Cold Chisel - Flame Trees Reaction

[@robertcaldwell-b9w]

Hi Guy's , Flame trees are an Australian tree that has bright red flowers looking like they are on fire , some of our towns have rows of alternative planting of flame trees (red flowers) & jacaranda trees (purple flowers) as a seasonal colour scheme for tourists & locals as they drive into town , flame trees don't burst on fire but eucalyptus trees do 😊

[@FromTheGong]

Illawarra Flame Tree. They are indigenous to the Illawarra escarpment before they became popular as an ornamental and street tree. Called flame tree because when you see them fully red in the green dotted along escarpment randomly they look like a ball of flame from down on the coastal strip.

[@davidlp3019]

Filmed in Oberon NSW. A classic story about a guy going back to his hometown after years away. Put this on in any pub in Australia and everyone will be singing along. Young and old EVERYONE basically knows this one. One of Chisels best, a total classic and an Aussie anthem :)

[@lynnryan8881]

Thanks this is my favourite cold chisel song

[@ColdChiselGirl]

Absolutely love this song!!!!! You can never run out of Cold Chisel material to react to!!!

[@sean---the-other-one]

This is a superb song. One of Chisel’s best. It’s a fantastic exploration of nostalgia and friendships. The protagonist returns to his old country township and has a great time catching up with friends, but the lack of change in everything makes it difficult to accept that his old love is no longer there (whether by death or just moving on). I’d heartily recommend re-listening to it a few times and both focusing on the lyrics sometimes and other times just letting the waves of the music take you where they go. At times the pace is languid like the town and other times it gets more strident as the emotions well up. An amazing piece of writing, flawlessly executed by a band that could rock out or create a blue collar masterpiece that spoke to the Everyman.

[@OnceWasRStrathfield]

Thanks for doing this one. The song was written by the drummer Steve Prestwich and Don Walker. Prestwich had to give up a promising relationship when he was a teenager because of his ambitions with Cold Chisel. The video eludes to that visuals of The Last Stand concert and the girl watching their gig. The picture of the band when they were teenagers would be a good closer. It's an autobiographical (swan) song.

[@AndyFNQ84]

such a classic, thanks for reacting. This song is an absolute gut-punch of nostalgia

[@kazz3956]

Man, I love Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel. There is nothing better to listen to. Any day, any time 🎉🎉🎉

[@stevefoulston]

Thank you one of my favourites hope all of you are well just reminded me of a song by Chris Rea called "The Mention of Your Name" we all have regrets in ower lives and a name can bring back those long forgot memory's, that we tried to put behind us but they don't always stay put . Peace out.

[@LeapsAndBoundsTops]

Awesome seeing this on your channel finally! One of the greatest songs of all time. Nothing more, nothing less.

[@waynekasmar4401]

The Illawarra Flame Tree is quite a spectacular sight when it has no green leaves but huge masses of fire-engine red flowers. Hence its name.

[@gusdrivinginaustralia6168]

I'm seeing them at two shows in a couple of months. Can't wait.

[@shaundgb7367]

Yeah, I seeing them in late October and towards middle of November. Mind you I still feel sad when see Steve Prestwich in this video when he puts that hat on a reminds me he no longer around. Thankfully I did see him once with them when went to the Ringside concerts in the early 2000's. Never thought I would see Cold Chisel reform and perform live throughout the 1980's or 90's but it finally happened.

[@monaromark1021]

You lucky bugger, would love to see them again one day. Cheers.

[@elizabeth_catches_waves2460]

Thank you for doing this, and the word of warning. There's been some pretty dangerous conditions in New South Wales, but all is fine out in Byron Bay, where I live. 👍

[@kimn9802]

The flame trees are an metaphor for change or the lack of it. He returns to his old town but everything is exactly the same. It only serves to remind him of a broken relationship. Only burning everything down will destroy the memories.

[@roflsan1234]

Royal poinciana is what we call the flame tree in Australia

[@Robbo766]

Great song! I had no idea Cold Chisel once looked like that (Chisel in '74)! Amazing the difference ten years can make. A band of kids playing in Adelaide close shop a decade later with five great albums and bittersweet final single. Chisel were still in their 20's when they called it a day in '84!

