Thompson Twins - Nothing In Common

[dualref1]

Actually the exterior portions of this video was filmed in Chicago. The three of them are standing on the parking garage level of Marina Towers Apts (now condos). And the other action with the Jeep takes place just below on upper Wacker Drive.

[AussieHuddo]

They so should join a "Hear and Now" reunion tour, get Bucks Fizz and Human League on board!!!

[machina37]

Made in Chicago-my hometown! Awesome band and song ! I love them since 1983 -"We are Detective"-classics 80' song !

[forestdowser]

I admit I only watched this vid so I could ogle at Tom (Bailey, not Hanks). I looked exactly like him at the time, maybe not such broad shoulders and a tad more girly (well I was a cross-dresser), so it was like looking in a mirror of gorgeousness. No photographs left of me from back then so I just like to look at him. I always thought he copied me, but I'll never know. It's ok, I've had a really bad day and I need a drink and a smoke.

[philosopher2king]

I agree with the poster of the video; both this song and movie are unfortunately forgotten. They did well back in the day though, the movie was on top ten list for the year and the song charted very well. Check it out if you get the chance - it's well-written, acted and directed. It's also TOTALLY '80s.

P.S. This was Jackie Gleason's last movie.

[dkempf1]

Great song, great movie!!

[BDizzlyDoo]

The most underrated Thompson Twins song. Still sounds great.

[doshus73]

Alannah is an underrated lyricist.

[matt888444]

Wow, I LOVED this movie!!! I remember seeing this in the theater and being SO INSPIRED back in the 1980's!!! This movie changed my life. After I saw this I was SO MOTIVATED to go out and make something with my life, I actually got a great job thanks to seeing this movie way back in the 80's... See THAT is what's missing today... There are no movies that INSPIRE you to do better with your life anymore. The 1980's were FILLED with movies that make you WANT TO WIN and SUCCEED in life...

[cambelt2001]

This is a good not one of the twins more popular songs.

[lurch321]

Are Tom and Alannah still married (or together)? How many kids?

[TVWriterGuy]

@lurch321 Unfortunately, no, Alannah and Tom are divorced. Last report is that she lives in France, he is remarried and living in London with a new wife. It was a bitter separation.

[lurch321]

@TVWriterGuy Thanks for the info! Guess this song was prophetic for them.......................

[TVWriterGuy]

@lurch321 It really is unfortunate. From the comment responses on youtube, it appears that Thompson Twins would quickly sell out a reunion tour. Going by statements from Joe Leeway and Alannah, there is no possibility that they would ever reunite for any reason. Whatever happened between them must have been traumatic to want to erase such a successful venture from their minds. I'm thankful that youtube makes it possible for TT fans to share clips and thoughts.

[YOUrmypal68]

Need a helpin' hand

Of all the people in the world

I thought you'd understand...movies and music from the '80s were the best!

[a1000pablo]

Mejor cancion de this banda de los 80

[JohnnySwitchblade]

Thompson Twins AND Tom Hanks! Oh my god, how awesome!

[miketheblueeagle]

thinking the same thing especially when tom hits the cymbal awesome

[15scottie]

I think they kicked out the black guy?

[1985Ferris]

@JohnnySwitchblade One of the best combinations I've ever seen :)

[dammiel78]

dedicated to Alejandro Arias

[audrapriscilla]

The best song they ever wrote. Fantastic.

[AussieHuddo]

I have the 12 inch extended vinal of this and its a track that has really stood the test of time. Similar sound to the wonderful "Get That Love" but I prefer this song. Wish the TT would tour as part of a "Hear and Now". Maybe a double with Bucks Fizz!

[wmrxb15]

@AussieHuddo Don't think Tom'll be intereseted in that sort of thing... unfortunately. As for Bucks fizz - aaaaagh!!!! don't mention them in the same breath as TT !!!! :-D

[20306522]

Me retrotrae a mi primera adolescencia.

