Five best new wave songs released as singles in 1984
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The tinny melodies of synths and riffing electric strings can only mean one thing—it’s new wave time. The genre that defined much of the late 1970s and early 1980s made a permanent imprint on the modern foundations of pop music, giving birth to some of the best-loved artists and songs not only of the era but of all time.
The sonic surf created a kaleidoscope of colour for the pop and rock worlds, that not only defined the era but has transcended into every aspect of the sonic canon ever since. From its origins rooted in punk to the lightest notes of its sparkling melodies, new wave was all-encompassing but equally hitting the cultural zeitgeist on the head in terms of paying homage to the past yet also looking to the future.
From classic acts of eras gone by like David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac, to those who came to the fore at the height of the genre, what marked new wave different from the rest was its ability to include every type of artist from all walks of the sonic landscape. What also contributed a huge factor was the dawn of MTV at the time, meaning that songs were now committed to both sound and video, making the power of technology a stronghold in music forevermore.
At the peak of the period was the seminal year of 1984, nearing the midpoint of the decade, where big dreams and even bigger hair were reaching their full height, and the art of the music video was being fully mastered after the launch of MTV three years prior. It was the quintessential time of the new wave, and as such, here we count down five of the best singles from the genre, hailing from that special year four decades ago.
Five best new wave singles from 1984
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