A lush, unrelenting and highly melodic piece of music, this was one of Split Enz's most played songs on our rock station where I grew up in Canada. It's a mystery why it was not was not a bigger hit, or even released as a single outside of Canada and the Netherlands as it had high potential to be a new wave favourite. Still love it!
A beautiful, passionate and fast-moving musical gem! One of the very top songs of Split Enz's illustrous career, which includes many other unique and wonderful tunes. A mystery why this was not a hit single, but I'm glad I grew up in Montreal where it received regular radio air play on our main rock station in early 80s. Has even improved with age. Believe this was the only Split Enz song that may have been better appreciated in Canada than in their home turf of Australia/New Zealand?
I still have my original vinyl True Colors at home. My first new wave band. I loved the layers of their music: Very artistic. These songs still hold up.
Ryan Johnson My older brother brought True Colors album home. My sisters and I would play it over and over. Great album! Awesome songs. Very unique sound. They have a 60's psychedelic sound which is pretty cool.
Love this album. Has three of their best songs. "History Never Repeats, " Hard act to Follow" and "One step ahead" , the lead single here in the US. Why this was not received better is a total mystery to me especially after the success of " I Got You". Should have done better and put them on the map here in the states. No accounting for taste. An album ahead of it time.
True Story: I recorded a segment of this song back in 1983 and didn't get the name of the artist or the song. Tried to locate it for years and only in the last few weeks by searching the song lyrics on Google I found it. Thanks for posting the song!
Beautiful, powerful, catchy, unrelenting, heartfelt, inspired and sadly under-rated piece of music! One of the best in Split Enz's illustrous career, which includes many other wonderful tunes. It's a mystery why it was not a hit single, but at least, I'm glad I grew up in Montreal where this song got regular airplay on our main rock station in the early 80s. Perhpas the only Split Enz song to receive more recognition in Canada than in their hometurf?
Only made 1-200000 of those laser albums back then... We got it for sure!! Most of our albums we ordered from England/Europe (remixes) couldn't get that kind of music here unless you listened to CFNY 102.1fm, Chris Sheppard... Hit the clubs in T.O. to see him on the weekends...
I believe the album this was on that was released in the United States was called "Waiata". Just looked at my albums and I am correct!!! Been an admirer of the Finn's for 30 plus years. Love them!!!!!!!
Original, catchy, melodic and altogether superb tune - one of Split Enz's best in my view. Used to play on radio often in early 80s in Canada. Strange that it was not a hit in Australia and New Zealand, or that it was not even released as a single outside of Canada and Netherlands. Any justifications from down-under??
@Patriciameadows They never did a video clip because it wasn't a single in most countries ... just Canada and Holland, I think. Too bad, it had the potential to be a bigger hit than the more low-key "One Step Ahead".
this was a background music (although brilliant in its own right) to a surf flick.. Think it was at Burleigh.. I live in TAS. so I have no Commmercial interest... please help
There's a lot of good acts around Plenty of profound performers But there's only one, who really gets through to me Whenever you come on I light up Everything you do goes down well I can tell, after you it's all downhill Proving you're a hard act to follow You're a hard act to follow You make it difficult (so) difficult Hard act to follow, you're a hard act to follow Keeping me at arms length, sapping my strength from a distance Hard act to follow
A lush, unrelenting and highly melodic piece of music, this was one of Split Enz's most played songs on our rock station where I grew up in Canada. It's a mystery why it was not was not a bigger hit, or even released as a single outside of Canada and the Netherlands as it had high potential to be a new wave favourite. Still love it!
Thank you. I rember my vinyl laser etched copy of true colors
A beautiful, passionate and fast-moving musical gem! One of the very top songs of Split Enz's illustrous career, which includes many other unique and wonderful tunes. A mystery why this was not a hit single, but I'm glad I grew up in Montreal where it received regular radio air play on our main rock station in early 80s. Has even improved with age. Believe this was the only Split Enz song that may have been better appreciated in Canada than in their home turf of Australia/New Zealand?
I still have my original vinyl True Colors at home. My first new wave band. I loved the layers of their music: Very artistic. These songs still hold up.
Ryan Johnson My older brother brought True Colors album home. My sisters and I would play it over and over. Great album! Awesome songs. Very unique sound. They have a 60's psychedelic sound which is pretty cool.
What a great song . Brings me back to the summer of 1981 !
One of the greatest songs of the 80's!!!! Love the whole album! Happy to have the vinyl and play it now and then....
------------
Om Shanti!
I love that bass line
Love this album. Has three of their best songs. "History Never Repeats, " Hard act to Follow" and "One step ahead" , the lead single here in the US. Why this was not received better is a total mystery to me especially after the success of " I Got You". Should have done better and put them on the map here in the states. No accounting for taste. An album ahead of it time.
Split Enz forever and ever!
can't ever get enough of this song.
I've saw them perform this song on Soild Gold back in '81.Ah,the memories...
Lee Jordan Me too! I remember it like it was yesterday. Solid Gold. Awesome show.
My god! Yes!! they were on Fridays too (ABC, short-lived competitor to SNL).
The Finn Brothers were Talented. This is one of the Few that Tim Sang Lead. I Loved their New Wave Sound and their Corkiness.
Thanks so much for posting this song. Always been one of my faves from the Enz's days of commercial success at the start of the '80s.
Great song, great memories!
