"I could keep the series going for 10 years on new wave bands alone." Don't threaten me with a good time.

I once heard a radio DJ say on-air: That was Dexy's Midnight Runners with "Come All Over Eileen"

Arriving late, but i would like to point out that "runner" also means "delivery boy".

"These dorks bouncing around in blue jumpsuits are almost certainly the most legit band I've reviewed." Clearly he hadn't seen his chumbawamba re-upload.

The biggest "northern soul" song that every 80's kid knows is Gloria Jones 60's song "Tainted Love" which became immortalized by British synth group Soft Cell.

Fun fact from Jackie Wilson Said - When Dexys played this on UK music show Top of the Pops, there was a picture in the background which was supposed to be former American singer Jackie Wilson, who the song was based on, but by mistake Scottish darts player Jocky Wilson was shown instead. This is why their version is often played at darts events to this day.

I went to a dance club about a week ago. They played "The Twist", so I did the twist. They played "Do the Hustle", so I did the hustle. They played "Come On Eileen"...I got kicked out for that one.

'Poor old Johnny Ray sounded sad upon the radio he broke a million hearts in mono Our mothers cried sang along, who'd blame them ...' Brilliant lyrics start to finish

This song has a chorus which says 'You in that dress, my thoughts I confess, verge on dirty' That deserves to be a hit.

2:20 As a northerner in England it's quite amazing how niche Northern Soul was. Genuinely felt, when I was younger that it'd traveled further.

i mean, they're probably delivering it at midnight, or "midnight running" it, so they are probably drug dealers more than meth heads

I was entirely surprised when you took on this band, because they genuinely were rather large here in the UK.

Got to be honest, I think the lyrics are brilliant and almost poetic...beat down eyes sunk in smoke dried faces, they're resigned to what their fate is, but not us no not us, we are far too young and clever. Especially that line, which I always thought was said with irony

It was Todd's early One Hit Wonder episodes that really gave me a much bigger appreciation for music. Dexy's Midnight Runners might have fallen under my radar if it wasn't for this particular review.

This review legit led to Dexy’s being one of my favorite bands of all time. No joke. Check out their entire discography. If I have 10 desert island bands, Dexy’s is one of my choices.

im british and it's always so weird hearing todd talk about them especially dexys cos they're so NOT a one hit wonder band here??

This remains a truly evergreen song. I don't think there's been a single generation that hasn't adapted it as an anthem since it came out. Wouldn't be surprised if it went viral on TikTok.

"You would think they would make depressing music." Poor people are capable of making the absolute happiest music on the planet. It's one of the things that keeps them going.

It was glorious to see them play”Jackie Wilson Says” on Top of the Pops with a large photo of Scottish darts player Jocky Wilson behind them. It’s never been confirmed whether it was a joke or genuine mistake.

The song played at every single wedding reception EVER

Why would I do that to Eileen

My dad grew up in London in the 70s, Dexy's first album was massive, I can't tell you how much he loves it. I don't think they would be even be considered a two hit wonder there, I think they brought soul music to people who would maybe not be exposed to it otherwise.

Poor old Johnie Ray, sat and shat upon the radio.

Geno is a bop, I can't believe it wasn't a hit outside of Britain.

Love this video series. FYI: I was at the New Music convention in NYC in 1981 when I had my first job out of school with a radio production company. There was an industry panel that included Kevin Rowland and Thomas Dolby. I still remember what a rude a-hole Rowland was, sneering at Dolby to his face about how his electronic noodling wasn't real music like his acoustic-based band. Dolby held his tongue, but looked furious. The whole crowd walked out hating Rowland. Ironically, even all these years later, I still think "She Blinded Me With Science" crushes "Come On Eileen." PS - Forgot to mention, I really think this had a lot to do with Dexy's never having another hit in the US. That convention was filled with new wave radio programmers and club DJs from across America. When I got back to Dallas and received the next Dexy's single, my first thought was, "Oh, this is by that arrogant prick who was so rude to Thomas Dolby." Imagine a similar reaction by all the programmers who were at the convention. I think there's a pretty good chance his personality killed their hopes of American stardom.

I hated this song for one reason. My name is eileen and since that name is quite rare in germany where i live teachers started singing this song every time they saw me. It got on my nerves very quickly. Ugggghhhh

I'd like to see one for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds. They were also a very legit band.

come on Eileen is so fucking good though

Fun fact: the cover at the end was Save Ferris. Another band that at some point should probably get on OHW.

