Reaction to Kirsty MacColl - A New England vs. They Don't Know Song Battle Reaction!

Рет қаралды 2,819

3 жыл бұрын

Reaction to Kirsty MacColl - A New England vs. They Don't Know Song Battle Reaction! Let us know what other song reactions you would like to see us do, and thanks to our Patreon supporter, Peter, for the suggestion!
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Пікірлер: 75

@franko6677 3 жыл бұрын

Not enough people react to Kirsty’s music, it was great to see this. I love both songs. I’d love to see you check out some of her ‘90s material too. Songs like “Soho Square,” “Titanic Days” and “Caroline” are just stunningly good songwriting.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Really appreciate the suggestions and thanks for watching franko6677!

@CA5124 3 жыл бұрын

Kirsty Macoll had a very unique sounding voice. Remember her songs .Fairytale of New York gets a lot of air play on the radio at Christmas time here ! 😊

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks ca!

@ForestFairywales 3 жыл бұрын

One of the greatest anti-new romantic lines of the early 1980s "I saw two shooting stars last night; I wished on them; but they were only satellites...it's wrong to wish on space hardwear; I wish, I wish, I wish you cared" Bloody brilliant...delivered perfectly by Kirsty and written by Billy Bragg 👍👍👍

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Agreed awesome lines! Thanks!

@270yis7 3 жыл бұрын

"They Don't Know" was one of the great underappreciated pop hits of the late 70s/early 80s. Kind of a throwback to the girl group sound of early 60s.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Yes really good stuff! Thanks Ken!

@darrenpyper9689 7 ай бұрын

The "Bayyybee" on Tracy Ullman is Kirsty MacColl where she was backing singer for Tracy Ullman

@darrenpyper9689 7 ай бұрын

The best vesrion off New England was the duet she and Billy Bragg did

@ReactionsToTheClassics 7 ай бұрын

Great info there. Thanks for sharing and for watching!

@markamos1911 3 жыл бұрын

It was actually Bragg who wrote the new verses for her version, not her herself. She told Billy it was too short for a single and asked if he could come up with a couple of additional verses. He did.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Yep. Thanks for Watching!

@ChrisMortlock 3 жыл бұрын

Great suggestions Peter and nice reviews guys! I was interested to see how I'd rank the two given a New England by Billy Bragg is one of my all time fave songs and I'm also quite familiar with Kirsty's version. I thought I'd go with A New England as a clear winner but I think I'm leaning towards 'They Don't Know'. It kind of has that Wall of Sound of The Ronettes and songs like Be My Baby, Do Doo Ron Ron, Then He Kissed me etc. Love it when I find a new song to add to my personal 'jukebox' :)

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Great breakdown Chris!

@davetye 10 ай бұрын

Kirsty also sang on the Bragg song Greetings to the New Brunette.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 10 ай бұрын

Will check that out. Thanks!

@mjq3555 3 жыл бұрын

Kirsty sang backing vocals on the Tracey Ullman version of They Don't Know - including the 'Ba-by' after the instrumental break.

@deepbluehue3 3 жыл бұрын

I thought Ullman's team simply used her original backing track vocals ? / not that she came in to sing it ... I could be wrong ..

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for Watching!

@uhdudewhy7980 3 жыл бұрын

Didn't know MacColl covered 'A New England.' Sounds nice. I originally wanted to add Ullman's rendition of 'They Don't Know' to my 'personal jukebox' but, last I checked, I had to buy the CD in which the song is on, so I went cheap and bought MacColl's version (around 99 cents) instead. Was not disappointed, especially after hearing it again here just now. Ullman's video of the song is quite a throwback.

@starry2006 3 жыл бұрын

The Ullman album it was on is actually brilliant.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

They are both so good. Thanks!

@donnastephenson4540 2 жыл бұрын

Kirsty MacColl is one of mt favourite female artists, effortlessly cool. Her version of Thank You for the Days is one of my all time favourite songs and I've told my OH I'd like it played at my funeral as my way of thanking my loved ones.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow have to give it a listen with that rec. Thanks Donna!

