Things That Go Pop!

Tainted Love by Soft Cell is hands down, the greatest synth-pop song of all time. In fact, it's probably the greatest song of all time.

Synth-pop?! Try the Alan Parsons Project for prog-synth-rock, Harold Faltermeyer for synth-rock and any of the half-assed, dubiously semi-musical hair-bands from the 1980s (too many to mention). Nary a real guitar, real bass or real drums among the lot of them.

The good news about synth-pop-rock though is that it will, like disco, eventually go away.

I hate to admit this (coming from a Metal Head) but sometimes I just can't get Aqua out of my head. Maybe because the singer is really hot.

Still a Flock of Seagulls fan...I would give the nod to Wishing over I Ran.
With all due respect to Teresa's musical tastes, no synth-pop song will likely ever be regarded as the greatest song of all time....nor should it be.

Not only is the music comming back, but 80's clothing fashion has already been back for the last year or so.

And as for the argument for the best Synth-Pop song of the 1980's

The Buggles song "On TV" off of the album Adventures In Modern Recording wins hands down.

It is the grandfather of all other synth pop songs that followed.

Kraftwerk is not a mere footnote. Kraftwerk is where it really all began (with appropriate tributes to Theremin, Stockhausen, Moog, Carlos, Tomita, et al.).

Mentioning Moroder in the same paragraph as Kraftwerk is much like mentioning Britney Spears in the same paragraph as Kiri Te Kanawa.

Ah. I used to despise synth-disco at the end of 70s. That was the time when I loved Pink Floyd, ELP, Tangerine Dream and King Crimson. Some of their songs are superb examples of what the synthesizers could do when doubled by a real musician's talent. Take King Crimson's "Lark's Tongues in Aspic" as a verbatim example.
However, after the flood of the retarded hip-hop and family, I started to appreciate the synth-disco and listening with real pleasure pieces like Dee D. Jackson's "Cosmic Curves" or results of the collaboration between Moroder and Donna Summer or with Sparks. I also appreciate the trance produced by DJs like Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, Paul van Dyk and Paul Oakenfold.

How come Prince isn't in the equation? The whole MN music scene was drenched in synth-pop.

To have an article about synth-pop without mentioning the influence of Norway's a-ha is simply ludicrous.
Take On Me from 1985's Hunting High & Low was a shining moment in the genre, and a huge success, followed by the even better single, The Sun Always Shines on TV. Hunting High & Low might just be the best synth-pop album ever.
Have you ever heard Train of Thought?
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin once stated it was one of his favourite albums.
By the way, their latest album, Foot of The Mountain, sees the group return to its synth-pop roots. It's quite good.

When I was 14 I loved "Windpower" and "Europa and the Pirate Twins" (Thomas Dolby), "Everything Counts" (Depeche Mode), "Telecommunication" (Flock of Seagulls), and tons of other British New Wave. When I was 17, it was all about Severed Heads and Skinny Puppy, which are synth but probably can't be described as pop.

The Theramin was first used in pop Music, according to Allmusic.com, on the Beach Boy's Good Vibrations. ""Good Vibrations," the Beach Boys' 1966 entry into the best-single-of-all-time sweepstakes, announced the coming era of pop experimentation with a rush of riff changes, echo-chamber effects, and intricate harmonies, plus the very first theremin ever heard on a pop record." (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?
p=amg&sql=33:jjfixqrrldde).

LOL @ Robert Slaven - "Mentioning Moroder in the same paragraph as Kraftwerk is much like mentioning Britney Spears in the same paragraph as Kiri Te Kanawa." Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream still get a lot of play at home and on the MP3 player.

Human League and Depeche Mode were amazing bands - they were amazing because, on top of being new, quirky, fashionable and danceable, their music actually had some good lyrics. How about "Blasphemous Rumours" by DM?
I also agree with one respondent that a-ha wrote some very good songs in mid to late-80s. That's one band that's managed to have a decent, if low-key, career, and stay away from all the bull^&*$ that's celebrity status.
I am more of a rock n'roll guy but as a child of late 80s and 90s, I've always got time for some good Euro synth pop. At least it's not hip-hop. No bitches or gangstas in it....

