Dream Academy - Life in A Northern Town

[chelzeaify]

it was an age of purity. we made sweet songs like this one. we sang and we cried. the 80'z were a fraternity ya know. the modern kids can be in tune with the muzic. but what is reserved for us older grrls (44 y.o.) and guys is the direct memories of being there. i offer no trades. ::)).

[melglen1]

my five year old and four year old son even love this song , long live the 80s . They love the hey ah mu mu maa chorus ,and always pester me to play it in the car. Great song.

[callesierra]

This was the first piece of music i ever downloaded. I run every day(or almost every day) and i have hundreds and hundreds of pieces of music on my ipod. This is as good now,as the first time i ever heard it,BRILLIANT. Does anyone know which northern town in England this is? Thanks so much for up-loading this.Thank you!!

[BClotus]

Very good. Thank You.

[SteveSiqin]

'80's dancing is quite a thing to behold

[duncanrs]

so much better than sugartowns sheeeeeeyiiite

[milofire]

Heard the very 1st note from the other room, and I thought it was Dokken "Dream Warriors" LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[theseventhprotocol]

I love this song ! A masterpiece !

[chaddvanzanten]

The children DRANK lemonade. Plus the sound's a little dodgy.

[m1trekker]

Dodging the ripper, coughing constantly, suet for dinner, ah how we adored life in a Northern town.

[gaae2000]

1986

[davey7601]

Does anyone know where this was filmed? Obviously it looks like a Yorks/Lancs mill town,but i was wondering if anyone might know.

[dpz46]

@davey7601 Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

[99jarjarbinks]

awesome song! heard this so many times before, but could never figure out the title or who sang it. NOW I KNOW! anyone else think they were jumping and moving around so much because it was cold when they filmed this music video? just a thought.

[dionesky1]

this song reminds me of xmas when i was little x

[OldWines]

Sirs ~

God but do I miss England - especially at Christmastime...

KR,

~~""

[lynnmcguire]

@OldWines Let's go!!!

[OldWines]

@lynnmcguire

Miss ~

Apologies however I am 76 years old and would be little fun.

However thank you for your reply.

KR,

~~""

[lynnmcguire]

@OldWines

Oh, my appoligies Sir, I was under the impression you were only 66?, I already think you are a Blast!

[baston100]

i put my head phones on and listen to this song and think of when i was younger and my troubles go away

[wes19er]

heard this song on American Dad..had to look it up..lol

[anonymous99ism]

floyddarkside did gilmore write this,only asking

[Islamisbad1]

@anonymous99ism No he is wrong, it was Gilbert Gabriel, who wrote it.

[DJAsh65]

Heptonstall Church! Sylvia Plath! Is this playing a bit too fast?

[floyddarkside1]

yet another david gilmore masterclass.

[kawukm22kaw]

there was a dance version of this in the 90's called 'sunchyme' by DARIO G, check that out too. xx

[Botme2012]

I like this song. Why? no idea, maybe king of the hill knows

[zapkvr]

There's a live version here somewhere with Terrri Garr at the start. The pitch is totally different. I wonder if this has been speeded up. I don't think it has, just asking. Oh and Suzanne was dead wrong about Dream Academt going on to bigger and better things. I don't know why DA weren't huge after this but it probably doesn't matter. 

[zapkvr]

There's a live version here somewhere with Terrri Garr at the start. The pitch is totally different. I wonder if this has been speeded up. I don't think it has, just asking.

[Ichikohsan]

Original Video! Nice, Thnx for upload!

[BluntVeritas]

From the vid it looks more like Yorkshire - not near far enough North for Newcastle I think. The buildings are not Newcaslte/Northumberland style at all.

[minsk1996]

superbe!!!...and so atmospheric...fully charged with emotional static!

[darkfire79]

Take it easy on yourself.

[Jarrehead]

This is one of them tracks that stickinyour mind for your whole life..... I never tire of hearing it... brilliant song,and a classic.....

