XTC are a criminally under-rated band. So many great songs: "Towers of London", "Senses Working Overtime", "Generals and Majors", "All You Pretty Girls", "Green Man".. Really glad to see someone reacting to their music!
Andy Partridge did write the song. It starts a child's letter to God, progressing to the adult who never got a response and continued to see all those things as he got older with no change. Really is a fantastic song. Excellent reaction video
So happy to see you finally come back around to XTC. One of my favorite bands. Dear God was pretty controversial back in the day. Always interested to see how people react to it in the present times that we live in. I really hope that you come back to this band again in the very near future. I would recommend a couple of songs that are very different from this one. Mayor of Simpleton and King for a Day. The first is the song my wife describes as a perfect pop song. Although I think it's pretty good, I actually would rank King for a Day just a little bit higher in the "perfect pop song" category. The band wrote a lot of wonderful material back in the day and I think it holds up really well. More XTC please!!!
It's not an exaggeration to say I've listened to this song thousands of times, and yet the hard staccato percussion drop to the stripped acoustic at the end gives me chills Every. Single. Time.
My favorite XTC album. I hope you listen to all of it. Without the child's voice it may have seemed an angry barrage of compelling thoughts about religiosity, but the innocent vocal bookends is where the heart of it lies for me.
I would have voted they cut "Big Day" to squeeze "Dear God" on. That track has always sorta felt to me like Skylarking's "Doctor Robert", if you know what I mean. The rest of it really is nearly perfect.
English Settlement is my favorite XTC album. Skylarking took some time for me to digest , but. It’s a great album. I hope one or both can get into your rotation.
So many perfect pop songs: They got better end better: River of Orchids, Harvest Festival, Wrapped in Grey, Easter Theater, Mayor of Simpleton and many more ....
The song caused alot of uproar (read indignation and contempt) from believers of all stripes esp the religious right. The irony of course is that despite all Andy's protestations, questions and outrage, he is still writing a letter *to* God. Brilliant song from a brilliant songwriter.
Having the kids singing, about the age a rational person would be when he or she realizes the whole religion racket is BS is sheer brilliance. I feel a need to quote the master satirist Terry Pratchett: “I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs, a very endearing sight, I'm sure you'll agree. And even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged onto a half submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters, who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature's wonders, gentlemen. Mother and children dining upon mother and children. And that is when I first learned about evil. It is built into the very nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.”
As soon as my middle school took me to church for Easter and Harvest Festival, walking in that church freaked me out. I couldn't understand why we were looking at a fucking guy hammered to a cross... Could never take it seriously, even at that age (5/6years old) cos I couldn't understand why anyone would want to look at that!!! Still don't. Too much hocus pocus involved.
Underrated great band ,this is a Classic Album from start to finish ( Produced by Todd Rundgren ) Some of my other personal favorite Albums are Oranges & lemons ,Nonsuch, Waspstar , Apple Venus ,Big express ,Mummer ..ps. watch the official video for " "Dear God" it great !!
Man! JP, you are hitting real good music lately. Out of all the reactors, your picks are the best (in my opinion, remember, it's all about opinions). Be Bop Deluxe and now XTC! Andy Partridge writes very witty lyrics. Skylarking is a great album. "Earn Enough for Us" will always remind me when my wife and I were just starting out. The album "English Settlement " is my favorite. Oranges & Lemons is excellent. So many of their albums are great. Keep up the good work! More XTC, Be Bop Deluxe, and other new wave greats!
They’ve been in my ‘handful of fave bands’ since I got Mummer... then English Settlement. Then when they melded strengths with all-time fave Todd, it became magical. XTC was on thin ice with their label, which mandated they use a US-based producer... Rundgren became the choice, and both are the richer for it. Dear God became the trigger for great success for the album... and the album seemed to re-fuel the band... which roared forward with several absolutely great albums, and even some tunes that got mainstream airplay. They finished on a creative peak with Apple Venus & Wasp Star. The band always seemed to me like what would have happened if the Beatles had kept going. They had a way of merging genres - punk/rock/prog/ska/power pop/pastoral - and making it seem right.
Just watched you do "Garden Of Earthly Delights", and how much you loved it; even put it on your playlist. Haven't watched this yet, but think..."This will be interesting". Wow; your reaction and analysis are sooo good. I applaud you young man. Starts of kind of innocent and sweet; then goes for the jugular. My opinion is, a powerful song no question. Loved it when it was released. That is some serious shade right there!!
The song is as true and the musicianship and production are just as breathtaking as they were 35 years ago... (Andy & Colin & Prairie...you guys rock...and thanks, Todd...)
@@JustJP Some of my favourite songs of theirs are "River Of Orchids", "Easter Theatre" and "I Can't Own Her" (all from the same album btw - Apple Venus Volume I). I truly recommend them!
Sorry I'm late to the party, but I whole-heartedly agree with James' comment below...."a criminally underrated band". And frankly, that doesn't begin to cut it. I truly believe they are one of the greatest bands ever. They started out a bit punky, but they grew into an unbelievable beast that defies description. If you listen to their catalog, you'll never be the same again. They write songs and paint pictures in your head. Three INSANELY smart and inventive musicians. It just doesn't get better than XTC.
I also love this song. The message is clear and should be heard as a rebuttal to centuries of stifling control and oppression doled out by power hungry fear merchants who exploit the timid and superstitious among us for their own gain. Humanity needs the voice of reason to shake itself out of the crippling coma induced by the ongoing menace of organized religion. Before the defensive among you rail against this missive, don’t worry. The good people of the world will continue to do good works and spread love from outside of the realms of dogma and delusion.
