'80s Synth-Pop: Subgenre Spotlight

For our fifth edition of Subgenre Spotlight, we look at ’80s synth-pop, a subgenre of pop music.

As its name suggests, synth-pop features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument and is distinguished by its use of drum machines and sequencers.

Synth-pop arose in Japan and the UK as part of the new wave movement in the late ’70s. It dominated pop music in the ’80s, and anthems like The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me,” and Berlin’s “The Metro” remain staples in many DJ sets.

Browse our 80s Synth-Pop playlist below for some of the genre’s biggest tracks.