[neonlightsmike]

There are some great lyrics in this. I really love the despair in the line "all of the work you've done". Beautiful.

[fendweller]

Hmm - Nick Drake and Steve Reich. Impeccable name-drops.

[sweettartangirl]

I seriously love this song....there was a nice dance mix using this track :)

[rayva1]

Such a nostalgic tune. I'm 12 all over again. Where did all that youth go?

[hobbit1923]

if only we could popeye sing this song

[mattzimm67]

always brings tears of joy to my heart.....smile

[robandrene]

Buckley's angel visit me!

[SHC87]

I have always liked this song. Thanks for posting. Thank goodness for you tube or I could never see music videos like I could in the 1980's. Too bad MTV got away from their original format.

[baston100]

@SHC87 yea i know watching videos from the 80s brings back memeries

[idoY135]

80's For Erver!

[FlipJackson1591]

King of the HIll

[chessic4]

After 20 years I should be over my crush on the adorable oboe player...but no.

[SOlxlHOLLYWOOD]

@chessic4 lol I read a crush normally lasts 3 months, beyond that it's love. I guess you two need to get married ;) bahahaha

[DawnnieBoFawnnie]

Excellent song and video, just a shame it's not more clear. But then it was the 80's.

[Shamagogue]

..The Dream Academy....as opposed to the US Govt....The Nightmare Academy!!!

[lyonslaforet]

I can't understand why this song was a fluke hit back in 1985. There's nothing really catchy in it!

[draco4966]

the rest off us where getting the shit kicked out off us at stonehenge

[RayRoark2009]

I love this song ^^

[bigdsears]

ah man, the early 80's seems so far away yet I can still smile when i hear this one. this was probably the best time ever for me, I was around 17 and running around and free...

[67onetreehill]

i adore this song but happily live in Bermuda

[kja427]

Were they from Liverpool like The Beatles were? What ever happened to The Dream Academy? I'd like to know.

[movalcadillac]

Buckley's angel episode of King of the Hill "Wings of a Dope" Such a good episode, it was nominated for an emmy I believe, and this song is probably the reason why

[KitFisto532]

Great song! Rick Springfield put this song on his 2005 album,"The Day After Yesterday".

[helmuthoorn]

"The Salvation Army band played

And the children drank lemonade"

"In the winter of 63

It felt like the whole world would freeze

With JF Kennedy and the Beatles"

Well I´m Dutch, but this takes me back to my childhood as well.

[madscientist5189]

lovely song. but doesnt it look like the guy on the right doesnt know the words to chorus?

[joshuabrooks21]

Unforgettable 80's gem. Sugarland, Little Big Town and Jake Owen also did an awesome job with this song. Thanks for posting this....Take it easy on yourself....

[everton619]

This song was dedicated to and made for Nick Drake who passed away 36 years ago today (25th November)

Possibly the most talented British Singer/Song-Writer ever.

R.I.P<3

[RayRoark2011]

Man this is such a strong powerful feel good song. This song makes my day when I hear it in my car driving down the road. I turn it up high when it comes on.

[Kriftonucci]

This song and "Forever Young" by Alphaville have a unique effect to the ears.

[RayRoark2009]

Am I the only one who thinks this song sounds african but in a good way.

[SlowwHand]

@RayRoark2009 I could agree, but the way you say that is funny.

[RayRoark2009]

@SlowwHand Haha I think so to lol

[wxnpew]

@SlowwHand nope acoustically african, nice, great rythym...i can feel it

bg

[BKKaye]

@RayRoark2009 Now that you say it. I know what you mean. A rock calypso blend. Maybe that's why it makes me happy. Can't be depressed listening to calypso.

[RayRoark2009]

@BKKaye So true :)

[madscientist5189]

@RayRoark2009 thats probably because you heard Sunchyme first (so did i)

[RayRoark2009]

@madscientist5189 I say that is very true too. :)

[404jared404]

@RayRoark2009 Sounds like the Beach Boys to me.

