If Don’t You Want Me takes the role as synthpop’s spokesperson, then this is its cooler cousin. Top 40 Synth-Pop Songs – Don’t You Want Me 1 New Order – True Faith Meanwhile, on a New York dancefloor, it was an epiphany for a young wannabe named Madonna Louise Ciccone. Released in November 1981, it was Virgin’s first No.1 and would become the UK’s biggest seller of the year, snatching the Billboard No.1 in the next. When the Steve Barron-directed video reached MTV, it immediately received copious airplay. This boy-girl narrative set to synth made an immediate impression, slipping into the UK Top 10 in its first week, before storming the summit in the next. The worry was that the public would tire of yet more Human League… but, for once, the label got it right. As far as the band was concerned, it was one of their weaker creations – so much so that it had been demoted to the tail-end of the record. When Virgin’s Simon Draper suggested that the song should be the fourth single from the Dare album, however, he was met with blank faces. Finally, the polish was added by Rushent and Jo Callis. Then it was time for Sulley and Catherall who, being new to this singing lark, were extremely nervous, and dozens of takes were needed. Oakey’s vocal went on early (it was recorded in the toilet). Producer Martin Rushent took control of the rough early Don’t You Want Me demo, adding a drum machine, a bassline and a basic synth.
It’s an undeniably iconic seven inches of synth-pop – and it would be the track we’d play the aliens if they were to descend into our backyard demanding an explanation of the time when the Earth suddenly shifted its weight to the sound of synths. Yes, we’ve all heard it more times than we can remember, but The Human League’s 1981 mega-hit has developed ubiquitous status for good reason. Read more: Classic Album – Autobahn 2 The Human League – Don’t You Want Me We’d encourage you to get in touch and let us know the tracks that made your own Top 40s. When whittled down to just 40 prime cuts, it makes for a truly classic synth-pop playlist, and one that is sure to spark both joy and outrage in equal measure. Instead, for the most part at least, we chose to tell it how it is – this is Classic Pop, after all. We chose to wilfully ignore the nagging impulse to neglect selections of an ‘obvious’ nature and replace them with hipper alternatives. With all the votes cast, we finally chalked up a shortlist that lined up mainstream pop classics alongside timeless old school creations, as well as some pioneering underground favourites that could not be overlooked. There are, of course, far too many ‘honourable mentions’ to list here, all of whom may well have made the grade on a different day, prime examples being A Flock Of Seagulls, Robert Görl, The Buggles, Thomas Leer, DAF, Thompson Twins, Jean-Michel Jarre, Kavinsky, Pete Shelley, Phil Lynott, Fad Gadget, Freez, M, Alphaville, Berlin Blondes, The Units, Ladytron, Hot Chip, Goldfrapp, Chairlift and M83 to name but a few… hell, even our unhealthy addiction to Q Lazzarus’ Goodbye Horses was left unattended to. The only rules: no more than three tracks per artist… and sorry, but no cover versions (although there are some exceptional ones: Soft Cell, Tainted Love Silicon Teens, Memphis Tennessee Pet Shop Boys, Always on My Mind The Communards, Don’t Leave Me This Way – we’re looking at you).
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