I don't know which song would be a jam of mine, but I have never heard this song in your video, all the way through, and will honor you by going and watching the video. It sounds like a great song!
@@BuddyRichCWhich one?! Both Lessons In Love and Something About You had great bass lines. Didn't hurt you had Mark King playing them. Just a great band. This was my favourite lineup. It changed a bit when Staring At the Sun came out, but the original guys had such a chemistry, it was lightning in a bottle.
I'd say they're not under rated it's their one hit wonder and it's one of the greatest one hit wonders ever but because they are in that category, ya don't hear it constantly 🤷 it's probably in my top 5, 80s songs ,,, it's similar to sunset grill , fantastic but never over played because one hit wonder again 🤷 weird history
Level 42 is definitely underrated. One of the greatest bands period. In my opinion. Children Say is my all day song. I listened to it every day for a year once.
Mark King is a remarkable bassist. He can sing, chew gum, and slap that bass. Excellent song and band. This interview with Mike Lindup is so cool. He is a groovy keyboardist.
I have to agree that this song is a perfect slice of the 80s. Such an underrated and unappreciated band, who is still performing at a high level. Thank you for this Professor.😀
My favorite Level 42 song is "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)", which features a wickedly funky bassline by Mark King and a strong lead vocal by Mike Lindup. This talented band was a standout group in the 1980s, and it was truly loved by those of us who craved style and substance in our music.
What a lovely person he is. I would expect nothing less from one who could write and perform such a lovely song. This was a real treat for me because its also one of my favorites and I always wondered about the story behind it.
Mike Lindup's interview with the Professor was amazing. Such humility and interest in the minutiae of a classic pop tune. He honored fans by letting us hear the back story. Thank you, Mike!
I literally listen to this song nearly every day. I love it so much. Mark is one of the top bassists in the world and Mike has such a great voice. Their performances seem so effortless when you see a live version. It's interesting how he described how difficult his part was in the early days because an audience member would never know it. This song and lessons in love are so good I don't think they'll ever get old.
My dad (born in the 30s) was a complete jazz aficionado… Yet since 1986, if we’d asked him his top favourite songs - he would invariably include ‘Something About You’ amongst the myriad jazz vinyls he cherished & knew so much about. He could never explain why, but he just adored that song. World Machine was the first ‘pop’ record he ever asked us to buy him, and he grinned every time he played or heard Something About You - from the week it was released, to literally the week he died. We played it so many times to him that last week, alongside some of the greatest & oldest jazz standards ever released. To Dad and us, that song belonged right up there with them all, however different a genre it was. Thanks for sharing this, and to Mike, Mark, Boon, Phil & Wally, for one of the songs that always makes us remember him.
Something About You has a way of defying explanation. I get your dad's enthusiasm, and fruitless pursuit of the elusive bons mots to describe the magic
Level 42 are what is known in retrospect as a "Sophisti-pop" band... a sub-genre of music in the 80's mainly from the UK that incorporated elements of pop, rock, jazz, new wave into one style. That may be why
What a wonderful and beautiful response. I bet Dad enjoyed hearing the boys knock it out of the park during his departure. Lots of Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie & John Coltrane for my Dad. RIP Fathers…
My favorite is Something About You as well. It comes up on my playlist EVERYDAY-and I listen every time. Whenever I drive to Chicago from Dayton Ohio, Starchild is just a go to.
I absolutely get the chills when it plays on Muzak in my local grocery store (even though I listen to it fairly often at home)!!! I almost feel a sense of pride that I adopted them early (in the US, that is), and that I own every single CD, and most DVDs they’ve put out. It’s almost a sense of “yup, if you all only knew what else they’ve put out”, and it’s just generally gratifying!
When this song first came out, I couldn't get enough of it. It is a pick me up, feel good, singing-along-with-it, and danceable song. I was also a fan of Level 42's "Lessons in Love". The 80's was my decade of favorite music. So much awesome music came out during this decade.
When this song and "Broken Wings" came out, I named them my #1 and #2. I can listen to "Something About You" 24/7. When this song starts, with EITHER intro, the beat and the bass line immediately puts me in a better mood! 1985 is also my favorite year for music and MANY aspects of my life. Thanks!
So happy to find out this is your favorite song, it is mine as well! I never get tired of it and can listen to it every day. I have introduced my son to Level 42 and he loves it. Glad to see Level 42 getting more attention recently. Underappreciated and under rated by far.
That track is the only song that has ever kept me up all night. Back in '86 it started playing it in my head at 11pm one night and it was still there five hours later - a ridiculous earworm for all the reasons you go through in this great interview. On World Machine, this is immediately followed by Leaving Me Now, which I think is an even better song (if that's possible). It's one of the greatest one-two punches in album history. Thank you so much, Professor, for showcasing this classic cut.
Level 42 is in my DNA...I grew up with their music, and I've heard their albums over and over and over again. I also like bands like Type-O-Negative, R.E.M., The SMiths, Depeche Mode...but L42 has a very special in my heart. "Something about you" is indeed incredible....so beautiful.
What I love about these great songs is when the artists tell you, "we were just messing around," or "we really had nothing, but someone struck a chord that got us all excited." It brings the process back to inspiration, we all need it at times, and stories like this just keep us all going.
Level 42 were a huge part of my 80s teen years. All 4 members contributed to a hugely successful sound of my youth. So sad Boon took his own life in 2019. I played the tape of their Running in the Family album until it wore out. From the chart hits to the album fillers, upbeat songs like Lessons in Love and To Be With You Again to the melancholy It's Over.Just awesome awesome awesome
Ugh! It's Over..... that song ripped my heart out. I played that sucker over and over. That was the song I perfected my vibrato on, singing along with Mark. Good choice!
