Nik Kershaw - The Riddle (Live Aid 1985)

Nik Kershaw performing 'The Riddle' at Live Aid in front of 72,000 people in Wembley Stadium, London on the 13th July, 1985. The event was organised by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine disaster. Broadcast across the world via one of the largest satellite link-ups of all time, the concerts were seen by around 40% of the global population.
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#LiveAid #NikKershaw

[@_Urahara_Kisuke_]

2024 and still listening to Nik Kershaw. His unique way of interplaying the words with the timing of the melody and rhythm is just genius. ❤

[@Jepson07]

I❤80s, 😢

[@alasdairross4221]

He was an under rated star of Live aid. Solid performance.

[@HenryWaltonJones]

So underrated that day.I wouldn't say solid,I'd say class performance.But it's Nik, seen him live so many times and he's been brilliant every time.

[@nickycotton6137]

​@@HenryWaltonJones Fair-Do's... Envious tbh

[@alfching2499]

@@HenryWaltonJones he made Led Zeppelin that day sound like learners,your great Nik

[@sarahgleason8996]

Nik was amazing! Superb performance.

[@CoolKoon]

"Solid performance." - Not just that, he wrote the song himself too...

[@ManubibiWalsh]

The fact that he could sing a harmony that logically does not make any sense while also playing a different guitar progression that is also insane at the same time without exploding is incredible. This song is crazy, in the best possible way. All of that INSANITY going on during the bridge??????? I can’t deal with it. Absolute banger still dragging pretty much every pop song composed ever since through the goddamn mud.

[@sage9836]

Check out his performance with Kim Wilde. I just discovered his work. He is a musician's musician to be sure.

[@RetroKingOG]

Stan ridgeway is another highly underrated musician, can play 3 instruments while transitioning himself into vocals.

[@Tommyblueeyes]

He's not singing a harmony, he is singing the lead

[@user-nm3ug3zq1y]

The only irrational part (maybe) is the harmonic snippet in the verse that's off. He doesn't need to sing it, just follow and not lose his line - also not easy though. :-) The bridge is harmonically explainable, nothing weird about it. Way more complex than what you'd expect in a pop song, that's for sure. And just so, so beautiful!

[@Dave_Albright]

practice is the key

[@timhancock6626]

He is one of the most underrated songwriters around. There isn't a bad song on his album The Riddle or Human Racing. They are both well worth a listen 38 years later.

[@littlemisss74]

i had the album, I must have been 10 years old and listened to it over and over again, loved it!

[@Tommyblueeyes]

he certainly was not underrated when he was popular in the mid 80s..he was on all the magazines..people just say underrated all the time because its 30 years later

[@purefoldnz3070]

and he wrote The One and Only that went number one around the world.

[@purefoldnz3070]

@@aubindemontfalcon5967 you really have to check out some of his best work that people dont know about, his collaboration with the keyboard player from Genesis Tony Banks.

[@patriziaantuofermo5182]

i agree

[@gandlar5489]

He supposedly had stage fright but still put on an outstanding performance.

[@HouseholdDog]

Lots of big acts had stage fright on that day. It was just such a huge event.

[@timm8998]

I could kind of see it here. He is very musical but he did not seem to enjoy it really.

[@ledtijanazepp]

He is constantly liking his mouth, probably they are dry from anxiety. He does look anxious overall so, taking that in consideration, this was a great performance.

[@Grilnid]

He was 27 at the time, can you imagine? I can't comprehend how anyone can get on such a massive stage and put on any kind of performance at 27, let alone a good one!

[@finalwarrior3942]

Ando remember, that's the return of Queen

[@daleywhaley]

I've never seen anyone ask a crowd to whistle along before!

[@gerardodoherty9178]

Easier to whistle along at a nik kershaw gig than one of Roger whittaker's!

[@belindahope2021]

Live aid shall live forever!

[@marlenesullivan3113]

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT 🎸🎼🎼🎼

[@belindahope2021]

He's so handsome 😍

[@Rickstar54630]

Even though i'm a teenager this is still my favourite song. I've always appreciated 80's songs, especially Nik Kershaw's songs!

[@marinchan]

僕が中学生の時、繰り返し聴いてた大好きな曲です。 一生、忘れられないメロディーです。

[@HouseholdDog]

The riddle is, to 80s music, what The Shining was to 70s cinema.

[@conorsmith8551]

Wasn’t the shining out in 1980? 🤔

[@therealdoug1000]

The complexity of this song, lyrically and melodically is amazing.

