32 American new wave songs

"88 Lines About 44 Women" is a song by the new wave band the Nails. Initially recorded for their 1981 EP Hotel for Women, the song was re-recorded and released on the 1984 debut album Mood Swing. Along with the track "Let It All Hang Out", "88 Lines About 44 Women" peaked at number 46 on the US dance chart in March 1985.

"Ain't It Fun" is a song by American rock band Paramore, released as the fourth and final single from their self-titled fourth studio album Paramore (2013). Produced by musician Justin Meldal-Johnsen, the song was recorded in Los Angeles. Development for it began with a keyboard loop recorded by its guitarist, Taylor York. Instruments including xylophone and bass guitar were later brought, along with a six-member gospel choir. York and the band's vocalist, Hayley Williams, wrote the song based on her experience of relocating and the latter's subsequent attitude.

"Bette Davis Eyes" is a song originally written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974, but made popular by American singer Kim Carnes in 1981 when it spent nine non-consecutive weeks on top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Billboard's biggest hit of the year. The single also reached No. 5 on Billboard's Top Tracks charts and No. 26 on the Dance charts. It was also a No. 1 hit in 21 countries and peaked at No. 10 in the United Kingdom, to date her only Top 40 hit in that country. It also reached No. 2 in Canada for twelve consecutive weeks, and was the No. 2 hit of 1981 in that country.

"Clones " is a 1980 single by American singer Alice Cooper taken from his 1980 album Flush the Fashion. It peaked at No. 40 in the U.S. Billboard charts, his first top 40 single in two years. The song is about forced conformity. Cooper reports that he wanted to do the song because he was looking for a new sound. It was written by David Carron (1948–84), who had played in Arlo Guthrie's Shenandoah, and the short-lived Gulliver.

"Cold War" is a song recorded by American musician Janelle Monáe, released as the second single from her debut studio album The ArchAndroid (2010). The song was written and produced by Monáe, Nathaniel Irvin III, and Charles Joseph II. It was released via Monáe's website on February 12, 2010, one day after the release of the album's first single, "Tightrope". A fast-paced new wave and Afro-funk track with a futuristic feel, its drum pattern has received several comparisons to that of the 2000 single "B.O.B" by OutKast, whose member Big Boi was one of her mentors and was featured on "Tightrope". Music critics acclaimed the song as one of the best tracks from The ArchAndroid. The music video, consisting of a single shot of Monáe against a black wall and expressing various emotions as the song progresses, has been praised by critics as a unique piece of art.

"Cool" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). Written by Stefani and Dallas Austin, the song was released as the fourth single from L.A.M.B. on July 5, 2005, by Interscope Records. It was written by Austin basing the song on No Doubt's 2000 single "Simple Kind of Life", but he did not finish it. He then asked for help from Stefani and they finished the song in 15 minutes. The song's musical style and production were inspired by synth-pop and new wave arrangements from the 1980s, and its lyrics chronicle a relationship in which two lovers have separated, but remain "cool" with each other as good friends.

"Dare to Be Stupid" is an original song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a musical pastiche of the band Devo.

"Everything" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from their eighth studio album Hesitation Marks (2013). It debuted on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 program on August 19, 2013, and was released digitally the following day as the album's third and final single.

"Hard Times" is a song by American rock band Paramore from their fifth studio album After Laughter. It was released on April 19, 2017, through Fueled by Ramen as the album's lead single. The song was written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. It is the first single to be released by the band since the return of drummer Zac Farro and the departure of former bassist Jeremy Davis.

"He's Back " is a song by American shock rock musician Alice Cooper. It was released as the lead single from his 1986 album Constrictor, and the theme song of Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, a slasher film and sixth part of the Friday the 13th film series released in the same year. The song is heard various times throughout the film and in the end credits. Two other songs, "Teenage Frankenstein" and "Hard Rock Summer" are also featured in the film.

"I Am the Future" is a 1982 song by rock musician Alice Cooper. The song was one of two singles released from his 1982 album Zipper Catches Skin. The single did not chart, and despite the advent of MTV at the time a promotional video was not created for it.

"I Predict" is a song by the Los Angeles new wave band Sparks. It was released in 1982 as the first single from Angst in My Pants, although an effort was made to release "Eaten by the Monster of Love" as a second single. The group promoted the single with an eclectic performance on Saturday Night Live. They also performed "Mickey Mouse", another Angst in My Pants track.

"Johnny Are You Queer?" is a 1980s pop song credited to the writing team of Bobby and Larson Paine. The song was first performed live by the Go-Go's, and eventually recorded by Josie Cotton, who released the song as a single in 1981 and 1982, and as part of her 1982 album Convertible Music. The song was featured on the Valley Girl soundtrack (1983).

"Just a Little While" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released as the lead single from her eighth studio album, Damita Jo (2004). Written by Jackson and Dallas Austin, the song is a reflection of Jackson's new-found happiness. The song leaked ahead of its scheduled release, causing Jackson's record company to rush with a music video and promotion. It was released the day following Jackson's controversial Super Bowl Halftime Show performance incident, on February 2, 2004, as the lead single from Damita Jo.

"Magnetic" is a single by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in November 1983 on Columbia Records. The single reached No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 36 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart and No. 23 on the U.K. Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles chart. Magnetic also reached No. 16 on the Belgian Pop Singles chart and No. 18 on the Dutch Pop Singles chart.

"O Superman" is a 1981 song by performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. Part of the larger work United States Live, the song became a surprise hit in the United Kingdom after it was championed by DJ John Peel, rising to #2 on the UK Singles Charts in 1981. Prior to the success of this song, Anderson was little known outside the art world. First released as a single, the song also appeared on her debut album Big Science (1982).

"One Foot" is a song by American rock band Walk the Moon from their third studio album, What If Nothing (2017). It was written by the band members and songwriters Ben Berger, Ryan McMahon, and Ryan Rabin; the latter three also produced the track with Mike Crossey. The song was released as the album's lead single through RCA Records on September 22, 2017.

"Only" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. It was released as the second single from Nine Inch Nails' fourth album, With Teeth. "Only" reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart, where it stayed for seven weeks. It is the second successful release that Nine Inch Nails has had in the UK, peaking at number 20.

"Pieces of Ice" is a rock song written by Marc Jordan and John Capek and recorded by Diana Ross on the RCA label.

"She Works Hard for the Money" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her 1983 eleventh studio album of the same name. Written by Michael Omartian and Summer, the song was released as the lead single from the She Works Hard for the Money album in May 1983, by Mercury Records.

"Shots" is a song by American rock band Imagine Dragons. It was written by band members Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman, Dan Reynolds and Wayne Sermon and released as the third single from their second studio album Smoke + Mirrors (2015).

"Shut Up and Dance" is a song by American pop rock band Walk the Moon for their third studio album Talking Is Hard (2014). It was written by the band members and songwriters Ben Berger and Ryan McMahon. The song is based on an experience lead singer Nicholas Petricca had at a Los Angeles nightclub. His girlfriend invited him to dance, inspiring the title. Petricca envisioned the song as an anthem for letting go of frustration and having fun. The song was digitally released as the lead single from Talking Is Hard on September 10, 2014.

"State of the Nation" is a song by American band Industry taken from their final studio album Stranger to Stranger. The song peaked at #10 in Sweden and #1 in Italy. It also became a big hit in the Philippines. In the US, the song peaked at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Still Into You" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on March 14, 2013, as the second single from their self-titled fourth studio album, Paramore. Recorded in 2012 in Los Angeles, California, "Still Into You" is a departure from the sound of their previous single, "Now", and incorporates a lighter pop rock sound, while being described as "sweet" and "sugary".

"Synthicide" is a song performed by the short lived American synthpop group SSQ, from their only studio album Playback. The song reached #47 on the U.S. Dance chart.

Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)

"Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' " is a song by Jermaine Jackson featuring his younger brother Michael Jackson, taken from Jermaine Jackson's eponymous album. Jason Elias of Allmusic called this song "percolating and infectious."

"Timebomb" is a song by American pop rock band Walk the Moon. The song was released digitally by RCA Records as a stand-alone single on January 11, 2019. It was written by James Alan, Nicholas Petricca, and Oscar Holter, with the latter also handling the production with Mike Crossey. Musically, it is described as a dance-pop, new wave, and pop song that utilizes synthesizers and guitars. Its lyrics describe the fear of falling in love but going through with the risk.

"Told You So" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on May 3, 2017 through Fueled by Ramen as the second single off their fifth studio album After Laughter. It was written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. A music video for the song, directed by drummer Zac Farro and Aaron Joseph, was uploaded to their record label Fueled by Ramen's YouTube channel along with the release of the song.

"The Wanderer" is a song by American singer Donna Summer, released as the lead single from her 1980 eighth album of the same name, which was the first for her new label Geffen Records after recording her previous albums with Casablanca Records. Despite the label change, Summer continued to work with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, who had produced the majority of her hits in the late 1970s. However, it marks a change in style for The Queen of Disco, incorporating new wave styled synth riffs and a shuffling beat.

"When the Rain Begins to Fall" is a 1984 song written and composed by Peggy March, Michael Bradley, and Steve Wittmack, recorded by singers Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora, and released as a US single at the beginning of 1985. The song was performed in the movie Voyage of the Rock Aliens, in which Zadora played a lead role. Before being released in the US, this track went to number one in several European countries. The song failed to capitalize its European success in America, but did better on the US dance charts.

"You Belong to the City" is a song written by Glenn Frey and Jack Tempchin, and recorded by Frey during his solo career. It was written specifically for the television show Miami Vice in 1985. The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, although it did reach the top of the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.

"You May Be Right" is a single written and performed by rock singer Billy Joel from his 1980 album Glass Houses. The song reached #7 on the US charts and #6 in Canada. It failed to chart, however, in the UK unlike his preceding and succeeding singles "All for Leyna" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". The Japanese single features "Close to the Borderline" as a B-side.