This song came out the year I met my husband. He died this past October. This song will always be my 80s jam -- thought I was the only one -- because it reminds me of a great love...and because it's so damned longing/ethereal/funky!
“We’re only human after all...” just always gives me the chills- such a beautiful song!!!! One of my absolute favorites, having been a teenager in the 80s. Some others that transport me back to those years are “Hold Me Now” by the Thompson Twins, “Things Can Only Get Better” by Howard Jones, “Tempted” by Squeeze, ABC’s “The Look Of Love”, and Toto’s “Rosanna”... and that list goes on!
Mark King’s bass line is what always caught my attention with Level 42 I remember hearing and buying this song thinking, this has number 1 all over it and it was fantastic, but not everyone thought so? I put it down to people being ignorant and not knowing anything about music 😄
Adam, this was one of your best interviews and that’s saying something. To be able to ask the motivation and creative process behind a favorite song by one of the writers is a great gift that you get to do. Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street is one of those songs that’s right up there with my all time favorite tunes. If I remember correctly you have already did a program on that tune. Keep up the good work. I always look forward to your videos. Your love of music surely shines through each and every one of them.
I remember when this song came out on MTV. It definitely caught my attention as "complete" and fundamentally solid. I was also baffled as to why it wasn't a bigger hit.
It's true, the more critically I listen to this song the more I hear. The verses and chorus with different voices yet the same chord changes. The sycopated beat, the complex bass playing, how the bridge is brought in combining the chorus with the verses layere with fantastic vocal harmonies. Then the solid guitar solo, the upbeat feel caps it. There is a lot there.
"Something About You" definitely gets the recipe right. The harmonies, the lyrics, the music layering. These guys put out some really rich sounds over the years. Some other personal favorites, "It's Over," "Heaven In My Hands," the bass line in "Love Games" is fantastic, and "Leaving Me Now."
I absolutely love this song. I only first heard it a few years back, despite being an 80s kid. I can't get sick of it, it's fantastic. You're right, prof....this song rules. What an underrated band too!
HELL YES! This song gets a bit of radio play even today, but not nearly enough accolades! Great hooks, great vocals, and a flawless production! I'm with you on this one, Professor! 👏
This is just a fantastic interview. Your love of the song obviously fueled your interaction with Mike, who was so generous in sharing his memories of its creation.
Those 4 notes that follow the first "How" in the song just elevate me to a time in the 80s when nothing was wrong. They give lots of space for the music to be heard between lyrics which is rare these days.
Exactly. Take a hit song from the 1980's and release it today and it'd still be a hit nowadays, but if you could take a song from today and release it in the 1980's it wouldn't have even got into the charts. I got to live my youth in the best decade ever. Wish I could go back and stay there.
I definitely agree with your comment on the song giving space between the music and the lyrics. Aside from Mark King's "How," followed by the four keyboard notes, I also like the space given to the guitar notes at the end of the first chorus between "That there is Something About You," "Baby," and "So Right."
Professor, this is the most difficult question that I have ever come across in all my life! Favourite song of all time. This song is definitely in my list. But since you have already chosen it I have to pick another. Within this band and it is none other than "Leaving me now!" It really hurts to listen to this song but I love it! Reality bites! Hope you can do an interview on how this song came about. That will be great! Cheers to Level 42! Thank you Professor. You are doing a fantastic job! Keep it up!
OMG - Your absolute favorite song is mine as well. EVERYTHING in this song is perfection. It makes my ears smile, my body relax, and my mind slide into bliss. I can listen to it indefinitely or now and then, and I will NEVER turn it off if it's playing. Yes, yes, YES!!!!
It’s such a wonderful song. I showed this to the math department chair at my school, who was born around the same time that this song peaked, and said that I would recommend this song to her because it’s such a cool song. So glad I did!
I am *so* with you on this and it's in my "top 3" songs for the decade. Many songs I need to hear a number of times before I really like it but this one grabbed me immediately. Funny story: When this came out, I was hanging around with this girl and we very similar tastes in music. We were in my car and this song came on. It was newly released and hadn't peaked in popularity yet but I already was a fan. I say to her "Have you heard this song ??" "No, I haven't" she answered. She barely got the words out her mouth when the DJ says "Have you heard this song ??" in virtually the exact same tone I used. We had naturally had a laugh. I seriously love this song.
I have loved this song for decades, one of my earliest musical memories that always stood the rest of time. It's still regular rotation for me on UA-cam Music. I literally always thought I was alone.
I'm a huge Level 42 fan. My favorite song on World Machine is Good Man In A Storm. I especially love that little bass riff at the intro. Thanks for a great interview. Mike Lindup is a humble man.
That is CRAZY Professor!!! That is MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE TOO!! I was JUST listening to it minutes before I stumbled on your video!! I, like you, LOVE tons of music from the 70's and especially 80's, but THIS song "Something About You" is JUST like you stated; It just encapsulates and pulls together the entire feeling and nostalgia of the 80's for me!! Just a GREAT tune!! AWESOME!!! Other people are confused and surprised that this song is my FAVORITE song of all time with ALL of the GREAT music of the 80's that we grew up with!!
Thank you so much for justifying my taste in music. Even the recognition & appreciation for the long intro. This is such a great song and whenever I tell people about it, they have no idea what song I'm talking about. Very cool that you got to interview one of the people responsible for such a genius work.
