The most criminally understated band ever. Big guitars, Big Drums. Every song is an anthem with genius lyrics. Stuart was a generational talent and sorely missed. My favorite band.
A local alt-rock station played "You Dreamer" when "Why the Long Face" came out in 95 as a kind of "Hey, Big Country released something!" thing (they played a lot of 80s as well.) I loved that album.
They supported Queen at Knebworth, the first time of many that I saw them live. You could see the change in the crowd as they started playing. People were milling around paying no attention. The next group to us was about 8 ft away, 2 songs in and we could not move for people trying to get closer to the stage. One of the best bands ever and something else live. Saw them at Town and Country Club, Kentish Town a couple of times. On one occasion Stuart Adamson took my friends camera, took close up photos of each band member and gave the camera back. Good to see them reform after the tragic loss of Stuart, they will never sound quite the same, but it';s great to hear the music live again.
There is a cult of people in this world who believe this song is one of the greatest songs of all time. And I have been a part of that cult since the 1980s. The album from which that song comes, 'The Crossing'. is one of my Top 10 albums. Happy that I've finally heard the song on this channel.
They gave that big new age rock UK sound like others around that time U2, Inexcess(?), Police, even much later Chris Martin had that big sound with his band.
Oh how I loved this song! Still do. It’s such a shame the singer isn’t with us anymore. 😢. Always ask for help if you’re struggling. I know it’s hard, but there are people who can help.
Yes, so very tragic and sad. :( A very heartfelt message, thank you for sharing that advice with us all. 🥰🙏🏽 I love this song too, haven't heard it in a long while! It's crazy how as soon as u hear a great song, the nostalgia is just instantaneous! I would also love to see them explore The Blow Monkeys' "Digging Your Scene". They were amazing!
Stuart came from my village in Scotland. We used to hear the group practicing in the community centre and everyone moaned about the noise 😂 The Skids were also from my town too. It was such a shock when we heard of Stuarts passing. May he rest in peace 🙏
Рік тому+4
I'm from Brazil and they're my favorite band! Would you mind to tell me more about their early years?
I'm a Dunfermline man myself (now living in Canada). Absolutely love The Skids and Big Country. And punk band Alternative (also from Dunfermline back in the day).
@@ladykaycey they played at my brothers school when I was a kid… I was a few years too young for them but remember Richard Jobson doing a music TV show on late night!
I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime. These lyrics always hit home with me and filled me with hope. It saddens me to think that he couldn't find the peace he deserved. RIP Stuart Adamson
Big Country had their own unique sound. There was no one else like them when they burst on the scene in early 80s. Their 1st album "The Crossing" is a masterpiece and was Grammy nominated. Their 2nd album "Steeltown" went no.1 in UK. They were all accomplished musicians and amazing live. RIP Stuart Adamson. Your songs live on, you'll never be forgotten.
I have always loved this song. It had a big impact on me. The line "I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert." follwed by the next lines, to me meant, I'm not expecting miracles but I can still dream. As someone with a long history of mental health issues those lines made me question my outlook on life and my inability to accept my perceived failures.
It makes me cry.. especially the verse "I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered, but you can't stay here with every single hope you have shattered"..
Adamson's bagpipe like guitar sound was achieved with a pitch shifting effects pedal by MXR. It shifted the guitars frequencies up an octave or two into bagpipe territory.
My bad , it actually was an MXR Pitch Transposer 129 pedal. I had read about some band using the Ebow to similar effect it just wasn't Big Country. It'll come to me eventually.
@@rogerdaly6326 No, they used Ebows too. Listen to the intro to 'The Storm,' for instance. The Church used an Ebow to get a similar sound on 'Under the Milky Way.' That's probably the one you're thinking of.
Ebows don't pitch shift. It's basically a tiny electro‐magnet vibrator you put near a string and it vibrates the string for as long as it's activated, you can then fret anywhere on the neck to get infinite sustaining notes. It's a cool device, but difficult to position correctly, and as such, rarely used live. Nowadays, you can get the same effect in a pedal without the finicky gizmo, so they are not seen much anymore. They do create awesome haunting sounds, though. I have one and its a fun tool. You could for sure use an Ebow and a pitch shifter together for more weirdness.
I cannot say how much I appreciate the way Amber really listens to and takes in lyrics!! I'm usually more like Jay and focus on the music more. As for this song, it's such a joyous blast of sound!! The 80's had a few good to great Scottish singers and groups. Sheena Easton is Scottish, and if you haven't heard The Proclaimers "I Would Walk (500 miles)", you will love it!
What a fantastic song from a great era of music! I was really surprised that Big Country didn't blow up in the USA, as great as their sound really was. Rest in Peace Stuart Adamson
I’m so glad you picked this song. I’ve loved this song forever. I think this came out in 1983. This song just made you feel confident about the future living in a BIG COUNTRY like the USA…even though Big Country wasn’t an American band.
Hey guys! I am so glad you enjoyed Big Country 👍 They were a local band to me and I was a huge fan back in the day and went to see them 4 times in the 80s 😊 I definitely recommend "Fields Of Fire" as your next Big Country reaction, it'll get ya jumping 😅
Agree -Fields of Fire is amazing - How about Harvest Home and The Storm? And Ships - one of the later songs but so beautiful! They were so unique. God bless Stuart and may perpetual light shine upon him and may his soul and those of all the faithful departed rest in peace! Amen
"Chance", "Look away" and "fields of fire" by this band are well worth reviewing - thank you for playing a lot of the music I grew up on. Don't forget Simple Minds if you want another Scottish band to review
A song about fighting back from adversity, and not giving up - total banger. Particularly like these lines; "So take that look out of here it doesn't fit you Because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discarded Pull up your head off the floor, come up screaming Cry out for everything you ever might have wanted" Stuart Adamson's daughter Kirsten does a great copy of this song - just her and acoustic guitar. RIP Stuart.
