo3529]

It's still regularly played on one of our local radio stations in Cape Town

[@badkitty4922]

As was (Keep Feeling) Fascination. 😉👍

[@thatlindgirlinutah5829]

Keep Feeling Fascination and Mirror Man were my faves over Don't You Want Me. I was 12 and growing up in a suburb of L.A. when this one was released. It was 💯 over played in L.A. IMO. Give me "Fascination" and "Mirror Man" over this one any time and any day of the week.

[@christinewaide5249]

Dude. There is nothing wrong with this song other than the fact that it has to end.

[@susanklasinski1805]

It’s hard to imagine, because a ton of synth has happened since this song came out, but this sounded so amazing back in 1981. I do get that it doesn’t sound as groundbreaking these days. Human League were one of the earlier synth bands that did well through the 80’s. I think you will come around more in time. It’s a classic song, and I’m glad you decided to give it a go!

[@georgeperkins4171]

Their synth work aged well

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

I have to point out, as truly revolutionary, Geddy Lee's early incorporation of synths in Rush songs as far back as 1976's 2112, and then with every song on 1977's Farewell to Kings. And, lest we forget, the band's monster album, Moving Pictures, with Tom Sawyer as its opener, came out in 1980.

[@garywilson5103]

It's so hard to listen to this with 2024 ears and appreciate it as though it were 1981. Nothing else on the radio sounded like this.

[@roncarnes5724]

I think you'll both like "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" even more. Lead vocals rotate among 4 band members, has a great bass line, and is almost impossible not to dance to.

[@TheMirolab]

I love Human League, but never liked Fascination.

[@RobinT-treehugger]

This song was HUGE back then. It was one of those songs that everyone in the club would be singing along as they danced.

[@roger1296]

Human League were pioneers in electronic music along with Gary Numan, New Order, Yaz, Depeche Mode…I should also probably add music producer and writer Giorgio Moroder because he was definitely one of the first using this new technology.

[@nicepunk00]

Baby Blue, Baby Blue, waaah waaah waaah

[@joelliebler5690]

An infectious tune that was a big hit back in the 1980’s.

[@jameswarkentin2798]

That conversation between the two characters became a cultural touchstone used in tv and comedy, etc. It was everywhere for a time.

[@aliciazambri4237]

I think there is always inherent bias on our parts to love a song we grew up listening to. But this is just fun and I think it still holds up today. And I know a ton of people, young and old, who love this song as much as I do. I do appreciate that you pay attention to the lyrics (Andy seems to pay more attention to the lyrics than Alex does, though, lol). Glad you enjoyed it, and it made me smile when Andy said, "Who is going to tell this guy that no one owes him anything?" YAAAAASSSSS!!!!

[@oboogie2]

This was pretty huge at the time it came out because it was SOOOO DIFFERENT than what was controlling radio at the time (smooth predictable and impeccably produced safe music with a lot of country crossover artists to pop: Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Barbara Mandrell, Juice Newton, Willie Nelson, etc.). Suddenly you had all these acts with a completely different sound made by slightly weird looking individuals (The Police, The Human League, The Cars) and BOOM! Welcome to the '80s!

[@bitslammer]

Absolute synth-banger. Another 80s done right example.

[@Jontor11]

Interestingly, 'Tainted love' was the #1 selling single in the UK in 1981 before 'Don't you want me'. When they re-calculated in 2021, 'Don't you want me' had climbed to the #1 spot.

[@BuccWylde]

Yeah, but Tainted Love was a cover of Gloria Jones' hit from 1964...so Soft Cell already had a pre-made well constructed tune to work with. Lessens the achievement slightly in my opinion.

[@TheBTG88]

What these boys don’t get, due to their musical & life inexperience, is contemporaneous context.

[@buckstraw925]

One of those songs that defines the 80s sound. Plenty of weakness but lots of strength as well. Just sit back and enjoy what it delivers. Don't overthink it.

[@christinewaide5249]

This song is so good that you never want them to stop singing.

[@mesocyclone2004]

I was in high school when this was released and loved the female talking back to the man.