"Something About You" introduced me to Level 42, and so I had the great pleasure to discover all their previous work. The earliest albums didn't wow me, but "Standing in the Light, "True Colors", and "World Machine" positively Changed My Life. Those three albums..... Perfection. Perfection. Despite all the drama going on in these teenage years of my life, these three albums brought me to peace and equilibrium, like no other albums could provide. And ever since then, they are the albums that bring sense to this life. As you had somewhat stated about other favorite songs of yours, I ONLY break out these albums in certain timeframes, because they are too precious to wreck by overplaying! Level 42 deserve a much higher platform in the history of music, but at least I've had the privilege of experiencing their work as a beautiful background to my life, and I feel truly blessed to have enjoyed every note. Amazing music. Amazing lyrics. Simply, in the top tier of music, and if you don't know the band, you've been missing out on the best sounds of life. "World Machine", as an album... come on. A PERFECT album. ...and the 'Something About You' video? A gift of a lifetime, and quite peerless, and unlikely to be topped since bands don't put any soul into videos anymore... so blessed to have experienced this song, this video, and this band, as those years played out. It's clear that nothing will top this, not in my lifetime.
When I told my friends I like this song as one of my favorites in 1989 they thought I was a little wimp, it was already an oldie but I was still in love with it, I wish I could have this video to explain the reason why.
Great taste Adam! My 2 interchangeable favorites are “Something About You” and “Everybody Wants to Rule The World”-depending on the day. I graduated HS in 1986 so Something About You takes me right back to being 18 and not a care in the world!
Had to laugh because just before this I posted "Rule the World" as my favorite driving song but it and Sting's "Fortress Round Your Heart" are, like you depending on the day, my two favorite, "perfect" songs.
Wow...what a honor for Level 42...I cant believe of all the songs, this song was chosen by the professor of rock. This song truly is an institution, one of the greatest pop songs of all times. Just perfection all around. Maybe I listened to it more than 2000 times.
This is one of those songs that has such an 80’s aesthetic it’s near perfect. It ended up being #4 on my favorites of 1985 behind Holding Back The Years, No One Is To Blame, and Head Over Heels. Out of the entire decade, 1985 put out my most favorite songs.
Absolutely agree, love those songs and still listening to them - they are for ma aperfect 80s. I would just add to this list also a Nik Kershaw’s - Wouldn't it be good. Curiosity: on a same Nik’s album there is a one song played by Mark King from Level 42.
Level 42 is my all time favorite too. First heard "Something About You" coming home from school in 1986 on MTV. The video haunted me and the band imprinted on me hard. Mark King's the reason I play bass. Cheers!
For as long as I can remember, I've always ranked Level 42's "Something About You" alongside The Outfield's "Your Love" and Dan Hartman's "I Can Dream About You". They are, without a doubt, my holy trinity of 80's gloriousness.
I never heard of Level 42 until I worked at fed ex copy and ship store almost 13 years ago because. I was born in the early eighties but when I heard Something about you I got hooked to this band.
Thank you again, Adam, for a stellar interview with a definite gem of the '80s. I absolutely loved the detail you went into the song with Mike. And thank you Mike and Mark King for Level 42!! I saw them open up for Tina Turner, on one of her tours......... And absolutely could not believe that they were an opener, instead of a headliner! Thank you again, Adam, And thank you Mike and Mark for all the great music!
This song has been in my top 5 songs of all time since I first heard it. I played in on my cassette player that entire summer of 1986, every day. It has never left my rotation and I feel excited every time I hear it on the radio. Truly a slice of Heaven
I feel the same way about this song. I'm more of a hard rock/heavy metal type of guy, but when that song comes on you just gotta crank it and sing along!
Thank you so much for this!! Something About You, Lessons in Love, Running in the Family and Leaving me Now - are just incredible tracks and really are part of the soundtrack to my adolescence. Fantastic!
Amazing you got this interview!!!! This is my favorite song of all time and I’m always shocked more people don’t recall it! Though I’m like you and was obsessed with rock from a young age. This song says it all. It is THE BEST♥️♥️♥️♥️
"Something about you"! One of my all time favorite songs Professor! Best Bass guitar playing I've ever seen! And the synthesizer just makes the song! Great interview Professor!This song always picks me up! Thanks for keeping the music alive Professor!
I was thinking this song as soon as I read the title. OMG I can listen to this over and over and over again. Mark King just rocked this along with the crew. Thank you for this!
I can tell you where I was when I first heard this song. I can even take you to the exact parking spot I was parked in. This song changed my life. Level 42 ARE my favorite band, hands down.
Literally gave me goosebumps when you revealed it was Something About You. I absolutely love Level 42 and that song. What an amazing band they are. Fortunate to see them in 2010 as they rarely play the US. This band means so much to me.
What I love about this video is it showed the guys in the band getting the idea and working through it to finish the song together. Today's music isn't even close to that because songs are driven by the producers. The artists barely touch it. It's not their vision or craftsmanship, it's the producers. And some artists will have 3 or 4 producers on a single album. Someone comes to them with a finished song and they put their vocals on it. It's not the artist's work but the producers work that the artist takes credit for.
Awesome interview. Mike Lindup is an absolute amazing unsung (no pun intended) hero in music. Period. His keyboard licks and voice are sooo fantastic! Without Mike, I don’t see L42 having the success they’ve had.
This song is always in my top 10 songs from the 80s it has easily one of the best 80s bass lines, composition was one of the best of that era. Underrated band, for me the song is unforgettable and I can’t say that it’s underrated because I now know I’m not the only one who recognizes it! Awesome that it’s one of your favorites too, Adam.
Level 42 where one of my favourite bands growing up in the 80’s, they always released quality albums with solid songs on them even the unreleased tracks where brilliant and stand the test of time even today. I still listen to them to this day and they will always have a special place to the soundtrack of my life.
