2011 NWO Top Songs Poll

[20ohm20]

Depeche Mode - But Not Tonight
New Order - Blue Monday
Ultravox - Hiroshima Mon Amour
Scritti Politti - The Sweetest Girl
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes
Gary Numan - Cars
Joy Division - Transmission
Bauhaus - She's In Parties
Duran Duran - Planet Earth
Visage - Fade To Grey
The Human League - Seconds
Classix Nouveaux - Guilty
Spandau Ballet - The Freeze
Alphaville - Big In Japan
David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Bamboo Music
Nick Heyward - Whistle Down The Wind
Roxy Music - More Than This
OMD - Gravity Never Failed
Icehouse - Great Southern Land
Arcadia - The Promise
The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Split Enz - Six Months In A Leaky Boat
ABC - Vanity Kills
Missing Persons - Mental Hopscotch
Soft Cell - Bedsitter
Kraftwerk - The Model
Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart
INXS - The One Thing
Howard Jones - What Is Love
Berlin - Tell Me Why
Adam and the Ants - Antmusic
Magazine - Song From Under The Floorboards
Echo and the Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses
Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost In You
Talk Talk - Life's What You Make It
Japan - Halloween
A Flock Of Seagulls - Telecommunication
Devo - Come Back Jonee
Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Aztec Camera - Oblivious
Big Country - In A Big Country
Real Life - Send Me An Angel
The Cure - Play For Today
Madness - It Must Be Love
Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach
The Fixx - Are We Ourselves?
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Firecracker
Kajagoogoo - Take Another View
The Normal - Warm Leatherette
Trans-X - Living On Video

[20ohm20]

This was really hard. When I first started typing up this list the other night, I found that it contained almost 200 songs. After I removed the duplicates (only one song per band, not side project) I narrowed it down to about 140. The final list of 50 was made after countless edits, and frankly I'm sick of messing with the damned thing. [:p]

[hello_world]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Frank_Chickens[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by hello_world[/i]
p.s. Frank Chickens, I've only *heard* of about three bands on your list. I'm going to try to listen to all those songs with an open mind to edify myself. But really--no Gary Numan, New Order, or The Cure? Not even one? I can barely even get through a week without listening to them.
[/quote]

I did try with Gary Numan when I first started and if he ever got around to writing a second tune, let me know. There's the dull, dreary, droning one, the one that's droning, dreary and dull, the dreary droning dull one, etc.

As for The Cure, it's part of the triumvirate of teenage, studenty wank alongside The Smiths and Morrissey. Robert Smith is a smug arrogant self-important arsehole who think he's god's gift. Ugh, count me out.

For New Order, they're the less talented part of Joy Division and boy doesn't it show and they're not adverse to digging up the corpse of Ian Curtis when it suits them.
[/quote]

One wonders whether there is a danger in being an enthusiast of X, where X can be any topic. The danger is thinking "If it is obscure then it is good and if popular bad" as a way of separating oneself from the ignorati. Of course, if an accident of history had made what is currently unpopular popular and vice versa, then this way of thinking would champion the unpopular.

If New Order had been an obscure band that sold only 12 records, then one wonders where it would show up at the top of the list of this particular type of enthusiast.

[Data1000]

Modern English – I Melt with You
The Cars – All I Can Do
Flock of Seagulls – Wishing I Had a Photograph
The Cars – Best Friends Girl
Real Life – Send Me an Angel
Frida – I Know There’s Something Going On
Trans X – Living on Video
The Plimsouls – Million Miles Away
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Adam Ant – Desperate but not Serious
Morrissey – Everyday is Like Sunday
Flock of Seagulls – What am I Supposed to Do?
Baltimora – Tarzan Boy
The Church – Unguarded Moment
Men Without Hats – Safety Dance
After the Fire – Der Kommissar
Real Life – Catch Me I’m Falling
Red Rockers – China
The Fixx – The Sign of Fire
The Psychedelic Furs – Ghost in You
The Fixx – Red Skies at Night
Bananarama – Cruel Summer
The Go Gos – Vacation
Split Enz – I Got You
Kajagoogoo – Too Shy
Naked Eyes – Always Something there to Remind Me
Missing Persons – Destination Unknown
The Go Gos – Our Lips are Sealed
New Order – True Faith
Missing Persons – Words
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen
Silver Pozzoli – Around my Dream
Peter Schilling – Major Tom
The Cars – Tonight She Comes
Soft Cell – Say Hello Waive Goodbye
Aha – Take on Me
Icicle Works – Whisper to a Scream
The Cure – Pictures of You
Josie Cotton – License to Dance
The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry
Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star
The Vapors – Turning Japanese
When in Rome – The Promise
U2 – I Will Follow
Hoodoo Gurus – Come Anytime
Cyndi Lauper – She Bop
Human League – Fascination
The Knack – Good Girls Don’t
Erasure – A little Respect
Gary Numan - Cars

[Data1000]

[quote][i]Originally posted by djcraig[/i]
<br>Glad to see The Plimsouls on some of the lists. I always thought their popularity was more regional and that they didn't have much of a "national" following. I'm assuming those who listed them aren't all from the West.

