The Associates: Skipping

[yorkiebear1970]

Funny how this song never eaves your concience. It seems so simple but there is majic involved. All these years later I'm still in love with this song.

[rabit818]

Never heard or seen The Associates before and got the album Sulk because I loved the cover. I was an art student back then :) The music in it were is great and still is.

What is with the host and his hideous sweater. Is he coked up or what?

[pawnsacrifice1]

Truly bizarre and wonderful

[rosieandkian]

Billy...how beautiful were you .......

[imagine11ful]

This song is pure class.

[lemsta007]

awesome . why do the media get behind talentless shit who cant play an instrument or write a song , yet people like Billy who write amazing songs and sing so beautiful get ignored ... it just amazes me .....

[jazzateer]

Pure pop perfection, sadly missed!

[Clematisian]

……. I'm inconsolable .……

[Vispateresa3]

One of the most original albums of the 80's. I used to listen to it all the time, although Associates weren't very famous in Italy. Their music still sends shivers down my spine. Definitely one of the most underrated bands of the 80's. R.I.P. Billy MacKenzie.

[RoofLight00]

They had everything, the melodies, the voice, the songs. Bloody hell, there's no one who still comes close. They were a divine intervention lighting the skies for a brief moment in time.

[joeyrider]

Breathtaking.... tearjacking.. Billy was the BEST singer of his generation: PERIOD.. the Associates were so ahead it is still surprising they achieved so much in uch a short span of time... Alan whererever you are God Bless you.. Billy is always be in our heart

[TroyaE117]

Damn good track.

So damn unusual... punchy, great lyrics, great drumming.

The singer died far too young.

[dwiseman1]

I remember seeing the Associates at the Moonlight Club in west Hampstead very early in 1982 (i think,..) just before Sulk was released ; we were right at the front jumpihg around like crazy & they were just stunning.

We went to a house party afterwards with them in west Hampstead .. but thats another story ;) Cant believe its almost 30 years ago.

[drlaim]

Billy 'n Alan...Pure Geniuses...Fuck!!!! Still ahead of their time...My greatest regret is that I went out with a wiman while my friends went to Grangemouth/Falkirk to watch the Associates live! Apparently they were amazin'

[AllyKnox1]

this song is 50 years ahead of its time

[albertomaritimo]

this song take the soul out of our body!

[bumfarto1]

As much as much I adore Billy I think Alan was an awesome songwriter. They were the 80s John and Paul.

[lessmosquito]

Now that's what I call real talent -brings tears to my eyes!

[Cordero787]

Haunting, astounding, gorgeous!......May the heavens comfort and forever embrace you Billy McKenzie

[MinnieMouse1975]

@Cordero787 amen

[transonicbuoy1]

They had a great article on Billy in FHM, when it was a good mag. Colourful clothes, and the whippets.

[jg10865]

This is still my favourite song of all time. I can't get over it, sublime, stimulating, the lyrics fit perfectly with the music, and that voice...it makes me melt. One of my few regrets in life was never seeing this man in life.

[JamesBentley1981]

What s/he said.

[HeathenLoveGod]

The god-like genius of Billy Mackenzie!

[MisAnnThorpe]

@HeathenLoveGod And Alan Rankine. I Bought Sulk close to its release date in 82 (I was 13 yrs old). It took me to a uniquely strange and at times somewhat unsettling place. Its an LP I never tire of and even now, it still occasionally surprises me. Its truly a shame that these 2 weren't truly able to overcome their (musical?) differences, although I believe they had started working together again, not long before Billy's death. Good as they were solo, it was together that they excelled.

[youbeendrinkinrob]

"William it was really nothing" - RIP Billy - your sad and tragic anniversary comes 22nd January 1997-2010 - gone but never forgotten - beautiful man - in a brown world he was ultra violet. The only piece of sense I've seen written by Bono was the forward to "The Glamour Chase The Maverick Life of Billy Mackenzie". PS - B.A. Robertson - what's that about? T**t.

