200 Greatest Sophisti‑Pop Songs
Description: Polished Upscale Pop. Sophisticated Pop music arose in the United Kingdom of the mid 1980s as an offshoot of the New Wave movement. Combining New Wave pop with elements of smooth jazz, soul, and world music, resulting in an elegant listening style.
Criteria: These Sophisti-Pop Songs were chosen and ranked considering their initial and lasting popularity, musical impact, influence, and originality. This list highlights the best examples of songs that exemplify Sophisti-Pop, not necessarily their greatest hits.
Criteria: These Sophisti-Pop Songs were chosen and ranked considering their initial and lasting popularity, musical impact, influence, and originality. This list highlights the best examples of songs that exemplify Sophisti-Pop, not necessarily their greatest hits.
Greatest Sophisti‑Pop Songs
1. Smooth Operator
Sade
2. More Than This
Roxy Music
3. Careless Whisper
Wham! featuring George Michael
4. Holding Back the Years
Simply Red
5. Breakout
Swing Out Sister
Sade
2. More Than This
Roxy Music
3. Careless Whisper
Wham! featuring George Michael
4. Holding Back the Years
Simply Red
5. Breakout
Swing Out Sister
6. True
Spandau Ballet
7. When Love Breaks Down
Prefab Sprout
8. Shattered Dreams
Johnny Hates Jazz
9. My Ever Changing Moods
The Style Council
10. The Downtown Lights
The Blue Nile
11. Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
Scritti Politti
12. Slave to Love
Bryan Ferry
13. Digging Your Scene
The Blow Monkeys
14. The Sweetest Taboo
Sade
15. Something About You
Level 42
16. Steppin' Out
Joe Jackson
17. Time (Clock of the Heart)
Culture Club
18. Mary's Prayer
Danny Wilson
19. It's My Life
Talk Talk
20. Perfect Way
Scritti Politti
21. Everybody Knows
Leonard Cohen
22. Appetite
Prefab Sprout
23. Tinseltown in the Rain
The Blue Nile
24. IGY (What a Beautiful World)
Donald Fagen
25. Human
The Human League
26. Walking On Broken Glass
Annie Lennox
27. Cruising for Bruising
Basia
28. Living in a Box
Living in a Box
29. Englishman in New York
Sting
30. Being Boring
Pet Shop Boys
31. No Ordinary Love
Sade
32. Misfit
Curiosity Killed the Cat
33. Long Hot Summer
The Style Council
34. The Captain of Her Heart
Double
35. Driving
Everything But the Girl
36. Black Man Ray
China Crisis
37. Avalon
Roxy Music
38. Gold
Spandau Ballet
39. Breaking Us in Two
Joe Jackson
40. Somewhere In My Heart
Aztec Camera
41. Our Lips Are Sealed
Fun Boy Three
42. How Can I Fall?
Breathe
43. Stay
The Blue Nile
44. Somebody Else
The 1975
45. Fullgas
Marina Lima
46. Get Out of Your Lazy Bed
Matt Bianco
47. Loving the Alien
David Bowie
48. Come Back and Stay
Paul Young
49. Why
Annie Lennox
50. The Story of the Blues
Wah!
51. (Feels Like) Heaven
Fiction Factory
52. Message to My Girl
Split Enz
53. The Sun and the Rain
Madness
54. First We Take Manhattan
Leonard Cohen
55. Fortress Around Your Heart
Sting
56. Don't Give Up
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
57. Real Gone Kid
Deacon Blue
58. Twist in My Sobriety
Tanita Takaram
59. The King of Rock 'n' Roll
Prefab Sprout
60. Song for Whoever
The Beautiful South
61. The "Sweetest Girl"
Scritti Politti
62. Wonderful Life
Black
63. The First Picture of You
The Lotus Eaters
64. Money's Too Tight (To Mention)
Simply Red
65. Give It Up
Talk Talk
66. Your Love is King
Sade
67. Wishing I Was Lucky
Wet Wet Wet
68. Twilight World
Swing Out Sister
69. Build
The Housemartins
70. Hot Water
Level 42
71. When Smokey Sings
ABC
72. Dignity
Deacon Blue
73. Christian
China Crisis
74. I'll Sail This Ship Alone
The Beautiful South
75. Labour of Love
Hue and Cry
76. Love It If We Made It
