Recommended masterpieces and popular songs of Western electro-pop and synth-pop
Genres like electropop and synth-pop have a history spanning over 40 years.
If you start digging into their connections with so-called techno and dance music—or even the differences between electropop and synth-pop to begin with—you’ll find there’s no end to it.
Setting that historical background aside for now, we’ve researched and curated a wide-ranging selection of classic and contemporary electropop and synth-pop tracks from Western music, all centered around catchy, pop-oriented melodies!
You might even notice how genres connect across eras.
To music fans who are intrigued, we hope you’ll give it a read.
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Best Western Electropop/Synthpop Songs and Popular Tracks (11–20)
Such Great HeightsThe Postal Service
Are you familiar with The Postal Service, the duo formed by Ben Gibbard—the frontman of Death Cab for Cutie, which has now grown into a quintessential American rock band—and electronic artist Dntel? They wrapped up a brief run after releasing just one album in 2003, Give Up, but it became a long-selling title in the U.S.
and a rare hit for its storied indie label, Sub Pop.
The lead single, Such Great Heights, is a classic in which forward-thinking electronic sounds blend perfectly with Ben’s characteristically delicate, wistful melodies.
Tainted LoveSoft Cell
Soft Cell, formed in 1978 by two people who met at an art school in Leeds, England, is an electropop duo that found success in the 1980s new wave scene not only in their home country but also in the United States.
Unfortunately, their name recognition in Japan has to be said to be low, but it’s worth emphasizing that they have many devoted fans and that well-known artists openly cite their influence.
The song introduced here is their signature track and a U.S.
hit, “Tainted Love.” Also known in Japan under the title “Stainless Love,” the song is actually a cover of Gloria Jones’s 1964 release.
Their knack for picking a song like this really shows their distinctive taste, doesn’t it? Incidentally, the track was later covered by Marilyn Manson, a big fan of new wave.
Leave A TraceChvrches
For music fans who love British music, artists hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, carry a special resonance.
CHVRCHES, who were born in a place that has continuously produced countless great bands and popular artists—almost as if touched by pop magic—are a band with a fantastic pop sensibility.
Centered on contemporary electropop, they drew early attention mainly online, and after their debut they found success not only in the UK but also in the US.
Their 2015 release Leave a Trace became a hit, earning a Gold certification.
Be sure to savor the cool electro beat paired with the wistful melody and vocals—lyrics steeped in melancholy included.
CarsGary Numan
Gary Numan from the UK took the world by storm with his android-like, inhuman look and cutting-edge electropop sound.
He began his career in his teens with a band called Tubeway Army, and after the band split, he went solo.
His solo debut single, Cars, released in 1979, was an instant smash, hitting No.
1 in the UK and No.
3 in the US.
Looping synth phrases, mechanical beats, vocals stripped of any human warmth—his sound had a profound influence on the artists who followed.
Gary himself has openly said he’s a fan of Ultravox and John Foxx, so it’s fun to listen while comparing their sounds.
Love Action (I Believe In Love)The Human League
Among the leading acts of 80s synth-pop that also achieved commercial success was The Human League.
Often labeled as part of the New Romantic movement, they gained popularity in Japan as well, with the alluring, makeup-wearing Philip Oakey as their frontman.
While they’re best known for “Don’t You Want Me” (known in Japan by the title “Ai no Nokoribi”), this time I’d like to introduce the 1981 single “Love Action (I Believe in Love).” It’s true that their image strategy—boosted by MTV-era promotional videos—helped drive their success, but as you listen, keep in mind there’s plenty to appreciate musically too, including their use of analog synthesizers.