80s Synthpop? New Wave? "Oh, Oh, Oh Oh Oh O

Thread: 80s Synthpop? New Wave? "Oh, Oh, Oh Oh Oh O

Tags: None

  1. Replicant said: 08-15-2014 10:43 AM

    Default 80s Synthpop? New Wave? "Oh, Oh, Oh Oh Oh O

    Thanks to bugmenot1 for solving this one! "Things Can Only Get Better" by Howard Jones

    Hi Everybody,

    I first heard this song, I think, in the mid to late 80s. I had forgotten all about it until I heard it again a few years ago and it's been driving me nuts. I haven't heard it since. It wasn't a huge hit but it got some radio play on at least the East Coast of the US.

    I remember it being synthpoppy/new wavish but having a "fuller" sound than most of that type of music. The voice was male and I'm pretty sure the band went by the guy's name, which may have been 4 or 5 syllables with an M in there somewhere. It had a tempo of around, oh maybe 116 BPM. The chorus was in a minor key and just before each verse he would sing' "Oh, Oh, Oh Oh Oh Oh, Oh Oh". Sorry for being so vague. I added a link to a MIDI file below. It starts at the chorus with the vocal melody. I can't remember a single word of it. The piano part is where he sings the "Oh Ohs". The little synth accent might not be accurate, but it's how I remember it.

    I've searched lists of 80's pop songs and tried searching the snippets of melody that I remember, but no dice. Can anyone help? Thank you!

    Here's the link: http://onlinesequencer.net/24760
    Last edited by Replicant; 08-15-2014 at 03:04 PM. Reason: Solved!
     

  2. bugmenot1 said: 08-15-2014 11:39 AM

    Default

    "The Breakup Song" by Greg Kihn Band
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLFfSDEA26o
     

  3. Replicant said: 08-15-2014 12:36 PM

    Default

    Hey thanks bugmenot1, but that's not it. It's funny though because "The Breakup Song" was another one of those songs that was driving me nuts until a couple of years ago. The "Oh Oh's" in the song I'm thinking of rhyme with "D'oh", I think. The guitar is also less prominent, if there at all.
     

  4. bugmenot1 said: 08-15-2014 02:26 PM

    Default

    "Things Can Only Get Better" by Howard Jones
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OO9LloDSJo
     

  5. Replicant said: 08-15-2014 03:00 PM

    Default

    Yes, that's it! Thank you! I hadn't noticed the electric bass and horns but I'm sure that's why I remembered a richer sound than pure synth music. No idea why I thought the artist's name had 4 or 5 syllables with an "M". Not sure why I didn't remember it sounding an awful lot like Duran Duran either. That's awesome, thanks again!