In fact, my favorite band of my teen years, I was struck by Something about you the first time I saw it on tv and I fell in love with the band. Now I’m a 52 years old musician and Level 42 is still one of my biggest influences.
Level 42 have been one of the few bands I have listened to since I was a kid, I'm 54 now! Children say, if you were mine, heaven in my hands, leaving me now, something about you, all fantastic songs, level 42 greatest band I ever saw live!
Whenever I hear Something About You, it automatically reminds me of a girl I had a major crush on when I was a kid; weird how songs can invoke certain feelings.
"Something About You" is my all time favorite song! I'm so happy and grateful that it is yours too! This was a fantastic interview and only makes me love this song more. Level 42 is so underrated in general so it was nice to see them as a spotlight here. I have a lot of memories with this song and didn't realize it was my favorite until college when I sat down and made a list of my favorite songs. Like you, this list was a list of songs that I listened to over and over and never get sick of no matter what is going on. It always picks me up and the Shep Pettibone remix is a repeatable masterpiece. My favorite memory was back in 2007, my last year of high school. Our class was told to bring a love song to share for extra credit so we could use them to classify which type of love the song was relaying. I brought in "Something About You". Nobody had heard the song before but it was the only song that was grouped into Agape love. Something my teacher said would be impossible. The song truly is a masterpiece.
Can’t come down to a greatest song of all time. Like you, it’s a matter of each song taking me to a different place at a different time in my life. A dance club in Okinawa, the hotel in 29 Palms, CA with the lads watching MTV, the free concert we stumbled across in Jacksonville FL in 89…and it was Gary Pucket and the Union Gap, a generation before me…but I digress, level 42’s hit Something About You was my favorite song and video of the 80s! Don’t know why and there’s SO many great hits from all decades but this sticks with me. Good on ya, lad!
Poll: What is your personal FAVORITE song of all time? Where you can hear it thousands of time and never tire of it?
"I Go Crazy" by Paul Davis. I loved it when I was 6, and I absolutely love it at 50!
The Outfield - Your Love
I don't know which song would be a jam of mine, but I have never heard this song in your video, all the way through, and will honor you by going and watching the video. It sounds like a great song!
Africa by Toto.
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way
By the Blow Monkeys.
Mike is such a humble guy. I met him once before a solo gig, and he spent a half hour with me having tea, talking about Level 42.
Wow 🤩 that’s so cool!
❤
“Something About You” is an amazing song. Not one wasted note. The vocals, guitars, and synth merge beautifully to carry the listener back in time.
Great song, yes. I personally loved Lessons In Love more, but this video about how they developed this song was very interesting indeed.
@@VauxhallViva1975 also love Lessons in Love, I have it on 33, haunting melody
@@anthonym8345 Lessons in Love is the better of the two.
And that SICK bass line by Mark!!
@@BuddyRichCWhich one?! Both Lessons In Love and Something About You had great bass lines. Didn't hurt you had Mark King playing them. Just a great band. This was my favourite lineup. It changed a bit when Staring At the Sun came out, but the original guys had such a chemistry, it was lightning in a bottle.
I love "Something About You" by Level 42, I used to think I was alone on this one but I'm glad I'm not. It is an underrated song.
You are not alone! ;-)
I absolutely love this song!
Keep watching the videos. Mark King is an amazing bassist.
I'd say they're not under rated it's their one hit wonder and it's one of the greatest one hit wonders ever but because they are in that category, ya don't hear it constantly 🤷 it's probably in my top 5, 80s songs ,,, it's similar to sunset grill , fantastic but never over played because one hit wonder again 🤷 weird history
Level 42 is definitely underrated. One of the greatest bands period. In my opinion. Children Say is my all day song. I listened to it every day for a year once.
Great choice! I’m: “Man”, “Starchild”, “Good Man in a Storm”….gawd, so so many!!!!
I jam to 'Are You Hearing?' on my Mark King Jaydee bass whenever I practice.
Totally underrated
Not underrated by me!
Leaving me now. Pretty strong too.
Mark King is a remarkable bassist. He can sing, chew gum, and slap that bass. Excellent song and band. This interview with Mike Lindup is so cool. He is a groovy keyboardist.
I have to agree that this song is a perfect slice of the 80s. Such an underrated and unappreciated band, who is still performing at a high level. Thank you for this Professor.😀
My favorite Level 42 song is "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)", which features a wickedly funky bassline by Mark King and a strong lead vocal by Mike Lindup. This talented band was a standout group in the 1980s, and it was truly loved by those of us who craved style and substance in our music.
So very true.
What a lovely person he is. I would expect nothing less from one who could write and perform such a lovely song. This was a real treat for me because its also one of my favorites and I always wondered about the story behind it.
Mike Lindup's interview with the Professor was amazing. Such humility and interest in the minutiae of a classic pop tune. He honored fans by letting us hear the back story. Thank you, Mike!
Top comment right here.
I literally listen to this song nearly every day. I love it so much. Mark is one of the top bassists in the world and Mike has such a great voice. Their performances seem so effortless when you see a live version. It's interesting how he described how difficult his part was in the early days because an audience member would never know it. This song and lessons in love are so good I don't think they'll ever get old.
Great comment.
My dad (born in the 30s) was a complete jazz aficionado… Yet since 1986, if we’d asked him his top favourite songs - he would invariably include ‘Something About You’ amongst the myriad jazz vinyls he cherished & knew so much about.
