The Chaotic Story of Dexys Midnight Runners & "Come On Eileen"

The Chaotic Story of Dexys Midnight Runners & "Come On Eileen" | New British Canon

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Күн бұрын

When faced with the phrase “One Hit Wonder” Dexys Midnight Runners would be one of the first bands to come to most US minds. Their megahit “Come On Eileen” is one of the eternal dancefloor fillers, a feat that they could never have possibly repeated. But for Britain, Dexys Midnight Runners represent one of the most unique, innovative and down right best bands these Isles have ever produced. Not quite the ska of The Specials or Madness, nor the new wave of The Jam or Elvis Costello, Dexys with their American R&B-inspired sound, taking inspiration from Geno Washington's "Michael the Lover", "Born To Run" by Bruce Springsteen and Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual, their three-piece horn section and or celtic strings stood apart from their supposed peers, not to mention the synthetic pop dominating the charts at the time. And with their numerous UK top forty hits including "Dance Stance", "Tell Me When My Light Turns Green", "There There My Dear", "Show Me" and "Jackie Wilson Said" and a second number one in the form of “Geno”, they were way more than that single meteoric single. So who were Dexys Midnight Runners? Why did they go through sixteen members before their world wide smash? And what is Kevin Rowland actually singing about? This is New British Canon and this is the story of “Come on Eileen.”
#ComeOnEileen #DexysMidnightRunners #musicdocumentary
Soundtrack:
Luar - Into ( / luarbeats )
Luar - Clouds ( / luarbeats )
Luar - Sidelined ( / luarbeats )
Luar - Citrine ( / luarbeats )
Silent Partner - Ticker
Luar - Anchor ( / luarbeats )
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Dexys Mark 1
05:45 Dexys Mark 2
09:32 "Come On Eileen"
15:18 Dexys Mark 3
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Пікірлер: 2 500

@TrashTheory 4 жыл бұрын

So what "one hit wonder" do you think deserves more respect? What other songs should be in the New British Canon? Trash Theory playlists - Spotify: tinyurl.com/yxp32pjf Deezer: tinyurl.com/y2mdp8h2 Also if you want to help out, here's my patreon link: patreon.com/trashtheory

@unsuccessfullyjari 4 жыл бұрын

Zager and Evans - In the Year 2525. Bloody love that song.

@rogerpattube 4 жыл бұрын

Baker Street, Temptation.

@Milkthief 4 жыл бұрын

I'd really like to see some Killing Joke!

@digitalArtform 4 жыл бұрын

Are you only looking for British acts? Because otherwise I’d say Josie Cotton.

@nigeh5326 4 жыл бұрын

Love me do by a 4 piece from Liverpool don’t know whatever happened to them but the Beatles deserved more than to be remembered as a copy of the legendary Rutles 😉

@jeffk2278 4 жыл бұрын

I've never really understood why people seemingly put down "One Hit Wonder" bands. I mean, think how many bands never had any hits. To have even only one hit is an accomplishment that so many others will never realize.

@alondramartinez7174 4 жыл бұрын

I AGREE WITH YOU

@drdrai7479 4 жыл бұрын

IIRC, the ELO album "A New World Record" was named thus because they set a record for the band to hit the top 10 the most times WITHOUT A #1 HIT. It's like they were the polar opposite of a 'one-hit-wonder' band; they became internationally famous for decades without once topping the charts.

@aryehwiznitzer9060 4 жыл бұрын

Well, especially for the US audience, there are some one hit wonders who are legitimate bands who just didn't break through (blur, the verve) and others that are just awful. So it can be interesting to see which ones are which.

@elcagadorerrante2269 4 жыл бұрын

Yup!

@NigelHyphenJones 4 жыл бұрын

Not a one hit wonder band... do your homework....

@johndaarteest Жыл бұрын

Music in the eighties was such a wonderful buffet of various genres.

@printisdead1983 3 ай бұрын

I think that might have been the last decade of experimentation and actual art, and i blame the exact industry that sells the music with its downfall, from movies to video games artistry and evolution of ideas ,hell ideas in general Entertainment is dead ,and the consumer killed it

@pattisimmons67 2 жыл бұрын

I LOVED this song. I had just graduated high school with absolutely NO idea what I was doing OR going to do with my life. So I settled for the small town life: Got married, had kids, was completely miserable. This song came out just before my 1st child was born (yeah, I was REALLY young) and just feeling happy. Through the years that followed my family grew and my very toxic marriage died. But that damn song! Every one of my children remembers dancing around our small apartment singing this song. Watching the kids keep up with Kevin and the rest dancing is some of my best memories!

@TheWacoKid1963 4 жыл бұрын

Worthless fact: The girl taking the part of Eileen in the video is Maire Fahey, The sister of Siobhan Fahey of Bananrama.

@val13c59 4 жыл бұрын

TheWacoKid1963 that’s not a worthless fact. It’s a fun entertaining fact. Those little worthless facts are the one that stick with you. Thanks.

@madisontruman1 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome fact!

@jtmichaelson 4 жыл бұрын

I see the similarities now that you said that. I can never unsee it. Thanks for that. Great trivia.

@KendraEMoyer 4 жыл бұрын

That's where they got the overalls from.

