Synth pop - Duran Duran, a-ha, Thompson Twins
Club-wave: New Order, Depeche Mode
Darkwave: Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, The Smiths
New Romantic: Adam and the Ants, David Bowie, Talk Talk
Quirk-wave: Devo, Talking Heads, The Residents, B-52s
College-wave: Cocteau Twins, Waitresses, etc.

Also, pop-wave (Wham!, Cyndi Lauper, Bananarama, etc.) DD might fit in this too.

What's the difference between pop-wave and synthpop? Where do Squeeze and the Eurythmics fit in? Are Joy Division dark-wave?

What's the difference between pop-wave and synthpop? Where do Squeeze and the Eurythmics fit in? Are Joy Division dark-wave?


Synthpop is more obviously part of the genre.  Pop-wave is stuff like Culture Club, etc. that's more general pop.

I haven't heard Joy Division, but I'd guess they're Darkwave.

Synthpop is more obviously part of the genre.  Pop-wave is stuff like Culture Club, etc. that's more general pop.

I haven't heard Joy Division, but I'd guess they're Darkwave.


How can you not have heard Joy Division? I'm just shocked. What about stuff like Rick Springfield and Laura Branigan's "Gloria"?

How can you not have heard Joy Division? I'm just shocked. What about stuff like Rick Springfield and Laura Branigan's "Gloria"?




A New Wave fan that hasn't heart of Joy Division? That's like a metal fan who hasn't heard of Led Zeppelin...

Even I've heard of them, and I listen to 80s music least among the deacdes.

I like 'Jessie's Girl' by Rick Springfield. Is that 'Gloria' song the Van Morrison cover? Or an original?

Synth pop - Duran Duran, a-ha, Thompson Twins
Club-wave: New Order, Depeche Mode
Darkwave: Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, The Smiths
New Romantic: Adam and the Ants, David Bowie, Talk Talk
Quirk-wave: Devo, Talking Heads, The Residents, B-52s
College-wave: Cocteau Twins, Waitresses, etc.


Duran Duran were more straight 80s than New Waves...never thought Devo/Depeche mode were New Wave either: though they peaked in the mid 80s. I more associate New Wave with the period 1978-1984.

Blondie, Joy Division, Flock of Seagulls, B-52s, Elvis Costello, The Police, Talking Heads, Kajagoogoo...those were the archetypal New Wave groups.

The British more punkish New Wave sound included the Smiths, the Jam, XTC, Madness, Adam and the Ants/Adam Ant, in a way Tears for Fears and late Clash (i.e. 'Military Clash'). The Clash's 'London Calling' was the blue-print for many New Wave artists.

How can you not have heard Joy Division? I'm just shocked. What about stuff like Rick Springfield and Laura Branigan's "Gloria"?




That's pop-wave.

I've heard of them, I've just never heard them.

That's pop-wave.

I've heard of them, I've just never heard them.


You have to download 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and 'She's Lost control' right this minute...and that's an order!!!!

You have to download 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and 'She's Lost control' right this minute...and that's an order!!!!


Okay Criz ... you have great taste. I'm trusting you! ;)

Really, most stuff from the 1983-1984 period is pop-wave if it isn't true new wave. Like Madonna's first two albums certainly aren't new wave...but they're pop-wave ("Like a Virgin", "Material Girl", "Holiday", "Lucky Star" are pop-wave classics.)

Really, most stuff from the 1983-1984 period is pop-wave if it isn't true new wave. Like Madonna's first two albums certainly aren't new wave...but they're pop-wave ("Like a Virgin", "Material Girl", "Holiday", "Lucky Star" are pop-wave classics.)


Duran Duran is not true new wave...I think it's just part of the same early 80s 'pop-wave' movement.

Duran Duran is not true new wave...I think it's just part of the same early 80s 'pop-wave' movement.


I agree, they're really not true new wave, even like say A Flock of Seagulls are.

New Wave is possibly the most mis-understood music movement. For one, it's not really a GENRE, like Punk was (though Punk was also a movement), but a number of different genres, as this post points out. And relates more to a 'movement' than a style of music. Not all music in the period was New Wave, and the definition is sort of not clearly defined.

New Wave is possibly the most mis-understood music movement. For one, it's not really a GENRE, like Punk was (though Punk was also a movement), but a number of different genres, as this post points out. And relates more to a 'movement' than a style of music. Not all music in the period was New Wave, and the definition is sort of not clearly defined.


It was a combination of a backlash against '70s classic rock and a style evolving from the introduction of the synthesizer, with the combination of "disco and punk" as Trimac said. It's a pretty diverse style that can be pinpointed from maybe 1977 at the earliest to 1986 at the latest in mainstream music, though it's been around since then, certainly.

Okay Criz ... you have great taste. I'm trusting you! ;)


He he...good! Let me know what you think once you've had a listen :)

"New Wave artists aging gracefully. An 80’s world gone by…"

http://djrioblog.com/2013/11/26/new-wave-artists-aging-gracefully-an-80s-world-gone-by/