XTC - Stupidly Happy

Uplifting song featuring some uplifting characters with one role in life.....to cheer us up!

[@bonnie43uk]

Growing up in Penhill Swindon, Andy Partridge used to live a few doors down from us, we'd see him walking up Allington Rd on his way to guitar practice as we were all playing football, thinking, "Ha, .. what a waste of time". We all ended up in crap jobs while he went on to make good in the pop world. Very uplifting song :-)

[@truthtea5143]

Love this

[@twelver9593]

Headlands or the other School? I lived in Cricklade Rd..XTC Best thing to ever come out of Swindon!!

[@janineinvietnam]

Everytime I listen to this song on here, I see this comment, and click like, only to discover I've un-liked my previous like from a few days ago.

[@bonnie43uk]

@@twelver9593 Andy went to Penhill junior's I have a pic of him in the scouts, I think he would have gone to Headlands afterwards.

[@therussiandragon616]

@@twelver9593 besides the M4 Motorway, right?

[@richclearpc]

The most unappreciated band in UK music history!

[@boontje9724]

Please bring this wonderfull song on spotify! ❤

[@stevenswift7263]

The bass on this is just insane

[@glennspencer]

It’s stupidly good

[@hsbrockman]

Hilarious! Reminds me of that Brazilian song, Samba numa nota so.

[@MrMeadfoot]

Snare and hi-hat for me.

[@stefanbranden4898]

The riff that the Stones and Agnus Young missed!!!!!!

[@sickaffair]

I wish this was on Spotify😢😢

[@DoctorOcculator]

So many brilliant elements to this song. I'll mention just one. Colin's bass guitar; doesn't enter the song until 1:25, great restraint, then some undeniably McCartney inspired slides and bumps which transcend anything Paul ever did and some high register riffs that are just sublime. Colin Moulding is one of the classiest bass players on record!

[@simonknott224]

+DoctorOcculator totally agree with you . As usual XTC were masters with the off beat. I will always love them...Partridge and Moulding

[@jamiewesson6606]

check out stackridge same sort of beatles twang and clever word play prob agreat xtc influence

[@chrisbaker3900]

Yes, the bass on this is just gorgeous (CM was/is a far better bassist than he was/is songwriter imho), but it's a shame that it doesn't really come across on computer speakers. Headphones recommended!

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@chrisbaker3900 no way, man! colin's songs could only have been wrote by him, and there's so many classics!

[@chrisbaker3900]

@@tinfoilhatter Yep, he was a good song-writer, but a great bassist! And he was competing with Partridge in the song-writing stakes - the bar was set very high.

[@jelt110]

Partridge is pure perfection: penultimate penmanship plus pop personification.

[@richybatty234]

"All the lights of the cars in the town form the strings of a big guitar " ... Fantastic line !!

[@jasoncavitt2043]

The bass. The BASS! Colin's the man.

[@tinfoilhatter]

yes! less is more, in this case! it might actually be andy, he wrote the mayor of simpleton bass part, by the way, he told me!

[@Lambieschmoo]

We need more XTC in our lives

[@PompeyJonny44]

In my family if you’re relaxed on holiday or enjoying a holiday event it’s tradition to turn to a family member and utter “like the words to that song”

[@oli1764]

I discovered this via skins but damn quality tune

[@georgieeloise2121]

Yesss

[@lekid5332]

At 2:20 when he sings ”guitar” and you hear a great bassline and then two chords, first left and then right speaker. That’s pure genuis

[@jordanperry8015]

this is different from anything else I've ever heard. I had no idea this kind of music existed. WTF? I listened to this 10 times and i am still not tired of it.

[@steelyman08]

I'm with you even though I did know about it. It's completely addictive.

[@fractuss]

One amazing song.

[@osider51]

how could you not like XTC?. I'm and old guy who loved Hendrix. I think these guys embody that frolicking knowledge. How to take a riff and ride it like a roller coaster. that is what rock is. Have loved them since the 80's.

[@creativeamerican8811]

osider51 Well said! I was just trying to describe the music, in my head, analogise... But you did it sir :) XTC are very much like a Theme park!