<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

[/quote]

The Plimsouls are near the top of my list and I'm from the central US. As a junior high student, I became mesmorized by them during the Valley Girl movie.

[coop41]

The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make
R.E.M - Radio Free Europe
INXS - The One Thing
The Romantics – What I Like About You
The Call – The Walls Came Down
New Order – Blue Monday
Maurice & The Cliches – Soft Core
Men At Work – Who Can It Be Now?
Jason & The Scorchers - Help There's A Fire
Devo – Girl U Want
Burning Sensations - Belly of the Whale
Modern English – I Melt With You
Wire Train - Chamber Of Hellos
The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Translator - Everywhere That I’m Not
Big Country - In A Big Country
English Beat – Mirror In The Bathroom
The Fixx - Stand or Fall
Reflex – The Politics Of Dancing
The Bongos - Numbers With Wings
The Jam – Town Called Malice
The Elvis Brothers – Fire in The City
The Plimsouls - A Million Miles Away
Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science
Duran Duran – Girls On Film
Oingo Boingo - Only A Lad
The Alarm - The Stand
Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning
Talk Talk - Talk Talk
Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way
Slow Children – Vanessa Vascillating
Sparks (with Jane Weidlin) - Cool Places
Felony – The Fanatic
Violent Femmes - Add It Up
Go-Go's – We Got The Beat
Wall of Voodoo - Mexican Radio
Guadalcanal Diary – Watusi Rodeo
Missing Persons – Walking In L.A.
New Marines – Do It For Science
Red Rockers - China
Icicle Works – Whisper to A Scream (Birds Fly)
A Flock of Seagulls - Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)
The Lords of the New Church - Open Your Eyes
Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling
Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
Ellison Chase - Welcome To Tomorrow
The Cure - Why Can't I Be You?
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Cutter
Crown Of Thorns - Pictures

[Frank_Chickens]

[quote][i]Originally posted by hello_world[/i]
One wonders whether there is a danger in being an enthusiast of X, where X can be any topic. The danger is thinking "If it is obscure then it is good and if popular bad" as a way of separating oneself from the ignorati. Of course, if an accident of history had made what is currently unpopular popular and vice versa, then this way of thinking would champion the unpopular.

If New Order had been an obscure band that sold only 12 records, then one wonders where it would show up at the top of the list of this particular type of enthusiast.
[/quote]

Sometimes bands are obscure for a reason: they're not very good. Got plenty of stuff like this on my hard drive. While it may not be to my taste, I can appreciate why an artist may be popular, for example, Duran Duran. Their music does nothing for me but can appreciate why people found found their look and music appealing.

Besides, it's can be good on occasion so separate yourself from the ignorati as any winner of X-Factor Idol or whatever it's called justifies this point.

At the time New Order were just a footnote on the Manchester music scene until Paul Morley started blowing smoke up their arses and combined with the death of Ian Thingymagig made them into the James Dean of postpunk.

There's plenty of popular bands that I like, is just that they're not suitable for on here. Jazz is not on topic here so that rules out Shakatak, Tommy Chase, Mezzoforte (yes, I did cheat a bit on my list with this) Weather Report, RAH Band, Light of the World etc. They Might Be Giants, The Monkees, Barron Knights, Jona Lewie, Weird Al Yankovic, Xanadu OST and many others.

There are bits and pieces of mainstream artists I like but that's as far as it goes. A couple of examples: Cliff Richard: Wired For Sound and We Don't Talk Anymore. Madonna: Burning Up, Dear Jessy and Sidewalk Talk.

What may be popular in one country may be unpopular or unknown in another and let's try and avoid opening that can of worms.

[Frau_Blucher]

Good points FC, but I also say there's sometimes too much reverse-revisionism. It might indeed be somewhat revisionist to pump up certain bands into legend. I think it can also be equally revisionist to slam those contributions, especially in the context of their times.

[hello_world]

Wasn't happy with the old list, so here's the new one:

david bowie - ashes to ashes
tubeway army - are friends 'electric'
the cutter - echo & the bunnymen
flock of seagulls - wishing
tears for fears - pale shelter
thomas dolby - europa and the pirate twins
new order - temptation
church - the unguarded moment
the cure - close to me
the smiths - how soon is now
u2 - I will follow
english beat - mirror in the bathroom
pretenders - lovers of today
inxs - don't change
freur - doot doot
talk talk - talk talk
the cure - just like heaven
20/20 - cheri
the police - the truth hits everybody
siouxsie and the banshees - dazzle
simple minds - I travel
the human league - being boiled
omd - messages
depeche mode - enjoy the silence
spandau ballet - to cut a long story short
the producers - what's he got
talking heads - crosseyed and painless
new order - true faith
split enz - I got you
lene lovich - lucky number
missing persons - words
psychedelic furs - the ghost in you
gang of four - to hell with poverty
tears for fears - mad world
the cars - don't tell me no
heaven 17 - let me go
the police - so lonely
elvis costello - beyond belief
the chameleons - second skin
china crisis - african and white
wire train - I'll do you
berlin - masquerade
icehouse - we can get together
fisher-z - so long
ultravox - dancing with tears in my eyes
the cars - dangerous type
the payola$ - eyes of a stranger
boomtown rats - up all night
kim wilde - kids in america
headboys - the shape of things to come

[Frank_Chickens]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Frau_Blucher[/i]
<br>Good points FC, but I also say there's sometimes too much reverse-revisionism. It might indeed be somewhat revisionist to pump up certain bands into legend. I think it can also be equally revisionist to slam those contributions, especially in the context of their times.
[/quote]

My opinion regarding Joy Division has not changed, in the context of the time they were little-known and little regarded until Paul Morley came along for them. In fact, the death of the singer was a great career move for them.

