Renaissance - Northern Lights

I made this video of the complete song (including intro and fade out) by combining a Top of the Pops performance and the promotional movie. Enjoy!

[@stevedunningduckinggiraffe6296]

Annie Haslam's voice is sheer perfection, loved this son for over 40 years...

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

I'd be very surprised if Mike Oldfield never asked Renaissance singer Annie Haslam to work with him on one of his own projects, as I'm convinced that they would definitely complement each other and their styles would blend tigether perfectly. The late, great Judith Durham did an excellent cover version of it in 1997 and it is also available to view on KZbin. A timeless, evergreen classic.

[@buellosaurusrex4046]

Nothing short of a masterpiece. Annie has to be one of the best female vocalists...ever.

[@michaelbrenton4380]

One of the best songs ever written by Renaissance

[@janvandaele8283]

I'm in love with this song.....and Annie of course..... ...

[@yargundev9772]

I hope she has found him. What a journey.

[@purplegothicqueen]

Northern Lights was on the news today so I remembered this song.

[@jamesmcartney1337]

That song stirs me like a bypass to the emotion.the northern lights in itself gives the mind a focus ...high powered song.

[@reubencondie1761]

This has got to be one of the most perfectly performed, produced and presented records of all time. It's unique sound and melody bring back memories of 1978. I never tire of listening to it and, when I worked in nightclubs, often played it as one of the last records. There are no enough superlatives to describe this recording. Remarkable, extraordinary, staggering, incredible, impressive, outstanding, amazing, astonishing, marvellous, phenomenal, splendid, imposing, breathtaking, fabulous, fantastic and tremendous are only a few that ALMOST describe it.

[@stevekearsey79]

2023 and this is still such a melodic song, Annie is just stunning, this is in my top 10 of all time ..

[@melaniekendall4903]

Who's Annie?

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

@@melaniekendall4903 She's the lead singer of Renaissance. That's her in the clip.

[@melaniekendall4903]

@@stephenalanmoore7278 I thought it was Judith Durham?

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

@@melaniekendall4903 No. Judith Durham was a lot smaller and had dark brown hair. In fact, I think Annie Haslam looks far more like UK TV presenter Kata Garraway. A real doppleganger. Incidentally, Judith Durham did an excellent cover version of the song way back in 1997. Her version is also available to view on KZbin, if you are interested.

[@melaniekendall4903]

@@stephenalanmoore7278 so who is she

[@LULUBELLEIII]

Thanks to the TOTP repeats on BBC4, I was able to pinpoint the exact moment my music obsession began - July 1978, when this and "Run For Home" by Lindisfarne were on the same show.

[@pearceclayton5232]

Takes me back to those wonderful 70s.

[@stevenlow7211]

I really don't know why, but the 1970s music was amazing. This track was truly awesome. I often was late for my paper round if this was on the radio before I left.

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

So unlike Annie Haslam, you had to work on your delivery, then?

[@petercampbell4783]

Just so evocative, what a stunning song this was….still is!

[@owainglyndwr16]

This was playing in a Supermarket in Ireland this afternoon. It took me right back to when I was thirteen. We had a lot more freedom way back in the 70's in the UK. Who remembers when you could buy an Air Rifle from a Kays Catalogue? How times have changed.

[@711honved]

As a teenager i would walk through the streets with my air rifle. If I did that today I'd have a helicopter flying overhead & a police armed response unit yelling at me to lay down! Yes, times have changed!

[@thegreenmage6956]

The imported people living here now can’t be trusted like the natives used to be, and they know that.

[@Scott-up3bq]

Aye very good

[@mikelyons6452]

One of the most little known but brilliant bands. Annie is the genuine article Prog Rock Godess....

[@dickdastardly5534]

This song is timeless and one of my all time favourites😁 thank you for posting this, I would love to see Renaissance live if their still going❤️

[@arndmarx480]

It reminds me on my first stay in England,, Summer 1978.

[@andrewshaw8396]

That is fabulous. Absolute magic. Jon Camp should be way better known as a bass player. He 's up there with Squire, Entwhistle and Lee without a doubt. And what a tone. Cheers.

[@philiprhodes5537]

Wow a timeless classic with some fond memories of better times and annie has a beautifull vocal range that’s absolutely faultless...stunning looks too nothing plastic about her

[@mikeat53]

And not a Tramp Stamp (tattoo!) to be found on her 😍👍

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

She looks the image of UK TV presenter Kate Garraway. I wonder if they are related?

[@dantombs5836]

Annie was brilliant and beautiful ❤

[@hdew77]

A ridiculously good song. Thanks for the video, well done.

[@michaelmakes1225]

I don't care that it's lipsync, that record is amazing after all these years...

[@dampergoldenrod4156]

thankfully this was video recorded to see what the artist looked like both then and now.

[@dantombs5836]

She is so pretty.. Love her

[@pbworld7858]

I remember this song as it was included in '20 Rock Legends' released round about that time and which my sister had bought. It had other songs by other artists such as Cold as Ice, Evil Woman. I've always loved this song which seems to be a mix of pop, rock and folk.

[@aragorn1959]

Always reminds me of my summer holiday in Greece 1978. Wonderful Annie Haslam 💖💖

[@drewandfrank]

MAGNIFICENT!!! LOVE THIS SONG!! Thank you!@

[@garryleeks4848]

Great song from the 70s 👍

[@neilbradford9752]

First heard this around 1976 on a bbc in concert program, still love it 😍

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

1978.