[@chriswood3252]

The entire album 'Dare' is a masterpiece of it's time.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

We really throw the word "masterpiece" around a lot lately. Especially on this channel.

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

@@USGrant-rr2byIt's a subjective term, so he's not wrong.

[@trickygoose2]

Amazingly, at least in the UK, this was the fourth single from the album and got to number 1 after the other 3 had all been hits and the album was riding high.

[@nickcastillo738]

You are definitely not wrong

[@correctlyrics]

​@@-Ricky_Spanish- So I can call every album ever made a masterpiece and I'd be right because it's subjective? 🤦 Overused word.

[@derekkerby8042]

To fully undersrtand 80s music, you had to be there and experience it during that time.

[@TheDameduck]

I was a freshman in college when this song and “tainted love” by Soft Cell were huge hits. I remember the feeling I got when these songs were blasting through whatever airwaves I was subject to at the time…fun goosebumps!

[@TJ-id6ee]

Me too..love those songs!

[@teknikel]

And dance clubs.

[@PatriceChristian]

Me, too! MTV had just launched before the start of my freshman year and I was absorbing so much new music.

[@TJ-id6ee]

@@teknikel Yep and drinking age in WI and MN was 18, and 19. I was in the clubs during the Minneapolis music scene. Good times!

[@richardtodd6843]

Alex may feel like there's "clashing elements", but to me they're one of the best parts of the song. I would have to take a few minutes to count the instrumental figures that occur in the song, but I like that just one or two or all of them can be laid on top of each other. They're probably the thing that makes this otherwise simple arrangement tolerable on repeated listenings.

[@burmajones803]

Exactly! Those synth stabs in the verses 0unctuate the rhythm and add to the sonic palette, imo.

[@coyote4237]

The music is adding to the lyrics. Or vise versa.

[@Skeezer66]

Pure 80's Gold!! A song I've heard literallly hundreds of times, and it hasn't worn out it's welcome! Human League's main singer is a guy, but the female lead comes in frequently. You need to hear their song "Human", produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis!!

[@westsouthcentral]

Please hit Blue Monday by New Order, which was the other song from the same poll. It was the quintessential 80’s dance club banger.

[@marshsundeen]

Brilliant tune.

[@RobCantle]

Agreed, one of my all time favs. As soon as that came on in clubs they filled the floor.

[@allisonreed7682]

Love this ‘80s synth banger! 🤩 I’m still a sucker for Philip Oakey’s vocals all these years later! Without The Human League there would be no Arcade Fire. Please come back to them soon! Check out “Fascination” and “Love Action (I Believe in Love).”

[@Shadowrider1872]

Morning Allison! Excellent Wednesday song!

[@allisonreed7682]

@@Shadowrider1872 good morning to you! Love this song! Takes me back to junior high and Friday nights at the skating rink! 🤩

[@Skeezer66]

Also "Human"! I think they'll feel better about "the guy" in that one, haha!

[@allisonreed7682]

@@Skeezer66 oh, without question!

[@m.y.o.b.724]

I would add "Louise", "The Lebanon", and "Being Boiled" to the list.

[@juneseghni]

59 year old me singing along and knowing every word... one of my absolute favourites at the time.

[@BuckForearm]

Hello fellow 59-year-old….

[@Earthtime3978]

@@BuckForearmAnd another 59er right here. We love seeing these young dudes and chicks digging our music .

[@lilpoohbear653]

yay..51 here and yes...every word!!!:))))

[@howarddickson8727]

OK guys, Human League were huge coming from a very creative Synth scene in Sheffield UK at a time when new poly synths were appearing by the week. Another band , who were a splinter group from Human League was Heaven 17, and you should definitely check out their track 'Penthouse & Pavement' and the rest of the album of the same name.

[@m.y.o.b.724]

They definitely should check out Fascist Groove Thang".

[@howarddickson8727]

@@m.y.o.b.724 yes indeed!