The 1975
77. Boom! There She Was
Scritti Politti
78. I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)
Grace Jones
79. Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune)
It's Immaterial
80. Don't Sing
Prefab Sprout
81. This is Not America
David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group
82. Each and Every One
Everything But the Girl
83. You're the Best Thing
The Style Council
84. Hang On to Your Love
Sade
85. Crying in Public
Chairlift
86. Kiss and Tell
Bryan Ferry
87. Headlights on the Parade
The Blue Nile
88. I'll Fly for You
Spandau Ballet
89. Short Court Style
Natalie Prass
90. Jocelyn Square
Love and Money
91. Words
The Christians
92. Wishful Thinking
China Crisis
93. You're Not Good Enough
Blood Orange
94. The Honeythief
Hipsway
95. Down to Earth
Curiosity Killed the Cat
96. Surrender
Swing Out Sister
97. Little Bird
Annie Lennox
98. Goodbye Lucille #1 (Johnny Johnny)
Prefab Sprout
99. Night and Day
Everything but the Girl
100. Time and Tide
Basia
Spandau Ballet
7. When Love Breaks Down
Prefab Sprout
8. Shattered Dreams
Johnny Hates Jazz
9. My Ever Changing Moods
The Style Council
10. The Downtown Lights
The Blue Nile
11. Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
Scritti Politti
12. Slave to Love
Bryan Ferry
13. Digging Your Scene
The Blow Monkeys
14. The Sweetest Taboo
Sade
15. Something About You
Level 42
16. Steppin' Out
Joe Jackson
17. Time (Clock of the Heart)
Culture Club
18. Mary's Prayer
Danny Wilson
19. It's My Life
Talk Talk
20. Perfect Way
Scritti Politti
21. Everybody Knows
Leonard Cohen
22. Appetite
Prefab Sprout
23. Tinseltown in the Rain
The Blue Nile
24. IGY (What a Beautiful World)
Donald Fagen
25. Human
The Human League
26. Walking On Broken Glass
Annie Lennox
27. Cruising for Bruising
Basia
28. Living in a Box
Living in a Box
29. Englishman in New York
Sting
30. Being Boring
Pet Shop Boys
31. No Ordinary Love
Sade
32. Misfit
Curiosity Killed the Cat
33. Long Hot Summer
The Style Council
34. The Captain of Her Heart
Double
35. Driving
Everything But the Girl
36. Black Man Ray
China Crisis
37. Avalon
Roxy Music
38. Gold
Spandau Ballet
39. Breaking Us in Two
Joe Jackson
40. Somewhere In My Heart
Aztec Camera
41. Our Lips Are Sealed
Fun Boy Three
42. How Can I Fall?
Breathe
43. Stay
The Blue Nile
44. Somebody Else
The 1975
45. Fullgas
Marina Lima
46. Get Out of Your Lazy Bed
Matt Bianco
47. Loving the Alien
David Bowie
48. Come Back and Stay
Paul Young
49. Why
Annie Lennox
50. The Story of the Blues
Wah!
51. (Feels Like) Heaven
Fiction Factory
52. Message to My Girl
Split Enz
53. The Sun and the Rain
Madness
54. First We Take Manhattan
Leonard Cohen
55. Fortress Around Your Heart
Sting
56. Don't Give Up
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
57. Real Gone Kid
Deacon Blue
58. Twist in My Sobriety
Tanita Takaram
59. The King of Rock 'n' Roll
Prefab Sprout
60. Song for Whoever
The Beautiful South
61. The "Sweetest Girl"
Scritti Politti
62. Wonderful Life
Black
63. The First Picture of You
The Lotus Eaters
64. Money's Too Tight (To Mention)
Simply Red
65. Give It Up
Talk Talk
66. Your Love is King
Sade
67. Wishing I Was Lucky
Wet Wet Wet
68. Twilight World
Swing Out Sister
69. Build
The Housemartins
70. Hot Water
Level 42
71. When Smokey Sings
ABC
72. Dignity
Deacon Blue
73. Christian
China Crisis
74. I'll Sail This Ship Alone
The Beautiful South
75. Labour of Love
Hue and Cry
76. Love It If We Made It
The 1975
77. Boom! There She Was
Scritti Politti
78. I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)
Grace Jones
79. Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune)
