Thomas Dolby - Airwaves

[weatherboxmike]

yes thank you for posting

[connectaman1]

add this track to my favs Vienna - Midge Ure, new life depeche mode these tracks are forever.........me a metall head but still love these tracks.cheers

[flyingidiot357]

how do i get out of here?

[AuroraEatsAcephalus]

Excellent

[sedohr]

@bostongraduate : OK..After looking better into it I see that the both songs were released in '82. (I thought that Airwaves was a little later, but it wasn't) So maybe the similarities are coincidence or could be explained by that they are written in the same era and atmosphere? Although I don't find them that similar at all, but I love both!

[NitsuGatcha]

I am 13.

 I should've been an 80's child, seriously.

[fable2omg]

@NitsuGatcha I think, seriously, you rather stay in 2011 where there is no stereotypes everywhere and where you can watch this video whenever when you want.

[ajittffcure]

Fabulous song and video.

[tjsbigidea]

I h8 EMI nazis

[maha77]

absolutely love this song

[sedohr]

I'm afraid the Joel song was written before this one!

[bostongraduate]

@sedohr : Actually, "Airwaves" was released nearly two years prior to Joel's song. The confusion comes because in the United States, Thomas Dolby's first album was released a full year after its UK/Europe release. There's no question who's song came first... and Billy Joel himself has mentioned more than once his admiration for Dolby's songwriting/musicianship.

[Enevan1968]

I think Billy Joel got a hold of this song while composing Goodnight Saigon.

[chrittywink]

Ahhhh... The tranquility of such a wonderful song. The video is a bit more busy than the feeling this song gives me. I LOVE the genius behind Thomas Morgan Robertson. He helped shape the early MTV age and 80's genre.

[sdh483]

great song! Sorta reminds me of early David Bowie.

[johnpdavie]

@sdh483 Did you know that TD played keyboards for Bowie on stage at Wembley Live Aid in 1985?

[NecroticCadaver]

@sdh483 i know right! I love that though. <3 the bass reminds me of Bowie's Labyrinth soundtrack

[Retroman27]

I remember seeing Thomas Dolby live in concert back in 1989 at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago. An awesome performance, a uniquely talented performer. The only disappointment was that he did not play "Radio Silence" which is my favorite Dolby tune.

[MarioBrosClassic]

THis is one of Thomas Dolby's songs we like to say its "A real gay one"

[m616366]

loved it then but I seem to appreciate it more now.

[jimascia]

This song will always be "Cutting Edge" music....In my mind.

[marioinmaize]

The haunting beauty of this song amazes me. I could listen to it all day.

[IndianSteveo]

From one of the most brilliant albums EVER!

[lazorlasso]

justin bieber sucks lemons!

[skudzer1985]

Ugh, my only regret about this particular video is that Justin Beiber is smirking at me from the side of the screen. It's like "Yeah his music was great and all, but now you gotta deal with me!"

Thomas Dolby is an amazing musician and he simply epitomizes the 80's. All of his songs are great, but this particular song is just simply amazing.

[TheTyaptyap]

there never been anyone to match the cool scary genius off- centred beauty of his music.

[251mandem]

thomas dolby. visionary pioneer. 

[Manwithjeep]

Damn music gets in the way of these great commercials.

[Djvdzss]

I am so glad I was there to take it all in! I was 16 when this was playing on the radio. The 80's were awesome and Thomas Dolby was a big part of it all!

[BlueSilverStars]

This song is really gorgeous. I love Thomas Dolby so much

[SPFXsynthesisers]

Why is Youtube bcoming infested with fucking adverts.I don't want to watch your corporate advertising infecting everyome with your shit.

Bill Hicks had the right idea'If any of you are in marketing or advertising...KILL YOURSELVES'...Brilliant Bill hicks.

Thomas Dolby is rather good aswell.

