80s Dream Academy Life in a Northern Town Rare 80s Video

[jerrygerbil1]

Kate St. John is the hottest!!! What I wouldn't give for a hot date with her!! oh, I love this song too!

[Broadsidejohn]

Great song-fantastic performance. Loved the English Horn, Cello and the percussionist in his partial philharmonic costume with turqouise cumberbun. Lukewarm audience. Didn't seem to know what they were watching. Great era for music, unlike now...Thanks for the posting!

[Imegahan]

The performers gave so much more than the audience did in their applause. Too bad, because the performance itself was off the charts!

[Imegahan]

You noticed the "real" instruments too. What I'm noticing more and more, on my trip down memory lane, is just how many "real" instruments actually were utilized, during this era of music. A great deal of horn work. Nice.

[rsbarrett4991]

who's the hot flutist?

[appleman2500]

good from first note to last thanks for this great song live

[ottawangel]

Canadian here, and it's a great tune well done.

[DeeArrindahood]

I guess 17 people didn't live in a northern town

[ALEXisSPANISH]

Jim Carey?

[DeeArrindahood]

@ALEXisSPANISH Definately Not Jim Carey

[mariJUANAMOvies]

Dream Academy was really good. Go find any of their albums you can... If you can... lol. They're kind of rare.

[chingchangchongfly]

This song was written in honor of Nick Drake. The allusion is to Drake's "Northern Sky," an even better song than this.

[lexusmaxus]

O how I missed this song

Thx for the upload cheers

[NICKY752]

I had such a crush on Nick Laird Clowes when I was younger. I then recently saw a picture of him takenn only a few years ago. God love him, time has not been kind :(

[MsCaptK]

@Defrector It's usually called a Cor Anglais, at least by the English.

[truttman]

These guys were ahead of their time. I don't know if even they knew it then.

[swimchicidee]

i love his dimples :) i used to listen to this song as a kid alot.

[WayneToups63]

This song sounds better when Sugarland, Jake Owen and Little Big Town did it!

[yamahschector]

i like the song on king of the hill when buckley returns

[jaytotheell]

@yamahschector i remember that! he floats down to the trampoline right?

[ksherwoodf]

This is a great song. I love watching the drummer -- and the oboist. The lyrics are different than earlier versions .. it will take a few listens to get them all.

[makehope]

its about Nick Drake both gems!

[lydiasyard]

aboslute perfection whenever i hear it i feel that anything is possibile.lydiasyard.

[MJCPeters]

When a group creates a song that is this unique, with such great lyrics, orchestration and harmonies, is it any wonder that they are relegated to being One Hit Wonders. How could they ever top this?

[zapkvr]

@MJCPeters Sad to say but it's true. How could you POSSIBLY top this?

[MsPsychobanana]

love this song.

[its3Dinmymind]

back when bands were good live.

[thecloudchamber]

This live version sounds better than the album version. If a band sounds better live than on their CD's then they are very talented. If a live band sucks then they have no talent outside of the studio. The Dream Academy is so awesome because they put soul in their music and the words are meaningful!

[cruisebruisedotcom]

Wonderful! Loving the Percussionist.

[inflatableclown6]

Magnificent. This song touches me deep.

[BreakingDC]

i am crying. i saw it from king of the hill, but im crying

[SassyLittlePunk]

Oh man I loved that!! That Percussionist was awesome to watch having so much fun~it must feel so good to play and sing like that.

~I'm going to spread around a bit--it's great. Thanks for the upload. : )

[happychappy12]

CHRIST!!......... you'd think somebody's uncle had shagged Mother!!............its a song, thats all, no ifs, buts, maybe's, It's "WORDS WRITTEN TO A TUNE"...........Get over it or get yourself all grown up if you dare....ha ha.xx

[TigerLikesTail]

Eeep a country group covered this.

Thanks for the warning now I know to avoid it like the plague.

[matsksm]

Hey Look, it's Jim Carey

[petalrs]

Thanks Te Awanga, from Hastings!

[kristenmarie851]

Wow, this is not an easy song to play live! But it was great!