[@shaundgb7367]

This song does make one feel a bit sad because when I first heard this song on radio I think they had already broken up so feel like I missed out on something others had already experienced in the earlier 1980's. The Last Stand poster reminds me of that time as that is all I had to try to watch on video to try to get a look at what Cold Chisel were like live. I think they released the live album called Barker Spiders Live around this time so I played that cassette of that album until it died. For some reason it reminds me I must have listened to the Iron Maiden album Powerslave around same time but not seen that cassette for decades. Some mate must have borrowed it and forget to give it back.

[@NickJewlachow-of3yh]

To measure how good a song is, I like to listen to different versions and check how it stands up. Flame Trees really is great. Sarah Blasko’s version is superb too. And the choir in the Cate Blanchett film, Little Fish. That scene is a gut punch.

[@MrParksies]

Beautiful song and a radio staple. Co written by their late drummer Steve Prestwich & Keyboardist Don Walker. After Steve passed the band made sure his family would legally always receive band residuals. After his passing the bands drummer now is Charlie Drayton, widow of the great divinyls singer, Chrissy Amphlett. Funny how things work out huh?

[@kevintrodd3732]

One of Australia's most famous and endearing trees, in no small part thanks to Aussie band, Cold Chisel. The tree loses its leaves in summer when it flowers, revealing a spectacular canopy of vibrant red bell-shaped flowers resembling a daytime fireworks display. It's the non-flammable Flame Tree! Fast growth rate. The song itself I believe is about the returning to a smaller home town after having had some success living in the city, and reminiscing about earlier years in the town.

[@SnAke_Eyez_oVer_ParAdice]

Seen Chisel live so many times over the years, from The Last Stand in 83 to their 2003 concerts. Look forward to see 'em kick butt on the upcoming 50th Anniversary tour. One of the best bands Australia has ever produced! You guys should do Choirboys ''Run To Paradise'' and Baby Animals ''Rush You''. The vids capture the energy.

[@Othraerir]

my fave chisel song :)

[@kaitlynbatt_]

😂at the picture of Cold Chisel in 1974! I saw them three years later in 1977 and they all looked they could have passed for 30. How the hell did they age so quickly in those mere three years!!??!

[@hosh1313]

This song is virtually an Australian anthem for a lot of people.

[@monaromark1021]

Yes, another great Cold Chisel song, thanks for the review! My favorite Cold Chisel song is "Build this Love". Off the "20th. century Album."

[@sean---the-other-one]

That whole sequence of Building This Love, Twentieth Century, Ghost Town, and Saturday Night is an excellent set of music. The album is a little hit and miss, but when the songs hit they really work. Janelle is another killer song from that album. So is The Game.

[@Highway61Revisted]

Damn great song!

[@delorangeade]

"Who needs this sentimental b******t anyway?" Cold Chisel was the soundtrack when I was travelling in South East Asia thirty years ago, and this was also the favourite song of a friend of mine, so it holds some great memories for me. It's a great piece of writing anyone from a dying small town can relate to, because you can't ever go back, you can't fix the past, and sometimes it hurts to try.

[@andrewmurphy7401]

This video clip was filmed in the New South Wales town of Oberon on the Central Tablelands.

[@DavidPola1961]

Going to see them in 2 weeks in Sydney for their big Five 0 or 50th Anniversary tour, i hope Jimmy Hip holds out , this song is talking about the town of Grafton in Northern New South Wales

[@andrewmarie9747]

Ha ha so many answers as to what Flame trees are ,well I believe in this case I heard someone say they where referring to street lights 🤔🤔 hence the line oh the flame trees go by the weary driver the street lights at night driving past them look like flame trees 🎉🎉

[@jughtful]

the Flame tree in Australia is called that because of the colour of its leaves, much like the Canadian maple tree. the eucalyptus tree are the ones that explode in bush fires they contain a lot of oil. Eucalyptus oil is a natural antibacterial.

[@michaelgrantham125]

I'm from Adelaide. The verse about the factory auto worker is all Adelaide. This song makes me cry. Jimmy Barnes worked in the foundry where i did my apprenticeship.

