Nik Kershaws music comes across as catchy pop tunes, but if you listen to a lot of his music, there is surprising amount of complexity to it as you mentioned. Have a listen to "Don Quixote". He is a multi-instrumentalist and an amazing producer, very underrated in my opnion. Great review, thanks.
True that man. He's always come across to me as someone who is dumbing himself down a bit to fit into the pop world. A muso in pop clothing if you will. His album "Radio Musicola" is where he sheds that skin a little bit. A good album.
Ah, Nik Kershaw! All those catchy pop tunes: The Riddle, I Won't Let the Sun Go Down, Don Quijote... Personal favourite is Dancing Girls, with it's catchy and super frenetic rhythm that never loses the pace, but just chugs on and on. I always pair him with Howard Jones, both have created a number of pop classics that share ideas and moods, certain melancholy and longing for love and happiness. More reactions from these gentlemen, please!
Nik Kershaw was a massive star, over here in the UK, back in the mid 80s. At the time, I didn't like him much, thinking he was just a pretty pop act which all the girls loved. I now have to concede that he is a great musician and songwriter! More recently, he has worked with Steve Hackett, providing lead vocals on "The Lamia" on "Genesis Revisited II".
From the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, which is fabulous btw, with Nik, New Order, OMD, Suzanne Vega, Psychedelic Furs, Belouis Some, Echo & the Bunnymen, the Smiths and the ever iconic INXS. Quintessential.
Thanks for this reaction. I love and often listen to both his albums Human Racing and The Riddle in their entirety. Some great tracks on both. "Gone to Pieces", "Bogart", "Cloak and Dagger" and "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" are my personal favorites off his 1st album. His second single "The Riddle" of the album of the same name was covered by EDM DJ Gigi D'Agostino in 1999 bringing the song to a new audience for the 2000's. Nik Kershaw is a pure slice of 80's pop.
Hi Justin. Dave, having a Dance In The Smoke (aka London) to this infectious slice of 80s synth pop. I loved it at the time, together with The Riddle and Radio Musicola. Great reaction, as you picked out the subtleties in the song and Nik's playing. And while sometimes derided as a simple popster, he commanded huge respect from fellow musicians, like Steve Hackett and Elton John, both of whom he worked with. He also wrote one of the biggest UK hits of the early 90s, The One And Only, for Chesney Hawkes. P.S. my song ref Dance In The Smoke is by Argent.
"Wouldn't It Be Good" came packaged on the US version of his album, "The Riddle". I wore that danged cassette tape out with all my listens! Such a great song - Thank You for this listen and reaction!
A great iconic 80s song. There's a wonderful live version with Howard Jones - a kind of "unplugged" with piano and guitar. This song was also featured - though as a cover by another artist - on the Pretty In Pink soundtrack in 1986. That's a great soundtrack that also features a colab by Suzanne Vega and Joe Jackson. Kershaw is a real talent and worked quite a bit with other artists as a producer. 💛💛💛
You may enjoy the book Lost In Music by Giles Smith - a humourous memoir about an attempt to be successful in the music industry, which includes a section about the author's acquanitance with Nik Kershaw. Kershaw is seen as something of a joke in the UK (and was even at the time) but was the coolest person the young Giles Smith knew.
The first piece of pop music I tried to learn on guitar was the 'solo' in this song (I say solo, but it actually sounds like synchronised synth brass and guitar). Nik Kershaw was to 80s pop music what John Miles was to 70s pop music. Someone who crafted perfect pop tunes which, on closer inspection, have so much more going on in them.
Love Nick's voice and this song and "The riddle", his most known hit. Note that he has sung for Tony Banksy, on his solo album "Still" (1991), check "The final curtain" which is gorgeous.
The eighties will never be replicated. Never gets the respect it deserves. Just feel good music. Not angry hate my parents music from the 90's or over produced music of the 2000's. The music was simple, harmless good fun.
As well as working with Steve Hackett, Nik Kershaw sang on Tony Banks’ recording “I Wanna Change The Score,” on Tony Banks’ 1991 solo album “Still.” Some excellent songs on the album!
The synth melody line that pops up during the verses is such genius. Has a similar rhythmic feel to the lyrics but weaves and skirts around them rather than mirroring them.
Nik Kershaw is actually one of the most underappreciated artists. His music is really good but after The Riddle he just fell from the mainstream, even though both Radio Musicola and 15 minutes were awesome. Haven't heard To Be Frank or anything else after that. I guess he fell from my radar too. The title song Human Racing is really amazing. The structure of the song is quite complex.
There was The Works between Radio Musicola and 15 minutes, It's a great album, so much as it was the one that Tony Banks liked so much that he wanted to work with him.
@@tamaspolyak5564 I have that album. I left it out for a reason. I don't listen to it and I don't remember any song from it. I listen to 15 minutes at least once a month, it's my favorite album of his.
I quickly relistened to it and I like a couple of songs; Cowboys & Indians, Burning At Both Ends, Don't Ask Me and Walkabout. The rest I thought were meh.
Darn! I can't believe I missed this yesterday. It was a hectic day at work, and I didn't start catching up on UA-cam until today. Thanks for reacting to my song, and I'm glad that you liked it. Also, thanks for correcting my last name. Everyone always puts an 'N' in it for some reason. Appreciate you, and love your channel.
Welcome to the rabbit hole of Nik Kershaw's 80's music. I recommend Don Quixote, as below somebody wrote, and The Riddle from the album of the same name. As for Nik Kershaw even Tony Banks recognized his talent, and did three songs with him on his album Still.
Classic 80's pop-synth track brings back memories of my early teens...I had this album on tape... played it a lot on my "personal cassette player".....🤓. NK still tours in the UK ... for a fuller UK 1980's synth pop-retro-experience you need to listen to Howard Jones next and then maybe the Human League .... 😋😎
The Riddle first hooked me on to Nik. I saw him open for Paul Young in Dallas. I’m so glad someone reacted to this underated musical genius. He played this at Live Aid.
I'd recommend Nik any day of the week - in fact I've been doing so on numerous channels for years! Glad he's finally getting some play! My favourites would perhaps be 'Nobody Knows' or 'You Might', but basically you can't go wrong. Still recording and playing. I saw him in the 80s, opening for Elton John. And if you listen to Elton's 'Nikita' you can hear Nik's very distinctive guitar in the background.
That brings me really back to my teens. That was around the time I started listening to chart music and I really loved this song. The Riddle is one of my all time fav New Wave tracks. I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me is also a great one to check out.
I kinda rediscovered Nik Kershaw through my son (6) who really likes his music. (We're listening to a lot of old music together, some of which he doesn't like so much and some of which he really appreciates.) His favourite Kershaw track/video is “The Riddle” - you should give it a try.
Yes, it had for the day a rather impressive video that caught peoples eye. I remember not quit liking the song as much as everyone else around me, I though the previous single (I won't let the sun go down on me) hit the spot with me more (when it got re-released), The follow up "Dancing Girls" was odd but in a likeable way, kind of like one of Thomas Dolby's experimental noodles in a lot of ways. People my age still talk about "The Riddle".
I was a listener to radio music only from 1982 to 1986 or so before I moved on to prog and fusion. This here is one of the most memorized songs from that era and I also think that there is some Sylvian style in it. It is one of the better songs from my juvenile recollection. "Hey Little Girl" from Icehouse is also one of the songs from that era that I believe that some of your fans have already suggested to give it a listen, as I do now. Cheers!
My take on the lyrics: In the first verse, a guy is looking at someone and envying their position. He's complaining about how cold it is and wishing he could be someplace warm like that guy over there. In the second verse, the other guy tells him he's absolutely wrong about that. It's way too hot over here and I wish I was someplace cooler like where you are. The point being that we all tend to think we are unique in our misfortune, but you never really know what someone else is going through. We look at others and wish our lives were like theirs, but they could be looking at us and thinking the same thing. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
This was one of the first songs that got me into pop. A guitar solo (though it sounds like it was run through some sort of synth) feels like a bit of a rarity in an 80's pop single - always liked it!
Love Nik. Saw him in concert earlier last summer. Too many good songs to mention. The No Frills acoustic album is perfection. You may have heard The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes. That was one of his.
Strange fact: Nik Kershaw has sung The Lamia (from Genesis - The Lamb …) with Steve Hackett (I totally prefer the Peter Gabriel-version, but it is quite interesting) ua-cam.com/video/6XjFbTsMNFg/v-deo.htmlsi=wqrj-e9yg-XDtTbI
JP I’d love to see you react to Niks first two albums Human Racing and The Riddle (both 1984)….although he was a teen idol at the time these are not straight forward pop albums. Nik is a very accomplished musician/songwriter and both albums lean towards jazz/funk in places.
Wouldn't It Be Good entered the UK Top 40 on the 28th January 1884 and peaked at no.4 The Top 10 from this week was... 1 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax 2 - Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun 3 - Queen - Radio Ga Ga 4 - Joe Fagin - That's Livin' Alright 5 - Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride 6 - Fiction Factory - Feels Like Heaven 7 - The Thompson Twins - Doctor Doctor 8 - Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain 9 - Madonna - Holiday 10 - Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon Also in this weeks Top 40.. Duran Duran - New Moon On Monday Paul McCartney - Pipes Of Peace Big Country - Wonderland China Crisis - Wishful Thinking The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make John Lennon - Nobody Told Me Howard Jones - What Is Love Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive Simple Minds - Speed Your Love Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good Swans Way - Soul Train And over the next couple of weeks as 'Wouldn't It Be Good' climbed the charts... Nena - 99 Red Balloons The Style Council - Ever Changing Moods Madness - Michael Caine Howard Jones - Hide And Seek Ultravox - One Small Day Marillion - Punch And Judy Van Halen - Jump An interesting and fun time for music... 😊 Would defo recommend Nik Kershaw - Human Racing
Not sure if anybody has mentioned this but I believe Nik appears on one of Steve Hacketts live DVD's Live at Hammersmith singing The Lamia from The Lamb
I confess I had a soft spot for this album when it came out, bit of a guilty pleasure. I think I'm right in saying his first album was his most successful in the UK, it certainly contained at least 3 charting singles.
I remember this song on a compilation album protesting human rights violations. Based on the timeline, I think it was for South Africa. There were a lot of musicians doing "good deeds" after We Are the World.
For me this is about the grass being greener on the other side, thus general discontent and a false notion that everyone else's life is peachy. Nik Kershaw is an island oasis in a sea of blandness for me because his guitar work is so surprisingly refreshing. Have a listen to Cloak and Dagger, and you'll see what I mean x
In my youth, I had a different understanding of this song. I grew up with a number of narcissists who constantly complained about how hard their lives were but if anyone else tried voicing their own hardships, they were shut down because the narcissists' lives were always "so much worse." I believed that this song was making fun of such people.
Strange fact #2 Nik Kershaw has also been vocalist for another Genesis-guy, mr. Banks, trying very hard to make that pophit, he never made … ua-cam.com/video/G7vOZK-Cp68/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
PAUL YOUNG - ** Come Back And Stay ** 1983 Pop Music/Synthpop Classic w/ Amazing Bass Grooves. There Countless Artists from the 1980's with some the best music ever made and yet it's so UNDERRATED because it was not exposed to the masses on the Radio we're just barely finding out about these AMAZING GEMS on UA-cam Recommendations linked from other Not so well known artists even if they have 10's of 1000's or even 100's of 1000's even Millions of Views. These songs are Extremely Underrated and the reason is because they need to be Rediscovered and given a chance to Shine through Reactions Channels I have a Notebook Full of Artist with All Incredible Music Hits that Nobody has reacted to. Great song by Nick I it was recommended by UA-cam while listening to another 80's Underrated Artists there's Hundreds of Cool Music out there just needs to be heard 🎧🎸🎹🔥🎤
Somebody’s favorite song, cool… I’d given up or more like forgot about it. A grand slice of eighties pie, maybe when I’m in my eighties… nah. Did hear a Sylvian tinge…
One of these annoying omnipresent ones on the radio - and I wasn't even born when this came out! Still have it on some background playlist. But guess I never did an active listfn, like here. Musically more intricate than the end result makes it seem, like many of these 80s pop songs are! The versees stsrting 'empty' is indeed interesting And finally listening to the lyrics doesn't hurt after all. (sounds to me a bit more of: everyone believes their own problems are the worst, not realizing the others who seem to have the 'greener grass' may have some too, actively denying it in the 2nd verse - but who knows if a switch would really be benefitial? See how the title is an (open) question) Only it doesn't 'go' anywhere overall - but I guess it doesn't intend too. The Riddle is another one from his (relatively short) tenure in the charts with an even more sticky hook melody that I like a bit more 🎵🎵🎵
As a high school nerd, I was very much into New Wave music, loved the synths of Gary Numan, Split Enz, Thomas Dolby, etc. So of course Nik Kershaw's hits resonated with me, especially as he also had a strong sense of melody. So I was quite disappointed when I heard him at Live Aid, and the bugger could not keep in tune. Every note he sang -- on his own songs -- was off key. Such a shame.
