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Nik Kershaw — Wouldn't It Be Good
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xkolibuul
(Chuckanut sandstone)
Posted: Nov 21, 2012 - 10:58
 
 onomasticator wrote:
I think people are too hard on the '80s.  Yes, it's all so dated and ridiculously produced, but people had new toys and they were ambitious. I hate most of what came out of the era, but there were some gems that were something special.  Some albums I treasure.  

Then Nirvana came along . . . and that was that.
 
As a child of the 80s, I see no conflict between enjoying the gems while giving most of the decade the musical burial it so richly deserves.  Lord knows I paid my dues at the time.  

sirdroseph
(Tokyo)
Posted: May 21, 2010 - 12:52
 
 rabaak wrote:
I think the acoustical version on the 15 minutes album is a lot better than this 80's version
 

I love both versions, I just love this song! 9 -> 10!{#Notworthy}

amoreena
(west whatnot)
Posted: May 21, 2010 - 12:49
 
Wow....love this little ditty and haven't heard it in years.  Ironic that he sounds so happy while considering offing himself....

scrubbrush
Posted: May 21, 2010 - 12:49
 
yuck.

Mugro
(Beltway Bubble, Red Sox Nation)
Posted: Apr 19, 2010 - 19:26
 
I have a lot of good memories of this song. I used to have a live version of this on one of the Secret Policemen's Ball recordings. The Secret Policemen's Other Ball perhaps? Great version. Good song.

rabaak
Posted: Apr 19, 2010 - 19:21
 
I think the acoustical version on the 15 minutes album is a lot better than this 80's version

garycha
(Bristol, UK)
Posted: Mar 19, 2010 - 05:20
 
 I love the opening riff - so instantly identifiable.  Yes, a lot of the 80s stuff had too hard production sound - almost clinically hard.  But it was  time of the emergence of digital media (CD) and hard'n'bright was the order of the day.

Wouldn't want hear it too much...

sirdroseph
(Outer Mongolia)
Posted: Mar 19, 2010 - 05:14
 
Loved it madly the first time I heard and it and that has not changed one bit!{#Snooty}{#Notworthy} Gets a 9 from me!


ihategrapejuice
(Bloomington, IN)
Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 14:59
 
The comments on this song have a bizarre pattern in their time stamps. They are reproduced below. For at least the past number of months, it seems to be commented on in advancing days: May 7th, Jun 8th, Aug 10th, Sep 11th, Oct 12th, Nov 13th, Dec 14th, Jan 15th, But today is Feb 15, not 16th, alas.

Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 14:54     
Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 14:53     
Posted: Jan 15, 2010 - 04:56     
Posted: Dec 14, 2009 - 18:58     
Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 09:23     
Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 09:22     
Posted: Oct 12, 2009 - 22:06     
Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 08:43     
Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 08:38     
Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 08:32     
Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 20:27     
Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 20:24     
Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 20:24     
Posted: Jul 10, 2009 - 08:44     
Posted: Jul 10, 2009 - 04:31     
Posted: Jun 08, 2009 - 09:40     
Posted: Jun 08, 2009 - 09:34     
Posted: May 07, 2009 - 16:40     
Posted: May 07, 2009 - 16:33     
Posted: May 07, 2009 - 16:33     


onomasticator
(London, England)
Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 14:58
 
I think people are too hard on the '80s.  Yes, it's all so dated and ridiculously produced, but people had new toys and they were ambitious. I hate most of what came out of the era, but there were some gems that were something special.  Some albums I treasure.  

Then Nirvana came along . . . and that was that.

kestrel
(On a wire (in NC))
Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 14:54
 
Rarely to I leave RP...but its time for a little Pandora.{#Puke}

4merdj
(donde el viento se devuelve)
Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 14:53
 
 Sjaaks wrote:
How is it that this gets played at RP?! {#Snooty}

This is something for your local '80's radio station but not RP! C'mon!!!
 

Hehe! I was surprised too ... but I am not saying this in a judgmental way {#Cool}

I'm just looking forward to the next tune ...



Sjaaks
(Horst, Netherlands)
Posted: Jan 15, 2010 - 04:56
 
How is it that this gets played at RP?! {#Snooty}

This is something for your local '80's radio station but not RP! C'mon!!!

rabaak
Posted: Dec 14, 2009 - 18:58
 
There is another version of this by Nik Kershaw that is more acoustical and is much better in my opinion. I think it is on one of his newer albums

plaice3
(Cape Cod)
Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 09:23
 
Love this song.  The Nik Kershaw video on youtube is pretty cool for the time.  Doesn't that little tin whistle or celeste riff (I can't tell what that syn sound is supposed to be) pop up in an Eric Clapton song?  Can't remember which one.  It just always reminds me of this. 

nagsheadlocal
(North Carolina, the new New Jersey)
Posted: Nov 13, 2009 - 09:22
 
C'mon, admit it: the kind of song that you end up singling along to in the car.

