The Synthesizer 100 (Edition 2025)

In the past, several moons ago, I spent a lot of my weekends at 2 local (free) radio stations. It started with helping pick out records during a 'song request show' to getting a 2-hour radio show of my own. The music I played during these 2 hours was mostly New-Wave & Synthesizer, with in between some Pop Classics from the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s. Every year during the holiday season I made a 'Synthesizer Top 100' which was played, with the help of colleagues, in its entirety (spread over several hours). Anno 2025, I thought it would be fun to compile a new 'Synthesizer Top 100'. I want to emphasize that this is put together entirely according to my own feeling and is not based on anything. Of course, the more 'influential' songs rank higher in the list. It also features various genres; from Krautrock & Electronica to New-Wave & New Age and even some Dance. Most of the songs are instrumental, on some there is a bit of singing or you can hear electronic voices, but the Synthesizer, in its many forms, is always the main 'Story Teller'. So, without further ado:

The Synthesizer 100 edition 2025 

100: Frank Fischer - Over The Canyon (1991)

99: Depeche Mode - Nothing To Fear (1982)

98: Future World Orchestra - Roulette (1983)

97: Harold Faltermeyer - Adrianos (Beverly Hills Cop II) (1987)

96: Laserdance - Cosmo Tron (1989)

95: Mark Isham - Cars And Helicopters (The Hitcher) (1991)

94: Medwyn Goodall - Ansiedad (1997)

93: Keith Forsey - Love Theme (The Breakfast Club) (1985)

92: The Peppers - Double Signature (1974)

91: Rob Papen - DayDreamer (2004)

90: Tastenklang - Funny Beats (2013)

89: Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind The Mask (1980)

88: André Brasseur - Big Fat Spiritual (1969)

87: The Art Of Noise - Camilla (1986)

86: Clannad - Child Of The Sea (1989)

85: René Roussel - Caramel (1980)

84: Cusco - Catalina (1989)

83: Michael Bundt - La Chasse Aux Microbes (1977)

82: Ed Starink - Overture (1991)

81: Ashra - Sunrain (1976)

80: Joerg Strawe - Sequenzen Ohne Grenzen (1994)

79: Caught In Joy - Nebula Drifter (2024)

78: Eric Serra - The Big Blue Overture (1988)

77: The Light Dreams – Awakening (2014)

76: Yello - Hawaiian Chance (1987)

75: Brad Fiedel - The Terminator Main Title (1984)

74: Tubeway Army - I Nearly Married A Human (1979)

73: Hans Zimmer - Leaving Wallbrook / On The Road (Rain Man) (1989)

72: Yvan Guilini - Long Time Ago (1986)

71: Kano - Ikeya Seki (1983)

70: Russell B - Mountain Dust (1994)

69: Peru - Winter In Main (1995)

68: John Carpenter - Show Me (Christine) (1983)

67: The Korgis - Rovers Return (1980)

66: The Dream Academy - Power To Believe (1988)

65: Johnny Voorbogt - Sky Part II (1989)

64: Madis - Cracow Sunset (2020)

63: Loom - Polaroids from Anywhere (2014)

62: Kebu - Michael’s Anthem (2012)

61: Kitaro - Caravansary (1983)

60: Ron Boots - Rohirrim (1995)

59: Gérard Gesina - Big Green « Espace » (1981)

58: Klaus Doldinger - Timesignature (1983)

57: Delia Derbyshire - Doctor Who (The Original Theme) (1963)

56: Toto ft. Brian Eno - Dune (Desert Theme) (1984)

55: Dan Lacksman Association - Coconut (1972)

54: Picture Palace music - Array Of Fadin' Flowers (2008)

53: Whaveshape - Chromosphaere (1994)

52: Didier Marouani - Temps X (1979)

51: Sylvester Levay - Skyline (Cobra) (1986)

50: Christopher Franke - Mountain Heights (1991)

49: The Droids - Do You Have The Force Pt.1 (1978)

48: Jean-Jacques Perrey - E.V.A. (1970)

47: Angelo Badalamenti - Laura Palmer’s Theme (1990)

46: Michael Rother - Karussell (1977)

45: Koto - Visitors (1985)

44: Serge Perathoner - Ushuaïa (1989)

43: Jan Hammer - Payback (1989)

42: Guru Josh - Infinity (1990)

41: David Wright - Ocean Watch (1993)

40: Enya - March Of The Celts (1986)

39: New Order - Elegia (1985)

38: Software - Add-Space-To-Time (1985)

37: Harry Thumann - Underwater (1979)

36: Neu! - Isi  (1975)

35: Code Indigo - For Whom The Bell / Code 14 (1996)

34: Elektronische Musik Aus: Koeln - Filmmusik (1982)

33: Simple Minds - Theme For Great Cities (1981)

32: Rolf Trostel - Der Prophet (1982)

31: Pierre Henri & Michel Colombier - Psyché Rock (1968)

30: Robert Miles - Children (1995)

29: Peru - Africa (1983)

28: La Düsseldorf - Rheinita (1978)

27: Wendy Carlos & Rachel Elkind - Main Title "The Shining" (1980)

26: Conrad Schnitzler - Ballet Statique (1978)

25: Jean-Michel Jarre - Zoolookologie (1984)

24: Isao Tomita - "Star Wars" Main Title (Kosmos) (1978)

23: The Alan Parsons Project - Lucifer (1979)

22: Vangelis - Elsewhere (1988)

21: Space - Just Blue (1978)

20: Klaus Schulze - Synthasy (1980)

19: The Art Of Noise - Moments In Love (1985)

18: Tangerine Dream - Love On A Real Train (Risky Business) (1984)

17: Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (1978)

16: Mario Mathy - Liberty (1986)

15: The Alan Parsons Project – Mammagamma (1982)

14: Michael Garrison - Motion Fascination (1981)

13: Vangelis – Titles (Chariots Of Fire) (1981)

12: Giorgio Moroder - Chase (Midnight Express) (1978)

11: Pink Floyd - On The Run (1973)

10: Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (1984)

9: Alain Pierre - Jan Zonder Vrees Theme (1984)

8: Jan Hammer - Crockett’s Theme (1986)

7: Nova - Aurora (1981)

6: Gershon Kingsley - Pop Corn (1969)

5: Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (1973)

4: Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure (1979)

3: Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygène (Part IV) (1976)

2: Vangelis - To The Unknown Man (1977)

1: Kraftwerk - Autobahn (1974)

#synthmusic #newwave #krautrock #berlinschool #electronica #synthpop #synthwave