New Wave reshaped the early 80s with style, color, and a sound that felt like the decade waking up to something bold and completely new. This Five-Shot drops into the heart of that moment when synths lit up dance floors, videos sparked imaginations, and every track carried a hint of the future humming underneath.

In this quick burst between full episodes, we revisit five songs that defined the mood of the era and the spirit of the kids who grew up inside it. These are the tracks that gave the decade its gleam and left a mark long after the last chord faded.

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Join us on Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, and Bluesky to share your favorite memories, and if the music still moves you, support the show at BuyMeACoffee.com.

Intro music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay

This week, we step back into early November 1988, a time when the nights felt longer, the music felt bigger, and every chart carried its own slice of the decade’s energy. From polished pop to bold dance records to the voices that defined the era, this countdown brings the full range of what made the late 80s unforgettable.

And beginning with this episode, the show opens its new listener feature: The Dedication Line. If you would like to send in a message to be read on an upcoming episode, email GenXTop20Countdown@gmail.com.

Settle in, turn up the volume, and relive the moments that made the decade shine.

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Join us on Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, and Bluesky to share your favorite memories, and if the music still moves you, support the show at BuyMeACoffee.com.

Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

Nostalgia lookback music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay

Early November of 1988 carried a charge of its own. The cold settled in, holiday lights started creeping into storefronts, and the radio felt bigger and brighter with every turn of the dial. It was a season shaped by ambition, attitude, and songs that wrapped themselves around everyday life.

This week we rewind to a chart full of late-decade confidence, the kind of lineup that drifted through classrooms, warmed up mall afternoons, and turned weekend plans into something electric. No spoilers here. Just tune in and let November 1988 open up again.

Check out the merch store HERE!

Join us on Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, and Bluesky to share your favorite memories, and if the music still moves you, support the show at BuyMeACoffee.com.

Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

Nostalgia lookback music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay