@@rydiaofmist Wow, this is my first time seeing a UA-cam comment with a 10 year gap. I can’t believe UA-cam has been around for so long, I’m getting old! Love XTC, that’ll never change no matter how old I get. ❤😊
On the Oranges and Lemons, the album opens with Garden of Earthly Delights, Mayor Of Simpleton, and King For A Day. It's a 1-2-3 punch that's rivaled by few albums in rock and roll. This song is Colin's ultimate state of grace. After 18 years the impact of those 3 songs has not diminished one iota.
This song is one of a few that are forever etched in my mind of a time and place. For me it was late September 1989 playing out of open dorm room windows during my freshman year of college.
There is something about the "college radio" scene which is Timeless in nature; many years later you still hear new music on a college radio station and think Man that's good. Preserve those memories, perhaps we'll soon be able to create a "life music soundtrack" using advanced technology. Can you imagine having everything you heard being downloaded from your mind?
I have always maintained that the 3 most under-rated song writers and melodists of the past 40 years are Andy Partridge of XTC, Neil Finn of Crowded House and Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout - all 3 deserve so much more credit than what they got.
Except this was written by Colin Moulding who is more underrated. He also wrote Runaways, Ball and Chain, Making Plans For Nigel, Ten Feet Tall, That Is The Way, Generals and Majors... etc...
This song actually moves me to tears...it's just the song itself, and the great memories that I associate with it...a wonderful tune signifying a wonderful time in my life.
Heard this gem of a song while shopping at Big Lots. Asked Siri, “who plays this song?” and up this came. Amazing song and instantly became one of my favorites!
What a beautifully simplistic/complex song. Oranges & Lemons was my first real dive into XTC (though I loved "Plans for Nigel") and now I have all their albums and listen to them still in 2020, yeah baby. Oranges & Lemons was reviewed by a music critic in Calgary on the CBC and I went right out and bought it based on his rave - and never regretted a single moment of listening. Every cut on the album is outstanding - starts where "Sgt. Pepper's" left off...
Just Jeanne I'll second you on that, it just rolls along brilliantly. I love that single base note just before ,you ‘re only here once. What a bloody great band.
+Fred Haseney A lot of band from the 70s- 80s had the power pop sound like the ones you mentioned - Badfinger, Big Star, Todd Rundgren, Raspberries Cheap Trick. The Posies, The Dbs etc.... which in some of their songs had elements that paid homage to or were influenced by The Beatles, but I think the Beatles were in a class of their own.
Everyone's creeping up to the money god, Putting tongues where they didn't ought to be On stepping stones of human hearts and souls, Into the land of "nothing for free" Well the way that we're living, Is all take and no giving, There's nothing to believe in, The loudest mouth will hail the new found way, To be king for a day Everyone's licking up to the new king pin, Trying to get way up with a smile Sing for your supper boy and jump to a finger click, Ain't my way of living in style 'Cause the ladder gets longer, And ambition gets stronger, I can't satisfy the hunger, That bad old moon has got you in its sway, To be king for the day You're only here once so you got to get it right (No time to fuss and fight) 'Cause life don't mean much if measured out with someone else's plight (In time you'll see the light) 'Cause the way that we're living, Is all take and no giving, There's not mush to believe in, The loudest mouth will hail the new found way, To be king for a day You got to be the king for a day, ah To be king for a day
This song sends me. The very best of 80s New Wave, along with Tears for Fears, Scritti Politti, Marshall Crenshaw, and many one-hit wonders like Wang Chung, Red Rockers, Talk Talk.
Wang Chung weren't one-hit wonders, either. They had two top ten songs in the U.S. "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go." I love their songs from To Live and Die in L.A.
@@jennyn5692Yeah, I was going to "say"(hahaha this is print😅) that "To Live and Die in L.A." made it into the top 40 on Billboard's Hot 100. That was a hot summer then...
King For The Day, is the greatest happy song I have ever heard, since 1958. Perfect Stuff. British Boys. Your'e too much. WOW Bloody ? One trillion times. Thanks forever. Dr. Atwater
Yes; like XTC, Midnight Oil, Hunters & Collectors, Echo & the Bunnymen, New Order, and so many more obscure bands that maybe were one hit wonders but were popular in their home towns. Anyone remember the Mighty Lemon Drops, the Thrashing Doves?