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Frank_Chickens[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by Frau_Blucher[/i]
<br>Good points FC, but I also say there's sometimes too much reverse-revisionism. It might indeed be somewhat revisionist to pump up certain bands into legend. I think it can also be equally revisionist to slam those contributions, especially in the context of their times.
[/quote]
My opinion regarding Joy Division has not changed, in the context of the time they were little-known and little regarded until Paul Morley came along for them. In fact, the death of the singer was a great career move for them.
[/quote]
That's pretty authoritative recollection from someone who was listening to the Monkees even after Curtis' death only to discover a lot of this in the 90s. There's always going to be some truth that an early death plays a hand in legend-making, but taking that to invalidate everything else should make anyone skeptical. Regardless, I wasn't speaking about JD/NO specifically but about a tendency to sometimes scoff at stuff that tons of folks were nuts about back in the day. I'm sure I do this as well.

[Frank_Chickens]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Frau_Blucher[/i]
That's pretty authoritative recollection from someone who was listening to the Monkees even after Curtis' death only to discover a lot of this in the 90s. There's always going to be some truth that an early death plays a hand in legend-making, but taking that to invalidate everything else should make anyone skeptical. Regardless, I wasn't speaking about JD/NO specifically but about a tendency to sometimes scoff at stuff that tons of folks were nuts about back in the day. I'm sure I do this as well.
[/quote]


I listened to many bands after the singer's death and at the time The Monkees may have been the main band I listened to but they were not the only one. I read accounts of people who were there, reports and information both in the press and online, listened to the music and used all these to form my opinion.

A lot of the cases it is understandable why people like the bands due to it being their image, their music, being trendy to like them and so on but it can be on a number of occasions a case of the emperor's new clothing. It's always easier to take refuge in the things we know and while our tastes and opinions can change over time going for the security blanket of familiarity is always the safest option.

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Frank_Chickens[/i]
<br>It's always easier to take refuge in the things we know and while our tastes and opinions can change over time going for the security blanket of familiarity is always the safest option.
[/quote]
Then surely keep sticking to what you've read.

[wherewereuin82]

I think there's 50 here...



Depeche Mode - Get The Balance Right
Heaven 17 - Let Me Go
Joy Division - Atmosphere
Cabaret Voltaire - Sensoria
Felt - Primitive Painters
Abecedarians - Smiling Monarchs
Simple Minds - Changeling
Tears For Fears - Pale Shelter
Aztec Camera – Still On Fire
Cowboys International - Pointy Shoes
China Crisis - African and White
Gang Of Four – It's Her Factory
Shriekback - Lined Up
Moev - Alibis
Front 242 – Headhunter
Spandau Ballet - Paint Me Down
Blancmange - Blind Vision
The Cure – Primary
Ministry – Work For Love
Hunters & Collectors - Talking To A Stranger
Chameleons - Don't Fall
Echo and The Bunnymen - Never Stop
B Movie - Nowhere Girl
Killing Joke - Love Like Blood
Breeding Ground - Reunion
Kissing The Pink - Radio On
Renegade Soundwave - Murder Music
The Diodes – Tired Of Waking Up Tired
Music For Pleasure – Light
Cassandra Complex - One Millionth Happy Customer
Skinny Puppy - The Choke
Boy's Brigade – Melody
The Associates – Club Country
The Fountainhead – Rhythm Method
Royal Family & The Poor - White Stains
Split Enz – Hard Act To Follow
Cee Farrow – Wildlife Romance
Peter Murphy – Final Solution
Signal Aout 42 - Carnaval
Big Country – Fields Of Fire
Japan – Life In Tokyo
Endgames – First, Last, For Everything
Spoons – Arias & Symphonies
Visage - Mind Of A Toy
New Order – Temptation
Talk Talk – Such A Shame
Leisure Process - Love Cascade
Hambi & The Dance - Standing In The Rain
Propaganda - Dr. Mabuse
Gorilla Activ - Kopf Und Bauch




*plugged in my iPod for the first time in months and made a few changes. Renegade Soundwave makes it on the list for being the most played song.*

[Frank_Chickens]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Frau_Blucher[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by Frank_Chickens[/i]
<br>It's always easier to take refuge in the things we know and while our tastes and opinions can change over time going for the security blanket of familiarity is always the safest option.
[/quote]
Then surely keep sticking to what you've read.
[/quote]

Could you give context to your reply as in its current form it isn't clear as to what you mean.