The Human League: Empire State Human

[funkmike]

I'll confirm--use the 240 p setting to get sound.

[DariusBlue]

@neil8633 Switch to 240p.

[sixpack9901]

@DariusBlue No sound, 240p ? What's mean 240p ?

[DariusBlue]

@sixpack9901 Do you see the number on the bottom right of the video, to the left of the "shrink/expand" button? Click on it and select 240p to hear sound.

[EulalieWeissberg282]

Dowwnload the audio from this video at speedyconversion doht cohm.

[halleck71]

fack



[MisspentYouth70]

If there's a better chorus about I would like to hear it.

[TrainmasterCurt]

Is that the Chicago overhead?

[Wehategod]

Have Phil and Martin made up after all these years I am all for an original Line of the Human League tour

[shinysynthcity]

@Wehategod When asked in a recent interview about doing the first 2 albums live . . .

MW: I’m very keen on doing that. We’d want to do it as Human League but as a different

version of the Human League. Which obviously involves Phil’s incorporation and probably

entails the girls standing down for a particular gig which I suspect isn’t going to happen. But

we are cooking some plans at the moment for next year which might be extremely enticing for

them."

[danram69]

i remember being at blitz and rusty played this track amazing i was only 14 great times

[chocolates9919]

i think human leage should come back i love them

[closertofiftythanyew]

@chocolates9919 They've announced new live dates for the end of this year. Google the excellent site ' ElectronicallyYours '. Good interview there with Glenn Gregory from Heaven 17 there in the last couple of weeks, with input from Phil,as well as Martyn, of course.

H17 did a brill documentary on BBC Brit telly on their first album two weeks ago, Penthouse and Pavement. An hour long - a must see, if you can view it somewhere. Couple of funny scenes with the Great Phil.

[millhouses21]

@chocolates9919 they are recording a new album at the moment and have signed a new record deal 

[boardy777777]

still sounds cool oakey from a manc joy division fan

[a7nse]

whaaaaat a toooon

[yousurfer2]

nice vid

[foxmania28]

They also played Electricity by OMD just before playing The Human League in that nightclub scene. Ah, God bless the 80s!!!

[annimon]

I remmeber a song - 'a crow and a baby had and affair', but don't recall the title. anyone remember?

[madamewoselle]

@annimon It was called "A Crow and a Baby!" ;)

[closertofiftythanyew]

@madamewoselle Yes, and the pushing mushrooms up line is, well, a classic line.

Always liked their "Path of Least Resistance" track too, sums the basic human mentality of most of us!

[RotoPlasmX]

@annimon The March Violets had a song called 'Crow Baby" from the early/mid-80s.

[cheeseInANutshell]

I got this stuck in my head when we were supposed to be doing a test :)

[ikznjoey]

i want to be tall tall tall tall tall!!!

[RoosterM488]

Just discovered this song after it was used twice in the BBC 2 programme 'Worried about the boy' about boy george. amazing programme and this is an amazing song!

[ikznjoey]

@RoosterM488 OMG i saw that it was at the night club scene right? the film was amazing =]

[RoosterM488]

@ikznjoey yea in the nightclub and i think when he was making dinner as well. I couldn't find any of the other songs anywhere, so i went through it writing down lyrics, here are the ones i found if you're interested...

Kraftwerk - The Model

Hazel O'Conner - Will You

David Bowie - Beauty and the Beast

Soft Cell - Memorabillia

Culture Club - White Boy and of course Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?

Enjoy them!

This film has made me '80's mad!

[closertofiftythanyew]

The young girl looks like Rozz from Frasier when she was young. Now I am not suggesting the actor that played Rozz was born in the early thirties.....

[Eesau65]

I was in a high school here Finland, playng flipper called sky/wavediving we called the machine flipper..human league sounds like ..thatsit allthough its british, and next Us ultravox hehee.

[Pr0perB01]

Class song pity they have gone all shit trying to fit in with the music of this age

[nadoanacleto]

1979

[gsnake666]

golden era for music? thank god and lemmy for the ace of spades.