I guess it's only possible to fit so much in a short article, but I'm kind of surprised that there's no mention of the heavyweight of modern synth pop, love it or hate it, Michael Jackson's album 'Thriller'

One thing I appreciate in the article is mentioning Kraftwerk as just a part of German synthpop. They were a popular offshoot of the Krautrock scene which pioneered a lot of what became modern electronica.

I would also add that 70's funk, slow grooves and synth, is another influence in modern pop (Herbie Hancock, etc)

Aside from overt use of synth, most modern pop and rock music is so heavily layered and produced that it is essentially electronic music anyway.

Two words: Junior Boys.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Art of Noise, Yello or even New Order! Of course, let's not also forget the Eurythmics! Yes, I'm an 80's child...

... Oohh, and I almost forgot the grandfathers of synth: Tangerine Dream! That was back when a bank of synths took up the entire stage! Zeit was an eye-opener for me - especially when I listened to them on my first pair of headphones... trippy!!
Thanks for all the memories! I don't care what many say, there was some ground-breaking music back then.

Did we also forget synth darlings The Human League, "(Keep Feeling) Fascination"? What about Donna Summer's "I feel Love"? I would even give a nod to The Spoons' "Nova Heart" - great track.

BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Ace of Base

Lucky Man by Emerson Lake and Palmer is the all-time best with both Baba O'reilly and Wont Get Fooled Again by the Who as close runners-up.
Another great Canadian Album from the 70's that featured some fabulous synth-pop sounds was a band called "synergizer" ( i think ) - they had a guitar-like instrument that had a synthesizer hooked up to each of the 12 strings - I remember using it as a demo disc for yamaha stereo units - and then also there was the fabulous Tangerine Dream

Sly Stone was the first to start using the electronic drum synthesizer; and voice distortion - 60s, 70s.

I can't believe no one mentioned Manilow!

Okay, just kidding. But I'd forgotten about Kraftwerk, and am happy to be reminded of it again.

David Bowie's "Heroes" in the late 70's was a ground breaking intro of what would be the sounds in syth-pop of the 80's. A classic still today!

Best electro pop song: The Model, by Kraftwerk.

For Canadian content, Novaheart, by the Spoons.

I am a club dj, this is a great article!! THANX!

So many to choose from, but Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's "Maid of Orleans" would be fave single, and more recently Ladytron's "Seventeen" and Telepathe's "Chrome's On It". Long live the synth!!!

Ummm It's nice that all these one hit wonders were mentioned, but it seems to me there is one band, since 1981 is still touring and still playing the original Synth-Pop.
Depeche Mode people. NOT one hit wonders, STILL touring and got Zero recognition in this article. Brutal reporting with very little knowledge.

I have to say I got into the heavier side of synth-pop. It was labeled "Futurepop" back in the 90s and it consists of VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Covenant, Icon of Coil and Assemblage 23 to name a few. With all those acts though, you can hear the Depeche Mode, Erasure, Petshop Boys and a hint of Skinny Puppy (adding that bit of an edge)in their sound. Make no mistake. Depeche Mode and the likes made (and still make) amazing music!

To my ears, Van Halen dropping the guitar
and picking up the synth on "Jump" was a tipping point in the synths ascension as an acceptable and cool instrument for rock musicians. It was akin to Hendrix picking up the piano and creating a great track.

Taz, you tin-eared, tone-deaf MF. Just like Disco, this great music will never go away, it lives forever.
You, however, will not, and how the world will rejoice when you are gone. Loser!

I believe the Art of Noise is the best of all Synth-pop music

Why does no one at CBC ever talk about Chiptunes, the synthpop wave of the future/past. Canada has some of the top chiptune acts. Retro/futuristic pop ftw.

"I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls makes far more use of guitars than of synthesizers, which are used for little more than background chords and drones.