@ladylaois8184 4 жыл бұрын

Well that’s interesting

@Nono-hk3is 4 жыл бұрын

"I swear, you'll hum that tune forever." Hell yeah

@justinlast2lastharder749 2 жыл бұрын

"Come on Eileen", The music world's greatest example of missing a much needed Comma.

@mumsow 2 жыл бұрын

😁

@STRANGERINMOSCOW1 2 жыл бұрын

Think about it, the comma is left out on purpose... he said in the song "verge on dirty". Try reading it as an invitation.

@toddlee2571 2 жыл бұрын

That's funny

@tiadaid 2 жыл бұрын

@@STRANGERINMOSCOW1 The verse in the second chorus makes it even more clear - "Come on Eileen, oh I swear (what he means). Ah come on let's, take off everything. Pretty red dress, Eileen, tell him yes. Ah come on let's, ah, come on Eileen"

@STRANGERINMOSCOW1 2 жыл бұрын

@@tiadaid yes, he definitely wasn't after a game of cards lol

@TheJMitch7 2 жыл бұрын

as a young black man i can say, dexys plays through my head phones everyday. Geno is top notch

@timruth8767 Жыл бұрын

As a young black man,....is the most pathetic opening I have ever seen. Please, just stop with that garbage.

@vertugallery7099 Жыл бұрын

@@timruth8767 Agreed

@peachesmcgee4795 Жыл бұрын

@@timruth8767 no need to be so harsh

@TheDjcarlos67 Жыл бұрын

Eh? Not sure what relevance the colour of your skin is 🤔 but as an old white man I listen to Dexys often

@Roddeeerrrr Жыл бұрын

As a young handsome man, I play dexys midnight runners one a month.

@sangode 4 жыл бұрын

This may seem like a strange analogy - but it's akin to being an athletic and making it to the Olympics. It doesn't matter if you get Bronze, Silver, or Gold AT ALL. You made it the F'ING Olympics. And that, in itself, is a feat. Kudos for this short and very informative documentary.

@dondamon4669 2 жыл бұрын

So you think music is all about getting number one? That’s very sad

@sangode 2 жыл бұрын

@@dondamon4669 if that's what you took from that, that's sad. That wasn't the point at all.

@chazzplaya 2 жыл бұрын

I think he was saying the exact oposite...

@MsElke11 2 жыл бұрын

@@dondamon4669 the record companies do

@mattsrollingworld1081 2 жыл бұрын

That's a GREAT insight.

@ThePonkster 4 жыл бұрын

I used to stand at a bus stop in Aston in the early 80s and hear Dexys rehersing in a lock up over the road - thanks for the video and the trip back down memory lane

@rooflessmofo 2 жыл бұрын

Great comment. Love the thought of those memories.

@franknberry333 2 жыл бұрын

That is so cool

@jamesmcinnis208 2 жыл бұрын

Where I'm from a "lockup" is a prison. You must mean something else.

@ThePonkster 2 жыл бұрын

@@jamesmcinnis208 I'm on about a storage unit ie a "lock Up" - a Brummieism I guess 😅

@jamesmcinnis208 2 жыл бұрын

@@ThePonkster Makes sense. My first Brummieism!

@hooleyqueen 2 жыл бұрын

My name is Eileen named after a friend of my mother. I have an Irish mother and an Italian father. I have been to Ireland 7 times (includes one trip to Northern Ireland) and this is the first I knew about this video (the story of Come on Eileen) and it has been one of my all time favorite songs ever since. It was such a huge dance song on the radio all the time. Took me a long time to get all the lyrics. I love the clothes esp. the Bib Jeans (in the US they're called overalls) but I've also heard them referred to as Farmer Jeans. I will forever love Kevin Roland for this song.

@jeangentles9076 Жыл бұрын

Omg they had so many hits, no way are they a one hit wonder band

@josephprolizo701 Жыл бұрын

yes they had two, much more than one

@mattskustomkreations Жыл бұрын

In the US, as The Simpsons bit implies, they came out of nowhere, hit #1 with a super-catchy song and went back to nowhere. The only “facts” we knew about them was that the drummer had quit before the video shooting ended, and the band was named after a stimulant drug. Probably only because of “Pop-Up Videos”.

@jonhelmer8591 Жыл бұрын

@@josephprolizo701 100% more, that beats 50% free anytime!

@ulfnordwich3472 Жыл бұрын

@@josephprolizo701 Yes, two Number ones, but four Top 10, eight Top 20. Also they got three Top 10 Albums and all of their five regular studio albums released from 1980 to 2016 made it into the Top 25. I think it depends on your definition of a hit.

@maxhamman 4 жыл бұрын

my mom was a one-hit-wonder, I'm an only child.

@dreasmom2789 4 жыл бұрын

😄

@oOBeagleOo 3 жыл бұрын

My mum was also a one-hit-wonder however I am not an only child

@meanberryy 3 жыл бұрын

@@oOBeagleOo if you try really hard, maby one day you could live up to your sibling. I believe in you.

@oOBeagleOo 3 жыл бұрын

@@meanberryy was the joke

@meanberryy 3 жыл бұрын

@@oOBeagleOo I was trying to joke back. I interpreted it as if you was refering to your self as the superior one. Easy to missunderatand in text though.