I love Big Country! They have an amazing live version of this song from Glasgow where they follow it up with Auld Lang Syne. You can feel their energy and love from the audience. Incredible sound. And RIP Stuart Adamson ❤️
Amber was spot on with her ear picking up the guitar sounding like bagpipes. The other minor hit that in my opinion is as good as this song is “Fields of Fire” Definitely check that out.
FINALLY!! YES!!! YES!!! I was a Senior when this wonderful song came out. We would sit around for hours watching MTV waiting for this song to come out. Thank you so much for showing this song. You have made so, so many people happy and put a smile on our faces!
Big Country is one of the most underrated bands ever. Very talented and a very distinctive sound. Some great songs from them include "Seven Waves", "The One I Love", "Look Away", "Fields of Fire", and "Peace In Our Time". The album "The Buffalo Skinners" is a real rocker from start to finish. You can also see the acoustic side of Big Country by viewing a performance video of the song "The Buffalo Skinners", this is a fantastic performance and a beautiful song, although I'm not sure what it has to do with skinning Buffaloe's.
I'm with you with The Buffalo Skinners. As a Canadian fan, BC seemed to just disappear after Peace In Our Time so I thought they were done. Then suddenly I found this in the record store and it's an f'ing masterpiece from beginning to end!
@@exile220ify The Crossing The Seer Steeltown Peace in our time The Buffalo Skinners Why the Long Face Driving to Damascus Try and get them all, you won't be dissapointed,trust me.
They're from my home town of Dunfermline and I saw them live many times. One of the best live acts of the 80s. RIP Stuart Adamson Another great one of theirs is called "Chance" - a superb piece of 80s social commentary.
@@dougiemilnephotography756 her Scottish Songbook album is worth a listen, I played it non stop when it came out but apart from the odd track popping up on a mixed playlist I haven't listened to it in a while. The sleevenotes are like a story book, there's a really heartfelt tribute to Stuart.
Proud Scotsman here, this is probably my favourite ever track by a Scottish artist and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! They had such a unique sound driven mainly by the late Stuart Adamson’s amazing guitar playing 🏴
This song was a big hit when it came out. Unfortunately, they weren't able to duplicate the success in the US, but they had about 15 hits in the UK. I'd recommend Fields of Fire, Look Away, and Wonderland.
This song was so HUGE for them in 1983. Their debut album, The Crossing, is full of great tunes.. " Harvest Home", "Lost Patrol", "Fields Of Fire", and "Inwards" are all excellent..
Agreed, love Big Country. You might also really like the band Runrig as they are the closest sound I have heard. I'm happy to make a recommendation of where to start (they made music for about 40 years).
I was 12 years old when this song was released. I am still the biggest 80s music fan and its all I listen to still. I hill I am willing to die on is that this song is hands down THE best pop song to come out of the 80s.
Their vocal harmonies and guitars were indeed written to sound almost like bagpipes playing. Its such a unique sound and they the entire song is very well constructed.
You have just played one of the greatest under rated band in the whole world. Still playing live and are incredible. There are so many gems from this wonderful group of fantastic musicians and Stuart's lyric writing is absolute poetry with deep thoughtful meaning. Their back catologue is huge and absolutey awsome. Just pick anything for you next song, you won't be disappointed - RIP Stuart Adamson, poet, song writer, musician and fantastic man. So sad, I'm getting emotional just writing this...
I am in this video!😂 One of the divers paddling the boat out. Filmed in Swanage, Dorset, U.K. back in the 1980’s. What a blast from the past. The band were great guys and were having a blast.
YESSSS I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOREVER FOR THIS ONE!!!! Sorry, haven’t even watched the reaction yet and I’m jumping up and down. One of my all-time favorites both musically and lyrically. 🙌
Thank you, J & Amber! 👏🏾 This sub is an 80’s kid who grew up on classic MTV. Big Country was my 5th Grade experience. 🤓 Shout our to all your UK subs!✌🏽 🏴 🏴 🏴
What a pick you guys! An extremely underrated band, but hugely influential (on the likes of U2 and so many others, especially in that early 80s period). Tony Butler, a bass player with incredible chops, and Mark Brzezicki, what a drummer - saw them a couple of years back (with a different singer). Sadly the lead singer Stuart Adamson died in 2001 by suicide but remains so special in the hearts of fans worldwide. Amber has picked up the vibe of the song totally, and the big heart of Adamson. Everybody's allowed to have big dreams indeed.
Lyrics: [Verse 1] I've never seen you look like this without a reason Another promise fallen through Another season passes by you I never took the smile away from anybody's face And that's a desperate way to look for someone who is still a child [Chorus] In a big country dreams stay with you Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside Stay alive, here we go [Verse 2] I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime [Chorus] In a big country dreams stay with you Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside Stay alive [Chorus] In a big country dreams stay with you Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside Stay alive [Bridge] So, take that look out of here, it doesn't fit you Because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discarded Pull up your head off the floor, come up screaming Cry out for everything you ever might have wanted [Verse 3] I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime [Chorus] In a big country dreams stay with you Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside Stay alive Ha! Ha! [Chorus] In a big country dreams stay with you Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside Stay alive [Chorus] In a big country dreams stay with you Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside Stay alive
This was a stand out favourite of mine back then. I'm with you on the sound... it was different then too, kind of like a Celtic rock feel ! Also the lyrics helped build a picture of dreams and positivity. This 10 year old boy was very enamoured by this song. It seems like songs back then took you places and made you think. ❤
As you noticed, Stuart Adamson plays his ebow guitar to sound like bagpipes, their signature sound. That plinking you thought was a keyboard was a guitar. So many good songs from this often overlooked group. Give "Chance" a try, which will break your heart. My favorite is "The Crossing" which is from their Wonderland EP, not the album The Crossing. I play The Crossing back to back with Porrohman (from the album The Crossing). Both are mostly instrumental, and will take you on a 15-minute emotional journey.