I do remember all those one hit or perhaps two hit wonder bands you mentioned. lol. great memories and the sad thing is there were many other bands we have forgotten along the way. ..
Thank you Google mic for identifying this song for me! Heard just a snippet of it when Morning Joe was headed to a commercial break and it sounded so good. The magic of technology...paused the show and rewound using the DVR and then used the Google song identifier....hurray! The lyrics seem ironically perfect for the times we're in....😊😥❤
One of the best- produced songs of the decade. Love the Beatlesque bridge that seems to reference "We Can Work It Out" with the line "no time to fuss 'n' fight."
Twelve years, six likes...to quote a movie line,"That's just WRONG... on SO MANY LEVELS"... Generations later, The Beatles still influence modern music. "Beautiful Stranger"(Madonna), "It's Love"(King's X), acts such as Lenny Kravitz, and so forth. Thier body of work will remain relevant for as long as someone alive and recording remembers them... P.S. INXS "Need You Tonight" will remain relevant for the rest of this century because of the opening line: "All we've got is this moment/21st Century's yesterday...."
Careful there, @thisrainykitten, I began saying that back in the early 1990s, next thing I know, I'm an old man. Fourteen years and only five likes... amazing 😢😢😢😢
Likewise friend. However Andy found it increasingly difficult to perform in front of an audience due to debilitating stage fright. I believe their last show was in San Diego, California circa 1981. He froze during the set for a moment and then walked off stage while the rest of the band soldiered on...
I think his name is Andy Partridge he has a really bad phobia about playing live and that's what Todd rundgren said that the one that produced Skylark skylarking and he is crippling debilitating anxiety so fingers on valium when he was like six years old so he's still on it now but he is really bad anxiety
@@wesleyclark98 I'm pretty sure he was 11-12 when he was prescibed vallium, according to the Autobiography ! All came to a head 1982 when his wife flushed it down the loo on English Settelment tour and had to go cold Turkey. Don't know if he is still on it ? Tho he still has mental health issues ?
Xtc is arguably the most underrated and overlooked band of the late 70s an 80s. Their album, oranges and lemons, is to be totally honest, a masterpiece. Much like the Beatles, Revolver, they didn't know they were in the presence of greatness, but hey, there it is.
So many wonderful choices were made when recording this song. Must have been guided by the musical gods to get something this perfect from beginning to end.
I love this.... Brilliant lyrics. Colin's finest moment vocally and lyrically... But "Nigel" was what got me into XTC and will remain my favourite song!
"And if Our Nigel says he's happy He must be happy He must be happy He must be happy in his world... We're only making plans for Nigel (ah-oo) He's got his future in-a British Steel (ah-oo) We're only making plans for Nigel (ah-oo) His whole future is as good as sealed...."
Oranges and Lemons by XTC is on my top 10 albums ever, pure Genius. King For A Day - is played on easy listening Radio Stations in North America, heard it one day while eating in a BK in Eastern Washington state.
God bless my friend Mitch who introduced me to XTC and their album Senses Working Overtime. He LOVED XTC and played to their music on his drum kit. He helped me find my very own kit in 1986 as I was working HARD at staying sober. I didn't know the first thing about playing drums at the time, but he allowed me to try out his set because I expressed an interest. I had always loved "keeping a beat" since I was,a little kid, so I guess he picked up on that in me. XTC and Mitch helped me on my path to sobriety during a very difficult time, and my drum kit was a big part of that effort... playing along with XTC has always been one of my greatest pleasures, although now I have to be very careful to wrap my wrists when I play. I don't play as often - and I only play on practice pads now because I'm too old to keep setting up my kit... my ortho doesn't encourage it anyway. But I always think of Mitch when I bust out my sticks. It's still a lot of fun - and XTC will always rule, naturally. 🤩 RIP, Mitch. I know you're rocking out with the Angels in Heaven, as well you should be, brother. 🥁💐🙏🏽💞
Lyrics Everyone's creeping up to the money God Putting tongues where they didn't ought to be On stepping stones of human hearts and souls Into the land of 'Nothing for free' Well, the way that we're living Is all take and no giving There's nothing to believe in The loudest mouth will hail the new found way To be king for a day Everyone's licking up to the new king pin Trying to get a way up with the smile Sing for your supper boy and jump to a finger click Ain't my way of living in style 'Cause the ladder gets longer And ambition gets stronger I can't satisfy the hunger That bad old moon has got you in its sway To be king for a day, king for a day You're only here once, so you got to get it right No…
Yes, in my opinion XTC nears the top of the English bands of the 80's, but having said that, there were many many great English bands that came from the same era.
