Trio

A German threesome best known for their bizarre but strangely catchy synth pop hit “Da Da Da,” Trio was a product of the Neue Deutsche Welle, or new wave of German pop. Using little more than rudimentary melodies and monotone vocals to drive their ultra-primitive electro-pop, the band’s novel approach made a sizable impression on the burgeoning early ‘80s New Wave scene. Trio’s self-titled debut arrived in 1981 but few of its songs matched the instant appeal of “Da Da Da,” and the group spent the remainder of their career recycling the hit on various remixes and compilations. Trio disbanded in 1985 but their only hit received a renewed lease on life in 1997 when it was featured on a popular commercial for the car-maker Volkswagen, and again in 2009, appearing in the Paolo Sorrentino film IL DIVO.