Hi Justin. Dave from Everywhere and Nowhere (baby!). Love Skylarking, which is the first XTC album I really got into (some of their earlier stuff was a little too spiky for my taste). It's quite pastoral in sound, but this song is not on my CD. On first listen it doesn't seem to be a good fit. Saw them at the Lyceum Ballroom in London (before they stopped touring - Andy's stage fright, I think). Hope you react to other tracks off Skylarking.
The dynamics of this production with the relationship between Andy Partridge and producer Todd Rundgren is ledendary. This song was a little apart of that dynamic.
I never used to pay much attention to lyrics before I started listening to XTC. Andy Partridge’s lyrics are very creative and void of the clichés heard in most music. XTC is in my top 5 greatest groups of all time. The XTC songs I would like to hear you react to are “Funk Pop a Roll”, “When You Are Near Me I Have Difficulty”, “No Thugs in Our House”, “All of a Sudden”, and “Merely a Man” to name a few.
XTC is a vast well of awesomess. Start anywhere after their first two albums... but how about starting with Love On a Farmboy's Wages, Earn Enough for Us, Books are Burning, Easter Theatre, Church of Women, Towers of London, Summer's Cauldron, Then She Appeared, Wheel and the Maypole, oh goodness I'm getting excited...
I've always loved this song; it kind of goes without saying because it's so powerful! I just searched for it and all these reaction vids came up. Yours is the 3rd I watched and the first to actually make some worthwhile comments. It is definitely one of those examples of near-perfect songwriting. BTW Andy Partridge says he does indeed believe in God, otherwise he wouldn't have addressed him! :) You seem to know a decent bit about music so how is it that you have so many songs you've never heard? A generational thing?
prior to being XTC, i believe they called them selves Dukes of the Stratosphere ( line up may have been slightly different ) however as that they knocked out an album called 25 'o' clock, fantastic piece of work, check that out in your own time, well worth it.
You're with one of the top 3 bands of all time now. I envy you. The hooks are untouchable and the wordplay is Costello level. But funnier. #OrangesAndLemons #Skylarking #EnglishSettlement #AppleBox #ColinMouldingOnBass
If you want to take a deep dive with XTC complete with a bombastic climax, check out "COMPLICATED GAME" from the Album " Drums & Wires". "God asked me, should he put his world upon the left? (No-oh!) God asked me, should he put his world upon the right-right-right-right? I said it really doesn't matter where you put your world, someone else will come along and move it, and it's always been the saaame...it's just a COMPLICATED GAME!! 🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦
XTC are so great. You should do the whole album, you won’t be disappointed. And you should make sure to do “Mermaid Smiled,” the cut they took off the album to fit “Dear God” on. And then you should do another album...
XTC are great, my favourite album is Drums and Wires from '79, the one with Making Plans for Nigel, but it contains much better songs - Ten Feet Tall, Roads girdle the globe, That is the way (and more). I can't believe that no one has mentioned that Sarah McLachlan released a cover of Dear God in '95, which is why you might recognise the song.
Andy Partridge is a brilliant songwriter. His lyrics are so smart and poetic. Sometimes, for XTC and The Dukes he way surpassed his influences, that of Beatles, Beach Boys and various other 60's music. He's a little more humble, but I'm not about his contribution. His music matters.
Great song. Wonderful band. Please review a lot more XTC :-) There's not enough XTC reactions on YT. I recommend the rest of the album, and also tracks from English Settlement and Black Sea...for starters ;-)
Best band of the '80s, love them. I bought the album on cassette when it was released without this song. When CDs came out I bout this song on a CD single, still have it. It includes 6 instrumental tracks called The Homo Safari Series. The replaced song 'Mermaid Smiles' was relegated to the compilation "The Rag & Bone Buffet" along with other oddities. The album "Skylarking" is probably their most accessible, well worth hearing every track. My personal favorite album is "Mummer" which is a bit darker in tone. 'Dear God' raises a lot of good points, He doesn't seem to be doing much for us down here so what's the use of him? Originally we had hundreds of gods and goddesses, some religions still do. To me it's all mythology, superstition and wishful thinking. We're on our own.
Great song, by a top band. Simple in some ways, but beautifully performed, and arranged. Re those (and i hardly ever mention) lyrics, very clever, AP's always had a way with words. And a fine vocal performer, singing from the heart. All that with the bonus backstory, bombs, knives, all because of a song ! Dare i say, only in america.
There are some good reaction channels out there, but there's a lot who are clearly religious, which is fine, as they don't preach at you but it does often skew there views on lyrics because it's so central to their lives. They see significance to their faith or God where I think there is none, (...significance, and God BTW) I guess we all have biases one way or another, but a faith can make their focus somewhat narrow. So I really appreciate your channel, whatever beliefs you may or may not have I am not aware it effects your analysis of music. This is such a brave and honest song which Andy Partridge should be proud of, but I think he had cold feet when the controversies and the hate mail started. There's certainly a lot of irony in being threatened by those who purport to expound a message of peace and love.
@@JustJP You do a such great job, Justin, your lyrical analysis is always astute and intelligent, and your musical knowledge greatly appreciated. I've yet to discover any another reaction channel that has the balance that you have of both. You also cover areas of so much amazing music, that I love, that just isn't as populist as other channels choices. The majority would be totally baffled by a lot of the music that you just take in your stride. Would love to hear some of the music you have created yourself. Thx again for sharing your good company.