@antonio_sousa28 4 жыл бұрын

fun fact: this song's producer (alan winstanley) is my neighbour, he has great stories about morrissey

@aclockworkreview 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome

@candid886 4 жыл бұрын

Pls share

@justinbrain 4 жыл бұрын

Sir, you can't just drop that here and walk away. Please dish. And don't be stingy with the character count, please. Cheers.

@keef78 4 жыл бұрын

All dirt I bet.

@themanfromvolantis 4 жыл бұрын

IS Morrisey a racist? Or does he just court the controversy that goes with it?

@nzbruz1627 2 жыл бұрын

They played 'Twist'. So I did the twist! They played 'Shuffle'. So I did the shuffle! They played 'Boogie'. So of course, I did the boogie! They played 'Come On Eileen'. ... I got kicked out for doing that one😔

@oldmanlogan9616 2 жыл бұрын

Lmao

@stephanvillavicencio5679 Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@mountainmandale1587 Жыл бұрын

She loved it!🤣

@martinrea8548 Жыл бұрын

Very good😂!

@GRamp-pu4we 4 жыл бұрын

We will all sing that Eileen tune forever. Thanks for the background information of the vision of the innovative musicians it came from!

@zyxxy 2 жыл бұрын

I remember Dexys playing the free trade hall in Manchester after they had had the "Come on Eileen" hit to a massive crowd of maybe 50 people. It always stuck in my mind how a band with such a big hit couldn't draw a crowd.

@cinematographybycss 4 жыл бұрын

I've watched every one of your video essays multiple times. For some reason this one hit me like a ton of bricks. My brother and I love Dexys and have such a hard time getting our other American friends to take them seriously. Thanks for this.

@Motormouth2112 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant song, great explanation. How I wish to go back to the classic 80's. Music was pure and true. Toora loora, toora loo rye ay Eileen....

@danim2897 3 жыл бұрын

I was 5 in 1982. I love this song brings back good memories

@jld593 2 жыл бұрын

When I was in college when it came out we sang it, "washing machine, oh get my clothes clean, they are dirty", and "I'm doin' laundry!".

@davekelley199 2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣👍

@MrFlatTaxi 4 жыл бұрын

I met Kevin last year, and what a great bloke he is. To create this song is phenomenal, what he went through to follow his dreams and passion

@cinemaipswich4636 Жыл бұрын

I lived in Brixton in south London, and I saw Dexy's filming this music video and heard the song before it appeared on TV or on the radio. They were using 16mm film cameras with a boom box with a cassette player. It only took them one hour to do this gig, but I remember it clearly to this day. I am now 67 years old.

@ossian108 Жыл бұрын

That's a great memory :)

@pistelli57 8 ай бұрын

This clip has been recorded in Kennington, I lived exactly where the film was made. 89, Brook Drive. I'm brazilian but i was living in London in 82. Now I am 66 yo. I used to do shopping in that small market. Unfortunately I was in Kent at that day.

@afitzsimons Ай бұрын

Whenever I'm walking over at the Elephant & Castle I have to detour to the street and play that song. The shop has now been converted to a residential property and I saw someone come out and I spoke to them about the song and video. They were from Poland and had no idea what I was talking about.

@bmorebob6624 4 жыл бұрын

I was an early teen when this song was on the radio. I loved it then and I love it today. No matter how many times I hear it, it never gets old. For me there are only a few songs ever written that have that

@stevestroh2267 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic breakdown of a song that everyone of a certain age remembers, and I’m sure many born after are also aware of. I have a love hate relationship with it, I remember watching MTV in 1983 waiting for this song to come on, it was just so different and catchy. Then I got sick of it. Then, as the years went by, I feared hearing it on the radio for fear it would be stuck in my head for 18 hours. Every time I heard that opening cello on the radio, (or whatever it is), I would turn it to another station. Now I hear it and smile.

@Redmenace96 Жыл бұрын

A lot of great songs are ruined by oversaturation. The slang term is, "fucked out". I barely listen to many, many Beatles songs, because I wore out the grooves on 3 albums when I was a kid. Eagles come to mind, too. This vid opened my eyes to Kevin Rowland. Serious artist, frustrated by what most people consider 'success'.

@juanramirez6251 4 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed “Come on Eileen” when it came out in the mid eighties, even now, enough to view this post. I’m intrigued now that I read some of the lyrics. “You in that dress, oh my thoughts I confess. Verge on dirty.” Awesome flow of words with the melody of the song. It’s a beautiful song.

@astrazenica7783 4 жыл бұрын

Cringe lyrics eh

@bevsartsandcrafts715 4 жыл бұрын

It's only today today that I've learned half the lyrics to that song! I could never make out what was being said 😂

@winterlongone 3 жыл бұрын

Despite the lyrics, I couldn't believe there was finally a song with my name in it when I was at uni.

@executionsquad3926 3 жыл бұрын

1982 not exactly 'mid eighties.'

@arthurgranville3722 2 жыл бұрын

Make the most of it when you are in the band

@neobes 4 жыл бұрын

What a thoughtful and insightful breakdown of a song and group that I remember fondly as a very young lad.

@Whosetheworst 4 жыл бұрын

I always thought their cover of Van Morisson's "Jackie Wilson Said" was actually quite wonderful.

