New Wave Month Song of the Day - It's My Life - Talk Talk

Well, today is March 31st and it is the final day of New Wave Month here on John's World.  I hope you've enjoyed this month's array of Blondie and the B52s, Erasure and Yaz, and all of the other great stuff in between. I know I have, but I am ready to get to today's stuff in about 24 hours.  In the meantime, here's a favorite of many from the new wave era, It's My Life...

New Wave Month Song of the Day #2 - Chains of Love - Erasure

Whereas A Little Respect was probably one of Erasure's biggest hits, this one wasn't far behind...

Do you remember

There was a time....

New Wave Song of the Day - A Little Respect - Erasure

I tried to discover

A little something to make me sweeter

Oh baby refrain, from breaking my heart

I'm so in love with you

I'll be forever blue

That you give me no reason

Why you're making me work so hard...

Today, the last Sunday of New Wave Month, we feature one of the most enduring new wave bands. Erasure, made up of singer/songwriter Andy Bell and keyboardist/songwriter Vince Clarke (also a member of Yaz, featured all day yesterday), was always more popular in their native U.K. than they were here, but they've always been a popular act within the gay community (Bell is openly gay).  The duo have recorded many albums over the years (they still work together), and have had hits here and there, but none as popular as their tunes from the new wave era.

This is one of their most well-known and my personal favorite.  They play this one a lot over the summer at Cherry's on Fire Island and nearly every time they do, everyone sings along.  Check out A Little Respect...

New Wave Song of the Day #4 - Don't Go - Yaz

Came in from the city

Walked into the door

I turned around

When I heard the sound

Of footsteps on the floor

Yaz was so good, I couldn't help but put up another classic.  This one was another club smash, fueled by that synthesizer and those quick, snappy lyrics.  Awesome!

New Wave Month Song of the Day #3 - Only You - Yaz

vimeo

Our third cut from Upstairs at Eric's is a sweet ballad that's waaaayyyy underrated.  Great, great tune!

New Wave Month Song of the Day #2 - Midnight - Yaz

Here is my absolute favorite song off Yaz' Upstairs at Eric's.  The song takes place just after Alison's lover finds out that she cheated on him and he's run off.  It's now midnight and she's out there searching for him in a rainstorm.  The lyrics, the mood, the voice....absolutely awesome!

 

Midnight

Midnight, it's raining outside, he must be soaking wet
Everyone is sleeping tight, God knows I tried my best
Darling, you know it looks bad
Just lost the best thing that I ever had, well
Still I don't know why I did him wrong, no
It's too late, now, he's gone to say

[CHORUS]
Baby, oh, no, can't leave me now
Said, think about it, please
'Cause I love you, and I need you
And I should have thought of that before I did you wrong, yeah
Before I did you wrong
I should have thought of that
Oo, before I did you wrong

Heartache, heartache, yeah
When I saw his face I could see how bad I'd let him down
Cheating when he was working hard, I just had to mess around
I knew from the start he ain't got much money
I should have stayed content with all that good, sweet honey
He's a good, strong man, and I love him so
So how on Earth can I let him go? said, whoah

[CHORUS]

And now, it's midnight, it's raining outside, yeah
And I'm soaking wet, still looking for that man of mine
And I ain't found him yet, well
All of this rain can wash away my tears
But nothing can replace all of those wasted years
In all of this I tell you I have learnt
Playing with fire gets you burnt
And I'm still burning

[CHORUS]

You say you'll lose your pride
Well, don't you know, dear? don't you know
I'll lose so much more if you go now?
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no, no, no

Said, whoah
Do do

Do do do-do do do-do do-do do
Do do do-do do-do-do-do-do-do
Do do do do do
Na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na
Da-da da da-da da, ba ba-da
Da do da no
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

New Wave Month Song of the Day #1 - Situation - Yaz

We begin our last weekend of New Wave Month with one of my favorite new wave bands.  Yaz (or Yazoo as they were originally called in their native U.K.) was made up of former Depeche Mode songwriter and half of the fabulous duo known as Erasure, Vince Clarke on keyboards and powerhouse singer Alison Moyet on vocals.  The band recorded only two albums, the classic Upstairs at Eric's and You and Me Both, before breaking up in 1983.

