Prefab Sprout - Johnny Johnny

Music video by Prefab Sprout performing Johnny Johnny. (C) 1999 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) LIMITED

[@mkb600]

2023 and still listening to this gorgeous band. Anyone else?

[@robertoximenes7776]

Sim

[@michaelhiggins4104]

Still listening 1/2/2024 at 11.30. Still love it.💚⚪🧡

[@nobbilc1440]

Feb 2024 baby!

[@MariaM-yo6gz]

2024!

[@lordrex71]

they DO NOT make pop records like this anymore

[@solopaola]

How I got this tape in 1985: I was in high school, and one day I was surprised to find a cassette Sellotaped to the bottom of my desk in class. There was a note: "Hi, random person who will sit in this class after me! I think this album is amazing, so take it and enjoy!". I was 15, so BANG!!!!! - mind blown by the whole thing. Never dared to ask who did it.

[@TheMusikryder]

Nice! Do you still have it? Or did you tape it and pass it on to the next young lad?

[@Happyheretic2308]

Gorgeous

[@jamesdeansghost5531]

How I heard this tape in 1985... Up until I graduated from high school I lived in a small town with not much to do but escape the doldrums through music. Only two radio stations in town, one was typical cookie cutter top 40 and the other was assembly line country. As a product of my environment (friends, peers) I grew up only knowing heavy metal and not much else. I would often go to the local library and pick through their music cassettes (early to mid 80s) to search for artists I had never heard of. It was through this ritual that I discovered Kate Bush "Hounds Of Love", Shriekback "Oil & Gold", King Sunny Ade "Synchro System", The Chameleons "Script Of The Bridge" and of course "Two Wheels Good". THAT event changed how I listened to music.

[@JudgeHill]

jamesdeansghost55 I discovered music at the library too

[@DaMickster]

Brilliant!

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

One of the greatest albums of all time ... Seriously!

[@davidcopson5800]

You're seriously right.

[@BB-nb6in]

AGREED!

[@realest_shirts]

Yeah it is.. no small part due to Thomas Dolby... but the songs are what make it special.

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

@@realest_shirts Indeed!

[@BlueHopi144]

@@realest_shirts did Thomas Dolby produce it ?

[@andrewhulson4000]

A totally underrated band. Love their music...

[@paolomassimoredaelli]

Steve McQueen is one of the best album of the 80s🎹🎹🎼🎼❤️❤️. It still in my vinyl collection.

[@twocents4912]

Prefab was overlooked in the 80s. Great music! Glad I found them.

[@pixelfrenzy]

Nine albums in the top 40 and one single in the top 10... they were noticed. Underrated maybe.

[@sharonhill349]

Your life’s not complete until your hearts missed a beat..so true ❤

[@frenchjipouillefrance2653]

What I can I say...I'm 51 years old and can't stop listening Prefab Sprout. Incredible artist, sweet music. You can't imagine that the Prout's albums are more than 30 years...Nothing compares to Paddy's band. Amazing....

[@xTrengo]

give the waterboys a try?

[@edvardcouto9510]

Me too

[@JM800]

The whole of the moon, fine song. But PS hits me in a way, the way that keeps me listening for decades.

[@richardjohncrouch7617]

One of those albums that you almost dare not listen to or you'll break into tears. Johnny, when love breaks down, bonny, appetite.. beautiful and tragic. Genius

[@magorzatagiza1728]

Im 35 and I fully agree with you - their music makes me feel super relaxed :)

[@antoniocarreira9743]

The bass line is fantastic.

[@louise_rose]

Yes, and so is the bridge transition to the third verse at 2:12-2:25. Such a beautifully shaped bit - it's midway through the song, and the cool thing about the following verse is that the song acknowledges *both* of them - neither of the two is reduced to a projection surface for the desires of the other one, they are both fully visible in the lyrics.

[@mrsxierox9]

My mum would play this album all the time when I was little. One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[@nikkifoxmaxwell7405]

Totally love this ! So beautiful and takes me back to when i was young! Hope there are others out there that love this band?