Even German Schlager has its gems: Udo Jürgens ("Griechischer Wein", "Ich war noch niemals in New York" etc.), Vicky Leandros ("Ich liebe das Leben"), Milva ("Hurra, wir leben noch"), Peter Maffay ("Über sieben Brücken"), Henry Valentino & Uschi ("Im Wagen vor mir"), Reinhard Mey ("Über den Wolken") etc. It's hard to define German Schlager (which translates to: German hit music) and sometimes to differentiate it from German Rock or German singer-songwriter. But, obviously, David Hasselhof is not German Schlager (language).
Nik Kershaws music comes across as catchy pop tunes, but if you listen to a lot of his music, there is surprising amount of complexity to it as you mentioned.
Have a listen to "Don Quixote". He is a multi-instrumentalist and an amazing producer, very underrated in my opnion.
Great review, thanks.
True that man.
He's always come across to me as someone who is dumbing himself down a bit to fit into the pop world.
A muso in pop clothing if you will.
His album "Radio Musicola" is where he sheds that skin a little bit.
A good album.
The debut album Human Racing is pretty darned good too.
What a great track. Love it ❤
This song always gives me that sweet, nostalgic mid-80s MTV feeling.
Ah, Nik Kershaw! All those catchy pop tunes: The Riddle, I Won't Let the Sun Go Down, Don Quijote... Personal favourite is Dancing Girls, with it's catchy and super frenetic rhythm that never loses the pace, but just chugs on and on. I always pair him with Howard Jones, both have created a number of pop classics that share ideas and moods, certain melancholy and longing for love and happiness. More reactions from these gentlemen, please!
Nik Kershaw was a massive star, over here in the UK, back in the mid 80s. At the time, I didn't like him much, thinking he was just a pretty pop act which all the girls loved. I now have to concede that he is a great musician and songwriter!
More recently, he has worked with Steve Hackett, providing lead vocals on "The Lamia" on "Genesis Revisited II".
He has collaborate with Tony Banks on his solo album "Still" (1991)
Love it when Nik does one of his singing the verse over the chorus music at the end moments, so under rated, prog pop
Geez, this brings back the memories! Great song selection!
Glad you enjoyed bubu! (Where's Yogi?)
@@JustJP HAHA! He’s always nearby and I’m trying to keep him from doing something Mr Ranger wouldn’t like!
@@bubuwawa keep him away from those picnic baskets! 🧺
From the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, which is fabulous btw, with Nik, New Order, OMD, Suzanne Vega, Psychedelic Furs, Belouis Some, Echo & the Bunnymen, the Smiths and the ever iconic INXS. Quintessential.
The Riddle is a very impressive song by Nik Kershaw, from his second album the same year as his first album 🤗
Thanks for this reaction. I love and often listen to both his albums Human Racing and The Riddle in their entirety. Some great tracks on both. "Gone to Pieces", "Bogart", "Cloak and Dagger" and "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" are my personal favorites off his 1st album. His second single "The Riddle" of the album of the same name was covered by EDM DJ Gigi D'Agostino in 1999 bringing the song to a new audience for the 2000's.