Lunatic4Bizcas I've just started getting into this music, so if you say there's lots of great bands like this one, do you think you could tell me some to get me started? That would be awesome!!
No problem. Glad to see that you like the fine music of XTC. Another English band that I like from the 80's is The Jam. I suggest you listen to the songs 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight' 'English Rose' 'Mr. Clean' 'Carnation' & 'Tales From The Riverbank.' Other great XTC songs include, 'Mayor of Simpleton' 'Towers Of London' 'Senses Working Overtime' & 'Jason & The Argonauts.' The Style Council is another 80's band with excellent tunes (same singer as The Jam): My Ever Changing Moods & Headstart For Happiness.' I also suggest the track 'Made Of Stone' from the late 80's band The Stone Roses. I think that list is pretty good for a start. Happy Listening.
I am so in love with this song, and I've heard people use the word sublime to describe this band and compare them with the Beatles. I agree with sublime, but I enjoy this band way more than the Beatles, but enough comparisons, XTC is an excellent band, live, recorded, period. This song sends me into a state of pleasure though. I heard this song in the mall in a department store and woke up on the floor with all these clothes on top of me, some fit, some didn't. I may have told this story for entertainment purposes only but the song definitely makes me feel that good.
They just don't make them like this anymore. A true artistic group perfroming with minimal instrumentsand lighting. Always a favorite of mine. XTC a truly wonderful album Oranges & Lemons.
The lyrics to this song are amazing and prophethic. Great underappreciated song. Everyones creeping up to the money god, Putting tongues where they didnt' ought to be. On stepping stones of human hearts and souls, Into the land of nothing for free. Well the way that were living, Is all take and no giving, Theres nothing to believe in, The loudest mouth will hail the new found way, To be king for a day.
I listened to this CD (Oranges & Lemons) for months and didnt like them. Then one evening, it clicked and I've loved them since. This is my favorite song of theirs.
I've totally forgotten how great this song is, I remember hearing it a few months ago at Red Robin and always keep forgetting to get this song on iTunes.
Colin Moulding (the songwriter of this) and yes, he's outstanding. XTC songs are so trebly (Beatles guitar influence, but turn it up and he's there. The bass on "The Mayor of Simpleton" (the preceding song on "Oranges and Lemons") is so propulsive. Check out his bass on his "I Remember the Sun" composition, it's far-out.
The bass in "The Mayor of Simpleton" was written by Andy but played by Colin for the album version. "One of the Millions," on the other hand, is Colin's song and he probably wrote the bass to it. Try some of the songs from their alter-ego project a few years earlier, "The Dukes of Stratosphear." They recorded the Psonic Psunspot album on a budget of 10k Pounds in the mid 80s and as a Psychedelic music tribute album, it's amazing!
When I searched for the title song I got a green day cover and another one by pierce something, anyways I'm glad I found this one. It gives off a better mood than the other two
+Sugoi Sugoi Just wanted to set things straight (I know I know, someone is wrong on the interenet what ever will I do): The other songs by the same title are completely unrelated.
Whatever inappropriate remark at 2:50 that AP has made to make CM laugh, I just wish that they still both had that kind of relationship with one another.
Sometimes I hear this in my local supermarket. I have to stop shopping to goove on the music. Then, the shill voiced girl gets on the p.a. and cuts out the song while asking every damn employee to come up front to bag groceries. Of course, she repeats herself, and add's "Please" at the end. By the time she's done, the song's over. If I could just get my hands around that girl's throat....
its very sad that most of the people dont know XTC, because they were a GREAT band, im 16 and i love them
Now I'm 26 and I still love them
@@rydiaofmist well now you're old enuf to say hi!