Hey guys! Thanks for doing one of RSR Family's requests, a number of us are finally happy that you got to it. Very catchy and popular hit from them. Such a great Scottish sound. I have Scots-Irish in me. Song Suggestion: Men Without Hats--Pop Goes The World.
This was the first band that I ever saw live and as a live act they were fantastic. Loads of great songs by them but just a couple to try would be 'Chance' and 'Fields of Fire'
This is what we called new wave music. It was what the preppies and valley girls used to listen to. Wasn’t really my genre but watching your expression to 80’s music is priceless. God bless and love to you and yours.
The football team (soccer) that I support was playing the team Stuart supported. The chap that sat behind me knew Stuart and gave him his ticket for the game. It was my dad that realised it was Stuart so I got to meet Stuart Adamson. Guy was an absolute legend.
"But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered, see ya" -- I've been digging this song for nearly forty years. How lucky I was to be in high school when MTV was in its heyday, turning us on to music from across the pond and beyond with videos like that one.
Love the guitar effects. Yes they sound like bagpipes. I was a senior in college when this song came out. At the time to me there were only three bands that mattered: Big Country, The Alarm, and U2. In many ways they sounded similar and most of their songs were anthems much like this.
RIP Stuart Adamson, lead singer for Big Country. Died by suicide at a airport hotel in Hawaii. He was 43 years young!!! Aloha from Hawaii RSR Family!!!
The guitar sounding like pipes is deliberate and the guitarist Bruce Watson still tours as Big Country and still gets the crowd bouncing along. Great Band. Great Sound. RIP Stuart Adamson (formerly of The Skids)
I have always loved this song especially the bagpipes sound. It's sad that the lead singer is no longer with us but grateful for this gem he left us. Glad to see Amber's reaction, pure joy listening to this.
I recommend "Fields of fire", "Harvest home", "Chance" or "Wonderland" if you want to react to more Big Country. I saw them play live twice in 1983 and they were superb.
lol i hit thumbs up before the video even started. 👍 love when you two dive into the 80s deep cuts and not just the superpop everyone's familiar with. that said, this had heavy rotation on MTV back in the day. another Scottish band you may want to check out is The Cocteau Twins. But you might not be ready for them just yet.
People mistakenly refer to Big Country in the one-hit wonder category, but this band put out multiple awesome albums. One song that you should really listen to is Wonderland from this same lp.😀 Amber, great pick-up on the positive lyrics on a first hearing!
They were a "one-hit wonder" in the U.S. but they had quite a few additional hits in Europe. Also, Wonderland isn't from this album, but was a stand-alone single that came out between their first two albums. Definitely one of their best tracks though.
You have to check out the lead singer and guitarist’s first band The Skids who did several songs as good and Scottish as this. “Into the Valley”, “The Saints Are Coming”, “Working for the Yankee Dollar”, “Animation”, “Masquerade” and “Women in Winter” being just seven examples!
I am so lucky to have grown up in the 80s - we had such great music! We were exposed to great foreign bands: Men at Work, Midnight Oil, Big Country, Def Leppard, so many to name!!! I miss MTV circa the 80s!!
Three English guys and one from Canada, all excellent musicians, playing Scottish rock !! Love them ! Stuart Adamson - vocal, guitar Bruce Watson - guitar Tony Butler - bass Mark Brzezicki - drums R.I.P. Stuart, always in our heart ♥
I’m not expecting to grow flowers in the desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun In wintertime !! Genius from a lovely fella now sadly left us 🥲
You're absolutely right about the guitar sounding like bagpipes!!! It was an intentional effect and achieved using a pitch transponder. Thanks for doing this one... definitely one of my all time favorites! 🏴
So glad you listened to these guys. RIP Stuart Adamson (formerly of The Skids, who you might be interested in). By the way, I know AC/DC is considered an Australian band, but the Young brothers and the original singer (Bon Scott) were all actually born in Scotland. The lead singer/songwriter for Men At Work is Scottish. Front man for Aussie band Cold Chisel, then an extremely successful solo artist, Jimmy Barnes, is also Scottish. If you want to hear more music from Scottish artists, there’s Simple Minds, The Blue Nile, Orange Juice, Texas, The Proclaimers (only a ‘1 hit wonder’ in America’s eyes), and so many more.
One of my Favorites from the 80s! I used to be called Big Country around the dealership - and took it as a compliment! This band had a ton of energy and heart in their music along with some fun and memorable vidoes (still don't know what its about - but it was so cool). Great dive for you!
Fields of Fire was their other big song. Kudos to Amber, you are the absolute best of anyone at this (and anyone I know) at picking up lyrics and song meanings, while still also being able to isolate the instruments and feel the music.
"Look Away". That's the next Big Country song you need to hear. Big Country singer/guitarist/songwriter Stuart Adamson (RIP) developed the bagpipe sound on his guitar by using an effects pedal called an MXR M-129 Pitch Transposer.
This is a really good song, I think their biggest hit. The bass player in this band, Tony Butler, was a temporary member of The Pretenders and played the killer bassline on "My City Was Gone". For better or worse, I can't hear this song without remembering how he singer, Stuart Adamson, came to a tragic end. He disappeared from his home in Nashville in October 2001, skipping out on a court date and drinking again after being sober for a decade. In December, police in Waikiki, Hawaii found his body in a room at the Best Western Plaza Hotel, where he had been drinking to excess before taking his own life. This story really shocked me because I used to live in Hawaii and I've driven past the Best Western Plaza Hotel probably a hundred times or more. He was a voice I used to hear on the radio, and he was my age too. RIP Stuart.
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in 1981. They were quit popular in the 1980s with their unique musical style that combined Scottish folk music with rock. The band's debut album "The Crossing" was a massive hit, featuring the hit single "In a Big Country." Despite early success, Big Country struggled to replicate that success in the years that followed. The band's original lineup began to fracture, and founding member and lead singer Stuart Adamson tragically passed away in 2001. Despite this tragedy, Big Country continues to perform to this day, and are one of the most innovative and influential bands to emerge from Scotland in the 80s.