I have visited a fair few places around the world and you'd be amazed in just how many places I hear this song playing. Obviously I hear it in places like Britain and the US, but when you go to places like Croatia and Spain and still hear it amongst their own popular music it shows just what a worldwide appeal it has, somehow.

Oh I am the Dean and my hands are so clean at this moment I am stapling

It ought to be noted that the "too-ra-loo-ra-loo" chorus is a snippet from "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)" from the 1913 musical Shameen Dhu, repopularized by Bing Crosby in the '40s.

So, as sometimes happens, for which this is my favorite series on the channel, I was intrigued and delved more fully into the discography of Dexy. They have since become one of my favorite bands ever. Thanks, Todd, for directing me toward some music I truly love and might not have ever given the attention it deserved.

Come on Eileen! Come on Eileen! [Verse 1] Poor old Johnny Ray Sounded sad upon the radio Moved a million hearts in mono Our mothers cried Sang along, who'd blame them? You've grown (You’re grown up!) So grown (So grown up!) Now I must say more than ever (Come on Eileen) Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, ay And we can sing just like our fathers [Chorus] Come on Eileen Oh, I swear (What he means) At this moment you mean everything You in that dress My thoughts I confess Verge on dirty Oh, come on Eileen (Come on Eileen!) [Verse 2] These people round here Were beaten down, eyes sunk in smoke-dried face They're so resigned to what their fate is But not us (No never) But not us (Not ever) We are far too young and clever (Remember) Too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye, ay And you'll hum this tune forever, oh [Chorus] Come on Eileen Oh, I swear (What he means) Aah, come on let's Take off everything That pretty red dress Eileen (Tell him yes) Aah, come on let's Aah, come on Eileen That pretty red dress Eileen (Tell him yes) Aah, come on let's Aah, come on Eileen Please [Bridge] (Come on Eileen, tah-loo-rye-ay) (Come on Eileen, tah-loo-rye-ay) (Tooh lah, tooh la, tah roo rye) Now you're full grown Now you have shown Oh, Eileen (Come on Eileen, tah-loo-rye-ay) (Come on Eileen, tah-loo-rye-ay) (Tooh lah, tooh la, tah roo rye) Say, come on Eileen (You’ve grown) These things they are real and I know (So grown) How you feel Now I must say more than ever Things round here have changed (Come on Eileen, tah-loo-rye-aye) (Come on Eileen, tah-loo-rye-aye) I say, too-ra-loo-ra, too-ra-loo-rye-ay [Chorus] Come on Eileen Oh, I swear (What he means) At this moment You mean everything You in that dress, my thoughts I confess Verge on dirty Aah, come on Eileen [Chorus] Aah, come on Eileen Oh, I swear (What he means) At this moment, you mean everything You in that dress Oh, my thoughts I confess Well, they're dirty Come on Eileen [Chorus] Come on Eileen (Oh) What he means (Oh) You mean everything (Oh) (Come on! come on!) In that dress Oh [Outro] Oh believe me if all those endearing young charms That I gaze on so fondly today Were to suddenly leave you, or fly in the night Just like fairy gifts gone in the sky

Hey Todd not sure if a hit wonder but could you please do 99 Red Balloons by Nena.

Clean upload my dude. My absolute favorite part about this song is how about midway through it has this sustained chorus that slowly and steadily increases in tempo for the better part of a minute. Leading right into the climactic final piece. Fin~

love your take on Northern soul ! as someone from Lancashire the impact of Northern soul is still present to this day !!

The way he sings soul is the musical equivalent of putting corn on pizza.

"Come on, Eileen!" -Rigby

Lisa: You beat Dexy’s Midnight Runner. Homer: Well you haven’t heard the last of them.

It breaks my heart that people see Dexys as a joke band.

4:58 wow I can't believe fidget spinners were invented in the late 1970s

What makes it such a great bar and party song is no matter how drunk and incoherent you are you sound like your singing along perfectly.

The only band that ever wore the same type of clothes as I did. Bib overalls were standard items for boilermakers union apprentices back then. Working class style....