[@andrewmurphy7401]

The line is not "factory auto worker", it's "factory out-of-worker". He's unemployed.

[@colinbroadfoot969]

Flame trees are an actual tree, google them,they get covered in beautiful bright red or scarlet flowers after they drop their leaves 👍

[@kevinpaine7893]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachychiton_acerifolius

[@stuarthancock571]

My favourite Cold Chisel song.

[@almango873]

As others have said the flame trees are a non flammable tree that displays bright red flowers. Just search for images of Illawarra Flame trees. The song itself has music by Steve Prestwich and lyrics by Don Walker. I've always thought the main theme was about the person wondering if he made the right decision to leave or not and not sure if he did as he thinks about what he lost. I was fortunate enough to grab tickets to a Barking Spiders performance in a few days at a small theatre near where I live. Cold Chisel use the name Barking Spiders when doing small warm up shows before a tour which starts in full a few days later. I haven't seen them in a venue with only a few hundred capacity since the early 1980's. Hope I can till handle mixing it with a standing room crowd these days. I guess I'll find out.

[@criticalthinkersrule]

Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver, but there's nothing else to set fire to this town - such a clever lyric.

[@seanbarry7378]

If you look carefully, four band members are characters in the clip. Missing is Jimmy Barnes, they were not getting along. He appears in the TV shots :)

[@OnceWasRStrathfield]

The band weren't talking to each other when this video was made and broken up. It was their swan song.

[@NickJewlachow-of3yh]

Barnes only appears on a poster and a Tv screen. In the others’ cameos, they’re not seen together. Hmm. Walker wrote for Moss later, but Barnes ended up collaborating with the guys from Journey, until that ended too.

[@OnceWasRStrathfield]

@@NickJewlachow-of3yh I read that Chisel didn't even let him know a video was being shot! For a long time I didn't even notice Jimmy's absence in the video. That ''Working Class Man'' song does sound like a Journey song.

[@BarbaraTowning]

I remember these boys trying their luck in Melbourne in 1975. They tried winning over the Carlton rock crowd, which was dominated by Jo Jo Zep, Daddy Cool, Skyhooks, Captain Matchbox and The Sports. Chisel were still flexing their best Led Zep riffs and Carlton was more interested in art school rock and pram factory stuff like Jane Clifton's band Stiletto. Thankfully they ditched Melbourne for Sydney to join ranks with Dragon in Kings Cross. It's ironic when I think back because not long after Cold Chisel took off, the Carlton scene began to get more serious (less arty) with newcomers like Paul Kelly & The Dots, Mark Gillespie, Mondo Rock.. Great song! I knew they were too good for Melbourne.

[@mitchellbeston1033]

This one is beloved by Chisel fans. A beautiful ballad. I suggest you next check their song Janelle.

[@kevintrodd3732]

And for the record, those trees you mention about self igniting are eucalyptus trees. It’s been claimed they can self combust in extreme heat due to the oil in the trees. This is a myth, though in a bushfire they can emit fireballs and make the extinguishing of the fire a far more arduous task.

[@hanierfamily]

😯😯 Wow! Thanks for the info. We're sure glad eucalyptus doesn't grow here.

[@shaundgb7367]

@@hanierfamily It is a scary sight in a bushfire. I seen some movie of a fire in San Fransico and I think they had grown some of those trees there which was a mistake as it would have made their own fire season worse.

[@monaromark1021]

@@hanierfamily But we cannot do without these trees as they are the only ones, the leaves of which the Koala bears only eat. Also, eucalyptus oil is used for medicinal purposes as well, it smells great. And will heat up sore joints because the oil is hot.

[@royferntorp]

The city of Grafton in NSW has the flame trees. They just look like they are on fire. Many hearts have been broken, replaced and kept there

[@shaundgb7367]

Was in Grafton earlier this year on a radio trip. The video clip from the 1980's look like it must have been winter time. When I was there in March seemed quite humid in that town. I think that must be an area that prone to floods too. Glad I not live in a flood prone area.

[@andrewmurphy7401]

​@@shaundgb7367 The video was filmed in Oberon, not Grafton. That's why it looks cold.