I've always liked the song, but synth pop? Not to me.

I think the aforementioned Who songs are landmark works of Synth Rock, but for me, Talking Heads "Life During Wartime" has to be one of the best synth hooks ever.

"Hilary Duff displays considerable courage by going electro on her album Dignity, which is launched with a disturbingly Cybotron-like single called With Love. That the song is virtually indistinguishable from the music of Crystal Castles does not help Duff gain any more cred with the cool kids."
Let's call this 'stretch reporting' they sound nothing alike - admit it, you probably just like hilary duff dude: deal in it.

I've always been a big, big fan of the pop synth sound much to the disdain of friends. I just put together a cassette of my fav groups of the 80s. I don't know why everyone likes "Cars" by Numan--"My friends Electric" is the song. I rank "The Lebanon" EP by Human League, "Safety Dance" album, and Cabaret Voltaire up there. Later, I liked Freur and saw them at Glastonbury in 1986 where they didn't actually play but their computers & synths did--quite revolutionary! Mid-80s was the first time I heard of dub reggae and bought 45s in Jamaica with the hit on one side and the dub version on the other usually with Sly & Robbie. This was way before it hit NA market.

Conflating Hilary Duff and her ilk with any pioneer of synth-pop is a little hard to swallow. I don't think 'courage' had anything to do with her (producers') decision to lift most of DM's "Personal Jesus", slap a vocal track or two on it, and re-label it "Reach Out"; no, I think it was more to do with profit.

This has been happening fairly often recently, hasn't it? Rihanna and New Order, Rihanna and Soft Cell, Madonna and ABBA, Coldplay and Kraftwerk, Flo-Rida and Dead or Alive... recycling works.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik. 'nuf said.

To all the haters: don't worry, we'll be recycling 90s pop crap soon enough. It's easy enough to be cutting edge when your culture worships 20-30 year old retroism in a predictable fashion. We're just circling the drain now at this point.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik..I'm a big fan, but they weren't so Synth-Pop.
And Patrick. If the 80's synth-pop is the top of the drain, I guess that means we are in for a world of crapola music when they get a little further down ;)

Synthpop never died. It just moved to Germany.

Acts like Wolfsheim and De/Vision have kept the tradition alive, as did Depeche Mode...At a time when synths really do seem to be coming back into fashion, I'm actually quite surprised that a group like VNV Nation hasn't moved into the mainstream.

The new album TWO by Miss Kittin & The Hacker also First Album, as well as Batbox and I Com by Miss Kittin

This article is not complete: there is no mention of the Reactable ( http://www.reactable.com/reactable/ ) which was used extensively during Bjork's recent Volta tour. This is the newest generation of electronic synthesizer using a "tangible interface" instead of a keyboard.

"Cool" by Ascii Disko

First heard it in a book store in Dupont circle and no one could stop themselves.

Got to give some love to Belgium band Telex - the epitome of 1980s synth-pop

There was a great Canadian group in the 80's called " Strange Advance" that put out a couple of really good albums.. and they still get airplay today!

what about the Grace Under Pressure album by Rush? I love how the synth and the bass guitar are never overdubbed on that album. It sounds like Geddy Lee is switching back and forth constantly between bass and synth (which he actually does in concert).

Two Words. Herbie Hancock.

Blue Monday by New Order. I mean, come on.
These chronologies are always dubious and incomplete, but fun nonetheless.

Nothing can beat Kraftwerk. Autobhan, TEE, Man Machine - they blazed the trail for everybody else!

My vote would be Here Comes The Rain Again by Eurythmics. Still, I think, one of the best pop songs ever. Structurally, tone-wise, melodically..... it's one that people everywhere still sing along with whenever they hear it. Plus, Annie Lennox is a Goddess.