He could never explain why, but he just adored that song. World Machine was the first ‘pop’ record he ever asked us to buy him, and he grinned every time he played or heard Something About You - from the week it was released, to literally the week he died. We played it so many times to him that last week, alongside some of the greatest & oldest jazz standards ever released. To Dad and us, that song belonged right up there with them all, however different a genre it was. Thanks for sharing this, and to Mike, Mark, Boon, Phil & Wally, for one of the songs that always makes us remember him.
Your dad was clearly a man of taste. "World Machine" is an excellent album.
Something About You has a way of defying explanation. I get your dad's enthusiasm, and fruitless pursuit of the elusive bons mots to describe the magic
That’s some great memories. May his spirit and memory be eternal.
Level 42 are what is known in retrospect as a "Sophisti-pop" band... a sub-genre of music in the 80's mainly from the UK that incorporated elements of pop, rock, jazz, new wave into one style. That may be why
What a wonderful and beautiful response. I bet Dad enjoyed hearing the boys knock it out of the park during his departure. Lots of Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie & John Coltrane for my Dad. RIP Fathers…
Mark King was an absolute monster on the Bass, for one of the most underrated bands of the Era.
My favorite is Something About You as well. It comes up on my playlist EVERYDAY-and I listen every time. Whenever I drive to Chicago from Dayton Ohio, Starchild is just a go to.
He still is.
As well as being a world class musician what a lovely guy Mike Lindup is that is happy to talk about his work so freely
Level 42 was ahead of its time in many ways. 'Something About You' is a classic that I will never tire of.
Such a catchy, upbeat likeable tune. Always love hearing it. Never have I ever tired of it.
I absolutely get the chills when it plays on Muzak in my local grocery store (even though I listen to it fairly often at home)!!! I almost feel a sense of pride that I adopted them early (in the US, that is), and that I own every single CD, and most DVDs they’ve put out. It’s almost a sense of “yup, if you all only knew what else they’ve put out”, and it’s just generally gratifying!
When this song first came out, I couldn't get enough of it. It is a pick me up, feel good, singing-along-with-it, and danceable song. I was also a fan of Level 42's "Lessons in Love". The 80's was my decade of favorite music. So much awesome music came out during this decade.
It is one of the quintessential feel-good 80s classics! Lessons in Love rocks too!
Same for me, couldn't get enough of this song...love Level 42...the 80's had the best music🙂
Level 42 had some great songs. 'Running in the Family' and my favourite Level 42 song has to be 'Heaven in my Hands'.
When this song and "Broken Wings" came out, I named them my #1 and #2. I can listen to "Something About You" 24/7. When this song starts, with EITHER intro, the beat and the bass line immediately puts me in a better mood! 1985 is also my favorite year for music and MANY aspects of my life. Thanks!
Mister mister was a great band
It's that Phil Gould groove!
Agreed on most points!
Level 42 for a time in the 80's couldn't miss. So many good songs. Fortunate to have seen them at the NAC in Ottawa.
So happy to find out this is your favorite song, it is mine as well! I never get tired of it and can listen to it every day. I have introduced my son to Level 42 and he loves it. Glad to see Level 42 getting more attention recently. Underappreciated and under rated by far.
I adore Mike Lindup, this song is brilliant and I don’t think anyone would ever get tired of it. ✌️😙
That track is the only song that has ever kept me up all night. Back in '86 it started playing it in my head at 11pm one night and it was still there five hours later - a ridiculous earworm for all the reasons you go through in this great interview. On World Machine, this is immediately followed by Leaving Me Now, which I think is an even better song (if that's possible). It's one of the greatest one-two punches in album history. Thank you so much, Professor, for showcasing this classic cut.
World Machine is still my Number One Level 42 album!!!!
Level 42 is in my DNA...I grew up with their music, and I've heard their albums over and over and over again. I also like bands like Type-O-Negative, R.E.M., The SMiths, Depeche Mode...but L42 has a very special in my heart. "Something about you" is indeed incredible....so beautiful.
I love those bands as well! I love Type O. I am going to see Depeche Mode this Saturday in New Orleans.
Never tire of this song. I used to play the start of this to people to demo my Walkman when this album was released, it would blow their minds.
Mike's voice is still so amazing..........priceless and legendary !
One of my favorite tracks of all times. What a jam.
What I love about these great songs is when the artists tell you, "we were just messing around," or "we really had nothing, but someone struck a chord that got us all excited." It brings the process back to inspiration, we all need it at times, and stories like this just keep us all going.
Level 42 were a huge part of my 80s teen years. All 4 members contributed to a hugely successful sound of my youth. So sad Boon took his own life in 2019. I played the tape of their Running in the Family album until it wore out. From the chart hits to the album fillers, upbeat songs like Lessons in Love and To Be With You Again to the melancholy It's Over.Just awesome awesome awesome
Ugh! It's Over..... that song ripped my heart out. I played that sucker over and over. That was the song I perfected my vibrato on, singing along with Mark. Good choice!
This song came out the year I met my husband. He died this past October. This song will always be my 80s jam -- thought I was the only one -- because it reminds me of a great love...and because it's so damned longing/ethereal/funky!
I am sorry for your loss.❤
“We’re only human after all...” just always gives me the chills- such a beautiful song!!!! One of my absolute favorites, having been a teenager in the 80s. Some others that transport me back to those years are “Hold Me Now” by the Thompson Twins, “Things Can Only Get Better” by Howard Jones, “Tempted” by Squeeze, ABC’s “The Look Of Love”, and Toto’s “Rosanna”... and that list goes on!
Mark King’s bass line is what always caught my attention with Level 42
I remember hearing and buying this song thinking, this has number 1 all over it and it was fantastic, but not everyone thought so?