[@shaundgb7367]

@@andrewmurphy7401 Thanks mate for clarifying where it filmed. Will now look on a map to see where Oberon is.

[@royferntorp]

@@andrewmurphy7401 I Always thought it was Hay. I know Oberon well. I was one of the kids giving the cops grief

[@andrewmurphy7401]

​@@royferntorp It's Oberon, not Hay.

[@catherinehaysthird]

You're describing eucalyptus trees.. they're flammable. I know the type of trees mentioned in this nice, tender Cold Chisel song And in one of the rare times in life, I actually understand a Cold Chisel song on a personal level. This might be a tad controversial, but I honestly think ''Barbados'' by Models is a much darker, more disturbing song than this one. James Freud describes life as a drinker and he even puts a gun at his temple as he portrays a Vietnam vet in the music video. The song got to # 1 in Australia, and the video was on constant play. Nobody took song subject nor video seriously, which is a bit unfortunate because James actually did unalived himself in 2010 during the week Models were inducted in the ARIA Hall Of Fame. He didn't attend the event because he couldn't be in the proximity of alcohol. It's a confessional song wrapped up in a great pop production. I'm keen to see you react to Models ''Barbados'' video. How many weeks have I been suggesting this song/video?

[@TR-go4oz]

Stop suggesting and pay them to react to it!

[@catherinehaysthird]

@@TR-go4oz eat💩

[@LeapsAndBoundsTops]

@@TR-go4oz Stop telling people what to do.. I never paid them and I make suggestions. Gonna say something about it?

[@brockbranch838]

@@TR-go4oz Their channel is driven by suggestions, which in turn attracts subscribers.. I also make suggestions without paying. Is that a problem?

[@leemccurtayne9489]

Flame Trees is the quintessential story about living and growing up in an Australian country town.

[@ge7301]

These are the Flame trees ("that blind the weary driver" ) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachychiton_acerifolius

[@colinmcintosh4284]

There’s trees in Australia with flaming red leaves.

[@catherinehaysthird]

I hope you guys are reading the comments.. in ref to the context of ''Barbados''

[@JamesDickson-vs5of]

Nice I like it, the video is even passable 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✌️

[@kaitlynbatt_]

It was directed by Kimble Rendall, who had previously played in XL Capris and Le Hoodoo Gurus (pre-Hoodoo Gurus incarnation). 👍

[@JamesDickson-vs5of]

@@kaitlynbatt_ hi Kaitlyn, it's a lot better than most videos of the day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✌️

[@kaitlynbatt_]

@@JamesDickson-vs5of Oh yeah, a lot of shonky videos were made during that time. Australia's best music-video director was Russell Mulcahy, who went off to your neck of the woods and did those over-the-top Duran Duran and Ultravox videos and ''Video Killed The Radio Star''. I liked the cheap-and-nasty/meat-and-potatoes style of video of the 80's. If you get yourself in a music video it's bloody weird because you think nothing will come out of it, and then a month later there's your face on TV. 😦

[@JamesDickson-vs5of]

@@kaitlynbatt_ were you in a video, are you one of the countdowners 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✌️

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

@@JamesDickson-vs5oflol James .. just apologise and get yer coat 🤣 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@notanotherenigma7759]

Im going to let you in on a little secret, it took me many, many years to warm to Cold Chisel. i thought Barnsy's voice was a bit grating, but over the years, i have grown to appreciate it. This is not my favourite by them, i like theor boogie songs like Rising Sun, Goodbye Astrid and No Sense, and of course, Bow Ricer is absobloodylutey fantastic. This one, its a bit meh in my opinion, not one i turn uo, but not one i turn off. Oh, and Jimmy did a version of River Deep, Mountain High... But im not keen on that song, no matter whos doing it.

[@scotttaylor7767]

Not bad for a band on its death throes in 1983 - 1984 ! Lol. But like the Beatles they were still producing fine music at the bitter end.

[@waggafletcher]

Steve Prestwich is in a special place amongst the best.

[@royferntorp]

In Australia, if you have some bad stuff to stay about Cold Chisel? They are fighting words.

