Music from Europe, specifically, Germany, seemed to play a role. So, songs in both English and German seemed to litter the airwaves (imo, mostly the college station airwaves). As noted in the linked tune ... Nena's 99 Red Balloons had a German version.
We were so naive about the fall of Russian aggression (but still a great song that blasted the airwaves when I was an Army brat in Germany '89-early 90s):
www.youtube.com
Released 3rd of January 1990 (so not technically '90s), but another English language song by German artists that dominated: SNAP!
Another extended version because it's just fcnking beautiful rock about healing love when the world drags you down: www.youtube.com
Legendary song, I believe this 1989 TV performance was the debut, so just imagine what's going through the band members' heads with the crowd reaction (I also love Alan Wilder's shaking his head after Dave does an obscene gesture with the mic later on): www.youtube.com
New Order - True Faith (1987)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
I don't care, 'cause I'm not there
And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow
Again and again, I've taken too much
Of the things that cost you too much
[Chorus]
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun
[Verse 2]
When I was a very small boy
Very small boys talked to me
Now that we've grown up together
They're afraid of what they see
That's the price that we all pay
And the value of destiny comes to nothing
I can't tell you where we're going
I guess there's just no way of knowing
...
... My morning sun is the drug ...
Yeah, the song seems to be about drug use. To the point that the lyrics were said to have been changed for airplay.
... "That's right," Hague agrees wholeheartedly.
"As if by magic, we had nearly complete lyrics to two songs, although we made a couple of changes; the second verse of 'True Faith' goes, 'When I was a very small boy, very small boys talked to me. Now that we've grown up together, they're afraid of what they see.'
The original line that Barney brought in was 'Now that we've grown up together, they're all taking drugs with me.'
'Well,' I thought, 'that's quite cool, but... ' By now, this song was sounding like it was maybe going to be the single, so I said 'Do you think radio's going to have a problem with that line?' ...
Housemartins - Caravan of Love (1986)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
Are you ready for the time of your life?
It's time to stand up and fight
S'alright, s'alright
Hand in hand, we'll take a caravan
To the motherland...
[Verse 2]
One by one, we're gonna stand up with pride
One that can't be denied
Stand up, stand up
From the highest mountain, valley low
We'll join together with hearts of gold...
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Now the children of the world can see
This is a better place for us to be
The place in which we were born
[Chorus]
Every woman, every man
Join the caravan of love
(Stand up) stand up, stand up
Everybody, take a stand
Join the caravan of love
(Stand up) stand up, stand up
[Bridge 1]
I'm your brother
I'm your brother, don't you know
She's my sister
She's my sister, don't you know
[Pre-Chorus 2]
We'll be living in the world of peace
And the day when everyone is free
We'll bring the young and the old
Won't you let your love flow from your heart
...
Depeche Mode - People Are People (1984)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Chorus: Dave Gahan & Martin L. Gore]
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
[Verse 1: Dave Gahan]
So we're different colours and we're different creeds
And different people have different needs
It's obvious you hate me, though I've done nothing wrong
I've never even met you, so what could I have done?
[Pre-Chorus: Martin L. Gore]
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
[Chorus: Dave Gahan & Martin L. Gore]
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
[Post-Chorus: Martin L. Gore]
Help me understand
Help me understand, help me understand
[Verse 2: Dave Gahan]
Now you're punching and you're kicking and you're shouting at me
I'm relying on your common decency
So far, it hasn't surfaced, but I'm sure it exists
It just takes a while to travel from your head to your fists (Head to your fists)
[Pre-Chorus: Martin L. Gore]
I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
...
One other aspect of the 80's New Wave tunes ...
They seemed to have diverted attention away from the late 70's Disco tunes.
Was that A Good Thing?
Maybe, maybe not.
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (1978)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
genius.com
...
This song was given a lucky break when a Studio 54 DJ flipped to the B-side of "Substitute", a Righteous Brothers cover. During a time when most disco hits were heavily produced, this track stood out for it's clean and minimalistic approach.
[Intro]
At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinkin' how you did me wrong
And I grew strong and I learned how to get along
[Verse 1]
And so you're back, from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I'd have known for just one second you'd be back to bother me
[Pre-Chorus]
Go on now, go, walk out the door
Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
[Chorus]
Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live, and I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive, I will survive, hey hey
...
