In 1980 I was 12yo and a drummer. But my set sucked. When my mom said no to a $200 20" Zildjian ride cymbal (probably more now), she said yes to a much less expensive bass guitar kit, a Fender Squire P-Bass plus 40watt Peavey amp....so I learned bass, and 9 years later, burned out on Rush, Zeppelin, etc., who are all great bands btw, but when this song came out, I had to effing learn it. I banded up with some chums and we used to laugh and cry about the energy this song exuded...choice of notes both instrumentally and vocally. The harmony of the vocals, and music, and the harmonies within harmonies....we analyzed it, note for note...I would suggest everyone do the same, it is mind boggling mathematical, symmetrical, linearly precise. These guys are more than musicians, they are mathematical musicians.
One of the most incredible and complex bass parts ever constructed for a Pop song. It drives the counterpoint for the whole song! Absolutely incredible!
Absolutely beautiful song, played this to death in 89 when I was 19. The song is obviously smash you over the head amazing but goodness me, the bass player, absolutely utterly killing
This was the song that reignited my interest in XTC. It came on a video jukebox in a pub one rainy Saturday afternoon back in 1990. I had stopped listening at English Settlement, but went out and explored their subsequent albums and have been 're-hooked' ever since. Thanks to whoever put this song on the jukebox that day :-)
@@danbrockettDOP I've also heard that Colin added to it - that Andy wrote the primary bass riff that you first hear in the song (and which repeats,) but he didn't write the rest. Though really, I don't know for sure.
@@101Volts andy wrote it, dave gregory played this song with his band tin spirts and said andy wrote it "you can tell it wasn't written by a bass player".
@@lewisb85 Colin Moulding has proven beyond any doubt that he is an outstanding singer, songwriter, and bass player. Dave Gregory doesn't hold a candle to Colin's talent, his goofy miming to vocals he doesn't sing says it all.
@@James-if3kc I get the impression that you're desperate for someone to care, to notice you, even to try and understand you. There's help out there; start by contacting your GP s/he will listen and be able to find the people who can try and help. Good luck.
The beauty of this band is genius. Forget about the rock and roll hall of fame rubbish, and appreciate three amazing musicians who have made more classics than most of those bands put together.
Super top draw, very underrated band XTC. Thankfully we have the luxury of being able to see these great video's and listen to some of their back catalogue on RUclips. A great band! 😊😊
I remember this song as one of the first bands my dad introduced me to. It's even on one of my family's home video tapes. Thanks dad for introducing me to good music
Was driving around in my college town the first time I heard this. I remember the turn I was making in 1989. Yes, I was completely enamoured of it. Bought the cassette and played it that whole summer.
One of the things I love about XTC is their hugely innovative approach to diatonic harmony. Sorry if this gets a bit bookish, but I'm a retired music lecturer so maybe you'll indulge me for a moment. This song could so easily have been conceived as an easily accessible money-spinner but the harmony is, as ever with XTC, quirky. "Please" of "Please be upstanding etc." is sung on the 9th dissonant note of the scale - later the melody comes in canon (further unsettling the stability of the tonic chord). This superimposition of conflicting diatonic harmonies is called pandiatonicism (and is usually associated with composers like Stravinsky and Milhaud). It's amazing and thrilling that exotic complexities of this kind snuck their way so naturally into British pop. XTC's 'That's Really Super, Supergirl' is another example where the verse-melody starts on the leading 7th degree of the diatonic scale. The sonic montage at the end of 'Chalkhills and Children' is both radical and beautiful; there's not much in contemporary pop about which you can say that!
Indeed; which gets us into the world of Messiaen, Debussy and Mussorgsky. I'm fond of Shakatak too, who also have a sophisticated sense of harmonic freedom. What tickles me particularly about XTC is their frequent experiments in chromatic saturation (not a million miles from Charles Ives' astonishing harmonic palette - do you know the 2nd movement of his 4th symphony? Amazingly composed as early as 1912) @Mr._Bassman97
Another of the many original tunes from that period.....must have been something in the water....They all now sound fresher than they did back then...its amazing.