[MrBazzabee]

Somebody commented about the TUBE interview (with Billy)about Leslie Ash-not being all that good as a presenter/interviewer n' maybe she wasn't all that great -however, she was about 40 times better than this cockhead!!!

[5eurocups2005]

that presenter on the show is a proper dick

[5eurocups2005]

Another Great Song By the Associates

[keekabo]

I first heard this on John Peel's show and I sat up and took notice. Brilliant (still). Love it.

[vandasoniacarvalho]

@keekabo absolutly!

it still has magic

[mobyboy]

what a vocalist !

great song

[stakka79]

What a strange show that was !

[stakka79]

Is that Tommy Docherty sat with BA Robertson ?

[sgtrayelwood]

Yes, it is.

[rexel666]

This song has always given me goose bumps. His voice is so brilliant. What a waste of a wonderful talent.

[hbotis]

seemed like only yesterday when I saw this on TV and became an instant Associates fan-- and still am. Still remembered the day when I read that Billy died; oh so clearly still....

[thirstymuse1]

The Associates were a complete one-off. The combination of Alan Rankine's musical genius and Billy's incredible voice and lyric-writing talent will never come about again. I used to know them when I was in a band myself. They were both great company and took such a hilarious attitude to being pop stars. They loved it but also assumed it could all end tomorrow and they didn't give a fuck. Two people with more inate style than anyone, ever. Skipping is right. They skipped through life. RIP Billy.

[associatesfan]

the Associates were absolutely incredible and sorely under recognised. It's a sad fact that they would not appeal to mass audiences as mainstream music does.

[Elektrapunk]

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up everytime I watch this and always will! The UK's best male vocalist never mind Scotlands. And to think he died with so little media attention compared with that we see for Michael Frickin Jackson!

[a090006]

what is he dead????He has indeed such a wonderfull voice+music,used to play this song every night before to sleep(was 17years old then)

[junior436068]

amazing and fantastic

[yoyobunny1]

Loved this song in the 1980s - love it more now. However the world has not caught up with it - NOT available on itunes! Any leads are welcome!

[drumgit]

Wonderful...

[associatesfan]

BA Robertson is a big cringe. Billy and Alan were absolutely incredible, this song is the work of genius!

[OnlYYlnO]

Why do all the best people have to die?

What a fucking talent, and unbearably missed.

The host is B A Robertson = Complete prick !!!

[sulk100]

Billy was an utter genius, nothing compares to him in my book.

[tiddler111]

good god that host is an ugly fuck. oh its BA what'shisface!

[strangeegan]

I love this track. Utter genius.

[langelapine]

billy, rest in peace x

[mobyboy]

this is so unique !!

[prettysweetnice]

I love that Billy's so quirky.

[DavidjohnWallis]

A lone time gone , will there every be a replacement

[kamagloire]

"ZAOUWV Sulk - The associates. What a great album that was!"

How true!

[ZAOUWV]

Sulk - The associates. What a great album that was!

[scorpiosview]

a great band introduced here by a talentless chin

[elcoprino]

I do agree :o)

[OPTIMUSCONEHEAD]

billy was the best

[jdfmurphy]

Sweet Billy Mac! x

[OnlYYlnO]

I loved Sulk. What an album, what a talent ,what a band......

Such a shame you are not here any more.

[Maccy94xD]

Oh my god, that is my Dad's band. he is the lead guitarist, Ian McIntosh. :D:D:D:D:D:D

[Maccy94xD]

No.... Got a problem with me being happy for my Dad jerkoff?

[mrnosaj]

Oh. I do. <

[rokinrichy]

Fag.

[sparky0370]

What a band mate! Be proud of your dad. They were one of many good Scots bands out then, punching well above their weight, and still are. I'm Scots btw.