Nik Kershaw is a pure slice of 80's pop.
A feel-good belter from the early 80's. Pop perfection.
Hi Justin. Dave, having a Dance In The Smoke (aka London) to this infectious slice of 80s synth pop. I loved it at the time, together with The Riddle and Radio Musicola. Great reaction, as you picked out the subtleties in the song and Nik's playing. And while sometimes derided as a simple popster, he commanded huge respect from fellow musicians, like Steve Hackett and Elton John, both of whom he worked with. He also wrote one of the biggest UK hits of the early 90s, The One And Only, for Chesney Hawkes.
P.S. my song ref Dance In The Smoke is by Argent.
"Wouldn't It Be Good" came packaged on the US version of his album, "The Riddle". I wore that danged cassette tape out with all my listens! Such a great song - Thank You for this listen and
reaction!
He's also a monstrous guitar player - absolutely amazing musician. The chord sequences in this song are off the wall too.
Every time I hear this, it’s like finding a long-lost lover. Sounds so good still. The Riddle is a hugely influential album for me.
A great iconic 80s song. There's a wonderful live version with Howard Jones - a kind of "unplugged" with piano and guitar. This song was also featured - though as a cover by another artist - on the Pretty In Pink soundtrack in 1986. That's a great soundtrack that also features a colab by Suzanne Vega and Joe Jackson. Kershaw is a real talent and worked quite a bit with other artists as a producer. 💛💛💛
Kershaw has always been one of my favorites from the 80's, he have some more superhits.
Takes me back to cruising the town with my buddy, this song blaring from the radio; laughing and good times 😆
It’s a feel good song 👍🏻
Love it
You may enjoy the book Lost In Music by Giles Smith - a humourous memoir about an attempt to be successful in the music industry, which includes a section about the author's acquanitance with Nik Kershaw. Kershaw is seen as something of a joke in the UK (and was even at the time) but was the coolest person the young Giles Smith knew.
That is a great book.
The first piece of pop music I tried to learn on guitar was the 'solo' in this song (I say solo, but it actually sounds like synchronised synth brass and guitar).
Nik Kershaw was to 80s pop music what John Miles was to 70s pop music. Someone who crafted perfect pop tunes which, on closer inspection, have so much more going on in them.
Human Racing is a fantastic debut record. He’s still releasing new music. His knack for melody is sublime.
Nik Kershaw worked with Howard Jones. Howard is one of the pop synthesizer greats. Now there is a rabbit hole that needs exploring.
Love Nick's voice and this song and "The riddle", his most known hit.
Note that he has sung for Tony Banksy, on his solo album "Still" (1991), check "The final curtain" which is gorgeous.
The eighties will never be replicated. Never gets the respect it deserves. Just feel good music. Not angry hate my parents music from the 90's or over produced music of the 2000's. The music was simple, harmless good fun.
Respect to that! 😊
Nik's When A Heart Beats is another excellent song
As well as working with Steve Hackett, Nik Kershaw sang on Tony Banks’ recording “I Wanna Change The Score,” on Tony Banks’ 1991 solo album “Still.” Some excellent songs on the album!
The synth melody line that pops up during the verses is such genius. Has a similar rhythmic feel to the lyrics but weaves and skirts around them rather than mirroring them.
The balance and interplay yes, great comment 😊
Brilliantly constructed pop song, thanks for the reaction.
Nik Kershaw is actually one of the most underappreciated artists. His music is really good but after The Riddle he just fell from the mainstream, even though both Radio Musicola and 15 minutes were awesome. Haven't heard To Be Frank or anything else after that. I guess he fell from my radar too. The title song Human Racing is really amazing. The structure of the song is quite complex.
There was The Works between Radio Musicola and 15 minutes, It's a great album, so much as it was the one that Tony Banks liked so much that he wanted to work with him.
@@tamaspolyak5564 I have that album. I left it out for a reason. I don't listen to it and I don't remember any song from it. I listen to 15 minutes at least once a month, it's my favorite album of his.