It's Immaterial
80. Don't Sing
Prefab Sprout
81. This is Not America
David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group
82. Each and Every One
Everything But the Girl
83. You're the Best Thing
The Style Council
84. Hang On to Your Love
Sade
85. Crying in Public
Chairlift
86. Kiss and Tell
Bryan Ferry
87. Headlights on the Parade
The Blue Nile
88. I'll Fly for You
Spandau Ballet
89. Short Court Style
Natalie Prass
90. Jocelyn Square
Love and Money
91. Words
The Christians
92. Wishful Thinking
China Crisis
93. You're Not Good Enough
Blood Orange
94. The Honeythief
Hipsway
95. Down to Earth
Curiosity Killed the Cat
96. Surrender
Swing Out Sister
97. Little Bird
Annie Lennox
98. Goodbye Lucille #1 (Johnny Johnny)
Prefab Sprout
99. Night and Day
Everything but the Girl
100. Time and Tide
Basia
101. Hands to Heaven
Breathe
102. You Keep It All In
The Beautiful South
103. Michael Caine
Madness
104. Shout to the Top!
The Style Council
105. I Scare Myself
Thomas Dolby
106. Clouds Across the Moon
The RAH Band
107. Love is the Seventh Wave
Sting
108. I Confess
The (English) Beat
109. All That
Carly Rae Jepsen
110. Cars and Girls
Prefab Sprout
111. Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry for Loverboy)
Scritti Politti
112. Am I the Same Girl?
Swing Out Sister
113. Whistle Down the Wind
Nick Heyward
114. Graceland
The Bible
115. Lessons in Love
Level 42
116. When Am I Going to Make a Living
Sade
117. The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
118. Cry
Waterfront
119. King in a Catholic Style (Wake Up)
China Crisis
120. The Love Parade
The Dream Academy
121. C'est la ouate
Caroline Loeb
122. Chinatown
Destroyer
123. Come Back
Wah!