Powerful song....think about it deeply
I love this song. I forgot all about it.
The lyricsin this tend to make a tongue in cheek dig at the success of "True Colours", not to mention their 1980 hit "I got you"...
THANK YOU! Fall '81, saw them do this on "Solid Gold" (blech), always loved this song, was amazed it wasn't a single in most markets.....
In the 80s on City tv, we'd watch ELECTRIC CIRCUS... Like the music but everyone dancing would make us piss ourselves
Who managed to make it all the way to this video just to dislike it?
The8BitSlug Some sad arse hole.
11 tone deaf people
A monster
True Story: I recorded a segment of this song back in 1983 and didn't get the name of the artist or the song. Tried to locate it for years and only in the last few weeks by searching the song lyrics on Google I found it. Thanks for posting the song!
yes thanks a bunch been looking for this forever!
excellant vocals from Tim
Beautiful, powerful, catchy, unrelenting, heartfelt, inspired and sadly under-rated piece of music! One of the best in Split Enz's illustrous career, which includes many other wonderful tunes. It's a mystery why it was not a hit single, but at least, I'm glad I grew up in Montreal where this song got regular airplay on our main rock station in the early 80s. Perhpas the only Split Enz song to receive more recognition in Canada than in their hometurf?
Favorite Split enz tune , the enz did have the habit of pricking the national conscience, maybe why it didn't do so good. A fantastic song .
The euphoric sensation one gets from hearing the amazing music of Split Enz!
Glad you did! I love this song.
Finally someone posts this. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Split Enz and Crowded House are hard acts to follow thats for sure !
Someone finally posted it! Thank you!
Only made 1-200000 of those laser albums back then... We got it for sure!! Most of our albums we ordered from England/Europe (remixes) couldn't get that kind of music here unless you listened to CFNY 102.1fm, Chris Sheppard... Hit the clubs in T.O. to see him on the weekends...
Thank you for posting this song...She'll be Apples! :D
Great song! Thanks for posting.
Thank You for posting!!!
beautiful
thank you. last time i heard it i was 13 (41).
I have this on vinyl....yes, VINYL! So gooood!!!
This is not the version I rmbr. BUT...I am thankful someone put it on here.
Thanks - this is great. Has an original quality about it.
beautiful,brilliant,favorite
But there's only one that really gets through to me & it's THIS SONG.
The video is not live, but the sound quality is better than the two live recordings ! Thanks for the posting.
I believe the album this was on that was released in the United States was called "Waiata". Just looked at my albums and I am correct!!! Been an admirer of the Finn's for 30 plus years. Love them!!!!!!!
scneese64 There's an explanation. 'Coroboree' is Aboriginal for 'dance' or 'party' while 'Waiata' means the same in Maori.
Great song! Thank you for post it! Hey! I have the CD of Split Enz with this song!
Crazy-good song!
Brilliant album.
Beautiful brilliant
Thank You!!!
Great ol song.
K-ROQ. when it was good. 1981?
WELL YOU'RE GREAT
I love this-can anyone remember"Iris"-I NEED to hear it......
Ooooooo, ooooooo Iris, the girl with a lovely name....
Thanks! It's been a while! Like a more user-friendly Peter Gabriel!
Performance metaphor, sexy.
thank thknks thinls!!!
YES!!!!
Not only my favorite Split Enz song......but one of my favorite songs, period!
Thank you so much for posting this, will you marry me? ;-)
Unique version of this song that just fell off Planet Earth, nobody plays it anymore. Thanks!
I love this song sooooo much, please post more like "Ships" or "Iris". Thanks
When KROQ was avant-garde
Interesting that Split Enz wrote a song about themselves. ;)
very polished and should have made silly money - top end
@Nigelxman I Meant they still are. Tim & Neil Finn are legends in My Book.
Original, catchy, melodic and altogether superb tune - one of Split Enz's best in my view. Used to play on radio often in early 80s in Canada. Strange that it was not a hit in Australia and New Zealand, or that it was not even released as a single outside of Canada and Netherlands. Any justifications from down-under??
FYI... I just posted live Hard Act To Follow" from 1981 concert!
@Patriciameadows They never did a video clip because it wasn't a single in most countries ... just Canada and Holland, I think. Too bad, it had the potential to be a bigger hit than the more low-key "One Step Ahead".
Saw them open for Tom Petty. Asmuch as I love and respect tom Petty, I actually walked out bored. Hard act to follow? Oh yes..........
WERE talented? THey're still brilliant. :-)
this was a background music (although brilliant in its own right) to a surf flick.. Think it was at Burleigh.. I live in TAS. so I have no Commmercial interest... please help
Storm Riders
@robwheelut You never finished your sentence. Their great what? ;)
The Finn brothers toured here about 6 years ago. Tickets were $36! They were great, but not for $36!
kevin b ......I’d happily pay $36 for such an act. In 2010, tickets for Leonard Cohen’s concert were well over $200, worth every cent.
aka WAIATA album in NZ - how cross-cultural they were!! heeh
There's a lot of good acts around
Plenty of profound performers
But there's only one, who really gets through to me
Whenever you come on I light up
Everything you do goes down well
I can tell, after you it's all downhill
Proving you're a hard act to follow
You're a hard act to follow
You make it difficult (so) difficult
Hard act to follow, you're a hard act to follow
Keeping me at arms length, sapping my strength from a distance
Hard act to follow
can't ever get enough of this song.