[@MrGravito]

incredible voice !

[@darrenlincoln9016]

Hey Nikki - appreciate this is 2 years too late. But you are lady of much beauty & sophistication

[@craigcullen28]

@@darrenlincoln9016 agreed mate! - haven't heard this for years then it popped into my head at work today.. Good 🎶 is never forgotten.

[@serkering8712]

One of the best band ever

[@laurencecooper7476]

I do but only recently discovered them they are fantastic:):)

[@johncrimmins6314]

Life’s not complete till you hear this perfect pop.

[@gonzalosotomayor6187]

Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat And you'll never make it up, or turn back the clock😪

[@genki2genki]

Paddy's repeating of "no you won't" is just one of the many near uncountable golden elements of this tune.

[@waterstreet68]

genki2genki I was going to write the exact same comment. Heartbreakingly gorgeous.

[@renatomartinez5708]

The best part for sure

[@6581punk]

It's a really different and usual song that breaks the traditional song structure.

[@belenmarinez8616]

That line, moves me so deeply.😔 Perfect.

[@sswwwaaann]

chills

[@daleywhaley]

I'm falling in love with this band all over again

[@qwj68boots]

One could never fall out of live. But watch it after Jordan: The Comeback...

[@raconteurtroubadour]

One of the greatest bands of the eighties, faultless production, smooth as silk, sheer quality!! 🎶🎸👍

[@thomasconway631]

Smooth as Silk...Well said !!

[@valeriesaint-jalmes8460]

Totalement 😊

[@adriannagrzesiczak2131]

this band is extremly underrated ...

[@manohdautzenberg6301]

65 years young and still listening such great music

[@JolPil]

80s youth, teenager rainy days when I listened to prefab sprout, dreaming of love and the future... and here it is the future, and prefab sprout is still the soundtrack of my life, oh the memories!

[@JustMe-xz2ls]

The future came and it just wasn't as magical or as mysterious or as cinematic as I had imagined it. Back then. In 1986. At 14....yet! When I hear this organic, real, intelligent popmusic, from a better time, when young kids still had attention spans, taste (and discernible IQ's) I realise how lucky I was to be young then. SO here we are. All of a sudden I'm aware of my own aging. And The music? Are you kidding! It sounds even better now. Better than ever.

[@peterrothe1556]

@@JustMe-xz2ls did u buy Jordan. That made it all worthwhile. Keep the faith.

[@bernardbaker6803]

What a sad thought.......

[@Kenistyless]

@@JustMe-xz2ls " So here we are..."...l SOooo get That; it's Scary: Very...

[@MD-kg1kq]

I confirm that people born in the 60s were teenagers in the 70s, the 20s in the 80s and the 30s in the 90s. Born with 3 decades of beautiful and better music. And no one can take this away from us, because we've been there, isn't that great!

[@Kenistyless]

Yes it is Darlin'; just Wonderful!!!

[@Parloscope]

The 80's - It was like Prefab Sprout were beamed down from another planet, beautiful, heartbreaking and super melodic most underrated band of all time

[@rupertross-macdonald7750]

To 80s ears this had the veneer of a smooth pop single...in fact it is one of the most sophisticated bits of contemporary music writing I've ever heard. Said 35 years after first buying the album.

[@wizzyou7663]

Chanson atypique et intense. Prefab Sprout avait vraiment une couleur musicale qui n'appartient qu'à ce groupe.

[@rachelcaullay172]

I have fallen in love with this song all over again in 2019

[@pascalmessaoud4893]

So beautiful.

[@denzil4]

Best song of the 80's in my opinion

[@qwj68boots]

I'll never stop loving it. It soothes the soul. Where did we go wrong as we'll never hear the likes of them again? Only 51 and forever listening to the past. "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio, a nation turns it lonely eyes to you."

[@claudinetalens7783]

Prefab sprout❤️ de bon souvenirs ! Super groupe👍

[@michelledin2230]

Their songs are so beautiful, emotional, satisfying and this one's typically brilliant👏❤️👌. I can't believe that weren't and aren't huge, more like hugely underrated!