@irrepressibleme6846 2 жыл бұрын

When they performed this song on Top Of The Pops the set designers mistakingly put a large photograph of British darts player Jocky Wilson behind them as a visual prop.

@NewFalconerRecords 2 жыл бұрын

@@irrepressibleme6846 Gold.

@charliegeorge9393 2 жыл бұрын

@@irrepressibleme6846 actually it was a joke that Dexy's did and TOTP went along with. Sadly TOTP got slated for "being so stupid" from viewers and the press. TOTP never asked Dexy's back on the show again.

@renzy5270 2 жыл бұрын

I love that too,I still remember them doing that on the Young Ones

@michellelekas211 2 жыл бұрын

You are not alone! "Thankfully living in Yorkshire" it doesn't apply is not bad either to say he least.

@NotaCapn 4 жыл бұрын

How about the story of King Harvest who did "Dancing in the Moonlight?"

@graciehernandez1364 3 жыл бұрын

I just saw the story and I'm shocked. So sad. It makes me appreciate the song even more. WOW.

@Scp716creativecommons 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's songs heavy as a black hole

@jayhendricks67 2 жыл бұрын

Love that Song

@barrypotter5751 2 жыл бұрын

@@graciehernandez1364 I thought it was Kate Bush who did wow by the way any relation to patrick

@NewFalconerRecords 4 жыл бұрын

The breakdown with that single banjo line. What a magical piece of pop music. But Kevin Rowland. What a nightmare. Talented to the max, but what a friggin' nightmare of a human being.

@ellebhee5045 4 жыл бұрын

That's my mate in real life playing the banjo !

@someguy2135 4 жыл бұрын

He reminds me of what I hear Captain Beefheart was like as far as his bands. Very original and eclectic. He also used earlier bands as influences, but did not just copy them and leave it at that.

@UBZUKki 4 жыл бұрын

Typical flawed Genius.. .Brian Wilson Joe Meek Phil Spector Probably others I can't remember

@Dreyno 4 жыл бұрын

Not a patch on Lee Mavers though, in fairness.

@MaachoMaan 4 жыл бұрын

@Jurg Schupbach - Then the guy needed to hire side musicians and release material under the name Kevin Rowland (or whatever). Don't form a band and expect to dictate everything. Others are passionate about what they do as well. I'd have told him to go fuck himself inside the first 20 minutes of rehearsal!

@gravyboat2370 4 жыл бұрын

I couldnt stand this song when I was a teenager growing up, listening to it being overplayed at every birthday party or wedding do etc etc. It became a cheesy joke. I'm older now and I smile every time I hear it for the memory's it gives me of those days .

@benjaminward5295 4 жыл бұрын

I totally agree. But I would stare at the video numb like waiting for it to end waiting to see if Van Halen was next lol.

@steveblease 4 жыл бұрын

Nope, still hate the song and the band.... That can never change for me.

@batheandrelaxinmyshit6344 4 жыл бұрын

@@steveblease I am a lesbian

@gravyboat2370 4 жыл бұрын

@@steveblease I hate the song and the band but it makes me smile when I hear it . I want every generation to feel the pain of this song played to them over and over again for years to come. Just so they can feel our pain

@batheandrelaxinmyshit6344 4 жыл бұрын

@DeeKat Why? Don't knock it, until you have tried it. You might actually enjoy doing it.

@brucemacmillan9581 Жыл бұрын

Eileen is without a doubt a great tune and a great recording. Very unique with it's tempo changes and all. Lots of fun too. Very playful sounding.

@AgentXXSmith 2 жыл бұрын

As an American, all I can say is "Thank you". This channel is becoming something I'm so very grateful for.

@MrWadsox 4 жыл бұрын

Do a study of the band "Talk Talk". They opened for Elvis Costello and the Attractions back in the day and I thought they were really underrated. They grew as a band and continued to improve until their leader Mark Hollis died.

@lyonsfamily9502 2 жыл бұрын

I loved how MTV put the band name, song name, and album name, and for Talk Talk, all three were the same, and the same word twice... so it was "Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk". That's a lot of talk. :-)

@clazza65 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant music and a very unique voice. RIP Mark.

@garydaniels1420 2 жыл бұрын

They were superb back in the day remember it's my life.. still rock's hard today..... great reply mate absolutely.....

@colinyoung3685 Жыл бұрын

@@clazza65 It's a shame he went so early.

@clazza65 Жыл бұрын

@@colinyoung3685 I couldn't agree more Sir.

@protitikhan3861 4 жыл бұрын

My favorite Dexys song is "Tell me when my light turns green" They weren't a one hit wonder in their region in the UK.

@cherrydrop4534 3 жыл бұрын

Geno is just summertime on a stick for me 🌞.

@DMWBN3 2 жыл бұрын

I have seen him in and around brighton over the years. Not long ago he sold some of his clothes to a vintage shop round the corner from where I live in Hove.

@JarvisChrist 2 жыл бұрын

Mine is Burn it Down (album version of Dance Stance)

@avidadolares 2 жыл бұрын

If thats your only criteria, then no band is a one hit wonder. Someone needs to explain to you what a "hit" means in the music world.

@1967SPAWN 2 жыл бұрын

That's a great song. I much prefer their first album to the follow up.