Billy Bragg - Ideology (1986)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
When one voice rules the nation
Just because they're on top of the pile
Doesn't mean their vision is the clearest
The voices of the people
Are falling on deaf ears
Our politicians all become careerists
They must declare their interests
But not their company cars
Is there more to a seat in parliament
Then sitting on your arse
And the best of all this bad bunch
Are shouting to be heard
Above the sound of ideologies clashing
Outside the patient millions
Who put them into power
Expect a little more back for their taxes
Like school books, beds in hospitals
And peace in our bloody time
All they get is old men grinding axes
Who've built their private fortunes
On the things they can rely
The courts, the secret handshake
The Stock Exchange and the old school tie
For God and Queen and Country
All things they justify
Above the sound of ideologies clashing
...
Smiths - How Soon Is Now? (1984)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Sire Records chief Seymour Stein called it "the Stairway to Heaven' of the Eighties", while co-writer Johnny Marr described it as "possibly our most enduring record. It's most people's favourite, I think." Despite its prominent place in The Smiths' repertoire, however, it is not generally considered to be representative of the band's style.
Although a club favourite, "How Soon Is Now?" did not chart as well as writers Morrissey and Marr had expected. [so, not a "pop" tune ...]
Most commentators put this down to the fact that the song had been out on vinyl in a number of forms before being released as a single in its own right. The original track runs for nearly seven minutes; however, the 7" single edit cut the length down to under four minutes. The complete version is generally used on compilations. The song has been widely praised for the artistry of its lyrics. ...
[Verse]
I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
[Chorus]
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
[Verse]
I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that was criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
[Chorus]
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
When you say, "It's gonna happen now"
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
...
Zebra - Who's Behind the Door (1983)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
We sailed away
We walked two thousand miles and then we slipped away
We looked so hard
But couldn't seem to find just what the world was for
Now we know
Just what the journey's for
[Chorus 1]
Looking out to the stars
Think about what you are
What do they think of you
Animals in their zoo
They haven't got the time
Landing is not on their minds
How do we have the nerve?
We're animals in preserve!
[Verse 2]
They watch us all
They're only making sure that we don't trip and fall
And they looked so hard
But they can't tell us why we're here and just what for
'Cause they don't know
Who opened up the door!
[Chorus 2]
How can we find out more
Who owns the keyless door
Where does the cycle end
Who are the unwatched men
Where do we go from here
Faith is a fading fear
Life is a waiting room
I hope they don't call me soon
...
Another from the 80's ...
Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick (1985)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
The fourth track on Brothers in Arms and a turning point for the album. The songs up to this point are poppy and this song ushers in a much more gritty phase of the album.
[Verse 1]
All the late night bargains have been struck
Between the satin beaus and their belles
Prehistoric garbage trucks
Have the city to themselves
Echoes and roars of dinosaurs
They're all doing the monster mash
And most of the taxis and most of the whores
Are only taking calls for cash, mmm
[Chorus]
I don't know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick
[Verse 2]
Well now, my door was standing open
Security was laid back and lax
But it was only my heart got-a broken
You must have had a pass key made out of wax
You played robbery with insolence
And I played the blues in twelve bars down on Lovers' Lane
And you never did have the intelligence to use
The twelve keys hanging off of my chain
[Chorus]
I don't know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick
...
OK, a different view from the 80's ...
Men Without Hats - Safety Dance (1983)
www.youtube.com
The Safety Dance
en.wikipedia.org
... Meaning of the song
The writer/lead singer Ivan Doroschuk has explained that "The Safety Dance" is a protest against bouncers prohibiting dancers from pogoing to 1980s new wave music in clubs when disco was declining and new wave was beginning its popularity.
Unlike disco dancing, which is done with partners, new wave dancing is done individually and involves holding the torso rigid while thrashing about; pogoing involves jumping up and down (the more deliberately violent evolution of pogoing is slamdancing).
Clubgoers doing the newer pogo dance were perceived as posing a danger to disco dancers on the dance floor, and so club bouncers would tell pogoers to stop or be kicked out of the club. Thus, the song is a protest and a call for freedom of expression.[11] ...
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