I'm in a local record spinners group where we have parties and spin LPs all night long. This one's on my play list and it always gets people up and dancing. I think it's a great song to absolutely let yourself go and dance like nobody's watching. I'd had it on a compilation tape when I was younger and wore the tape out from constant rewinding and playing it over and over. Excellent pick whoever suggested it. Have a great day guys, Paul.😁👍❤️
"Local Spinners Record Group"??? That sounds like fun. Is it a thing or just your lucky Local group. How did it get started? I'm interested in the idea.
@@peace-and-quiet A group of my friends were talking in the pub one night about records. The idea came up that we should have a party and play our LPs for the music. We each have a half hour segment to spin using 2 turn tables, while one is playing you get the next ready and continue on. We have one 3-6 months apart. We also each bring food to share with everyone. We now know who'll bring starters, main course and dessert. We usually go to people's homes. They hired the party room of a local pub for my 50th birthday. I severely sprained my ankle 2 days before it so it wasn't the best night for me. Give it a go, it's great fun. Cheers, Paul.🤗
I love this scottish band. besides Simple Minds and U2, Big Country has this specific unique Rock sound. If you like them also: "Look away" and "Eiledon" are great songs.
This song definitely brought a smile to my face. I saw Big Country in concert when I was in college. They played in the gymnasium across the street from my dorm and we cheered so much they did 5 encores. I just pulled out my album of Big Country. Other songs you should listen to are "Fields of Fire" and "Harvest Home"
I am so happy you guys got to react to one of my favourite bands. Bruce on guitar and Stewart on the vocals are so different to everyone else. His voice is so distinctive and NO one ever will ever match the high riffs Bruce can do.
The most criminally understated band ever. Big guitars, Big Drums. Every song is an anthem with genius lyrics. Stuart was a generational talent and sorely missed. My favorite band.
I agree, my favourite band and I was devastated when I heard about Stuart.
A local alt-rock station played "You Dreamer" when "Why the Long Face" came out in 95 as a kind of "Hey, Big Country released something!" thing (they played a lot of 80s as well.) I loved that album.
They supported Queen at Knebworth, the first time of many that I saw them live. You could see the change in the crowd as they started playing. People were milling around paying no attention. The next group to us was about 8 ft away, 2 songs in and we could not move for people trying to get closer to the stage. One of the best bands ever and something else live.
Saw them at Town and Country Club, Kentish Town a couple of times. On one occasion Stuart Adamson took my friends camera, took close up photos of each band member and gave the camera back. Good to see them reform after the tragic loss of Stuart, they will never sound quite the same, but it';s great to hear the music live again.
❤❤ great band
They could have had it all if it weren’t for that stupid leprechaun stealing their act
There is a cult of people in this world who believe this song is one of the greatest songs of all time. And I have been a part of that cult since the 1980s. The album from which that song comes, 'The Crossing'. is one of my Top 10 albums. Happy that I've finally heard the song on this channel.
Can I be in that cult?
The Storm, Lost Patrol, Porrohman, Where The Rose Is Sown, Just A Shadow
OI am of that cult too!
I am with you on this
from the Netherlands while living in Africa but Porrohman and the Storm, wow
YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW HOW LONG i'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE! ENJOY!
THANKS FOR THE SMILES!
They gave that big new age rock UK sound like others around that time U2, Inexcess(?), Police, even much later Chris Martin had that big sound with his band.
i cant wait till they hear HAIR CUT 100 .love plus one / i know they'll both like it
Actually, the Young brothers and Bon Scott of AC/DC were born in Scotland, the same as Colin Hay, the singer and songwriter of Men At Work.
@@8moody1 Ian Astbury from The Cult is also Scottish. Thought he was native American forever.
@@The80sCat Midge Ure of Ultravox, Elizabeth Fraser of This Mortal Coil who happens to be my aunt as well. We have some amazing bands here.
Stuart was the best songwriter of his time, at his funeral The Edge (U2) said Big Country wrote the songs that U2 wished they'd have written.
I love Stuart's lyrics...taken from us way too young. I think of Big Country as the sound of Scotland.
Oh how I loved this song! Still do. It’s such a shame the singer isn’t with us anymore. 😢. Always ask for help if you’re struggling. I know it’s hard, but there are people who can help.
Bands still touring though, playing the 'Forever Young' festival in Ireland later this month. Planning to make it.
Yes, so very tragic and sad. :( A very heartfelt message, thank you for sharing that advice with us all. 🥰🙏🏽 I love this song too, haven't heard it in a long while! It's crazy how as soon as u hear a great song, the nostalgia is just instantaneous! I would also love to see them explore The Blow Monkeys' "Digging Your Scene". They were amazing!
Yes RIP Stuart Adamson
@@earth2kosmickitty - That is a great song! I’d forgotten all about it. That’s why I never skip the comments here!
@@earth2kosmickitty Digging Your Scene is awesome and I'd love to see their reaction!
Stuart came from my village in Scotland. We used to hear the group practicing in the community centre and everyone moaned about the noise 😂 The Skids were also from my town too.
It was such a shock when we heard of Stuarts passing. May he rest in peace 🙏
I'm from Brazil and they're my favorite band! Would you mind to tell me more about their early years?
I'm a Dunfermline man myself (now living in Canada). Absolutely love The Skids and Big Country. And punk band Alternative (also from Dunfermline back in the day).
So few people will have ever heard of the Skids… even in Scotland… top name drop!
@@aarpoonwaify6694 They were very big in my day lol they practiced in the same community centre too 🤣
@@ladykaycey they played at my brothers school when I was a kid… I was a few years too young for them but remember Richard Jobson doing a music TV show on late night!
Their other hits in the UK were "Fields of Fire" and "Look Away".
Both worth a listen.
Oh, I LOVE "Fields Of Fire"! Check it out, guys!
@@HelenH-fk2jh Chance and Porrohman as well.
They were great live. RIP Stuart Adamson. Legend.
My fav has always been Just a Shadow.
