There's a sudden revival of all the music hits in the eighties - from No Doubt's "It's My Life" to the new punked up version of "Whisper to a Scream". The eighties are coming back with a vengance! We're just a few steps away from a Tiffany revival, and I do hope they won't pass up a modern rendition of Corey Hart's "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night" (perfect for the ravers, though, I preferred his other big hit "Never Surrender"). But before we go gaga over the 80's, how about turning to one of the best things that ever came out of the eighties - and, no it isn't neon colored clothing or parachute pants - but, New Wave music.

As a true child of the eighties, I grew up listening to music played on my dad's turntable. My first taste of the 80's new wave music was listening to my sister's LP of Songs from the Big Chair by Tears for Fears. While I interspersed playing my sister's album with my own copies of of A-ha, Cindy Lauper and my Hello Kitty 45's (I was only six then, and yes, Hello Kitty released singles too) I was slowing developing a great love for the music. And of all the music that I was fascinated about, it was the one that had that somewhat, punk pop-ish beat, laden with synthesized sounds that caught my fancy. So here's your guide to happening sounds in the 80's new wave scene.

Movie Soundtracks

If you want a great introduction to the 80's new wave music you can go through the soundracks released in that period. Personally, the teen movies at that time have a definitive soundtrack of the 80s era which mostly consisted of new wave hits. I particularly recommend  two original soundracks of popular 80's movies: Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful  .

These two movies, written by John Hughes, the king of 80's teen movies,  have soundtracks featuring top bands in the 80's new wave period as well as unforgettable singles from the 80's. Pretty in Pink features bands such as OMD, Pychedelic Furs, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Smiths. Some Kind of Wonderful, though it doesn't contain as many popular new wave acts, is a soundtrack worth mentioning, as whole CD will give you the 80's feel. Two particular singles that are worth listening to : Flesh for Lulu's "I Go Crazy" and Furniture's "Brilliant Mind.

Another great 80's movie  would be the The Breakfast Club. Though hugely popular, the soundtrack is only worth buying if you are a huge fan of the film and are a great collector of all albums that have Wang Chung in it. Of course, it also gave us  the cult classic "Don't You" by Simple Minds.

Fast forward to the nineties, there's your soundtrack from the film The Wedding Singer  which has two volumes dedicated to 80s hits featuring new wave staples, The Smiths, New Order and A Flock of Seagulls as well as the classic 80's love song that should always appear in any 80's movie - Spandau Ballet's "True".

Now that you've whet your appetite for those classic New Wave Hits, what better than to dulge into the albums and singles of this genre!

The Albums and Singles

Here's a couple of albums and singles listed by group, that you should look into for your 80's new wave craving. Enjoy!

ABC - There are two songs that I absolutely love from this band one is "Be Near Me" and "When Smokey Sings". Check out the cool piano tunes in these tracks.
A Flock of Seagulls - the band that were defined by their outlandish hairstyle. Great songs to listen to is their single "I Ran" and "MoreYou Live the More You Love"
Aztec Camera - I can still sing to their song "Somewhere in My Heart" even though I never really listed to that song much..somewhere in my heart  there is a star that shines for you, silver splits the blue, love will see you through
Big Country - who wouldn't forget those guitar riffs that sounded just like a bagpipe - "In a Big Country" is a another 80's classic that shouldn't be missed.
China Crisis - Hits like "Black Man Ray" and "Wishful Thinking" marked them as one of the 80s great bands.
The Cure - one friend told me that the Crow and Robert Smith's makeup look the same - and they do. Not as dark as the Crow, the Cure spawned many memorable hits such as "Boy's Don't Cry", "In Between Days" and "Close to You".  I highly recommend getting their "Staring at the Sea: The Singles" album.
Dexy's Midnight Runners - ska band Save Ferris did a great remake of their hit "Come on Eileen".Of course, the original one is worth the listen to as well.
Dream Academy - not one of your usual dancey electronic beat infused bands, they best known for their single "Life In a Northern Town"
Echo and the Bunnymen - Known for their moody and dark songs such as "The Killing Moon" and "Bring on the Dancing Horses" they're another one of your new wave bands that you should definitely get an album of.
Fiction Factory - this band created another one of the 80s cult faves "Feels Like Heaven"
General Public - upbeat and headbopping "Tenderness" will always clear up any sad and dreary day
Human League - though, their most popular hit would be "Human" I especially liked "Don't You Want Me" . I usually sing it like I was a waitress in a cocktail bar...that much is true.
Icicle Works - I dont know much about the band, though their hit "Birds Fly (A Whisper to a Scream)" should never be absent from any 80s new wave compilation album.
The JoBoxers - The group behind "Just Got Lucky".  I just love songs with bouncy beats!
Joy Division - this was New Order when they still had Ian Curtis. Songs with dark and moody lyrics, they're best known for "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
The Lotus Eaters - you'll remember them for their hauntingly beatiful love song "First Picture of You" and also the popular hit "German Girl"
Modern English - "I Melt With You" was also remade, but of course, nothing compares to the original
New Order - I loved their single "Regret" in the early 90s. But I do say that listening to "Bizarre Love Triangle", brings me back childhood memories. If you want to check out more of their music buy their "Best of " CD.
OMD - electronic and danceable beats like "If You Leave" and "Enola Gay" are true 80s classics.
Psychedelic Furs - their hit "Ghost In You" was revived by Counting Crows, though, not as good as the original version. Hits worth mentioning as well are "Pretty in Pink" and "Love My Way"
Seona Dancing - before Ricky Gervais went on to become a comedian, he was half of the duo that consisted of the new wave band Seona Dancing. Believe it or not, they had a really good single called "More to Lose". It's an extremely good 80s song and quite hard to find, mind you.
Simple Minds - Aside for "Don't You", they're also known for their hits "Alive and Kicking" and "Sanctify Yourself"
The Smiths - remember that song in that TV series "Charmed"? They sang that originally, and  though Love Spit Love did revive it, it still sounded much the same. Another must have album would be one of this band's, with hits like "Girlfriend in a Coma", "This Charming Man" and of course, "Heaven Know's I'm Miserable Right Now". A soundtrack for the depressed and downtrodden. It makes you wallow in self pity - in style!
Spandau Ballet - an 80s staple, popular hits from Spandau Ballet are "Gold", "True" and "Round and Round". Thinking about it, I just couldn't help but sing "Round and round it goes, and oh dont you know, this is the game that we came here for..."
The Sundays - Harriet Wheeler's smooth, sweet voice, makes their hits like "Here's Where the Story Ends" and "Summertime" quite memorable.
The Style Council - "My Ever Changing Moods" is a song that can bring a skip to your walk when you listen to it.
Thompson Twins - "Hold Me Now" is featured in the Wedding Singer soundtrack, but they're also known for cool hits like "If You Were Here" and "Lies"
Tears for Fears - I grew up listening to this band. They still are churning up songs, but the more new wave-ish kind of songs that they've released can be found in their first album "The Hurting". This contains one of their first hits " Mad World" and "Pale Shelter".
Two Minds Crack - "Upside Down" is a song you'll find yourself unconciously humming to, throughout the day.
The Wild Swans - two songs "Bringing Home the Ashes" and "Whirlpool Heart"  in their "Bringing Home the Ashes" album, makes it worth adding to your 80s music collection.