[ednolbed]

strange how the verse melody is very much like Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon", only in a much weirder arrangement here... Nice... I wonder who was first... (not that it matters)

[The13thAgent]

@ednolbed Haha, I always thought that too!

[drumdude46]

Ok, seems nobody has asked this about this video but, what is the significance of the "Quick" flashes at end, of another guys face. same guy who, after Thomas passes thru that Police Checkpoint, turns around and starts taking the Helmet off.

?? what's the deal? what is the Hidden Message, and "who is that OTHER Blonde Dude? just wondering.

[rogermelly44]

Anyone know who's playing bass on this?

[georgeglen]

@rogermelly44 I thought it was Matthew Seligman ... but it was actually Mark Heyward-Chaplin - Brilliant

[lcrip]

Landmark album in electronic music

[drumdude46]

i know Thomas is originally from the UK. however, he tells of moving to the states some "25" years ago. this Video was from the "Wireless" album Era, which was around '82. it makes me wonder if this was Filmed in the US, or ...UK. second line say's "Brooklyn is crawling with famous people........." ?? was he here ( USA) even way back then? just wondering.

[mcgeechan6600]

@drumdude46 The Ford Transit Police van near the beginning indicates it was filmed in the UK

[jllauren]

Drowning man = best use of cheap fog effect EVER

[nemoism]

Beautiful song from a great Album!

[76SRV190]

Golden Age of the Wireless is one of the best albums of all time.

[nautracer12]

I wish I could travel back in time when this song came out. so awesome.

[drfleshworx]

This song is currently competing with The Flat Earth for my very favorite TDR track of all time. Wonderous, Meaningful, Fantastic!

[mysticradio]

i had two misnomers for years with the lyrics.

I thought it said......... PLEASE DONT ASK QUESTION.... I AINT YOUR LOVER LET ME SLEEP....... and the line ...... WELL IT WAS NOTHING SOME CAR BACKFIRING..... i thought it said........ SOME CARBITE FARRON...... thought it was some chemical lthing.... lol

[telboyofpeckham]

Saw this played live last night in The Union Chapel, Islington, with Trevor Horn playing bass! Wow

[FiveCentsPlease]

After the Flat Earth and Aliens albums, he did soundtrack work. Then he formed a software company called Beatnik that developed the ringtone software used in approximately half of the cell phones on planet. So he's done quite well in business. Now he's touring for fun in small venues with revised versions of his songs.

[raktvk]

One of my all time favorite songs evr......sends me soaring.

[jllauren]

@raktvk Concur!

[manchesterbadger]

A beautiful song with beautiful lyrics - 'please don't ask questions, I itch all over, let me sleep . . .' brilliant.

[TheCognitivist]

This is Dolby as I will remember him. Not the jazz-funk piano bar Dolby of late, but the electronic, melodic young Dolby all neck-deep in synthesizer equipment.

[FiveCentsPlease]

Have you seen his podcasts and the Soul Inhabitant tour videos? I think he's on top of his game with fresh versions of his original material and witty stories. He's doing it for fun since Beatnik was so successful. I really like the new Windpower and the new Airwaves (except for the drunk college kids screaming over the live performance.)

[kurisutokaochan]

Oh, gods. This is too much. So melodically beautiful. Damned Brits!

[tenfeetsmall]

damn, i only wish it was twenty minutes longer.

[MyLatestEscape]

Really, a beautiful song, thank you.

[Muffysb]

This is one of the most beautiful songs ever. Finally hearing it remastered -- and properly sequenced in the album -- has been a dream come true.

Now, if y'all would only let me embed it in my blog, other people might get a chance to love it and buy it.

[juliano66]

beautiful--evokes much of the early 80's I 'd like to think of it as such..

[mysticradio]

anyone have the  chords for this song.. send to me please and thank you

[geneserene23]

so many memories

[hildrethbird]

Great Tom XXXXXXXXXX

[rredhawk]

Wow. I remember slow-dancing to this in a bar way back in the 1980s, but I never saw the video. Like the cloak-and-dagger motif.