[@Fretless99]

'How to take a riff and...'brilliant comment

[@jelt110]

osider51 andy partridge is peer to poet laureate with his lyrics, and every bit as musically adept as the Beatles combined. He should be a national treasure. He is Great Britain

[@Noticccashonly]

I'm 20 and I think this song is great lol

[@bravo2038]

osider51 benny hill was the best

[@JamesD3399]

I love the slideshow of different people, but Benny Hill seems so perfect for this song.

[@robin_holden]

Andy stole his glasses!

[@chrisnowhere]

Cette chanson est un tube évidemment !!! Quelle bonne chanson.

[@robertoriva8150]

Sempre un passo avanti a tutti gli altri, questi mattacchioni di Swindon! 🖤🔝 Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹

[@andyhiggs6932]

What a wonderful collection of positive images, thank you so much. One of my fave XTC songs too.

[@marcusmetternich6626]

Professor Dr. Andrew John Partridge. He knows how to create an incredible pop song. Of course well supported by his fabulous band.

[@cathysteinhilb6554]

most unappreciated band in music history AND the BEST band than practically never was.....SOME DAY the rest will get XTC......all I can say is THANK YOU XTC

[@DDELFIERRO]

Don't forget the contributions of Dave Gregory. Without his guitar, keyboard & arranging skills XTC wouldn't have sounded nearly as good as it did.

[@nechesh]

While i love Dave Gregory's contributions i do need to point out that he is no longer in the band at this point. Still i agree that my favorite XTC albums include Dave as well as the incredible drumming skills of Terry Chambers, who is also not in the band for the Wasp Star album.

[@MrJunkieBrewster]

Andy Partridge is such a musical badass that he only needs one key to blow other songwriters and performers away with his brilliance.

[@jimtypes]

XTC , when they hit that zone, make one think, smile, tap your toes, dance.

[@marshalllancaster2314]

My power pop heroes. Heard “Mayor of Simpleton” circa ‘89, and my life was changed forever.

[@sophielittler5496]

I was born in 89, raised on these guys and I'm now introducing them to my 10 year old son. I don't want to imagine a world of music without XTC :)

[@marshalllancaster2314]

@@sophielittler5496 From Oranges and Lemons I went to Skylarking, Drums and Wires, and Black Sea. Favorite is Nonsuch, at least today.

[@md770]

XTC is so underrated and underappreciated, they certainly don't get the due they deserve as a band. XTC knew how to craft the perfect pop song and Andy Partridge writes the best lyrics .

[@jamesbelljr7987]

Underrated no...under appreciated...yes

[@peterparkingmeter4764]

Finally found it,what a tune. XTC just nail it all the time

[@jeremypykeallen5602]

XTC Drums & Wires Tour,... sat with Todd Rundgren, Brian Eno and David Byrne as the fab four went nuts playing both Drums and Wires AND Black Sea sets. At Wolfgangs in S.F. We were all Stupidly Happy for sure!

[@tinfoilhatter]

what? heck, man! what else, what else! c'mon! somethin' else happened, surely! do tell! but do y'know andy? tell him the ladies miss him on the tweeter-thingy!

[@jelt110]

So many brilliant elements to this song... so well said. The additive layering in one song is the same as Talking Heads' first five song in _Stop Making Sense_. Partridge is seriously genius.

[@granttully6807]

Great track from one of the best bands everyone should have heard of.......what a world we live in when XTC arent followed as much as some of todays empty headed drivel.....

[@TheFourpegs]

Long live XTC! One of the best bands (and songwriters) ever!

[@madonmod3733]

it is the song I will play at my funeral Lala

[@algale6123]

I really like XTC, not all of their stuff, but i did buy Apple Venus & Oranges and Lemons....this song is beyond brilliant....love We're all Light also....great global video.

[@towelmanfilms]

Poor Andy Patridge, He had a good band before he broke. Some of the best to hit the 80s

[@tinfoilhatter]

he took his-lucky-break, and broke-it-in-two, did he? haha... hey, i slightly doubt it, mate~

[@user-cn6ow2fw2t]

So ahead of thier'" Short lived ' evolution of modern music; True💯🙏☯️ SONIC ' , Bliss of melody and chorus, 👌🍸 Cheers mate's 🍺😎

[@muzikkification]

Yeah, it doesn't sound like an early 00's song. They used it in Skins season 2 (2008) and I assumed it was a new song (also didn't realise at first it was XTC, so that was a cool surprise).

