Fine Young Cannibals- Johnny Come Home (REACTION & REVIEW)

[@anthonyv1719]

For some reason they imploded quite quickly - so much talent. The video elevates this song to show the band proper.

[@gpreactions3194]

Can't think of their names, but the two guitarists were also in The Beat (The English Beat). And i would really recommend you catch a glimpse of them performing. Very distinctive and entertaining stage presence. The FYC also did a great cover of The Buzzcocks Ever fallen in love. Talking of The Beat, if you've never heard the tracks, worth checking out 'Too nice to talk to' and 'Mirror in the bathroom'. 🙂

[@James-wj8eq]

Bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox were former members of The Beat.

[@throwabrick]

Their track "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" is an incredible, bluesy, jazzy vibe.

[@deanmaynard8256]

This album was really a breath of fresh air when it came out.

[@Nidels]

It seems so strange to me to listen to this song and not the ultra-famous She Drives Me Crazy that your reaction makes me very happy. A hug.

[@Grizazzle]

JP doesn't often do the 'hits'. He's a bit unique in the music reaction genre and I like it.

[@Guildofarcanelore]

This has always been my favourite FYC tune.

[@therealtwiggyleaf]

This was the first song I ever heard from this band, and has remained my favourite song of theirs, even though they were destined to go on to bigger things withs songs like "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Suspicious Minds". Thanks for the review. 😎😎

[@-davidolivares]

I’ve grown to like this band more than I used to back then. She Drives Me Crazy, did drive me crazy with how much they played it.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Ain't that the truth!

[@-davidolivares]

@@pentagrammaton6793 My brain will just start playing it in my head if I don’t watch it… oh, there it goes again… stopppp.

[@halcyon289]

It was a living nightmare .You could say ....it drove me crazy .

[@josiepkat]

It’s not a bad song but pretty commercial and not representative of the depth of this unique band.

[@allanbridgewater259]

" Blue " is another great track from this album .

[@James-wj8eq]

Bassist David Steele and Andy Cox were former members of Birmingham, UK ska band The Beat.

[@littlecitygirl]

This is a great track and a good introduction to FYC. Their version of Suspicious Minds on their debut album is also excellent, but they really hit their stride with their second album, The Raw and the Cooked. It's notable for a brilliant cover of The Buzzcocks song Ever Fallen In Love and their own hits, She Drives Me Crazy and Good Thing, , but the whole album is stuffed with gems and worth a listen in its entirety. Roland Gift's voice is a thing of beauty and David Steele and Andy Cox on bass and guitar have the grooves and the moves to back him up. Thanks for giving us FYC today, JP, you made my Saturday.

[@mitchelllindgren1215]

They recorded one of their albums at Paisley Park in Minneapolis. I think it was their second album.

[@charlessalzman4377]

This was a good place to start. It is my favorite song of theirs. The same album has their cover of Suspicious Minds. Their album, The Raw and the Cooked, received more commercial success, and the songs She Drives Me Crazy, Good Thing, and Don't Look Back got a fair amount of radio play. Their singer, Roland Gift, has an acting career as well and played a prominent roll in the movie Scandal.

[@Grizazzle]

My second favorite FYC song! Thanks, JP. Haven't heard it in decades but my memory doesn't miss a beat with it. The chorus is what makes it for me. Roland's 'look' is as unique as his voice.

[@mikew4001]

Great band that was really important for the Neo Soul and Acid Jazz movements of the late 1980s and early 1990s, like Sade, Jamiroquai, Simply Red, Brand New Heavies, Wet Wet Wet, James Taylor Quartet, Swing Out Sister, Matt Bianco and many more. Great times! 😋

[@stoneybass5981]

FYC and General Public - two bands in constant rotation for me in high school. Great debut album.

[@sandralee8945]

To get the full impact of this amazing band see their music videos to this song (my favourite) and videos and their songs Good Thing. And She Drives Me Crazy. They have a really cool look to themselves - they were used in several TV shows and movies - they were actually IN the movies

[@jeezoh000]

Justin, FYC had a hit in the UK with a cover of Buzzcocks Ever Fallen In Love. Would love to hear what you think of it.