Great songs! Tall Ships Go is my favorite by them.
RIP Stuart Adamson
Amber is an absolute savant in interpreting lyrics. Amazing what she gets out of listening to a song for the first time.
I agree. I can't absorb both music and lyrics like that with my first listen.
She also picked up on the bagpipe sounding guitars.
I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert
But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime.
These lyrics always hit home with me and filled me with hope. It saddens me to think that he couldn't find the peace he deserved. RIP Stuart Adamson
I am trusting in Our Lord that Stuart is at peace. Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord and May perpetual light shine upon him
Big Country had their own unique sound. There was no one else like them when they burst on the scene in early 80s. Their 1st album "The Crossing" is a masterpiece and was Grammy nominated. Their 2nd album "Steeltown" went no.1 in UK. They were all accomplished musicians and amazing live. RIP Stuart Adamson. Your songs live on, you'll never be forgotten.
I have always loved this song. It had a big impact on me. The line "I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert." follwed by the next lines, to me meant, I'm not expecting miracles but I can still dream. As someone with a long history of mental health issues those lines made me question my outlook on life and my inability to accept my perceived failures.
It makes me cry.. especially the verse "I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered, but you can't stay here with every single hope you have shattered"..
🫠
Stuart Adamson was incredible.. R.I.P ... you were a music pioneer and you left a music legacy that will never be forgotten ❤
Adamson's bagpipe like guitar sound was achieved with a pitch shifting effects pedal by MXR. It shifted the guitars frequencies up an octave or two into bagpipe territory.
That's so interesting. I thought they were trying to get violins to sound like bagpipes.
He used an Ebow which is a device that creates an infinite vibration on whatever string it is over and can easily be moved from one string to another.
My bad , it actually was an MXR Pitch Transposer 129 pedal. I had read about some band using the Ebow to similar effect it just wasn't Big Country. It'll come to me eventually.
@@rogerdaly6326 No, they used Ebows too. Listen to the intro to 'The Storm,' for instance. The Church used an Ebow to get a similar sound on 'Under the Milky Way.' That's probably the one you're thinking of.
Ebows don't pitch shift. It's basically a tiny electro‐magnet vibrator you put near a string and it vibrates the string for as long as it's activated, you can then fret anywhere on the neck to get infinite sustaining notes. It's a cool device, but difficult to position correctly, and as such, rarely used live. Nowadays, you can get the same effect in a pedal without the finicky gizmo, so they are not seen much anymore. They do create awesome haunting sounds, though. I have one and its a fun tool. You could for sure use an Ebow and a pitch shifter together for more weirdness.
"Chance" "Fields of fire" & "Look Away" are other great hits from this great band! 👍💕🏴🇬🇧
I cannot say how much I appreciate the way Amber really listens to and takes in lyrics!! I'm usually more like Jay and focus on the music more. As for this song, it's such a joyous blast of sound!! The 80's had a few good to great Scottish singers and groups. Sheena Easton is Scottish, and if you haven't heard The Proclaimers "I Would Walk (500 miles)", you will love it!
Those are great suggestions ✌️
Annie Lennox! :)
They already did I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Sheena Easton! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The Scars were another Scottish band I liked
This band was ahead of its time. Innovated the guitar bagpipe sound. Immense kudos for reviewing one of the best 80s alternative bands BIG COUNTRY!
The long version of this song is the best! There's a full minute-plus drum solo you HAVE to hear!
Agreed. I feel robbed if not that drum into.
Here it is! ua-cam.com/video/ml414qVAxvA/v-deo.html
What a fantastic song from a great era of music! I was really surprised that Big Country didn't blow up in the USA, as great as their sound really was. Rest in Peace Stuart Adamson
I’m so glad you picked this song. I’ve loved this song forever. I think this came out in 1983. This song just made you feel confident about the future living in a BIG COUNTRY like the USA…even though Big Country wasn’t an American band.
Hey guys! I am so glad you enjoyed Big Country 👍 They were a local band to me and I was a huge fan back in the day and went to see them 4 times in the 80s 😊 I definitely recommend "Fields Of Fire" as your next Big Country reaction, it'll get ya jumping 😅
Love that one, too!
Agree -Fields of Fire is amazing - How about Harvest Home and The Storm? And Ships - one of the later songs but so beautiful! They were so unique. God bless Stuart and may perpetual light shine upon him and may his soul and those of all the faithful departed rest in peace! Amen
@@yensilluap I love The Storm, great story telling. So many great songs.
"Chance", "Look away" and "fields of fire" by this band are well worth reviewing - thank you for playing a lot of the music I grew up on. Don't forget Simple Minds if you want another Scottish band to review
'Minds: Waterfront and Belfast Child.
A song about fighting back from adversity, and not giving up - total banger.
Particularly like these lines;
"So take that look out of here it doesn't fit you
Because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discarded
Pull up your head off the floor, come up screaming
Cry out for everything you ever might have wanted"
Stuart Adamson's daughter Kirsten does a great copy of this song - just her and acoustic guitar.
RIP Stuart.
I always thought that line was “You’ve fought for air before and come up screaming.”
I love Big Country! They have an amazing live version of this song from Glasgow where they follow it up with Auld Lang Syne. You can feel their energy and love from the audience. Incredible sound. And RIP Stuart Adamson ❤️
Barrowlands, Glasgow gig '83 - I wasn't there but I have almost worn out the DVD. You can still see this gig on YT - RIP Stuart
Amber was spot on with her ear picking up the guitar sounding like bagpipes. The other minor hit that in my opinion is as good as this song is “Fields of Fire” Definitely check that out.
FINALLY!! YES!!! YES!!!
I was a Senior when this wonderful song came out. We would sit around for hours watching MTV waiting for this song to come out.
Thank you so much for showing this song. You have made so, so many people happy and put a smile on our faces!
Same here!
