As an eighties kid, synth pop has been pumping in my blood ever since that first day I turned on my MTV. There’s some debate as to who’s considered a synth pop band and who isn’t. For this September Music Twitter challenge – #SynthPopSeptember – I’m focusing more on what’s considered synth pop, not who. The songs I’m featuring on Mental Jukebox this month aren’t solely composed of synthesizers. There may be drums, bass, and dare I say, electric guitars. But each of these songs were picked because the synthesizer is core to its being.
Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer and Kraftwerk are often cited as a few of the key pioneers of synth pop. But the full body of work by Vince Clarke proves he was one of the finest practitioners of the genre. His synth compositions are almost instantly recognizable, often sporting an upbeat, euphoric demeanor – a style that undoubtedly clashed with Depeche Mode as the band went in a darker, more ominous direction. Clarke’s next stop in his career: a relatively brief collaboration with Alison Moyet in the form of Yaz (Yazoo in the UK). “Only You” might be their most recognizable hit.
Hailing from the unforgettable Upstairs at Eric’s, an album that remains one of new wave’s must-listens from beginning to end, “Only You” was planted right smack in the middle of languid electronic offerings and upbeat dance bangers. “Only You” was the ballad that broke into new melodic territory for a synth-pop band. It emphasized Moyet’s soulful vocals above all else, but those blippy flourishes from the man behind the keyboards are a study in restraint. It truly is a case of less is more. The result: one of the most iconic ballads of the eighties.
“Looking from a window above, it's like a story of love.”