The article highlights three songs that it argues capture the sound and influence of the new wave movement during the late 1970s and 1980s.

– Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” is presented as a song that sits between post-punk and new wave, with its mix of punk bleakness, melodic structure and synth textures helping shape the genre’s mood and sound.
– Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” is described as a strong example of new wave’s contrast between bright, danceable music and darker themes, with the article linking its lyrics to Cold War-era tensions and struggles for power.
– Talking Heads’ “Once In A Lifetime” is included because the band is portrayed as a pioneering force in new wave, with the song singled out as one of the clearest examples of their innovative, art-rock-inflected approach that influenced the genre more broadly.