My New Wave Countdown Enters the Top 100

Last Thursday was Son #1’s birthday. That day holds significance not just for the birth of my first son, which would be huge in any person’s life, the birth of a child. But, in a move that foreshadowed much of our relationship, Son #1 was born the same day as arguably rock music’s greatest day since that community was playing two concerts, in London and Philadelphia, to raise money to feed the people suffering from the African drought in the mid-1980s. That event is forever known as Live Aid.

Not only were there several classic rock and pop artists, many New Wave artists got international exposure by performing mainly in London. Oh, those were heady days. Not only were my wife and I bringing this beautiful baby boy into the world, my generation was actually working to solve a problem. Unbelievably, the whole Live Aid/Band Aid/We Are the World/USA for Africa thing continues to take in money and give large portions to the starving in Africa, thanks to the efforts of former Boomtown Rats lead singer Sir Bob Geldoff. Now, my son is a good-looking married intelligent adult on the cusp of doing great things in life. Still, his birth will be forever linked in an appropriate manner with Live Aid.

With that said, let’s take one last look at a major portion of My 300 Favorite New Wave Songs. Hopefully, the rest of the week will be spent discussing the songs in My Top 50.

51. Thomas Dolby – “She Blinded Me with Science” (1982)

52. INXS – “Don’t Change” (1982)

53. The Cult – “She Sells Sanctuary” (1985)

54. Candy – “Whatever Happened to Fun” (1985)

55. Dexys Midnight Runners – “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)” (1981)

56. Culture Club – “Time (The Clock of My Heart)” (1983)

57. Love & Rockets – “So Alive” (1989)

58. Squeeze – “Tempted” (1981)

59. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance” (1983)

60. The Psychedelic Furs – “Love My Way” (1982)

61. The Style Council – “Shout to the Top” (1985)

62. Spandau Ballet – “True” (1983)

63. The Waitresses – “I Know What Boys Like” (1981)

64. M – “Pop Muzik” (1979)

65. Gary Numan – “Cars” (1980)

66. Tracey Ullman – “They Don’t Know” (1983)

67. Elvis Costello – “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” (1977)

68. The Power Station – “Some Like It Hot” (1985)

69. Culture Club – “Karma Chameleon” (1983)

70. Buggles – “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1979)

71. Scritti Politti – “Perfect Way” (1985)

72. Tommy Tutone – “867-5309/Jenny” (1982)

73. Falco – “Rock Me Amadeus” (1986)

74. XTC – “Senses Working Overtime” (1982)

75. The Kings – “Switchin’ to Glide” (1981)

76. The Housemartins – “Happy Hour” (1986)

77. The Fixx – “One Thing Leads to Another” (1983)

78. Boomtown Rats – “I Don’t Like Mondays” (1979)

79. The Members – “Working Girl” (1983)

80. Modern English – “I Melt with You” (1982)

81. Joe Jackson – “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” (1979)

82. Crowded House – “Now We’re Getting Somewhere” (1986)

83. Planet P Project – “Why Me?” (1983)

84. Madness – “One Step Beyond” (1979)

85. Duran Duran – “The Reflex” (1984)

86. General Public – “Tenderness” (1985)

87. Frankie Goes to Hollywood – “Two Tribes” (1984)

88. Violent Femmes – “Blister in the Sun” (1983)

89. Talking Heads – “Take Me to the River” (1978)

90. New Order – “True Faith” (1985)

91. The Cars – “Dangerous Type” (1979)

92. The Smiths – “Girlfriend in a Coma” (1986)

93. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” (1981)

94. Thompson Twins – “Hold Me Now” (1984)

95. Jo Boxers – “Just Got Lucky” (1983)

96. Flash & the Pan – “Hey, St. Peter” (1979)

97. Laurie Anderson – “O Superman (for Massenet)” (1982)

98. The Vapors – “Turning Japanese” (1980)

99. Eurythmics – “Love Is a Stranger” (1983)

100. The Jam – “A Town Called Malice” (1982)

I know! You all see some of my favorite artists listed this low, but such is the quality of songs in My Top 50, which will begin to be unveiled tomorrow. So, tune in, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel!