The Top Techno Songs of the 1980s

A look at the top techno songs of the 1980s. These songs helped shape the genre and are still popular today.

Introduction

Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the Detroit area in the 1980s. The first techno tracks were produced by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who were inspired by Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder. In the 1990s, techno achieved mainstream popularity in Europe and the United Kingdom. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a faster subgenre called hard trance was created. Techno is generally characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat, helping dancers to keep track of time.

“Blue Monday” by New Order

“Blue Monday” is a song by the English rock band New Order. It was released as a 12-inch single on 7 March 1983 through Factory Records and later included on the compilation album Power, Corruption & Lies.

“Blue Monday” is notable for its innovative use of sampling and for its lasting popularity, with several media outlets including Pitchfork and Rolling Stone later naming it one of the greatest dance songs of all time. In his review of Power, Corruption & Lies, Simon Reynolds described it as “a blueprint for intelligent dance music”.

“Confusion” by New Order

Musically, “Confusion” is a mix of synth-pop and industrial, with a heavy, driving beat. The song’s main hook is the repeated line “Confusion / Is nothing new”, which is delivered in a deep, robotic voice. The lyrics paint a picture of a city in the throes of late-night chaos and debauchery: “People on the street / Just can’t get enough”.

The song was released in 1983 as part of New Order’s second album, Power, Corruption & Lies. It was one of the band’s biggest hits, reaching number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, it peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been included on numerous New Order compilations, including Substance (1987) andSingles (2005).

“Temptation” by New Order

New Order is an English rock band formed in 1980, currently composed of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, Gillian Gilbert, Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman. The band was formed in 1980 by Sumner (vocals, guitar, synthesizer), Morris (drums, keyboards), Gilbert (keyboards, vocals), and Peter Hook (bass, vocals). They were soon joined by Gillian Gilbert (keyboards, vocals) after she responded to an advertisement they had placed seeking a keyboard player.

The group’s debut album movements was released in 1981 on Factory Records and included the singles “Truth” and “Temptation”. New Order’s mainstream popularity increased with the release of their second album Power, Corruption & Lies in May 1983. It included the hit single “Blue Monday”, which became one of the best-selling 12-inch singles of all time. In 1985, the band released Low-Life which charted at number four in both the UK and US.

The success of these albums saw the band headline stadiums around the world during 1985’s World Tour; including a homecoming concert at Manchester’s G-Mex on 26 July 1986 – attended by 70,000 people – which became one of their most memorable gigs. In late 1987 they released their critically acclaimed fourth album Brotherhood.

“Atomic” by Blondie

“Atomic” is a song by the American rock band Blondie, released in February 1980 as the lead single from the band’s fifth studio album, Eat to the Beat (1979). The song was written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison, and produced by Mike Chapman. It is considered one of the first songs to bring together musical elements of punk rock and new wave with disco music. “Atomic” also became Blondie’s fourth and final single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

“The Politics of Dancing” by Re-Flex

“The Politics of Dancing” is a song by English new wave band Re-Flex, released in 1983 as their debut single and taken from their only album, The Politics of Dancing. The song peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1983.

In the United States, the song was included on the soundtrack to the 1984 film Sixteen Candles.

“Relax” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

“Relax” is a song by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, released in October 1984 as the third single from their album Welcome to the Pleasuredome. Although it was not originally released as a single in the United Kingdom, the song was added to the band’s debut album after it reached number one in several European countries and Australia. In 1985, “Relax” was re-released in the UK as a double A-side with “Two Tribes”. It subsequently went on to top the charts for five weeks, making it Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s most successful single.

“You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” by Dead or Alive

“You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” is a song by British band Dead or Alive on their 1985 album Youthquake. It was released as a single in November 1984 and became the group’s signature tune, peaking at number-one on both the US Hot Dance Club Play chart and UK Singles Chart. The song has been covered by other artists including Flo Rida, Dannii Minogue, Pitchshifter, and Oliva Newton-John.

“Close (to the Edit)” by Art of Noise

“Close (to the Edit)” is a 1984 song by British avant-garde band The Art of Noise. It was written by group members Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn and Paul Morley, and produced by Horn. The song is notable for its innovative use of sampling, and is considered one of the earliest examples of techno music.

“Doctorin’ the House” by Coldcut featuring Yazz and the Plastic Population

“Doctorin’ the House” is a song released in 1988 by British record production duo Coldcut, featuring guest vocals by British singer Yazz and American hip hop group the plastic population. The song was a major hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart. It also peaked at number one on the dance chart.