Mick Hucknall wrote this song at age 17 when he was still living in his father's house. When he sings "Hoping for the arms of mater" he's referring to his own mother who left him at age 3, that's why there's so much pain in his voice. Today he is 61 years old and remains one of the greatest singers in the world

It gives me GREAT joy to see someone as young as you enjoy the heck outta a song I’ve loved since 1986. Thank you!!!

I hope the younger generation learns you never judge a book by its cover.....80's were good times...

The melody and frickin SOUL that Mick has when he's singing is just a thing of beauty. Brings a tear to my eye.

Simply one of the very best songs of the 1980s. And... what a voice!

A fckn classic. To let this sink in... This dude was only 17yrs old when he wrote and cut this track. Used his memories of his moms leaving him at a young age. CLASSIC

And THIS is why you need to dive into music reactions lol..we all aint that different from one another

Once you let the song actually play I have to say that the joy that overtook your face was incredible. Simply Red is from my time, and he truly is one of the world's great singers. Your smile is infectious Jay!

Beautiful song. They also sang "If You Don't Know Me By Now" which is worth listening to.

his name is Mick hucknall, british singer and lead singer of simply red, welcome to the sounds of the 80's arguably the greatest time for sould rnb, his concerts were amazing,

Filmed in and around Whitby, North Yorkshire (UK). The ruined church is Whitby Abbey which was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The steam engine is on the North York Moors Railway - a heritage line run by volunteers. A great song filmed in a great location.

Simply Red IS the original! And this song was epic when it came out on the radio. It was well received. Still is. Obviously since videos like this exist. I'm so happy later generations are experiencing this and enjoying it. It's a very sad song but so beautiful! ❤

🏆🏆🏆👍🇺🇲🙏 My mother, who just passed away peacefully, at 92, cried everytime she heard this song. And, hearing her cry, made me cry or I had to leave. Very powerful performance. 🏆 Thank you for sharing SUBSCRIBED, you are fantastic. 🤗

Angie stone(a black woman) did sing this in the love and basketball soundtrack lol so youre right, but Simply Red is the original (to my knowledge) and my fav version

You should look at videos of him now at 62 years old singing it, he sounds just as good ...amazing

Angie Stone did a remake of this song for the movie. Simply Red did the original version back in 1985. Mick Hucknall is an amazingly soulful singer. He wrote this song when he was a teenager about his mother, who left him when he was very young.

Wait you've never heard of Blue Eyed Soul?.... You definitely need more Simply Red in your life 😁

They named it after his hair, because it was SIMPLY RED! Love this video gives an Old Irish country nostalgia feel to it.

Simply Redd was fire back in the day

You should react to his LIVE performances, no matter his age he sounds as good live as he does here, it's remarkable, i remember when this song first came out, and when i saw Simply Red in concert, he does not disappoint !

Believing can be misleading. Always look up what you like, you'd be surprised what you find. Loving this song! Brings back memories.

I’m seeing Simply Red for the third time in February. Mick and his backing singers and band are always flawless live.

"...This song is old as...old" haha. I getcha though. I'm older and it seems like it was yesterday in a way What a great song that was. It was given a lot of radio play which was well deserved 💞

I appreciate your honest reaction to not knowing who Simply Red or Mick Hucknall is. I went to a lot of concerts in '80s, all genres of music, and Simply Red is one of my all-time favorite bands. I saw them live three times, in DC, NYC, and SF. As good as they sound on record, they were even better live. Mick Hucknall's vocals were always strong, and the band was hella tight! The guys you saw in the video were the band. Thanks for bringing back the memories! By the way, what you heard in 'Love & Basketball' was a remake for the movie soundtrack.

Wow a true and real reaction video He sang this with so much emotion...... His mum left him when he was young. The pain so true. He's a true British legend!

Mick Hucknoll has a beautiful voice! ❤

Another 80s Classic. We had the best music and musicians. ❤

And that sweet lady is Blue Eyed Soul at its best. Simply red. one of the most underrated bands to come out of the UK

Gorgeous song. But watching you enjoy that song so much was priceless girl!!! 😊🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Mick Hucknall wrote this song when he was 17. His voice is incredible. He sounds the same in the studio, live or on cd. I believe the song is about his Mother leaving him at a young age, and being brought up by his Father. Thank u for a great video.

Stay with You - Goo Goo Dolls if ya can 😀 Simply Red is a criminally underrated band.