I put it down to people being ignorant and not knowing anything about music 😄
I have always loved this song. Level 42 was one of the best bands of the 1980's. 💜💙❤️
Adam, this was one of your best interviews and that’s saying something. To be able to ask the motivation and creative process behind a favorite song by one of the writers is a great gift that you get to do. Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street is one of those songs that’s right up there with my all time favorite tunes. If I remember correctly you have already did a program on that tune. Keep up the good work. I always look forward to your videos. Your love of music surely shines through each and every one of them.
I remember when this song came out on MTV. It definitely caught my attention as "complete" and fundamentally solid. I was also baffled as to why it wasn't a bigger hit.
It's my all time favorite song! Told my kids to play it at my funeral.... hopefully many years from now!
It's true, the more critically I listen to this song the more I hear. The verses and chorus with different voices yet the same chord changes. The sycopated beat, the complex bass playing, how the bridge is brought in combining the chorus with the verses layere with fantastic vocal harmonies. Then the solid guitar solo, the upbeat feel caps it. There is a lot there.
Mike Lindup is very underrated in my opinion. His solo work is excellent.
"Something About You" definitely gets the recipe right. The harmonies, the lyrics, the music layering. These guys put out some really rich sounds over the years. Some other personal favorites, "It's Over," "Heaven In My Hands," the bass line in "Love Games" is fantastic, and "Leaving Me Now."
from the first note, my heart elevates. and like you, I could listen to it everyday
I absolutely love this song. I only first heard it a few years back, despite being an 80s kid. I can't get sick of it, it's fantastic. You're right, prof....this song rules. What an underrated band too!
HELL YES! This song gets a bit of radio play even today, but not nearly enough accolades! Great hooks, great vocals, and a flawless production! I'm with you on this one, Professor! 👏
This is just a fantastic interview. Your love of the song obviously fueled your interaction with Mike, who was so generous in sharing his memories of its creation.
Those 4 notes that follow the first "How" in the song just elevate me to a time in the 80s when nothing was wrong. They give lots of space for the music to be heard between lyrics which is rare these days.
The 80s were, for many of us touching sixty, very special.
It really fills your ears with joy!
Your comment has made me as nostalgic as this song...
Exactly. Take a hit song from the 1980's and release it today and it'd still be a hit nowadays, but if you could take a song from today and release it in the 1980's it wouldn't have even got into the charts. I got to live my youth in the best decade ever. Wish I could go back and stay there.
I definitely agree with your comment on the song giving space between the music and the lyrics. Aside from Mark King's "How," followed by the four keyboard notes, I also like the space given to the guitar notes at the end of the first chorus between "That there is Something About You," "Baby," and "So Right."
There something about this song that's so right. Love the music and the video. It's truly a song I'll be excited to hear again and again
Professor, this is the most difficult question that I have ever come across in all my life! Favourite song of all time. This song is definitely in my list. But since you have already chosen it I have to pick another. Within this band and it is none other than "Leaving me now!" It really hurts to listen to this song but I love it! Reality bites! Hope you can do an interview on how this song came about. That will be great! Cheers to Level 42! Thank you Professor. You are doing a fantastic job! Keep it up!
OMG - Your absolute favorite song is mine as well. EVERYTHING in this song is perfection. It makes my ears smile, my body relax, and my mind slide into bliss. I can listen to it indefinitely or now and then, and I will NEVER turn it off if it's playing. Yes, yes, YES!!!!
Something About You is just a fun song. I do love how it combines everything fun about the 80’s. Thanks for another great show Adam! ~💜
It’s such a wonderful song. I showed this to the math department chair at my school, who was born around the same time that this song peaked, and said that I would recommend this song to her because it’s such a cool song. So glad I did!
Agree 100%
I just said to my wife two days ago when this came on the radio… this is one of my favorite song of the 80’s… and never ever tire of it either!
I couldn't agree more Adam. I could listen to this song EVERY day and not get sick of it!!
I am *so* with you on this and it's in my "top 3" songs for the decade. Many songs I need to hear a number of times before I really like it but this one grabbed me immediately. Funny story: When this came out, I was hanging around with this girl and we very similar tastes in music. We were in my car and this song came on. It was newly released and hadn't peaked in popularity yet but I already was a fan. I say to her "Have you heard this song ??" "No, I haven't" she answered. She barely got the words out her mouth when the DJ says "Have you heard this song ??" in virtually the exact same tone I used. We had naturally had a laugh. I seriously love this song.
incredible song ..nostalgia washes over you instantly
This song is absolute perfection. What a deep dive into the origins of this timeless example of masterclass.
I have loved this song for decades, one of my earliest musical memories that always stood the rest of time. It's still regular rotation for me on UA-cam Music. I literally always thought I was alone.
This is a phenomenal song, and is actually one of their more straight ahead numbers in their catalog. They’re amazing musicians and I LOVE this song!
I hadn’t listened to this gem for awhile. I agree this song should have been in a movie!
The only song by Level 42 I've heard in a movie was during the credit roll of a John Cusack movie called Hot Pursuit. Should've had more!!
Good call. It would have fit in countless movie soundtracks!
Shep pettibone mix is classic.
I'm a huge Level 42 fan. My favorite song on World Machine is Good Man In A Storm. I especially love that little bass riff at the intro. Thanks for a great interview. Mike Lindup is a humble man.
I love Good Man In A Storm too! I might even say it’s my defining anthem.
Love you even more! That’s my favourite song, too🥰👍🏼! Reminds me of riding in my boyfriend‘s mustang in 1986 with this playing full blast😎❤.
That's the song that got me obsessed with Level 42 and Mark King. I have every single and album they've brought out.