@thomasnegovanonline 2 жыл бұрын

This was a really fantastic video! Thank you so much for posting it. I can’t believe Celtic Soul Brothers wasn’t a hit, that’s my second favorite Dexys song.

@Jeb_binch 8 ай бұрын

I’m late to this one, but I’ve only recently gone through their entire catalog and they were (and remain) a stellar band. Rowland is just simply a great songwriter and there’s no way around it. I don’t think there’s a bad song in any of their albums. I was very pleased to see the recent Too Rye Aye remaster get such a warm response. It’s a great album start to finish and sounds fantastic. It’s rare that a one hit wonder has a body of work that creatively overshadows their one hit, but that’s Dexy’s.

@ThisisFizban 4 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate bands who use tempo changes in their songs. Honestly it's mostly jam bands and experimental music because I guess it's too revolutionary for regular people I guess?? Anyways it's a great way of controlling the emotion. That final tempo change at the end of Come On Eileen just gets people crazy and moving around.

@oldmanlogan9616 2 жыл бұрын

I love it

@methyod 2 жыл бұрын

"too revolutionary"?? most people, most of the time just like music that has a consistent beat. it's not that complicated, no need to be pretentious about it

@ThisisFizban 2 жыл бұрын

@@methyod yeah I guess that was pretty pretentious

@EatAPeach72 Жыл бұрын

Or every ccr song

@vjmarak Жыл бұрын

Or imagine, in 1860, hearing Strauss's 'Acceleration Waltz'...while sitting or waltzing in layers of stuffy clothing...and yearning to really cut loose... LOL.

@comebackwimeapplepie 4 жыл бұрын

What a great piece! Totally nails the aspects of Kevin Rowland that make him such a great artist - to this very day.

@marlajacques6947 4 жыл бұрын

I miss the 80’s so hard right now 😞

@jbos5107 2 жыл бұрын

Me too. I was young and I had hope and dreams. Now I'm old and have neither. Still got the same husband though and love so that's something.

@marlajacques6947 2 жыл бұрын

@@jbos5107 that’s everything!

@wehosrmthink7510 Жыл бұрын

I don’t . Lousy music like mall the bands with different haircuts that sounded the same with synthetisizers. Dexy’s is an exception .

@kentune38 3 ай бұрын

A deservedly great documentary about what we now see in retrospect as a truly great band. Well done for putting this together.

@brandonpage7087 4 жыл бұрын

Interesting video!!! I never realized that Dexy's Midnight Runners had a successful career, in their home country, & I never really sat down & thought about how much of an original & creative style that they had! I can totally relate to the lyrics about desperately wanting out of your hometown, as I've always wanted out of the part of Texas, that I live in. A place I like to refer to Asse County, home of the false American dream.

@wmarkdyer 4 жыл бұрын

I remember the jokes making life hell for girls named Eileen when I was in high school.

@celtisafricana4984 4 жыл бұрын

So the one-legger jokes were OK then? 🤪

@Michael-wp2bp 4 жыл бұрын

Come on Eileen if your knickers are clean!

@Jamie-lw5sy 4 жыл бұрын

How do you think I felt when Van Halen came out with Jamie's cryin? 😂😂😂😂😂

@bobbyrice 4 жыл бұрын

I remember the classic addition of; "Come on Eileen...'s FACE!"

@Jamie-lw5sy 4 жыл бұрын

@DeeKat I read a reader's digest story once about 4 siblings. Peter, Paul, Ann, Mary. Poor Ann doesn't even get a proper name she's just a replacement for the word and. 😂

@kaczorek73 4 жыл бұрын

Bought Searching for the young soul rebels as an 18-year old in 1992 and it's been my all-time favourite album ever since. Plus it's the album that got me listening to soul music, so I really have a lot to thank Dexys for.

@KabobHope 4 жыл бұрын

I had no idea there was so much depth to a song I couldn't stand at the time. This is an excellent mini music documentary I didn't know I needed. Well done.

@DrBe-zn5fv 4 жыл бұрын

trust your original response you were correct

@fungus_am0nguz644 4 жыл бұрын

I remember back in 92 93 (I was a teen) im with a friend and COE starts playing on the radio I go "great tune, i always forget the name of this band" she says "Dexys midnight runners" and im like oh right (whatever) and i specifically said "one hit wonder band" lol i still remember the look on her face she goes no they are not (this girl's father was from the UK) she lets me borrow both the Young Soul Rebels and Too Rye ay albums, that was the night that i was truly introduced to this band. Both were great great albums, i was like WTF, it truly surprised me (years later I picked Dont stand me down on CD and was also very pleased) .

@comebackwimeapplepie 4 жыл бұрын

Can imagine that look from the British girl!

@michaelwalsh5048 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this. This came to mind as a great "one Hit Wonder" , Martha And The Muffins "Echo Beach"

@JohnBatty 4 жыл бұрын

Forever inscribed on my mind. They played at my uni freshers ball. So short of material they played Echo beach 3 (possibly 4?) times.

@honestguy7764 4 жыл бұрын

great tune

@michaelobrien9825 2 жыл бұрын

I REMEMBER BEING IN THE PUB LATE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT THIS RECORD GETTING PLAYED, AND THE PUB TOTALLY ERUPTING GREAT DAYS.