[Dragosh6496]

@RayRoark2009

Dario G thought same way. Listen and watch to "Sunchyme" - Dario G please, to see yourself.

[southmanfred]

@RayRoark2009 I always thought something sounded strange in this song but I couldnt tell precisely what. You sythesize it perfectly by saying that sounds african. Its so funny. It made me laugh.

[19foreverocker80]

This looks like idaho with the weather the way it is.......

[RayRoark2009]

@19foreverocker80 It looks like Kentucky right now to lol.

[watchensee]

I love this song however, up until now I thought hahahahahaha......they were saying; "Laughing In Northern Times!" Hahahahaha boy am I ever ass backwards with lyrics. Like Strawberry Feilds, I thought it was "Strawberry Feels!" Hahahahahaha XD

[Jefferlaih]

@truthluvr, I was born in 1993, so I can't remember better times; my generation pretty much stinks, for the majority. There is still a minority that appreciates the past, but that number is sadly dwindling.

Cherish and remember what I didn't have, and hope that it may change sometime in the future.

[truthluvr]

I always watch this and think how great those days were, and how we will NEVER see videos like this or music like this again...I always wanted to go to that place they were filming and act out the song :) Great post...I watch it every now and again to remind me of better times.

[willnotallow]

Ee it's grim up north. Especially Yorkshire, and men who think their God.

[stigler30]

This song was on King of The Hill when Luanne meets Buckly's angel.

[jasonshaver13]

I think this is a way better version than Sugar land...who agrees with me???

[phantomfuzzie]

There were two different versions of the music video. The first one was made in 1984 and was filmed in Hebden Bridge near Halifax in Yorkshire, England. It was directed by Tim Pope.[5] The second version was filmed in 1985 and was directed by Leslie Libman and Larry Williams.[6] It was filmed in and around Newcastle upon Tyne with some scenes filmed in Manchester in the UK and in the USA.

[GTtaurus]

great song.

[sodacakeblues]

this song wld be great to commemorate the memory of the mine workers who went on strike in 1902-03 in Denaby over appalling working conditions (the 'Muck-bag strike). The mine owners evicted strikers from their homes & they & their families were forced to live in tents in the depths of a freezing winter. Mindful of the African chants in the chorus of this song, colliery workers who'd gone & fought in the Boer war got free-rent for their troubles. Imperialism = working class oppression at home

[chasbo13]

does anyone know what city this is?

[SlowwHand]

@chasbo13 Either Hebden Bridge near Halifax in Yorkshire or in and around Newcastle upon Tyne

[KRstar78]

@SlowwHand uk or canada ?

[AZCopperMiner]

@chasbo13 Or it could be the back alley where I pounded one in your dead grandma. :-)

[wandafulmoni]

@chasbo13 Its definitely Hebden Bridge and Halifax. They filmed 2 versions of this one was Hebden Bridge and Halifax (1984) and the second included Manchester and Newcastle (1985) .....as a kid i spent many a happy hour running up and down the hills in this video (Halifax)

[legindyoll]

@chasbo13 This version was filmed in and around Hebden Bridge (my home town). Apparently a different version was filmed later and that one was done around Newcastle.

[statto671]

@chasbo13 it was filmed in Hebden bridge in yorkshire

[parkerTB6]

my Northen town yeah 1963 better times because i was a kid my dad was alive and a young man ,all whats sung about ive lived better times better Britain

[jambo68]

@parkerTB6 Couldn,t agree more m8,is a stonkin song had sum really horrible news 2day that has made me thnk bout times gone by.

[deftonesgurl]

It makes you ache for the rural/antiquated setting as well as the 80's...

[GoinDownToJunkieTown]

cool. fucking really cool actualy. first time ive ever heard this song.

[bigdsears]

I think like all the Angels all over the land came together and made this song and video. I miss the early 80's man... Wanna go back. All these youngsters these days think i'm old too... Ha... Not yet!