[@user-mu7gb2om9p]

He is sooo cute! And the song a masterpiece of course

[@martakarcz5786]

I absolutely love this performance! So underrated, such a shame!

[@miamitten1123]

A shame!? He’s preforming in front of 100,000 people at the time and is uploaded to KZbin

[@utesommer8214]

I never saw a live performance by Nick Kershaw before. As a Teenager in the 80's i feel really delighted !

[@marklittlewood2919]

On that unique summer day in 85 I was just 23 ..I thought that day Nik's was the best performance all these years later I still believe it was .....was a brilliant set from him ..thanks Nik

[@siobhanmurphy4912]

Saw him live here in Australia in 2013. Still has it!

[@steviekeane]

And Queen?

[@marklittlewood2919]

​@@steviekeaneapologies only just seen your reply ..it's all opinion and in my own opinion Nik Kershaw's performance on that day was the best ..I'm sure plenty would say queen for instance ..but not for me ..cheers

[@marklittlewood2919]

​@@siobhanmurphy4912He sure has ..all the best

[@marklittlewood2919]

​@@siobhanmurphy4912 He sure has !..all the best

[@privatepenguin3137]

I live in the US and loved Nik ever since Live Aid....he should have been SO big in the United States.

[@1971caz38]

He was in oz

[@OnlyGoodMusic_]

In Israel it was huge, it really was in many countries.

[@wilsonnperez2101]

This song deserved to have reached the Top 20 on Billboard's Hot 100. Instead, it reached just #107.

[@bublegumjp]

One of the most underrated singers ever

[@Helstar74]

It went top10 in most european countries though (10 here in Italy, 3 in UK)

[@Becks1974]

Love this! Has got to be one of the best 80's records without a doubt!! The military style drumming is awesome not to mention this live performance. Nik is so cheeky here and he certainly did Live Aid proud. I was a teenager when this song was released, i'm 49 now and love it as much today as I did way back. Total class so it is!!

[@HouseholdDog]

The lyrics turned out to be complete gibberish. Apparently he hadn't written the lyrics for the song before he started recording. So he recorded some random phrases as a basis for the tracks. They later recorded some real lyrics. But decided they kind of liked the gibberish. So they went with the gibberish and named the song The Riddle. To make people think there was some sort of meaning to the song. Fricken Genius. Also Nik Kershaw's gibberish is fricken awesome!

[@kran1al925]

I don't buy it. Why a song that's very complicated musically should be wasted by gibberish? Maybe it's a maze of metaphors and phraseologisms? I don't believe it's called a riddle for nothing.

[@er9779]

@@kran1al925 Totally agree with you.

[@Goodbyeeveryonehere]

​@kran1al925 there's an interview with him about it. It really was just total rubbish. No meaning to it at all.

[@ABee-jb9vz]

​@kran1al925 I also heard the interview with him. He said that it is just a bunch of phrases that at the time he thought sounded cool but that they mean absolutely nothing.

[@StrawberrySunday212]

This just sounds incredible. We were so lucky to have grown up in this decade with such amazing music! 🍓🍓

[@BeyondBaito]

One of the best 80s songs of all time.

[@Heaven-dy9lj]

Wish they'd write songs like this today. Back to basics great songwriting, genius Nik!

[@longinzaczek5857]

Some songs had deeper meta-meaning. but there is no need to write such songs when te riddle is solved.

[@SukiCat85]

Never have I ever seen such a handsome, gorgeous fella ❤❤❤ he’s pure perfection at its finest!! Incredible singer and songwriter too

[@urska688]

Amazing. Nik is such an incredible singer and a guitarist. Love this song ❤️

[@robinkershaw]

Agreed🙂

[@user-kf1ge6px1n]

He is the legend of 20 th. fox 😘🧐🤫🤫

[@HouseholdDog]

Add writer arranger and mixer to that too. That big head of hair hides the mind of a very talented man.

[@DarkCornerProductions]

Why NIK KERSHAW is the MOST UNDERRATED ARTIST EVER Wrote the no1 song "The One & Only" which Chesney Hawkes recorded Wrote "Old Friend" for Elton John for Elton & Him to Sing. Nik also, played Guitar on Elton's "Nikita" & "Act Of War" Wrote "I Wanna Change The Score" for Tony Banks's Album (he sung on) Wrote "Dangerous" for James Blunt Appeared on Vocals for Steve Hackett 'GENESIS' Revisited Tour SONG: "The Lamia" Attracted admirers like Elton himself who described Kershaw as "The Greatest Songwriter of A Generation" Miles Davis (The Jazz King) Was heavily into Nik's music and was routining one of Nik's songs for a Live show before he Died. Eric Clapton & Jimmy Page were fond fans & attended his Gigs at Hammersmith Odeon in 1984 Eric also apparently recorded a version of 'Wide Boy' which has not seen the light of day He wrote "He's Got A Hold Of Me" which Bonnie Tyler recorded but yeah, the list goes on... he's written for so many artists lol definitely one of the best ever songwriters

[@DarkCornerProductions]

@Deacon John Elton John even called him "The Greatest Songwriter" so, you think you know better than Elton?!

