We Got the Beat is the signature hit of the Go-Go’s, released in 1981 and powered by handclaps, harmonies and an irresistible dance beat. Sung by Belinda Carlisle, it helped the band’s debut album Beauty and the Beat reach No. 1 in America, a historic first for an all-female band writing and playing its own material. The song soundtracks the trailer for New Wave, the MGM+ docuseries about the era, premiering Nov. 23, 2026.
(Michael Borkson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0))
Mentioned in: From Punk Clubs to Pop Royalty: How New Wave Stars Like Belinda Carlisle and Billy Idol Conquered the ’80s