@humongousfungusamongus3871 2 жыл бұрын

I remember the debut of Come On Eileen, great times! Another great 80's one hit wonder - Eddy Grant, Electric Avenue! And then we'll take it higher... Or, Amadeus by Falco!

@billslocum9819 2 жыл бұрын

"Romancing The Stone" and "Vienna Calling" were Eddy and Falco's respective means of dodging one-hit wonder status, at least technically. Both those songs charted in the US Top 40.

@jamesforge8107 2 жыл бұрын

What about Der Kommissar by Falco? That was a pretty big hit too

@jaymays8800 4 жыл бұрын

Brings back 80's memories and is now stuck in my head. ... J

@johnpresnell 4 жыл бұрын

Another excellent, super well-crafted video. Clearly you’re passionate about whatever topic you choose, and that rubs off on the viewer. I look forward to the next one! As for which “one-hit wonder” you should cover next, I nominate Adam Ant, Bow Wow Wow, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, or Spandau Ballet, all of which had, as far I know, just one hit single here in the USA.

@lvbfan 4 жыл бұрын

I dunno if I'd include Frankie. It's true that they only had one real hit ("Relax", #10). But "Two Tribes" barely missed the cut at #43, and was even more popular on MTV than "Relax". And while "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" only hit #48, it's remained super popular with the synthpop crowd. Plus, Frankie were media darlings for a while - getting mentioned on sitcoms, The Tonight Show, etc.

@phrayzar 4 жыл бұрын

These videos are called new British canon, not one hit wonders of USA

@johnpresnell 4 жыл бұрын

phrayzar, true, however, one is invited at the end of the video to choose a “one-hit wonder” to be paid homage to. Dexys had more than one hit in the UK, whereas over here it was just one. Note, it’s mentioned at the video’s start that Dexys, “would be one the first bands to come to most US minds.” Note further, the acts I chose are British.

@JPMJPM 4 жыл бұрын

Adam Ant had more than one hit in the U.S. Loved him!

@MusicRunner82 4 жыл бұрын

I think of the four you mentioned, only Bow Wow Wow are actually one-hit wonders in the US.

@pojtoj54 4 жыл бұрын

Dexys, without a doubt one of most underrated Groups, all three of albums are great especially their 3rd one

@lenniet Жыл бұрын

Don't Stand Me Down is an outstanding album.

@ossian108 Жыл бұрын

If only Roland could handle his ego...

@pierrechareau9466 2 жыл бұрын

This channel is invaluable to those of us who not only care about but understand the music that has meant everything.

@nickyfield137 4 жыл бұрын

Glad to see the infamous picture of Jocky Wilson rather than Jackie Wilson on Top of The Pops !!

@dambrooks7578 4 жыл бұрын

That has always made me chuckle 😂

@TimmyTickle 4 жыл бұрын

So did Kevin do it on purpose as a joke, or did the production team screw up and, Kevin being Kevin, decided to twist it to suit his agenda?

@Morphstock 4 жыл бұрын

@@TimmyTickle It was at Kevin's request as it was a band in joke. He then kept quiet about it for several years while people laughed about how the production team had cocked up, What a japester!

@TomCantDance 4 жыл бұрын

I first saw Dexy’s on a tape of The Young Ones when I was little and still hold “Jackie Wilson Said” very close to my heart. This was a really good video

@mikeluke9404 4 жыл бұрын

It is a van Morrison song, but dexys cover is brilliant.

@Shelsight 4 жыл бұрын

Geno - one of the most evocative tunes of the very early 80s. That sax intro has a mood that takes me back there in an instant. I like Come on Eileen as a song that lifted everyone. But Geno is flowing, feisty jazz tribute genius.

@zatoichi101 4 жыл бұрын

Wow! This was an excellent video!! Very well thought out and presented!! Cheers!

@jasonhuddleston8106 4 жыл бұрын

Please do more”new wave” bands , and I would kill to see bauhaus or the damned

@ericdeforest3811 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, please...to both!

@loveliness1219 4 жыл бұрын

The Damned please

@psuedohoax 4 жыл бұрын

The Damned deserve so much more attention than they actually received! But PLEASE, DO NOT refer to them as “new wave”!!

@FluxyMiniscus 4 жыл бұрын

psuedohoax right? They were in another level altogether- the soundtrack of my college years

@executionsquad3926 3 жыл бұрын

Go to Damned site and buy a plastic 10c clock for €15.

@IanTaylorTravels 4 жыл бұрын

I just watched a One Hit Wonderland video on Dexy’s and was surprised to see them listed in that category. I guess they only had the one hit in the US but I thought they would have had been more popular.

@ArpLaszlo 4 жыл бұрын

I'm a yank and I only now learned that Dexy's had a career outside COE. It's rather sad but retro soul did not make a dent in the US at all (The Commitments could never have been made in the US). We were too busy listening to bad pop music like Christopher Cross.

@AbbeyRoadkill1 4 жыл бұрын

There are several great British groups with sustained chart success in Europe who nevertheless are considered "one hit wonders" in America: T Rex, Nazareth, Shocking Blue, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Soft Cell, Talk Talk, Madness, T'Pau, Dead or Alive.... arguably, you could also throw in The Smiths, whose only radio hit in America was the song "How Soon is Now?"