They are great,one of the best,try the Go Betweens, another great group or Wire😀
Saw them live many moons ago
@@rydiaofmist Wow, this is my first time seeing a UA-cam comment with a 10 year gap. I can’t believe UA-cam has been around for so long, I’m getting old! Love XTC, that’ll never change no matter how old I get. ❤😊
On the Oranges and Lemons, the album opens with Garden of Earthly Delights, Mayor Of Simpleton, and King For A Day. It's a 1-2-3 punch that's rivaled by few albums in rock and roll. This song is Colin's ultimate state of grace. After 18 years the impact of those 3 songs has not diminished one iota.
Nearly 2023 and XTC is still one of the greatest bands of all time!
XTC is mind candy. No mood can't be fixed by their music.
xtc validates a mood with their insightful lyrics.
Your rite .....helps me when down
XTC was one of my favs of the genre. Great talent in writing and playing. I'm 68, still playing drums and listening to these guys.
This song is one of a few that are forever etched in my mind of a time and place. For me it was late September 1989 playing out of open dorm room windows during my freshman year of college.
There is something about the "college radio" scene which is Timeless in nature; many years later you still hear new music on a college radio station and think Man that's good. Preserve those memories, perhaps we'll soon be able to create a "life music soundtrack" using advanced technology. Can you imagine having everything you heard being downloaded from your mind?
One of the most beautiful chord structures I've ever heard. These guys were amazing.
I have always maintained that the 3 most under-rated song writers and melodists of the past 40 years are Andy Partridge of XTC, Neil Finn of Crowded House and Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout - all 3 deserve so much more credit than what they got.
Paddy McAloon can be compared to anybody.
Spot on with this opinion fairdose....all of them were genius.
Agree very large Shortcake07...
Vrai...tellement vrai.....Surtout Partridge et MacAloon....deux réels génies musicaux...
Except this was written by Colin Moulding who is more underrated. He also wrote Runaways, Ball and Chain, Making Plans For Nigel, Ten Feet Tall, That Is The Way, Generals and Majors... etc...
the most underrated band of all time is right here…..
SO RIGHT
I could not AGREE with your ststement more
The 180gs is saying hey
If they had just kept marking this kind of music, they'd be gazillionsaires
I wonder what would happen if all the bands that were called underrated on UA-cam were rated?
This song actually moves me to tears...it's just the song itself, and the great memories that I associate with it...a wonderful tune signifying a wonderful time in my life.
Me 2
Same... I'm sitting here working and just started singing this in my head.
Yeah Bettina, I totally feel you on the tears from the memories and vibes from this era. Cheers
I thought I was the only one. I love this song but it brings sadness to me because I equate it with the end of a great era.
Well....2024 who is still listening to this fantastic band....I sure am
Heard this gem of a song while shopping at Big Lots. Asked Siri, “who plays this song?” and up this came. Amazing song and instantly became one of my favorites!
Whoever that Big Lots employee was has immaculate taste, and now so do you!
What a beautifully simplistic/complex song. Oranges & Lemons was my first real dive into XTC (though I loved "Plans for Nigel") and now I have all their albums and listen to them still in 2020, yeah baby. Oranges & Lemons was reviewed by a music critic in Calgary on the CBC and I went right out and bought it based on his rave - and never regretted a single moment of listening. Every cut on the album is outstanding - starts where "Sgt. Pepper's" left off...
Nicely put!
Hmm strombo?
damn....this song swings supremely! and the melody is absolutely impeccable.... all hail XTC!
Same irresistible swing as Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule the World."
Polk street school
Just Jeanne I'll second you on that, it just rolls along brilliantly. I love that single base note just before ,you ‘re only here once. What a bloody great band.
@@andyinoregonand It Bites’ “Kiss like Judas” :)
A highlight of 1989 💜
Someone said here that XTC was God's apology for the break up of the Beatles. So true.
+Fred Haseney A lot of band from the 70s- 80s had the power pop sound like the ones you mentioned - Badfinger, Big Star, Todd Rundgren, Raspberries Cheap Trick. The Posies, The Dbs etc.... which in some of their songs had elements that paid homage to or were influenced by The Beatles, but I think the Beatles were in a class of their own.
+ChasBeauregarde XTC is the best of those men though
What’s our apology for XTC breaking up then?
YES!
