At the beginning of the 70′s, synthesizers were largely considered a novelty. There were dozens of novelty ‘switched on’ albums, ranging from Switched On Beatles to Switched On Buck.
By the end of the decade, though, Keith Emerson had blown minds with his synth solo on Lucky Man, Kraftwerk had created the template for synth pop and Moroder and Summer had transported dance music into the future with I Feel Love. Synths have had a prominent place in music ever since.
What’s the best synth song of all time? Is it one of the 70′s classics, something from the synthpop heyday or something more modern?
Image: ocad123
In no order:
M83 – Midnight City
Max Tundra – Which Song
Aphex Twin – Film
Aphex Twin – Rhubarb
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Situation by Yazoo
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I have decided. The best synthesizer song is “Ghosts” by Japan. Its astonishing that it reached number 5 on the charts. I havent looked but Im sure it stuck out like a sore thumb among the rest of the lot in the top ten at that time. It has this power to compel me to sing along with it every time i playr it too!
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Is ghosts even synthesized? I thought Mick Karn played the other instruments
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“Ghosts ” is drenched in Prophet 5 and Oberheim.
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The sleeve of “Tin Drum” does credit Mick Karn with African flute and dida though.
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popcorn
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Soft Cell by Sex Dwarf
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Soft Dwarf by Sex Cell!
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Sex Dwarf by Soft Cell
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The Prodigy – Voodoo People
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How about the entire Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis?
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I shall see your “Blade Runner” soundtrack and raise you the “Forbidden Planet” soundtrack!
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If I had to pick a single song I would say “Forever Young” by Alphaville.
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Testure
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Rollin’ and Scratchin’ by Daft Punk
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Wow tricky to choose the best ever. Here is a few of my faves
Clair de Lune by Tomita (Debussy tune on The Snowflakes are Dancing album)
Acquiring the Taste by Gentle Giant (played entirely on Minimoog I think)
Equinoxe 5 or Oxygene 4 by Jean Michel Jarre
Pump Up The Volume by M.A.R.R.S
Little Fluffy Clouds – The Orb
Rockit by Herbie Hancock
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“New Song” by Howard Jones!!
HoJo transmitted me his love for synths!
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“Strobe” by deadmau5.. and many of kraftwerk’s songs
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I can’t decide. It’s either Tarkus or The Gates of Delirium.
You were expecting maybe Magic Man?
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http://youtu.be/7WUb5BkBDQ0 Tim Blake with the album Blake’s New Jerusalem.One of the pioneers making use of the electronics.Still after nearly 45 years a masterpiece.
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Funkytown by Lipps Inc.
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Giorgio Moroder – I Feel Love is a pivotal point in my opinion
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The photo got it pretty much nailed <3
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“Axel F” blew my mind as a kid when I realized it was just one guy and a synth. I’ve been obsessed with synth music ever since!
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substructure-firewire
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+1 for Little Fluffy Clouds
Honorable mention for Rockit
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Tie between “Little Fluffy Clouds” by The Orb and “Born Slippy .NUXX” by Underworld.
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Best synth music ever: “SYMPHONY” by XENON 1984.
http://www.spacesynth.net/Artist/Xenon/Symphony
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Blue Monday : New Order
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New Order – Perfect Kiss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvyA-J02dg0
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ooops – this is the correct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcjolqpKR4g
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Faith in this Colour – Duran Duran
Wishing – Flock of Seagulls
Blue Monday – New Order
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The best synth song of all time????
That is a BIG question!
I just can’t pin it down to one!
“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer with Giorgio Moroder.
“Chariots Of Fire (Theme)” by Vangelis.
“Popcorn” by Gershon Kingsley.
“Funeral Music For Queen Mary (Theme From Clockwork Orange)” performed by Wendy Carlos..
“Theme From Peewee’s Playhouse” by George McGrath, Mark Mothersbaugh and Peewee Herman (featuring Cyndy Lauper on vocal)…
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Jan Hammer played synths and drums and composed “Star Cycle” on Jeff Beck’s There And Back. That’s my vote.
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I JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH by Depeche Mode
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Shake the Disease by Depeche Mode! (and many others by them)
Or do samplers qualify as “synths”? (There’s synths in there as well..)
Seems to me they set the high water mark (over and over again) for what you could achieve doing electronic music.
Lots of great songs you all have listed though for sure!
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Baba O’Riley, The Who.
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In addition, there’s Entangled, and pretty much every other song on Genesis’s A Trick of the Tail. I love ELP and Yes and Rush and a ton of others, but A Trick of the Tail is my favorite melodic and lyrical album.
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Überzone: the Brain.
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Recently I found out an outstanding synthesizer song on youtube: Right From The Sun by TUSKLE
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