I quickly relistened to it and I like a couple of songs; Cowboys & Indians, Burning At Both Ends, Don't Ask Me and Walkabout. The rest I thought were meh.
@@lassesaikkonen501I agree, but I also like One Step Ahead.
Darn! I can't believe I missed this yesterday. It was a hectic day at work, and I didn't start catching up on UA-cam until today. Thanks for reacting to my song, and I'm glad that you liked it. Also, thanks for correcting my last name. Everyone always puts an 'N' in it for some reason. Appreciate you, and love your channel.
Welcome to the rabbit hole of Nik Kershaw's 80's music. I recommend Don Quixote, as below somebody wrote, and The Riddle from the album of the same name.
As for Nik Kershaw even Tony Banks recognized his talent, and did three songs with him on his album Still.
Tony Banks - I Wanna Change the Score ua-cam.com/video/3MItAdSjPfw/v-deo.html
A really good, underrated album.
Classic 80's pop-synth track brings back memories of my early teens...I had this album on tape... played it a lot on my "personal cassette player".....🤓.
NK still tours in the UK ... for a fuller UK 1980's synth pop-retro-experience you need to listen to Howard Jones next and then maybe the Human League .... 😋😎
Nick sang and co-wrote some songs with Tony Banks from Genesis on Tony's solo album 'Still' back in 1991..
The Riddle first hooked me on to Nik. I saw him open for Paul Young in Dallas. I’m so glad someone reacted to this underated musical genius. He played this at Live Aid.
Thanks for jogging the ol' memory cells, JP. Always loved this one! These favorites that are being recommended are great. Wonder if mine is next.
Ty as always for watching and taking the trip down M Lane :)
I'd recommend Nik any day of the week - in fact I've been doing so on numerous channels for years! Glad he's finally getting some play!
My favourites would perhaps be 'Nobody Knows' or 'You Might', but basically you can't go wrong. Still recording and playing. I saw him in the 80s, opening for Elton John. And if you listen to Elton's 'Nikita' you can hear Nik's very distinctive guitar in the background.
One of the 80s gems that are still fresh today.
He later sings on Tony Banks album title Still
That brings me really back to my teens. That was around the time I started listening to chart music and I really loved this song. The Riddle is one of my all time fav New Wave tracks. I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me is also a great one to check out.
The past several years, he was touring with Thomas Dolby.
He played this at Wembley at Liveaid '85. Great it is too.
Great song, the rhythm in it KILLS.
I kinda rediscovered Nik Kershaw through my son (6) who really likes his music. (We're listening to a lot of old music together, some of which he doesn't like so much and some of which he really appreciates.) His favourite Kershaw track/video is “The Riddle” - you should give it a try.
I will add that I think Nik Kershaw's music is of surprising complexity (harmonies, arrangements) compared to the average 80s synth-pop song.
What. A. Banger. ❤
Yes, it had for the day a rather impressive video that caught peoples eye. I remember not quit liking the song as much as everyone else around me, I though the previous single (I won't let the sun go down on me) hit the spot with me more (when it got re-released), The follow up "Dancing Girls" was odd but in a likeable way, kind of like one of Thomas Dolby's experimental noodles in a lot of ways.
People my age still talk about "The Riddle".
I was a listener to radio music only from 1982 to 1986 or so before I moved on to prog and fusion. This here is one of the most memorized songs from that era and I also think that there is some Sylvian style in it. It is one of the better songs from my juvenile recollection. "Hey Little Girl" from Icehouse is also one of the songs from that era that I believe that some of your fans have already suggested to give it a listen, as I do now. Cheers!
I love this song ❤
My take on the lyrics:
In the first verse, a guy is looking at someone and envying their position. He's complaining about how cold it is and wishing he could be someplace warm like that guy over there.
In the second verse, the other guy tells him he's absolutely wrong about that. It's way too hot over here and I wish I was someplace cooler like where you are.
The point being that we all tend to think we are unique in our misfortune, but you never really know what someone else is going through. We look at others and wish our lives were like theirs, but they could be looking at us and thinking the same thing. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Wouldn’t I Be Good is a great example of what a Yamaha DX7 and PPG Wave was capable of.
