This song, and "She's a Beauty" were my first introduction to the Tubes on MTV. From my part of the world, it seems like they were just hitting the big time when they split up. Too bad.
"Barely alive, have to make love to survive. I'll show you how it's done. Take it as it comes. A rocket to the sun!" A great song by "The Tubes" but not very good quality. The original video was way cooler :) It always gets me thinking about our lives and if it's all worth it. So much passion ... I'd like to polish his rocket :)
GREAT song!! .. not sure if it's the best ever of the tubes... but it IS AWESOME- I have to say that this version of the song pretty much sucks!! .. what a shame for such a great song! ... hope to find better out there.. :)
This band was the best but because they mocked the pomp of what their masters used to suck stolen life into an idiotic substitute called "lifestyle" for/of so many, they were blackballed, just like Zappa, Beefheart, Wall of Voodoo, and the like. This particular song, along with "Amnesia" grabs my heart with as much passion as non-lethality can. I tear up as much as I also laugh at their more overt attacks on self-absurdizing consumerism. Ahhhh.
Those bands were not the "cause" of insipidness, but merely its accompaniment, much less its Frankfort School intention by the Rotchschild-Rockefeller "culture"-funders. Musicians can play revolution as easily as its suppression or recuperation. Enslavement is a two-way street....
Proletarianization is what proletarians DO TO THEMSELVES every day.
I saw the Tubes in London in the late-90s. Turned around and stood next to me was Rick Astley. I said 'I didn't think the Tubes would be your kind of thing, Rick.' He said 'They're not. Me missus dragged me along.'
well most babes have a 14 year old attittude about love-lust and when one is trying to get laid might as well hit em right in the crotch ... right ? LOL !
@dckmatrix ...yes,you're totally right:he's Bill Spooner,Tubes'guitarist: it seems this wonderful song from 1981 Tubes album "Completion Bacward principle" was tottally written and sung by him also in studio version.
I'm so glad my older brother Tim took me to concerts like the Tubes in SF Old Waldorf, when I was 9 years old. I remember Fee Waybell and Praire Prince. I'm waiting now for my fiance from Chile Carola and this song really hits home.
Ah, the best of all possible love ballads ! From the Tubes no less ! My fav tune for romancing babes ! the desert island theme ! Blue Lagoon ! but perhaps after all the nukes go off, stranded with a hottie on the last inhabitable island ... what bliss !
@videocanone Well.....it's more of a LUST ballad isn't it? (Barely alive / gotta make love to survive..." Kind of what a junior high kid would say to get a girl into bed. Great song, anyhow. Love it, beautiful.
One, seen from a technical point of view, of the best compositions in pop history. Wonderful chord progression. Wonderful performance. Mediocre lyrics, though, but who cares in front of this great music.
One, seen from a technical point of view, of the best compositions in pop history. Wonderful chord progression. Wonderful performance. Mediocre lyrics, though, but who cares in front of this great music.
Absolutely fantastic. Never heard a live version of this classic. Bill Spooner does an amazing job on the vocals. Does anybody know what he does doing now ?
This is the BEST song by the Tubes. They should absolutely be in the R&R Hall of fame. I keep their greatest hits CD in my Wrangler when I want to get in a good mood. Fee Waybill for President.
You are spot on! This is beyond one of the hottest songs ever written...and beautifully arranged, too. I don't understand why these guys aren't in the R&R Hall of Fame either. Fee Waybill is amazing!!!!!!
I just managed to "play both sides at one meeting" just a few minutes ago. This album is EXCELLENT! I play this album quite often. I used to sing and play "Talk to Ya Later" and "Sushi Girl" in a band around 1983. Boy, those were great times, and great tunes. I wish music was still like this instead of this horrible "hip-hop" where it's cool to steal somebody else's music because you can't make your own. The Tubes were / are fantastic. RIP Vince Welnick. Tragic about the dynamic Mr. W.
that guy screwed the guitar solo in that song in a 1984 at the pier in New York City, the reason...he was too drunk and because of that beer he is holding in the microphone stand, I wonder if any of you out there went to that Concert sponsored by K-Rock
WOW, I think Fee Waybill didn't want to wait anymore, just didn't have the strength to carry on without another sip of that fine german beer. Go Fee!!