It's never bad to be shocked or suprised that's how you find life's little gems. Great song

Saw them live in Vienna a few years ago. Great musicians and Mick still got it :)

Mick, the lead singer here had his most successful song in the UK called 'Fairground'. I'd love to see what you think of it, it was in the charts for months during the mid 90s.

This was a really fun reaction! He has an amazing voice and this is a great song.

Jay's smile (07:00) just melts my heart. Feels so good to see her happiness.

This song my jam. This reminds me when my dad used to come to Milwaukee to drive back to Virginia to live with him for the summer. This song was on repeat all over the nation during this time. I loved it. It played on the radio on every station while we were driving down there.

Don't be racist now. Mick Hucknall had all the soul that you could have projected into anyone else.

Yep, beautiful song, gorgeous voice. When it came out, I was too young, too angry, but still knew it was fantastic. After all the heartaches and what is it, 35-36 years later, his performance hits like a ton of bricks...

Angie Stone sang a "Cover" of this song in the Movie you speak of...the Original Version was and always has been sang by our man from Mick Hucknall from Simply Red!

I think it’s wonderful when younger people hear the music you listened to in your own youth and loving it❤

This track helped get Simply Red a best newcomer Grammy for the 1985 album 'Picture Book'.

As a young man growing up in So. Cal in the 80's we were lucky to have one of the few "alternative rock" stations in the country. This was at a point of a new "British Invasion" with bands like Simply Red, Eurythmics, Yazoo, Madness, The Untouchables and English Beat tearing up the airwaves. Damn I was so lucky.

This is mick hucknell. No auto tune. Just pure talent.

Angie Stone did a cover of this song, that may be the version you know. Simply Reds' version came out like in the mid 80's, which is actually the version I like the best even though Angie did do a great remake.

Seen this sung live twice and it's just incredible.

The look on your face is absolutely priceless! 👍🏾 He's British I believe...That's the kind of music I grew up on and Music isn't made like that anymore... That's an all time timeless classic that came out in the 80's...

When I first discovered who really made the song "Sara Smile", I was floored the same way😆

MS. Jayshara this music reaction is almost 3 yrs. old and I'm not sure what current interests have become prominent now in your young life but I can tell you this is one of the best music reactions I've ever seen. You're delightful with your reaction. I truly enjoyed how you were surprised but still loved the song. I love this song the very first time I heard it, his voice, music and how I related to the lyrics. His voice in this song gives an educational fact to learn and never forget that as a whole we are equal. As individuals we are different. No matter our race, nationalism, religion, culture and gender we all have the same characteristics in any categorized group and as individuals we have our own traits we developed but those traits exist in every group. This makes us all equal. I hope you're happy. Also on a personal observation from an old man, you're very beautiful.

RED HAIR .....SIMPLY RED...THEY CALL HIM RED ....Everybody, when they were a child, falls in puppy 🐶🐶 LOVE with their TEACHER, I did in fourth grade....it breaks your little heart when you see her with a lover ...That's him peeking behind the tombstone and see her with him... it breaks his little heart .....Maybe the second broken heart...first when his mother left him at the beginning of the video that's his mother when looking out the window it's a very heart-wrenching song of lost love. the pain in the song shows thru it all ....I'll keep holden on ❤ ❤ I pray he has found love THAT DOES HURT SO BAD...

There's no mystery. We all revel in our dreams of falling into one another's arms, then it happens! I can only hope so.

He sold over 70 million albums. You should try some of his other stuff, like “Sunrise” or “Stars”…coz if you like this, then you’re gonna like his other tunes

He covers the. song every time we say goodbye written in 1930s absolutely great

Voices can come from anyone. Not thst the skin color matters anyway. The song is amazing and so is he. Nuff said.

For a depressing part of my life this was basically my theme. And then I found love at last.

If You Don't Know Me By Now by Simply Red is the next song you have to listen to if you want to go down the Simply Red rabbit hole.

You should see his live version 25 years later, Mick sounds even better.

Angie Stone did the cover of "Holding Back The Years" on the Love and Basketball soundtrack. Simply Red's song came out in 1985 and he is from the UK. Another good song from Simply Red is "Sunrise' sampled with a Hall & Oates song "I can't go for that". If you are about great songs from that movie you need to listen to Lucy Pearl w/Raphael Saadiq "Dance Tonight" and Goapele "Closer to my Dreams".

Mick had and still has a phenomenal voice. Maybe try "For Your babies" , "Something Got Me Started" " Stars"

Came across you for the first time today. Loved your reaction to this song! Soooo sweet :-)

Yeah, that is truly an amazing song. Thanks for making the vid.

