Flying Pickets - Only You [totp2]

[Dormousey]

oh pleeeeese! This is TOTP, of course it's lip synced! Watch the original vid (the one with blokes in the pub, playing darts). I was there in the eighties and still own the original 45 disk. I couldn't satisfy myself then and I still can't but I don't think they used any thing other than voice. Look at my eighties list and you will find that version if you can't find it otherwise.

NB: I will be most happy for someone (from the time and with appropriate knowledge) to correct me!

[zoolook3264]

I absolutely love this song - if I didn't write instrumental music i'd write in this style

[renumeratedfrog]

Although I don't doubt this is a capella, I think they used some electronic distortions in their recording... There's no way they could pull out this king of sound on a live stage.

[renumeratedfrog]

I wish it was live, not lipsynced... 

[Cool2BCeltic]

A song from the most dangerous period in the Cold War after the Cuban Crisis.

[TheMichellepop]

please some one tell me what they say when they sing all i needed was to love u ??? sounds like gay ??? fill in the blank if u know.

[NoIdeaForNickname]

@TheMichellepop

All I needed was the love you gave

All I needed for another day

And all I ever knew, only you ... :)

[TheMichellepop]

@NoIdeaForNickname thank u, now this sounds better lol.

[yehman101]

great song, but should never have been christmas number one!

[davidsan01]

They covered this from Yazoo, who (Vince Clarke) offered this song to Depeche Mode when he left them. Depeche Mode turned it down.... and the rest as you say is history!

[TomthatiscalledTom]

The lead singer has appalling taste in boy friends, I must say....

[tkcwu]

is this an appropriate song for wedding?

[norm7446]

@tkcwu Well. Now that is a hard question.. .... ...... Yes. I would say that this is a perfect song for a wedding..

[anonUK]

@tkcwu

Better than Sting's "I'll be Stalking You" (otherwise known as "Every Breath You Take") or "Perfect Day", or whatever other stupidity they use at weddings these days.

[sleepytimegalz]

I love it!!!!! so kool!!! thx Alex...phyllis xo

[ralutjohn]

Lip syncing was ordered by the BBC at that time.

[ScunneredMan]

1983 Eh? still a pop classic. Brings back happy times.

[ibrahimakhtar]

Look it's lord Voldimort.

[SIXTIESMUSICGUY]

@ibrahimakhtar

lol no he's more like one of the russian bad guys from the last x-files film / x-files i want to believe , spitting image of the guy from that movie lol

[neil73]

First time I['ve heard this in a looooooong time. Can tell now that they used Emulators for the 'Ahhhh' effects - Thats not to take anything away from the song - it's a great and original cover.

[COGENTCOG]

what a wonderful song....

[earth123ism]

remember red stripe the bald head one

[MrVandype]

I know this song for two reasons, first I share it with somebody who is very very special for me, and second.. it was a favorite song in a club/pub that i visited when i was ...young(er)

[krugerfuchs]

are they still together

[Applemask]

@krugerfuchs Yes and no. Yes, the band's still going, but no, none of the original bandmembers are in it. It's Trigger's broom.

[horizon123]

Hehe Brian Hibbard looks like Elvis in his golden costume and with his sideburns! :)

[dalgroves10]

I was 3 in 1983 but this song I remember from my youth and those years when I was a little lad, life was great, everyone seemed happy. Its almost like this song can take you back to that time before you understood the pressure and stress of life and how quick our youth passes us by. A beautiful song, a lovely memory.

[chris185821]

@dalgroves10 i understand , i was 14 years old , but this song reminds me of better times , wish i could go back to then , but no , that cant happen , everything was better back then , so many family members who were around then ... but not no more .....i wish i could do something to make it better , but i can not , i wish you well ,

[MickeyLove01]

I hated this song nearly as much as True by Spandau Ballet

[btopishere]

Lip syncing for the loss.

[Squidgington]

@btopishere For a long time on TOTP artists were not actually allowed to perform live. No idea why!

[ThePopman96]

who could hate this song

[vevejay]

Brilliant thats what you call voices.

[scotsmaninusa]

twin towns

[tammymary]

@scotsmaninusa karaoke king!!!

[HotDiggidyDogUK]

Check out my channel for an interview with Brian Hibbard, the founder and original lead singer of the Flying Pickets!