Per producer Todd Rundgren, Andy Partridge chickened out at the last minute because he was afraid of religious backlash. It's the best song of the Skylarking sessions. Being Rundgren, he could could give a shit and he called Andy bad names 😆
Fun fact! My mom, Jasmine, is the kid singing both parts in the song. She was 8 years old at the time, and she got the opportunity to record this through a producer friend :)
@@Anonymousmikey that’s tru! however it made more sense for them to cast a little boy in the music video bc it’s supposed to represent the lead singer as a little boy and wouldn’t have fit the message of the song and his pov if it were a little girl :)
"Did you make mankind after we made you?" What a line. XTC was an awesome band. This is my favorite song by them. It's really well arranged, well played, and conceptually it is deep and yet simple. Really great song that made me sit up and take notice of XTC. Great analysis Justin! I'm glad that you are impressed with this song.
If you get to "Ballet For a Rainy Day" it goes right into "1000 Umbrellas". This was one my favorite albums of 1986. Just excellent proper English pop. The whole album is major ear candy.
I first heard the album in 1992. I rushed out and bought the current one, Nonsuch. Then bam, back to the record store to buy Black Sea, Drums & Wires, English Settlement and Dukes Of Stratosphear
My first songs that sold me were yacht dance (which blended into no thugs in our house) jason and the Argonauts (directly after yacht dance) this was in the time of vinyl with lyrics on the sleeves. I initially didnt think much of the song, but i got high and started reading the lyrics. " Ive seen acts of ever shades of terrible come from man like creatures and ive had the breath of liars blowing me off course in my sails". Those words strunk me as a beautiful, clever, honest, and telling. I was hooked.
This term gets thrown around a lot, but Andy Partridge is a musical genius. I often thought of XTC as the Beatles of the 80's. This song still gives me goosebumps after hundreds of listens and learning to play it even. Andy did everything right on this one - like you said the words, music, and vocals all just work together perfectly to deliver a powerful message. The rest of the album is good, especially the more pop-ish "Earn Enough for Us" which I thought was a continuation of "Love on a Farmboy's Wages" from the excellent, but under appreciated album, "Mummer". My favorite XTC album though, is still 1982's "English Settlement". So many superb songs on there and it was especially refreshing at the time. Check the hit "Senses Working Overtime" or the excellent opener "Runaways". Some of the other greats on this album includes "Jason and the Argonauts", "Ball and Chain", "Melt the Guns", "No Thugs in Our House", and "Snowman". Thanks for listening and sharing! Keep going with XTC! Peace from SF
XTC - i was obsessed with this band for a while. Still massive favourites of mine, but haven't listened to a lot of their albums for some time. This was their accidental college radio hit ;-) Still, it is not really representative of their musical idiosyncracies. The album from that time is really beautiful (and produced by Todd Rundgren). If you enjoyed that do not overlook their earlier 'art-punk meets power pop' albums. There are some really quirky gems to be found before they turned to pop perfection ;-)
I love this song and its message. It's resonating even today, some 30+ years later. FTR, I am an anti-theist. This song almost brings me to tears when I think of all those under the spell of religion, believing in an all-knowing, omnipresent and omnipotent entity that will only break their hearts when "prayer" doesn't work. Peace and love to all. And thank you for your thoughtful review. Love this!!
If you're up to it, try Level 42's "There's Something About You" or The Church's "Under The Milky Way" or Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" or "Flowers In December"
@@Ignatius1972 Unfortunately no. I sure wish I could play an instrument or even sing (lol - I've been asked many times by my wife to stop when I've had headphones on).
@@RGRG3232 oh man! We are all in a big brotherhood of "people without musical skills".... 😜 Unfortunately 😔 I love Mazzy Star too. Do you know Opal and Kendra Smith? Opal become MZ after the departure of Kendra and the arrival of Hope. I love all of them. And last, but not least, a teardrop for David Roback, one of the genius behind Opal and Mazzy Star...
XTC is one of my favourite bands and this song is powerful stuff to say the least. I like how you appraised the song itself rather than just the lyrics as it’s a well played and constructed song. Are you a teacher? Your critiques are so well done this can’t be just an accidental hobby?
Justin, you should consider reacting to The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul also on Skylarking. It has a '50s Jazz feel to it and Rundgren's arrangement was based on the music of 1960's spy films. The lyrics are great too, but what would you expect with a title like this, as are all of XTC's stuff.
Oooh! Yes! That song is AMAZING. All of Skylarking is so great, but that song in particular gets me. Along with Summer's Cauldron... that drum fill by, I think it was, Prairie Prince from the Tubes who drummed on that? Anyway. Such a great album.
Check out "Complicated Game", also by XTC. Easily on par with "Dear God" as far as musical intensity and lyrical brilliance (probably more so, actually). You will not be disappointed.
Back around 2008, on the Amazon discussion boards, I was a part of a thread we called The Trainwreck. Most of us there became not only very good online friends, but a large number of us have met and had great concert get togethers (such as Clapton's Crossroads festival in Chicago) and "Trainwreck Reunions" (twice in NYC, once in Denver, once in Austin), as we called them. To this day I'm very close with quite a few of my fellow Wreckers. We burned CDs for each other and did mass mailings of them, and other music related things, to each other. We knew each other's tastes in music. On the board, we did many fun activities. One of my favorites was each of us making a list of our 100 top songs. On my list, "Dear God" is number 36. Considering I have over fourty-five thousand songs on my computer, #36 is quite high, don't cha know. The Amazon boards have been shut down for a few years now, but I have numerous good friends and a ton of fun memories from riding that Trainwreck. One of the best things I have ever been a part of. And such good people, too. Good times. Real glad you liked the tune. Their song "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" is almost on a par with "Dear God", especially with the crucifixtion of Jesus and JFK assassination references. Yeah, Andy Partridge is pretty deep.