Big Country is one of the most underrated bands ever. Very talented and a very distinctive sound. Some great songs from them include "Seven Waves", "The One I Love", "Look Away", "Fields of Fire", and "Peace In Our Time". The album "The Buffalo Skinners" is a real rocker from start to finish. You can also see the acoustic side of Big Country by viewing a performance video of the song "The Buffalo Skinners", this is a fantastic performance and a beautiful song, although I'm not sure what it has to do with skinning Buffaloe's.
I'm with you with The Buffalo Skinners. As a Canadian fan, BC seemed to just disappear after Peace In Our Time so I thought they were done. Then suddenly I found this in the record store and it's an f'ing masterpiece from beginning to end!
@@exile220ify
The Crossing
The Seer
Steeltown
Peace in our time
The Buffalo Skinners
Why the Long Face
Driving to Damascus
Try and get them all, you won't be dissapointed,trust me.
@@stevemelia2651Not sure why you sent this to ME. It's very apparent I'm a Big Country fan. I own all of their albums.
They're from my home town of Dunfermline and I saw them live many times. One of the best live acts of the 80s. RIP Stuart Adamson
Another great one of theirs is called "Chance" - a superb piece of 80s social commentary.
Have you heard Karine Polwart's cover of Chance? It's melodic, folksy and heartbreaking but stunningly beautiful
@@elainewightman2015 I haven't but I'll go look it up now
I have now. It's beautiful
@@dougiemilnephotography756 her Scottish Songbook album is worth a listen, I played it non stop when it came out but apart from the odd track popping up on a mixed playlist I haven't listened to it in a while. The sleevenotes are like a story book, there's a really heartfelt tribute to Stuart.
@@elainewightman2015 I must look it up
Proud Scotsman here, this is probably my favourite ever track by a Scottish artist and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! They had such a unique sound driven mainly by the late Stuart Adamson’s amazing guitar playing 🏴
This song was a big hit when it came out. Unfortunately, they weren't able to duplicate the success in the US, but they had about 15 hits in the UK. I'd recommend Fields of Fire, Look Away, and Wonderland.
This song was so HUGE for them in 1983. Their debut album, The Crossing, is full of great tunes.. " Harvest Home", "Lost Patrol", "Fields Of Fire", and "Inwards" are all excellent..
First rock concert I ever saw; an amazing band. And the album this is from is nearly flawless, and still sounds like nothing else.
Agreed, love Big Country. You might also really like the band Runrig as they are the closest sound I have heard. I'm happy to make a recommendation of where to start (they made music for about 40 years).
Oh man- "The Crossing" is amazing all the way through.
I saw them open for Roger Daltrey I was deaf by the time they hit the chorus. Excellent band.
Mine too. 1986 Ingliston Showground, Edinburgh. I was 14. A life changing moment.
Such a fantastic band, as a Scot, I've always been proud of our musicians 🏴
Except Stuart was born in Manchester, Bruce in Canada, Mark in Slough, and Tony in Hammersmith - not a true Jock among them 🙂
As a Canadian I have also been waiting for this song ! Another super cool 80’s vibe ,1984 I believe.
This song gives me goosebumps. Such an oceanic, rollicking, epic sound.
I was 12 years old when this song was released. I am still the biggest 80s music fan and its all I listen to still. I hill I am willing to die on is that this song is hands down THE best pop song to come out of the 80s.
Big Country were a huge group for 3-4 years. One of the best live acts of early / mid 80’s
OMG! I LOVE BIG COUNTRY! This is my favorite band ever! Im so glad you finally got around to listening!
Their vocal harmonies and guitars were indeed written to sound almost like bagpipes playing. Its such a unique sound and they the entire song is very well constructed.
Such a great song! Takes me back! ❤
You have just played one of the greatest under rated band in the whole world. Still playing live and are incredible. There are so many gems from this wonderful group of fantastic musicians and Stuart's lyric writing is absolute poetry with deep thoughtful meaning. Their back catologue is huge and absolutey awsome. Just pick anything for you next song, you won't be disappointed - RIP Stuart Adamson, poet, song writer, musician and fantastic man. So sad, I'm getting emotional just writing this...
I’ve been saying that for years! RIP Stuart❤❤
Such a great band, with so many awesome songs! Stuart Adamson's death by suicide was such a loss....
I am in this video!😂 One of the divers paddling the boat out. Filmed in Swanage, Dorset, U.K. back in the 1980’s. What a blast from the past. The band were great guys and were having a blast.
YESSSS I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOREVER FOR THIS ONE!!!! Sorry, haven’t even watched the reaction yet and I’m jumping up and down. One of my all-time favorites both musically and lyrically. 🙌
I love how Amber is able to recall the lyrics on a first listening and she always gets it!
Thank you, J & Amber! 👏🏾 This sub is an 80’s kid who grew up on classic MTV. Big Country was my 5th Grade experience. 🤓 Shout our to all your UK subs!✌🏽 🏴 🏴 🏴
What a pick you guys! An extremely underrated band, but hugely influential (on the likes of U2 and so many others, especially in that early 80s period). Tony Butler, a bass player with incredible chops, and Mark Brzezicki, what a drummer - saw them a couple of years back (with a different singer). Sadly the lead singer Stuart Adamson died in 2001 by suicide but remains so special in the hearts of fans worldwide. Amber has picked up the vibe of the song totally, and the big heart of Adamson. Everybody's allowed to have big dreams indeed.
Agreed but I'd say Echo and the Bunnymen were the most influential band for early U2.
Amber, you are absolutely right that the guitar is intended to mimic bagpipes!!
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
I've never seen you look like this without a reason
Another promise fallen through
Another season passes by you
I never took the smile away from anybody's face
And that's a desperate way to look for someone who is still a child
[Chorus]
In a big country dreams stay with you
Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
Stay alive, here we go
[Verse 2]
I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered
But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered
I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert
But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime
[Chorus]
In a big country dreams stay with you
Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
Stay alive
[Chorus]
In a big country dreams stay with you
Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
Stay alive
[Bridge]
So, take that look out of here, it doesn't fit you
Because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discarded
Pull up your head off the floor, come up screaming
Cry out for everything you ever might have wanted
[Verse 3]
I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered
But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered
I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert
But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime
[Chorus]
In a big country dreams stay with you
Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
Stay alive
Ha! Ha!