[reanimate21]

At 1:00 is that Capitol Records?!?!?!?!?!

[Pitstefano]

one the best in my mind.....

[reanimate21]

Dedicate this to my Dad

[mignonhenne]

tom 1/10

movie 3/10

song 8/10

thompson twins 11/10

[WaddeDarinDarin]

"The footage was filmed in New York " sometimes I will occasionally sing the 3/4 of the song with an octave high vocal with "we got nothing in common-yeah yeah yeah'.

[WaddeDarinDarin]

later on an added dub of Tom Hanks yelling in the dub of- "Love on your Back"

[WaddeDarinDarin]

I remember seeing a behind the scenes when Tom Hanks said to Tom- all I know is rap boy rap...

[seifukusha]

My dad was a great dad and I was close to him, but this song was out about the same time as he passed on, and I always think of him when I hear it.

great tune

[matsilverdamon]

wow here appears Capitol Record again!

[SweetSoulIAm]

WE had so much in common

[aleporrasr1]

Thanks a lot!!!!

[websoup]

Just check out his hair. It's now fashionable again to have similar cut. Just by fashion only, Thompson Twin show that they're trend setter. Then there's their music, underrated but sublimely good.

[Blamberweiserscheise]

...Thompson Twins was and still be one of the... Thank you again ValorOfSoul for posting this video, I had not MTV (Empty Vee now) in those years.

Haircut ? Yes, some reminiscence of the eighties now, agree ? Like there was one for the seventies and so on...

;)

[Blamberweiserscheise]

A video that I could'nt have been watched in the eighties, thank you.

Thompson Twins will be and still be one of the most eccentric bands of the eighties, singular sound and genious in composing.

Who dare to do so ?

[mitsubaclover]

This, i reappreciated, contained in "MTV soundtrack special", which i was waching MOST in highschool days.

[ajp55a]

This was the worst most comercial (bad spelling) claptrap i have ever heard from the TTs wake up people, and i have been a fan from 1977. Cant believe it. Tripe of the highest expenditure.

[underserf]

Thanks for posting this, I needed to hear it this morning, now.

Seeing it was even better.

It's only words, but words have changed the world.

Less anger, more love, I get it.

I'll go talk to her, yeah

Thanks again!

=Mike 0=

[Chris242tt]

pristine quality!!!!! thnx for posting!

[IMKnotAManEater]

You and me have grown so far apart

[FlorrieDugger]

this song got a lot of rotation the summer it came out on much music

[yorkie9]

Wow. I've owned the soundtrack for years and never saw this video. Thanks for posting this.

[DarinDarinWadde]

Tom Hanks is a thompson twins fan he fought to get thompson twins to make the promotional song nothing in common sound track.

[mitsubaclover]

Really?

I didnt know that!

[mitsubaclover]

And i like this song best.

[mitsubaclover]

FAV. 80s group

[doshus73]

The movie was meh...coulda been better. The songs however is outstanding..One of the best ever written, no freakin doubt. That garage woulda induced vertigo. imagine driving off that.

[websoup]

Certainly one of their more underated songs. However, as with most of the best TT songs, it's got that same beautiful melody.

Agreed--TT was bigger than Tom Hank...and there are other soundtrack in that era where star of the movie is part of the MV...it's definitely Tom Hank in that video

[NorthMichael]

Jackie Gleason was the man!

[juancamex]

Back in the 80's the used to write the lyrics, music, the play the instruments and they sing.  Now the performers just move the mouth and somebody else do the rest.

Before they were ARTISTS.

[berezin99]

Gee. The Thompson TWins. A skinny young Tom Hanks just starting out. I'm 20 years old again.

[diuga1]

Tom was hardly STARTIN´ OUT.

He had starred in quite a few hits by 1986 (year NOTHING IN COMMON was released to theatres in the US).

He was NOT an Oscar-winning star, but was a very popular protagonist of mostly zany comedies by then.

