80s Trends- New Romantic

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New Romantic Music Video Showcase

"New Romantic" was a term given to a music and fashion revolution that began in the early Eighties. New Romantics often dressed in exaggerated counter-sexual or androgynous clothing and wore cosmetics in the New Wave extension of (or reply to) punk fashion. Frilly "fop" shirts of the English Romantic period, or extreme versions of upscale, tailored fashion and grooming were often seen, along with liberal usage of eye-liner and fancy hair.

David Bowie was an obvious influence on the movement. His 1980 single "Fashion" was influenced by and was simultaneously considered to be something of an anthem for the New Romantics, as were offerings from Brian Eno and Roxy Music.

Although New Romantic never gained the popularity in the US that it enjoyed in the UK and Europe, many famous Eighties bands got their start in the movement, including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, and Tears for Fears.

Planet Earth, by Duran Duran 

The fashion sported by the band members in this video is classic New Romantic.
By 1983, as they gained popularity in the US, Duran Duran ditched the New romantic look in favor of a more toned down "New Wave" version.

duran duran - planet earth

▀▄ ► Recorded Red Bus Studios, London December 1980, writer Duran Duran & producer Colin Thurston "Planet Earth" is the debut single by the pop/rock band Duran Duran, released on 2 February 1981. The song later appeared on the band's eponymous debut album Duran Duran, released in June, 1981. The music video for the song was directed by future film director Russell Mulcahy, who would go on to direct a dozen more for the group. Fairly primitive by the band's later standards, the video features the band (dressed in frilly, floppy New Romantic fashions) playing the song on a white stage tricked out with special effects to look like a platform made of ice or crystal. Interspersed with the performance are shots of the band members alongside the four elements. The video focused closely on the band's faces. The instrumental middle section features friends of the band from the Rum Runner nightclub dancing in their outlandish outfits. At the end of the video, singer Simon Le Bon leaps from the stage, caught in a freeze frame shot above an apparently bottomless abyss. ____________ "Planet Earth" begins with a slow synthesised sweep backed with electronic rhythm, but the real rhythm section of throbbing bass and crisp drums soon kick in. Muted guitar carries the up-and-down melodic hook of the song as the singer joins in. The song was the first to explicitly acknowledge the fledgling New Romantic fashion movement, with the line "Like some New Romantic looking for the TV sound".

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Space Age Love Song, Flock of Seagulls 

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Too Shy, by Kajagoogoo 

One of the biggest New romantic hits to make it to the top in both the UK and US, and truly an 80s classic.

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Change- Tears for Fears 

Early Tears for Fears was classified as New Romantic, although they too were toned down for Mtv.

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"Vienna", by Ultravox 

Although the look isn't obvious throughout this video, it is a hit from the period which I felt should be included.

Vienna (Official Music Video) - Ultravox

Official promo video for Vienna by Ultravox.

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Did You Like the Look? 

If you were around and "of a certain age" in the Eighties, did you like the New Romantic look and sound?

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Time (Clock of the Heart), by Culture Club 

Another band who got their start in this era/trend and went on to super-stardom.

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West End Girls 

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Gold, by Spandau Ballet 

Long flowing coat-tails, silk and velvet...this was a version of New Romantic that sat well with the ladies!

Spandau Ballet - Gold

Spandau Ballet - Gold

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Souvenir, by OMD 

OMD, officially Orchestral Manuevers in the Dark, was another hit group from the early 80s UK music scene. Their live performances had a more New Romantic look than their videos released for tv.

OMD Souvenir

OMD Souvenir

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Other Great 80s Pages 

Find Out More 

Links to websites with more details on the "new romantic" movement.
List of New Romantic Artists
An A-Z catalog of bands classified as "new romantic"
80s Music Genres:New Romantics
New Romantics ,Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet
New Romantic - New Wave - Alternative/Punk - Music - www.real.com

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by GypsyGirl68

GypsyGirl is a lover of mystery and intrigue, travel, history, nature and animals. She is a self-employed creative soul who happens to love the Eighti... (more)

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