New Wave Outpost Forum

You know that part after the 2nd round of the refrain, just before the 3rd verse and/or a final, rousing refrain. Could be a scorching solo, a wonderful riff/melody, great vocal etc. What new wave songs were just so great in that part that they had you mouthwatering waiting for it to arrive (or just skip forward to it right away)?

"Up the Junction" by Squeeze has a very good bridge/middle eight. It probably fits everything you've described, as it goes through a complete key change right as the 3rd verse begins.

I have ALWAYS loved the bridges in Ultravox's "Quiet Men" (from the Foxx era LP "Systems of Romance") and "We Stand Alone" (from the Midge era LP "Rage In Eden"). Have you ever A/B'd these two bridges? Notice the uncanny similarities in phrasing and progession? Who's the link? Billy Currie of course! He composed both those bridges. If I was a little more into the classical masters, I might be able to tell you who Bill is channeling in both cases. But I just love the way these bridges act like little songs unto themselves. Listen to them!

The middle section from The Chameleons' "In Answer" (Strange Times version) gives me chills, such a great buildup and guitar line during that passage. The buildup in "Red Skies" by The Fixx is also great.

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Not really a NW tune but a little 80's power pop gem nonetheless, Prism's 'Don't Let Him Know' has a great bridge/changeup following the rousing intro which deftly reverts to a soft guitar and percussion accompanying a wistful lead vocal which then switches back to the driving title chorus.


<MARQUEE><h5>Moving @The Speed of Life</h5></MARQUEE>

If I understand the definition of a bridge correctly, I would pick:

Love and Rockets "Love Me"

(the soft acoustic moment right before "I'm only interested in paradise...")

"Icing on the Cake" by Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy

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Borrowed Nostalgia for the Unremembered 80's

I cast my vote for Television's "Marquee Moon". That break that goes off in an entirely different direction, but works so perfectly. The song wouldn't be the same without it.

I'll go back to punk with Buzzcock's "You Tear Me Up". Complete change of direction here starting with "You're just as hard as a pavement and I don't know where my passion went..." and then it gets back to the chorus.

We didn't sell a lot of records, but somehow we left an impression.
-Johnny Ramone-