Was New Wave/Synthpop big in the U.K.???

[nrgbeat]

In the early 80's there were a ton of British new wave/synthpop groups that became popular in the U.S. (e.g. Human League, Depeche Mode, Eurhythmics,etc.). I was under the impression at the time that this type of music was hugely popular in Britain, however most of the guys on here seem to like disco, jazz, northern soul, etc.

Was new wave not as popular in Britain as I previously thought?

[QUINNY]

Personally speaking I tried to avoid as much of this music as I could. However, as I was a DJ working relatively commercial clubs (compared to the London underground scenes) that was quite difficult. 1981 was probably the worst year for good disco and funk records, so a few did get played , but reluctantly by most of the DJs I knew. By the end of 1982 it was more or less dead and buried.
Spandau Ballet - Chant No. 1 was one of the few exceptions; that was regarded as a really good dance tune and played by London jocks with big egos (in its early days at least).
From reading between the lines on these boards for the past 6 months, I get the impression it was much more readily accepted by the Americans, but I could be wrong.

[Forrrce]

I see it's Quinny's time of the month again. But he's right about the synth-pop thing not really connecting. A good crossover record was the dub of Yazoo's 'Situation'. Madonna's 'Everybody' got a few spins and Will Powers' 'Adventures In Success' LP was pretty much cult from the off. In a big egoed, London way, that is.

[markydefad]

That's weird that the Brits didn't care for the New Wave stuff. Working at Aloha Records in SF in the early '80's, we waited with bated breath for the new imports each week. What treasures from Human League, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17, Eurythmics, Spandau Ballet, or the more obscure groups were gonna arrive? It seemed there was no end to the terrific records that kept arriving for a few years there. I loved that stuff!!!!! :D

[QUINNY]

Marky: If you accept that a lot of the classic disco era records were fairly 'white' sounding, I think it's no surprise that you took to the New Wave stuff. The UK club scene was always more into 'black' music than the US (except for maybe the black clubs over there or the truly urban clubs).
Sure, the New Wave records had a broad pop appeal here, but we jocks shunned them and their followers if we could. It just wasn't what we wanted to play. It was too overground and naff.

[markydefad]

Hmmm....well I was more a fan of the traditional R&B disco, to be honest. When the Euro started predominating the disco charts, it bored me. I thought it was too sugary-- "sissy-music". I never bought any of that stuff except for the Moroder productions. I got my Voyage, USA-European Connection, etc. in a divorce settlement. :lol: It was either give it to me or pay to keep in storage.

But the New Wave stuff fit more in with my affinity for the Rock stuff that groups like Blondie and Sparks in conjuction with Moroder started. That stuff was really cool, IMHO. So I guess the leap to Human League was not too far.

Anyway, that was really like the SECOND BRITISH INVASION: a non-stop barrage of terrific records from the U.K, just like in the mid-60's after the Beatles opened the floodgates. I was always amazed that sooo much good product emerged from one country in such a short period of time.

I also loved and listened to the black music from this era and the jazzy Shakatak-types also. The early 80's were a great time for a variety of music in very diverse styles. Somewhere it all went to hell by 1990.

Can someone tell me when the current dance music style sound is ever gonna change? Going back in time --every three years or so the sound changed. It seeems that the same old techno/house sound has been used to produce everything for a least a decade now!!! Am I crazy??? Isn't there anything else out there? And I don't mean "drum & bass" or "two-step" and that **** ( who can dance to that crap?)
:roll:

[nrgbeat]

Actually if you listen to dance music from the early 90's it does sound different from the stuff that's out today.

In the early 90's, most of the popular songs were in the low 120's such as "Finally" Cece Peniston (love that name), "Got A Love For You" Jomanda and "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deelite.

Now, most of the songs are 129-132, have that circuit sound and are primarily remixed by Thunderpuss or Hex Hector.

[QUINNY]

Marky: What I should have written was " it's no surprise that you Americans went for the New Wave stuff".
You must have had a relatively hard time of it if you were more into old R&B (funk?), no? I think you'd have probably enjoyed the UK club scene, music wise.

[midas]

from an icelaners point of view, as u know
im sort of in the middle :-?

these where big:
yazoo-dont go
freeez - i.o.u
human league - dont you want me,
for me classics.
i also favor :yazoo-midnight

and abc-look of love
and pioson arrow.

arent they british??

i wander what yazoo could have done
if the could have gotten along clarke and moyet

[midas]

maybe off topic but this song is hot:
from the music corner:
And, some are calling them Britain's answer to U.S. rap group Outkast... TMR
catches up with Big Brovaz, three guys and three girls whose urban sound is
breaking into the mainstream music scene in the U.K. Originating from different
parts of the world, this south London-based group hit the charts with their
popular single "Nu Flow." After obtaining a huge record deal, they could pave a
path for a different kind of urban music...