[cancunchubby]

cancion mas bella de l mundo

[Spoovee1997]

This is the first time I've seen "The Dream Academy" version ... Fabulous GEORGIA artists Sugarland, Jake Owen and Little Big Town did a FABULOUS rendition of the song!!

[supersonicbird11]

@Spoovee1997 Oh For God Sake, a bunch of hillbillies playing a classic British Pop Tune, and bloody well ruined it as well, Sod Sugerland Express, should take pointers, and also stick their heads up a dead bears ass...

[mrboppers]

@supersonicbird11 suck dick

[FridayTN]

@supersonicbird11 - Thanks for the stereotype, you British twit.

[demonhoopa]

@supersonicbird11 I just now heard it for the first time which is what inspired me to find this version. The Surgarland version is quite clumsey and forced. This song does not fit their genre at all. 

[TimFREAKMODE]

@supersonicbird11 I agree. I fuckin hate Sugarland. that woman's voice is annoying as all hell. this song shouldn't get raped like that.

[kentkatchem]

@supersonicbird11 We're not all Brits...some of us just know this tune cause we live in the STATES...sorry if they ruined this tune for you..but for me, it's one of my fav. memories back in 86..listening to this... ;)

[appleman2500]

@supersonicbird11 i agree thats why they say never make a remake of a classic just like purple rain done once doesnt need to be remade

[squeak1964]

Yes--This works!

[ezrecognise]

dat hair

[TheFinanzkrise]

einfach nur hammer geil. Und auch endlich mal eine LIVE-version, die dem Original sehr gut entspricht.

[TheFinanzkrise]

Yeah. What a nice Track!

I didn't know that before. Only the track from the 90's

But  yeah. That's the original. Ans I must accept that. :-)

But I think I love more the version from the 90's ^^

But a very good live performance here!

[jaylizzy68]

loved them when i was a teen. they rocked in music!!

[brownieeez1981]

wow this is one of the best .....very nice !!!!

[busybard]

It's been said before, but it's too far down to be seen? The instrument is a Cor Anglais, an English horn. Just look at the bottom - see the bulb, vs the funnel you see on a clarinet?

[bfnputz]

Why wasn't the girl who played oboe and sat next to me in Jr. High Band not one-tenth as hot as this girl.

[bfnputz]

@Defrector It's the cummerbund, it has secret powers

[IRBaboon1469]

Wow this song made me cry

[lesterclaypool1]

@IRBaboon1469

This somg ALWAYS makes my wife cry. Something about being drug from pillar to post as a child makes people hyper nostalgic, I think. If something doesn't set my wife off to crying at least 3 or 4 times a week I figure that something's wrong.

I think that it's great: Just cry. Happy, sad, tense, ecstatic just get it out. You always feel better afterward.

[nodny]

wow! they were doing back then what's concidered cutting-edge today. light years ahead. WOW! oh, and a really cool song too.

[abretolo9]

Buckley's... Angel?"

[dude93311]

The lady using a clarinet people...

[Glotsi]

@dude93311 oboe

[busybard]

@Defrector Thanks for pointing that out about the horn. Nice tidbit! And you're totally right about the percussionist! He's having a blast! :)

[aetatissuae18]

That drummer is so into it back there

[BeybladinKayleen]

Whew. He's gorgeous.

[SovereignBeing]

@BeybladinKayleen he;s a really genuinely nice bloke as well.. the world needs more nicks around..!

[ferngullyful]

This guy is so hot and can sing. Can you imagine if he came to the fore in this day and age?? Instant millionaire and he'd be on the cover of every mag and the machine would make sure he had hit after hit.

[wxnpew]

sorry, heard several nice, but different copies, it's just music afterall.

bg

[msflemin]

Man, what a talented group of real musicians playing real music!!

[NeglectedField]

The guy looks a bit like Jim Carrey

[JaimeLe50s]

@NeglectedField I see what u mean!!

[billysurge]

Simply beautiful - still.

[MrBern44]

that blonde with the flute ...damn she is very beautiful

[sctommydc]

@MrBern44 .......oboe.....