[UltraBVR]

Every time I see this video I have to wonder, are they REALLY in the shot with Tom Hanks? Sometimes it looks like trick photography to me, and sometimes it looks real.

[MargusKiistheCritic]

Cmon, TT was much bigger star than B-actor Hanks then.

[diuga1]

Yes, they are together (no blue screen fx)...do not forget that Arnold was already a superstar in the early 90s when he got to appear in a MUSIC video with GUNS AND ROSES to promete the soundtrack for TERMINATOR 2)

[SisGoldenHrSurprise]

YOU're my pal

[ikasasdoll]

Tom Bailey what a pretty clean face and crystal clear voice you have like being in heaven.

[Iceblooo]

This is one of my fave looks of Alannah's - the great hair and great clothes. I miss the Twins so much. Wish today's music and artists were as original and interesting as this !

[doshus73]

@Iceblooo she looks hot here...real hot

[fleuger99]

Great clip. This reminds me of high school and a girlfriend I had at the time :-)

[mattukenobaka]

Truly one of the few songs that's stuck in my head since it first appeared.

I believe this movie marked the last appearance of the late Great One, Jackie Gleason, in cinema. He played Tom Hanks' father in the movie, an old bastard stricken by diabetes.

I grew up watching Jackie Gleason's classic routines; then I watched Tom Hanks grow up. . .and the two came together here in this film. . .and the Thompson Twins put it all in focus. . .

. . .can't help it; I'm a sentimental jerk. . .

[diuga1]

U´re right (regardin´your comment on Gleason´s last performance).

U´re wrong (regardin´ your comment on being a SENTIMENTAL JERK)...JERKS are folks who cannot get moved by fond memories.

[80sfan1]

I found this on my ipod so glad amazing hit!!

[imadolphinlover17]

We don't have much in common now but we did back then. It just wasn't meant to be for US!

[skiwi69]

it was released in new Zealand as i got it one of their better songs, could have been bi if not for the nasty vindictive record company

[Elevationary]

great Song,Miss the 80s nostalgia

[popfixer]

So cool, the Thompson and Tom hanks together in a car!!!

[Zoey119]

this was actually their best song in y opinion, but even the TT forgot it existed

[Withcheepooyou2]

Oooooh now at times I wanted to shake you, break you bring you to your knees

[RedRockMark]

I have waited over 20 years to see this video again... Thank you so much for posting it! As others have said, this song and video are definitely under-rated and it deserves to be among their greatest hits. P.S. -- Alannah looks HOT in this video!!! Love her hair like that! :)

[Iceblooo]

Originally Thompson Twins agreed to write the whole soundtrack to this movie but Alannah's mother, Daisy, died and then Alannah miscarried her and Tom's baby which made them take a year off. It was a legal reason why the movie/record company cancelled the single - I remember reading about it in an interview with Tom and Alannah just afterwards.

[gizmo4eva]

Fascinating information. Allanah mentions in a 1985 interview that they were about to compose a film score. How did Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard become involved with the film's soundtrack? Tom and Allanah also provided a Babble track for Leonard's With Honors soundtrack in 1994. Friends perhaps?

Geoff Downe of the Buggles produced Nothing In Common, and I wish they had done more with him. This track has aged suprisingly well. It's not too synthesised and the melody is haunting.

[Iceblooo]

Well the connection could have been Madonna. Thompson Twins worked with producer Nile Rodgers on their 1985 album Here's to Future Days. Nile was also working with Madonna on her album at the time and that's how they ended up playing together on Live Aid.

[gizmo4eva]

Good point, as Leonard was the musical director for Madonna on her VIRGIN tour, including Live Aid. Infact, during the "Revolution" performance, Madonna and the Thompson Twins, Rodgers and Leonard were all on stage together at once!

Of course, Leonard was also scoring At Close Range at the same time for Sean Penn (which is where the song Live to Tell comes from).

