(Finished April 18th, 2026) Part 4 of Utah's KJQ SLC Radio Station 80's Playlist

Hello,

This is the first one of these blogs that I've posted in 3 years, still this music hasn't got close to getting old.

KJQ was a Salt Lake radio station that played "new wave" music back in about 1983 to about 1991. I did some research, but couldn't find the exact years it was operating. Anyway they played so-called new wave music. Some of the most famous artists of that genre include U2, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, The Fixx, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Thompson Twins, The Human League, The Smiths and likely my favorite new wave band, R.E.M. Some of these bands are still performing today.

Why am I writing about this now in 2026? Reason #1 is I love 80's music. But more importantly reason #2, within the last few months there's been a new station in the Salt Lake radio market that plays those same songs (right now playing Men Without Hats "Safety Dance"). That station is The Wave 103.1. It's a flashback to the greatest music decade and some of the more obscure, but great, new wave hits from then. The Wave 103.1 seems it's now The Coast, playing other genres of music.

Again this blog isn't just about those famous artists, this blog is also about the obscure artists and obscure songs of this amazing era of music. Some bigger bands had some songs that were a bit obscure, so I'll include some of those. I've also included some well known songs, just because I like them. This music is mostly referred to as New Wave music, sadly I didn't appreciate it until the era passed.

I can't guarantee all these songs were played on KJQ or The Wave 103.1.

I've come up with many of these songs from Mr Secondsoul's YouTube video of classic New Wave songs. Thanks to him- guessing it's a him because of the Mr.

52) Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart":

53) Real Life "Send Me An Angel":

54) U2 "New Year's Day":

55) Yaz "Situation":

56) Roxy Music "More Than This":

57) When In Rome "The Promise":

58) Spoons "Nova Heart":

59) Industry "State Of The Nation":

60) Chameleons "Up The Down Escalator":

61) The Damned "Alone Again Or":

62) Depeche Mode "Dreaming of Me":

63) The Waterboys "Whole of The Moon":

64) Blondie "Atomic":

65) The Psychedelic Furs "Pretty In Pink":

66) Fuzzbox "Self":

67) OMD "Secret":

68) The Talking Heads "Burning Down The House":

themusicaddict