[@DarkCornerProductions]

@Deacon John Kershaw made 4 million just from the hit single 'The One & Only'

[@giusepperacchiomanaccio7150]

unfortunately those who really deserve great success like Nik are the most underrated... the world is really unfair

[@woopsywoopsy8652]

One of the all time best songwriters

[@BeyondDictation]

As a kid I just loved the sound of it, as an adult I’m floored by the arrangement of it, incredible

[@josephuvasavage2470]

Epic song! Words can't describe the mood it brings

[@JoeMarine67]

I was privileged to see this man live numerous times. He always gets mass of praise from other awesome musicians. Elton John said he was the greatest songwriter of a generation, which is no surprise. I've seen Nik play Drums and it's sooooo good. His guitar playing on Lonely Robot's album song: "Humans Being" is to die for. The album ranked higher than Pink Floyd's Endless River, If I remember in the prog charts. The man can do anything. Extremely underrated.

[@ninaj6051]

The best nonsensical song (lyrics) and the cutest Nik.

[@rogersjgregory]

I forgot how much I liked this song, and he sounds great live. The whole band did a great job.

[@l-l]

I just watched his 2022 Italy live performance and my god he's just as good as he was back in 85. Seriously talented. There's something so magical in these lyrics.

[@cme7527]

@l-l Yes!! I did too and I agree !!!

[@eggman1978]

A staple song from my child hood that takes me back and gives me that wonderful feeling of nostalgia. Fantastic live performance great artist NK

[@eddie_rmx]

Adoro essas músicas antigas 🤗❤️💜💘 ... Live AID 🎸 , foi marcante no século 20 . Só música de Alta Qualidade ❤

[@juobuz6771]

everybody talking bout Nik, but the DRUMMERs playing super tight, that intro mmmmm

[@rpp4150]

In europe we were crazy staying awake to keep up with the usa live aid :)) best times!! Lets just be mad happy always!!

[@AdrianDeVore]

It was in reverse for Americans to get up very early to watch the UK performances.😂

[@suflo8245]

Brilliant song sang very well.

[@waltjabsco9338]

Sang well? it's out of tune.

[@reiayala]

@@waltjabsco9338 you probably sing worse than a drunk on a weekend

[@waltjabsco9338]

@@reiayala Did I ask for your opinion of my singing? No? well F/O Then.

[@andersonnatal6198]

@@waltjabsco9338 você é insuportável 🤫

[@fruitfly5226]

@@waltjabsco9338It’s like Bach where it changes key every bar in some sections.

[@Jacen13]

The hidden gem of a band at Live Aid ‘85!

[@marlenesullivan3113]

12022: WHO'S STILL ENJOYING? 🚶🧡🎼 2023: BRINGS ME BACK HERE. 💙 2O24: I'M A FAN FOREVER 🚶‍♂️🎶

[@robinkershaw]

Still listening in 2022🙂

[@terrytaylor8742]

I think you need to be a musician, unlike me, to really appreciate just how clever this song is. A professional piano player I know loves it and says it has hints of medieval composition in it. I love the 12 bar drum intro, Mark Price did well not to miscount under such tremendous pressure. This performance to me is the equal to George Michael's 'Somebody to love' seven years later.

[@FacelessMario64Tapes]

Still listening in 2023😅

[@marlenesullivan3113]

@@FacelessMario64Tapes WE HAVE GOOD TASTE IN MUSIC,THE SONG NEVER GROWS OLD

[@betisakatella]

Still listening in 2024!

[@pilarjaenes]

I bought the cassette with my thin teenager savings of that time and heard the album time a time again, closed in my room like Today's teenagers with the cellulars . Loved Nick Kershaw

[@waafCG]

He was so young and so talented! I thinck about nowday young people.... So sad.. Sorry for my bad english

[@Cubaa89]

Nie słyszałem od 20 lat czysciej zaśpiewanego vocalu na koncercie na żywo niż ten ....

[@robertbrown7408]

Eric Clapton rated this guy's song writing and guitar playing. High praise indeed.

