Overkill
Men at Work, 1983. Solo by Colin Hay.
A brief, lyrical solo that suits the song's late-night anxiety.
Overkill is a song about sleeplessness and worry, and its guitar solo matches that mood rather than fighting it. The break is short and lyrical, with a clean, slightly melancholy tone and phrases that rise and fall like someone thinking out loud. There is no rush and no flash; each note is given room to breathe. It is a good example of how a solo can serve a song's emotional content instead of simply filling space between verses. Listen for how the lead echoes the contour of the vocal melody, and for the way it sits over the gentle backing without pushing the energy up, keeping the late-night, unsettled atmosphere intact.
Overkill by Men at Work is featured in our New Wave (#23) list. The solo is played by Colin Hay and the song was released in 1983.
In our lists
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Overkill?
Colin Hay played the solo on Men at Work's Overkill (1983).