Thank you for playing the track start to finish before discussing it- it shows a genuine respect for music and the artist. Listening is far better than just hearing to get the full impact, and that act alone had me sub to your channel. :-)
One of the most creative bands of the 80s, and the best message in a song ever. This album was also produced by Todd Rundgren. Great pick and reaction!
Great to see you covering XTC, Justin. I often think of them as the Swindon Beatles. I've never been crazy about this song though - not because of the controversy or anything but it just doesn't excite me that much. It's okay I guess. But there's a whole universe of XTC to explore: a whole bunch of albums, countless outtakes and demos and even side projects (most notably Dukes of Stratosphear). I would recommend starting with the Fossil Fuel singles compilation, as it covers the bulk of the band's career and demonstrates nicely their development over time (it was also what got me hooked on them - best £5 ever spent!). If I had to recommend one studio album to begin with I would probably go for Black Sea. I've been following you since your videos on early Genesis (which I was getting into around the same time). Keep up the good work!
Jump into XTC with Skylarking, yes. But the real deal is in my opinion Drums & Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement. Also: check the awesome sleeve of the Dear God single.
It’s called free will... Blaming whoever is classic projection. I do love this album so much, it has so much background drama but, I don’t care, it’s great. Todd did good, the band did good, love them all. It’s Nearly Africa, a song they couldn’t successfully play in concert still should be heard. Also, Books Are Burning (people are next) is heady stuff. Actually, any XTC will be welcomed with open ears and eyes. Take care everyone, masks are not neck accoutrements, cover both nose and mouth pls, much love, Peace and dooood Music
XTC are a criminally under-rated band. So many great songs: "Towers of London", "Senses Working Overtime", "Generals and Majors", "All You Pretty Girls", "Green Man".. Really glad to see someone reacting to their music!
Strongly Agree.
I dearly love "In Another Life" too.
AGREED! They are second (barely!!) for me only to The Beatles. ❤
The progression from "I can't believe" to " I don't believe" to finally "I WON'T believe" is a journey of justified moral outrage.
Absolutely
Andy Partridge did write the song. It starts a child's letter to God, progressing to the adult who never got a response and continued to see all those things as he got older with no change. Really is a fantastic song. Excellent reaction video
One of the great groups of all time. Andy Partridge is a songwriting genius and you must hear more.
He sure is, my sentiments exactly.
Colin was damn good too. So good.
So happy to see you finally come back around to XTC. One of my favorite bands. Dear God was pretty controversial back in the day. Always interested to see how people react to it in the present times that we live in. I really hope that you come back to this band again in the very near future. I would recommend a couple of songs that are very different from this one. Mayor of Simpleton and King for a Day. The first is the song my wife describes as a perfect pop song. Although I think it's pretty good, I actually would rank King for a Day just a little bit higher in the "perfect pop song" category. The band wrote a lot of wonderful material back in the day and I think it holds up really well. More XTC please!!!
It's not an exaggeration to say I've listened to this song thousands of times, and yet the hard staccato percussion drop to the stripped acoustic at the end gives me chills Every. Single. Time.
Its just that good
My favorite XTC album. I hope you listen to all of it. Without the child's voice it may have seemed an angry barrage of compelling thoughts about religiosity, but the innocent vocal bookends is where the heart of it lies for me.
This is my favorite album of the 80s - high praise for me. Pure pop masterpiece - front to back. Desert island disc for me.
I would have voted they cut "Big Day" to squeeze "Dear God" on. That track has always sorta felt to me like Skylarking's "Doctor Robert", if you know what I mean. The rest of it really is nearly perfect.
@@sylvanm4216 Ah not me. I love that song. Having been married thrice myself, Big Day resonates with me.
@@Jerlwayne Well, I can't argue with that! :)
English Settlement is my favorite XTC album. Skylarking took some time for me to digest , but. It’s a great album. I hope one or both can get into your rotation.
English Settlement is my favorite too. Can't beat the solid opening of "Runaways," "Ball and Chain" and "Senses Working Overtime."
Mine, too... I go back and forth between this and Apple Venus. So many great albums to choose from.
Happy someone takes the time to share this brilliant band
So many perfect pop songs: They got better end better: River of Orchids, Harvest Festival, Wrapped in Grey, Easter Theater, Mayor of Simpleton and many more ....
You need to add to that, the aptly named "This Is Pop"
The song caused alot of uproar (read indignation and contempt) from believers of all stripes esp the religious right. The irony of course is that despite all Andy's protestations, questions and outrage, he is still writing a letter *to* God. Brilliant song from a brilliant songwriter.
I've always loved this song from when it first come out.
A documentary about XTC called This Is Pop is hilarious and very entertaining, Andy Partridge is very funny, well worth a watch
I want to see that. It was once on showtime, but can’t find it anywhere now.
XTC the finest pop band to come from the Uk post Beatles genius is to smaller a word thanks for doing this one
Having the kids singing, about the age a rational person would be when he or she realizes the whole religion racket is BS is sheer brilliance. I feel a need to quote the master satirist Terry Pratchett: “I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs, a very endearing sight, I'm sure you'll agree. And even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged onto a half submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters, who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature's wonders, gentlemen. Mother and children dining upon mother and children. And that is when I first learned about evil. It is built into the very nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.”
As soon as my middle school took me to church for Easter and Harvest Festival, walking in that church freaked me out. I couldn't understand why we were looking at a fucking guy hammered to a cross...