[@akiretto]

The music you listened when you was a teenager will carry forever in your heart.

[@jafafa]

They never broke through in the US... but I never listened to radio and instead bought anything I could get my hands on. When my friends and family heard me playing this CD over and over they all thought I was really weird. Same with Talk Talk, Ryuichi Sakamoto, etc. There was some great stuff coming out then and most people in the US missed it, listening to "We Built This City On Rock and Roll" and crap like that instead.

[@brandonedgerarities1462]

Jafafa Hots love prefab sprout and 'we built this city'. btw the album version of this is longer and better.

[@tommythevenot7617]

+Jafafa Hots not me. I didn't miss out on this, fortunately. great band, great songs, my older brother told me to check them out, I did and loved them. so poignant, when he says "youll never make it up, or turn back the clock. no, you wont. no you wont."

[@BlueHopi144]

+Jafafa Hots they were many great Uk bands at the time : The Cure , Joe jackson , .......

[@kennethjaworski1526]

+Jafafa Hots Jafafa Hots? Sounds like a Buffalo connection to me?! You were not alone, my friend. I too filled countless hours with Prefab, Japan, David Sylvian, Ryuichi, YMO, Talk Talk, OMD, Durutti Column, etc... etc... Of course, if you were from Buffalo you certainly would have listened to CFNY out of Toronto... Thank goodness I had a friend circle that all listened to, collected and talked about this music- without question, the best decade for music innovation and quality.

[@jafafa]

Kenneth Jaworski During a brief window around 1982 there was WZIR.

[@Crazdcorgi]

I am still listening to this band!!!!!

[@LICLAURAFERNANDEZ]

I ♥ this song Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat And you'll never make it up, or turn back the clock

[@bradharri]

Great track

[@gaw67]

No you won't! 💔

[@walterzeballos4292]

Awwww memories memories..... we are not the same.... the world is not the same....

[@Sandrinhamartins]

Don't know why it wasn't a hit. I found it by chance and absolutely love it now!!! greetings from Mexico!!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Greetings from Croatia! 🙋‍♂️

[@louise_rose]

It was a hit in their native Britain, but they never had the recognition they deserved in the US. Someone said in a comment here on YT that Paddy McAloon "is ambivalent about fame itself" and I think that's true - he wasn't really willing to subordinate everything else to becoming a big pop star, he is a really private person in many ways.

[@simoncudicio5538]

Still sounds wonderful! One of Britain's greatest songwriters!

[@duanedurkan3565]

Prefab Sprout are the best band of all time. Absolutely brilliant. Their music has brought me incalculable enjoyment.

[@duanedurkan3565]

I agree with you. I'm disappointed I'm too young to have heard them in their prime. In my eyes nobody is better. Neill Finn would give it a good shot though. Geniuses of epic proportions

[@JordoF6]

Seriously one of the most underated bands.

[@sharonhill349]

Totally agree

[@dickdiver9614]

@sharonhill349 That's why their fans cherish them even more, Sharon 🙂.

[@djdoolittle1315]

Songwriter masterclass 💙🎼

[@tattskink9589]

Dj Doolittle agree! He wrote when love breaks down when he was 16

[@sand951]

Such a great memories....what a Band . Paddy & tye other guys are genius

[@TheDavihoff]

Me siento tan orgulloso y privilegiado de haber pertenecido a los jóvenes de los 80 que vivimos nuestra juventud con esta música de fondo!!!

[@anibalacosta1157]

Geniooi!!!💪💪💪

[@MD-kg1kq]

A beauty of a song. Also a brilliant group, with thoughtful lyrics. And no life, no one's life is complete, till a heartbeat is missed.

[@lamodernista]

"Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat..."❤️

[@waynewales6931]

Quite possibly the greatest collection of songs from one group... thanks for the memories, a lifetime ago............

[@sadymaher969]

Any album by Prefab Sprout i'll buy, no matter what the critics say, they're that good ! PEFECT POP Music.