Depeche mode, Erasure, most of the Mute records label, Yello, Jean Michael Jarre, all Great synth pioneers. It was a great technological advance to add synths to any genre, it allowed the artist to produce what ever sounds they wanted and duplicate them on tour!
other posts are accurate in saying synth-pop or techno moved back into europe for the past while, its still very alive there and everywhere, if you dont beleive me look at depeche mode's current SOLD OUT tour dates all over europe!
Synth-pop will always bring back fantastic memories of my teenage years coming of age with OMD anthems and the like.
listening to todays music with my kids, i can hear the homage to all synth pop bands of the 80's and 90's and i am sure that they will continue to sample and emulate the past.
Just wish that Depeche Mode would have made it up to Vancouver on their last tour!
great story!

The song Vienna from the album of the same name - Ultravox (1980). A great blend of violin and synthesizer.

Soundtracks, people Soundtracks! Synths would be dead to the general populace if it weren't for movie and television soundtracks. Even Pink Floydd riffed on the Doctor Who theme. W. Carlos' Clockwork Orange? Vangelis with Blade Runner and Chairiots of Fire? And, of course, John Carpenter and every frickin' movie he produce and was too cheap to hire anyone else to do the soundtrack...

It's almost blasphemous that you haven't mentioned Brian Eno, who was a synthesizer god with Roxy Music in 1972 before he branched out and invented ambient music, worked with Cluster, produced Devo and Talking Heads (etc, etc, etc) and co-wrote "Heroes" with Bowie.

Europa and the Pirate Twins by Thomas Dolby is my fave. so many others tho. late 70s, early 80s was an incredible time for post-punk/new wave and synth pop.

As mentioned earlier although not quite right, Synergy featuring Larry Fast from Canada.
Don't think I saw a reference anywhere to Mike Oldfield who broke ground with an early concept piece, Tubular Bells.
Other 70's examples being Manfred Manns Earth Band, Gentle Giant, Jean Michel Jarre and Tomita.

I am surprised nobody mentioned Ultravox; a band that made synth pop into symphonic beauty...simply the best...

Lots of good bands memntioned here in the comments that the article omitted. I'm going to add MAGAZINE to this list — Howard Devoto & co have made loads of fantastic songs, some of which could fall under 'synthpop'. And Ladytron seem to have missed out again.

Also, I'm a bit disappointed there's no mention of Delia Derbyshire or Wendy Carlos, two women who helped pioneer electronic music...

Van Scarlat wrote: "That was the time when I loved Pink Floyd, ELP, Tangerine Dream and King Crimson. Some of their songs are superb examples of what the synthesizers could do when doubled by a real musician's talent. Take King Crimson's "Lark's Tongues in Aspic" as a verbatim example."
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You won't really hear any synthesizer at all on "Larks' Tongues", nor on any King Crimson album of the time. You will hear plenty of mellotron playing, but a mellotron is not a synthesizer.

Erasure. Erasure. Erasure. . . and the bloody Pet Shop Boys, sweety.

Yes... ultravox was a band to pioneer many a great influences in other bands. Depeche of course, and Duran were huge as well. And what about Alphaville, which spawned one of the greatest synth ballads of all time (forever young - covered by Laura Branigan). We can't forget the current crop of De/Vision, Lowe, Ashbury Heights, IRIS, Electro Spectre, E-Gens... all great bands. Synthpop will always live!

"Mentioning Moroder in the same paragraph as Kraftwerk is much like mentioning Britney Spears in the same paragraph as Kiri Te Kanawa."

Except that (unlike Spears) Moroder wasn't exactly a fly-by-nighter, either, nor immortalized only by extravagant music video clips and outrageous tabloid antics.

Ther's way to many choices! My opinion however goes something like this!
Kraftwerk-Trans-Europe Express
Tainted Love-Soft Cell
Cars-Gary Neumann
Anything from Depeche Mode
Anything from Duran Duran

If the synth was used in a Rock n Roll band...
Goodbye To You-Scandal (killer fast solo)
Jump-Van Halen ( best synth riff ever)
Separate Ways-Journey (what can I say)
and the timeless classic, wait for it.....
The Final Countdown-Eurpoe! lol

Hope I made ya laugh a little at the last one!Peace!!!