Could never take it seriously, even at that age (5/6years old) cos I couldn't understand why anyone would want to look at that!!!
Still don't. Too much hocus pocus involved.
Underrated great band ,this is a Classic Album from start to finish ( Produced by Todd Rundgren ) Some of my other personal favorite Albums are Oranges & lemons ,Nonsuch, Waspstar , Apple Venus ,Big express ,Mummer ..ps. watch the official video for " "Dear God" it great !!
Harry Shearer of Simpson’s and Spinal Tap fame, he rates XTC as one of his all time favourite groups.
This song made me a fan of XTC
Man! JP, you are hitting real good music lately. Out of all the reactors, your picks are the best (in my opinion, remember, it's all about opinions). Be Bop Deluxe and now XTC! Andy Partridge writes very witty lyrics. Skylarking is a great album. "Earn Enough for Us" will always remind me when my wife and I were just starting out. The album "English Settlement " is my favorite. Oranges & Lemons is excellent. So many of their albums are great. Keep up the good work! More XTC, Be Bop Deluxe, and other new wave greats!
Aw ty Phillip! I'm trying to have a decent amount of variety 😄
This song got me into XTC.
Its a good one!
Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful analysis. Subscribed.
They’ve been in my ‘handful of fave bands’ since I got Mummer... then English Settlement. Then when they melded strengths with all-time fave Todd, it became magical. XTC was on thin ice with their label, which mandated they use a US-based producer... Rundgren became the choice, and both are the richer for it.
Dear God became the trigger for great success for the album... and the album seemed to re-fuel the band... which roared forward with several absolutely great albums, and even some tunes that got mainstream airplay. They finished on a creative peak with Apple Venus & Wasp Star.
The band always seemed to me like what would have happened if the Beatles had kept going.
They had a way of merging genres - punk/rock/prog/ska/power pop/pastoral - and making it seem right.
Love this song and XTC. I stopped believing in God around the same time as I lost my faith in Father Christmas.
Great thorough review of a classic! Thanks so much! Liked and subbed.
Appreciate that CZ!
Just watched you do "Garden Of Earthly Delights", and how much you loved it; even put it on your playlist.
Haven't watched this yet, but think..."This will be interesting".
Wow; your reaction and analysis are sooo good. I applaud you young man.
Starts of kind of innocent and sweet; then goes for the jugular.
My opinion is, a powerful song no question. Loved it when it was released.
That is some serious shade right there!!
Thank you for such a great review. I appreciate the understanding that questioning is not a crime.
Ty David
The song is as true and the musicianship and production are just as breathtaking as they were 35 years ago... (Andy & Colin & Prairie...you guys rock...and thanks, Todd...)
Love XTC. Love this song. Great video as always!
Ty Lellos!
@@JustJP Some of my favourite songs of theirs are "River Of Orchids", "Easter Theatre" and "I Can't Own Her" (all from the same album btw - Apple Venus Volume I). I truly recommend them!
Sorry I'm late to the party, but I whole-heartedly agree with James' comment below...."a criminally underrated band". And frankly, that doesn't begin to cut it. I truly believe they are one of the greatest bands ever. They started out a bit punky, but they grew into an unbelievable beast that defies description. If you listen to their catalog, you'll never be the same again. They write songs and paint pictures in your head. Three INSANELY smart and inventive musicians. It just doesn't get better than XTC.
Never late of the party never ends! Ty, ill definitely have more from em
A great review of a great song.
Ty Gerard :) I appreciate that
It was a joy to watch you react to this. Great job!
Ty Cary!
After all these years this song still pops into my head once in awhile. Really good album. Congratulations on your channel’s diversity!
I also love this song. The message is clear and should be heard as a rebuttal to centuries of stifling control and oppression doled out by power hungry fear merchants who exploit the timid and superstitious among us for their own gain. Humanity needs the voice of reason to shake itself out of the crippling coma induced by the ongoing menace of organized religion. Before the defensive among you rail against this missive, don’t worry. The good people of the world will continue to do good works and spread love from outside of the realms of dogma and delusion.
Glad you enjoyed it Justin! I knew you would....
Ty Ron😁
Hi Justin. Dave from Everywhere and Nowhere (baby!). Love Skylarking, which is the first XTC album I really got into (some of their earlier stuff was a little too spiky for my taste). It's quite pastoral in sound, but this song is not on my CD. On first listen it doesn't seem to be a good fit. Saw them at the Lyceum Ballroom in London (before they stopped touring - Andy's stage fright, I think). Hope you react to other tracks off Skylarking.
Colin Moulding creates some majestic basslines.
The dynamics of this production with the relationship between Andy Partridge and producer Todd Rundgren is ledendary. This song was a little apart of that dynamic.
I never used to pay much attention to lyrics before I started listening to XTC. Andy Partridge’s lyrics are very creative and void of the clichés heard in most music. XTC is in my top 5 greatest groups of all time.
The XTC songs I would like to hear you react to are “Funk Pop a Roll”, “When You Are Near Me I Have Difficulty”, “No Thugs in Our House”, “All of a Sudden”, and “Merely a Man” to name a few.
XTC is a vast well of awesomess. Start anywhere after their first two albums... but how about starting with Love On a Farmboy's Wages, Earn Enough for Us, Books are Burning, Easter Theatre, Church of Women, Towers of London, Summer's Cauldron, Then She Appeared, Wheel and the Maypole, oh goodness I'm getting excited...
Black Sea.....language in our lungs.
There was a student from an upstate NY school who held the school secretary at knife point until she played this over the PA. (1989???)
One of Todd Rundgren's best productions.