[@robertoperez132]

lejos en el tiempo los escuche por primera vez en los 80' a traves de un pequeño radio en la frecuencia 98.5 ancasti Catamarca y simplemente fue la mejor parte de mi vida como adolecente 30 años despues los sigo escuchando y cada vez que lo hago se me paraliza el corazon.. Son unos genios y exquisito gusto musical.

[@anibalacosta1157]

Grande amigo . Cuando quieras nos juntamos a recordar esta Gradiosa epoca . Esty en belen catamarca.

[@renatomartinez5708]

En Chile su tema más conocido fue Cars and Girls, y If you don't love me. Siempre me gustó este grupo y recuerdo que la tercera canción de ellos que conocí fue ésta. Gracias a un hermano menor que trajo a casa un viejo cassette promocional de pop inglés. Era 1992 aproximadamente pero el cassette era del 85 y ahí estaban los Prefab Sprout. Qué agradable sorpresa. Años después compré la recopilación de grandes exitos y como siempre estaban arrumbados en un rincón casi perdido de la disqueria. Cuando fui al mesón y le pedí al vendedor estos tres temas antes mesionados y los puso en el reproductor de la tienda me miró con cara de sorprendido y me dijo:"...y éste es el grupo!..." Inmediatamente la gente que estaba comprando vino a preguntar al mesón. Se los llevaron todos. Éste gran grupo nunca fue bien promocionado, por eso no fueron más famosos. Hoy en día está considerado dentro de la trilogía de grupos underrated de gran calidad que no tuvieron la fama que merecían junto a Deacon Blue y China Crisis. Saludos estimados.

[@rudyzk]

En Peru the Steve McQueen album fue elegido el mejor album de los 80's

[@robertoperez132]

@@anibalacosta1157 que hermoso Belen!!

[@michauxdidier2871]

😉 J'aurais aimé m'appeler ''Johnny"... tellement cette chanson est pleine d'émotions

[@peachonabeachmusic]

Paddy's songwriting and Dolby's production are stellar. I am guilty of not paying much attention to them back in '85, but delighted to have discovered this outstanding track and other timeless gems (especially Bonny).

[@byglenn]

Just awesome...what a songwriter......some amazing music in the 80s. Tinseltown in the rain is another great song I can't stop listening to by Blue Nile

[@tattskink9589]

glenn boland boland indeed he wrote when love breaks down when he was just 16

[@JustMe-xz2ls]

That's one of the most brilliant songs ever written. And do you know I-Level? "Our Song". And "In The Sand".

[@davidcopson5800]

Hats off to you for liking The Blue Nile.

[@JudgeHill]

God I love this song. And so many others from the Sprout.

[@jamesmullins7617]

I would consider myself so lucky to be a teenager in the 80's songs i had forgotten about and then realise so many years later through youtube how fantastic they were and still are.

[@dav01kar]

Memories am crying now.!!

[@paultompkins9373]

I hear you, the memories .

[@6lr6ak6]

Paul Tompkins don't cry. 80s wa brill.

[@neilmahar7107]

I never heard them when they came out. It was like why did I never hear of these guys.

[@johnjames1303]

Never realised how great this band was . every song brings back a memory

[@Fireneedsair]

my god this song and album are still fresh and timeless. bonny is my favorite. thx paddy!!

[@juanayala1277]

Thanks for your magic in the more deep moments....

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

The difference between Prefab Sprout and other bands was the songs were slick with great arrangements like Steely Dan.

[@rikimarudonchelie1229]

my 80s high school go to new wave bands - never fails to complete my day luv their sounds along with THE ADVENTURES.

[@rossobolo]

Prefab Sprout was in the business of "let's make the perfect pop song/recording that simultaneously calls into question every pop trope repeated ad nauseum". Without a doubt the smartest (sometimes too much for their own good) pop band that actually WANTED to be a pop band. It's a good thing our friends in the UK helped them survive long enough to make so many glorious records. Across the pond wasn't ready for meta-pop. And now nowhere will probably ever be. Not like they could do it.

[@davidcopson5800]

Top comment. Somethings do hurt more than cars and girls.