[@kpaasial]

Andy described the guitar riff as the "ultimo Keef riff that he (Keith Richards) never found".

[@leebedola9364]

Wonderfully layered song.

[@steelyman08]

Exactly. Perfection!

[@asxtc]

Layered and coated in brilliant toe-tapping brilliance.

[@simonknott224]

+asxtc yes I agree. superb group, so talented ..they always the best !! Come back Andy!! Come back Colin !!

[@simonknott224]

Still brilliant !! Still gorgeous. Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding , you are both geniuses!!!

[@annettelouise6781]

Best love song eva

[@glennspencer]

Good innit

[@waloacme]

Awesome rock band that catapulted an entire subgenre

[@jeanettehodkinson9808]

i feel better now......., this song always cheers me up..., xtc are the best.. :-)

[@xtstevie]

The greatest single that never was ?? Awesome track & would have been HUGE ??

[@neilcarlson661]

Yes, really is perplexing how something so pop & sublime could not chart around our folly filled planet.

[@anthonycrook1987]

remember that muffed gtr tone, and waiting for the bass line to drop! cool starting on the & of four.

[@glennspencer]

Amazing way that they kick in

[@simonknott224]

Stupidly brilliant!! XTC ... the dogs bollocks !! ... wonderful...

[@sugarandspice4815]

Wow, what an awesome beat! This song makes me think of driving on a warm, sunny, summer day with the top down, seeing nothing but beautiful scenery.

[@gt253836]

A band that experiments and evolves their sound are usually the great bands with longevity. The Beatles 1st and last albums are about as different as you could get. XTC are great because they experiment too and sound great each time just like the Beatles but the Beatles had more opportunity to break the mould as music was so much more a formula in the 50's and 60's than the late 70's.

[@psychotictactoe]

Spike Milligan, absolute legend, such a shame he suffered so much.

[@simonknott224]

Still stupidly brilliant! What a genius Partridge . Complete pop record..

[@steelyman08]

Great slideshow for this excellent track! I play this when all else fails (which is quite frequently)🤔

[@keithachrist]

A timeless gem loves me some XTC🤩

[@bradoozy]

Like all the Monty Python pictures (and more) in this video along with the song.

[@Geophrie39]

Never Let You Go - Third Eye Blind

[@TONYCOV881]

the 316 people who clicked like are stupidly happy, the 5 dislikes are people who are normally miserable.

[@alanlegge696]

The strings on the BIG guitar !!!..super duper

[@gt253836]

Im a big Beatles fan but a big XTC fan too, (born in Swindon too) I think they're Oranges & Lemons :) XTC are truly a great band, Andy is amazing & Colin don't get enough credit for Making Plans for Nigel and Generals & Majors. The Beatles broke so much ground which paved the way for most modern pop bands including XTC. Had Andy been around in the 60's I expect he would have been able to be revolutionary too but by the late 70's punk and synth pop were new, XTC embraced it, but didn't invent it.

[@weathereye8164]

Wasp Star is a magnificent album

[@BeatlesBowieKrimson]

Yes ... yes, it is.

[@misterswanson]

how can it be that only 148,087 people like this. It's brilliant.

[@Kristi314159]

yes, best pop band ever, EVER. Andy is not a genius, he is simply the very soul of pop music. I hope he's even at least 1% as happy as he makes us- i want him to come ans sing at my birthday- i'll pay big time for it.

[@alexfrenguelli9537]

This group are incredible ............ Am recently discover thanks a dvd collection of gray wistle test ..........

[@martinjohncameron]

This is a brilliant love song. I always feel great when hearing this. Would love to see XTC live again.

[@Kristi314159]

pete's 'a little is enough' is a god genius production- at this level, it becomes impossible to compare- they are just too good.

[@jelt110]

Perhaps the most perfect love song of all time... exclusively for my love of 25 years: Kat.

[@davidmildenhall5326]

Catchiest song ever ???

[@glennspencer]

Lovely last three words

[@stefanode7402]

Very nice slideshow, so british. Ciao from Roma

[@louboozer6058]

Damn Legends

[@jmac3686]

Xtc has done so many awesome tracks, this again is simple brilliance , life as it is. Beats the crap manufactured pop shit today

[@colinwilkes8957]

J Mac,late reply,totally agree with you ,but then even Renee and Renalto ,or the birdie song beats the garbage of today! Regards,mate.