[marcluc1988]

Is your user name intentionally spelt incorrectly?

[madamewoselle]

Yes.

[funkster37]

15 in 1981 how i miss this era thiugh reproduction was earlier. still have the vinyl travellogue a crow and a baby. though this is the best.

fetch more water fetch more sand

[CraigDeth]

@funkster37

This track is from Reproduction and it`s not from 1981.

Dare was from 1981.

[Braveheart1297]

class tune!!!! just love this song always have

[justinunity]

Tall tall tall tall tall tall tall tall.

[Animateme3D]

Human League just signed to UK recording label Wall of Sound! New material (songs, videos, album) expected in 2010!!!!

[RochelleMG]

I have their first 2 albums on vinyl. They were great. Excellent video for rail fans.

[brightphoebus]

That was really excellent!

[punchcar]

great track. you can hear the templates for the Dare album and their 'sound'

[electrozaps]

superb !

[nursepants]

For a split second I was back in Steeleys in Sheffield...brilliant...take me back please

[125or200px]

nursepants.

What about Crazy Daisy?

Thats where it all started.

Sounds of the Steel City,true classics.

[nursepants]

error...meant never saw them in the Crazt daisy..

[ILikeCalliopes]

@125or200px:

Been listening to P&P a lot lately. Side 2 is so fucken killer.

Geisha Boys & Temple Girls to "FOR A VERY LONG TIME FOR A VERY LONG TIME FOR A VERY LONG TIME FOR A VERY LONG TIME....."

[nursepants]

Never got to see any of it in Steelys...think I was just a bit to young...but trying to catch up a bit now though...off to see Heaven 17 at the magna in sheffield...they doin the Penthouse and Pavement stuff and some from the luxury gap I think....brill

[slimboyfat9]

it was fantastic was'nt it.

[Sashthecat]

Great song!

[SpaceIntruderDetecto]

Excellent Video for one of my favorite songs ever. Where did you get the footage of the old 2nd Ave Elevated subway? Even have a guy who looks like Phil Oakey did back in the day. Weird but cool! Brilliant job!

[lewisner]

If you do a search for Elevated vids the guy who looks like Phil Oakey was the diector of the viseo.

[markosoloman]

not heard this for years!!! wow....where can i get it?

cheers

[TheRAMIREZ138]

Love the video .

The song .

The lyrics .

Excellent.

[GabrYX20]

Skinny Puppy quotation in the sound

[pbriganti]

Tune

[shergold]

So hard to believe this is 30 years later, still sounds great and hasn't dated at all. They really were years ahead of their time in this short line up. Great track, thanks for putting it on, I was 13 again for a moment :-)

[stilln68la]

great song.i´m only 5 ft 3".lol

[theneil100]

a brilliant band and phil oakey is super talented

[MisspentYouth70]

The gritty 'city reality' video fits perfectly with the theme of the song cheers for posting love it!

[stuyvpc]

Thanks for posting this. Saw them last weekend and they did this, one of those songs I hadn't heard for 20 years and now I can't stop playing it. Just as great as when it was 1st released

[mzchannel]

Do they still perform? Where can I find the tour dates??

[raindog951]

They have a website called The Black Hit of Space.

[dougiewhite778]

they sang this in Tatton park last night 2/8/09 still sounds good today

[SynthJocky]

I was there too. They were definately worth watching

[mrrotweiler2]

i quote Parker Lewis - "coolness!" :p Easily my alltime fav HL song, ty for posting :D

[lewisner]

I bought this on vinyl when it was released 8-p

[CatFiain]

Me too! :-D

Have it on CD as well now. Still play Reproduction and Travelogue very regularly.

Empire State Human is one of the few early tracks they still perform live. They should play far more from the first 2 albums, IMO.

[dutygornpuntocom]

Top!

[LiamTheGreat]

doesn't the first few seconds of this sound just like the airwolf theme? Phil should sue :D

[EriqueBonito]

Apart from Love Action, the best song they ever 'churned' out! Beautiful and mesmerising!

