culturewatcher
- May 8, 2021
- 4 min read

New Romantics

The New Romantics The New Romantics were a movement in the early 1980s, initially in fashion, then moving into music. They were typically colourful, flamboyant and sometimes eccentric both in sight and sound, employing the new synthesizer music and wearing costumes pointing to the past and future. Their most eminent representatives were Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Culture Club. Origins In the late 1970s, the main ground-breaking movements in British rock had been punk rock, followed by new wave, typified by plain, rough dress and musical sound. The New Romantics were a reaction against that style and a move back to colour and verve. The new romanticism began in the clubs and fashion boutiques of London and Birmingham. Initially its followers were called The Blitz Kids or The New Dandies. Inspiration The movement was inspired by stylishly- and even eccentrically-dressed singers from the early 70s glam rock such as David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Roxy Music; and also, much further back, from the Romantic artists and writers around 1800 such as Keats and Coleridge. The dress in David Bowie’s video for Ashes to Ashes (1980) is a nod to the emerging New Romantic movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMm4rJemtI Dress New Romantics would typically dress in bold and bright and even fluorescent colours, wear make-up and have costumes which were either futuristic or harking back to flamboyance in the past. The dress would commonly be a creative development of period costumes from about 1800, with frills, accessories and vibrant colours. Music The music was generally buoyant and joyful with strong lively melodies, but also atmospheric with sweeping chords. As such, the NRs were capable of delivering a wide range of moods, and many of their songs are reflective or mournful, such as Save A Prayer or Do You Really Want To Hurt Me ? Groups The most popular New Romantic acts were: Duran Duran, led by Simon Le Bon. The top band in the world for a time, with hits such as Rio, Save A Prayer, Hungry Like the Wolf, Planet Earth, Girls On Film, Is There Something I Should Know ? Culture Club, led by Boy George Most noted for two massive worldwide hits Do You Really Want To Hurt Me ? and Karma Chameleon. Spandau Ballet A consistent and long-lasting act, mainly successful in the UK, withs such as To Cut A Long Story Short, Chant No 1, True and Gold. A more arty and severe act was: Visage led by Steve Strange Most noted for the song Fade to Grey Other acts, curiously, did not accept the label of New Romantic but were clearly highly influenced by it: Adam and the Ants Very popular, with songs such as AntMusic, Prince Charming and Stand and Deliver. Noted for colourful old-style costumes of pirates, soldiers, highwaymen and dandies. Japan Futuristic chic in fashion style. Other acts were: Classix Nouveaux, A Flock of Seagulls How New Romanticism ended It didn’t end abruptly – it flowed into other contemporary movements which came along: synth-pop or electro-pop; and videos and MTV and the New Romantics were suited to both. Really, in the early 1980s, there were lots of talented artists working in closely-related genres, in dance, pop, electro-pop, so they could blend easily. Gradually, a crisper, harder electronic sound became the mainstream and dress became less flamboyant. Acts such as Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet adapted accordingly. By the mid-1980s, the big production sound was dominant, led by major stars such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Madonna. Live Aid in 1985 was the highest profile gig with New Romantics – Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet – and was really its last hurrah. Reflections on music movements Art often progresses with movements: groups of artists who focus on a particular style or approach, setting out new ground or reacting against predecessors (think of Classical, Baroque, Impressionist). The New Romantics are a typical artistic movement: -a reaction against the plainness of punk and new wave (not necessarily disagreeing, but perhaps saying: ‘that point has made, now let’s get back to colour’) -drawing on previous artists (glam rock and the 1800s Romantics). Much art involves re-assembling pre-existing things. - making a new statement: flamboyance, colour, eccentricity, embracing new technology in music and video - a natural cycle: birth, growth, main success, then fading out as new movements come along and once the artists have made their main statements. - continuing influence: colour, flamboyance, visuals with later artists Conclusion The New Romantics were a very successful movement: - at the heart of pop music and culture for a good two or three years -very influential -produced lots of good music and several enduring artists. Reading and Viewing