[RareEighties]

Great quality.

You can hear the Airwaves Demo version on my channel.

[NYC10107]

I love this song.

This is one of my favorite videos.

It's like a futuristic cold war spy mini-movie.

He thinks he's going to get away at the end but...no.

"Give me your shoulder / I need a place to wait for morning".

[takaomurasako]

やはりＵＫのＴＨＯＭＡＳ　ＤＯＬＢＹは違う。全く最近の感じがします。

もう20年以上も時が経過しているとは思えません。

[almadora]

i love, love, love this track.

[ATACTA]

One of his best songs. Unbelievable in structure, sforzando tone and lyrical brilliance!

I love this man and his work!

[rhubarbcub]

Aw darn... the line about "the copper cables all rust in the acid rain" got edited out...

[ELOfan1982]

Good comment, I take it you must have heard the extended version too. I thankfully was able to get a copy of that a couple of years ago. Although my first copy got destroyed because a drunk driver failed to yield and destroyed my car with one of my copies in the car with me.

[lewalcindor]

The extended "Airwaves" was the original version, as heard on the original release of "The Golden Age of Wireless". You can either buy an old LP off of eBay (look for the track "Wreck of the Fairchild", which isn't featured on any other version of "Golden Age"), or you can buy the re-mastered CD that was just released in July (which features the original track order as well as a bunch of other tracks).

[njnorth1]

Actually, The first recording of this song appeared on "the classic 1980 compilation album From Brussels With Love, which was also the debut release from chic Belgian indie label Les Disques du Crepuscule... Originally released as a deluxe cassette/book package in November 1980"

"Gavin Bryars, Harold Budd, Dome, The Durutti Column, John Foxx, Martin Hannett, Richard Jobson, Bill Nelson, New Order and Michael Nyman"

Info from LTM site who has issued it on CD.

[njnorth1]

Wikipedia gives a full history of the six different issues of The Golden Age of Wireless. Different son sequences, different edits, and in the case of Radio Silence, two total different performances, one has Lene Lovich and Les Chappell.

The new English issue restores the original running order with bonus tracks and DVD video of a live performance..

[KCJacksonMuz]

@rhubarbcub There's a few different versions of this song. I'm sure people have told you that considering this comment is over a year old lol.

[matthewcjenkins]

@rhubarbcub More like "the copper cables" got edited IN. The video was filmed before he recorded that bridge. :) The first two masters of Golden Age didn't contain it at all. Just some fun TD trivia for you. If you can seek out an earlier master of the album, it's quite a treat. A lot of little things were changed from one version to the next. Although the version you're familiar with is IMO the best one.

[RhubarbTheBear]

@matthewcjenkins Thanks for the tip - I love this kind of trivia!

[KMDowney527]

A great song from one of the best albums ever. Hard to believe this is nearly 30 years old.

[johncoktostone]

What a masterful song that brings back so many memories of my teen years. I would love to see Thomas Dolby perform live.

[chucky428571]

I remember buying this album in the 80's. I used to listen to it often. It evokes a lot emotions. After a few years not listening to it it is sure refreshing to hear it again. To me it hasn't gotten old. I am glad that it is still available to listen.

[babamathnut]

I just discovered this song a few months ago - been listening to this almost daily ever since. Quickly moving into my "top 100 songs of the 80's". Love it!

[mysticradio]

one of the most underated songs EVER......... does something nice to my heart

[Ktaro87]

yup, sometimes masterpiece can't over-come majority of craps.

lots of boring movies have got famous prizes.

[nerdelicious5]

oh, guess not

[nerdelicious5]

this is the Dissidents video with the Airwaves song

[chucku00]

Bad EMIssion of Airwaves !!! Does EMI has a good radio operator?

[chucku00]

Not sure, Freedent perhaps!

[chucku00]

Thomas has stolen your glasses?

[brownfox27]

good song