[@DonAlex61]

Наконец то я нашел настоящее название этой песни, которую услышал на болгарском контрафактном диске виниловом под названием "загадката" (на болгарском языке". Великолепно!!!!

[@ianoliver7271]

Memories, memories. I watched Live Aid from start to finish and then on to the American Live Aid concert. I woke up the next morning with the most devilish hangover ever!! !!

[@brunomarques1146]

Thanks for sharing... great Nik

[@imtiazhossain5545]

I Was in grade 8 in school in 85 . Recorded this song in a maxell 60 mnts tape .

[@LifeAtSea50]

The 80s was a great music era

[@kenmoreSF]

29 years later and still sounds amazing.

[@Helstar74]

You forgot 10 years :) it's 39 !

[@kenmoreSF]

@@Helstar74 wow, that means I'm old as dirt. Thanks for reminding me. LOL

[@Helstar74]

@@kenmoreSFSame... I'm 50 now, omg -_-

[@observador577]

I love this song.

[@VictorCamargoPons]

Me faltaban 4 años para nacer , Pero seguramente ya de la panza de mi mama en el 89 cuando nací me encantaba este tema. hoy con 34 años no la puedo dejar de escuchar ! Increíble los conciertos de esa época.

[@pedrogc4457]

Eran de otro nivel, porque quizás afortunadamente el celular no existía y eso permitía estar concentrados en el concierto al 100% Por eso se ven todas las manos aplaudiendo Una gran época que no volverá.

[@Lune229]

Magnifique ! Bises ! Katy french ! 😘🏖🏝🏜

[@roberto2k1]

Good to see another gem from the concert uploaded here, thank you for sharing the full Nik Kershaw's performance! I still can't believe he didn't also perform "I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" though...

[@dahl8753]

Fantastic song!! Would love to see you live in Denmark 🙏🙏🙏😍

[@nnelson7529]

Beau & talentueux Nick Kershaw au Live Aid❤❤❤

[@karensingh2020]

he is and will be always a wizard of modern music! glad to own both albums and i tell ya the production is incredible and all the songs just thump on my stereo!

[@lelhoward9104]

2 albums!! He's on album 8 now 😊

[@stars-ku8cs]

omg love Nick!

[@adelaidelandrier5722]

Im very impressed by this performance

[@alanstrom2221]

I saw him LIVE in Sydney probably 1985, and he was very good.

[@adelaidelandrier5722]

@@alanstrom2221 u so lucky

[@waltjabsco9338]

Why? It's out of tune and all over the place vocally?

[@TmWastr]

@@waltjabsco9338 can you do it better?

[@BuscaLoEsencial]

@@waltjabsco9338 He's not

[@AthenaNike71]

40 years and I still remember the lyrics. ❤

[@FOREVERYOUNG-kp3cg]

1985 o ano que marcou minha vida.

[@andersonnatal6198]

1985 e o ano que nasci, essa é a minha década preferida pelas músicas

[@FOREVERYOUNG-kp3cg]

@@andersonnatal6198 Eu era um adolescente e posso lhe garantir que nunca existiu e nunca existirá década melhor que aquela, não tínhamos internet e não trocaria aquele tempo por essa geração mimizenta e chata de hoje. infelizmente assassinaram a boa música, ViVa os anos 80!!!

[@andersonnatal6198]

@@FOREVERYOUNG-kp3cg incrível essa música ao vivo no Live aid, e o Ultravox cantando Viena...meu Deus, só escuto as duas nesse show. E a parte do Queen é de cair lagrimas, e a voz do Tony Hadley ao vivo e simplesmente perfeita

[@FOREVERYOUNG-kp3cg]

@@andersonnatal6198 Duas bandas que amo também, Queen e Ultravox, também chego a me emocionar, agora! o que me faz cair lágrimas de verdade é a galera juntos, inclusive ao ver os que ja partiram cantando: Do They Know Its Christmas time. Bons tempos! Parabéns pelo finíssimo gosto musical !!

[@stephencraig5938]

I saw him live with my friend, we were 17, the rest of the crowd were 14 year old girls ..