[stourglassboy]

Without doubt one of the greatest examples of early 80s electronica, a truly awesome song

[anteaston]

great song obviously, great footage tho. where is it from?

[jasonj2008]

makes a change from all those songs about love i guess

[noo00ooob]

this song was played to me when I was very young and now I am coincidentally tall (6 ft 3)

[shortly63]

God i remember this sooooo well. I bought a 2-single pack but cant remember what the other one waws... being boiled maybe? I just loved this track and having listened to it for the first time in years , I still do!!!!!

[123xxrobertx]

this one's well done release of their, I was too young to remember first made Human League's tunes. I'd tell the one - these tunes sounds absolutely good after years ! it's unique mood to have heard them

[joro0710]

oooh!

pips manchester 1979!

i sing this to my kids

they love!!

especially"with concentration, my size increased!"

shame those girls joined (sorry girls)

[dwhitmee]

y they had there biggest album with them

[mikem1966]

WOW PIPS in mancheter! you too.

as for the girls joining, they added what was missing in order for the band to crossover and make it big time. think the guys, especially Phil O. knew that and brought them it.

[joro0710]

yep i know

just not my scene

[OnTheRazorsEdge]

I too love the songs more the earlier they are, as a general rule. However, I still love them as they are now.

I am going to see them play at the Wickerman festival. I have only had the pleasure of seeing them once before. It was the 20th anniversary of Dare tour. What a record!

I really hope they play stuff from their tenure as The Future, that would be killer (although extremley unlikely).

Still, you can't tell me you don't like Seconds or The Things That Dreams Are Made Of?

[joro0710]

nope

dont like anything after travelogue

end of debate.

however my son saw the ad for the 80s gig they are playing at tatton park in aug which is round the corner from me.

so i may have to go and see them if i carry on singing empire state human!...

[surf2die4]

***dont like anything after travelogue***

:cheers:

[joro0710]

is that "cheers" as in hurrah

or "cheers " as in thanks very much! ?

the girls that joined the band were lovely and musically the tunes were great

just not my kind of stuff!!

[Franzko787]

Probably the best Human League or Heaven 17 track of all. Fantastic drum machine and (probbly) seqenced bass line. They probably did it on relatively primative analog synths. The video has some weird NYC train footage from the 1950s (?) but is the young guy spliced in

Phil?

[mikem1966]

yup, thats Phil in there.

[Franzko787]

Thanks. :-) It is weird because it looks like it was some late 1950s documentary of New York City and trains plus tugboats. It looks like they spliced Phil in and got the film look and color right. I wonder if they found the documentary footage and wrote the song or vice versa. The Empire State Building is in a few shots. Yeah probably their best song.

[lesstz]

kroqqqq......thank u sharing nice!!!

[Sashthecat]

Great track!!!!

.66.

[mijahan]

Takes me back to 1981 when all us schoolkids were madly into the Human League. Wish I was back there again!

[DeusXLMII]

..Manhattan,

[timecomputer]

A classic that stands the test of tme.

[vintagevavavoom3]

used to love to dance to this great song

[ziconffc]

g8 tune brings it back early 80s

[qwerfderf]

What?

[Maverick747uk]

ive got this on 7" somewhere, great song and my kids love it ;-)

[2001pro]

absolutely class!!

[MROSEN62]

Good song, but the video is really the star here.

[correcaminos7]

What a gem! I just discovered the first human league recordings, I only knew them for the most commercial songs, but this... this is true music, true sound... my god!!! better late than never...

[tunnel82]

Madre, que espectáculo de sonido y ritmo. Auténticos 80's.

[correcaminos7]

Estoy de acuerdo tunnel82, pero que sonido!!! tremendos teclados, crudos, puros... estas canciones se ponen mejores con el tiempo, como el vino...