[MrPisces2000]

What a cool Dad ! I loved my 80's bands. Sulk is among the greatest 80's alt albums.

[huskerduck2]

Thanks for this. the first band I ever loved but never seen this before. Sorely missed

[WlNkLE]

Thanks for sharing

[morkygorky]

great voice, great song, great looks!

he could have flown my plane anytime...

[richearl69]

Just an incredable voice.Me and my ex absolutley adored this band.Timeless,still love to listen to Sulk etc...10/10-Richie B'ham

[seanbee34]

God, thanks So much for this. This is where I first saw the Boys ( don't ask me why I was watching this stupid show). Brought a tear to my eye.......if you don't know the band check them out........brilliant!!!

[AnnabelApple]

With the great looks of an old time crooner too...what a shame he's gone.

[AnnabelApple]

I'm not too familiar with this group. Billy seemed to be quite a "crooner"...I think he sounded better than Sinatra or any of those guys...

[messageobliquespeech]

How definitely "Marvelush" Still love the Associates + Sulk + Skipping - fav track - thankyou so much

Thanx Alan & Bill.

doors lead to other doors ...

roads lead to other roads ...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[GREENTAMBOURINE]

Thankyou for posting this. Was lucky enough to see them support the Cure in 1979 - what a band and what a great pair of lads, Billy is sorely missed.

[johnreilly45]

Does anybody know why the video for Fever was taken of and if anybody has it can they replace it please.

[Effinby]

I'm on it. today hopefully

[spanks1977]

This is the best track on the vinyl Sulk album IMO! Thanks for uploading this.

[WIMPOLE]

funny that as i bought the comedys version and liked the rest of the album.apparently its the only time an associates track has been covered and the only time they have done a cover themselves.

[stakka79]

Awesome vocal chords oor William.!...Love the Sean Connery impression halfway through...."Marvelushh.."etc..­...

[DILIMDAM]

Great what a treat, I was not aware that Billy had such a great sense of humour. Thank you so much for showing us one of my favourite tracks of the Associates.

Billy R.I.P. sooo missed!

[vek68000]

Only got into the Associates recently after hearing another band's cover of Party Fears Two but they really are pretty incredible. Unlike that presenter, who's a total knob.

[WIMPOLE]

was that the devine comedys version?

[vek68000]

Yeah, The Divine Comedy. I saw them live last year and they played this weird but brilliant song as part of their set, but I didn't quite catch the name of it. I went out and bought the first three Associates albums the next day and found it on 'Sulk'.

[Jimmer34]

Certainly my fave Associates track - has that great "twisting" melody and when I first heard it as a lad I thought it was simply extraordinary. Still do. Good for the boys! Tradgedy Billy's no longer with us.

[loopylou007]

Just heard this for the first time and I must say I love it

[dwiseman1]

Wonderful.. just wonderful..

[alexhetherington]

fantastic

[Cabronblanco]

exceptional! this song is just out of this world and over the moon.

[auspete]

BA Robertson certainly is a tosser on this show isn't he... the song however is extraordinary, never heard it before. I hated much of what was around in the '80s but the Associates really pushed the boundaries. As Rik from the Young Ones would say, anarchic. Wearing that uniform Billy reminds me of Rolf in The Sound of Music.

[intheclarts]

Billy, Alan and Tommy Docherty on the same chat show. Surely the equivalent of adding potassium to water.

[discoimperium2]

Just added another Associates video:

Party Fears Two (Rop Of The Pops).

Enjoy!

[discoimperium]

Posted another Associates video:

Party Fears Two (Top Of The Pops)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v­=rLIhKvoOuLQ

Enjoy !!

[discoimperium]

Thanks for this, it's my favorite Associates track, brilliant !!

[jlanglois]

Did I see Billy take the chewing gum out of his mouth toward the end of the song?

[iandoyle69]

if you look for billy mackenzie, on the tube those first impressions he actually asks a girl for a chewing gum while still singing.