I grew up with this and remember it when I was 5. One of the best songs ever made. Im now the sad one who can't share this sort of stuff with people as they don't get it. Its genius
Видеоклипы
![XTC - King For a Day + Great Fire & Dear God (medley) [July 1989]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/buENneEy4bc/mqdefault.jpg)
XTC made deceptively simple sounding songs, but they have depth, heart, and superb craftsmanship. Built to last
This album is the bridge between 80’s new wave and 90’s alternative. What a song.
Yes it is! ... That's right! 👍
Yeah
Sounds a lot like Squeeze.
@@James-if3kc Only infinitely better.
Your opinion.@@Edyth_Hedd
One of best pop songs ever recorded by the most underrated band. THEY SHOULD be in the R&r
Hall of Fame! FOR SHAME!
Once you've achieved Mass acclaim, you've lost. Not proud of that fact.
Really ? The r & r hall of shame is a scam.
XT,C are better off out of it, dignity intact
After The Beatles, the best band.
Who cares about the rock'n'roll hall of fame.
Correct. That´s an american crap.@@SorendeSelbyBowen
One of the happiest sounds ever recorded.
I agree!, 100%!
That bass line!
It's like.... Bach-level genius.
I was just a boy when this gem was released. As a 50 yr old I still love this song.
The most underrated band of all-time. These dudes are PURE GENIUS!!!!! ground-breaking genius. TIMELESS.
Defo
Does no one else hear this when they listen to Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night”? Both great songs but I immediately thought of this
Agree one thousand percent. They're superb, stellar and stupendous.
Colin Moulding (bass) really putting in a shift here.
And on a Rick! I have the same model and it’s a beast
Incredible band that does not get talked about enough.
McCartney &Lennon without the impetuous
Like how they "cast" ex-bandmates as a fish and a car in this video in their honour
That is really cool
Excellent comment! Thank you for keeping XTC alive!
Reminded me of Hecklefish. Lol
Ha! Never thought of that until you said it. That is really cool.
XTC and Squeeze had some of the best songwriting and lyrics ever.
My favorite XTC song. Wonderful lyrics, jangly guitars and a great rolling bassline.
How many songs start like this and never let up? True pop and rock mastery
Secretly the best band of all time!
Truly I saw their doc too.
Everything about this song is wonderful. That bass ...
In 1980 I was 12yo and a drummer. But my set sucked. When my mom said no to a $200 20" Zildjian ride cymbal (probably more now), she said yes to a much less expensive bass guitar kit, a Fender Squire P-Bass plus 40watt Peavey amp....so I learned bass, and 9 years later, burned out on Rush, Zeppelin, etc., who are all great bands btw, but when this song came out, I had to effing learn it. I banded up with some chums and we used to laugh and cry about the energy this song exuded...choice of notes both instrumentally and vocally. The harmony of the vocals, and music, and the harmonies within harmonies....we analyzed it, note for note...I would suggest everyone do the same, it is mind boggling mathematical, symmetrical, linearly precise. These guys are more than musicians, they are mathematical musicians.
XTC were that rarity, a band who's music matched the intelligence of their lyrics.
Rick Beato brought me here! 😍👌🏻🎶 So glad he did, a great tune
Who else listened over and over and over. .........
One of the most incredible and complex bass parts ever constructed for a Pop song. It drives the counterpoint for the whole song! Absolutely incredible!
It's almost McCartney...
Yes a lot of the bass work on 80s pop are stellar.
A glorious song.
One of the best bands from the 80s. So underrated and didnt get near the attention they so deserved.
I played them a lot at my college radio station.
I wish XTC were more popular.
I wish this were a real TV show.
I wish I could make music and videos this good.
Absolutely beautiful song, played this to death in 89 when I was 19. The song is obviously smash you over the head amazing but goodness me, the bass player, absolutely utterly killing
Same
Most people don't even notice the sodding bass line! Irritates me as it is incredibly good!
XTC is a great band.