[Chorus]
In a big country dreams stay with you
Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
Stay alive
[Chorus]
In a big country dreams stay with you
Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
Stay alive
This was a stand out favourite of mine back then. I'm with you on the sound... it was different then too, kind of like a Celtic rock feel ! Also the lyrics helped build a picture of dreams and positivity. This 10 year old boy was very enamoured by this song. It seems like songs back then took you places and made you think. ❤
As you noticed, Stuart Adamson plays his ebow guitar to sound like bagpipes, their signature sound. That plinking you thought was a keyboard was a guitar. So many good songs from this often overlooked group. Give "Chance" a try, which will break your heart. My favorite is "The Crossing" which is from their Wonderland EP, not the album The Crossing. I play The Crossing back to back with Porrohman (from the album The Crossing). Both are mostly instrumental, and will take you on a 15-minute emotional journey.
FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I love this song, it's a real earworm 😁
The whole album is great.
I am English, but I had a work colleague whose Scottish mother really liked Big Country because their guitars sounded like bagpipes.
I always loved the guitars sounding like the pipes!
Hey guys! Thanks for doing one of RSR Family's requests, a number of us are finally happy that you got to it. Very catchy and popular hit from them. Such a great Scottish sound. I have Scots-Irish in me. Song Suggestion: Men Without Hats--Pop Goes The World.
Yes! Everyone knows "Safety Dance," but I LOVE "Pop Goes the World!"
This was the first band that I ever saw live and as a live act they were fantastic. Loads of great songs by them but just a couple to try would be 'Chance' and 'Fields of Fire'
Great song! I'm having MTV flashbacks. I LOVE IT!!
This is what we called new wave music. It was what the preppies and valley girls used to listen to. Wasn’t really my genre but watching your expression to 80’s music is priceless. God bless and love to you and yours.
The football team (soccer) that I support was playing the team Stuart supported. The chap that sat behind me knew Stuart and gave him his ticket for the game. It was my dad that realised it was Stuart so I got to meet Stuart Adamson. Guy was an absolute legend.
"But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered, see ya" -- I've been digging this song for nearly forty years. How lucky I was to be in high school when MTV was in its heyday, turning us on to music from across the pond and beyond with videos like that one.
I never took the smile away from anybody's face - that would be a goal to aspire to!
All-time favorite! Great pick up on the lyrics Amber!
MEN AT WORK?? No way. This band was singular and this song, "In a Big Country," is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Classic and timeless.
Wow Amber! I’ve listened to this song hundreds of times and never got the lyrics until now…you got it on the first listen!!😊💕💕
Amber killing it! She does love good positive or romantic lyrics
She always does! I'm looking forward to the day they review Kid by The Pretenders.
Love the guitar effects. Yes they sound like bagpipes. I was a senior in college when this song came out. At the time to me there were only three bands that mattered: Big Country, The Alarm, and U2. In many ways they sounded similar and most of their songs were anthems much like this.
RIP Stuart Adamson, lead singer for Big Country. Died by suicide at a airport hotel in Hawaii. He was 43 years young!!! Aloha from Hawaii RSR Family!!!
Malama pono!
Another true fan; I see
Aloha from West Virginia 🙋🏻♀️
Wow I didn't know that
Oh 💔
I did not know that 💔
"Wonderland" is a great Big Country song. I'm certain you'll really like it.
Absolutely love this album!! My favorite Big Country cuts:
"Inwards"
"Chance"
"The Storm"
"Fields of Fire"
“The Storm” is one of my favourites
The guitar sounding like pipes is deliberate and the guitarist Bruce Watson still tours as Big Country and still gets the crowd bouncing along. Great Band. Great Sound. RIP Stuart Adamson (formerly of The Skids)
I have always loved this song especially the bagpipes sound. It's sad that the lead singer is no longer with us but grateful for this gem he left us. Glad to see Amber's reaction, pure joy listening to this.
I recommend "Fields of fire", "Harvest home", "Chance" or "Wonderland" if you want to react to more Big Country. I saw them play live twice in 1983 and they were superb.
The song "Chance" is sad and beautiful and provides insight into Stuart Adamson's difficult childhood. RIP
Those bagpipe sounds are all made on the guitar without any bending of the strings. That was all Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson. RIP Stu..
lol i hit thumbs up before the video even started. 👍 love when you two dive into the 80s deep cuts and not just the superpop everyone's familiar with. that said, this had heavy rotation on MTV back in the day. another Scottish band you may want to check out is The Cocteau Twins. But you might not be ready for them just yet.
I've always loved this song. Such life and energy, a great melody and that bagpipe guitar, or whatever. I want to be in that big country!
People mistakenly refer to Big Country in the one-hit wonder category, but this band put out multiple awesome albums. One song that you should really listen to is Wonderland from this same lp.😀 Amber, great pick-up on the positive lyrics on a first hearing!
They were a "one-hit wonder" in the U.S. but they had quite a few additional hits in Europe. Also, Wonderland isn't from this album, but was a stand-alone single that came out between their first two albums. Definitely one of their best tracks though.
@@robgrano6814 You're right. My bad. They had Wonderland on the Bonus Track issue of The Crossing.
One of my fraternity brothers in college was a DJ at a local bar. He opened EVERY show with this song.
You have to check out the lead singer and guitarist’s first band The Skids who did several songs as good and Scottish as this. “Into the Valley”, “The Saints Are Coming”, “Working for the Yankee Dollar”, “Animation”, “Masquerade” and “Women in Winter” being just seven examples!
Definitely. And check out their performance of Into the Valley on Top of the Pops.
Most underrated & overlooked band of the '80s..... SOOOoooooo many great songs. Glad you checked them out (& nice shirt, there girlie!!).
