Alas, I am too young to recall just what went on in that decade, and never had any interest developed till now. I'm slowly working my way through music and music history, and motivated by the company I work with, I'm asked to compile as complete a list as possible of artists/songs who/which would fall in the categories of New Wave, Synthpop and New Romantic.

Can anyone please tell me just what the defining qualities are and offer me some of their knowledge on how to tell the music apart? Could anyone list bands and songs that would fall into those categories? HELP!!

: Alas, I am too young to recall just what went
: on in that decade, and never had any
: interest developed till now. I'm slowly
: working my way through music and music
: history, and motivated by the company I work
: with, I'm asked to compile as complete a
: list as possible of artists/songs who/which
: would fall in the categories of New Wave,
: Synthpop and New Romantic.

synthpop and new wave are fairly generic terms..

New Wave refered to almost anything that came out from like 1979 to 1985, be it Men at Work or Dire Straits, etc.

Synthpop was usually used in an almost derogative sense, ie. yet another synthpop band.. usually refering to groups that used synth either exclusively ala Human League, or as a main component like Duran Duran.

New Romantics however was a more focused term, used to describe groups that were primarily British like Duran Duran and Adam Ant, that dressed up, a bit a like David Bowie in his early days (which is ironic that David Bowie looks so clean cut in 1983 for his Let's Dance album). They also tended towards a moodier sound (well, maybe not Adam Ant) They were considered New Wave and synthpop as well.. but not to say that a New Wave or synthpop band was a new romantic... Blondie were certainly considered New Wave, but were definately not New Romantics

in the end, they're just labels.. New Wave doesn't really apply to a band sound at all, in much the same way Alternative now doesn't really apply to a band sound... Greg Kihn and Duran Duran were considered New Wave, and really sound nothing a like...

See, now, here I didn't even know there was a "New Romantic". I'd be interested too. There seemed to be a lack of clear borders. I know of more than one punk rocker who loved Metallica and Ozzy and I personally worshiped both Depeche and Scraping Foetus... Were the Batcavers all Gothic or were some just New Wave? I didn't get it then, and I really don't get it now. I think it had something to do with what color lipstick you wore...

: Alas, I am too young to recall just what went
: on in that decade, and never had any
: interest developed till now. I'm slowly
: working my way through music and music
: history, and motivated by the company I work
: with, I'm asked to compile as complete a
: list as possible of artists/songs who/which
: would fall in the categories of New Wave,
: Synthpop and New Romantic.
You left out heavy metal, punk andunderground. E-mail me. it was a great era in music. the top 40 stuff was crappy pop like you hear today on MTV.
: Can anyone please tell me just what the
: defining qualities are and offer me some of
: their knowledge on how to tell the music
: apart? Could anyone list bands and songs
: that would fall into those categories?
: HELP!!