AmandaMaria
(Vancouver Island)
Posted: Oct 12, 2009 - 22:06
 
 pummisher wrote:
The chorus sounds like a song called "Every Little Tear" by Janz Paul
 
I knew that if I went back far enough in these comments, I'd find someone who would tell me what song this reminds me of!  I used to love that Paul Janz song!


Rick_V
(New Orleans)
Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 08:43
 
Always loved this song!

ICHawk
Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 08:38
 
Fun tune from my youth.....thanks for bringing it back!

jpfueler
(South o' Ft Worth)
Posted: Sep 11, 2009 - 08:32
 
I always liked this.


df1489
Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 20:27
 

I wanted to say something profound but...well... take it or leave it, it's still a good song



cochlear
(Kauai, Hawaii)
Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 20:24
 
 EaLaSpada wrote:
Maybe not the greatest song in the world, but for the love I had of it when I was 12, I give it a "7". Yay for Nik and nostalgia!
 
Yes, it does have a little Partridge Family quality to it.


AmandaMaria
(Vancouver Island)
Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 20:24
 
 Krispian wrote:
This is great - brings back wonderful memories of my early teens.
 
and watching Stu Jefferies on that Saturday night music video show! {#Lol}

EaLaSpada
(Kissimmee, Florida)
Posted: Jul 10, 2009 - 08:44
 
Maybe not the greatest song in the world, but for the love I had of it when I was 12, I give it a "7". Yay for Nik and nostalgia!

darrenwwwa
(Amsterdam)
Posted: Jul 10, 2009 - 04:31
 
Serious time-warp!

{#Music}

FluorideFreeMN
(Central Minnesota)
Posted: Jun 08, 2009 - 09:40
 
Yuck.  Maybe give it another 20 years.

newwavegurly
Posted: Jun 08, 2009 - 09:34
 
 FilmSurgeon wrote:
Who did the version on the Pretty In Pink soundtrack?
 
The Danny Hutton Hitters
I still have my soundtrack on vinyl. 

Leslie
(Antioch, CA)
Posted: May 07, 2009 - 16:40
 
Man, does this sound dated. Blech.

kristinedahms
Posted: May 07, 2009 - 16:33
 
Ahhh great college memories. Haven't heard this in 20 years. Thanks.
80's politics aside, it's great 80's British pop. 

akmegan
Posted: May 07, 2009 - 16:33
 
Whoooa! Flashbacks...! {#Eek}


jnhashmi
(South Pasadena/Los Angeles)
Posted: May 07, 2009 - 16:32
 
This is just a great, great song that gives me all kinds of warm feelings. Wonderful.

Krispian
(Vancouver, BC)
Posted: Sep 10, 2006 - 03:44
 
This is great - brings back wonderful memories of my early teens.
eisbaer_67
(Kula, Hawaii)
Posted: Aug 26, 2006 - 13:02
 
meloman wrote:

I'm sure you're right that there was good music to be found. However, I'm almost 58, so let's say nearly a generation older, and my perspective is just that much different. The '80s saw the death of the dream we had in the 1960's, and that was the most difficult aspect of life in the US during the Reagan era for those of us who had protested the Vietnam war, reviled Daley's police action in Chicago, etc. So much of the music of the '60s was tied to our politics, that much of the newer music of the '80s wasn't that interesting, given the realities "on the ground." Besides, I think I was too serious for all that sarcastic/irrelevant/fun pop-rock. Still am in fact. Thanks for sharing your point of view.


From a German point of view the '80s were both depressing and exciting. The threat of nuclear annihilation with cruise missiles pointed East and West, social unrest over nuclear power, Perestrojka and the fall of the wall. Sure, there was mindless partying and the music to go with it.
But the music born out of punk rock was charged. It wasn't all Nena's "99 Luftballons" and Dead Or Alive's "Spin Me Round."
I was a teenager in the '80s - thaose were my formative years. Now, in my thirties I waver between idealism and cynicism.
The people who saw their late '60s dream dying in the '80s are the generation in power, now. Where is their contribution to make this a better world?
I have known a number of poloitical activists from the radical protest marchers' and house squatters' scene. Some of them are in positions of power, now. Few of them will admit it, but power corrupts. They may be able to carry over a smidgeon of their former ideals, but they have to play the game. What I am trying to say is: Don't bury your dreams, but live in the here and now. Stir some realism into your ideals and top it with LOVE.

meloman
(Warsaw, Poland)
Posted: Jul 15, 2006 - 07:44
 
rjs wrote:


Don't know your age, I'm mid-40s. Can't argue with the downside of 80s politics, culture of limitless greed, etc; all of that definitely sucked. And FM tanked big time. But that was the time to turn to college radio, with jangly guitars (REM, Lets Active, Guadalcanal Diary), exemplary songwriting (Springsteen's Nebraska, John Hiatt, Tom Waits), maturing socially-conscious punk (Midnight Oil), sarcastic/irrelevant pop and rock (Housemartins, Beat Farmers, Mojo Nixon, Talking Heads, CVB), fun rock/pop (B-52s, Scruffy the Cat), and pre-UT alt-country (Green On Red, Long Ryders, Jason and the Scorchers). Back when alternative music really was. See, it wasn't so bad.