[@EchoesDaBear]

Great reaction guys! Solid 'A' for me. Alex, like you, that rhythmic 'tick' that's constant through the whole song is what's grabbed me from day 1 (wayyyy back when this came out in 1981). According to my sister, who was a teenager in the 80's, this song was a regular in the danceclubs - and I fully understand why!! Love the contrasting lyrics/vocals - and yes, that chorus is S-tier! Cheers!!

[@artrandy]

They've heard the chorus before, so they like the chorus. The rest is "cluttered," and guess what, they haven't heard the rest before. Could it be the same old problem with Alex, he needs to listen to music more than once to get it. He's not alone in that, its actually normal, but he doesn't seem aware that he often damns music, or part of it, just because he's unfamiliar with it. And if this piece isn't going to grow on him, he's a musical lost cause. He's also priming Andy to mark it down, by indicating in advance that he's likely to. I think they should mark it without discussing it first. Andy is an amenable fellow who doesn't want to contradict, but is sometimes led by the nose, and here is an example of him being gently brow-beaten by Alex. Tut-tut...😀...

[@yogarose255]

My getting ready to go out to the club song.

[@kimmycook2698]

One of the best songs to come out of the 80's...still love it today.

[@mstob1969]

I’ll always have a soft spot for this song, as in 1982 as an eighth grader, my school had a “Lip Synch” competition and some friends and I choose this song. Fond memories of strutting across the stage and singing to my female counterpart, “Don’t You Want Me, Baby.” Years later when I would meet people from the school that I hadn’t been friends with they would reference knowing who I was because of this performance. 12:14

[@DaveBartlett]

Back in 1981, Susan & Joanne, (the two female vocalists in Human League,) were both 18 and still at school in Sheffield. They once admitted in interview that their classmates were well impressed when Phil Oakey turned up to get them out of school early, so he could drive them down to London for a 'Top of the Pops' recording when 'Don't You Want Me' was in the charts.

[@DaveBartlett]

@@group-music Joanne Catherall was born 18/09/62; Susan Sully was born 22/03/63. "Don't You Want Me' was released 27/11/81. By that date, Joanne was 19 and Susan was 18, (and both in 'Sixth Form.)

[@nickcastillo738]

The clashing elements helped make it so popular and revolutionary in ‘81 when it was released. Truly nothing like it ever seen before.

[@naytonestew7202]

Martin Rushent was the producer for that song. He presided over some of the most iconic albums of the New Wave/Post Punk era. After a certain number of albums, I would buy an album unheard just knowing that Martin Rushent had produced it. He was a seminal figure.

[@SimonColey]

Yazoo's Situation Killer vocals and synth ❤

[@stevenschembri1288]

A true classic from Human League - S Tier no doubt. Brings me back to my childhood years....

[@joeburt1106]

All the comments about the impact of this song and others like it in 1981 are so valid. I was 13. You could feel a palpable change in just about everything from the late '70s to a revolution in music. For me, I recognized it with The Cars, The Police, etc. It was just completely different. The whole look of the frontman in music changed too. BOTTOM LINE: You had to live then to appreciate it.

[@bluefriend62]

I was 20 when this came out in '81 and it sounded completely fresh and NEW and it (and other songs like it) made everything from the late '70 seem suddenly very outdated.

[@tylerhackner9731]

80s synthpop classic

[@seanluke6087]

This is quintessential 80s for me. Along similar lines, I would recommend: "Hold Me Now", by the Thompson Twins "Obsession" by Animotion, "Wouldn't it be Good?" by Nik Kershaw.

[@fleurdelis2976]

You can’t help but to sing along with this song.

[@joelhahn2501]

Be sure to also check out Phil Oakey's work after Human League, like his collab with Giorgio Moroder: "Together in Electric Dreams", which plays at the end of the excellent 80s movie "Electric Dreams" Together in Electric Dreams (and how great a title is that for our modern, "I have online friends I've never met" world?) is much less musically cluttered than this (obviously, a different producer), and it also just automatically brightens your mood the instant it comes on.

[@philvallee645]

100% agree with the comments about how 1980-81 was such a sea change in music. To me it honestly felt like I was listening to Zeppelin one day and then this stuff starting popping out. My friends and I just asked ourselves like wft??? What were these sounds, instruments and arrangements? Where were the guitars and drums? What kind of clothes were these? It really did feel like this was from the future. It really was a new wave of music that left a lot of 70s musicians trying to adapt where they could.