I, too, can't hear "Those Endearing Young Charms" without imagining Daffy Duck blowing up. XD

Too Ry Aye is actually phenomenal

I always thought the chorus deserved more attention "Come on Eileen, oh I swear (what he means) At this moment, you mean everything You in that dress, my thoughts I confess Verge on dirty Ah, come on Eileen" "Come on Eileen oh I swear (what he means) Ah come on lets, take off everything That pretty red dress, Eileen (tell him yes) Ah come on lets, ah come on Eileen That pretty red dress, Eileen (tell him yes) Ah come on lets, ah come on Eileen, please"

Dexy's is technically only a one hit wonder in the US which is why they have such a strong following.

Really happy with the amount of research you did on this one. great episode!

As a dumb-shit millennial born a literal decade after this song came out, I hadn't ever really heard this song that much even in pop culture. And now that I'm aware of it, I still kinda don't. But since this review I've actually fallen in love with the song and it's, no joke, the most played ever in my goddamn library. It's a really legit song that I adore and know the words to and everything. I blame Todd. ❤️

This is one of my favorite episodes purely because of the jab at that Kid Rock song

I absolutely love all the videos with 70's and 80's songs that you do!

Love this video and the song. I wouldn’t say it was the UK’s Born to Run. I think of it as their Only the Good Die Young (Billy Joel). The guy just wants the nice Catholic girl to take off _everything_ ! Come out Virginia. Come _on_ Eileen!

Hey Todd! About The Dexy's shift in "uniform" from dockworkers to coveralls.... I know nothing about that group.... but the fact they trace their musical inspiration from obscure American blues & soul artists (well, the Brit interpretation of them), and their association with African American history/culture (as in Roddy Doyle's The Commitments).... I would suggest that the source of Kevin Rowland's new found fondness for coveralls came from an affectation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). During the Freedom Summer voter registration campaign in Mississippi (1964), ostensibly to fit in better with the locals (and as a gesture of solidarity), all the SNCCs wore coveralls..... One of my books on the history of the Civil Rights Movement has an old photo of Julian Bond, wearing a coverall.... I almost wet my pants laughing, the first time I saw it. Don't get me wrong: Bond was genuine hero, a pillar of the 1960s civil rights movement, who showed true courage and made a real difference..... But he was famous (in his days after SNCC) for being a seriously sharp dresser: expensive, well cut suits; fine shoes.... what we used to call a "fashion plate," back in the day.... So Bond, in coveralls? I wouldn't have believed it, if I hadn't seen it. What I'm suggesting is that might be the source for Rowland having the group shift from American dockworkers (back in the day), to American farmers (back in the day). But I have no basis for my suggestion.... other than the tenuous link between sixties soul artists and the SNCCs.....

"Geno" is an amazing track!

Anecdotal evidence of its lasting popularity: this April I went to a live podcast recording. The audience ranged from my age (came of age in the 80s) to kids who were born in the early 2000s. "Come on Eileen" was one if the pre-show songs, and by the chorus the audience was sining along. There were other, more recent songs played before the show, but none of them were that beloved.

Random small world trivia: Maire Fahey played "Eileen" in the video (and looked so hot to 15-year old me). She's the younger sister of Siobhan Fahey of Banarama. Siobhan was friends with DMR and ended up singing with them a few years ago. She also married the Eurythmics Dave Stewart, thus proving the Banarama tradition of marrying by-far-lesser acts of great duos.

As of 2016, they have four studio albums. The fourth album is called Let The Record Show: Dexy's Does Irish Country and Soul, and it's fantastic! It's a lot more subdued than their earlier work, but it's still great. Kevin Rowland has still got it. Thank you so much for this video.

You forgot to mention that they appeared on The Young Ones.

BERM-ING-HAM

The vocals in "Come On Eileen" have always reminded me of Robert Smith, somewhat, even though it's a very different style.

Midnight oil and Chumbawumba have likely changed Todd's opinions on OHW's in a rather stark manner. I actually fantasised that Todd would cover Midnight Oil, or that I knew he knew about them, and also knew they were better than acca dacca if you're Aussie. I grew up with them, and they sing in an Australian accent, they're not trying to be something they're not! That means a lot in a small pond like Australia.

really enjoyed this one. thanks todd!

They filmed the video around the corner from where I work in Kennington, South London. That corner shop is still there.

I mean, the fact that to this day, if this song is played in a club, EVERYBODY rushes to the dance floor, says something about this song.