I'm sure you're right that there was good music to be found. However, I'm almost 58, so let's say nearly a generation older, and my perspective is just that much different. The '80s saw the death of the dream we had in the 1960's, and that was the most difficult aspect of life in the US during the Reagan era for those of us who had protested the Vietnam war, reviled Daley's police action in Chicago, etc. So much of the music of the '60s was tied to our politics, that much of the newer music of the '80s wasn't that interesting, given the realities "on the ground." Besides, I think I was too serious for all that sarcastic/irrelevant/fun pop-rock. Still am in fact. Thanks for sharing your point of view.
rjs
(Atlanta, GA)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:43
 
meloman wrote:

Maybe, but for a person my age, the '80s in the US were trully a sad period. Politics went right-wing with a "Bozo-the-clown" president and music went "mirror-ball." That was the time I turned off FM radio for good. From then on it was NPR and my LPs. Shortly therafter, I left and moved to Europe.


Don't know your age, I'm mid-40s. Can't argue with the downside of 80s politics, culture of limitless greed, etc; all of that definitely sucked. And FM tanked big time. But that was the time to turn to college radio, with jangly guitars (REM, Lets Active, Guadalcanal Diary), exemplary songwriting (Springsteen's Nebraska, John Hiatt, Tom Waits), maturing socially-conscious punk (Midnight Oil), sarcastic/irrelevant pop and rock (Housemartins, Beat Farmers, Mojo Nixon, Talking Heads, CVB), fun rock/pop (B-52s, Scruffy the Cat), and pre-UT alt-country (Green On Red, Long Ryders, Jason and the Scorchers). Back when alternative music really was. See, it wasn't so bad.
meloman
(Warsaw, Poland)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:26
 
rjs wrote:


If you're talking about 80s music, it wasn't that sad. The same crap/good ratio as today. You just had to be listening to the good stuff, not the bad.

Maybe, but for a person my age, the '80s in the US were trully a sad period. Politics went right-wing with a "Bozo-the-clown" president and music went "mirror-ball." That was the time I turned off FM radio for good. From then on it was NPR and my LPs. Shortly therafter, I left and moved to Europe.
melissab
(Green Country)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:20
 
f'in-a! Deelightful.
rah
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:18
 
applause, applause, applause.
rjs
(Atlanta, GA)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:18
 
meloman wrote:

You got that right! What a sad decade,


If you're talking about 80s music, it wasn't that sad. The same crap/good ratio as today. You just had to be listening to the good stuff, not the bad.

FilmSurgeon
(Los Angeles, CA)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:15
 
Who did the version on the Pretty In Pink soundtrack?
meloman
(Warsaw, Poland)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:15
 
hippiechick wrote:
So 80s! (Not necessarily a good thing)

You got that right! What a sad decade. From Reagan to Chernobyl, with disco thrown in for good measure. Ugh.
underarmor
(Austin)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:14
 
Dreck. Hell, I'd probably be nostalgic about it if it didn't come from a time in my life that sucked. I think it was puberty.
xs9095
(Dayton, Ohio)
Posted: Jul 13, 2006 - 14:13
 
pure fluff.. im bored now
earthbased
(Milwaukee, WI USA)
Posted: Jun 14, 2006 - 07:30
 
Nik wrote a very funny book about the music industry:(click here)
peyotecoyote
(Toronto - the Beaches)
Posted: Jun 14, 2006 - 07:24
 
this song is bad, you don't how bad this song is...
RayRay
(Göttingen, Germany)
Posted: Jun 14, 2006 - 07:23
 
Atombender wrote:
I've seen this haircut on women in their 50's.


...And probably with pink,orange or magenta streaks. That's the beautiful thing about this country. Even the old ladies have a punky edge...
earthbased
(Milwaukee, WI USA)
Posted: Jun 14, 2006 - 07:23
 
5.6 Rating? Come on people that melody is worth a 10!


daveesh
(birthplace of the american revolution)
Posted: Jun 14, 2006 - 07:22
 
i thought the first time i heard this crap on here it was a joke.

i can only hope that nobody i've recommended RP to is listening right now.
hippiechick
Posted: Jun 14, 2006 - 07:22
 
So 80s! (Not necessarily a good thing)
jdpinball
(Madison Wisconsin)
Posted: Jun 14, 2006 - 07:22
 
Heeeeyyyyy!!! this brings back some memories


thanks RP