[@oldmovieman7550]

You need to hit West End Girls. That song is the best song of the poll.

[@TJ-id6ee]

Good choice!

[@josephcrangle4669]

The quintessential synth-pop song. Peak 1980s chart-topper, best listened to while wearing a skinny leather tie and day-glow green sunglasses.

[@Bekka_Noyb]

according to my dad everyone and I mean everyone even metalheads were humming along to this back in the day

[@MarkRosengarten]

Man, I didn't realize how dark this song was. Threats made by a malignant narcissist who would no doubt abuse the hell out of the woman given enough time. Damn,.

[@chuleta216]

To me, this is a perfect song. Not just for a pop song. It tells a story from both perspectives, has a great groove, and is very easy to sing along to. I'm 47 and this song has been my favorite for most of my life. That B+ hurt my feelings lol

[@petergivenbless900]

This song is so cinematic; the video for it is a classic in its own right!

[@btj-oo8xc]

This was the fourth single of four from Dare and the first, 'The Sound Of the Crowd' was released before Soft Cell's Tainted Love. They both helped to project synth pop into the mainstream. This was number one for weeks in the UK over Christmas 1981 and the album has gone triple platinum

[@PatriceChristian]

Y'all need to listen to the whole album if you haven't already. It's so worth it.

[@carlpeterson8182]

This was so popular and groundbreaking back in the day. This type of music was so different back then. So modern and futuristic. It was different, new, and groundbreaking. They were not the first or the only ones, but this is one of the early super popular songs like this that I remember. You should do a song by Yaz, The Tompson Twins, or the Pet Shop Boys next.

[@surlechapeau]

A&A, you'll love their "(Keep Feeling) Fascination", "Mirror Man" and "The Lebanon"!!! Hard to over-estimate how huge todays song was. edit- Susan Ann Sulley on co-vocals. Producers - Martin Rushent and the Human League

[@brettteeter3461]

❤ Fascination

[@jgsrhythm100]

Next 80's Adam & the Ants- Antmusic. Essential reaction

[@macelven]

Yes, and Kings of the Wild Frontier! The drums on that 👩🏼‍🍳👌

[@southendonseaarts]

from the Album Dare a brilliant mix of songs - check the whole album out guys and be The Sound of the Crowd This song filled the floor every time it was played and it was never off the UK Radio

[@quinny6920]

Oh man this was a huge hit!!! Another older song most of us know all the words too!! Great memories! Thx guys! Much love and BEHAVE!! LOL. PS I think alll the “ clutter” made it a bit back then!

[@billsantospianomore678]

I am happy that you did this song. Trivia: The brother of the composer suggested adding the word "baby" into the song to make it sound less serious, even comedic.

[@Jude_196]

I remember this in the clubs in college: LOUD!! Was a GREAT SONG to dance to!! VERY innovative sound!! But: it was the 80s and so much synth!! LOVE IT, STILL!! :)

[@onsesejoo2605]

Human League was among the first bands to surface with new approach to pop music, taking influences everywhere but 50's or 60's rock or pop. On their first two albums they were more experimental or industrial, if you like. They went through massive line-up change, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left for Heaven 17, Phil Oakey and Phil Wright took the name and new line up which came up with this. Heaven 17 was also successful with "We Don't Need That Fascist Groove Thang" and others.

[@jxchamb]

Such a terrific song. It's always makes me smile.

[@billsager5634]

As you are now experimenting with Synth Wave, you MUST checkout: Yaz (Yazoo) "Don't Go" and "Situation"; The Thompson Twins "Lies", "Hold Me Now"; The Eurythmics: "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"; ABC: "The Look of Love", "Poison Arrow", "When Smokey Sings"; Heaven 17: "Let Me Go"; Dead or Alive: "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", "Lover Come Back to Me", "My Heart Goes Bang", "Brand New Lover" Frankie Goes to Hollywood: "Relax" Ultravox: "Sleepwalk", "Vienna" Psychodelic Furs: "Love My Way", "Heaven" Spandau Ballet: "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", "True" Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: "Enola Gay", "Joan of Arc" , "Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" Naked Eyes: "Always Something There to Remind Me" Talk Talk: "Talk Talk", "It's My Life" Visage: "The Damned Don't Cry" "Fade to Grey", "Night Train"

[@evanpenn1]

Great reaction. Agree pretty much 100%. The woman singer's part in the song is my favorite part. Always thought it was cool.