Their debut album produced two monster hits here in the U.S., and several other great songs that made Upstairs at Eric's a classic.  The uniquely identifiable synth track and awesome vocals of Moyet on Situation made it a #1 dance smash and still endures on dance floors to this day and is only the first of several Yaz tunes to be featured today.  Check it out...

Do I dress for every situation

Moving through the doorway of a nation

Pick me up and check the doubt

Baby I can't do without

Don't mess around

Ya bring me down

How you get about

Don't make a sound just move out

Yazoo - Situation (Dj LooH VideoMix) by Discodandan

New Wave Month Song of the Day #2 - Love and Pride - King

That's what my heart 

Yearns for now 

Love and pride

Here's a second Song of the Day for your new wave listening pleasure.  This one wasn't a monster hit, by any means, but it was a great song to dance to in the club!

New Wave Month Song of the Day - Tenderness - General Public

Here's a new wave tune that's simply pleasing to the ears, with tinges of island flavor and a sweet, sweet hook. Happy Friday!

 

New Wave Month Song of the Day - Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant

Here's a new wave tune I'm sure a lot of people will remember.  Adam Ant was kind of a sex symbol there for awhile (an ex of mine was in love with him!), and when he recorded this song in 1982 he was at the top of his game as a solo artist, having just split with his band Adam & the Ants only a few months earlier.

That band had had a few minor hits that played in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV.  Songs like Antmusic, Prince Charming, and Stand and Deliver carried a unique sound with themes of revolutionary times of more than two-hundred years ago, with war drums and soldier's chants and they had a look to match.  Adam continued in that style alone, too.

After going solo, Adam had a few hits like Desperate, But Not Serious and Strip, and he even had a few minor hits as late as 1995, but none matched the catchy sound of this one.  Check out Goody Two Shoes and have a great day!

C'mon,

Goody two, goody two, goody, goody two shoes

Goody two, goody two, goody, goody two shoes

Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?

Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes by jpdc11

New Wave Month Song of the Day - Ball of Confusion - Love & Rockets

I've mentioned recently that this song reminds me of Spankys, that new wave club I used to go to in Stony Brook, Long Island.  Well, after making that post, I downloaded the tune and have been listening to it intermittently ever since.  The tune was originally performed in 1970 by the Temptations, and remade many times over, including this version by Love & Rockets.  Take a listen and see how the words to this psychedelic song still ring true today...

Love & Rockets - Ball Of Confusion by jpdc11

Ball of Confusion

People moving out, people moving in. Why, because of the color of their skin.
Run, run, run but you sure can't hide. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Vote for me and I'll set you free. Rap on, brother, rap on.
Dennis: Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the...(preacher.)
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the...(teacher.)
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation.
Ball of confusion. Oh yeah, that's what the world is today. Woo, hey, hey.
[Paul:]
The sale of pills are at an all time high.
Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky.
The cities ablaze in the summer time.
And oh, the beat goes on.
[Dennis:]
Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul.
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon.
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything.
[Melvin:]
And the band played on.
So, round and around and around we go.
Where the world's headed, nobody knows.
[Instrumental]
Oh, great googalooga, can't you hear me talking to you.
Just a ball of confusion.
Oh yeah, that's what the world is today.
Woo, hey, hey.
[Eddie:]
Fear in the air, tension everywhere.
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas.
[Dennis:]
And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation.
[Melvin:]
And the band played on.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors,
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills,
Hippies moving to the hills. People all over the world are shouting, 'End the war.'
[Melvin:]
And the band played on.
[Instrumental]
Great googalooga, can't you hear me talking to you.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
That's what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.
That's what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin'... ball of confusion.