[@GiorniVenibato]

The beautiful sound of this song bring back so many memories... its beyond words

[@jofraos]

Gracias al legado musical y cultural de los Prefab Sprout durante la década de los 80´s y 90´s ¿ Qué será de cada uno de sus integrantes? Ojalá estén todos muy bien y algún día vuelvan a editar un nuevo Disco. Desde Santiago de Chile uno de sus Fans número uno... Adios...

[@lifesamiracle]

Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat and you'll never make it up or turn back the clock. I'm from the musical 60's and 70's and thought I have heard it all----was to busy raising a family in the 80's and 90's and missed this legend. Two thumbs up for Paddy and prefab Sprout !

[@wenceslaoperez4711]

¡Son bonitos sonidos! En 1985, cuando la escuché por primera vez me dije: "si una canción me recordara mi adolescencia, sería esta"... ¡no me equivoqué!... hasta trae a mi memoria el contexto de ese momento... sencillamente, ¡Genial!💖👏👏👏

[@steviewonder2049]

love this song....because its bloody brilliant

[@RobertPointer-nb9ot]

First heard this superb album back in 85! Who I was with, and where I was going! Old Trafford Night game( Following Chelsea back then, hate football now) Mates car, brilliant memories, always stay with me. Given up on the football, but definitely not that masterpiece album, Steve Mcqueen!!

[@NDR-hn3ue]

*Prefab Sprout perhaps the most UNDERRATED band over the last 35 years*

[@sofiemartini447]

C'est juste une des plus belles chansons de ma jeunesse !

[@craiglynch8458]

I remember seeing Prefab Sprout in the Point Depot, on Jordan the Comeback Tour. I had just split up with my girlfriend and when they played this song, tears started to bucket from my eyes. Ahh Cest La Vie.

[@melissanelson399]

Wow! Dublin right! That must of been amazing. Jordan the Comeback was the soundtrack to my teenage years... I only have to hear an opening chord and I'm in floods! I saw Transvision Vamp, INXS, U2, Lenny Kavitz, Bjork, Oasis, Tears for Fears, Petshop Boys, The The, Depech Mode and Juilo Iglesias in the Point Depot! Great times. I hope your heart has mended... at least you had one. Melissa in Dublin x

[@bernardbaker6803]

They were even worse live. Every song sounded ambiguous - that's why they avoided playing live coz they got such bad reviews........

[@lya3823]

@@bernardbaker6803 What do you mean "even worse" ?

[@dickdiver9614]

@@lya3823 He's a prize prick, that's why. He's slated the band on here numerous times. No one asked him to listen, not that it would make any difference as he's a philistine and a muppet.

[@stuartallsop4188]

absolute classic

[@happyblabla7533]

love this song ! love Prefab sprout for ever

[@יצחקחסקל]

The sound that echoed in the hall of the student dormitory on long nights of loneliness, difficulty and hope…

[@fakewindow3446]

Best song ever written.

[@christianmorris8065]

Everything about Prefab Sprout is so understated in comparison to how excellent they were at everything. Sublime

[@samanthachoi6790]

beautiful and moving song, love Paddy's raw and emotional performance.

[@angelasmithson5291]

Love this group and song!! Here are the songwords for you - OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY There is a time for tears OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY You might well make it better OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY You might well make it worse OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY I advise you to forget her HOOH JOHNNY JOHNNY HOOH You're not the first though it hurts JOHNNY HOOH What are you 21 OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY Why don't you give it a rest OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY The world is a million OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY There can be no contest HOOH JOHNNY JOHNNY HOOH Life's not complete Till your heart's skipped a beat And you'll never make it up Or turn back the clock NO YOU WON'T Repeat twice JOHNNY JOHNNY HOOH OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY She is a person too OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY She has her own will OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY Why don't you join the foreign legion OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY JOHNNY You're still in love with Hayley Mills OHH JOHNNY JOHNNY HOOH Life's not complete till your heart's skipped a beat And you'll never make it up Or turn back the clock NO YOU WON'T NO YOU WON'T NOO YOU WON'T JOHNNY JOHNNY HOOH Prefab Sprout JOHNNY JOHNNY. 1999

[@Verboten-xn4rx]

Jeez what a f... of a song. Still kills.