LOL...that's not Fee singing this song. Bill "Sputnik" Spooner, one of the band's two guitar players and a founding member always sang this lead vocals on this song, and a few others from their early years (and a few songs from "Love Bomb", their last album with the full line-up).
I absolutely hate the whole power ballad "concept", but man, I just LOVE this tune. And what a performance by Bill Spooner! Strange delay/echo on the vocal, though. Must have been the German beer!
Bill did an incredible job singing this song .Fee's a great singer but Bill's voice and presentation is better suited in this video.And I also like European beer.
Outstanding vocal performance ! This song is an excerpt from a night-long concert broadcasted live in the 80ies by the German TV,including many other groups. I was watching it live early in the morning and remember a big part of the show (not this song) was simply cut off by WDR (censored ?),very frustrating. I'm wondering if the full concert is available somewhere ? Great to see this once again 25 years later. Thank you for posting it,It was already deleted many times...
Yes, Bill Spooner is AMAZING! (If you're in the Bay area, seek and ye shall find some amazing blues!)And this is one of my favorite TUBE'S songs...but "POWER BALLAD"? Listen to the lyrics...REALLY listen! ;-)
So, where is the original music video to this? I find it hard to believe that youtube does not have it. wtf? You know, the one where rain starts pouring from the sky....on stage. huh?
This IS THE BEST Tubes song hands down, and actually, one of my favorite songs ever, Elton, Todd Rundgren, Paul McCartney, listen up.....the tubes won the super bowl with this one.
I miss tom snyder!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw Wendy O, TUbes and a lot of other LA bands that i couldn't see in Pgh (and I was too young to get into clubs anyway) but these guys were my favorites.
Do what I did: get a vinyl copy and put it on CD!! Sometimes I find that my own vinyl to CD transfer sounds better than the CDs in the store, no kidding! I don't know why that is. I've done it literally hundreds of times. BTW, this album is fantastic.
I remember when MTV showed a concert from this era (may have been the same one), they deleted the WHOLE song! I was pissed... Thanks for letting me finally see it live!
wheres fee at.
coachy61 2 weeks ago
Superb.....!
louie2able 7 months ago
I played with Bill Spooner in one of his band classes in 1993.
We used to sit on the fire escape and smoke b4 class.
I knew of "She's a beauty" of course but had never heard this song till recently.
What a great song!
johnnybeane 7 months ago
One of my favorite songs of all time. I wore this album out in college
alanowens3 9 months ago
Eines der schönsten Lieder aller Zeiten!
zzzhacker 9 months ago
This song, and "She's a Beauty" were my first introduction to the Tubes on MTV. From my part of the world, it seems like they were just hitting the big time when they split up. Too bad.
tappingkaren 9 months ago
Agreed, this song is huge, Spooner has a great voice and that guitar! The beer is classic, he liked to pack'em away.
Snaffoo 11 months ago
Thanx for sharing !!!
Kammler03 11 months ago
Love this song, but why does he miss the last note?
haasenburgh 11 months ago
@haasenburgh because he's human?
TruthSurge 8 months ago
@TruthSurge perfect answer^^
Shizheee 5 months ago
A great song ,used successfully as a seduction tool. Thanks Tubes. I'm not sure but I think that the beer is a Grolsch- made in Holland!
LhodaKblerz 11 months ago
A great song ,used successfully as a seduction tool. Thanks Tubes.
LhodaKblerz 11 months ago
"Barely alive, have to make love to survive. I'll show you how it's done. Take it as it comes. A rocket to the sun!" A great song by "The Tubes" but not very good quality. The original video was way cooler :) It always gets me thinking about our lives and if it's all worth it. So much passion ... I'd like to polish his rocket :)
nogoodusernames667 1 year ago
Wow what a vocal
gravano2 1 year ago
REALLY, WATCH THIS VIDEO. THE ARTIST IS SINGING SO DEEPLY, AND WITH SO MUCH PASSION. TO ME THE MESSAGE IS ALL ABOUT LIVING IN THE MOMMENT!!!
angelicinspiration1 1 year ago
Dogs bollocks!!!!
davindo91 1 year ago
One of my all time favorite song and band....
kasponya 1 year ago
GREAT song!! .. not sure if it's the best ever of the tubes... but it IS AWESOME- I have to say that this version of the song pretty much sucks!! .. what a shame for such a great song! ... hope to find better out there.. :)
gremlinjr 1 year ago
VIVA dAVID FOSTER!!!!!!!