That is CRAZY Professor!!! That is MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE TOO!! I was JUST listening to it minutes before I stumbled on your video!! I, like you, LOVE tons of music from the 70's and especially 80's, but THIS song "Something About You" is JUST like you stated; It just encapsulates and pulls together the entire feeling and nostalgia of the 80's for me!! Just a GREAT tune!! AWESOME!!! Other people are confused and surprised that this song is my FAVORITE song of all time with ALL of the GREAT music of the 80's that we grew up with!!
Thank you so much for justifying my taste in music. Even the recognition & appreciation for the long intro. This is such a great song and whenever I tell people about it, they have no idea what song I'm talking about. Very cool that you got to interview one of the people responsible for such a genius work.
"Something About You" introduced me to Level 42, and so I had the great pleasure to discover all their previous work. The earliest albums didn't wow me, but "Standing in the Light, "True Colors", and "World Machine" positively Changed My Life. Those three albums..... Perfection. Perfection. Despite all the drama going on in these teenage years of my life, these three albums brought me to peace and equilibrium, like no other albums could provide. And ever since then, they are the albums that bring sense to this life. As you had somewhat stated about other favorite songs of yours, I ONLY break out these albums in certain timeframes, because they are too precious to wreck by overplaying!
Level 42 deserve a much higher platform in the history of music, but at least I've had the privilege of experiencing their work as a beautiful background to my life, and I feel truly blessed to have enjoyed every note. Amazing music. Amazing lyrics. Simply, in the top tier of music, and if you don't know the band, you've been missing out on the best sounds of life.
"World Machine", as an album... come on. A PERFECT album. ...and the 'Something About You' video? A gift of a lifetime, and quite peerless, and unlikely to be topped since bands don't put any soul into videos anymore... so blessed to have experienced this song, this video, and this band, as those years played out. It's clear that nothing will top this, not in my lifetime.
Running in the Family and World Machine are perfect albums. All bangers, no fillers.
Lessons in Love! Also amazing!
When I told my friends I like this song as one of my favorites in 1989 they thought I was a little wimp, it was already an oldie but I was still in love with it, I wish I could have this video to explain the reason why.
What a lovely man, and what an interesting interview! I've always loved that song, and to hear how it came about was great! ❤
Great taste Adam!
My 2 interchangeable favorites are “Something About You” and “Everybody Wants to Rule The World”-depending on the day.
I graduated HS in 1986 so Something About You takes me right back to being 18 and not a care in the world!
I agree, these 2 so great and always bring me back to that time. 1987 Grad!
Had to laugh because just before this I posted "Rule the World" as my favorite driving song but it and Sting's "Fortress Round Your Heart" are, like you depending on the day, my two favorite, "perfect" songs.
Rule the world is my fav song too , lol this song is one of my favorite songs ever timeless classic…..
Okay, I’ll just say that “Run The World” is my favorite TFF song 😉
Must have simply been a once in a lifetime moment for you to get to meet those who made your favorite music man! Cheers as always
...Ain't nuthin' like it....met several Music legends, and gushed TREMENDOUSLY, and, they were like, "...eh, s'what I do..." ....ha-HAAA!!
Fantastic song, every time it plays in my mix I hit replay at least once if not more. It just never gets old.
Wow...what a honor for Level 42...I cant believe of all the songs, this song was chosen by the professor of rock. This song truly is an institution, one of the greatest pop songs of all times. Just perfection all around. Maybe I listened to it more than 2000 times.
I’ve done songwriting in the past, and it is so cool, watching this guy slowly put the pieces together for what becomes a hit song.
This is one of those songs that has such an 80’s aesthetic it’s near perfect. It ended up being #4 on my favorites of 1985 behind Holding Back The Years, No One Is To Blame, and Head Over Heels. Out of the entire decade, 1985 put out my most favorite songs.
Head Over Heels is sublime, another song that I will always love until the day I die! Love Holding Back The Years too!
Absolutely agree, love those songs and still listening to them - they are for ma aperfect 80s. I would just add to this list also a Nik Kershaw’s - Wouldn't it be good.
Curiosity: on a same Nik’s album there is a one song played by Mark King from Level 42.
For me, it's all about Mark's bass. Totally makes this song addictive and unforgettable.
Mike Lindup!!!_love him and Level 42....soundtrack of my life...cheers!😀
I love this song. Takes me right back to happy 80's childhood memories.
Level 42 is my all time favorite too.
First heard "Something About You" coming home from school in 1986 on MTV. The video haunted me and the band imprinted on me hard. Mark King's the reason I play bass. Cheers!
For as long as I can remember, I've always ranked Level 42's "Something About You" alongside The Outfield's "Your Love" and Dan Hartman's "I Can Dream About You". They are, without a doubt, my holy trinity of 80's gloriousness.
I love "your love" 😃🤘🤌
great choice of songs. Dan Hartman's track was a great gem.
I can dream about you.... always did some dance at work with my coworkers... people would just stop and laugh. We'd be dancing, then... back to work
I never heard of Level 42 until I worked at fed ex copy and ship store almost 13 years ago because. I was born in the early eighties but when I heard Something about you I got hooked to this band.
Thank you again, Adam, for a stellar interview with a definite gem of the '80s. I absolutely loved the detail you went into the song with Mike. And thank you Mike and Mark King for Level 42!! I saw them open up for Tina Turner, on one of her tours......... And absolutely could not believe that they were an opener, instead of a headliner! Thank you again, Adam, And thank you Mike and Mark for all the great music!
One of my favorite songs and group. Thank you both for taking the time to explain the background of making it.