[Missdreamchaser]

LMAO !!! Its voldemort :D

[pythonbyte]

this is worse than the x factor muppets.

[fatfrankblack]

@pythonbyte you're joking right? your taste in music is much better than this comment suggests!

[AlexyAndTashy]

Amazing song :) <3

[Hughezy]

that lead singer looks like Ross from Friends

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Is this video a piss take???

The bald bloke had a seizure and the others were all taking the mick!

[keegan9413]

@URZZZZZZZZ no it wasn't :)

[SkellsTechTV]

Born and bread welsh,love the flying pickets

[gibsosgerbil]

Merry Christmas Flying Pickets. Love Gibsons xx

[z5w8m2n11]

Beautiful song...!!!

thanks so much...!!!

[RinconBoehemio]

Muy bonito ...lo que logro entender es que no hay instrumento musical y esto es lo que hace el arte en ellos ...me equivoco?...besitos y buen fin de semana...Ada

[SaintYago07]

Wonderful song!!!

[damnedsilence]

aaaw, they're so bromantic ^^

[tcbl50]

one of my earliest memories of pop music...

[PAPERCUT1221]

as the lead singer of the group got a bad case of the trots looks like the poor guy holdin it in way hes smilin

[PAPERCUT1221]

lead singer look like he as bad case of the  trots and hes holdin it in with his smilin

[PAPERCUT1221]

lead singer look like he as bad trots and hes holdin it in with his smilin

[johnclawed]

I like it, but it would be great if a truly a cappella group did it without the synth and heavily processed voices to which these guys are lip syncing. They would need a couple of extra voices to replace the synth, but it would be worthwhile.

[tuulips2]

Wonderful!! Brings back so many good memories

[TB163]

They are not singing that live, that is definitely a recorded track. 

[shooterwall]

LIKE IT

[gingermosha]

love the song - looks like some bad lip sync -ing

[jezmond40]

lawayerlad thats the best comment ever

[lavverlylad]

My pleasure!

[mos323]

Classic TOTP2 material

[danceinheaven]

no one does it like alison moyet . amazing voice she has

[zvipeer3]

מדהים!!!  א-קאפלה!!

[paddyirishman83]

its my fucking note terry

[juliethomas01]

no its dai rees the kareoke king TWIN TOWN

[Rhydian2252]

Anyone have the video clip when they were dressed as Snowmen ??

[RichXbox360]

The best thing about this was they were singing live, something not very often experienced in the early 80s.

[deejo1984]

this song is amazing on so many levels

[purechemicalsoul]

lil bit gay when lex luther n wolverine ave a lil moment together!

[larrykoopa67]

@purechemicalsoul aka fonzie and uncle feister

[KillerDragon08]

Awsome Song !!!!

Miss the 80´s !!!!!!!

They can singing better, than the Fucking Cover Monkys today !!!!!!

[shanemc25]

Amazing vocals all round. Reminds me so much of being a kid. I didn't know this is where Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins started off tho!!!

[TheSandsie13]

always loved this song. had it on 45 back when it first came out.

[tazzieboy123]

uncle fester from the 60's amd the 80's singer at the start..that was a song for any decade lol

[harrygreen765]

lived in the yellow duck in deptford with them,,,lol

[scotsmaninusa]

twin town

[valaydhan]

i think this group are amazing especially this song becuase when you look at them making their own music with there own mouths it dosn't look the like the tune to the song.

[yohohobone]

hiya hows rubby?

[earth123ism]

rember red stripe he use to look like he was head banging

[Frankcis1980]

The one in the white suit looks like one of my mates (he even goes out on the piss wearing a similar hat). One night after a heavy session while we were waiting for a taxi, we were taiking the piss out of him for it and for some reason started singing this song in the middle of town. We got some funny looks but we were so wasted we didnt care. Although one stranger chipped in a couple of lines LOL! Fucking awesome song though!

[chandlerbingbong]

this is the shit. really takes me back to when i was a wee lad.... when they had proper songs at christmas . five stars!!!!!!!!!!!

[salamatpoo]

Ha ha. This is so obviously lip synced.