I've always loved this song; it kind of goes without saying because it's so powerful! I just searched for it and all these reaction vids came up. Yours is the 3rd I watched and the first to actually make some worthwhile comments. It is definitely one of those examples of near-perfect songwriting. BTW Andy Partridge says he does indeed believe in God, otherwise he wouldn't have addressed him! :)
You seem to know a decent bit about music so how is it that you have so many songs you've never heard? A generational thing?
Ty punstress! Ive listened a LOT of music of all genres growing up, but never got into much rock-based stuff pre-90s. Now is my chance to explore 😁
prior to being XTC, i believe they called them selves Dukes of the Stratosphere ( line up may have been slightly different ) however as that they knocked out an album called 25 'o' clock, fantastic piece of work, check that out in your own time, well worth it.
Ty, I actually did a song from them a long time back😃
No, Dukes of Stratosphere was a sad project halfway through their career. They wanted to make psychedelic music but it didn't fit in with XTC
@@glyngasson8450 sad ? uurrh .., debatable ...
@@johnhouse9983 side
You're with one of the top 3 bands of all time now. I envy you. The hooks are untouchable and the wordplay is Costello level. But funnier. #OrangesAndLemons #Skylarking #EnglishSettlement #AppleBox #ColinMouldingOnBass
Exactly.
If you want to take a deep dive with XTC complete with a bombastic climax, check out "COMPLICATED
GAME" from the Album " Drums & Wires".
"God asked me, should he put his world upon the left? (No-oh!)
God asked me, should he put his world upon the right-right-right-right?
I said it really doesn't matter where you put your world, someone else will come along and move it, and it's always been the saaame...it's just a COMPLICATED GAME!!
🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦
XTC are so great. You should do the whole album, you won’t be disappointed. And you should make sure to do “Mermaid Smiled,” the cut they took off the album to fit “Dear God” on. And then you should do another album...
God: “Dear people...cut me some fricken slack.”
XTC are great, my favourite album is Drums and Wires from '79, the one with Making Plans for Nigel, but it contains much better songs - Ten Feet Tall, Roads girdle the globe, That is the way (and more). I can't believe that no one has mentioned that Sarah McLachlan released a cover of Dear God in '95, which is why you might recognise the song.
It wasn't on the original release.
Released as a B-side to "Grass" on a British single.
freaking awesome band. Hear the full album, you won't regret it
"Skylarking" album
produced by Todd Rundgren.
Andy Partridge is a brilliant songwriter. His lyrics are so smart and poetic. Sometimes, for XTC and The Dukes he way surpassed his influences, that of Beatles, Beach Boys and various other 60's music. He's a little more humble, but I'm not about his contribution. His music matters.
Great song. Wonderful band. Please review a lot more XTC :-) There's not enough XTC reactions on YT. I recommend the rest of the album, and also tracks from English Settlement and Black Sea...for starters ;-)
Dear God is an absolutely perfect song!! Check out Skylarking, a true masterpiece and ridiculously underrated!
Let's not forget The Dukes of the Stratosphere.
Yes, Mole From The Ministry, so beatley.
Pat Mastelotto (Mister Mister, King Crimson) on drums.
Not in that song. Pat did Oranges And Lemons
Wow. Thought it was Prairie Prince
@@kevtruth It is.
Best band of the '80s, love them. I bought the album on cassette when it was released without this song. When CDs came out I bout this song on a CD single, still have it. It includes 6 instrumental tracks called The Homo Safari Series. The replaced song 'Mermaid Smiles' was relegated to the compilation "The Rag & Bone Buffet" along with other oddities.
The album "Skylarking" is probably their most accessible, well worth hearing every track. My personal favorite album is "Mummer" which is a bit darker in tone.
'Dear God' raises a lot of good points, He doesn't seem to be doing much for us down here so what's the use of him? Originally we had hundreds of gods and goddesses, some religions still do. To me it's all mythology, superstition and wishful thinking. We're on our own.
I think Mummer might be my favorite XTC album too.Deliver us from the Elements blows my mind every time I hear it.
I think the song was put into the middle of side two. I had a copy of the record without the song.
Can you react to First Aid Kit "Strange Beauty", or "In The Hearts Of Men". Or maybe both? Just asking...
Great song, by a top band. Simple in some ways, but beautifully performed, and arranged. Re those (and i hardly ever mention) lyrics, very clever, AP's always had a way with words. And a fine vocal performer, singing from the heart. All that with the bonus backstory, bombs, knives, all because of a song ! Dare i say, only in america.
Please listen to Easter Theater from their Apple Venus album. #prettyplease
That entire album is marvelous :-)
There are some good reaction channels out there, but there's a lot who are clearly religious, which is fine, as they don't preach at you but it does often skew there views on lyrics because it's so central to their lives. They see significance to their faith or God where I think there is none, (...significance, and God BTW) I guess we all have biases one way or another, but a faith can make their focus somewhat narrow. So I really appreciate your channel, whatever beliefs you may or may not have I am not aware it effects your analysis of music. This is such a brave and honest song which Andy Partridge should be proud of, but I think he had cold feet when the controversies and the hate mail started. There's certainly a lot of irony in being threatened by those who purport to expound a message of peace and love.
Ty DiddyDee, I like to take the music as it is, and discuss as best i can, despite any biases😃
@@JustJP You do a such great job, Justin, your lyrical analysis is always astute and intelligent, and your musical knowledge greatly appreciated. I've yet to discover any another reaction channel that has the balance that you have of both. You also cover areas of so much amazing music, that I love, that just isn't as populist as other channels choices. The majority would be totally baffled by a lot of the music that you just take in your stride. Would love to hear some of the music you have created yourself. Thx again for sharing your good company.
