What 80's New Wave Song Should've Been a #1 Hit? | POP FIX | Professor of Rock

There were so many great 80s New Wave singles from Depeche Mode, Yaz, The Smiths, New Order, The Cure, Thompson Twins, OMD, and more. What New Wave song should’ve been a number one hit? Check out our latest edition of #1 in our hearts to find out, featuring exclusive interview clips.

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: https://bit.ly/BlueMondaySpotify

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This week we present our latest edition of #1 in our hearts. Where I’ll talk about a song that was so unbelievably great, that it absolutely should’ve have been number one on the billboard HOT 100 chart. But for some reason be it radio play, lack of marketing or label support, sheer stupidity or any number of other reasons was came up short. But in our hearts, it’s number one with a bullet.


We all have those days when we need a boost- something that energizes us physically and emotionally. I think everyone in this community will agree that the right song can do just that. One of the songs that gives me a sonic jolt to my system whenever I need it is “Blue Monday” by New Order- one of the best-selling singles ever recorded to 12” vinyl.

From the very first pulsating note on the sequencer- “Blue Monday” takes me to a world of euphoric energy & optimism. Although the song didn’t fare well on industry charts in America, beyond the Dance Club chart, it is one of those gems that is #1 in our hearts.

“Blue Monday was recorded in 1982, and originally released as a 12” single in March, 1983. The members of New Order created the song as a filler piece for their live concert set. The band would play “Blue Monday” in response to fan disappointment that they never played an encore. Here’s how bassist extraordinaire and co-writer Peter Hook explains the song’s provenance: (insert Hooky’ quick account of the song’s origin)

I believe anyone who has heard “Blue Monday” will agree that it is one of the most riveting and interesting synth pop songs of all time, so I am speaking more to the people who are not familiar with it when I say that “Blue Monday” is going to become your go-to track.

The song is short on lyrical content, but the lyrics it does contain are pretty fricken cool, and have been the subject of much debate about what they mean Although Bernard Sumner never publicly discusses his lyrics, may theories exist from the suicide of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis and the effect it had on his former bandmates. As well as comparisons with the lyrics and the aftereffects of cocaine, Another theory is that the song is about how early washing machines made life easier for housewives and some have said it was even influenced by Fats Dominos song with the same tittle ,the but it’s the infectious groove of the song is exhilarating. The musical element that really gives “Blue Monday" its sonic power is the baseline riffs from Peter Hook, especially during the climactic final 90 seconds.

Peter Saville wanted the design for Blue Monday to be linked to the sleeve of it’s accompanying album, Power Corruption And Lies. Saville broke down the individual colors the artist used to create the work: from there he created a “color wheel” which appears on the back cover of the album.b As Saville has explained in interviews; and I quote “The color alphabet came from the fact that I understood the floppy disk contained coded information and I wanted to impart the title in a coded form - therefore I converted the alphabet into a code using colors.”

The original version of “Blue Monday” was indeed a pop hit, internationally, as it went to #2 in Germany, and New Zealand, and rose to the Top 10 in the UK, Poland, Austria, The Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, and Belgium. In 1988, New Order approached legendary producer Quincy Jones to produce/ and remix a new version of their 80s New Wave song.

In 1995, “Blue Monday” was remixed again, that time by the German producers Hard floor, and it again charted in the UK at #17. “Blue Monday” was conceived from several songs that influenced New Order band members Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris- including the disco hit “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer. Our mini-documentary behind this song will give you more in-depth info on all of this and more so look for that “Blue Monday” is definitely #1 in our hearts, and the #1 way to kickstart your day. Below I’ve included links to Download the song, or get the 12” vinyl as well as our Spotify playlist.
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