WINNER - Battle of the New Wave Bands

Drum Roll please .....  and the Winner of the New Wave Bands contest ..... by the closest of margins...... is THE CLASH!

The outcome was always in doubt and not determined until the final vote was cast.

Two distinct camps were forged throughout the contest, the synth-goth-emo crowd up against diehard punk rockers.  Depeche Mode, New Order, Cure and Smiths crowd vs. the Ramones, Sex Pistols, Clash and Undertones fanatics.  Kinda like Disco vs. Rock in the 70s.

New Wave music is a vibrant diversified genre, and in light of the narrow victory, I am comfortable recognizing the Finalists as Winners in distinct sub-genres as follows:

The CLASH - Winner in Punk Rock category
The CURE   - Winner in Goth Pop category

Thanks goes out to all the loyal fans of New Wave music who cast votes in every Round!  Without your regular participation this contest would not have been possible!!


P.S.  I am currently ON VACATION but will amend this post with additional materials on the Clash upon my return, i.e. Ranking of their albums and Top 25 Clash songs.

Battle of New Wave Bands - Finalists (Round 5)

The final championship match-up has been confirmed!  The voting was equally split until the very end!!

The two Final Bands standing are:

The Cure (58%)                                   vs.                           The Clash (58%)




The Cure Studio albums

 (courtesy Wikipedia)

• Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
• Seventeen Seconds (1980)
• Faith (1981)
• Pornography (1982)
• The Top (1984)
• The Head on the Door (1985)
• Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
• Disintegration (1989)
• Wish (1992)
• Wild Mood Swings (1996)
• Bloodflowers (2000)
• The Cure (2004)
• 4:13 Dream (2008)

The Clash Studio albums

 (courtesy Wikipedia)

• The Clash (1977)
• Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)
• London Calling (1979)
• Sandinista! (1980)
• Combat Rock (1982)
• Cut the Crap (1985)

Simply select the ONE band that is best representative of the New Wave genre and ethos.


Deadline:    Friday April 25th 5pm EST.

Thanks for your ongoing participation throughout the Battle of the Bands!

Make this Final Vote Count.  I suspect a Winner will not be evident until the final submission!

CLASSIC SONG & LYRICS - Bela Lugosi's Dead (Bauhaus, 1979)

In celebration of Halloween, I thought it appropriate to showcase one of the early Gothic rock classics. When it was originally released in 1979, it was lengthy (9:36) and abrasive song like nothing before it. Screeching guitars, looping feedback, droning drum passages and echo'y, distant vocals that sounded like it came from inside a coffin.

And the subject matter, Dracula of course!!!  Bela Lugosi being the most recognizable film star depiction of our inexhaustible intrigue with Vampires.  Did you know that the Dracula fictional character was based on real life Vlad the Impaler historical figure? And of course there is Bram Stoker's novel, not to mention the countless TV shows and movies of this genre that refuses to die, just like the refrain in this song "undead, undead, undead."   During its day, the song featured prominently in the 1983 vampire movie, "The Hunger" with David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve.

The song is still challenging to listen to, more commercial-friendly radio listeners find this song repulsive. Just what Bauhaus intended, I am certain! The band initially started as Bowie and T-Rex glam rock imitators but quickly established their own distinctive gothic sound.  Although Bauhaus was an underground sensation in the UK, the band dissolved in 1983, achieving greater success in the US as solo artist (Peter Murphy) and early alternative/college rock band (Love and Rockets).

This first single is what started it all.  Enjoy the original and atmospheric Video. Awwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhh!

White on white translucent black capes 

Back on the rack 
Bela lugosi's dead 

The bats have left the bell tower 

The victims have been bled 

Red velvet lines the black box 

Bela lugosi's dead 

Undead undead undead 

The virginal brides file past his tomb 

Strewn with time's dead flowers 

Bereft in deathly bloom 

Alone in a darkened room 

The count 

Bela logosi's dead 

Undead undead undead