[@pauloaraujo3824]

Never more the world will see anything like live aid

[@wenla4208]

Omg i love this so much

[@markalainjasa6167]

Even Though He Was Shy, it was still a great performance

[@thethailandtravellers]

Such a precious and delicate performance!❤

[@ukadventures5660]

He once played the Cats Whiskers nightclub in Burnley in the summer of 1984, when ‘I won’t let the sun go down on me’ was in the charts. Great days

[@Mushy72]

A epically Rare unique masterpiece

[@carmencanete6103]

Te amoooooo hermoso .!!❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼💪🥰 cuánto recuerdos hermosos ❤️❤️ 🙏🏼 gracias mi corazón ❤️ imposible olvidar o mas bien prohibido olvidar .🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️💖♥️💓🌷☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@inacioandrade4867]

Uma geração onde as músicas são eternas...

[@philbuxton7354]

Kershaw is the modern day Bach. One of the best.

[@kathleencorson-lh3pz]

Nik Kershaw looks so young in 1985. I would have been about five years old in 1985 just starting primary school.

[@AlejandroOviedo-lb8il]

❤Mirtha soy de Asunción Paraguay mamá de Alejandro me encanta es jn genio😍✨👏💋💓👍💖🤗🌼😁😘🙏

[@azzabd5313]

this song is so special to me! ..more than just a riddle! 😁😁

[@thereseljunggren5746]

Wonderful thank you 🌹❤

[@michaelmurphy2330]

Nik and his band were really good at Live Aid and he's still a wonderful musician and a top songwriter, his great performance went somewhat under the radar also a mention for Howard Jones because it was just himself and the grand piano, which I think was Freddie's... Fantastic stuff.

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Fabulous work Nik. Fantastic event. Great moment in time. LIVE AID. Long live the channel & superb performances such as this one ⚘⚘⚘

[@simonandersen1974]

AWESOME TRACK/SONG!!🔊🎵🎶🎵🤗🎶☺️❤️❤️🤙🏻😎

[@VovaHook]

Great performance!

[@zJoriz]

Massive props for actually playing and singing live. From what I've seen of the Eighties, that was not a given at all.

[@robinkershaw]

Fantastic song and performance. Good surname as well.

[@FreddieFreethinking]

This Is A Music Masterpiece.

[@danilos.dasilva7547]

Essa música é demais adoro !! Ano 1985 época inesquecível

[@ThereseLjunggren-nc5pw]

My favorite ❤

[@rungassamydonovan47]

Thank you very much

[@rimmel65]

Thanks 80’s !!!

[@Lune229]

Très bien les années 80 merci beaucoup ! Bises katy french ! 👍👍💚⛱🏝😘

[@evangelistaferreira2989]

Muito bom, faltava essa música.

[@YouTearMyHeart]

Damn, that man was a great live artist too! =O I hope he's still alive today

[@jonesroberts3640]

He is alive today Nick Kershaw just less hair.

[@leandroassirelli9484]

His alive, he'll be 66 in 2 days (Today, when I write this comment is February 28th) His birthday is March 1st, 1958

[@AC.198]

Mullets everywhere.

[@deeppurplefan9648]

Rather that than having bunch of teenager performers dressing like they mistook a concert for a comic convention.

[@brokl26]

Mullets of the world united for a cause.

[@simonandersen1974]

MULLETS RULES!!! 😎🤙🏻

[@nickhowell5219]

​@@deeppurplefan9648aza

[@prikershaw27]

lol

[@tiagocampos4279]

I was born on this day

[@arrivalofdoom7449]

My FAVORITE Nik Track back in the day , so to Not Have it on the Dvd was a bit gutting. Well done THIS CHANNEL - and a sumptuous mix of audio. Love 💕💕

[@teddystacker]

Thank you for yet another "Missing" performance , looking forward to the many others inc. Sade's Two. One day , it would be truly great to see a Ai Up-scaled Blue ray release of the FULL concert. My money is waiting..and so is many other peoples..

[@Jay-rb7sz]

Same

[@babagandu]

4k Blu-ray

[@jnnx]

That’s not how Ai works…

[@teddystacker]

@@jnnx Presume you have not used the Topaz software and have seen the amazing results its producing on older footage?

[@randallmmedia9628]

SOLD! I'd probably buy several to give out as gifts as well.

[@hofmanish]

very very good performance this was, great sound balance too

[@nevenmilijic5539]

Was just yesterday looking for this particular performance! And found only the really bad quality one, so this, being uploaded just hours afterwards, seems like ordered just for me :P

[@MP-kv3fo]

Omg love the voice

[@lucianodestro2790]

Musica !!!!! Arrangiamenti e parole d'altri tempi. Grande Artista, grande Band !!!!!!

[@jklam00]

👍 a haunting tune! I love it!

[@tomasztarkowski3505]

I was waiting to see this perform on this channel for such a great quality for so long time, Thanks! Carry on

[@bart_is_online69]

What a great performance.