Definitely from the same dna!
How great this group is.
Everyone's creeping up to the money god,
Putting tongues where they didn't ought to be
On stepping stones of human hearts and souls,
Into the land of "nothing for free"
Well the way that we're living,
Is all take and no giving,
There's nothing to believe in,
The loudest mouth will hail the new found way,
To be king for a day
Everyone's licking up to the new king pin,
Trying to get way up with a smile
Sing for your supper boy and jump to a finger click,
Ain't my way of living in style
'Cause the ladder gets longer,
And ambition gets stronger,
I can't satisfy the hunger,
That bad old moon has got you in its sway,
To be king for the day
You're only here once so you got to get it right
(No time to fuss and fight)
'Cause life don't mean much if measured out with someone else's plight
(In time you'll see the light)
'Cause the way that we're living,
Is all take and no giving,
There's not mush to believe in,
The loudest mouth will hail the new found way,
To be king for a day
You got to be the king for a day, ah
To be king for a day
Pure poetry.
What a geogeous song the melodies sublime and the harmonies spot on. XTC you are music gods
This song is and will definitely always be my favourite of all time. It's just so...perfect
This song sends me. The very best of 80s New Wave, along with Tears for Fears, Scritti Politti, Marshall Crenshaw, and many one-hit wonders like Wang Chung, Red Rockers, Talk Talk.
Talk Talk weren't one hit wonders. They were an outstanding band and my favourite being Living in another world
Wang Chung weren't one-hit wonders, either. They had two top ten songs in the U.S. "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go." I love their songs from To Live and Die in L.A.
@@jennyn5692Yeah, I was going to "say"(hahaha this is print😅) that "To Live and Die in L.A." made it into the top 40 on Billboard's Hot 100. That was a hot summer then...
And mentioning one-hit wonders, how about "One Simple Thing" by The Stabilizers, late 1986
Talk talk, wang Chung are not one-hit wonders.
I wasn’t alive in the 1980s but of all the bands of that era I’ve heard, XTC has to be my absolute favorite. Incredibly talented songwriters!
What a great pop song! Just what a pop song is supposed to do, makes you feel good, has all the right ingredients.
Doesn't it !
If everybody hasn't seen it already, check out Colin, Andy & Dave play this live on Letterman with Paul Shaffer & the studio band accompanying!
Yeah that's pretty rare footage because they didn't tour or play live much of the 80's
XTC was part of my college-life soundtrack. Such a great band.
King For The Day, is the greatest happy song I have ever heard, since 1958.
Perfect Stuff.
British Boys. Your'e too much. WOW
Bloody ?
One trillion times.
Thanks forever.
Dr. Atwater
the 80s were so damn good, that even songs that didn't get enough airplay were supreme..this is a prime example! !
+Shaun Frost great way to put it. enjoy all of them. :)
Yes; like XTC, Midnight Oil, Hunters & Collectors, Echo & the Bunnymen, New Order, and so many more obscure bands that maybe were one hit wonders but were popular in their home towns. Anyone remember the Mighty Lemon Drops, the Thrashing Doves?
I do remember all those one hit or perhaps two hit wonder bands you mentioned. lol. great memories and the sad thing is there were many other bands we have forgotten along the way. ..
And what about the Abecedarians? And 5440; a great Canadian band?
Since the late 70s it is a rule that the best music is not mainstream most of the time!
This just may be my favorite XTC song. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Google mic for identifying this song for me! Heard just a snippet of it when Morning Joe was headed to a commercial break and it sounded so good. The magic of technology...paused the show and rewound using the DVR and then used the Google song identifier....hurray! The lyrics seem ironically perfect for the times we're in....😊😥❤
They played it again this morning. Great song. Appropriate for the times.
Joe and Mika are the best!
Best british pop! Brilliant musicians and good spirit.
One of the best- produced songs of the decade. Love the Beatlesque bridge that seems to reference "We Can Work It Out" with the line "no time to fuss 'n' fight."
Twelve years, six likes...to quote a movie line,"That's just WRONG... on SO MANY LEVELS"...
Generations later, The Beatles still influence modern music. "Beautiful Stranger"(Madonna), "It's Love"(King's X), acts such as Lenny Kravitz, and so forth. Thier body of work will remain relevant for as long as someone alive and recording remembers them...