[@punjabi49]

The classic rock music from the 60's and 70's was undeniably great. Loved it all. But when the 80's rolled around we were yearning for a change and New Wave delivered that change big time. You guys have reacted to Duran Duran, The Police , Flock of Seagulls, The B-52 's, Blondie, Talking Heads and some others. Yet, you have only scratched the surface of a fantastic genre of music that was introduced to us in the NYC area by the epic, ground breaking radio station WLIR and then by early MTV.

[@badkitty4922]

I love this band and I LOVE Philip Oakey's voice! Especially those bass notes he hits. ❤ ETA: one of the things that I loved about the 80s was in my group of friends if any one of us didn't have/couldn't afford an album, the friend who had it would copy it onto cassette. There were friends that would be total bros by doing each side of the album on opposite sides of the cassette, then throw on a couple of cool songs to fill the dead space after the album side was finished. ❤❤ Good times.

[@californiak2891]

This song was huge! So exciting when it came out, the transfer of verses from him to her, etc. Loved it then and now! 💓

[@EW-ty6qw]

This song was so groundbreaking when it came out. I couldn't get enough of it.

[@nyrocks5580]

Great tune, always loved it. Big on MTV. I think it's much better than most synth-heavy 80s songs. When I think of music from that era (I was in college at the time), this is one of the first songs that pops into my head.

[@moniphil]

Y’all need to understand that often the writer of the song is not saying pathetic things personally, but is writing in the third person. Y’all might not be like the guys in these songs, but they are legion.

[@christianman73]

They seem to think that just because a song happens to voice a particular lyrical perspective, that it's *completely morally advocating for* that perspective. It's a very literal way of reading lyrics, and sometimes, it leads to them characterizing certain songs as being "incel-ish." They did the same thing to Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" It's odd to me. Maybe it's a generational thing?

[@moniphil]

@@christianman73 If they think the lyrics of songs always express the beliefs of the singer, they’re going to have real trouble with the lyrics of many, many Randy Newman and Warren Zevon songs, not to mention “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits. These songs are written from the standpoint of biased narrators.

[@christianman73]

@@moniphil Exactly! I enjoy those songwriters, but I think that Andy and Alex might really struggle with them. Randy Newman's song, "Short People," would probably be very offensive to A & A, whereas I love it.

[@moniphil]

@@christianman73 How would they deal with Napoleon XIV? 😂😉

[@christianman73]

@@moniphil Hopefully, they would get that "They're Coming To Take Me Away" is a novelty song, but I'm not sure! 🙂

[@httr94]

I instantly got goosebumps when the first notes started playing. I'm 29 years old and was luckily raised on great music thanks to my Gen X parents.

[@rebeccalipps23]

I was a sophomore in high school in 81. The beginning of the Second British Invasion with its cutting-edge synth sound was a wonder to our ears & sounds good over 40 years later, too.

[@markghughes]

This finished last place in the poll of 80s Synth Bangers at 13%. Tainted Love and I Ran were tied at 24%. You still need to react to Blue Monday by New Order which finished behind the top two songs at 20%.

[@claresmith-hill9417]

I loved every track on this album, still do. The Human League were so fantastic and new, their fashion, their sound influenced me massively in my early teens

[@WildBill0007]

Thomas Dolby's song, One of Our Submarines(Is Missing) is a fantastic syth song. His entire album, The Golden Age of Wireless is outstanding!! It is a real shame you two have not heard it.