82768916 1 year ago
This the DOGS!!! One of the best 10 songs EVER!!! If you on't like this, you're musically brain dead.
davindo91 1 year ago
This band was the best but because they mocked the pomp of what their masters used to suck stolen life into an idiotic substitute called "lifestyle" for/of so many, they were blackballed, just like Zappa, Beefheart, Wall of Voodoo, and the like. This particular song, along with "Amnesia" grabs my heart with as much passion as non-lethality can. I tear up as much as I also laugh at their more overt attacks on self-absurdizing consumerism. Ahhhh.
christopher94523 1 year ago
I think this song is a parody of insipid Foreigner REO Styx.
hunchybunker 1 year ago
Those bands were not the "cause" of insipidness, but merely its accompaniment, much less its Frankfort School intention by the Rotchschild-Rockefeller "culture"-funders. Musicians can play revolution as easily as its suppression or recuperation. Enslavement is a two-way street....
Proletarianization is what proletarians DO TO THEMSELVES every day.
best,
frank
christopher94523 1 year ago
Who was it that sang this song. I always thought it was Fee. This is one of their best.
Quantanthead 1 year ago
@Quantanthead You're looking at the singer of this song on the CD. It wasn't Fee.
caliger617 1 year ago
@Quantanthead And all others like pogodog1: This is BILL SPOONER FC'sS!
Jan621117 1 year ago
TUBES!! PLEEZ, RnR Hall of Fame - PUT THEM IN!!!
usblueflyer 1 year ago
I saw the Tubes in London in the late-90s. Turned around and stood next to me was Rick Astley. I said 'I didn't think the Tubes would be your kind of thing, Rick.' He said 'They're not. Me missus dragged me along.'
Dentakulator 1 year ago
Fantastic song. I dig The Tubes as much as any band, ever.
I have to wonder if the singer could have played better if he hadn't been drinking.
51Lurch 1 year ago
Not sure why Fee didn't orginally sing this one, because he sings it now in concert.
guitarconasor 1 year ago
well most babes have a 14 year old attittude about love-lust and when one is trying to get laid might as well hit em right in the crotch ... right ? LOL !
videocanone 1 year ago
Beautiful song! Bill did a great job singing on this and his guitar work is stellar. Just...wow. Nuff sed.
KamenRiderNecro 1 year ago 2
@dckmatrix ...yes,you're totally right:he's Bill Spooner,Tubes'guitarist: it seems this wonderful song from 1981 Tubes album "Completion Bacward principle" was tottally written and sung by him also in studio version.
Mozart61 1 year ago
Comment removed
Mozart61 1 year ago
I'm so glad my older brother Tim took me to concerts like the Tubes in SF Old Waldorf, when I was 9 years old. I remember Fee Waybell and Praire Prince. I'm waiting now for my fiance from Chile Carola and this song really hits home.
jacktrout 1 year ago
They were sooooooo damn good!!!
vulvasonic 1 year ago
Ah, the best of all possible love ballads ! From the Tubes no less ! My fav tune for romancing babes ! the desert island theme ! Blue Lagoon ! but perhaps after all the nukes go off, stranded with a hottie on the last inhabitable island ... what bliss !
videocanone 1 year ago
@videocanone Well.....it's more of a LUST ballad isn't it? (Barely alive / gotta make love to survive..." Kind of what a junior high kid would say to get a girl into bed. Great song, anyhow. Love it, beautiful.
pazzensutra 1 year ago
another favorite song of me since the early 80s
riwwelkuche 1 year ago
One, seen from a technical point of view, of the best compositions in pop history. Wonderful chord progression. Wonderful performance. Mediocre lyrics, though, but who cares in front of this great music.
Perigaeum 1 year ago
One, seen from a technical point of view, of the best compositions in pop history. Wonderful chord progression. Wonderful performance. Mediocre lyrics, though, but who cares in front of this great music.