[@ENLIGHTENMENTING]

An excellent theme from this great band. It remembers me the past.Thanks.

[@ValeriaPaliza]

AWESOME ! ! ! the perfect word for this song... I like his voice 😊

[@murmuriastella8535]

Un morceau intemporel de part ses sonorités...Une Merveille pour les oreilles et pour l'âme...

[@TranceofHaterd]

So Great these Great Songs.

[@tattskink9589]

A very underrated amazing group from the 1980s

[@cheofbowland]

Your life's not complete till your hearts missed a .....beat

[@gorillapancake]

+che williams One of my favourite lines, ever.

[@JudgeHill]

Fuck, we know that :)

[@tattskink9589]

For his age at the time he wrote some good lyrics he wrote when love breaks down when he was 16!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

This line is so strong, so deep... just perfect!! ❤️

[@cheofbowland]

@@gorillapancake Sticks in my head..70 now but i love playing their music,x

[@buxvan]

Steve McQueen. one of my top 10 albums (still have the vinyl copy I bought when it came out)

[@JM800]

Many eighties stations play songs, omitting these songs and leaving new generations ignorant of such beautiful music

[@JM800]

Thought by me, said by you, exactly

[@danielward7008]

Anyone can arrive here by doing a little digging 👍

[@patrickmaignan630]

Quand cet album est sorti j'avais 25 ans et j'ai écouté la cassette des centaines de fois dans la voiture. Un petit chef d'œuvre dont on ne se lasse jamais. Quel talent pady !

[@syncro66500]

in 1994 I'm submarine for Marine Française ... on my radio cassette, I often had your music on my ears ... alone under the sea ... far ... with melancholy ... a thousand thanks for those moments where today my memories are still there!

[@markroose8686]

This group epitomize the 80s. Brilliant.

[@bernardbaker6803]

yes it does.....shallow rubbish.....

[@dickdiver9614]

@@bernardbaker6803 You gobshite

[@lovelife4110]

Superb,superb,superb still superb.

[@sylvieasics6570]

Missing these guys so much.. ❤❤❤

[@jeanclaudevanderstraeten615]

Une claque quand j'étais jeune ..et toujours ..maintenant ..

[@ChunkyChest]

Nothing realer than this man..

[@Kenistyless]

Was in Limelight Night Club on Shaftesbury Av in London in 87 with a friend friend of mine...we were going out the door to Bar Sol in Covent Garden WHEN a tall Norwegian BOMBSHELL was coming the other way..." Hello"...we looked into each others eyes...After...in LOVE...She walks into my House with this album " Steve Mcqueen" under her Arm...Say no more...

[@gorillapancake]

Damn, I love the chorus.

[@lovetroublecat]

Beautiful song so emotional and one I can relate to

[@stevennorman3283]

Never get tired of playing this song, just wonderful and timeless. Thanks sprouties for this one and all the other great music you have given us.

[@NAIVADA]

pretty much the most beautifully heartbreaking heartbreak song~

[@philipmcmullan2516]

Excellent tune amongst many for prefab, beautiful baby

[@bradshrinkelstein904]

Top songwriter.

[@davewilson9738]

This album spawned 3 of my favourite songs, Bonny, Horsin' Around and Moving The River; what an album!

[@upstatenydude8322]

As the saying goes, 'better late than never'. Child of the 80's but never heard of this group at the time. I'd heard the name but couldn't name a song. I found them so many years later when someone said of one of my all time favorite bands, The Dream Academy, "they sound so much like Prefab Sprout". Searched them here and have loved them ever since.

[@Michael-TJ]

Sir Paddy McAloon - England's finest songwriter.

[@fbrieffies]

Brings back a lot of memories. Their music was just amazing, cleverly composed. But most of all...his voice. So smooth.

[@kinggreen5424]

Brings me to tears...

[@Happyheretic2308]

Always