Hearing Dexys Midnight Runners called a one hit wonder hurts both my soul and brain

todd, you just introduced me to my new favorite song

I love your outside-looking-in observations on British bands.

I knew a guy whose mom was named "Eileen" and he was 12 in 1982. He still hates this song.

Poor old Johnny Ray, Sounded sad upon the radio But he moved a million hearts in mono Our mothers cried, sang along, who'd blame them etc.

Awesome! Thanks for posting this.

Oh, man. You got me with those first lyric subtitles. Had to pause the video I was laughing so hard.

Please do I don't like Mondays by Boomtown rats!

Why do the two things in the back at 5:01 look like fidget spinners?

Just like other One Hit Wonderlands which heightened my appreciation for obscure bands, This video made me appreciate Dexys a lot more (please and thank you)! :) I was impressed by Geno as well as the rest of Too-Rye-Ay, and let's not forget the Don't Stand Me Down album! But Eileen remains a massive JAM:)

Hearing Manchester and Lancashire said in a Southern accent hurts the ears

Man, I would love to see a Train Records on Dexy’s Don’t Stand Me Down. Seems like the kind of band that deserves that finer autopsy.

I really love this series of yours. You did my love of Come On, Eileen justice. Now I am going to go watch your Hooked On a Feeling review. The first time I had approached that review, the comments gave me the indication your feelings for that song are far less warm than here so I closed the video then. But if I get to nod my head and celebrate when you say something nice about I like, it follows that I should stick around when you don't like what I like. It is only fair. :P I gotta say, it's only been a week since I subscribed, and though I passionately disagree with a lot of what you have to say about pop music, I love hearing you say it all the same. Already have taken in a lot of your content and am all for this adventure to continue! Alright, then. Big ass comment you'll never read comes to close in 5 4 3 2 . . .

Was going to wait and see if you mentioned Geno. Banger!

Someone's been digging in the shadows of the archives! Excellent!

That save ferris cover is almost proof of god it's so perfect

I've also loved Come On Eileen since I took it upon myself to look up the lyrics in the wee early days of the internet. And I literally GASPED and said aloud in an empty apartment YES!!! THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS! at "Come On Eileen is the British-Irish folk version of 'Born to Run.'" Wow. Yes. That's *exactly* why I like it so much. Actually, I think I like Born to Run because it's the American version of Come On Eileen, as my appreciation of that song developed later on. But like. Mind blown.

This is one of my favorite songs. Definitely a great one-hit wonder

This video got me to check out the Dexys catalog and holy shit is there some good stuff there. Thanks.

This is probably one of my favourite songs of all time and also as you say, in Britain they aren't a one-hit wonder!

Jackie Wilson is not an unknown Soul Singer maybe to you but he greatly influenced Michael Jackson

Great video this one. I've watched a load of these now, but this one is my favourite. Don't know if it's because a. I'm from Birmingham myself and b. Born in 1982, but that could be a coincidence :-) Seriously tho, well done covering this. I enjoyed it a lot.

My older brothers drove around the neighborhood singing this song 3 straight times in a row. For no reason other than they love this song. This was in the year 2000.

did anyone notice the 2 fidget spinners at 5:00?

6:29 Poor old Johnnie Ray sounded sad upon the radio / Broke a million hearts in mono

nice to see you give some respect to a band that doesnt get much here in the U.S. always loved Kevins voice, i liked the soul rebel years but i loved the too rye ay years. Celtic soul brothers is one of my all time favorite sing along songs. also Jackie Wilson is sadly under respected these days.

dude's been cranking these out

This is easily one of the best songs ever written

I love when Todd makes Springsteen references.

I’ve had this song stuck in my head for years, periodically playing at random, and unable to remember where it came from. I just watched this video after several years because I missclicked. It isn’t even because I don’t watch Todd, cause I have for nearly a decade. In fact, I likely listened to it here , but I never gave it a second thought because I mostly just rewatch the most memorable OHWs. Crazy, huh?

Fun fact I thought Come on Eileen was from the 70's.

The thumbnail is really disconcerting.

Nice, you ended with the Save Ferris cover. I love that one.

The Save Ferris cover used at the end is the only reason I know ANY lyrics to this song outside of the chorus. Nice work on this one!

Best t shirt I ever saw said " I came on Eileen".