Perigaeum 1 year ago
Hit #22 rock, #35 pop in the US (Billboard). How'd it do in Germany? God bless!
DaveWollenberg 1 year ago
progduke ,he teaches guitar in SF .
pumkinbreath 1 year ago
fantastic
steelartcom 1 year ago
Absolutely fantastic. Never heard a live version of this classic. Bill Spooner does an amazing job on the vocals. Does anybody know what he does doing now ?
progduke 1 year ago
@progduke teaching at Blue Bear School of American Music in San Francisco. He's also playing in a band called The Folk Ups with his son
thixotropicmusic 1 year ago
wow... money shot of Bill at 3:50!!!!
We love Sputnik!!!
SkipdeMilieu 2 years ago
Bills such a great powerfull,emotional singer,im surprised he wasn't the lead vocalist.
jasonjarvis1988 2 years ago
Because Fee is more colorful and better suited to sing more than just love songs. I can't see Bill singing She's a Beauty.
Snapscape 2 years ago
Comment removed
jasonjarvis1988 2 years ago
Comment removed
jasonjarvis1988 2 years ago
This is the BEST song by the Tubes. They should absolutely be in the R&R Hall of fame. I keep their greatest hits CD in my Wrangler when I want to get in a good mood. Fee Waybill for President.
pogodog1 2 years ago 17
@pogodog1
You are spot on! This is beyond one of the hottest songs ever written...and beautifully arranged, too. I don't understand why these guys aren't in the R&R Hall of Fame either. Fee Waybill is amazing!!!!!!
AngelGirl143730 1 year ago
Bill should know his way around the song.
He created it ALL virtually HIMSELF.
The delay...Grim innit. Reminds me of when they played Knebworth.
WackaJawacka 2 years ago
i think he blew his nut out
longfootbuddy 2 years ago
We love ya Sputnik!!!
pazzensutra 2 years ago
I just managed to "play both sides at one meeting" just a few minutes ago. This album is EXCELLENT! I play this album quite often. I used to sing and play "Talk to Ya Later" and "Sushi Girl" in a band around 1983. Boy, those were great times, and great tunes. I wish music was still like this instead of this horrible "hip-hop" where it's cool to steal somebody else's music because you can't make your own. The Tubes were / are fantastic. RIP Vince Welnick. Tragic about the dynamic Mr. W.
pazzensutra 2 years ago
I think he is amazing and love this song!
Ravenprpl 2 years ago
Never thought he could sing it live like that!
Great!
But what's with the awfull echoe on the vocals?
Patsik 2 years ago
i am proud to say that i have been taught by Bill Spooner, hes so fuckin amazing its not even funny
thixotropicmusic 2 years ago
Me too! I think it's time The Tubes be inducted into
the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame! It's long over due!
CarlosMacMartin 2 years ago 2
Tubeless indeed, but Bill Spooner is a splendid singer. The beer was needed for the high notes i guess :)
Love this song!
terpstragil 2 years ago
the tubes without feewaybill are tubeless!
venisfurs 2 years ago
The greatest rock and roll band ever.....
Any questions?
samdude14 2 years ago
Guess Prince heard this, and then wrote "purple rain" the year after..:) Peace
ole9872 2 years ago 2
I loved this album.I could always "manage to play both sides a one meeting".
lordmjh 2 years ago
Spooner is awesome. Love this song, love the Tubes, my very first concert in January of 1975, San Bernardino Municipal Auditorium.
stakebeddriver 2 years ago
Great version , they now miss Spooner's voice , but Fee does a good cover job on a great tune
gravano2 2 years ago
that guy screwed the guitar solo in that song in a 1984 at the pier in New York City, the reason...he was too drunk and because of that beer he is holding in the microphone stand, I wonder if any of you out there went to that Concert sponsored by K-Rock
lasdelyeyo 2 years ago
WOW, I think Fee Waybill didn't want to wait anymore, just didn't have the strength to carry on without another sip of that fine german beer. Go Fee!!
henderbalz 3 years ago
LOL...that's not Fee singing this song. Bill "Sputnik" Spooner, one of the band's two guitar players and a founding member always sang this lead vocals on this song, and a few others from their early years (and a few songs from "Love Bomb", their last album with the full line-up).
fiver1971 2 years ago
Sputnik (Bill Spooner)
Dietpepsivanilla 3 years ago
Sputnik was great in this song.