This was one of the first songs that got me into pop. A guitar solo (though it sounds like it was run through some sort of synth) feels like a bit of a rarity in an 80's pop single - always liked it!
Love Nik. Saw him in concert earlier last summer. Too many good songs to mention. The No Frills acoustic album is perfection. You may have heard The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes. That was one of his.
Always liked that one!
Strange fact: Nik Kershaw has sung The Lamia (from Genesis - The Lamb …) with Steve Hackett
(I totally prefer the Peter Gabriel-version, but it is quite interesting)
ua-cam.com/video/6XjFbTsMNFg/v-deo.htmlsi=wqrj-e9yg-XDtTbI
JP I’d love to see you react to Niks first two albums Human Racing and The Riddle (both 1984)….although he was a teen idol at the time these are not straight forward pop albums. Nik is a very accomplished musician/songwriter and both albums lean towards jazz/funk in places.
Wouldn't It Be Good entered the UK Top 40 on the 28th January 1884 and peaked at no.4
The Top 10 from this week was...
1 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
2 - Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
3 - Queen - Radio Ga Ga
4 - Joe Fagin - That's Livin' Alright
5 - Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride
6 - Fiction Factory - Feels Like Heaven
7 - The Thompson Twins - Doctor Doctor
8 - Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain
9 - Madonna - Holiday
10 - Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
Also in this weeks Top 40..
Duran Duran - New Moon On Monday
Paul McCartney - Pipes Of Peace
Big Country - Wonderland
China Crisis - Wishful Thinking
The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make
John Lennon - Nobody Told Me
Howard Jones - What Is Love
Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive
Simple Minds - Speed Your Love
Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good
Swans Way - Soul Train
And over the next couple of weeks as 'Wouldn't It Be Good' climbed the charts...
Nena - 99 Red Balloons
The Style Council - Ever Changing Moods
Madness - Michael Caine
Howard Jones - Hide And Seek
Ultravox - One Small Day
Marillion - Punch And Judy
Van Halen - Jump
An interesting and fun time for music... 😊 Would defo recommend Nik Kershaw - Human Racing
Great information, except the date.
Not sure if anybody has mentioned this but I believe Nik appears on one of Steve Hacketts live DVD's Live at Hammersmith singing The Lamia from The Lamb
Also sings said song on Hackett's second Genesis Revisited, and acquits himself well (the live version he struggles a bit)
I confess I had a soft spot for this album when it came out, bit of a guilty pleasure.
I think I'm right in saying his first album was his most successful in the UK, it certainly contained at least 3 charting singles.
I remember this song on a compilation album protesting human rights violations. Based on the timeline, I think it was for South Africa. There were a lot of musicians doing "good deeds" after We Are the World.
I love that song...call it nostalgia if you want, but i like that 80's pop songs
Nothing wrong with nostalgia now and then!!
Love this song. And at the time.....man, I related to it.
Another great artist from the eighties, he wrote sme really good lyrics
This song was an MTV video staple. It was like a sad Twilight zone episode.
You might enjoy Go West, Dancing on the Couch, Album. There is a track called The King Is Dead, with Kate Bush on backing vocals.
Nik has worked with Tony Banks and Steve Hackett you might be interested to know Justin!
I have to admit.as a song, ir is good. Só many memories...
For me this is about the grass being greener on the other side, thus general discontent and a false notion that everyone else's life is peachy. Nik Kershaw is an island oasis in a sea of blandness for me because his guitar work is so surprisingly refreshing. Have a listen to Cloak and Dagger, and you'll see what I mean x
If you want to hear a KILLER bassline, pull up Nik's song "Easy". Seriously - you'll be blown away.
Cheesy 80s nostalgia. What’s not to love?
If you like sonic textures please check out the sublime Find Me an Angel from the 15 Minutes album. The whole album is brilliant.
I remember picking up this album when it came out. In some ways it was just pop and yet it had something more to it. What would Humphrey Bogart do?
Those opening guitar chords were massively multitracked. I think he recorded each string individually, totally bonkers.