This song has been in my top 5 songs of all time since I first heard it. I played in on my cassette player that entire summer of 1986, every day. It has never left my rotation and I feel excited every time I hear it on the radio. Truly a slice of Heaven
I feel the same way about this song. I'm more of a hard rock/heavy metal type of guy, but when that song comes on you just gotta crank it and sing along!
I always enjoy the technical side of how artists record/make music. Great interview!
Thanks Shannon!
Amazing one Professor. He seems like such a nice humble guy!
I love this song!! I crank it up and belt it out every time I hear it on the radio.
Something About You is the perfect song. It never gets old. I remember my sister and I singing along to it on the radio. Great stuff!
Thank you so much for this!!
Something About You, Lessons in Love, Running in the Family and Leaving me Now - are just incredible tracks and really are part of the soundtrack to my adolescence. Fantastic!
Amazing you got this interview!!!! This is my favorite song of all time and I’m always shocked more people don’t recall it! Though I’m like you and was obsessed with rock from a young age. This song says it all. It is THE BEST♥️♥️♥️♥️
"Something about you"! One of my all time favorite songs Professor! Best Bass guitar playing I've ever seen! And the synthesizer just makes the song! Great interview Professor!This song always picks me up! Thanks for keeping the music alive Professor!
I was thinking this song as soon as I read the title. OMG I can listen to this over and over and over again. Mark King just rocked this along with the crew. Thank you for this!
I can tell you where I was when I first heard this song. I can even take you to the exact parking spot I was parked in. This song changed my life. Level 42 ARE my favorite band, hands down.
Literally gave me goosebumps when you revealed it was Something About You. I absolutely love Level 42 and that song. What an amazing band they are. Fortunate to see them in 2010 as they rarely play the US. This band means so much to me.
What I love about this video is it showed the guys in the band getting the idea and working through it to finish the song together. Today's music isn't even close to that because songs are driven by the producers. The artists barely touch it. It's not their vision or craftsmanship, it's the producers. And some artists will have 3 or 4 producers on a single album. Someone comes to them with a finished song and they put their vocals on it. It's not the artist's work but the producers work that the artist takes credit for.
Thank you! It’s sad that this is the reality now.
Bruno Mars is just given songs these days to put his vocals on? How cool!
What you are talking about is labels, there are TONS of musicians making music, they just don't get access to the public airwaves.
When you can make something complicated seem effortless you've done a fantastic thing.
God.. This song.. Such an optimistic and inspiring song. An absolute banger. My dad would have just loved to see this amazing interview. Bravo.
Awesome interview. Mike Lindup is an absolute amazing unsung (no pun intended) hero in music. Period. His keyboard licks and voice are sooo fantastic! Without Mike, I don’t see L42 having the success they’ve had.
This song is always in my top 10 songs from the 80s it has easily one of the best 80s bass lines, composition was one of the best of that era. Underrated band, for me the song is unforgettable and I can’t say that it’s underrated because I now know I’m not the only one who recognizes it! Awesome that it’s one of your favorites too, Adam.
Level 42 where one of my favourite bands growing up in the 80’s, they always released quality albums with solid songs on them even the unreleased tracks where brilliant and stand the test of time even today. I still listen to them to this day and they will always have a special place to the soundtrack of my life.
In fact, my favorite band of my teen years, I was struck by Something about you the first time I saw it on tv and I fell in love with the band. Now I’m a 52 years old musician and Level 42 is still one of my biggest influences.
Same as you. Was born in 1970 and our age group saw the greatest music and pop culture in history.
To be with you again has to be the most underrated level 42 song. Great video thanks
Level 42 have been one of the few bands I have listened to since I was a kid, I'm 54 now! Children say, if you were mine, heaven in my hands, leaving me now, something about you, all fantastic songs, level 42 greatest band I ever saw live!
Love Level 42. 'Something About You'is a great track and its video is classy 😎
I like Lesson in Love
Love this song, man!
Whenever I hear Something About You, it automatically reminds me of a girl I had a major crush on when I was a kid; weird how songs can invoke certain feelings.
Such an underrated 80's band. I also dig "Running in the Family" and "Lessons in Love."
Love Lessons in Love!
My favorite’s Two Solitudes. The lyrics get me every time.
“Children Say” for me..
My favorite L 42 song is Two solitudes. Harmonies and music gave me goose bumps...
My favourite by Level 42 was off the same album called Leaving Me Now. Heartbreaking lyrics and amazing harmonies.
"Something About You" is my all time favorite song! I'm so happy and grateful that it is yours too! This was a fantastic interview and only makes me love this song more. Level 42 is so underrated in general so it was nice to see them as a spotlight here. I have a lot of memories with this song and didn't realize it was my favorite until college when I sat down and made a list of my favorite songs. Like you, this list was a list of songs that I listened to over and over and never get sick of no matter what is going on. It always picks me up and the Shep Pettibone remix is a repeatable masterpiece. My favorite memory was back in 2007, my last year of high school. Our class was told to bring a love song to share for extra credit so we could use them to classify which type of love the song was relaying. I brought in "Something About You". Nobody had heard the song before but it was the only song that was grouped into Agape love. Something my teacher said would be impossible. The song truly is a masterpiece.
"Message of Love" is a great song also. I even heard it being played at my local Builder's Square hardware store the other day so its still around.
Can’t come down to a greatest song of all time. Like you, it’s a matter of each song taking me to a different place at a different time in my life. A dance club in Okinawa, the hotel in 29 Palms, CA with the lads watching MTV, the free concert we stumbled across in Jacksonville FL in 89…and it was Gary Pucket and the Union Gap, a generation before me…but I digress, level 42’s hit Something About You was my favorite song and video of the 80s! Don’t know why and there’s SO many great hits from all decades but this sticks with me. Good on ya, lad!