What Really Is New Wave?

[Sean]

Have you guys ever sat back and thought, what is really New Wave? I mean not all New Wave bands sound the same and they don't all use synthesizers but all New Wavers seem to love the same bands or at least have some kind of interest. Take for instance Depeche Mode vs. Wire Train. They don't really sound at all alike but most of us love both bands. How is it that we decide what bands are New Wave and what bands are not? Why isn't Fleetwood Mac New Wave? If you listen to Little Lies, that could be a New Wave song but why don't we consider them New Wave? I thought about the fact that they existed in the 60's and 70's but then why do we consider The Cars New Wave?!? I guess my thought is why don't we consider some of the new bands that come out that sound New Wave as New Wave. Would No Doubt be New Wave? Would No Doubt have been New Wave if they came out in the 80's?

[KYYX4ever]

Fascinating topic.
When I first joined this board, there were raging discussions concerning this very same topic. One of my first posts was "I never thought Duran Duran were REALLY New Wave", and all kinds of members posted saying YES THEY WERE.
NW is

[Ollie Stench]

It was a time frame as well as a musical style and a mode of fashion.
It was also the freedom to create something new as opposed to mining an already-existing form, be it music, fashion, art, film, everything. I think that freedom more than anything els

[middlesexnj]

[quote]Originally posted by Sean
[br]Have you guys ever sat back and thought, what is really New Wave? I mean not all New Wave band

[ExRat]

That's in interesting theory, middlesexnj - considering I also thought of myself as a fan of New Wave - but have always HATED that song. I guess it just goes to show, the diaspora that was 'New Wave'. That acts so musically diverse could be all penned int

[golfer]

Who the hell did "Just Like heaven"????

[harleytexas]

golfer Posted - 01/05/2005 : 01:04:55
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Who the hell did "Just Like heaven"????

I think that it may be the Cure song...or not............[:D]

[ghosty]

I agree with most everything that's been mentioned so far on this topic and would like to stress the time period aspect of it. New Wave was a musical and cultural event indelibly linked to the late 70's/Early 80's. I can't consider much of anything from 1

[middlesexnj]

[quote][i]Originally posted by ghosty[/i]
<br>I agree with most everything that's been mentioned so far on this topic and would like to str

[n/a5]

Maybe this has been posted before...and even if it hasn't I am sure you all are familiar with it by now:

In Penelope Spheeris' documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, Clyde Bessie of Catholic Discipline spits out, "New Wave doesn't exist. Ther

[middlesexnj]

Is it just me, or does there seem to be an unusually high proportion of New Jersey-ites in this forum??

[bpdp3]

I'm not from New Jersey. And I can't disagree with anything that anyone's said so far.

My opinion's changed since posting on this board; I used to never consider anything past 82-82 new wave - - now I'm willing to include bands from the mid-to-late 80

[n/a5]

[quote][i]Originally posted by middlesexnj[/i]
<br>Is it just me, or does there seem to be an unusually high proportion of New Jersey-ites

[Ollie Stench]

Another thing to keep in mind is the difference in the definition of "New Wave". In england and europe it pretty much meant the first wave of punk and poawerpop like Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe.

In the States "new Wave" meant more pop/dance oriented

[middlesexnj]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Nero Lance[/i]
<br>
The BOX (UHF Channel playing all sorts of cool New Wave videos) was located in Newark.