[xXdontworryaboutit]

the drummer in the back has got it going on

[raggtoppz]

i remember listening to my walkman while walking doing my paper route. when this song came on, i was in heaven. 25 yrs ago feels like yesterday to me.

[littlevillage]

I listened to this album over and overn, non-stop for a long time when it came out. I still love every note of it!!

[JenniferPresents]

Wow, this is great. Nice post. And aah, 80's SNL. The best. Great memories.

[ediann]

always loved this song. tremendous performance! great band!

[selecktabo]

One of the most atmospheric songs ever...watch the percussionist at the back...fantastic...this song lives with me forever......

[bulldogman3]

Damn, FANTASTIC performance! Pure, professional talent! I have always loved this song and always will! I had never seen this particular live performance of this song. Thanks for posting!

[Chrisrshepherd]

This song reminds me of my brother who died last month. *sniff sniff* Bye Davey!

[prometheus5700]

The drummer is fricking amazing. I can't stop rewinding to watch him, absolutely fantastic.

[mahoney755]

I didnt know Matt Dillon was in a band back in the day?!...Good Song!

[PaulLosAltos]

As an Englishman, its highly relevant and excellent!

[PaulLosAltos]

very nice



[maxypaxfilms]

Hes the guy off the epic kiss comercial

[ellovater]

love this freaking song.

[brente206]

That's an English horn being played by the blonde.

[IElectronic]

@2.58 the singer closest to the camera is HOT

[IElectronic]

@3:14 he's really going for it! go on son! great song!

[BRUC2016]

Interesting tune and so introspective that I've never made sense of it. Not in 24 years.

It's got so many "inside" references that probably only a few people in England can decipher the lyrics.

[zachhoran]

12/14/85 or 12/21/85 airdate maybe?

[pampers1919]

Please someone tell me where I can find the acapella for this, I promise It will be the best trance mix ever!

[NIGATAKAETU]

The best Scottish for 80s! !

It is the music that it wants to leave in the music "Life in a Northern Town" future which an atmosphere matches in winter of Japan Niigata

[NIGATAKAETU]

80sスコットランド最高！！

日本国新潟県の冬に雰囲気が合う曲「Life in a Northern Town」

未来に残したい曲です。 

[sarahgeorge07]

Something about this song makes me homesick... in a good way. What an amazing song.

[TheCatweazal]

classic but were are  they now??

[thezerovoidshow]

Just got to love big blond hair guys.

[MarcoPandaNogueira]

awesome

[cjs33139]

I read on Wikipedia's page for Dream Academy that this song is a tribute to Nick Drake. I wonder if that is true? 

[baniray]

@cjs33139 ,

Yes, it's a tribute to Nick Drake. There'll be no one else like him again, and such a beautiful song totally befits his great work.

[chambermx]

this is the original version! thanks

[gizmocat11]

the live version is much better than the album!

[sybernut]

art: what touches you, yet you don't know why...

[rplhouse]

Did the dude named Gil die? Thought i seen it on another one of their video's. Someone know?

[Bezz80]

The end of the progression of music happen at this time, so sad. Lead to the crap we have today. A handful of decent music(mostly still from england too), the rest is shit and has lead to the destruction of the world community we once were building on our own through the music. I have a saying, "Whatever happen to all the cool people", if you didn't grow up in the 70's and 80's you won't have a clue, so sad it's all lost. We did the best we could, thats all we could do. Peace

[vigo894]

@Bezz80= I haven't given up. Sooner or later, the people will tire of this corporate crap they have out there today. Hannah Montana is on her way out. and Justin

Bieber has used up half of his 15 minutes. Sorry everybody for double posting.

[Frenchloprabbit]

@Bezz80 as one who grew up in the 80's I can state the music wasn't all that great...this of course is the rare exception to the crappola of the 80's...and yes I grew up in the 80's I graduated in 1990.

[vlinn1974]

drummers RULE!!!

[badgerboise]

@vlinn1974 - Good to see someone else noted the drummers work out on the kettle drums along with the other percusion instruments. It is not often that one hears the uniqueness of kettle drums in pop music.