I am so lucky to have grown up in the 80s - we had such great music! We were exposed to great foreign bands: Men at Work, Midnight Oil, Big Country, Def Leppard, so many to name!!! I miss MTV circa the 80s!!
Three English guys and one from Canada, all excellent musicians, playing Scottish rock !! Love them !
Stuart Adamson - vocal, guitar
Bruce Watson - guitar
Tony Butler - bass
Mark Brzezicki - drums
R.I.P. Stuart, always in our heart ♥
This song is an all time banger. Amber's right, the lyrics are fantastic and incredibly eloquent. Stuart Adamson was quite a wordsmith.
I’m not expecting to grow flowers in the desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun In wintertime !! Genius from
a lovely fella now sadly left us 🥲
You're absolutely right about the guitar sounding like bagpipes!!!
It was an intentional effect and achieved using a pitch transponder.
Thanks for doing this one... definitely one of my all time favorites! 🏴
So glad you listened to these guys. RIP Stuart Adamson (formerly of The Skids, who you might be interested in).
By the way, I know AC/DC is considered an Australian band, but the Young brothers and the original singer (Bon Scott) were all actually born in Scotland. The lead singer/songwriter for Men At Work is Scottish. Front man for Aussie band Cold Chisel, then an extremely successful solo artist, Jimmy Barnes, is also Scottish.
If you want to hear more music from Scottish artists, there’s Simple Minds, The Blue Nile, Orange Juice, Texas, The Proclaimers (only a ‘1 hit wonder’ in America’s eyes), and so many more.
All their songs are great. And yes, EVERYONE wanted to know how the guitars sounded like bagpipes! Yes it's the guitars.
One of my Favorites from the 80s! I used to be called Big Country around the dealership - and took it as a compliment! This band had a ton of energy and heart in their music along with some fun and memorable vidoes (still don't know what its about - but it was so cool). Great dive for you!
Fields of Fire was their other big song. Kudos to Amber, you are the absolute best of anyone at this (and anyone I know) at picking up lyrics and song meanings, while still also being able to isolate the instruments and feel the music.
"Look Away". That's the next Big Country song you need to hear.
Big Country singer/guitarist/songwriter Stuart Adamson (RIP) developed the bagpipe sound on his guitar by using an effects pedal called an MXR M-129 Pitch Transposer.
This song was always a banger and just a refreshing blast from the 80's. Rest in peace Stuart.
This song was a high school anthem for me. Miss those days sometimes. RIP Stuart
Big Country and Stuart Adamson wrote some great music and always with top draw lyrics. One of the best live bands you could ever wish to see.
This is a really good song, I think their biggest hit. The bass player in this band, Tony Butler, was a temporary member of The Pretenders and played the killer bassline on "My City Was Gone". For better or worse, I can't hear this song without remembering how he singer, Stuart Adamson, came to a tragic end. He disappeared from his home in Nashville in October 2001, skipping out on a court date and drinking again after being sober for a decade. In December, police in Waikiki, Hawaii found his body in a room at the Best Western Plaza Hotel, where he had been drinking to excess before taking his own life. This story really shocked me because I used to live in Hawaii and I've driven past the Best Western Plaza Hotel probably a hundred times or more. He was a voice I used to hear on the radio, and he was my age too. RIP Stuart.
This song always lifts my spirits. I think I read how they went about making their guitars sound like bagpipes. 🎸
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in 1981. They were quit popular in the 1980s with their unique musical style that combined Scottish folk music with rock. The band's debut album "The Crossing" was a massive hit, featuring the hit single "In a Big Country."
Despite early success, Big Country struggled to replicate that success in the years that followed. The band's original lineup began to fracture, and founding member and lead singer Stuart Adamson tragically passed away in 2001. Despite this tragedy, Big Country continues to perform to this day, and are one of the most innovative and influential bands to emerge from Scotland in the 80s.
I'm in a local record spinners group where we have parties and spin LPs all night long. This one's on my play list and it always gets people up and dancing. I think it's a great song to absolutely let yourself go and dance like nobody's watching.
I'd had it on a compilation tape when I was younger and wore the tape out from constant rewinding and playing it over and over.
Excellent pick whoever suggested it.
Have a great day guys, Paul.😁👍❤️
"Local Spinners Record Group"??? That sounds like fun. Is it a thing or just your lucky Local group. How did it get started? I'm interested in the idea.
@@peace-and-quiet A group of my friends were talking in the pub one night about records. The idea came up that we should have a party and play our LPs for the music. We each have a half hour segment to spin using 2 turn tables, while one is playing you get the next ready and continue on. We have one 3-6 months apart.
We also each bring food to share with everyone. We now know who'll bring starters, main course and dessert. We usually go to people's homes. They hired the party room of a local pub for my 50th birthday. I severely sprained my ankle 2 days before it so it wasn't the best night for me.
Give it a go, it's great fun. Cheers, Paul.🤗
@@paulsheedy4650 That sounds like it is an absolute kick in the pants... what a great idea.
The bagpipe sound from the guitar was created using an effects pedal called a "pitch transposer."
I love this scottish band. besides Simple Minds and U2, Big Country has this specific unique Rock sound.
If you like them also: "Look away" and "Eiledon" are great songs.
Yeah not given as much respect as other Celtic rock outfits.
U2s from Northern Ireland
@@markantinozzi8657 I don't think he was grouping on geography rather than the Celtic rock sound. Also U2 are from Dublin.
You should watch them live. One of the greatest live band.
This song definitely brought a smile to my face. I saw Big Country in concert when I was in college. They played in the gymnasium across the street from my dorm and we cheered so much they did 5 encores. I just pulled out my album of Big Country. Other songs you should listen to are "Fields of Fire" and "Harvest Home"
I am so happy you guys got to react to one of my favourite bands. Bruce on guitar and Stewart on the vocals are so different to everyone else. His voice is so distinctive and NO one ever will ever match the high riffs Bruce can do.