What would you say the difference is between "American New Wave" (Devo, Blondie, the Talking Heads, Oingo Boingo, even Cyndi Lauper) and British New Wave (everything else, almost)? I would say that "American New Wave" is more truly fun/jokey and a little less pretentious, whereas "British New Wave" is melodramatic and more pretentious, though not in a bad way.

Bump.

I'm a fan of Devo, Talking Heads, B-52s, and Blondie, but I can't stand Oingo Boingo. Furthermore, I am a Cyndi Lauper fan, but I wouldn't call her "New Wave." She was an eccentric pop singer with funky sartorial styles, but not really New Wave.
I am an bigger fan of British New Wave, if you mean Soft Cell, Human League, AFOS, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Smiths, and stuff like that.

I'm a fan of Devo, Talking Heads, B-52s, and Blondie, but I can't stand Oingo Boingo. Furthermore, I am a Cyndi Lauper fan, but I wouldn't call her "New Wave." She was an eccentric pop singer with funky sartorial styles, but not really New Wave.
I am an bigger fan of British New Wave, if you mean Soft Cell, Human League, AFOS, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Smiths, and stuff like that.


Cyndi Lauper was totally unique at the time and had a "new wave"/early MTV sense of style that really stood out...she's more pop-wave, maybe like Wham! or Culture Club. She grew out of the same downtown Manhattan scene as Madonna, the Talking Heads, and Blondie.

Cyndi Lauper was totally unique at the time and had a "new wave"/early MTV sense of style that really stood out...she's more pop-wave, maybe like Wham! or Culture Club. She grew out of the same downtown Manhattan scene as Madonna, the Talking Heads, and Blondie.

"New Wave" is a pretty fluid category. I see where you're coming from here. Her earlier band "Blue Angel" had some New Wave influence. If Lauper's "New Wave," she's the only New Waver I know who had a pro-wrestling connecting!
;D

I think American New Wave is closer to indie rock, and British New Wave is closer to Eurotrash.  Both are part of the same movement.

I think American New Wave is closer to indie rock, and British New Wave is closer to Eurotrash.  Both are part of the same movement.


Yeah...American New Wave like the Talking Heads, Devo, and the B-52s sort of helped to begat the indie/alt rock of the later '80s, and was more closely related to the Velvet Underground and such.

British New Wave beats American in everything:music,lyrics,image,videos,popularity.

British New Wave seem to have the rythm (Funk) down it bit better, and American had A organic (Accoustic?) feel to it. I wouldn't say Eurotrash, but rather Futuristic.

New wave was not the American "artsy" rock music of the '80s, except for the first couple of years. It was alternative/college rock like the Replacements, Sonic Youth, R.E.M, etc. and hardcore punk like X and Black Flag.