[Bobbo714]

@badgerboise true, Timpani is fantastic in this application. Pure soul. Side note: it may be the Sicilian from Princess Pride playing them:)

[squeak1964]

Yes I caught this--on this particular nite! Full accompaniment!

[ega95jch]

Lovely legs!

[geoos]

I love this song

[peca0069]

El mejor

[jarrodg70]

nice guitar...to bad he aint playin' it. still fantastic performance.

[centralparocker]

One of the best songs from the 80's!!!!!

[borojohn40]

Jim Carey on lead vocals

[TheMikesMaiden]

@borojohn40

omg I saw Jim Carrey in him too, thought it was just me teehee

and johnny depp too lollllllllllllll

[followfornothing]

R.I.P Buckley

[DaMoose85]

@followfornothing

i wonder if anybody else got this reference. :(

[vigo894]

@DaMoose85= Luanne's boyfriend. The one who died tragically in The Great propane disaster of Arlen, Texas. One of the best King of the Hill episodes.

[harry4health]

This song was one of the best in the 80s! Surpasses much or all that is out today. Very distinct & a def masterpiece of it's genre! Thanks! I have saved this video!

[SwankeyMonkey]

He looks so much like Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan to me, I was beginning to wonder if they were the same artists. With the long-hair/no-hair making them like a Superman/Clark Kent of sort. Well... their talent, and ability of making lasting songs are certainly par to each other. I so much love this song...

[TheJohnnyCotts]

@SwankeyMonkey Good to see I'm not the only one who thought he looked like Billy Corgan when he had hair.

[MsPurplefish]

Wow I didn't know the oboe was hot, sounds good here but the song is made for it. Great accompaniment!

[Karmy2112]

I can't stop looking at Kate St. John.

[LasVegasJim]

Beautiful. Although the live performance was obviously mono, the quality of the musianship was excellent. 

[rockstarfish420]

Perfection.

[petalrs]

Nearly 30 years old and still giving us goosebumps on hearing it. What a great song! Thanks so much for posting this live version - very impressive song sung live too - sign of great talent to be able to pull it off so well!

[ppride21]

shave his head and he looks like billy corgan of smahing pumpkins

[jname96]

Teri Garr looks confused. I hope she's okay now. 24 years later...

[EricWGray]

@jname96 Teri had symptoms of MS when she hosted the show but had yet to be diagnosed. She's been fighting it ever since. She also suffered a brain aneurysm a few years ago, but recovered. Sorry to say, the MS has taken its' toll and she is physically not the same but still retains her wit and humor.

[tall32guy]

@jname96 She has multiple sclerosis, but I think she is doing fine. :)

[63burnout]

i dont know if that was their first appearence on american television or not but they nailed that, great tune that brings back alot of memories.

[SkeletoaZufrectri]

hi. i'm so excited this evening. does anybody know that that was the famous 'terri garr' who introduced the band? cheer,,..

[christianlexus007]

that was brilliant! Thank you! Such a fantastic and talented band.

[oingoboingoalive]

Classically trained artists with modern art and technology. It is amazing how so few artists create masterpieces that truly touches a cord in humanity. Hopefully it will live longer than the fecal matter created by marketers looking to scam off of such talent (can you say sugarland?) Thanks for the post!! BTW never thought the Oboe could be so hot! Maybe its lady playing it.

[teawanga]

@oingoboingoalive yep I Agree, the times have a changed!!! i often think back to hearing there song The Love Parade for the first time!! Stunning!!

[SuicidalSushio0]

@oingoboingoalive oboe is awesome. however, as an oboe player, i feel the need to point out to you that that is an english horn. which does nothing to diminish the awesomeness.

[oingoboingoalive]

@SuicidalSushio0 My bad. Thanks for the correction. Still, listening to the silky oscillations of the english horn in this + watching Kate = pure pleasure (HOT)!

[SuicidalSushio0]

@oingoboingoalive true :)

[ProfessorEggflesh]

@oingoboingoalive - I've never heard the Sugarland version and I never will listen to it. I've never heard anything by them. I just think this song should not be touched by anyone.

[TheEliteMagnifique]

@ProfessorEggflesh Totally agree!