Per producer Todd Rundgren, Andy Partridge chickened out at the last minute because he was afraid of religious backlash. It's the best song of the Skylarking sessions. Being Rundgren, he could could give a shit and he called Andy bad names 😆
nl merch, nice
Gotta represent :)
awesome band...ballad of peter pumpkinhead
Haven't heard this in awhile.
It’s a prayer that turns into an indictment. Loss of faith.
Fun fact! My mom, Jasmine, is the kid singing both parts in the song. She was 8 years old at the time, and she got the opportunity to record this through a producer friend :)
Wow that's amazing dude
Ok if you have seen the music video you would know it’s a little boy
See for yourself
@@Anonymousmikey that’s tru! however it made more sense for them to cast a little boy in the music video bc it’s supposed to represent the lead singer as a little boy and wouldn’t have fit the message of the song and his pov if it were a little girl :)
@@leahgrant7471 ohhh ok makes sense
"Did you make mankind after we made you?" What a line. XTC was an awesome band. This is my favorite song by them. It's really well arranged, well played, and conceptually it is deep and yet simple. Really great song that made me sit up and take notice of XTC. Great analysis Justin! I'm glad that you are impressed with this song.
Ty Monte, it's a good one!
Love on a Farmboy’s Wages, Another Satellite, Making Plans for Nigel
@@sarahjane8146 Ladybird and Great Fire too
Their entire album "Oranges and Lemons" is a masterpiece. Every song is a lyrical and musical treasure.
English Settlement
Hard agree, C C!
I love that album!
While your delving into XTC be sure to check out their psychedelic side project The Dukes of The Stratosphere
2 great Albums that everyone should hear.
JP did do a Dukes song, and he did Making plans for Nigel, take a look at his older vids.
ooh ooh! Vanishing Girl! Little Lighthouse! You're My Drug!
I’ve heard this song many, many times over the last 35 years and not once has it failed to give me goosebumps. Brilliant.
Its just that good!
@@JustJP Goosebumps for sure, FBodStudios.
We need more XTC, please listen to the whole Skylarking. It's a piece of art
Fabulous album!
Skylarking is brilliant!
Yes, it is.
Not to mention "Black Sea", "English Settlement", "Oranges and Lemons" or "Nonsuch", to name but a few.
I don't like using the phrase "at the end of the day" but at the end of the day, Skylarking is my fave
'Love on a Farmboy's Wages' and 'Senses Working Overtime'
I have Peter Pumkinhead on a cassingle.
"All You Pretty Girls" too, for me.
If you get to "Ballet For a Rainy Day" it goes right into "1000 Umbrellas". This was one my favorite albums of 1986. Just excellent proper English pop. The whole album is major ear candy.
I first heard the album in 1992. I rushed out and bought the current one, Nonsuch. Then bam, back to the record store to buy Black Sea, Drums & Wires, English Settlement and Dukes Of Stratosphear
Skylarking is alt-rock's Dark Side of the Moon. Very underrated.
My first songs that sold me were yacht dance (which blended into no thugs in our house) jason and the Argonauts (directly after yacht dance) this was in the time of vinyl with lyrics on the sleeves.
I initially didnt think much of the song, but i got high and started reading the lyrics.
" Ive seen acts of ever shades of terrible come from man like creatures and ive had the breath of liars blowing me off course in my sails".
Those words strunk me as a beautiful, clever, honest, and telling.
I was hooked.
Scarecrow People, Yacht Dance, Jason and the Argonauts, Little Lighthouse (as Dukes of Stratosphear)
"Senses Working Overtime" is one of XTC's best songs and it was also a big hit for them.
Andy Partridge is a marvelous songwriter. And guitarist Dave Gregory has played for Peter Gabriel and is now in Big Big Train.
Superb musicians! Unfortunately, Dave announced his departure from BBT last year :(
This term gets thrown around a lot, but Andy Partridge is a musical genius. I often thought of XTC as the Beatles of the 80's. This song still gives me goosebumps after hundreds of listens and learning to play it even. Andy did everything right on this one - like you said the words, music, and vocals all just work together perfectly to deliver a powerful message. The rest of the album is good, especially the more pop-ish "Earn Enough for Us" which I thought was a continuation of "Love on a Farmboy's Wages" from the excellent, but under appreciated album, "Mummer". My favorite XTC album though, is still 1982's "English Settlement". So many superb songs on there and it was especially refreshing at the time. Check the hit "Senses Working Overtime" or the excellent opener "Runaways". Some of the other greats on this album includes "Jason and the Argonauts", "Ball and Chain", "Melt the Guns", "No Thugs in Our House", and "Snowman". Thanks for listening and sharing! Keep going with XTC!
Peace from SF
The Skylarking album has an intentional Beatles feel to it. This is an album to explore.
The track is #12 of 14 on the album.
Have you heard Complicated Game? That's an incredible XTC song.
Haven't heard that one!
@@JustJP I highly recommend it then! :)
LOVE that song. It's got a pretty dark edge. :)
The whole Drums and Wires album is genius. White Music and Go2 before it were fabulous also.
XTC - i was obsessed with this band for a while. Still massive favourites of mine, but haven't listened to a lot of their albums for some time.
This was their accidental college radio hit ;-)
Still, it is not really representative of their musical idiosyncracies.
The album from that time is really beautiful (and produced by Todd Rundgren).
