Sting - Spread A Little Happiness

This song was featured over the closing credits of the movie "Brimstone and Treacle". If you've seen the film, the irony of this song is devastating. Sting actually does a pretty decent soft-shoe in this video (though as a dancer, he's no Kate Bush).
Update: Now with subtitled lyrics. You can select to have them translated into any language.

[@TomatoSoupful]

The angel Aziraphale's favourite song according to Neil Gaiman. What a splendid song! (Though I was SURE his favourite would have been Favourite Things from The Sound of Music)

[@rippingoffmyface]

😄

[@janelane1657]

No, the sound of music was recognized by both Crowley and Aziraphale as boring, they discussed it somewhere at the beginning of the book

[@lureed]

That’s Sandalphon’s favorite probably. Everyone knows all angels are suckers for musical theater.

[@cobblvpot]

THATS WHY IM HERE

[@mjirvineselby]

He doesn't like the sound of music, remember? 😁

[@kellabdjfoo]

This is aziraphale’s fav song I love this

[@postingoldtapes]

It's a song by Vivian Ellis (b. 1904, d. 1996) who wrote for the English theater in from the 1920s to the 1950s, gaining the most popularity in the 1940s. He wasn't recorded very much, so his songs were rarely played on the radio. There's loads of amazing music from every era.

[@fatbaby73]

Sting has one of the most unique and yet beautiful voices of all time. There could never be a voice that could even come close to copying his. Love this song, it is one of his hidden treasures

[@gordonmiles8155]

Wonderful Stings the best.🤗

[@napomania]

Ok. It's a cover from a 1920 musical..

[@WeaselKing1000]

@@napomania Indeed it is. Doesn't stop his particular vocals being a hidden treasure. @fatbaby73 never said anything about Sting writing the song.

[@Alienpubes]

Gotye but yeah I get your point

[@gnomely1]

You can't be most unique. You can only be unique.

[@ralphsmith3529]

Sting did a brilliant job in Brimstone and Treacle, and his music in that show, was even more memorable than the movie itself. Although he didn't write this track, it just sits so well in that film.

[@gan_edhen]

Brimstone & Treacle is fantastic, I love how they played this over the credits just after you sicked up into your lap.

[@paisleybabee]

I just sat there in shock tapping along ha ha!

[@kevanbrown7620]

Great performance. My late mother lived this song (and Sting), back in 1982. It's from Dennis Potter's Brimstone and Treacle. My father was a fan of Potter, that's how I came across this years ago. The Singing Detective was really weird, but strangely hypnotic. I meant to say my late mother loved this song.

[@ah1701]

Bloody hell - I haven't heard THIS song probably since about 1983!!!! But what a stomping tune! I see that it was made in to the UK charts in the top 40, but didn't do that well. Sting does a half-decent job of the dancing and he's voice is perfect for the song. Ah! Where have the years gone...

[@edwardhannaby]

Absolutely brill. Sting sings it just like a 30s singer .. Fantastic talent and fantasic song. I love The Police. I love Sting . And i love jazz Swing and old dance band music.. And im drinking a beer listening... What could be better? :)

[@s.laurenava7540]

Yes

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

Servicing sting while doing it?

[@flannerymonaghan-morris4825]

Well, this song actually WAS to an extent from the 30’s, given that it originally came out in 1929/1930.

[@bunchofrandomjunk]

Just found this through a BBC 2 programme tonight! This is good!

[@happy2listen1]

No one has mentioned Vivian Ellis who composed this GEM.

[@pipmcg1]

They did. 17 years ago.

[@essexpeter6116]

Indeed they did, has KZbin been around that long! Vivian Ellis also wrote the light classic Coronation Scott.

[@clivestanley66]

This is Stings first solo single though the 'Brimstone and Treacle' soundtrack features the Police. Good song.