[@josiepkat]

Blue, Funny How Love Is, and their cover of Suspicious Minds is EPIC!! Thank you for listing to them and not just their breakout hit “she Drives Me Crazy” they’re so much more than that one tune. Roland Gift is such a unique singer. 🔥🔥🔥 Thank u!!! Check out any of those songs too. You won’t be sorry.

[@gpreactions3194]

This track entered the UK Top 40 on the 8th June and eventually peaked at no.8. The Top 10 of this week was... 1 - Paul Hardcastle - 19 2 - Duran Duran - A view to a kill 3 - Marillion - Kayleigh 4 - The Crowd - You'll never walk alone 5 - Gary Moore & Phil Lynott - Out in the fields 6 - Jimmy Nail - Love don't live here anymore 7 - Animotion - Obsession 8 - Billy Ocean - Suddenly 9 - Katrina & The Waves - Walking on sunshine 10 - DeBarge - Rhythm of the night Also in this week's Top 40... Scritti Politti - The word girl Bryan Ferry - Slave to love Stephen Tin Tin Duffy - Icing on the cake Depeche Mode - Shake the disease Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny come home Propoganda - Duel Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - So in love Power Station - Get it on Simple Minds - Don't you (Forget about me) David Bowie - Loving the alien Tears For Fears - Everybody wants to rule the world Prince & The Revolution - Paisley Park Although there were some really cool tracks in '85 and '86, these two years always felt like the intermission to a new movement around the corner. Commercial pop n rock music had a supermarket feel about it. The really cool stuff wasn't front and centre at the time. So it felt for me, that the musically innovative ship was drifting for a while without the driving force that was glam rock, prog rock, punk, disco, new wave, new romantic to drive it. Most commercial music didn't have that biting impact but was perfectly pleasant to listen to. I remember towards the end of 1986 the moment when i thought that music might be springing back to life again after listening to Steve Silk Hurley's Jack your body. This track felt a little different. And I think 1987 and '88 were rescued by Gothic-alternative-indie, a new more cutting style of rap music and rock music (Guns n Roses/Metallica). 1985 was a fun year for music and if i had to pick two tracks from above i'd probably go for Paul Hardcastle's 19 and Propoganda's Duel. 🎶🙂

[@psychokitty9325]

LOVE this song! The video is fun too 😊

[@drakebullet4509]

Nice review JP, Another track you might like of theirs in same vein was their cover of Elvis' "Suspicious minds"

[@matto9734]

Still in my collection of LPs, good memories and occasional appearences on my turntable ;-) Good you liked it!

[@Lwize]

Brilliant track.

[@daveyboy_]

Brings me back to the cold cold winter of 1986

[@AriadneJC]

Yes, I could listen to some more of these chaps.

[@markfilla9305]

Wow - haven't heard this track in a LONG time. I bought this album back when it first came out. All together they had a pretty unique sound IMO. Nice to hear it again after so many years!

[@jeremyb5640]

They had a big number 1 hit in the US with ‘She Drives Me Crazy’, now a staple on lots of 80s compilation albums. I saw Roland Gift appear as one of the surprise guest vocalists during Jools Holland’s big band show at the Royal Albert Hall in 2012! He performed a cover of Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicious Minds’ that night - a song which had been a big hit for Fine Young Cannibals in the ‘80s. KT Tunstall and Ruby Turner were the other guest vocalists too. [Check out KT Tunstall’s original breakthrough appearance as a last-minute replacement guest on Jools Holland’s TV show ‘Later’ performing ‘Black Horse & the Cherry Tree’ - link on your live recommendations spreadsheet].

[@nobbycheeseman2915]

They did another version of this (remix, or whatever), called 'Johnny Takes a Trip'

[@spoteach]

FYC had two US number 1 hits in 1989 with She Drives Me Crazy and Good Thing from their second and final album before singer Roland Gift became a full time actor. The guitarist and bassist were previously known als band members of The (English) Beat, known from cover hits like Tears Of A Clown and Can't Get Used To Losing You.