If you enjoyed that do not overlook their earlier 'art-punk meets power pop' albums. There are some really quirky gems to be found before they turned to pop perfection ;-)
I love this song and its message. It's resonating even today, some 30+ years later. FTR, I am an anti-theist. This song almost brings me to tears when I think of all those under the spell of religion, believing in an all-knowing, omnipresent and omnipotent entity that will only break their hearts when "prayer" doesn't work. Peace and love to all. And thank you for your thoughtful review. Love this!!
If you're up to it, try Level 42's "There's Something About You" or The Church's "Under The Milky Way" or Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" or "Flowers In December"
Are you Rob Gray from Modern English? 😂
Well, from The Church I recommend (plus Under the Milky Way) Destination, Reptile, No Explanation, Ripple
@@Ignatius1972 Unfortunately no. I sure wish I could play an instrument or even sing (lol - I've been asked many times by my wife to stop when I've had headphones on).
@@RGRG3232 oh man! We are all in a big brotherhood of "people without musical skills".... 😜
Unfortunately 😔
I love Mazzy Star too. Do you know Opal and Kendra Smith? Opal become MZ after the departure of Kendra and the arrival of Hope. I love all of them. And last, but not least, a teardrop for David Roback, one of the genius behind Opal and Mazzy Star...
XTC is one of my favourite bands and this song is powerful stuff to say the least. I like how you appraised the song itself rather than just the lyrics as it’s a well played and constructed song. Are you a teacher? Your critiques are so well done this can’t be just an accidental hobby?
Ty Warren, accidental hobby😅
@@JustJP JP it’s a rare gift few can do it like you do so effortlessly. Hope you get to use it on a bigger and bigger stage
Wow! Contender for the best song you've had on the channel.
Justin, you should consider reacting to The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul also on Skylarking. It has a '50s Jazz feel to it and Rundgren's arrangement was based on the music of 1960's spy films. The lyrics are great too, but what would you expect with a title like this, as are all of XTC's stuff.
Yes! A great song.
Oooh! Yes! That song is AMAZING. All of Skylarking is so great, but that song in particular gets me. Along with Summer's Cauldron... that drum fill by, I think it was, Prairie Prince from the Tubes who drummed on that? Anyway. Such a great album.
Glad to see you do some XTC my all time favorite band.Deliver us from the Elements from Mummer blows my mind every time I hear it.
Skylarking is a masterpiece. Great reaction to this song also
Check out "Complicated Game", also by XTC. Easily on par with "Dear God" as far as musical intensity and lyrical brilliance (probably more so, actually). You will not be disappointed.
Back around 2008, on the Amazon discussion boards, I was a part of a thread we called The Trainwreck. Most of us there became not only very good online friends, but a large number of us have met and had great concert get togethers (such as Clapton's Crossroads festival in Chicago) and "Trainwreck Reunions" (twice in NYC, once in Denver, once in Austin), as we called them. To this day I'm very close with quite a few of my fellow Wreckers.
We burned CDs for each other and did mass mailings of them, and other music related things, to each other. We knew each other's tastes in music. On the board, we did many fun activities. One of my favorites was each of us making a list of our 100 top songs.
On my list, "Dear God" is number 36. Considering I have over fourty-five thousand songs on my computer, #36 is quite high, don't cha know.
The Amazon boards have been shut down for a few years now, but I have numerous good friends and a ton of fun memories from riding that Trainwreck. One of the best things I have ever been a part of. And such good people, too.
Good times.
Real glad you liked the tune. Their song "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" is almost on a par with "Dear God", especially with the crucifixtion of Jesus and JFK assassination references.
Yeah, Andy Partridge is pretty deep.
That sounds like a lot of fun and a good community +
Thank you for playing the track start to finish before discussing it- it shows a genuine respect for music and the artist. Listening is far better than just hearing to get the full impact, and that act alone had me sub to your channel. :-)
Absolutely Eldon, ty for watching!
My fave LP by XTC is "Nonsuch". "Skylarking" is just OK for me, but this song is their classic.
The reference to 'I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer' isn't comedy, it's bitter sarcasm. A great song indeed.
It sounds like a "price of Meat:, to me
One of the most creative bands of the 80s, and the best message in a song ever. This album was also produced by Todd Rundgren. Great pick and reaction!
Great to see you covering XTC, Justin. I often think of them as the Swindon Beatles. I've never been crazy about this song though - not because of the controversy or anything but it just doesn't excite me that much. It's okay I guess. But there's a whole universe of XTC to explore: a whole bunch of albums, countless outtakes and demos and even side projects (most notably Dukes of Stratosphear). I would recommend starting with the Fossil Fuel singles compilation, as it covers the bulk of the band's career and demonstrates nicely their development over time (it was also what got me hooked on them - best £5 ever spent!). If I had to recommend one studio album to begin with I would probably go for Black Sea.
I've been following you since your videos on early Genesis (which I was getting into around the same time). Keep up the good work!
Ty so much (and for watching and enjoying for so long!😃) definitely 0lanning more XTC
Jump into XTC with Skylarking, yes. But the real deal is in my opinion Drums & Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement.
Also: check the awesome sleeve of the Dear God single.
It’s called free will...
Blaming whoever is classic projection.
I do love this album so much, it has so much background drama but, I don’t care, it’s great.
Todd did good, the band did good, love them all.
It’s Nearly Africa, a song they couldn’t successfully play in concert still should be heard. Also, Books Are Burning (people are next) is heady stuff.
Actually, any XTC will be welcomed with open ears and eyes.
Take care everyone, masks are not neck accoutrements, cover both nose and mouth pls, much love,
Peace and dooood Music
All of the above and some The Dukes Of Stratosphear too.
@@markspooner1224
Good catch! Absolutely.