[leegeddyfan]

I heard this song was about the life and times of Nick Drake, as the lyrics are kinda influenced by Nick Drake.

[freedumb2003]

Lovely song -- I bought the album (you had to do that back then). Sadly, although the group had some promise and the rest of the songs weren't "bad" they just weren't memorable.

Lightning in a bottle -- and, to their credit, damn good lightening.

[lvanhalen]

He said in winter 1963 it felt like the world would freeze with John F Kennedy and the Beatles. Remides me of Boston Mass such a cool line now in the south I miss the old northern town this song remindes me of diffrent tymes

[FrickieGirl]

This song always gives me a lift when I'm down.

[bigpoopie69]

Hehe this is the song they played on that "King of the Hill" episode jijijiji!

[jsinger101]

I've heard it all, but nothing moves me like this song.

[atillathegun]

Song that uplifts me every time :)

[Bluestarcinema]

at 3:17 he sings "make it easy on yourself" what does he sing right after that? ive never been able to make it out, its too hard to pick up. any one have an idea?

[SweetSweetWaldo]

Dedicated to Nick Drake and Steve Reich. Can't go wrong there!

[ianupton]

ah hail mama ma haila mamma.

hey mamma. hay-yah.

life in a grossly overpriced northern mill town...

[DaveWollenberg]

Sugarland, Little Big Town, and Jake Owen combined to make a great cover version of it last year. Anyway, the original by DA hit #7 in Billboard.

[vasglorious]

This song will always remind me of my favorite Luanne episode of "King of the Hill", "Wings of the Dope." I'll miss that show, and god rest Brittany Murphy, R.I.P.

[Pho3nixBlade]

I see everybody just saw that episode of King of The Hill lol. Great song.

[Overcastkid747]

I was watching king of the hill too... ahhh reminded me of this song, and buckly's angel. RIP Buckley lol... great song, always reminds me of my town...

[ohnoanotherputz]

So i'm not the only one... Got this song stuck in my head.

Good episode, good song.

[jmsfrag]

ahahah King of the Hill!

[SlowwHand]

Yepper. :D

[cena21377]

@jmsfrag Haha, Luanne and Buckley jumping on the trampoline that was thought to be a portal to hell. That was a good episode, and this song was the best choice.

[tall32guy]

I seem to remember this song with a slower beat and in a different key. Oh well, time can distort memories and surely it distorts mine! LOL

[biffster68]

@tall32guy I agree with the slower beat memory!

[DOoMinator23]

.///

[L42A1]

I had this going round and round my head as I was driving through Derbyshire. Brilliant music from the 80s that just whacked me out of the blue in the right time and right place.

[TUDORPRINCE]

Nice. This is in stereo, another video here is not.

[soulsearching1000]

To: DepressedEnglishChap....I have too agree with you 100"/. The music nowadays is crap, no imagination or story to tell the listener.

[Razputin53]

If you are refering to rap i totally agree with you.

[DepressedEnglishChap]

It would be virtually impossible, as with so many other tracks from this decade, for any contemporary 'artist' to attempt to cover a track such as this, and not be 100% inferior to the original. That's why they don't bother trying, instead relying on the cheap, meaningless, and disposable shit you hear in the charts now.

A timeless classic, and surprisingly their only hit single.

[odinmp5]

the song is wonderful..

and also the video.

[braktuun]

Ah hey ma ma ma! heyeyeyeyaaaaa....

[ocsmalltown]

honestly, and im not exaggerating, ive been looking for this song since i was a kid. im 20 now, i hear this on coast to coast radio the other day, it brings back great memories for me, no not from the parent trap, but i believe it was on a commercial in the early nineties that showed places in it like china etc. it brought back the nineties for me, if i did live in the eighties more, im sure it wouldve brought that back for me too. Im so glad ive found this.