[@rosenfield10]

"She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing" are the hits. His voice is so weird. When he says, "Like no one else," I thought he said, "Her long blonde hair." LOL.

[@kennethmarshall306]

OMG, I have still got my original vinyl of this. But not listened for many years. Very distinctive voice

[@johnthegreek5836]

I only remember one song from this group and it wasn’t this song, I’m actually surprised but I actually enjoyed this song, thanks, it probably wouldn’t be my playlist but I wouldn’t turn it off it I heard played ag

[@dennispower5362]

She drives me crazy 🤪 good song to check it out you will love it,👍👋🤪🇦🇺

[@terryroxburgh3276]

The FYC are a great band with a truly distinctive sound. My personal favorite is "Suspicious Minds." Another distinctive group you should listen to is The Christians, especially "Forgotten Town" I doubt you'll get many recommendations for them as they are sadly mostly forgotten themselves.

[@tonybarruk2]

I don't know if FYC ever officially broke up, they just didn't record any more after the HUGE "The Raw & the Cooked" album, and were basically never seen again, though they all had rather half-hearted and unsuccessful solo projects... I was especially surprised that vocalist Roland Gift wasn't more successful, he had a really distinctive voice and looked great too... this is still a great track!

[@reboot_2.00]

All FYC songs are great! Best of ska.

[@tdstone]

This is my favorite track by them (sucker for muted trumpet)…and the “Suspicious Minds” cover from their debut. Did not love the follow up when they hit it big in the US.

[@georgecarlinismytribe]

His voice reminds me of a muted trumpet - in a good way, that is.

[@maruad7577]

Another fun little tune. I enjoyed it.

[@BrendanAshton]

Always enjoyed their tracks particularly Not the man I used to be, I think they did a song with bronski beat too

[@jerkedevries]

Think you’re right 😊

[@LH-po3up]

Loved this group. Great song.

[@frugalseverin2282]

This band is okay, just dance-pop for me. Like other mentioned some members came from The Beat (The English Beat in the US) which was a ska-influenced band. They had more substance, made 3 albums back in the '80s. The band General Public also sprang from their remnants. Pete Townshend covered their song 'Save It for Later' which you reacted to ages ago.

[@78zappaf]

One of my favorites, I do like their other hits. Though I I'm used to this track with the long fade in orchestra intro. They would play that "extended mix" on the Canadian radio stations which - to me - sounded much better.

[@Richard_Jones]

You might want to listen to She Drives Me Crazy. That was their biggest hit in the US.

[@dandecastro51]

Ya in Canada too But so was that Elvis cover... omg, my dead brain cells lol, what was it!? So obv...

[@Richard_Jones]

@@dandecastro51 Suspicious Minds

[@dandecastro51]

@@Richard_Jones rofl of course!! 🤣 Thx 😊

[@mitchelllindgren1215]

They did the most incredible cover version of Suspicious Minds. Highly recommended a listen.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Great dance band with the voice of Al Jolson. Nice.

[@epluribusunum1460]

“Good Thing” would be my next choice.

[@samstevenson5328]

SURELY you’ve heard their #1 hit “She Drives Me Crazy.” It’s inescapable…

[@a.k.1740]

Not bad but too steeped in the mid-80s. Justin, try the previous band of Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass) called The Beat (The English Beat in the US) which in my opinion is much more interesting. Start with the song "Mirror in the Bathroom" (from the album I Just Can't Stop It released in 1980).

[@-davidolivares]

He may have heard Mirror, it was on the WOMAD compilation, Music and Rhythm I gifted him.

[@timonofathens1805]

Always enjoyed Roland Gift in the movie Sammy & Rosie Get Laid. You are also familiar with the two guitarists. Check out their former band.

[@OlavSchneider]

It's a catchy tune

[@ritagryphon222]

Try She drives me crazy or Suspicious minds.. Love your channel

[@davidgermano5480]

Great band ! You really need to see the video.