[@madisonmelbourne7114]

Child Chisel 1974 😛🤩😘😍😆🤣😅😆🙄😬🤥😜

[@brockbranch838]

That bloke's middle name has got to be ''Fairdinkum'' 4:24

[@hanierfamily]

?

[@brockbranch838]

@@hanierfamily Fairdinkum is an Aussie slang term that describes something as being real, genuine, no b/s. The bloke in the green hat looks to be the most fairdinkum .. I can almost hear him say ''Fairdinkum''.

[@NickJewlachow-of3yh]

Without doubt, a great song. However, I have an opinion which may make me unpopular. The greatness of this song, and Cold Chisel’s better songs, had nothing to do with Barnsey. Songs need to be written and Barnes couldn’t have written a shopping list. Fortunately, Chisel had a solid gold, empirically verifiable genius in their ranks. An actual literal rocket scientist! His name is Don Walker, and he does not get the credit he deserves. Without him (is everyone sitting comfortably?) Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes would have amounted to very little. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[@Robbo766]

Well, Barnsey did write ''No Sense'', which is not a bad song. Perhaps a bit of an ego stroke of a number, but not too shabby.

[@gusdrivinginaustralia6168]

Much like Bernie Taupin with Elton John, without Bernie no lyrics. Without Jimmy would people love it as much ? Don writing Ian singing. Maybe. Jimmy adds heaps.

[@sean---the-other-one]

Not unpopular as far as I’m concerned. Now that Chisels are getting appreciated around the world there’s probably a growing misconception that Jimmy Barnes was the songwriter. It’s never been much of a misconception in Oz; most people who grew up with Chisels knew how brilliant Don Walker is as a lyricist and songwriter. That being said, East was a killer album and every member of the group wrote songs for it, most of the great (agreed that Jimmy is a poor lyricist). But part of the magic of Chisels was that Don (and others) could write great blue collar hymns and Jimmy and Ian were perfect vehicles for delivering those songs. Standing On The Outside could never have had the same impact if Don had sung it. Jimmy was the working class hero that seemed 100% genuine as the person that the song is about. Same with so many others. Four Walls, Khe Sanh, Cheap Wine, the list goes on.

[@colrhodes377]

You can surf where i live, but you'll need to be hardy because the North Sea is chilly at the best of times.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

Do NOT get yer baws in there Sir Col .. 👀 Pass my best to Mrs Col/ SC , I seen your description of her foot n ankle .. oucharama 🤯 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@colrhodes377]

@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering I have done, and she says, " Thank you, darling Jay, your concern is warming and touching!" I just said that you're after something! 🤣🤣🤣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴‍☠️

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

@@colrhodes377 did I mention I’m a prostate cancer survivor Sir Col ? 😃 I know it’s not a joking topic .. but I canny resist , your good lady and ALL good ladies are now safe from my philandering ways and I have now taken an interest in tartan rugs and bowls of soup for my dark desires .. 😆 In short , I’m actually just a good guy ! I know that’s stretching credulity with some of my comments but nevertheless 😝 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@colrhodes377]

@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering Good news , Sir Jay. My dad was given a year to live with prostate cancer, but they injected radioactive particles into his groin as a continuation of experimental medicine. They said not to have the grandchildren on his lap because he was radioactive, but that was a small price to pay. Seventeen years later, he died from dementia and the prostate cancer hadn't advanced at all. SC is also a survivor but from cervical cancer and breast cancer. She was lucky because she didn't have to have a mastectomy, only a lumpectomy. She had n hysterectomy and all the nasty bits too.

[@JohnBarrett-u4j]

When Jimmy's voice was OK. I think whiskey burnt his vocal chords unfortunately. Flame trees refer to their red or scarlet lowers and are unique to eastern Australia.

[@cjw9257]

You will get wet anyway.

[@DamienCalnon-uq7zj]

Whistful, descriptive lyrics but the music is a bit too bland for me.

[@nnoddy8161]

The Flame Tree is a species of red leafed tree, extremely bright, called the Brachychiton acerifolius. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachychiton_acerifolius They are quite common. Nothing to do with bushfires. "The Flame Tree will blind the weary driver..."