[@MaxPlanets99]

Brilliant! And a great anthology of Brit comedy icons to accompany this really clever tune.

[@davidguilfoyle]

This is such a clever song. Who but Andy Partridge could take the most simple riff imaginable and make such a great arrangement. A masterpiece.

[@xnonsuchx]

Not only "Stupidly Happy," but ecstatically happy too! Go, Andy Partidge!

[@miketaylor803]

IN THE SUGGESTED VIDEOS sidebar The Chats "SMOKO" has 8.1 million views & 160k likes (I'm not denigrating their song but it's just a simple punky teenage garage band jobby) .... this XTC track only has 300,000 views & 1.8k likes - how odd??

[@sergiomng]

I love that 2nd guitar at 2:20, what a great band

[@tauruschorus]

I am so jazzed up to come across this video today.

[@tinfoilhatter]

~~~jazzhands, man~~~

[@NigelFortune]

A simple, and simply brilliant song!

[@jimmoffatt6435]

Great tune

[@danvineyard6485]

Love how the backing vocals are layered in a a "round " on the outro

[@Lol_Pig]

This song is perfection!

[@sewzay99]

RIP Gareth - this will always be our song.

[@DrTomoculus]

Not to disagree, and I love XTC and the bands you mentioned, especially Blur owe XTC at least a pint, but I believe britpop truly started with The Kinks. SO MANY bands owe them some thanks for making it acceptable to be British, and actually sing with a British accent. They were British when all the other invasion bands pretended to be American. Every decade of music fro England goes back to The Kinks. Even punk. Beatles sang about idyllic Penny Lanes. The Kinks talked about Dead End Street!

[@ChrisSeahorse]

The Kinks are the best, it is true. There's never been a better band.

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@ChrisSeahorse shyeah: until billy idol came along, obviously

[@Herehear49]

Stupidly Happy and Mayor Of Simpleton: two of the greatest pop tunes ever!!!

[@keithfinsley330]

Prarie Prince on drums on this track....Brilliant!

[@stenwald]

A superb video. No matter how crap things are I can put this on and smile. Spike Milligan is a legend!

[@f.haikel919]

I thoug everyone needs to be stupdly happy. Kisses from brazil

[@plasticpaddy54]

At the top of his game, The hook gets you ever time

[@taxus750]

Inventive and loaded with hooks. And that's just the first few bars...

[@simonknott224]

Beautiful record by a beautiful soul. Andy and XTC, you are brilliant

[@Neilgal12]

SO much pleasure to be had from the way the elements are woven together & the layers added. It doesn’t miss his trademark middle 8 for me, it’s close to perfect. For truly top marks though, an ending would’ve been impressive … not a fade.

[@vickisteel4415]

Love that song.. I am stupidly happy most of the time....

[@simonknott224]

Vicki Steel Lucky you Vicki . But so am I !!!!!

[@littyasasmitty279]

Be happy all the time Vicki! You got people that love you! Hope you’re doing well

[@terencep44]

the greatest love song ever written

[@mdumas43073]

One of my favorites of theirs. I love how it just builds and builds.

[@pint6x]

Mike Dumas I love this too - especially when the bass chimes in on a single note, then the waterfall guitar bit, then the bass does this looping thing - f***ing awesome

[@Freakyshygirl1]

What a gorgeous song with images of lovely funny people from the past x

[@jelt110]

God- Genius layering. Partridge is not the fifth Beatle- he is a parallel amalgam surpassing them all. Except maybe George... George could lay down so sweet-a-beat. You just cannot compare kings..,

[@Kaela1227]

Fav single ever

[@xyaqua]

dude- you rock my world- telliing me i am wrong for not going far enough. you made my month This is what i try to get my students to do: exceed. you have chosen wisely. again, thanks, tonight i'll sleep with a smile all night long.

[@carlosnapoleonescobar]

Its allther pure JOY.!!!!

[@MrToddy31]

jonesfeld, you have picked me up no end.....thanks and happy new 2019.

[@jonesfeld]

Pleased you like it. All the best to you too Davy. Another year full of sounds ahead of us.

[@MrToddy31]

@@jonesfeld You to chum

[@roba111111]

Another musical gem - you're absolutely right. One of many!