Before eyeliner came in bulk and shoulder pads became weapons, there was a movement brewing in London clubs like The Blitz. Out of the ashes of punk and the glitter of glam came the New Romantics—flamboyant, fashionable, and fiercely futuristic. They didn’t just want to rebel; they wanted to redecorate the world with synths, sequins, and stares that could kill. These were not your older sibling’s rock stars. They were androgynous, arty, and ready to pose on every record sleeve like it was a Vogue cover.
From Soft Cell’s sleaze to Spandau Ballet’s suave, the New Romantic sound was rich with drama, dripping with mood, and always soaring just one octave higher than necessary. Whether you were dancing under neon lights at Camden Palace or miming along with Top of the Pops, these were the songs that made you feel like you were living in a synth-scored movie.
So tease your hair, fluff your frills, and strike a pose—here are some of the best songs from the New Romantic era, all so fabulous.
“A Forest” – The Cure
A haunting blend of post-punk and atmospheric synths, this track envelops listeners in its moody ambiance.
“Always Something There to Remind Me” – Naked Eyes
This shimmering Bacharach cover became a synth-pop smash and a staple of ‘80s heartbreak anthems. It turned retro melancholy into dancefloor gold.
“Cambodia” – Kim Wilde
A haunting tale of Cold War fear and disappearance, wrapped in icy synths and Wilde’s perfectly detached delivery. Eerily beautiful.
“Calling Your Name” – Marilyn
All pout, all glam, all heartache. Marilyn delivered this glossy plea with a voice as fragile as their mascara. A Blitz Kid favorite.
“Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” – Spandau Ballet
A funk-infused anthem that showcases the band’s versatility and dancefloor appeal.
“Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” – Ultravox
A poignant narrative set against soaring synths, reflecting on love and impending doom.
“Don’t You Want Me” – The Human League
An iconic duet that juxtaposes catchy melodies with themes of love and power dynamics.
“Doot-Doot” – Freur
More art than chart, this dreamy synth piece by the band that would later become Underworld floated through speakers like a sigh in neon fog.
“Fade to Grey” – Visage
The ultimate Blitz Club anthem. Steve Strange’s cold stare and Chris Payne’s synth wizardry created a continental mood of elegance and ennui.
“Forever Young” – Alphaville
German synth romantics deliver the ultimate high school slow dance for dystopian dreamers. It still hurts so good.
“Gold” – Spandau Ballet
Not just a song—an affirmation. Tony Hadley belts like a man on a yacht made of mirrors. Every note drips with luxury.
“Hold Me Now” – Thompson Twins
A heartfelt ballad that combines emotional lyrics with lush electronic instrumentation.
“I Could Be Happy” – Altered Images
Clare Grogan’s sugar-spun vocals meet pogoing synths in this bubbly banger. It’s chaotic in the cutest way.
“I Ran (So Far Away)” – A Flock of Seagulls
That hair. That riff. That chorus. A new romantic sci-fi fever dream disguised as a chase scene through a synthstorm.
“If You Leave” – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD)
Made for Pretty in Pink, but ready for your breakup playlist. It’s pure prom-night yearning with glossy synth tears.
“I’m in Love with a German Film Star” – The Passions
A dreamy, melancholic tune that captures the allure of distant admiration.
“In the Name of Love” – Thompson Twins
Tribal drums meet techno gloss in this hypnotic track that made you feel both romantic and slightly haunted.
“Israel” – Siouxsie and the Banshees
A powerful track blending tribal rhythms with ethereal vocals, showcasing the band’s experimental edge.
“It’s a Mug’s Game” – Soft Cell
Marc Almond monologues his way through teenage angst, lust, and longing like a synth-soaked kitchen sink drama.
“Love Plus One” – Haircut 100
New Romantic beach vibes with bucket hats and saxophones. As breezy as a pastel summer afternoon.
“Love’s Great Adventure” – Ultravox
An upbeat, adventurous song that captures the thrill of new experiences.
“Messages” – OMD
Before the ballads, OMD delivered this mechanical heartache with pulsing precision. A telegram to your soul.
“Mirror Man” – The Human League
Phil Oakey warns of fame and illusion over a punchy disco beat. As catchy as it is cynical.
“More Than This” – Roxy Music
Bryan Ferry floats above the synth mist with velvet vocals. A soft and sad New Romantic sunset.
“New Song” – Howard Jones
Positivity in parachute pants. Jones was the motivational speaker of synth-pop, and this track was his glittering gospel.
“No Regrets” – Midge Ure
Melancholy dressed in drama. Ure covers Tom Rush with cinematic strings and trembling vocals that cut deep.
“Only You” – Yazoo
Vince Clarke’s synths + Alison Moyet’s voice = romantic perfection. So minimal, so majestic, so Yazoo.
“Planet Earth” – Duran Duran
Where the New Romantic movement became a band. The bass slinks, the drums snap, and the future looks fabulous.
“Quiet Life” – Japan
David Sylvian channels glam melancholy in a track that paved the runway for the whole scene. Cool, distant, divine.
“Reward” – The Teardrop Explodes
A vibrant mix of psychedelia and pop, bursting with energy and catchy hooks.
“Souvenir” – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD)
Like being kissed in an abandoned cathedral. Sparse and beautiful, with one of the dreamiest melodies of the era.
“Tainted Love” – Soft Cell
The anthem. A cover turned cultural reset. Bleak, sexy, hypnotic—and still irresistible.
“The Damned Don’t Cry” – Visage
High melodrama in eyeliner and epaulettes. Steve Strange never blinked, and this song never faltered.
“The Look of Love” – ABC
A sophisticated track that combines lush orchestration with heartfelt lyrics about desire and admiration.
“To Cut a Long Story Short” – Spandau Ballet
Their debut single, introducing the world to their unique blend of synth-pop and new wave.
“Underpass” – John Foxx
A minimalist electronic piece that paints a vivid picture of urban isolation.
“Vienna” – Ultravox
It means nothing to you? Rubbish. It means everything. Midge Ure and Billy Currie made baroque grandeur the soundtrack of a generation.
“Visions in Blue” – Ultravox
A hauntingly beautiful song that melds melancholic lyrics with atmospheric synth layers.