The first weekend in December is when we host our annual holiday party. This year we decided on a theme near and dear to my heart – ‘80s new wave music (with a dash of ‘70s). So with plenty of hairspray and makeup on hand, my husband and I prepared for the night. The drinks consisted of Sex on the Beach, Kamikazes, Fuzzy Navels, and wine coolers. In the weeks leading up to the party, I went back and forth on what to play. Should the playlist be filled with popular classics or should I pull out the deep cuts? In the end, the playlist consisted of what I hope was a good balance of popular and a bit of the obscure. The dance floor was active all night; it helps to have guests who love ‘80s music. Below is the party playlist.
| 1. So Long – Fischer-Z (1980) | 30. Kids In America – Kim Wilde (1981) | 59. Everything Counts – Depeche Mode (1983) |
| 2. Big In Japan – Alphaville (1984) | 31. Lucky Number – Lene Lovich (1978) | 60. Just Like Heaven – The Cure (1987) |
| 3. Here Comes The Rain Again – Eurythmics (1984) | 32. 99 Luftballons – Nena (1983) | 61. Pop Muzik – M (1979) |
| 4. Doctor! Doctor! – The Thompson Twins (1984) | 33. Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) – Icicle Works (1983) | 62. Fashion – David Bowie (1980) |
| 5. Love My Way – The Psychedelic Furs (1982) | 34. I Will Follow – U2 (1980) | 63. Girls On Film – Duran Duran (1981) |
| 6. Dance Hall Days – Wang Chung (1984) | 35. In a Big Country – Big Country (1983) | 64. Politics Of Dancing – Re-Flex (1982) |
| 7. Things Can Only Get Better – Howard Jones (1985) | 36. Church Of The Poison Mind – Culture Club (1983) | 65. Lips Like Sugar – Echo & The Bunnymen (1987) |
| 8. Who Can It Be Now? – Men At Work (1981) | 37. Lover Come Back (To Me) – Dead or Alive (1985) | 66. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid (1984) |
| 9. Save It For Later – The English Beat (1982) | 38. China – The Red Rockers (1983) | 67. Mad World – Tears for Fears (1982) |
| 10. Senses Working Overtime – XTC (1982) | 39. Heaven – The Psychedelic Furs (1984) | 68. It’s My Life – Talk Talk (1984) |
| 11. One Thing Leads To Another – Fixx (1983) | 40. Smalltown Boy – Bronski Beat (1984) | 69. The Look of Love, Pt. 1 – ABC (1982) |
| 12. I Got You – Split Enz (1980) | 41. A Little Respect- Erasure (1988) | 70. The Walk – The Cure (1983) |
| 13. Oh L’amour – Erasure (1986) | 42. Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode (1981) | 71. Ahead – Wire (1987) |
| 14. Johnny and Mary – Robert Palmer (1980) | 43. The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats (1983) | 72. Channel Z – The B-52’s (1989) |
| 15. She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby (1982) | 44. Messages (Single Version) – OMD (1980) | 73. Beautiful World- Devo (1981) |
| 16. Der Kommissar – After the Fire (1982) | 45. Peek-A-Boo – Siouxsie & The Banshees (1988) | 74. Living On Video – Trans-X (1983) |
| 17. The One Thing – INXS (1982) | 46. Revenge – Ministry (1983) | 75. Digital – Joy Division (1978) |
| 18. (Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Human League (1983) | 47. Lucretia My Reflection – The Sisters Of Mercy (1988) | 76. Dreaming – Blondie (1979) |
| 19. Promised You A Miracle – Simple Minds (1982) | 48. Nemesis – Shriekback (1985) | 77. Never Say Never – Romeo Void (1982) |
| 20. Do You Want To Hold Me? – Bow Wow Wow (1983) | 49. Obsession – Animotion (1984) | 78. Age of Consent – New Order (1983) |
| 21. Always Something There to Remind Me – Naked Eyes (1982) | 50. Destination Unknown – Missing Persons (1982) | 79. Electricity – OMD (1979) |
| 22. Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) – A Flock Of Seagulls (1983) | 51. Tainted Love – Soft Cell (1981) | 80. People Are People – Depeche Mode (1984) |
| 23. Shout – Tears for Fears (1984) | 52. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses (1981) | 81. Planet Earth – Duran Duran (1981) |
| 24. West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys (1986) | 53. Let Me Go – Heaven 17 (1982) | 82. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes – Ultravox (1984) |
| 25. Goodbye Horses (Clerks II Remix) – Garvey (feat. Q Lazzarus) (1988) | 54. How Soon Is Now? – The Smiths (1985) | 83. Send Me An Angel – Real Life (1983) |
| 26. The Dead Heart – Midnight Oil (1986) | 55. Legal Tender (Album Version) – The B-52’s (1983) | 84. The Promise (Studio Version) – When In Rome (1987) |
| 27. The Cutter – Echo & The Bunnymen (1983) | 56. Nowhere Girl – B-Movie (1982) | 85. Space Age Love Song – A Flock Of Seagulls (1982) |
| 28. I Die: You Die (Video Version) – Gary Numan (1980) | 57. The Metro – Berlin (1982) | 86. It’s A Sin – Pet Shop Boys (1987) |
| 29. Lawnchairs – Our Daughter’s Wedding (1980) | 58. Cars – Gary Numan (1979) | 87. Don’t Go – Yaz (1982) |
Living In Oblivion 