[@jamesmccallum209]

Tune

[@emilvantbregen622]

Gute Stimme und da sind noch einige gute Songs zu entdecken. Mach bitte mal: Transister Zig Zag wash your hands bevor you .... And Rock on 🔊🎼🎵🎶🎛

[@jerkedevries]

I’m probably wrong but I interpret it that Johnny went astray and became homeless because the one left behind drinks

[@stefannemeth5050]

Nice Pick. 👍🏻

[@nomisnestral6956]

F that's brilliant.

[@rodneygriffin7666]

She Drives Me Crazy is their biggest hit.

[@calvin20877]

🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@shanefraser7764]

Always on the radio here in New Zealand 🇳🇿 🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🌈🌈🌈🌈❤️

[@paulockenden4278]

Decent

[@ScottPothan]

FYC were always a bit sophisticated for many.....

[@neilmccarthy5102]

Great tune - as stated , ‘blue’, ‘funny how love is’ both highly recommended

[@JohnWhipp]

A good track and a good reaction. There's better to come from them too if you dip into "The Raw & the Cooked" album from a few years later, including a couple of tracks that reached number 1 on the main US Billboard chart.

[@sicko_the_ew]

For me this is one of those songs the radio station liked a bit too much. (OK there were other stations, but those were for the Zulu music days - or the Zulu radio soap operas, where there would always be a distraught old woman calling out, "Inkosi yami! Inkosi yami!" in an anguished voice at some point. That just means something like, "Oh my God! Oh my God!" but the dialog always had that. Or they were days for Bollywood movie music, and Indian traditional music. Or the Afrikaans station, with the soap operas that would always have some distraught old woman calling out a variety of things involving "Die Here" - God again - at some point. And accordion music for people to "windsurf" to. It was an authoritarian state. There weren't lots of radio options. I actually miss certain aspects of it, now. Like how the electricity supply used to always "just work", but that's going waywardly off topic.) I suppose it must be quit a good song to have survived all that radio time without me hating it. It's quite a nice song. Don't think I could ever love it, though. *GBV* , OTOH, says *Give it Another Day to Heal* kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZbac5SDg5J2oLs (They've been very busy uploading lately. Some of the stuff is "from the suitcase in the basement", and "Home-Fi", as they're now calling it, but there's all sorts. All the covers are the work of Robert Pollard. He does collages, generally. I like what he does with them, but I suppose everyone's mileage varies with that.

[@sicko_the_ew]

Check out what he does with a plain background and just a typewriter on the latest version of *White Flag* for instance. It's almost Japanese-traditional - in spirit at least. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6HKoImEmbKEqrs

[@sicko_the_ew]

And then there's handwriting for hair in one of the sketches used for *Males of Wormwood Mars* kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4irZXmco92Cbrc

[@sicko_the_ew]

There's also some great collage art on the cover of the latest *Teenage Guitar* album ... and it gives me a certain sense of deja vu kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWLaY4uklp2SkM0

[@IDM29]

There isn't nothing to simile, do you understand what's he singing about?

[@annother3350]

I thin you're the first to do this

[@v.j.3029]

Just Jammin' reacted to this already and he really liked it too.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

These lads were a decent late 80s/early 90s group, but other than that, were mostly forgettable for me.

[@swfcocs1]

They sold an absolute shit ton of records for mostly forgettable lol

[@jayburdification]

I don’t like Fine Young Cannibals. They drive me crazy.

[@marcharley6465]

I've never liked Roland Gift's vocals, which are very mannered and pretty irritating.

[@BlowinFree]

Me too although I do like this song but generally no, I don’t like his voice and if I can remember rightly it was lorded at the time as being the best thing since sliced bread

[@halcyon289]

@@BlowinFree Like a male version of Heather Small .

[@BlowinFree]

@@halcyon289 🤣 That’s so true! She’s another one with a voice like a fog horn!

[@halcyon289]

@@BlowinFree 👏

[@jtenaz]

Porridge. The English Beat are much better.

[@Guildofarcanelore]

This has always been my favourite FYC tune.