[@davidbillyard6629]

From the time when my dad drove a ford cortina.

[@scottprather5645]

I love Annie such a beautiful voice and so cute!!

[@augustosposaro713]

La mujer de voz celestial.Su canto es perfecto,su tono...no escuché nunca algo igual

[@flyingtiger2212]

precious...timeless...left breathless

[@Scott-up3bq]

Sold 200,000 copies and only got to number 10.mindboggling

[@jeremymichelson7602]

Well done ! It brings back good memories

[@aspirinsnow]

この曲を44年前の高校2年のときに友人の家で初めて聴いて衝撃が走りました。

[@dantombs5836]

She was so beautiful

[@davidlegat4620]

OMG what a voice annie haslam had what a beautifully sung song it always reminds me of the time i was leaving school about to go out into the big wide world which was in peacetime then and how its changed for the worse now its amazing how music creates memories they dont make music like this anymore what a shame it was a classic in its day

[@battywattywoo]

A beautiful song, and a gorgeous gown!

[@StephenSmithMusic]

What a great song! Thank you for wonderful video you put together, so well done.

[@colin_d_smith]

You're very welcome, Stephen. Thank you!

[@johnharkness2342]

Remember this as a 13yr old magic

[@eisbaerbel]

Great work, thanks. Renaissance were great music and great musicians. This song was in the British charts in 1978, not my favourite but at least a commercial success for the band. Listen to Opening out, Song for a dreamer and A song for all seasons (title track) from the same album. These belong to their real œvre...

[@giuseppestella535]

Fantastic Annie! Wonderful voice! I like as she moves!

[@andyp5104]

My favourite tune at the time, the lyrics are so well crafted - ".. in morning dreams I take your hand you walk with me", what could convey the aching miss of a lover more..

[@darklight6931]

Imagine this angelic voice dueting with Judie Tzuke. That would be the nearest thing to perfection 😀

[@train4905]

Awsome😊

[@wagnerpiccinin7111]

Awesome 🎵

[@colin_d_smith]

Thanks for the comments, and you're very welcome! :) For my own story with this song along with some play-along tips (lead sheet and music), see my blog: www.colindsmith.com/blog/2015/03/09/music-monday-northern-lights/

[@HarryStoneDotCom]

Thank you so much, Colin, for both the best version of this on You Tube, and for your wonderful blog about this fantastic song.

[@dreamyblue44]

Lovely video for this classic song, many thanks! :)

[@100andynash]

Great work!

[@user-rs6qt8zu1s]

我が人生最高の1曲❤❤❤❤❤

[@markmurray9986]

Best of the classic s

[@philipbarker1896]

wonderful song superbly performed

[@fmtfniuprog8029]

On Studio!

[@josephjones4968]

Annie Haslam is the most beautiful, most talented vocalist to ever have existed. I love her with all my heart!

[@CaseyVan]

Thanks I was looking for a hi fi version.

[@Paulosantos-sb7es]

My God I am in love for Annie

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

We'd play this heading back to port, reduce hardened matelots to tears!

[@ianholmes3761]

Lovely song better than the 💩 today

[@brendasmith1634]

Allways 1 of those songs I loved but took me over 20 years to find out who it was, ide never heard it being announced, usually at work grrr

[@firstfreonwarrior]

From a better less hate filled time.

[@michaelcurran2228]

The new ABBA have to have a go at doing this. It could bring back the old ABBA from the past to the present, and the present needs it so badly!

[@stephenbuffery180]

Quality

[@massimomarchesin8708]

Una grande band come loro o anche altri grandi nomi del progressive rock secondo me NON dovevano esibirsi in PLAYBACK ma rigorosamente LIVE !!!!!! Purtroppo questi grandi musicisti se andavano ad esibirsi in TV dovevano accettare queste regole , comunque non tutti i programmi Televisivi imponevano il PLAYBACK c'era anche chi faceva esibire LIVE . Northern Lights è del 1978 quindi vicino agli anni 80 ed il trend degli anni 80 era quello dell'esibizione in PLAYBACK e NON live !!!!! Ma ripeto le bands come i Renaissance formata da grandi musicisti avrebbero dovuto esibirsi dal vivo !!!!!!

[@kamaraayouba7452]

100%

[@dampergoldenrod4156]

this song is 45 years old in 2023. this song was never aired in 1978 but low class pollution like billy joel and the blues brothers soul man was played non stop. the freaks without any talent always get the most radio play.

[@geoffreyprice5807]

Portadown 1978❤😂

[@dantombs5836]

Omg love this song .....why do I find it so medevil ?

[@Scott-up3bq]

Think you need little english brush 🖌️ up

[@mikeat53]

Warley Hospital Social Club dukebox 1978.🍻🍻🍻🕺💃🍻🥰👫

[@antonioordanichamorro6661]

Annie Haslam vóz fastástica.

[@jphilli7929]

Camp on.bass

[@Scott-up3bq]

Great bassist

[@andshits]

Song about her boyfriend at the time Roy Wood.

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

I never knew that. Did he wish it could be Christmas everyday because he liked to see his baby jive?

[@marcoalozano7757]

Yo digo hola to the Other side future world.🌍🌏🌎

[@michaelcurran2228]

Why dont ABBA have a go at this as they are back together again? This sounds a little like ABBA.

[@stephenalanmoore7278]

The late, great Seekers lead singer Judith Durham also did a really good version of it in 1997.

[@dantombs5836]

Looking at my comments I think I have a infaactuation ..sorry