[felinecarol]

@salamatpoo

Blame it on the quality of video recording at the time salamatpoo...after all it is probably older than you. ROTFLMAO

I saw them live in 1983 and believe me they were sooo much better than this shows!!

[salamatpoo]

@felinecarol I don't doubt their credibility as live artists. I'm sure they're amazing and this is one of my fave songs. This song isn't before my time, but I would have been 4. :) I was first exposed to it through the Wong Kar Wai movie Fallen Angels.

This performance is lip synced as are many performances on these kinds of shows. The audio is the same as the music video. No knock or anything. I just think it's funny to have a capella artists lip sync a performance. :)

[simeon136]

@salamatpoo All artists lip synced on Top of The Pops...some took it to the obvious level by not actually singing along. Someone also had their guitar on back to front.

[Mannion3223]

@simeon136 No they didn't. Billy Bragg insisted on doing 'Between the Wars' live. Its on YouTube somewhere and is a great song.

[raynkar]

Thanks for posting these vids.

They are taking me back to my youth in the 1980's

The power of youtube and decent posters who put stuff up for others enjoyment is what the net should be all about!

[StevieRevbo]

"flying pickets" were of course those workers on strike sent to picket-out other workplaces that weren't on strike but should have been.....

back in the days before the Thatcher Anti-Union laws which made flying pickets as well as other forms of working class solidarity illegal.

"never cross a picket-line!"

[TheNigelc8]

Hi Rabidgriffin, I think you mean that the Housemartins Caravan of Love ( 86 ) sounds like this (83)

[TnSification]

Wiggy I am addicted to your videos :-) maybe I should get out more!!!

[Edam3000]

The lead singer looks like Al Pacino.

[oldhippypeace]

They were called the flying pickets after the trade union members that attempted to blockade firms in the fight against the draconian measures Maggy Thatcher took as she broke the trade unions(the members blockading were called pickets. Not sure but I think they were actors

[levelate]

those draconian measures included sending mounted police to break up the pickets. the prime minister (and by association, those in the house of lords) were using the police as there own private army.

[liamharwood69]

omg theyidking get a life lmao

[flashass85]

play back

[TheYidKing]

But does the lead singer know the difference between a 'Two Tone 525 & an AC Cobra?'

[whatthefluk]

Wow the singer is quite the looker.

I feel old. I remember this song when it first came out.

[figaro589]

I didn't know uncle Fester was a flying picket! LOL

[ELECTROWILDSTYLE]

when is totp on ? please tell me.

[andrew1984uk]

It finished in 2006 lol

[mrskarlay]

things ya see when u aint got a gun,

5 gypos 1 space.

[jaxwells1]

sob... takes me back years to happy times! thank you!

[su51lox]

Anyone remember the lead singer appearing in Coronation Street, nicking Mike Baldwins Jag never to be seen again

Great Song

[danpanb05]

Doug the mechanic. Nice one!!

[deanpeterclarke]

ye lol sad but yes i remember him

[dontpanicblink]

i think he was in emmerdale to

[rabidgriffin]

sounds alot like the house martins caravan of love

[biancahulshof]

This was (is) the most wonderfull

time of my life.........this song makes me think of the good old times

X and i'm not yet 40!!!!!!!!!! X

Thanks for sharing

[danpanb05]

Me too!!

[bondbug73]

This song got right on my t*t's that Christmas.

[xBoRnSLiiPpY89]

@bondbug73 I wasnt even born :/ jesus that comment made me think lol im still very young i was born in 89

[LazyScott99]

We could really do with something like this on Britain's got talent, instead of moron maths teachers trying to be Tom Jones lol.

[MrDdwk]

great accapella

[forestgumpaed]

a superb cover version of yazoos song.well worthy #1 at the time.

[stusixtyone]

@forestgumpaed

no it was not. it stopped SLADE getting the xmas #1.

[goodchap1971]

The bald bloke was in the "Adams Family" movie.

[ScotsLass10]

brings me back to my child hood, Brilliant song,. x

[DARKnDODGY]

me too...oh man im back there...in my mommaz kitchen early sunday morning in my nylon superman pj's freezin cold cuz she is doing the house work n got all the doors n windows open "airing it out"..dunking my "cow and urn" malted milk biscuits into my tea...good song, but damn sunday mornings where cold...