[@msmrsro]

Ooh! Dipping into the 80s, if you haven’t hit them already, I will strongly request Echo and the Bunnymen, the Killing Moon; Modern English, Melt with You; and from the Valley Girl soundtrack, Pat Travers, I La-la-la Love You. Fantastic, every one.

[@Castironcarnivore]

I was 13 when this song first aired, and it was a total mind blowing stand out runaway hit. It was at a time when most new music was blah to say the least…

[@Friedtoenails]

Such a legendary, huge song back in the day. Easily a top 5 song from the eighties

[@hahatoldyouso]

What a CLASSIC!

[@rickpaul4216]

The only thing more 80's than this song is a Saab 900 Turbo Convertible. You also may want to hit something by "Missing Persons." They were new wave group formed by Frank Zappa's backing band. Terry Bozzio was Zappa's drummer and his wife Dale fronted the group. The group also featured Patrick O'Hearne on bass. These guys were class A musician's and they made some really unique new wave pop music. Listen to "Words" or "Walkin' in LA" or "Destination Unknown."

[@allisonreed7682]

Lol

[@nyrocks5580]

Excellent reference: Saab 900 Turbo Convertible. Today's internet winner! 🏆

[@niged]

Recently saw Human League live. They still sound amazing. This was a monster track when it came out.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

This still played frequently in dance clubs when I first started going out in 1986. 💎 Many thanks to Andy and Alex!

[@GT-mq1dx]

I was 20 and had just entered the Navy in 1986. This was one of many great songs being played around the world in dance clubs everywhere. The L.A. club scene in those days was totally awesome. Great memories from a totally killer time in history. 😎

[@auntvesuvi3872]

@@GT-mq1dx I'm glad you enjoyed it to the fullest... I surely tried to, too! 🥳

[@wrenangles5455]

Bringing up the club aspect is a great call out, so many songs with the 80s synth sound are meant to be heard in a club environment.

[@gesundheit602]

Critiquing the production of a song that literally went to the very top of the charts in several countries, including the US, just doesn’t hold water. The proof is in the pudding… and this my friend is a number one pudding. Numero uno.. Number one in the charts and number one in your hearts… The toppermost of the poppermost…

[@flubblert]

1981. Surprised it goes back that far. Ahh to be 26 again. Decade defining song for sure. You gotta understand all those new added 80s sounds sounded pretty cool bouncing around in your amped up car stereo system. New, fresh, Emersive. That was our perspective.

[@NoCreamedCorn]

I’m with Andy on this one. This is A+

[@creativitycell]

A Total Synth pop Masterpiece, I still play it now! Sound of The Crowd is one of my all time faves! Got it on separate 12 inch vinyl too, It's Epic!🙏

[@group-music]

I love their original 12" of Sound Of The Crowd. It used synths for the drums instead of that 'orrible Linn drum machine that they used on the album.

[@JaredOsborn]

"Tainted Love" and "Don't You Want Me" both came out in 1981 and were two of the first New Wave songs to hit the radio big. So they are linked together in mine and a lot of other people's minds. I don't think hits are even made on the radio anymore.

[@letmadora28]

Funny. The reason I liked and still like this song is because they showed both sides of the story. He b¡tching about her leaving him and her wanting more than what he have to offer. Is a good story and a good song.

[@SnowDogisVictorious]

Sadly, the implied threat of menace that you've inferred from the lyrics wouldn't have been as off-putting back then as it is today. The same is true of those '80's hits that sound very much like the songs sung by stalkers, such as: - Every Breath You Take (Police) - Sunglasses at Night (Cory Heart) - One Way or Another (Blondie) - Keep on Lovin' You (REO Speedwagon) - I Want You to Want Me (Cheap Trick... 1977 though) As historians say, the past is a different place (or "a foreign country"). The lesson here, it seems to me, is that you shouldn't be grading music on lyrical content that offends your modern sensibilities. After all, there's five decades between you and these songs. You already do that with the use of instruments in the music you hear, connecting the past and present by acknowledging how changes in the art of composting, playing, and producing popular music has evolved. You could do that with lyrics too, although that could turn your reactions into undergrad seminars - so maybe just stick to being careful not to judge old lyrics by today's cultural standards!