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[80’s] A Collection of Iconic Songs Representing the New Romantic Movement [New Wave]

The New Romantic movement, born in early-1980s Britain.

Its glamorous makeup and fashion, combined with synth-heavy sounds, became the driving force that opened up a new musical scene.

Born as a reaction to punk, this style was brief as a movement, but with its glamorous aesthetic it fused with dance music and influenced many musicians—Japan included.

In this article, we’ll introduce tracks ranging from songs that can be considered the roots of the New Romantic sound to its signature anthems.

If you’ve only recently come across the term “New Romantic,” be sure to check it out!

Playlist

[80’s] A Collection of Iconic Songs Representing the New Romantic Movement [New Wave]
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastFade To GreyVisage
Fade To GreyVisageplay_arrow
Visage’s neo-romantic classic
2eastTo Cut A Long Story ShortSpandau Ballet
To Cut A Long Story ShortSpandau Balletplay_arrow
Spandau Ballet’s debut single
3eastGirls On FilmDuran Duran
Girls On FilmDuran Duranplay_arrow
The appeal of Duran Duran's signature songs
4eastWarm LeatheretteThe Normal
Warm LeatheretteThe Normalplay_arrow
The Normal's innovative synth track
5eastBack to NatureFad Gadget
Back to NatureFad Gadgetplay_arrow
Expressing the contradictions of modern society in Fed Gadget’s debut song
6eastSleepwalkUltravox
SleepwalkUltravoxplay_arrow
Ultravox’s new vocalist’s debut single
7eastBeing BoiledThe Human League
Being BoiledThe Human Leagueplay_arrow
The Human League’s innovative songs
8eastDo You Really Want To Hurt MeCulture Club
Do You Really Want To Hurt MeCulture Clubplay_arrow
A song that depicts the pain in a relationship with a lover
9eastYou Spin Me RoundDead Or Alive
You Spin Me RoundDead Or Aliveplay_arrow
Dead or Alive's smash hit song
10eastLife in TokyoJapan
Life in TokyoJapanplay_arrow
Japan shifts from glam rock through collaboration with Moroder
11eastElectricityOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
ElectricityOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Darkplay_arrow
OMD’s debut song, a fusion of electronic sounds and punk
12eastAntmusicAdam&the Ants
AntmusicAdam&the Antsplay_arrow
Adam Ant's revolutionary new romantic song
13eastNo G.D.M.Gina X Performance
No G.D.M.Gina X Performanceplay_arrow
Debut song of Gina X Performance
14eastR.E.R.B.Shock
R.E.R.B.Shockplay_arrow
Shock 1980 new romantic song
15eastMemorabiliaSoft Cell
MemorabiliaSoft Cellplay_arrow
Soft Cell's 1981 synth-pop classic
16eastToo ShyKajagoogoo
Too ShyKajagoogooplay_arrow
Kajagoogoo's smash hit song
17eastHot In The Heels Of LoveThrobbing Gristle
Hot In The Heels Of LoveThrobbing Gristleplay_arrow
Throbbing Gristle’s ’79 synth-disco track
18eastThe Look Of LoveABC
The Look Of LoveABCplay_arrow
A smash hit from the first album
19eastI travelSimple Minds
I travelSimple Mindsplay_arrow
Neo-romantic of the synthesizer
20eastCarsGary Numan
CarsGary Numan
A car-themed song became a worldwide hit. Its rhythm and lyrics resonated with audiences.
21eastPlanet EarthDuran Duran
Planet EarthDuran Duranplay_arrow
Duran Duran’s debut single
22eastEnola GayOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Enola GayOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Darkplay_arrow
The History of the Atomic Bombing Aircraft and the Question of Peace
23eastDon’t You Want MeThe Human League
Don't You Want MeThe Human Leagueplay_arrow
The Human League scores a worldwide hit
24eastAll Stood StillUltravox
All Stood StillUltravoxplay_arrow
The synth tone is stylish and never gets old.
25eastAshes To AshesDavid Bowie
Ashes To AshesDavid Bowieplay_arrow
David Bowie, a pioneer of multi-genre music
26eastIn the Name of LoveThompson Twins
In the Name of LoveThompson Twinsplay_arrow
Early hit songs of the Thompson Twins
27eastSweet DreamsEurythmics
Sweet DreamsEurythmicsplay_arrow
Ann captivates in a men's suit
28eastDon’t Stop the DanceBryan Ferry
Don't Stop the DanceBryan Ferryplay_arrow
Brian dances in a suit, recalling his mother's words
29eastPoison MindCulture Club
Poison MindCulture Clubplay_arrow
Introducing Culture Club's hidden gems
30eastGoody Two-ShoesAdam Ant
Goody Two-ShoesAdam Antplay_arrow
Broke away from Adam and the Ants; debut single hit number one
31eastIs It a DreamClassix Nouveaux
Is It a DreamClassix Nouveauxplay_arrow
The distinctive style of a New Romantic band
32eastWhere Did Our Love GoSoft Cell
Where Did Our Love GoSoft Cellplay_arrow
Arrange a Supremes song with a synthesizer
33eastAi LanA Flock Of Seagulls
Ai LanA Flock Of Seagullsplay_arrow
British group becomes a big hit in America
34eastGentlemen Take PolaroidsJapan
Gentlemen Take PolaroidsJapanplay_arrow
Japan is a cool, distinctive act with a neo-romantic vibe.
35eastMad WorldTears for Fears
Mad WorldTears for Fearsplay_arrow
Dark lyrics but a soothing melody
36eastWishful thinkingChina Crisis
Wishful thinkingChina Crisisplay_arrow
China Crisis's only UK chart Top 10 hit
37eastCalling Your NameMARILYN
Calling Your NameMARILYNplay_arrow
Scouted after appearing with Eurythmics
38eastTalk TalkTalk Talk
Talk TalkTalk Talkplay_arrow
It’s trending that the band and the song have the same name.
39eastI don’t want to be a heroJohnny Hates Jazz
I don't want to be a heroJohnny Hates Jazzplay_arrow
US release canceled due to anti-war lyrics
40eastForever YoungAlphaville
Forever YoungAlphavilleplay_arrow
A German band's song is gaining buzz thanks to a film
41eastLiving on the SailingBLANCMANGE
Living on the SailingBLANCMANGEplay_arrow
Black Manji ranked 7th in the UK.
42eastJust Can’t Get EnoughDepeche Mode
Just Can't Get EnoughDepeche Modeplay_arrow
Depeche Mode bright, upbeat song
43eastMore Than ThisRoxy Music
More Than ThisRoxy Musicplay_arrow
Roxy Music's smash hit