@mudri4938 4 жыл бұрын

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 I can't imagine which Madness hit would be the one... One Step Beyond? Baggy Trousers? Our House? House of Fun?

@RustyPetterson 4 жыл бұрын

@@mudri4938 Our House seems to be the one (according to Wikipedia, it got to number 7 in the US). I had no idea.

@FragmentedR_YT 4 жыл бұрын

Rusty Petterson as an American, yes, that’s the only Madness song that most of us know. For Softcell, it’s Tainted Love, for Talk Talk it’s It’s My Life (probably because No Doubt covered it. Americans know Shocking Blue for Venus and Love Buzz, because Bananarama covered the first, and Nirvana covered the second. I’m not sure what the T. Rex one is, and the interesting thing about The Smiths is that they’re probably more popular in America NOW than they were when they were an active band. Their “popular” songs here also include This Charming Man and Girlfriend in a Coma.

@winterlongone 3 жыл бұрын

This was a fantastic breakdown. Hearing that Kevin Rowland took Dexys in a Celtic direction due to his Irish roots made them stand out IMHO.

@munsterbraum2792 2 жыл бұрын

No..Rowland admitted that he stole the sound and image from former Dexys Kevin Archer....but to his credit he did hand over royalties.

@EMMYK1916 Жыл бұрын

Ya that fiddle is a stand out, much like the Waterboys.

@alanoneill3065 Жыл бұрын

Listen to Dance Stance

@benabel7326 3 жыл бұрын

"Geno" is one of my favourite songs of all time, probably along with "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers.

@annemcniell6956 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder if golden browns cancelled now, the rolling stones have dropped brown sugar, seems anything with a colour I’m it is going to be cancelled 🤔

@benabel7326 2 жыл бұрын

@@annemcniell6956 The Stones didn't stop playing it due to the song's title, instead the story behind the lyrics.

@cgat1955 2 жыл бұрын

Golden brown is one of my favourites too. It’s so underrated, it’s a master piece.

@garyfleming6441 Жыл бұрын

@@dfar2303 And its not quite the love affair of "Perfect day" but it keeps you coming back for more.

@jameskilgour387 Жыл бұрын

@@annemcniell6956 Way to show you have no clue what either song is about lol

@cockroach2 4 жыл бұрын

When I hear "Come on Eileen", I can only think of two things 1.) That live performance where Rowland's voice cracked twice right at the start of his singing 2.) Bugs Bunny playing the Xylophone

@supergub 4 жыл бұрын

Didn't like “Come On Eileen” one bit when it came out but heard "Geno" years later and love it to this day. Tho the lyrics are so conflicted, I liked it much better when I had no idea what Rowland was singing.

@Rteresi1 2 жыл бұрын

I always love this song. In the last couple years I started researching Kevin and his newer works oh, and I found myself sitting comfortably peacefully enjoying everything he's done up till today

@lyndaoneill7813 2 жыл бұрын

This sounds just as great as its release.So catchy and love the words.Thanks for the groups full story,I always thought they were all the originals.👍👍

@ThePurist007 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely delighted that you've made a vid on Dexys, especially today as I'd been having a downer.......one thing though, 'Geno' was number 1 for 2 weeks on the UK singles chart. Otherwise great video, with some very rare footage and interesting insights into Rowland's influences with the comparisons side by side. Obviously, there was far more to appreciate about them than just 'Come On Eileen'. Good job mate, thanks. I've cheered up a bit now!

@julianwalch3567 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this,the videos that you do are great.

@jasminelafaye 4 жыл бұрын

Didnt realize how much I needed this, thank you quarantine for opening my eyes

@rextangler4141 4 жыл бұрын

Being born in June of 1982 in the USA, I was first introduced to this song by the movie Tommy Boy. But after watching this video, I'd like to listen the follow up album that has the high acclaim and beautiful harmonies. Well done on the video!

@Bass.sick.b1tch 4 жыл бұрын

The sad thing is, here in the states, we weren’t as aware of the history Rowland had in his head where the perception was they were a novelty act - come on Aileen was for many of us their first and only exposure (other than that Young Ones episode that we didn’t get until the late 80’s)... I think it would have been a fresh start for them to continue their thing aggressively here...

@gusjackson3658 4 жыл бұрын

I amazed that the band stuck with it for so long, changing so much, living on so little.

@billwarner213 Жыл бұрын

This is a GREAT video - I really enjoyed this, thank you!

@Frankiarmz 2 жыл бұрын

A great song that I have enjoyed since it first was played! A masterpiece that never gets old !

@pyenapple 4 жыл бұрын

Dexys were amazing. All three albums.

@ggoannas 4 жыл бұрын

Fell in love with Searching for the young soul rebels. Thought it was so new. Got laughed at but didn't care and went to see the gig with the Specials. But I was always a "clever" girl.

@eiderglast 2 жыл бұрын

I've subscribed since this is one of youtube's informative channels about real good music.

@thrumylenns2207 Ай бұрын

I used to take care of a woman who was 94 years old named Eileen. In the morning when I woke her up I would sing the song to her, well some of the chorus. Every time I hear this song now I think of Sweet Eileen God bless her soul she's not with us anymore.

@Stelios78910 4 жыл бұрын

Criminally underrated band. This video also deserves more views, it is amongst your best.