@bengritten189 3 жыл бұрын

Great to find you guys...and a good dimension to a show! Like most people, I think both the songs are great, but my first real introduction to Kirsty was in 1985 when her version of A New England was released. People of a certain age (mine, or similar) remember where and when they bought their favourite vinyl, perhaps having heard the track being played on the radio or perhaps on TOTP (Top Of The Pops to you youngsters/young Americans out there!) I remember going to OUR PRICE records in London's Victoria, buying the 12" of A New England for a few quid and walking down Victoria Street into Parliament Square and then crossing Westminster bridge to St Thomas's hospital to visit my mother who had just had an operation. I took the record out of the bag and showed her what I bought, telling my mother this had to be a big hit for Kirsty, even though I didn't know much about her. Shame I couldn't play it to my mother in hospital! Yes, I not only have my original copy in my collection, but another with a different cover. That's how much I like it! They Don't Know...? I didn't know either...that it was a Kirsty MacColl song because of what happened and first new about its existence thanks to Tracey Ullman. The latter is a little candied/over-produced, but I love it and 'em all!

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Wow Ben great story! Really appreciate you sharing and super cool you still have it! Stay safe!

@greg7857 2 жыл бұрын

once upon a time at home I sat beside the telephone waiting for someone to pull me through when at last it didn't ring , I knew it wasn't you too good, Billy, just too good

@ReactionsToTheClassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Greg!

@richardw4336 3 жыл бұрын

Liked these at the time and nice to hear them again. I actually like both Billy and Kirsty's versions of New England and They Don't Know always puts me in mind of something from the early sixties from a Lesley Gore or Helen Shapiro.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Great point. Thanks Richard!

@999zahra 3 жыл бұрын

Loving this, she did He's On The Beach of which is covered by The Lemonheads in the 90's it is more upbeat cover in my opinion but loving them both songs.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Shane!

@ilash81 3 жыл бұрын

Been a while since I commented on one of these (still don't know how you pump out so many vids a day!) but I love both these songs and Kristy earns her place in pop history just for Fairytale of New York. The whole Stiff Records scene in the late '70s/ early '80s of which Kirsty was part is generally pretty great and underrated. Loads of pub-rock/ new-wave classics came from that label. If you can find the Big Stiff Box Set, it's a killer listen and overview of Stiff. Anyway, back to Kirsty, these are probably her two biggies so it's a tough choice. I actually came to New England (heh) through Kirsty's version so this is my go to version of the song but They Don't Know is also pretty damn great... Yeah, I'm also going to go with the latter song - a really terrific '60s throwback that's beautifully crafted with wonderful vocals. And Manic Monday is a brilliant comparison. Never thought of it! And I freakin' love the Bangles. The late 70s to mid 80s really was the last sustained period for truly excellent, relatively mainstream pop music. Great review, guys. Time to do some catching up, as usual!

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Great insight as always. And honestly sometimes I don't know how we get this much content out as well haha. Stay safe!

@chicagoviking1 2 жыл бұрын

Smashing singer, songwriter. So many great tunes. So smarty. A tragedy was her untimely death/killing.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 2 жыл бұрын

For sure!

@davidmaholchic6146 3 жыл бұрын

You guys mean so much to me Billy Bragg Kirstie McCall such good stuff you never here except here love you guys

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks David, we really enjoy the diversity for sure!

@simonevs020 3 жыл бұрын

Good choice. Kirsty was also a long time collaborator with Johnny marr.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for Watching!

@tamzinfraser7010 3 жыл бұрын

Just started delving into your reactions and rankings - really enjoying how you talk and explain your musical choices and decisions. This one - have to agree with you, but I knew it'd be difficult as soon as I saw the titles! The pedestal / pill always works better for me this way round and takes me straight back to being 14/15, and I love the way Kirstie could sing the 'sappy' lines you picked out, so matter-of-factly that they don't sound sappy. Not my out and out favourites of hers, but top ten at least - such a great singer/songwriter & so missed. I always refuse to choose between her version of "Days" or the Kinks orginal version as well.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

So amazing how music can instantly transport us back to another time and place, nothing like it. Thanks for the kind words and for watching!

