Now Hear This! : Mom Where’s My Casio?

“I Get My Kicks Above the Waistline Sweetheart.”

Like the fashion world, the music industry is very good at playing the recycle game. Yes, leg warmers are still awful, but this time, regurgitation is actually a great thing for the lover of synthpop, because over the last six to seven years there's been a revival. With bands like, The Killers, The Postal Service, Phantogram, Owl City, Phoenix, The Bravery, MGMT, Passion Pit and newcomers Foster the People, synthpop is relevant once again.

So this resurgence got me thinking about the totally bitchin’ synthpop songs I grew up with and then that reminiscing of course forced me to compile a list of the most synthpoppiest songs ever. For all you newbies out there who think Foster the People invented this style, I’m going to go old school on your ass and for the synthpop veterans, I can only hope you fall back in love. To avoid a never ending list, I stopped at 50 and only allowed two per artist. They are in alphabetical order, but if you wanna know my #1, it’s “Der Kommisar”. If I left out a favorite, let me know. Enjoy and Happy Listening!

“Look of Love Part I” ABC
"Der Kommisar" After the Fire
"Take on Me" A-Ha
"Obsession" Animotion
"Eyes Without a Face" Billy Idol
"Heart of Glass" Blondie
"Video Killed the Radio Star" Buggles
"Sunglasses at Night" Corey Hart
"Just Died in Your Arms Tonight"Cutting Crew
"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"Dead or Alive
"Enjoy the Silence" Depeche Mode
"Personal Jesus" Depeche Mode
"Whip It" Devo
"Life in a Northern Town" The Dream Academy
"Rio" Duran Duran
"Save a Prayer" Duran Duran
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)" Eurythmics
"Here Comes the Rain Again" Eurythmics
"Rock Me Amadeus" Falco
"Saved By Zero" The Fixx
"I Ran" A Flock of Seagulls
"Relax" Frankie Goes to Hollywood
"Cars" Gary Numan
"Things Can Only Get Better" Howard Jones
"Don’t You Want Me" Human League
"Too Shy" Kajagoogoo
"Kids in America" Kim Wilde
"Safety Dance" Men Without Hats
"I Melt With You" Modern English
"One Night In Bangkok" Murray Head
"(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me" Naked Eyes
"Promises, Promises" Naked Eyes
"99 Luftballoons" Nena
"If You Leave" OMD
"West End Girls" Pet Shop Boys
"Don’t You (Forget About Me)" Simple Minds
"Alive and Kicking" Simple Minds
"Tainted Love/Where Did Your Love Go" Soft Cell
"True" Spandau Ballet
"Puttin’ On the Ritz" Taco
"Once in a Lifetime" Talking Heads
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Tears for Fears
"Head over Heels" Tears for Fears
"She Blinded Me With Science" Thomas Dolby
"Genius of Love" Tom Tom Club
"Turning Japanese" The Vapors
"Mexican Radio" Wall of Voodoo
"Everything She Wants" Wham!
"The Promise" When in Rome
"Situation" Yaz (Yazoo)