Whenever someone brings up the 1980s, there is always talk of 'the worst decade ever'. I could never get it. Kate Bush? The Triffids? The Go-Betweens? The Fall? What are you talking about? If you don't measure music by whatever Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton were doing in mid-80s, you are fine.
The Rolling Stones did not suck in the 1980s, and synths and drum machines did not ruin music. With that in mind, here is a list of ten best synthpop songs of that much maligned decade. Obviously many classics had to be discarded (for the record, both "Don't You Want Me" and "Take On Me" failed at the final hurdle).
10. "The Look of Love, Pt.1" by ABC (1982)
From the great debut The Lexicon of Love. I could of course choose "Poison Arrow" but it is this song that has always wowed me with its slick production and immaculate backing vocals. With not a second wasted, this is an absolute classic.
9. "Girls On Film" by Duran Duran (1981)
I have expressed my love for the MTV live performance of this song far too many times now. The song appeared on the band's honestly-quite-good self-titled debut LP. "Girls On Film" is the sort of 80s dance pop you would not be ashamed to dance to.
8. "Like A Prayer" by Madonna (1989)
Well, I'm not so stupid as to deny the total genius of this song. Madonna had enough great singles in the 80s, but this was it. This was the one.
7. "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money") by Pet Shop Boys (1986)
I wish I could like Pet Shop Boys more than I do - sadly, each time I try to get into them, I end up liking the odd song rather than a whole album. "Opportunities" was, of course, synthpop par excellence. Choruses did not get much better than this in the 80s. Or ever.
6. "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" by Sparks (1983)
In Outer Space is one of Sparks' most underrated albums. "Please, Baby, Please", "Rockin' Girls" and "Dance Godammit" are all incredible, but it is the dumb-yet-oh-so-smart "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" that I have always loved the best. The lyrics from the opening verse are absolute Mael perfection. Sparks would get quite bad in the 80s but the fall did not happen here.
5. "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order (1986)
Can you think of a more perfect synthpop song?.. New Order had to be on this list, and while you may love your "Blue Monday" or "The Perfect Kiss", it is "Bizarre Love Triangle" that I consider their peak. The song is subtle and exhilarating at the same time.
4. "Party Fears Two" by The Associates (1982)
While the bizarre, wonderful "Tell Me Easter's On Friday" may be my favourite song by The Associates (and one of my favourite songs ever), "Party Fears Two" was their classic synthpop single. It was grandiose and epic and the detached vocals of Billy MacKenzie made it a typically otherworldly experience.
3. "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" by Soft Cell (1981)
I'd put the whole Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret album here if I could (surely the best pure synthpop album of all time), but if I had to choose one song I would probably go for this closing ballad which has a spellbinding melody and one of Marc Almond's most powerful vocal performances ever.
2. "Living In Another World" by Talk Talk (1986)
So much for 1985 and 1986 being the worst years in music history. The Colour Of Spring was the album where Talk Talk began their transformation from just a synthpop band into post rock geniuses. "Living In Another World" goes on for seven minutes and remains completely captivating all the way through. And the details? The details are exquisite. That infectious harmonica break? Those subdued guitar bursts? Mark Hollis's subtle vocal intonations? Utter brilliance.
1. "Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)" by Simple Minds (1982)
I will be honest here: it is impossible for me to hear those 25 seconds at the start and not conclude that there is simply no competition here. This is the best song from the 80s. That synth line just kills me. And it certainly helps that the rest of the song is just as perfect. "Someone Somewhere" is a song that manages to be both ecstatic and impossibly sad at the same time.