[banyera]

I actually wore out 3 copies of this album , listening to this song , + Almost Medieval..............!!! - Then the 7" and 12" too ...........LOL - This song was brill on the Holiday '80 tour at the Hammersmith Palais , (Some Looney from "Athletico Spizz 80", running round in a Wig with a Toy Trumpet) - Phil found it amusing though.....!! - not so sure about Martin and Ian tho....!! (Looks of Horror)

[gadhaffi]

somebody mentioned that HL circus of death, was influenced by kraftwerk. that definitely goes for this one too

[oaksyboy44]

This was only a minor hit,i think it should have been a massive hit,great song.

[locarno09]

yellowstag1966, you're so right man...

( depeche mode fan ).

[jimmyvideojames]

oy i was za vip at the hallam arena one and trust me the guys in all 3 bands were really nice especially nick the human league guitarist

[MikeGu63]

Saw them play this live last night as part of the Steel City Tour. Superb!

[metroidprime4]

Same here :D

[pikeysrtwatz]

Top draw last week in Wolves, Heaven 17 superb...the jury's out I'm afraid regarding ABC :-(

[subscooby]

Does anyone else like the human league, whilst being simultaneously aware that their lyrics are occasionally just bollocks?

I mean, this song is excellent, but 'big as a wall'...honestly...

[OnTheRazorsEdge]

You mean "Tall as a wall".

FETCH MORE WATER! FETCH MORE SAND! BIGGEST PERSON IN THE LAND!

[IDGLEA]

prachtige video.

[MerseysideAlice]

A friend of my mine at the time first played these early H L tracks to me otherwise may never have heard them. Been memorable particularly this one ever since. I agree best H L song.

[aquestionofkelly]

Yeah. I recall "Dont You Want Me" being the first and long HL song I heard for the longest time, then I heard "Being Boiled" and was blown away. I just didn't want to believe it was Human League!!

[yellowstag1966]

80'S SYNTHPOP STILL RULES

[jakosonic]

absolutely different class.

[mcdermott65]

When I was a young fellow in Calgary this my first experience of Britains excellence in pop. Cold play and Oasis continue the feeling.

[pikeysrtwatz]

The dogs nuts!!!!......cant wait till december when there touring with Heaven 17 & ABC.....MY LORDS what a combo!!!!

[OnTheRazorsEdge]

I need a job to go see this. NOW! D:

[hearditman]

Ah, The Butlins tour! With the Krankies as warm up.

[niswel]

30 years old and still kicking!

[FLORENT2222]

God save the league !!

[farerse]

those sound effects at 2.12 sound really bizarelly good:)

[acorn606]

tall tall tall

I wanna be tall tall tall

as big as a wall wall wall

as big as a wall wall wall

those memories of Top of the World in Stafford

[kemmey01]

これが入っているアルバムが発売された当時、この曲で一発でファ­ンになったのを覚えています。

当時テクノポップという言葉が出回りだした頃で、重苦しいのがc­oolだと勘違いしていた私ですが、でも、やっぱり、今聞いても­この「どずぅん」と来る重苦しさはカッコいいと思います。

だいぶ時が経って彼らは女性ヴォーカルを迎え、お洒落でポップな­バンドへと変貌するのですが、この曲でファンになった私としては­大ヒットを出していく彼らに喜ばしい思いをしつつ、非常に戸惑っ­たのを覚えています。

[zebezt2]

хуйню говоришь

[zebezt2]

хуйню говоришь

[Biggee111]

May have seen you there Milly! KRO!

[bluenosemilly]

remember getting drunk in Sam Wellers pub Birmingham listening to this many years ago!!!

[mytoob24]

This band provided the soundtrack for my youth.

Awesome. The League FTW!!!!

Brick by Brick, Stone by Stone......

[firestarter97]

I love this song, this band and this video!

[ScenesFromPalacio]

Its just a great song..LOve your video too..Nice one :)

[ApopheniaIV]

best band from Sheffield

[Sebhelyesfarku]

no that's Cabaret Voltaire :P

[nosperv]

Brilliant stuff, for me this is when the 'League were at their best, before they got overly commercialised. "Reproduction" still sounds great today.