Dietpepsivanilla 3 years ago
I absolutely hate the whole power ballad "concept", but man, I just LOVE this tune. And what a performance by Bill Spooner! Strange delay/echo on the vocal, though. Must have been the German beer!
srprazak 3 years ago 2
Bill did an incredible job singing this song .Fee's a great singer but Bill's voice and presentation is better suited in this video.And I also like European beer.
lordmjh 3 years ago
precioso tema....
santyrush 3 years ago
Outstanding vocal performance ! This song is an excerpt from a night-long concert broadcasted live in the 80ies by the German TV,including many other groups. I was watching it live early in the morning and remember a big part of the show (not this song) was simply cut off by WDR (censored ?),very frustrating. I'm wondering if the full concert is available somewhere ? Great to see this once again 25 years later. Thank you for posting it,It was already deleted many times...
nikitaratata 3 years ago 2
Yes, Bill Spooner is AMAZING! (If you're in the Bay area, seek and ye shall find some amazing blues!)And this is one of my favorite TUBE'S songs...but "POWER BALLAD"? Listen to the lyrics...REALLY listen! ;-)
shelleylee62 3 years ago
My gosh, one of the best songs of it's kind in music history....
haunting. Bill Spooner performance is fantastic. Thanks for this video!!
Stephensorrentino 3 years ago
Yes. Bill Spooner. Man he added so much umph to the Tubes. And Vince too RIP.
randarmax 3 years ago 2
just saw fee do it not quite as strong all ways miss this
61greenkevin 3 years ago
Amazing live performance of this song. Love this. Bill Spooner rocks. What a voice. Beautiful. Definition of a power ballad.
covara63 3 years ago
This song is even better live.wow
grangeinboston 3 years ago
YES!!! Tubes Concert 1983 - Dortmund (Germany)
avlmedia 3 years ago
So, where is the original music video to this? I find it hard to believe that youtube does not have it. wtf? You know, the one where rain starts pouring from the sky....on stage. huh?
nipplage 3 years ago
fantastic song.thanks for the video.awesome!!! i'm an 80's lady ;)
jheartsafire 3 years ago
I saw this tour at the Mid Hudson Civic Center in Newburgh NY. I think Blotto opened. Great show.
KevinFL 3 years ago
Bill has a blazin' hot voice. Keep singing Bill!!!!
-Dyan
boardgirl26 3 years ago
This IS THE BEST Tubes song hands down, and actually, one of my favorite songs ever, Elton, Todd Rundgren, Paul McCartney, listen up.....the tubes won the super bowl with this one.
VideosbyJJ 3 years ago 6
Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!
default99telecom 3 years ago
I saw them sing this on the "tom Snyder" show!!!
jesterjimmy 4 years ago
I miss tom snyder!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw Wendy O, TUbes and a lot of other LA bands that i couldn't see in Pgh (and I was too young to get into clubs anyway) but these guys were my favorites.
Wendi I
trawen1 3 years ago
I think I recall seeing wendy O & the plasmatics...didn't they sing "monkey suit"? BTW I left the burgh back in 82.....
jesterjimmy 3 years ago
I have the Completion Backward Principal on cassette... it's old & thin!!
beckycelebration 4 years ago
Do what I did: get a vinyl copy and put it on CD!! Sometimes I find that my own vinyl to CD transfer sounds better than the CDs in the store, no kidding! I don't know why that is. I've done it literally hundreds of times. BTW, this album is fantastic.
pazzensutra 2 years ago
Thank you! I have this song on a cassette tape of the Tubes that is wearing out! Love it!
beckycelebration 4 years ago 2
Thanks, brings back many memories of my young'n days. xoxoxoxoxox
jj00llzz 4 years ago
I remember when MTV showed a concert from this era (may have been the same one), they deleted the WHOLE song! I was pissed... Thanks for letting me finally see it live!
deadfacewv 4 years ago 2