New Wave Month Song of the Day - Words - Missing Persons

The band Missing Persons had one fleeting moment (well, maybe a couple, but it was short!) in new wave history, mostly through their 1982, gold-certified album Spring Session M, which produced four Hot 100 tunes, the highest of which, Destination Unknown and this one, both hit #42.  The band was decidedly new wave, featuring outrageously costumes, androgyny, heavy synth beats and a decidedly buxom lead singer who could really hit the high notes.  Check out Dale Bozio and the gang on my favorite of their songs, Words...

Do you hear me

Do you care

Missing Persons-words by atmosfearic

New Wave Month Song of the Day - Love Plus One - Haircut 100

We begin the last week of New Wave Month on John's World with a 1982 one hit wonder from British band Haircut 100.  The song's got tinges of calypso and is kind of an easy breezy type of song.  Check out Love Plus One...

Haircut 100-Love Plus One by adiis

New Wave Month Song of the Day #2 - Love Is a Stranger - Eurythmics

DaveStewart

Here's another of my favorite early tunes by Eurythmics.  This was where Annie Lennox suddenly became beautiful for me.  Great tune!

Love is a stranger
In an open car
To tempt you in
And drive you far away

Eurythmics - Love is a Stranger (original Music Video) HQ from Guido Deutz on Vimeo.

New Wave Month Song of the Day - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics

Eurythmics was another big, big successful act that begun with new waveish music before going mainstream later on in the decade with several pop smashes.  Both members, singer Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart continued to make music long after Eurythmics was history and each is well respected for their work both together and apart.

allmusic

I remember when I first saw this video.  I think many can.  Annie's shockingly carrot-topped, androgynous look was at first alarming in a way, but as the song grew in popularity and the band became more well-known, the shock value that came with the imagery in this video, their first hit single, faded.  Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is one of the duo's most well-known tunes and has been covered many, many times. The uniquely identifiable synth chords are often used in dance/club mixes and every single time it's played it brings dancers to crowd the dance floor, both young and old.  Check it out...

    

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams from Kevin McEwan on Vimeo.

New Wave Month Song of the Day - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) - Pet Shop Boys

Here's another classic from the Pet Shop Boys.  Now ask yourself this question:

Do you want to be rich?

Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots... by zocomoro

New Wave Month Song of the Day - What Have I Done to Deserve This - Pet Shop Boys

In case you missed my late night Song of the Day post last night, today we pay tribute to the Pet Shop Boys. The Pet Shop Boys are one of the top new wave bands who have endured throughout the years and are still making music today.  Here is a classic Pet Shop Boys song, performed with the great Dusty Springfield. Enjoy What Have I Done to Deserve This...

Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Deserve This by PetShopBoys-Official

New Wave Month Early (or Late?) Song of the Day - West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys

surlana

One of my favorite new wave bands still is this fabulous duo from the U.K.   The Pet Shop Boys, consisting of singer Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, had a nice string of hits throughout the 80's and beyond, beginning with this one.  Though they were never a huge success here in the States (this was one of four top ten hits for the band), the duo has had many tunes to hit it big elsewhere and plenty of their songs fill a nice spot within my iTunes library.  Here's West End Girls...

Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls from A on Vimeo.

New Wave Month Song of the Day - We Close Our Eyes - Go West

Ooh, this was a good one!  I remember dancing to this one many times in Spankys and other clubs all the time.  This was the duo's first big hit, and they had another six years after, in 1990, with King of Wishful Thinking.  The singing parts of this one are good here, but it's the synthesizer/horns in between that make the song so great. Nice tune to start the weekend!  Check it out and remember...

We Close Our Eyes from Waver 80 on Vimeo.

Another New Wave Song of the Day - Church of the Poison Mind - Culture Club

Here'a another Culture Club tune for your Thursday evening.  It was the debut single from their sophomore album, Colour By Numbers and though I always loved it, I'm still not sure what it's about...Oh, and the voice of that Helen Terry!

Desolate lovin in your eyes...

Culture Club - Church Of The Poison Mind by CultureClub-Official