[alliekanga]

Brilliant!! Cheers and a humble tip of the hat.

[sean808080]

fantastic video. one of the best i've seen in a long while

[JimboCelt]

Magnificent. Loved the 'Dare' period, but hoped Phil would go back to being more adventurous later, bit don't think he has.

[Fyushal]

Great job.

They still play this somtimes when they tour.

Touring later this year with Heaven 17 and ABC.

[grumpscot]

Madam...you made this? Well done, if you were in the business in the 80s you would be a ...billion,,no trillionaire!

[nathalosh28]

This is why 80s synth makes me so happy.

[CrackedVynl]

wow that little girl sure isnt a pretty lady when she grew up

best human league song period

[thefloorkiller]

Early human league at their best the kings of electro pop

[coolcats79]

The greatest by the Leeeeeeague! PIPS and RUM RUNNER classic

[elementaldivers]

such a cheery verse :)

[cuzanq]

kraftwerk and the human league

[jimski377]

Yay they are coming to the USA this year :)

[RomanticSYNTHesis]

era Sheffield, narodziny electronic pop

[shazam99]

Amazing record - should be played peak in a club set NOW!

[tracey65]

haven't heard this song for 25 years! Thanks for posting, brought back happy memories of being 17!

[Sheikybackfour]

The best human league record ever by a country mile

[CHANNELOMD]

with concentration my size increased,no chance sadly

[zzzgermor]

So sick it took me 29 years to find this.

AWESOME!!!

[IDEALAL1]

20th april human league doing a one of gig to celebrate re oponing of a once great nightclub in sheffield roxys now the carling acadamy seen them for past 4 years still a brilliant live band

[geetlebug]

Thanks for posting, great early Human League track. Most not familiar with their pre-Don't You Want Me tunes.

[mcdermott65]

Heard this for the first time maybe 25 years ago on CJSW Calgary. I think it was on the album Reproduction-People on a Dancefloor covered with babies was the album sleeve.I have Dancevision on vinyl-a treasure!

[WolYou]

I own exactly this album :)

[DJDonuts]

Don`t remember the video , but do remeber the tune , it was massive when i started going clubbing , great song , good memories

[Padulas]

is this the real video clip?

[Kat6295]

Am I the only person of this generation watching this? =P I think I'll shove it on my iPod and surprise teachers who ask what I'm listening to.

[neilolly]

ooh i used to dance to this ah the good old days

[kajol4]

ahhh, the false refuge of nostalgia. though it is nice to see new york in the 80s:)

[madamewoselle]

I never found nostalgia a refuge, just a reliving of a bad dream.

[colin5765]

class !!!

[SSEanBarr]

the way uk is going to the NWO types with there survielence shite everywhere and trigger-happy cops I think the Human League would have alot to write about if they got back together now EH

[dwblurb]

They are still together - they never split up.

[candycomforts]

best song best video more of the same please,noel from london

[stellaviolens]

Love the League and this is one of my favs .

25 years since the HL were topping the charts, time for some re releases and more recognition for this great 'electronic' music.

Tall tall tall tall.

[BocNlogax]

This is a wonderful video, thank you. The NY El is fascinating enough but this really works. :) Just discovered the Reproduction album, totally hooked. Oh well, better [29 years] late than never!

[PAULLONDEN]

HIGH buildings catch more FLACK.

[ellycat]

With concentration the size of my cock increased to a solid 8 inches!

[madamewoselle]

Congratulations. That's a remarkable feat!

[ellycat]

Thank you madamewoselle.

Happy days hey? They were brothers in Sparks weren't they. Amateur Hour, what a tune! So ahead o their time weren't they?

Maybe 9 inches with a bit more concentration! :)

[usxs58draw]

funny guy! you made me laugh!!!!

[exproggo]

My fave Human League song. I like early HL and Soft Cell and Dep Mode. The best are Sparks though..they rule the pop world.

I love Sparks!!! It took me forever to realise that was a man singing! I would love to do a video for "UP! Here in heaven WIIIITHout YOU!"