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Tuesday Coffee Break: 80s Synth-Pop

Posted at 8:45 AM on September 27, 2011 by Steve Seel (41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Did you head to First Avenue last night to catch Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark? A lot of people are buzzing about the show this morning (and later today we'll even welcome the band into our studio to play some songs and talk with Mark Wheat!). Jim McGuinn went to the show and is practically high on last night's steady infusion of synth-pop into his veins, and so we thought we'd devote today 9:30 Coffee Break to the genre. Let us know what some of your favorite tunes are from the heyday of 80s synth-pop, and we'll put together a set with your suggestions today.

Comments (41)

Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode
Girls On Film - Duran Duran
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order

Posted by Chris | September 27, 2011 9:01 AM

Yazoo - Only You
The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star
A-ha - Take On Me

Posted by Betsy | September 27, 2011 9:03 AM

King For a Day, Thompson Twins

New Song, Howard Jones

Posted by Erik | September 27, 2011 9:03 AM

Howard Jones "What is Love"
Gary Numan "Cars"
Human League "Fascination"

Posted by ann | September 27, 2011 9:03 AM

Pale Shelter by Tears for Fears

Posted by Monica | September 27, 2011 9:04 AM

You have to play Erasure: A Little Respect. It brings back all the best of "have fun" music!

Posted by JennyB | September 27, 2011 9:04 AM

I think you need some D-E-V-O. My vote is for Jocko Homo.

Posted by john moore | September 27, 2011 9:04 AM

BEATLE PROOF!

Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes
Take On Me - Aha

Posted by Chris | September 27, 2011 9:04 AM

Tears for Fears - "Everybody want to rule the world" or "Head over heals"

Sparks - "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us" or "When Do I Get To Sing My Way"

A-ha - "Take on me"

Posted by casey | September 27, 2011 9:05 AM

My Best Friends Girl - The Cars
Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins

Posted by Jackie | September 27, 2011 9:06 AM

a-ha "Take on Me"
The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star"
MGMT "Kids"
Freezepop "Get Ready 2 Rokk"
Anything by The Cras, right?
And shouldn't some Talking Heads qualify, too?

Posted by Topher Boyd | September 27, 2011 9:07 AM

There's some pretty heavy synth in the Beatles' "Because"
Freezepop "Get Ready 2 Rokk"
MGMT "Kids"
The Cars? And shouldn't some Talking Heads qualify? And shoot! Howzabout "I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams" by Weezer?

Posted by Topher Boyd | September 27, 2011 9:09 AM

Every Day is Halloween - Ministry
Cars - Gary Neuman
Blinded Me With Science -Thomas Dolby

Posted by CK | September 27, 2011 9:09 AM

"Don't Go" -- Yaz
"(Keep Feeling) Fascination" -- Human League
"Wishing" -- A Flock of Seagulls
"Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" -- Ultravox
"(Feels Like) Heaven" -- Fiction Factory

Posted by (JL) | September 27, 2011 9:09 AM

Human League - Don't You Want Me

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World or Head Over Heels

Posted by Oj | September 27, 2011 9:10 AM

Europe - The Final Countdown
Gary Numan - Cars
Anything DEVO
A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
Soft Cell - Tainted Love

Posted by Jarrett B. | September 27, 2011 9:10 AM

Yello: I Love You, or No More Words

Heaven 17: Penthouse & Pavement, Fascist Groove Thing

Yaz: Don't Go, Goodbye 70's

Scritti Politti (eeewww): The one with the line, "Tell Me whyyyyyy...."

Posted by Bill from Old Lyme | September 27, 2011 9:10 AM

Cory Hart - Sunglasses at Night

Tears for Fears - Shout

>:)

Posted by Joey | September 27, 2011 9:10 AM

"She Blinded Me With Science" - Thomas Dolby
"A Little Respect" - Erasure
"You Might Think" - The Cars
"Lies" - Thompson Twins

Posted by jo | September 27, 2011 9:14 AM

Small Town Boy by Bronski Beat

Posted by Monica | September 27, 2011 9:16 AM

A lot of early 80s music from Prince was synth-heavy. 1999, Controversy, Dirty Mind....

Posted by Todd | September 27, 2011 9:16 AM

Pocket Calculator - Kraftwerk

Posted by Brandon | September 27, 2011 9:16 AM

'Safety Dance' by Men Without Hats
'Just Can't Get Enough' by Depeche Mode

Posted by Mel | September 27, 2011 9:18 AM

Also The Time - "Cool", for example.

Posted by Todd | September 27, 2011 9:18 AM

Oh, and:

"Pop Goes the World" - Men Without Hats

...possibly one of the goofiest songs / videos ever to come out of the 80s.

Posted by jo | September 27, 2011 9:18 AM

Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics

Posted by Matt J | September 27, 2011 9:19 AM

Berlin - Metro
I second or third or whatever A Little Respect by Erasure

Posted by Deb | September 27, 2011 9:19 AM

You have to play "Just Can't Get Enough" by Depeche Mode! It's synthtastic.

Seconding New Order, Yaz, Erasure and 'Tainted Love' by Soft Cell.

Posted by cal | September 27, 2011 9:21 AM

Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Van Halen - Jump
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls

Posted by Alex Garza | September 27, 2011 9:21 AM

Another vote for Gary Numan's Cars
Peter Schilling's "Major Tom."

Posted by St Arthur J | September 27, 2011 9:21 AM

Come on! Embrace the cheese! Please! Erasure!

Posted by JennyB | September 27, 2011 9:24 AM

Goodbye 70's by Yaz (Yazoo)
It's a Sin by Pet Shop Boys

Posted by Monica | September 27, 2011 9:26 AM

If Steve won't play Erasure, leave it for Barb!!!

Posted by ann | September 27, 2011 9:26 AM

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
A-ha - Take on me

Posted by bec | September 27, 2011 9:27 AM

Echo and the Bunnymen - Killing Moon

Posted by St Arthur J | September 27, 2011 9:28 AM

Oh, Steve... Pretty please, play some Erasure! It would completely make my day!

Posted by Tara | September 27, 2011 9:28 AM

Can't do this one without the one that started it all.... "Pop Muzic" by "M". It nighta still been 1979, but still...

Posted by Steve Stavisky | September 27, 2011 9:32 AM

Big Country ?

Posted by Dutch | September 27, 2011 9:33 AM

Spandau Ballet "True" or ABC The look of love"

Posted by steve-o | September 27, 2011 9:38 AM

Europe - The Final Countdown
Herbie Hancock - Rockit

Posted by Todd | September 27, 2011 9:40 AM

I totally remember buying the LP with Paul McCartney's Temporary Secretary on it! lol That was a real flashback to hear on the radio! Freaked me out a bit!

Posted by Jamie | September 27, 2011 9:48 AM

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