This was the song that reignited my interest in XTC. It came on a video jukebox in a pub one rainy Saturday afternoon back in 1990. I had stopped listening at English Settlement, but went out and explored their subsequent albums and have been 're-hooked' ever since. Thanks to whoever put this song on the jukebox that day :-)
i want to thank the UK for 90% of my music collection ❤️🍺🇬🇧
XTC were extraordinary. The best UK band after The Beatles.
@@eddienebula6084 lol so true!
One of the best band ever. Their whole corpus of work is made of very thoughtful lyrics and arrangements. And Colin's bassline is unreal.
Many don't know that Andy wrote that bass line and showed Colin how he wanted it played. Colin kills it but it was Andy's line.
@@danbrockettDOP I've also heard that Colin added to it - that Andy wrote the primary bass riff that you first hear in the song (and which repeats,) but he didn't write the rest. Though really, I don't know for sure.
@@101Volts andy wrote it, dave gregory played this song with his band tin spirts and said andy wrote it "you can tell it wasn't written by a bass player".
@@lewisb85 Colin Moulding has proven beyond any doubt that he is an outstanding singer, songwriter, and bass player. Dave Gregory doesn't hold a candle to Colin's talent, his goofy miming to vocals he doesn't sing says it all.
@@jeffwolinski2659 That must be one of the stupidest things ever written on youtube. Congratulations.
(the Dave Gregory part, I mean)
Hugely underrated band.
Swindon's finest Mr Andy Partridge.
I knew Dave Gregory's mum & dad, lived at the top of my little Close. They were the reason I got married to my husband!
Nobody cares.
@@James-if3kcYou cared enough to make a juvenile and pathetic comment
I'm sure there's a lovely story there
@@Al-iv3mb Again, nobody cares about her or you.
@@James-if3kc I get the impression that you're desperate for someone to care, to notice you, even to try and understand you.
There's help out there; start by contacting your GP s/he will listen and be able to find the people who can try and help.
Good luck.
I love the *Partridge Family* shout-out!
Love that they cast Rain Wilson as the lead singer.
Happy 65th Birthday Andy Partridge
I'm mad AF that this only has 284k views when it should have MILLIONS!
Almost doubled since you posted
THANK GOD FOR XTC...ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BASS LINES OF ALL TIME...THANK YOU FOR YOUR MUSIC...
I play this everyday.
Great band, great song, great everything, and a wild bass line. Love it.
Andy in the middle. David with the Strat. Colin with the RIC Bass. Simply beautiful! Masters of their Art!.
That's not a Ric bass. It's a Kay K-20B in the video but the song was recorded with a Wal bass.
XTC - truly great band
Brilliant set of albums and another classic song
The beauty of this band is genius. Forget about the rock and roll hall of fame rubbish, and appreciate three amazing musicians who have made more classics than most of those bands put together.
Wonderful pop from the 80’s.
Super top draw, very underrated band XTC. Thankfully we have the luxury of being able to see these great video's and listen to some of their back catalogue on RUclips. A great band! 😊😊
These guys were genius .
I like the bass riff on this song
Incredibly underrated band.
I remember this song as one of the first bands my dad introduced me to. It's even on one of my family's home video tapes. Thanks dad for introducing me to good music
Love this song!
Contender for one of the best songs ever made.
"Well, I don't know how to write a big hit song."
Yeah, I guess that's true, but maybe for the best. I love the stuff you did write.
I love the lyrics to all their songs. This one is awesome because it shows that someone who doesn't have a degree can still be good and loving.
Is that what this song means? 🤔
This song really is a fantastic masterpiece
stellar video...highly addictive tune...I take it once a day, sometimes twice...I’m afraid I might get to three soon
The funnest bassline of all time. Also leads to tendonitis lol
It's my most cherished track in the world.
Once XTC clicks they become the best thing to get into
You could tell me this is Elvis Costello and I would 100% believe it.
That explains why I don't care for this.
There's finally a VEVO for XTC now, this much later in RUclips's existence? I wasn't expecting it.
not only is the song catchy, with an incredible bass line, the video is brilliant
Well, I'm here again saying, "This work of Art is Pure Brain Candy!"