P.S. INXS "Need You Tonight" will remain relevant for the rest of this century because of the opening line: "All we've got is this moment/21st Century's yesterday...."
XTC an Amazing band, 80s music at its finest. 😢 Your only here once, and you've got to make it count.
Nobody makes music like this anymore, that is for sure....how beautiful is this???? : )
Careful there, @thisrainykitten, I began saying that back in the early 1990s, next thing I know, I'm an old man. Fourteen years and only five likes... amazing 😢😢😢😢
I saw a lot of the great 80's bands in concert....my greatest regret was never seeing XTC live.
Likewise friend. However Andy found it increasingly difficult to perform in front of an audience due to debilitating stage fright. I believe their last show was in San Diego, California circa 1981. He froze during the set for a moment and then walked off stage while the rest of the band soldiered on...
I think his name is Andy Partridge he has a really bad phobia about playing live and that's what Todd rundgren said that the one that produced Skylark skylarking and he is crippling debilitating anxiety so fingers on valium when he was like six years old so he's still on it now but he is really bad anxiety
@@wesleyclark98 I'm pretty sure he was 11-12 when he was prescibed vallium, according to the Autobiography ! All came to a head 1982 when his wife flushed it down the loo on English Settelment tour and had to go cold Turkey. Don't know if he is still on it ? Tho he still has mental health issues ?
I miss XTC dearly. This current crop of 'indie' rockers could learn a thing or too about songwriting from these guys. Andy Partridge is my hero.
I had forgotten until I heard mayor of simpleton randomly. Yay! Listening them all over again. 💙
under rated band loved them in the eighties and still do. dear god was a true opening eye song
this is one of my favourite songs of all time ......brilliant
Same.
Xtc is arguably the most underrated and overlooked band of the late 70s an 80s. Their album, oranges and lemons, is to be totally honest, a masterpiece. Much like the Beatles, Revolver, they didn't know they were in the presence of greatness, but hey, there it is.
So many wonderful choices were made when recording this song. Must have been guided by the musical gods to get something this perfect from beginning to end.
I damn near wore the tape out of this cassette (Oranges & Lemons) out back in the day... Love these guys.
Andy's right as rain as usual. The two songs share the same irresistable groove. Put them both on a loop and let them play back to back all day long.
Such a great timeless song! That bass line at the chorus is absolutely epic! Great things in life wear well. This song is a great example!
It is so nice to see Sir Andy lend himself so genuinely to Sir Colin's vehicle....Kudos to both of my many peers across the pond.
i appreciate this music more now then ever
I love this.... Brilliant lyrics. Colin's finest moment vocally and lyrically... But "Nigel" was what got me into XTC and will remain my favourite song!
"And if Our Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his world...
We're only making plans for Nigel (ah-oo)
He's got his future in-a British Steel (ah-oo)
We're only making plans for Nigel (ah-oo)
His whole future is as good as sealed...."
This song played all the time when I used to work at Mervyns. Great song 🎵 👌
My absolute favourite XTC song. How lucky are we to have enjoyed this fine group? Timeless!
Love the genuine laugh at 2:53. Great band, great song!
This song is so relaxing and yet makes me want to jam out!
Every time i listen to XTC it takes me straight back to late 70's early 80's and there music never sounds dated
Remember cruising the Texas Summer of my high school youth jamming this song with my friends. Great Times! Never forget it.
'...the loudest mouth will hail the new found way, to be king for day...'
My fav XTC song, which is saying something...but listening to it makes me want to weep. Where did our lives go?
Oranges and Lemons by XTC is on my top 10 albums ever, pure Genius.
King For A Day - is played on easy listening Radio Stations in North America, heard it one day while eating in a BK in Eastern Washington state.
