Synth & Swagger

Synth & Swagger

Over 60 new wave articles, 5 music video commentaries & more

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Synth & Swagger

New wave and '80s music authority

Best New Wave Songs by Year

The standout New Wave songs of each year, curated and ranked to capture the hits, hidden gems, and defining sounds of the moment.

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Best New Wave Songs of 1985

The best new wave songs of 1985, featuring A-ha, Tears for Fears, Simple Minds, Howard Jones and Katrina and the Waves.

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Best New Wave Songs of 1984

Explore the best new wave songs of 1984, global hits. Synthpop, and guitar rock reaching new creative heights.

Best New Wave Songs of 1980

The year new wave truly exploded. Discover the best new wave songs of 1980: from synth-driven hits to genre-bending classics that reshaped rock music.

Best New Wave Songs of 1983

1983 was a banner year for new wave. From synthpop breakthroughs and MTV-fueled hits to enduring classics by Eurythmics, Men at Work, New Order, and more, discover the songs that defined the genre's peak.

Best New Wave Songs of 1982

1982 marked new wave's breakthrough into the mainstream. Explore the year's biggest hits as synthpop, guitar pop, and quirky originals reshaped the rock landscape.

Best New Wave Songs of 1981

From the breakthrough of The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” to the noir sleaze of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”, 1981 was a defining year for new wave - blending synth-pop, post-punk edge, and chart ambition into a sound that would shape the '80s. This guide highlights the essential tracks that made it happen.

Best New Wave Songs of 1979

Discover the best new wave songs of 1979 - a list of iconic tracks from the Cars, Joe Jackson, the B-52s, the Buggles and more that defined the sound of the year.

Best New Wave Songs of 1978

Explore the 1978 breakthrough year of new wave with five essential songs: from Blondie’s Heart of Glass to Talking Heads’ energetic Take Me to the River.