[Jakerocksteady]

I heard that friend, this has always been one of those "You hear it here, you heard it there" sort of song. I heard my buddy doing karaoke to this the other night it was a very, very awesome moment for all of us close friends. I don't know, this song brings back some great memories too.

[OLIVIAUSSIE]

I hear ya!! I've been looking for it for 18 years! Now...I can get the words right. Thank goodness for the net, I had to type in the little bit I knew and it came up. Such a cool song.

[ninetiesbaby10]

@ocsmalltown I remember the commerical youre talking about. And yeah it does the same for me brings back the 90s

[mammothroller]

Brings me right back to the 80's...I can still clearly picture the road covered in snow as I drove along singing to this song. Makes me smile. As far as the newer remake of this song, I was just really pleased that someone brought it back from the past. I could not remember their name, so I looked up the song and found a country music remake with quite a few neg. comments, but I'm sure that Dream Academy was flattered by Sugarland/LBT's attempt at their classic.

[fredtheking350]

I love this great song. 80 ´s are the best

[azzorroww]

this is a story telllers song just listen to the lyrics i also think it's about innocence lost you dont hear songs like this today if you dont sell a million record companies show you the door, you dont build artists through a album catalogue either, tthe music industry has talent but is fragmented, thats why kids use ipods now no one artist is on its playlist twice.

[bunson70]

Very true words my friend.

[Cool70sfreak]

Ahh, I love this song.

[gar861646]

on of the best eighties

[bloofan06]

One of the best 80's songs, IMO

[marmas58ink]

I'm glad this song was a hit. Liking that song led to getting all 3 of their albums (guess there were only 3)... listen to them to this day. Several yrs ago a short piece aired... showing the main guy living in Tibet (I think it was), practicing meditation etc. AIRI he seemed a bit wistful to the idea of DA recording some more. ..That's the last I heard.

[ultralight9]

its a great one..the 80's produced alot of them. thank god.

[abeautifultomorrow]

What a classic song!

[burmesemickey]

lovely song, had a good cry, as this song was out when my father passed away.

now 40+ and still bloody remember that day. Thanks my heart is happy.

[clarkent69]

Hopefully, your father is sitting down for a beer with my father in the hereafter, telling stories and remembering those they left behind. God bless you my friend, the same way He blessed us with this song.

[happymike44]

Take care in knowing they are never gone from our lives.

For when you remember them they are truly never gone.

Take care Luv and may you feel better soon.

This song has great memories for me reminds me of so long ago and the last days before I left London to see the world.

Reminds me of a old pub in London near my childhood home.

[AZCopperMiner]

@burmesemickey ...and your brown star is bloody.

[watchingclouds]

@burmesemickey Much love from me, a stranger. Love you, mate. Sorry for your loss.

[rvc67]

This song takes me back to a better place.

[ytcrazy1]

Where? Your mom's house?!

[columbusmozart]

Me too. This song, and "Big Country"

[parkerTB6]

@rvc67 too right too right

[steviejpullthru]

@rvc67 .... me too : )

[AidansLocoMommy]

I like Sugarlands version of it better. I like how different people sing different parts of the song. But this ones good I guess.

[brunthroath6912]

LOL i totally forgot this song existed!!

[Dmotuz]

its mellow man, mellow

[jorsak]

This song always me so melancholy

[sandruchii]

me relaja la música de fondo :)

[cjmeek1]

the sound production for this work is excellent.

[kemicon]

Was dude from Pink Floyd no?

[AfroSchmuck]

David Gilmour produced it.

[kemicon]

:02 walking downhill fail

[dansanbash]

This video rocks!!!

[ediann]

love this group! song is beautiful and so is kate st. john!

[litzi32]

Love this song and video, it does seem to capture life in any northern town.

[pathdaly]

...the scenes really take me back to MY chilhood days in Yorkshire...

[snailer12345]

looks like Rossendale Valley somewhere

[vyperhawk71]

What gave it away, the balloons???