[shanewardfan]

i like top of the pops i like the song and the video it it brill

[anitamcgahern]

Hey, you're from St Helens....I'm originally from Warrington but live in Canada now......great song

[Purpledog586]

Hard to believe there isn`t a musical instrument involved in this record.I love it to bits, great sound.

[cujo9]

theres no words to describe this except ; genius

[David9000000000]

I was an extra in a film with brian hibbard the film was called little white lies,i was the bald ambulance driver in it ,as for brian hes a real gentleman best wishes big john................

[geordieboy79]

Great song, Great performance.

[postabox]

holy shit its uncle feister from adams family

[zvictorone]

uncle fester drives a taxi in hull now.

[KillerDragon08]

@postabox

Muhahahahahahahaha

[LoverSniper]

@postabox It's not Uncle Fester - It's Yul Brynner from Westworld!! ...and he's about to go rouge!! LOL!

[damigo0]

@postabox watch out bomb~

[aallhopeisgone09]

@postabox nah it looks more like Voldemort from harry potter

[horridhenryrandomtv]

@aallhopeisgone09 it achally was him in harry potter

[KaL976]

Mr Hibbard is also in Twin Town [great film]

[florinschlecht]

the singer looks cool ^^

[034try]

i luv this song

but there are miming

[irishmanufan]

everyone did on top of the pops it is not unsual .

[zvictorone]

its not unusual,thats tom jones.

[dogs1905]

Was the guy singing , on Coronation street for a while?

[tightfisttung]

Yes he was, worked for Mike Baldwin as as a mechanic if i remember rightly! I think he was called Dougy :-) nicked his Jag too lol!

[irishmanufan]

his name is brian hibbard should you wish to know :-)  mostly appears on welsh tv now .

[pisihopat]

i like it a lot

[coolschooluk]

Although the guy on the left of the stage looks like the presenter from the crystal maze (Richard O'Brian)

[tonymontana1974]

or micheal stipe out of r.e.m.

[coolschooluk]

This is an all time classic! love it!

[lavverlylad]

Every incarnation of Doctor Who on one stage.

[livstar93]

lmao. yeah. i see where ur coming from. I dont know an names here, but did anyone else notice how the guy with the huge sideburns and the bald guy were looking at each other whilst singing the chorus between 1:39 and 1:52? lol.

[MathewDixon1986]

the guy with the side burns is Brian Hibbard, not sure about the bald guy

[quitetired]

@lavverlylad That was just about the funniest comment I've ever read on youtube. Thanks for making me laugh at a very difficult time.

[saneman666]

@lavverlylad

I nearly did a spittake reading your comment. Hilarious.

I think this version is fucking overkill. THe song is better when one person sings.

[veryphonics]

@lavverlylad thats hilarious

[purechemicalsoul]

@lavverlylad bang spot on man...pisser!

[briareos02]

@lavverlylad - ROFLMAO!!!  THAT IS FUNNY!!!

[garybeardsell]

@lavverlylad so funny

[LoverSniper]

@lavverlylad Holy smokes! That's the most hilarious thing I've read in months!! Thanks!

[74sbest]

was lucky enough to see them live in 82,ribs hurt 4 a week bril.they were jasper carrots resident band on his tv shows circa 84, must be some tape from then?

[davidhurtsings]

The Flying Pickets actually did a FANTASTIC cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" years ago. It had a kind of music video attached to it with good light effects and some good vocal work from the group.

Does anyone know where I can download this video, or have any details of what show it was on? Of even if anyone knows which performance I mean? :)

[MannaMachine69]

C'mon own up - who elese found Uncle Fester with the high voice scary when they were young?

[KP371]

They were on TOTP at least 4 times just with Only You, I used to have them all on video but someone borrowed it and never gave it back. >:( One time they were all in pajamas and holding teddy bears, another time they were all in snowman costumes. I'd give anything to see some of their other appearances again. Loved 'em.

[LazloStPierre]

think another one was donkey jackets with 'Flying Pickets' written on the back in A-Team style writing.

[gingerjoe1972]

love the sideburns!

[mattleek12]

Been wanting to see their TOTP perfomance for ages. Cheers.

[wearestudioc]

great! we have the other time they were on totp on a vhs, had it for yearz :D

[ajs41]

I'd love to see that video!