God bless my friend Mitch who introduced me to XTC and their album Senses Working Overtime. He LOVED XTC and played to their music on his drum kit. He helped me find my very own kit in 1986 as I was working HARD at staying sober. I didn't know the first thing about playing drums at the time, but he allowed me to try out his set because I expressed an interest. I had always loved "keeping a beat" since I was,a little kid, so I guess he picked up on that in me. XTC and Mitch helped me on my path to sobriety during a very difficult time, and my drum kit was a big part of that effort... playing along with XTC has always been one of my greatest pleasures, although now I have to be very careful to wrap my wrists when I play. I don't play as often - and I only play on practice pads now because I'm too old to keep setting up my kit... my ortho doesn't encourage it anyway. But I always think of Mitch when I bust out my sticks. It's still a lot of fun - and XTC will always rule, naturally. 🤩
RIP, Mitch. I know you're rocking out with the Angels in Heaven, as well you should be, brother. 🥁💐🙏🏽💞
I work at RaceTrac and we play this song at our stores. I hadn't heard it before then, but the song is so nostalgic.
Why do I think of Margaret Thatcher every time I hear this slice of pure genius from Swindons finest?
One of the ten best bands of all time. Any genre
Just absolutely love the harmonies
A forgotten gem.
Not forgotten..
Amazing brilliant timeless underated extreme talent
listenable anytime, anywhere, and I do ever since the 80's/early 90's. Yep, still.
Lyrics
Everyone's creeping up to the money God
Putting tongues where they didn't ought to be
On stepping stones of human hearts and souls
Into the land of 'Nothing for free'
Well, the way that we're living
Is all take and no giving
There's nothing to believe in
The loudest mouth will hail the new found way
To be king for a day
Everyone's licking up to the new king pin
Trying to get a way up with the smile
Sing for your supper boy and jump to a finger click
Ain't my way of living in style
'Cause the ladder gets longer
And ambition gets stronger
I can't satisfy the hunger
That bad old moon has got you in its sway
To be king for a day, king for a day
You're only here once, so you got to get it right
No…
This was my favorite song for a long time.
Martin Hyizna I still love this song so good! Clockwork Orange was crazy af lol!
There are some songs are so good that even the sound is heavenly before you even get to the words which are equally great, this is one of them.
Grim lyrics, uplifiting music. That's XTC for ya!
This song evokes memories of a simpler time
XTC a very underrated band indeed. A wonderful post
that still makes me smile.
Lol but the theme of the song is how ruthlessly competitive people are
+Graybat12 I agree, though I do like the song as XTC seemed to be an overlooked band, thanks.
Best 80's English band!
Yes, in my opinion XTC nears the top of the English bands of the 80's, but having said that, there were many many great English bands that came from the same era.
Lunatic4Bizcas I've just started getting into this music, so if you say there's lots of great bands like this one, do you think you could tell me some to get me started? That would be awesome!!
No problem. Glad to see that you like the fine music of XTC. Another English band that I like from the 80's is The Jam. I suggest you listen to the songs 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight' 'English Rose' 'Mr. Clean' 'Carnation' & 'Tales From The Riverbank.' Other great XTC songs include, 'Mayor of Simpleton' 'Towers Of London' 'Senses Working Overtime' & 'Jason & The Argonauts.'
The Style Council is another 80's band with excellent tunes (same singer as The Jam): My Ever Changing Moods & Headstart For Happiness.' I also suggest the track 'Made Of Stone' from the late 80's band The Stone Roses. I think that list is pretty good for a start. Happy Listening.
Have you forgotten Del Amitri and Squeeze?
I am so in love with this song, and I've heard people use the word sublime to describe this band and compare them with the Beatles. I agree with sublime, but I enjoy this band way more than the Beatles, but enough comparisons, XTC is an excellent band, live, recorded, period. This song sends me into a state of pleasure though. I heard this song in the mall in a department store and woke up on the floor with all these clothes on top of me, some fit, some didn't. I may have told this story for entertainment purposes only but the song definitely makes me feel that good.
one of the most perfect pop songs ever
Beatles, Floyd, Queen, XTC. The four greatest bands ever. Especially Chips from the Chocolate Fireball.
I totally understand where you're coming from... good analogy...
Love your story starkid77! :)
Me to. They may not have had the succsess the Beatles did but musically XTC were better ! They had more strings to they're bow.
Simple as it gets "money is not everything". Thank You XTC, your music always cheers me up.
They just don't make them like this anymore. A true artistic group perfroming with minimal instrumentsand lighting. Always a favorite of mine. XTC a truly wonderful album Oranges & Lemons.
Sublime!
2020 :) beautiful song !
