3 New Wave One-Hit Wonders From the 1980s That Will Have You Dancing Around the Room

New wave music was a bridge between two styles: pop and punk. But unlike bands like Blink 182 or Machine Gun Kelly, new wave pulled off its magic trick with glistening, smooth sounds that made the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. And that feeling was doubled when it came from a one-hit wonder band bringing its most successful sounds to the forefront.

Here below, we wanted to explore three examples of this phenomenon. A trio of tracks from new wave one-hit wonder bands that rose to the top of the pop charts and continue to make music fans grin and dance around their living rooms. Indeed, these are three new wave one-hit wonders that will make you want to put on your dancing shoes.

[RELATED: 3 Energetic One-Hit Wonders That Are Perfect To Dance Along To]

“Whip It” by Devo from Freedom of Choice (1980)

Not only did Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh write music for TV shows like Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Rugrats, but his band wrote hits like “Whip It,” a fast-paced song that was released on the 1980 LP Freedom of Choice. Featuring the relentless high-hat cymbals, this song is about nipping an issue in the bud, or whipping it. But as much as the song is sticky and catchy, the music video is full of kitschy humor and almost surreal images. And on the tune, which hit No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, Devo lead singer Bob Mothersbaugh offers,

Crack that whip
Give the past a slip
Step on a crack
Break your mama’s back

When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When something’s going wrong
You must whip it

“I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls from A Flock of Seagulls (1982)

The British-born band A Flock of Seagulls released this mesmerizing song in 1982 on their self-titled LP. The track, which hit No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, is about escape. As the title might suggest, it’s about running away. But there is a problem: No matter how far or fast the singer runs, he just couldn’t get away from the power and magnetism of the person he’s trying to leave. Indeed, lead vocalist Mike Score sings,

I walked along the avenue
I never thought I’d meet a girl like you
Meet a girl like you

With auburn hair and tawny eyes
The kind of eyes that hypnotize me through
Hypnotize me through
And I ran, I ran so far away
I just ran, I ran all night and day
I couldn’t get away

“The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats from Rhythm of Youth (1982)

This strange song from the Canadian-born band Men Without Hats reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Driven by a catchy synth riff and the lead singer Ivan Eugene Doroschuk’s almost droning vocals, “The Safety Dance” is all about dancing. It’s the only thing that matters in this tune. Dance, dance, dance, and if your friends don’t dance, just leave them behind. Indeed, Doroschuk belts,

We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
‘Cause your friends don’t dance
And if they don’t dance
Well they’re no friends of mine

I say, we can go where we want to
A place where they’ll never find
And we can act like we come from out of this world
Leave the real one far behind
We can dance (Danser!)

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