Please be upstanding for XTC.
I was 21 in 89. Good stuff here.
pleeeeaaasssse be upstanding for the maaaajor of simpletonnnn
That’s how you do it kids
Was driving around in my college town the first time I heard this. I remember the turn I was making in 1989. Yes, I was completely enamoured of it. Bought the cassette and played it that whole summer.
Be honest, your feet have a mind of their own right now.
I can't imagine not having this kind of XTC in my life.
Really EPIC pop song.
Never gets old, still lovin it since the 80's
When you haven't heard it in a while, you need to listen to this song about 3 times to get satiated by its zest and fun.
Well said!
This is the greatest pop song ever written.
Exquisite genius
New wave beauty in early 80s Texas🔥
One of the things I love about XTC is their hugely innovative approach to diatonic harmony. Sorry if this gets a bit bookish, but I'm a retired music lecturer so maybe you'll indulge me for a moment.
This song could so easily have been conceived as an easily accessible money-spinner but the harmony is, as ever with XTC, quirky. "Please" of "Please be upstanding etc." is sung on the 9th dissonant note of the scale - later the melody comes in canon (further unsettling the stability of the tonic chord). This superimposition of conflicting diatonic harmonies is called pandiatonicism (and is usually associated with composers like Stravinsky and Milhaud). It's amazing and thrilling that exotic complexities of this kind snuck their way so naturally into British pop. XTC's 'That's Really Super, Supergirl' is another example where the verse-melody starts on the leading 7th degree of the diatonic scale. The sonic montage at the end of 'Chalkhills and Children' is both radical and beautiful; there's not much in contemporary pop about which you can say that!
They use diminished passing chords often too. These guys know what they’re doing. To create such a vast amount of interesting music, you’d have to.
Indeed; which gets us into the world of Messiaen, Debussy and Mussorgsky. I'm fond of Shakatak too, who also have a sophisticated sense of harmonic freedom. What tickles me particularly about XTC is their frequent experiments in chromatic saturation (not a million miles from Charles Ives' astonishing harmonic palette - do you know the 2nd movement of his 4th symphony? Amazingly composed as early as 1912) @Mr._Bassman97
What an incredible song!
Another of the many original tunes from that period.....must have been something in the water....They all now sound fresher than they did back then...its amazing.
Perfection
Those guys can play!
I love these guys
Great tune! It's as fresh as the day I first heard it.
One of the best tunes ever 👍
such a cool and fun song. I like the somewhat rambling and unpredictable melody but also the triplets on the post-chorus
my favorite song.
This band are the best ever - absolute genius :) x
Great song by an awesome 👏 band!👏😎👍🤘
Still Awesome. THX Andy and Boys.
Bloody brilliant video too. If you ever read this Andy , this song makes me so happy !
Timeless music and Video
Great feekin song
Amazing intelligent pop song with a timeless mastering
Such a great pop song!!!!
So punchy and the harmonious vocals are seamless!❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉
XTC WAS ONE OF THE BEST BANDS YOU NEVER HEAR ANYMORE FROM THE 80'S!, the dj
This song gets better on every listen! 😍🎶👌🏻
No other better pair to craft a catchy song with a hidden message most probably will never get. The tongue in cheek is painful if not so spot on.
I just wish they all could become friends again..
Lovely!
I love it.
I grew up with this and remember it when I was 5. One of the best songs ever made. Im now the sad one who can't share this sort of stuff with people as they don't get it. Its genius
share it anyway.
We get it Kat, it's amazing song writing and production.
Great song, great lyrics. Brilliant. A classic for sure!
2:04
"Assistants to Andy Partridge" lists character from "The Partridge Family" TV show.
Never noticed that before.
This is the US version of the video. The UK version doesn't have that.
The UK version is posted here on RUclips.
Love you aaaaaagin !!!
Fabuleux XTC!
きやーー！！ カッコ良すぎる😂
Jangly and catchy. Two of my favorite song attributes! Love it!
SO WONDERFUL