My first impression was vanilla. I normally do like pop music though.
In my youth, I had a different understanding of this song. I grew up with a number of narcissists who constantly complained about how hard their lives were but if anyone else tried voicing their own hardships, they were shut down because the narcissists' lives were always "so much worse."
I believed that this song was making fun of such people.
That’s how I felt about it too and I still think the track is highly ironic.
I really like this song, though "The Riddle" is my favorite by Kershaw.
Strange fact #2
Nik Kershaw has also been vocalist for another Genesis-guy, mr. Banks, trying very hard to make that pophit, he never made …
ua-cam.com/video/G7vOZK-Cp68/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
PAUL YOUNG - ** Come Back And Stay ** 1983 Pop Music/Synthpop Classic w/ Amazing Bass Grooves. There Countless Artists from the 1980's with some the best music ever made and yet it's so UNDERRATED because it was not exposed to the masses on the Radio we're just barely finding out about these AMAZING GEMS on UA-cam Recommendations linked from other Not so well known artists even if they have 10's of 1000's or even 100's of 1000's even Millions of Views. These songs are Extremely Underrated and the reason is because they need to be Rediscovered and given a chance to Shine through Reactions Channels I have a Notebook Full of Artist with All Incredible Music Hits that Nobody has reacted to. Great song by Nick I it was recommended by UA-cam while listening to another 80's Underrated Artists there's Hundreds of Cool Music out there just needs to be heard 🎧🎸🎹🔥🎤
Surprised you haven't done any Staus Quo yet.!
Somebody’s favorite song, cool… I’d given up or more like forgot about it. A grand slice of eighties pie, maybe when I’m in my eighties… nah.
Did hear a Sylvian tinge…
Not for me - never was - a dirge as we say. But on a positive - try Psychedelic Furs!!!!! Love My Way for starters!
One of these annoying omnipresent ones on the radio - and I wasn't even born when this came out!
Still have it on some background playlist.
But guess I never did an active listfn, like here. Musically more intricate than the end result makes it seem, like many of these 80s pop songs are! The versees stsrting 'empty' is indeed interesting And finally listening to the lyrics doesn't hurt after all. (sounds to me a bit more of: everyone believes their own problems are the worst, not realizing the others who seem to have the 'greener grass' may have some too, actively denying it in the 2nd verse - but who knows if a switch would really be benefitial? See how the title is an (open) question)
Only it doesn't 'go' anywhere overall - but I guess it doesn't intend too.
The Riddle is another one from his (relatively short) tenure in the charts with an even more sticky hook melody that I like a bit more 🎵🎵🎵
As a high school nerd, I was very much into New Wave music, loved the synths of Gary Numan, Split Enz, Thomas Dolby, etc. So of course Nik Kershaw's hits resonated with me, especially as he also had a strong sense of melody. So I was quite disappointed when I heard him at Live Aid, and the bugger could not keep in tune. Every note he sang -- on his own songs -- was off key. Such a shame.
Haircut 100!!!...
???
Das war in einer Zeit in der ich noch besser geträumt habe. 🙂
So you don't dislike any genre? Have you tried German Schlager? I dare you. Try David Hasselhof.
Well there is one ua-cam.com/video/8y5X1HiaWYk/v-deo.html
Oswald Sattler & Jantje Smit - Ich zeig' Dir die Berge
Even German Schlager has its gems: Udo Jürgens ("Griechischer Wein", "Ich war noch niemals in New York" etc.), Vicky Leandros ("Ich liebe das Leben"), Milva ("Hurra, wir leben noch"), Peter Maffay ("Über sieben Brücken"), Henry Valentino & Uschi ("Im Wagen vor mir"), Reinhard Mey ("Über den Wolken") etc. It's hard to define German Schlager (which translates to: German hit music) and sometimes to differentiate it from German Rock or German singer-songwriter. But, obviously, David Hasselhof is not German Schlager (language).
My goodness! You’ve lost a lot of weight since I last watched you.
frank sidebottom covered this. I prefer his version :)
Hahahahaha
his songs were brilliant, but his videos were crap