What is
New
Wave?
Short answer: "New Wave" is a style of
music that freshened up the aging rock/pop world of the late
1970s and early 1980s.
Long answer: "New Wave" means different
things to different people. A few samples of differing
definitions:
- "The term ... was introduced in 1976 in Great Britain
by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren as an alternative
label for what was also being called 'punk'. (Wikipedia)
- "A style of rock music popularized in the early 1980s,
marked by the use of synthesizers." (The Free
Dictionary)
- "An emotionally detached style of rock music
characterized by a synthesized sound and a repetitive
beat." (FactMonster.com)
- "Popular music less raw than punk rock and typically
including unconventional melodies, exaggerated beats, and
quirky lyrics." (Merriam-Webster's
Online Dictionary)
What is not New
Wave?
Again, a highly subjective question! As someone who came of age
musically during that time
- and who truly was called "New Wave Dave" back
then
- I have my own notions.
Basically, I see New Wave music as rock with an
unconventional, modern [for that era] edge, in both melodies
and lyrics.
I do not view these types of bands as "New Wave":
- Music from other genres that happened to fall into
that time period: The Go-Go's (pure pop), Men at Work
(simple repetitious chart-seekers), The Pretenders
(straightforward rock), Graham Parker (pub rock [but great
stuff!])
- Modernized reggae/ska: English Beat,
Madness
- Bands that played overly "arty" rock: Joy
Division [too depressing], Roxy Music [too self-indulgent],
The Waitresses [cutesy vibe], etc.
What is bad New
Wave?
Everybody's tastes are different. Here's what I don't care
for:
- Most synth-pop: Psychedelic Furs, Duran
Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Human League. There are
exceptions (for instance, I really liked The
Fixx).
- Sensitive Brit-pop: Tears for Fears, Howard
Jones, Spandau Ballet (OK, "True" is their only song I
know).
My favorite New Wave Bands
(Click
the link to see my page about each
one.)
More to come!
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