@jedikiah1541 3 жыл бұрын

"They Don't Know" is my favourite, too. I find it possesses more feeling - it more soulful. "A New England" is reminiscent of Kirsty's earlier1981 UK hit, "There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis", in terms of tempo. I like it, but it doesn't move me in quite the same way as "They Don't Know". That is probably true also of a lot of mid eighties pop, which i find would have benefitted from a few more rough edges. Billy's version was, of course, very different, but i appreciate Kirsty could see it had another potential, and also effectively managed to stretch it out with additional lyrics. Kirsty did have a unique and recognisable voice, but for whatever reason the quality of material didn't quite match it in the singles chart (aside from her collaboration with The Pogues). The one that did, "They Don't Know" wasn't a hit, but Tracey Ullman did bring it to the masses with a pretty decent cover of the song. Not quite as good as Kirsty's, though.

@starry2006 3 жыл бұрын

I love the Ullman version, she covered some great songs then.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Great insight as always. Thanks!

@karenjwhite9540 3 жыл бұрын

@@starry2006 I think Tracey's cover is great too (I'm a committed Kirsty fan!) ... did you know that Kirsty provided that "Baby!" after the instrumental because Tracey just couldn't hit it? I agree with Tracey, it's very difficult to hit that note hard and accurately, as well as Kirsty did.

@starry2006 3 жыл бұрын

@@karenjwhite9540 Yes she still plays a strong role in the cover. And the confidence of Tracey Ullman's lead vocal, along with the bright retro arrangement, reflects the positivity of the lyrics about not caring what others think.

@keithm.7335 3 жыл бұрын

Her dad, Ewan MacColl, wrote the great love song "The First Time Ever I saw Your Face." Roberta Flack had a major hit record of the song in 1972.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Didn't know that. That is a great song! Thanks Keith!

@karenjwhite9540 3 жыл бұрын

@@ReactionsToTheClassics The song as Ewan wrote it was VERY different to the Roberta Flack version and apparently Ewan HATED her version ... and being a lifelong, committed Communist (again, apparently) he became somewhat embarrassed by the massive royalties he received from her cover! Ha ha ha! (PS I much prefer Roberta Flack's version)

@seanie002 3 жыл бұрын

@@karenjwhite9540 Kirsty actually hated any version of the song because it was written about Peggy Seger, the woman who Kirsty’s Dad would leave her Mam for.

@lbd-po7cl 3 жыл бұрын

Ewan wrote First Time Ever for his wife, Peggy Seeger, who is the half sister of legendary folk singer Pete Seeger. (Peggy Seeger isn’t Kirsty’s Mum, though - Ewan left her mum to marry Peggy. So that makes Pete Seeger Kirsty’s step-uncle, I suppose.)

@VEETEEARR 2 жыл бұрын

I enjoy both songs, but although I would sing along enthusiastically to either of them if they came on the radio in the car, I would only have A New England as on my playlist. I love Billy Braggs original version and Kirsty takes the song up another level. I found my way here to your channel via your Pulp and other Britpop reactions and have a suggestion for another Britpop band for you to have a listen too and that is EchoBelly.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 2 жыл бұрын

Will check them out. Appreciate it!

@kennet7837 3 жыл бұрын

I way prefer "They Don't Know". The melody is stronger + nice guitar solo. "A New England" is her most popular track on Spotify though (if we ignore "Fairytale of New York" with The Pogues).

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

They are both so good. Thanks Kennet!

@poetgb 3 жыл бұрын

Shawn and Trey, I have never heard this artist or song. Sorry to hear of her passing. First song is a catchy uptempo Pop sound with energetic music and story in the lyrics. Your comments are very good. The second song.does have a Beach Boys influence like you guys said. I like the song. It is catchy with nice melody.. Good music and guitars. Cool reaction and well said on your comments. I agree with you guys that the second song is the winner.

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Poet!

@seanie002 3 жыл бұрын

Kirsty was the daughter of Ewan McColl, who wrote ‘the first time ever I saw your face’ and ‘Dirty Old Town’. Obviously, a very talented family.

@poetgb 3 жыл бұрын

@@seanie002 I didn't know that Kirsty was the daughter of the songwriter who wrote the classic ' First Time Ever I Saw Her Face ' Great song. Nice of you to let me know. Thanks.

@joshdmv5325 3 жыл бұрын

Zoey Deschanel must have been influenced by Kirsty MacColl. If you told me that They Don’t Know was a She and Him song, I’d believe ya. 2 great tunes! 👍

@ReactionsToTheClassics 3 жыл бұрын

That is a fantastic point Josh!