You said it. And we all did too back in the day when he nailed it. Everyone thought this was sung by a young black woman who had wisdom. Mick H. had and still has that great voice.

She still can't believe it!

I'm pretty sure Angie Stone performed this song on the Loving Basketball soundtrack

"Old as......Old." Gen Xers everywhere felt that right in the heart. Kidding. I'm so happy the younger kids are appreciating this song. It's absolutely flawless.

Stumbled upon your channel looking for reactions for this song and yours is my favorite! I love that you have come across the original of this brilliant song and Mick's incredible voice! Thank you for sharing your reaction with us!!

Simply Red, that song speaks to the heart...

its a uk band called simply red . from manchester wrote in his bedroom when he was young lad and released in 1985 all about his up bringing and struggles

He is still belting out this song

I think it's delightful when you discover that a song you love was created by a totally different person than you pictured. For me, I could not be convinced Tom Waits was not a black man until friends showed me a bunch of album covers and pictures. It goes to show we have generalizations in mind about what different kinds of people sound like, but really a strong unique voice can appear in anyone.

And this came out in 1985.....15 years before "Love And Basketball".

My favorite simply red song is "You've got it" and the video that goes with it is also beautiful,

What's amazing is when people are ignorant about something, how they refuse to admit they were ignorant lol 😆. Love the genuine reaction, this joint is an oldie but a goodie 💯

He wrote this song when he was mad young. Like 17 or something

Yep! Mick Hucknall such a fantastic talented singer he’s just amazing 💜

With this song, Mick Hucknall has created a monument for eternity and written music history... simply legendary! And I am delighted to see that young people like you like and love this music. That's great... that's the only way music can remain immortal! 🎤🎶😊🙏👌

Simply Red did this originally. Angie Stone did the remake on Love and Basketball

I am an 80s guy and loved simply red...... but I can't even listen to this while watching her .... SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL....

Love your great taste and this reaction! Gotta follow! :-)

Your reaction is so beautifull. I m 54 Years old and this is my favorite music 80 and 90’s wonderfull. Saludos from Panamá

Absolutely love this song lol I thought he was black until I was in my teens and starting researching music related topics

Hi JayShara if you enjoyed this Simply Red track you should listen to Simply Red "Money's Too Tight (Too Mention).

If they ever come back to America you have to go see him in concert he is amazing

They have lots of hits many you probaly have already heard. They are even better live believe me. Top reaction great to see your shock that he was a red haired white boy from the north of england lol. Slainte from ireland.

One of my favorite artist I love simply red and you should listen to the rest of his albums 🥰

And he sounds just as good today as he did when he was a youngster.

Love your facial reactions to this, genuinely shocked by Mick’s appearance - northern soul baby 😎

This version came out 1985, Love and Basketball was done over by Angie Stone in 2000 I think.

There's only one word that describes this song from a Texas cowboy OUTSTANDING!!!👍

The live version sound great

Smiling my cheeks hurt at your heart felt reaction. I love it also.

This was a great reaction. Discovering the background to a song you love. There was a lot of good music in the 80s.

It must make this song extra special to you now ! Love your reaction

Sunrise is another banger by Simply Red. They sample Hall and Oates I Can't Go For That on the track!

You should look up him singing it live...He is Irish, btw. Seeing it live is amazing, hit hits all the notes. He sings it like it was recorded, and he looks as if it is no effort at all, which is the healthy way to sing, so he never was straining his voice, hence, him being able to do it just as well now.

It's Blue Eye Soul from the UK .. he's whole catalog is amazing!!

Mick Hucknall has an amazing voice. He is English and still sounds amazing to this day. This song has been one of my favorites since it came out years ago. I listen to it on repeat sometimes!

You would really enjoy his full live concert at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1996 shown on youtube

Love this reaction!!👍😊

Hysterical! Once again, loved another one of your videos, luv! Simply Red's song is an absolutely brilliant one! Now, via KZfaq, I have been discovering reactions during which the reactor is shocked by the whiteness of the performer. Being Casper AF from Wales, I am used to people profiling, or assuming, for I am endlessly surprising people with my affection for old school R&B. Once, in the US, I actually had black people surprised that I knew all the answers to their questions about R&B, Funk, etc. then say that my knowing meant the world to them. Nice! Now, for your next reaction, have a go at 'my jam,' What You Won't Do For Love, by Bobby Caldwell. Cheers, luv!