@YIKESMF 2 жыл бұрын

This song is on my Spotify. I hear it all the time. I love this song. 😍

@frankvazquez5974 Жыл бұрын

I heard this song on the radio a few times over the last year and every time it was like this revelation - man that is a good song, even though I'd heard it for years but never quite paid attention to the musicality or uniqueness of it. Thanks for the background on it all.

@nicolafrost3942 4 жыл бұрын

I was living in the Elephant and Castle in the 1980's, South London was packed with raw musical talent at that time, but as Punk Rock had predicted the music companies had sold out on the real musicians with original work, for corporate boardroom contrived tripe pop bands. I remember walking round the corner one day ( I was with a very talented rock singer, James Vane, of a notorious local band, The New Apes, and the guitarist songwriter, Alex Weir) and there were DMR shooting the video for Come On Eileen outside a corner store on Albert Street S.E.17. It was one of those "beam me up Scotty" moments, pathetic and embarrassingly bad. We cringed and walked away.

@DrBe-zn5fv 4 жыл бұрын

that about hits the spot

@spensert4933 2 жыл бұрын

They are a terrible band.

@lyndahenry5469 2 жыл бұрын

Come on Eileen is an awful tune....

@and3311 4 жыл бұрын

Another one hit wonder that deserves further attention👍 ‘How Bizarre’ by OMC

@mikeluke9404 4 жыл бұрын

I live in NZ omc is a sad tale the guy who sang drank himself to death! How bizzare.

@kless001 4 жыл бұрын

Great hit! Picked up the CD recently and dig the other tracks on there.

@paul1153 4 жыл бұрын

@@mikeluke9404 Pauly Fuemana died following a protracted battle with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, ultimately succumbing to respiratory failure.

@michaelwest9311 4 жыл бұрын

But the girl was fucking hot!!!!

@TheFakeyCakeMaker 4 жыл бұрын

@@paul1153 5 kids

@miss3305 2 жыл бұрын

One of my all time favourite songs! Thank you took me right back to my overall wearing days.

@MSJChem 2 жыл бұрын

What a great video. Thank you so much.

@theshuriken 4 жыл бұрын

one hit wonder idea : PASS THE DUTCHIE by MUSICAL YOUTH

@Afrimusican 4 жыл бұрын

Oh yes hell yesss!

@NullStaticVoid 4 жыл бұрын

That is a cover song.

@desertfenton 4 жыл бұрын

Also from Birmingham like Dexys

@martinwilliams2556 4 жыл бұрын

They had other hits. They were not one hit wonders.

@zlatans.manbun8269 3 жыл бұрын

@@NullStaticVoid Tainted Love by Soft Cell was a cover.

@jenniferjohnson1345 4 жыл бұрын

Wow! My best friend and I were 12 when that song came out and we loved it!! We had a dance routine and everything. Would not have ever thought it took all that to make the song we ❤ so much. MTV was everything to us new wave americans back then. I have to sah TOO SHY by KAJAGOOGOO was our fav. We had all the records, buttons, photos, and every sentence or paragragh that was out in all the magazines especially the japanese magazines, cut out and put in our personal photo albums we created with everything kajagoogoo. Aaaah yes...the good old days.✌❤😊

@paulo1787 2 жыл бұрын

Great work, throughly enjoyed this 👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👏😁

@gerardjames9971 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great video, I really enjoyed it 👍

@Lisarata 4 жыл бұрын

This song, and Big Country, are my favorite 80s songs that remind me of "free keg" night at the White Owl when I went to Utah State.

@jetpromys 4 жыл бұрын

I remember seeing a live Dexy's show and being surprised how much more substance there was to the band, especially the longer pieces. Being a prog-rock fan, I actually appreciated those longer, more exploratory tunes, and virtually no one was doing much interesting musically at the time (at least not in the pop world). I wish they would have kept on going as eventually you had Talk Talk and a bunch of other bands getting more adventurous, they could have been part of a larger movement musically.

@JJ-fg2wd 5 ай бұрын

I could listen to Too-Rye-Aye front to back on repeat and never get bored. The tenor of the songs hits practically every emotion from upbeat and jubilant to wistful and melancholy. It's perfect.

@GottaWannaDance 2 жыл бұрын

As a mobile DJ, I regularly had requests for this song, even into the 2000s. If I played it without a request, it would fill the floor, allowing me to continue into that era's dance music. Also, I found out there were quite a few Eileen's on the dancefloor over the years. What fun! 😉

@jamesvaught2033 4 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and well done video. You've really nailed a song of my youth and life. Thank you. Everything But the Girl, so much more than MIssing. Please?

@winterlongone 3 жыл бұрын

Agree. I adore Ben and Tracey.

@DungeonStudio Жыл бұрын

Very good! I never really liked Dexy's, nor understood why they became such a hit. I viewed them as a threat bringing old farts back to the music scene like The Stray Cats. I was all into the electro-punk-industrial scene, and Dexy's sound to me was just a cacophony of instruments that shouldn't be together. But I've since come to respect them, and this little bio pic makes me want to investigate them further. Thanks! :)

@mot0rhe4d40 Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for the History of Dexys 👍 " I bet if I had the chance. I could make those people dance, if only for a while. " That is all any artist can hope for.