[baston100]

@ProfessorEggflesh i never will either this is a FINE song that should not be touched just another fine song from the 80s

[Foxfire510]

@ProfessorEggflesh For those of you who were like me and thought "Oh hey, I'll go check it out to see what the differences are," don't do it. Sure they're good, but they definitely lack the magic that this song has. Tons of people can perform this song, but only Dream Academy can make it what it is, a beautiful work of art that gives you chills and brings tears to your eyes when you listen to it.

[WayneToups63]

@ProfessorEggflesh Well 2 bad bc they did it very well!

[zapkvr]

@ProfessorEggflesh I've never heard of the wannabes either. Sugar Land F.F.S. could you imagine a gyer name? Idiots trying to improve on perfection.

[tall32guy]

@oingoboingoalive I think it's the oboe itself. I love it; it adds a very beautiful and solemn sound to ballads and slow songs.

[djmigra]

@oingoboingoalive

I think Kate is 53 now, but she still looks like that vid, I still love that angel face!!!

[Gallitoanfibioview]

@oingoboingoalive . Hi it´s a CLARINET. SalU2!!!

[mpfzx]

does that guy look like Jim Carrey, great tune. but still looks like the cable guy is singing it :)

[Brianmystic2]

Haha...he looks like Jim Carey...

Also, nice Hummingbird. :)

[sessylu80sboy]

well let all the good memories roll!!! thanks 4 sharing all good stuff just lyk this..thanks Dream Academy for hauntingly nice song u put in our great generation.

[LtJackboot]

Ahh the memories-thx.

[King1Seal]

Love the kettle drummer in the back giving it socks!!!! Seems he didnt want the song to end, he was havin that much fun!!!

[EricWGray]

This video brought back fond memories of Teri. December 21, 1985

[alexp9999]

this version is great, so cool watching the band work its magic "live" =)

remember seeing this when it first aired, and it just keeps getting better =)

[rayva1]

Ah ~ Nostalgia...Music in its purest form. -_-

[georgyporgy69]

Pretty powerful and so modest too. Lovely.

Funnily enough, they were the first words I ever spoke... Mum..mum..ma.

[sadiesmommi]

Wow they were AMAZING live.

[camil1881]

Kate St. John is a superfox ! ! !

[gaae2000]

wow, can u tell the kind of audience back then, people...nowdays theyre crazy

[supercooled]

IT's rare to see an 80's Live performance actually being live unlike the trend at the time of lip sining.

This is indeed a memorable song that will live forever.

[squeak1964]

I simply Love the flow of this tune! Such a time and place- I wish to visit once again-If only in my fondest memories!!

[anmoroto]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this song!!

[spadehatesscrewtube]

i think arcade fire cloned this guy for a lead singer

[beefymoo331]

this is a good song to listen to iv ya moving into a new world moving from one place to another like i be this month or nex

[AudioFixation]

this IS the sound of my soul

[undergroundbasement]

Wha? Hey ooo ma ma in oobie dah my yah ? What ? I remember when this song hit the radio in 1985, I never new what the chorus was...I still don't

[TheMysfit901]

Whatever happened to this band? I really liked them! Nick Laird-Clowes is a PHENOMENAL singer/musician!

[TheJohnnyCotts]

@TheMysfit901 They broke up in 1991. Nick has done some soundtrack work and recorded on his own under the name Trashmonk. Most notably, he co-wrote some of the songs on Pink Floyd's Division Bell album, which also features Sam Brown on backing vocals. Kate St. John has played with a wide variety of other artists over the years.

[chillman4130]

That timpanist is just going TO TOWN

[tall32guy]

@chillman4130 You have to! You have to hit them hard to give the song the power it needs. If he hit them lazily it wouldn't be half the performance. LOL

[Bluestarcinema]

at 3:48 he sings "its the sound of your soul" what does he sing right after that?

[cousinjean]

looks like jim carrey

[parrishgrady]

Good stuff. someone told me he looks like Bobby Kidd a friend of mine from Australia. Hee Hee. Too funny I see some similarity.

[leforge]

This is great. Sugarland can suck it.