124. Your Party
Ween
125. Confirmation
Westerman
126. Thinking of You
The Colourfield
127. Lanca Perfume
Rita Lee
128. Hooverville (And They Promised Us the World)
The Christians
129. Brilliant Mind
Furniture
130. Johnny and Mary
Todd Terje
131. The Maker
Daniel Lanois
132. Life of Surprises
Prefab Sprout
133. Mine
Everything but the Girl
134. It Doesn't Have to Be This Way
The Blow Monkeys
135. Lauren
Men I Trust
136. When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)
Deacon Blue
137. Working in a Goldmine
Aztec Camera
138. A Little Time
The Beautiful South
139. Sweet Talk
Jessie Ware
140. Paradise
Sade
141. Laying On the Sofa
Isabelle Antena
142. Take That Situation
Nick Heyward
143. Saturday Night
The Blue Nile
144. My Girl and Me
Gangway
145. Victor Should Have Been a Jazz Musician
Grace Jones
146. All Cried Out
Alison Moyet
147. Only When You Leave
Spandau Ballet
148. Looking for Atlantis
Prefab Sprout
149. Heartache Avenue
The Maisonettes
150. New Day for You
Basia
151. Big Area
Then Jerico
152. Cloud 8
Frazier Chorus
153. Amorous in Your Absence
Ice Choir
154. If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)
The 1975
155. Open Up the Red Box
Simply Red
156. A Walk Across the Rooftops
The Blue Nile
157. The Motive
Then Jerico
158. I Don't Want to Be a Hero
Johnny Hates Jazz
159. The Word Girl
Scritti Politti
160. Nothing Can Come Between Us
Sade
161. Palm of My Hand
The Pale Fountains
162. Old Red Eyes is Back
The Beautiful South
163. A Solid Bond in Your Heart
The Style Council
164. Bonny
Prefab Sprout
165. Bye/Gone
Roman a Clef
166. Chocolate Girl
Deacon Blue
167. More Than I Can Bear
Matt Bianco
168. Letting Go
Wild Nothing
169. Take a Chance with Me
Roxy Music
170. Kiss of Life
Sade
171. Show Me
Dislocation Dance
172. Birds
Aztec Camera
173. Stars
Simply Red
174. Ed's Funky Diner
It's Immaterial
175. Airwaves
Thomas Dolby
176. Sweetest Smile
Black
177. Arizona Sky
China Crisis
178. Wildest Moments
Jessie Ware
179. After the Storm
Kali Uchis
180. Heatwave
The Blue Nile
181. Absolute
Scritti Politti
182. Bell Bottomed Tear
The Beautiful South
183. Going Home (Is a Lonely Travel)
Rebekka Bakken
184. Faron Young
Prefab Sprout
185. Shape of My Heart
Sting
186. Woman
Neneh Cherry
187. So the Story Goes
Living in a Box
188. You On My Mind
Swing Out Sister
189. The Right Stuff
Bryan Ferry
190. You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)
Joe Jackson
191. Hard Drive
Cassandra Jenkins
192. Safe Passage
Laura Mvula
193. Businessman
Josh Rouse
194. Tides
Men I Trust
195. Atlantic
The Weather Station
196. To Be With You Again
Level 42
197. The Second Summer of Love
Danny Wilson
198. Heart of Gold
Johnny Hates Jazz
199. Kaputt
Destroyer
200. Is It a Crime?
Sade
Breathe
102. You Keep It All In
The Beautiful South
103. Michael Caine
Madness
104. Shout to the Top!
The Style Council
105. I Scare Myself
Thomas Dolby
106. Clouds Across the Moon
The RAH Band
107. Love is the Seventh Wave
Sting
108. I Confess
The (English) Beat
109. All That
Carly Rae Jepsen
110. Cars and Girls
Prefab Sprout
111. Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry for Loverboy)
Scritti Politti
112. Am I the Same Girl?
Swing Out Sister
113. Whistle Down the Wind
Nick Heyward
114. Graceland
The Bible
115. Lessons in Love
Level 42
116. When Am I Going to Make a Living
Sade
117. The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
118. Cry
Waterfront
119. King in a Catholic Style (Wake Up)
China Crisis
120. The Love Parade
The Dream Academy
121. C'est la ouate
Caroline Loeb
122. Chinatown
Destroyer
123. Come Back
Wah!
124. Your Party
Ween
125. Confirmation
Westerman
126. Thinking of You
The Colourfield
127. Lanca Perfume
Rita Lee
128. Hooverville (And They Promised Us the World)
The Christians
129. Brilliant Mind
Furniture
130. Johnny and Mary
Todd Terje
131. The Maker
Daniel Lanois
132. Life of Surprises
Prefab Sprout
133. Mine
Everything but the Girl
134. It Doesn't Have to Be This Way
The Blow Monkeys
135. Lauren
Men I Trust
136. When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)
Deacon Blue
137. Working in a Goldmine
Aztec Camera
138. A Little Time
The Beautiful South
139. Sweet Talk
Jessie Ware
140. Paradise
Sade
141. Laying On the Sofa
Isabelle Antena
142. Take That Situation
Nick Heyward
143. Saturday Night
The Blue Nile
144. My Girl and Me
Gangway
145. Victor Should Have Been a Jazz Musician
Grace Jones
146. All Cried Out
Alison Moyet
147. Only When You Leave
Spandau Ballet
148. Looking for Atlantis
Prefab Sprout
149. Heartache Avenue
The Maisonettes
150. New Day for You
Basia
151. Big Area
Then Jerico
152. Cloud 8
Frazier Chorus
153. Amorous in Your Absence
Ice Choir
154. If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)
The 1975
155. Open Up the Red Box
Simply Red
156. A Walk Across the Rooftops
The Blue Nile
157. The Motive
Then Jerico
158. I Don't Want to Be a Hero
Johnny Hates Jazz
159. The Word Girl
Scritti Politti
160. Nothing Can Come Between Us
Sade
161. Palm of My Hand
The Pale Fountains
162. Old Red Eyes is Back
The Beautiful South
163. A Solid Bond in Your Heart
The Style Council
164. Bonny
Prefab Sprout
165. Bye/Gone
Roman a Clef
166. Chocolate Girl
Deacon Blue
167. More Than I Can Bear
Matt Bianco
168. Letting Go
Wild Nothing
169. Take a Chance with Me
Roxy Music
170. Kiss of Life
Sade
171. Show Me
Dislocation Dance
172. Birds
Aztec Camera
173. Stars
Simply Red
174. Ed's Funky Diner
It's Immaterial
175. Airwaves
Thomas Dolby
176. Sweetest Smile
Black
177. Arizona Sky
China Crisis
178. Wildest Moments
Jessie Ware
179. After the Storm
Kali Uchis
180. Heatwave
The Blue Nile
181. Absolute
Scritti Politti
182. Bell Bottomed Tear
The Beautiful South
183. Going Home (Is a Lonely Travel)
Rebekka Bakken
184. Faron Young
Prefab Sprout
185. Shape of My Heart
Sting
186. Woman
Neneh Cherry
187. So the Story Goes
Living in a Box
188. You On My Mind
Swing Out Sister
189. The Right Stuff
Bryan Ferry
190. You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)
Joe Jackson
191. Hard Drive
Cassandra Jenkins
192. Safe Passage
Laura Mvula
193. Businessman
Josh Rouse
194. Tides
Men I Trust
195. Atlantic
The Weather Station
196. To Be With You Again
Level 42
197. The Second Summer of Love
Danny Wilson
198. Heart of Gold
Johnny Hates Jazz
199. Kaputt
Destroyer
200. Is It a Crime?
Sade
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Edited By: Ryan
Last Updated: 2022-12-12
Last Updated: 2022-12-12