[diuga1]

"This track has aged suprisingly well. It's not too synthesised and the melody is haunting"

Agreed.

I was not a big fan of THOMPSON TWINS, yet, this song and IF U WERE HERE (from the 16 CANDLES soundtrack), still move me.

[djavatar]

I still have the 12 Inch vinyl single of this.

[14rnr]

This Song reminds me of a girl named Susan from Campbell Nebraska I was totally in love with at the time, good song, fond memories.

A band I sorely miss.

The new expanded releases of "Quick Step and Side Kick" & "Into The Gap" are great too.

[elsoda]

THIS SONG IS SUCH A GEM..and so forgotten too. what a great song, and it makes me teary...

[seanr456]

@elsoda I agree. One of my all-time favorite songs and it's inexcusably underrated. One random observation: I recall at the time being struck by the image of Tom Hanks actually in the music video, right in between Tom and Alannah. It might seem silly, but creatively and visually, I think, it had a strong impact. Prior to this video, I don't think that had been done before. Not just clips from the movie inserted in the video, but actually having the star in the video itself.

[basiljh]

This was the film after which the great Jackie Gleason said to watch out for Tom Hanks because he is 'going to be a big star someday... he is talented and mature already'.

[litlnemo]

They pulled the single, really? Is my copy worth anything, then? ;)

[Iceblooo]

The record company pulled this single from the distributors so it never managed to chart - something to do with the death of Jackie Gleason (the star of the film) so the film was never given it's intended release so they pulled this single too !

I also believe this was the first release they did after Alannah's mum had died and then she miscarried the baby she was carrying within days. A sad time for them both but they still were contracted to film the video.

[jimzvid]

The film and single/video was released in the summer of 1986. Jackie Gleason died 1n 1987. Not sure however, if Arista did recall the single. It only made it to #54.

[Iceblooo]

There are two covers available on this single. The record company designed a horrible, horrible, horrible one in browns and red with no pictures. Alannah was horrified and quickly designed her own cover (she did all the artwork for The Twins). The one she designed is very arty and is mainly in black and white with a picture of her and Tom.

The single WAS cancelled by the film/record company just as it was starting to climb the US charts. It was never officially released in any other country.

[ranimas]

GRAZIE VALOROFSOUL !!! un grande attore TOM HANKS , una bellissima canzone . W TT!!!

[gamblerpete]

If anyone happens to have "Burning of the Heart" by Richard Marx and "If It Wasn't Love" by Carly Simon also on the soundtrack of Nothing in common please upload them. thanx!

[hersilentface]

awesome!

[sitedecinema]

I've been lookin' for the video u posted for years...love the song as well as the flick.

Thanx a bunch

[tpss123]

This song and movie allowed me to talk with my dad after 20 years. Thanks.

[elgranpedro]

¡Oh, man! I am getting emotional for your comment. Actually, I thing that this movie have some things in common with Tim Burton´s "Big Fish"; you know: about father and son relationships.

Muchas gracias for this post; Valorofsoul

[Griff1319]

I miss The Thompson Twins im hearing rumours of them coming back for a reunion tour 07/08 yr. I saw them over 20 times

[alone72113]

Tom Bailey = genius!

[seanr456]

Valor, thank you so much for posting this video.  I agree that this is one of TT's best songs. I absolutely love this song, and never thought I'd see the video again. Thanks again!

[raulbric]

I've been waiting 21 years to see this video again. I remember this time as my new-wave-hair-style-period.

Thanks for posting it.

[xeroxmaniac]

ive found the song! glenna!

[tonimanerox]

Gem

[misterlb16]

Valor, it may be one of the more forgotten but it is one of the BEST. When it came out and still now, I am gaga over this song. One of those underrated 80's gems that should have been bigger than it was!

[FLAduranie]

Never seen this video, but LOVE the T Twins!!!

[corcholato]

oh my! never thought I could see this video again, I´m so glad you posted it, thanks!