I'm 44, back in the 80's! that was the time wasn't it friends!!!
damn.. you are 57 now.
Oranges and lemons. one of the best albums from the time period! #xtc
nice to rediscover these guys after 30 years. love em
I Bought my first XTC Single when i was 15, I Am now 50, And no other band comes close for me.
The lyrics to this song are amazing and prophethic. Great underappreciated song.
Everyones creeping up to the money god,
Putting tongues where they didnt' ought to be.
On stepping stones
of human hearts and souls,
Into the land of nothing for free.
Well the way that were living,
Is all take and no giving,
Theres nothing to believe in,
The loudest mouth will hail the new found way,
To be king for a day.
I listened to this CD (Oranges & Lemons) for months and didnt like them. Then one evening, it clicked and I've loved them since. This is my favorite song of theirs.
I LOVE THIS SONG!
I've totally forgotten how great this song is, I remember hearing it a few months ago at Red Robin and always keep forgetting to get this song on iTunes.
Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Chris Difford, Glenn Tillbrook and Joe Jackson never really get their dues. Some of the greatest songwriters ever.
XTCの極上のハモリを実感できる名曲ですなあ。
i LOVE this song!
Best song on Oranges and Lemons IMO. Completely great band.
God I miss this era. I’m glad I grew up with this music.
May have said this before, but this is truly the best pop song in the history of music! Fact! Massive love XX
Heard this in CVS today...I FOUND IT!!!!
Heriat M What a coincidence. I heard it in CVS too. l0l
Must have the same mp3/rotation
player there, too.
No I'm getting old when The Cure or XTC on in CVS!! Funny..
Hériat M I remember hearing Steely Dan Hey Nineteen at a White Castle I was hooked 😂
It was also on at my Target store. I know this song, and it wasn't one of their larger hit. But what a nice, jazzy groove 😁
God, the bass is so good in every song.
Colin Moulding (the songwriter of this) and yes, he's outstanding. XTC songs are so trebly (Beatles guitar influence, but turn it up and he's there. The bass on "The Mayor of Simpleton" (the preceding song on "Oranges and Lemons") is so propulsive. Check out his bass on his "I Remember the Sun" composition, it's far-out.
The bass in "The Mayor of Simpleton" was written by Andy but played by Colin for the album version. "One of the Millions," on the other hand, is Colin's song and he probably wrote the bass to it. Try some of the songs from their alter-ego project a few years earlier, "The Dukes of Stratosphear." They recorded the Psonic Psunspot album on a budget of 10k Pounds in the mid 80s and as a Psychedelic music tribute album, it's amazing!
A beautifully constructed song, flavours of "We can work it out" in the middle eight. Nice.
The Greatest!! Of the New Wave Era... XTC...Forever!
When I searched for the title song I got a green day cover and another one by pierce something, anyways I'm glad I found this one. It gives off a better mood than the other two
+Sugoi Sugoi Just wanted to set things straight (I know I know, someone is wrong on the interenet what ever will I do): The other songs by the same title are completely unrelated.
+Sugoi Sugoi Green day has nothing to do with this song.
ah pierce the veil and sleeping with sirens, my small emo heart sings
Why isn't there more views for this masterpiece of a song???
+Jorge Watkins not too known. i just learned of this song a a few weeks ago
I agree.
Our secret, ok?
Oranges & Lemons when it came out in the 80s was my first hearing of this great band.
These guys could write anything. Such variety, originality, craftsmanship and so prolific. This type of songwriting comes so infrequently. Genius.
Whatever inappropriate remark at 2:50 that AP has made to make CM laugh, I just wish that they still both had that kind of relationship with one another.
Sometimes I hear this in my local supermarket. I have to stop shopping to goove on the music. Then, the shill voiced girl gets on the p.a. and cuts out the song while asking every damn employee to come up front to bag groceries. Of course, she repeats herself, and add's "Please" at the end. By the time she's done, the song's over. If I could just get my hands around that girl's throat....
LOL! Just get the album. It's cheaper than forty years in the slammer for murder. :0D
I know the feeling. 👍
To Be Head Bagger For A Day
As a huge early Genesis and Floyd fan this band blew my mindset!!!!!! XTC wow!
Being an XTC fan will win my respect of anyone.