[@florencegaye1391]

Absolutely fabulous! Oh, this brought back so many happy memories of hearing this song and seeing the video on Top of the Pops for the first time. I was young, lovely, full of hope and optimism, and still had my loved ones who since have passed away. Also, I don't remember Sting as being so beautiful (too young to notice or just too in love with David Bowie?) Thanks so much for uploading, I can't find the song to buy anywhere.

[@ChristineFisher123]

Only a rock star like Sting can get away with making a video like this...

[@BillGates999]

I don't know why but in this vid Sting reminds me of Malcolm McDowell in Clockwork Orange. Great!

[@ulfdanielsen6009]

The same undertone of having fun with pretending to be the good guy when you are in fact very sinister.

[@stevenq3840]

Ah yes, it does .

[@stephaniecouderc2010]

Totally. Only cutest.

[@paisleybabee]

Did you see the movie it's from? He very much seems to emulate Macdowell in it

[@fluorosco]

@@ulfdanielsen6009 Spot on . Bad guy singing an upbeat song... singin' in the rain

[@dannycostello1978]

Wonderful. People forget what a one off talent we have with Sting.

[@simonwarner6594]

It's a well presented and sung video. It does bring you back somehow to the golden age of the 30's. Sting is the only person who could do a vid like this. This song never gets played whenever anything to do with Sting is shown on TV. Lovely song. It gives you a warm feeling inside when you hear it.

[@maddieb2763]

Very appropriate on these Covid-19 days. Be positive.

[@silverpottedplant]

Aaaaaaaaaah!!! Finally I found it! I listened to this song years and years ago as a baby and I just couldn’t find it anymore; thank you for sharing this video!

[@dj_grim]

Song originally from 1929, from the musical Mr Cinders. Binnie Hale sang it (soprano). Somewhat different arrangment. She starts with the "I have a creed" section while Sting puts that in the middle of the song.

[@sastal]

Nothing like the creepy movie from which the song comes --Brimstone and Treacle. For some reason, when I was young they always played this song at Christmas time. I have associated it with the holidays ever since. A beautiful tune that I finally found on CD after 25 years!

[@monkeytrousers]

I've heard about this strange little clip for years. Thank you for posting it!

[@skelznap]

Fantastic video & song. Sting at his best here.

[@MIO_816]

This is rare footage of Sting actually being really cool.

[@anne40hillpiggott30]

Come on you're just another jealous old fool😂😂😂😂😂

[@koleberdinoch926]

You think this is cool? 🤣

[@caroleann_2142]

When we exited the Synchronicity Tour, they played this❤😊 What a Fab Concert in Atlantic City, NJ.🎉🎉🎉

[@yaronco5]

Simple and wonderful. sweet memory. I heard it on the radio today and I had to hear it again.

[@GerD444]

Don't know what made me look for this, glad I did! Put a smile on my face. Thanks for posting.

[@SlawomirWitrowy]

fantastic song - spectacular event of Sting - probably one of the best

[@sting8209]

I just bought this movie on DVD - and watching the closing credits and listening to the song - brings this vid to mind. It is a great video and I like Sting's last look at the end - reminds me of the movie.

[@admiralackbar9307]

Wonderful song, Sting really did a great version of this, sadly I've heard that Sting himself hates this video, I love the hateful look Sting gives the camera right at the end, showing the true nature of the Martin character he is playing.

[@monkey1poison]

My Granddad and I used to listen to the original version from Mr. Cinders, I'm really happy Sting did't kill it. lol It's really true to the original, little different but still good. :) Happy I found it.

[@timothyj1966]

this song is quite old… late twenties early thirties… as usual Sting does it justice.

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

Actually, it's from 1929 and it was written by musical comedy composer Vivian Ellis and writer Clifford Grey from their 1929 musical Mr. Cinders, to quote Wikipedia.

[@mal1gosia1]

Thanks, good to know, it's always nice to learn more ;))

[@GuitarandMusicInstitute]

Old is quite subjective…

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

@@GuitarandMusicInstitute It needs to be, with fossils like us.

[@dkelly8005]

Loved watching this film back in good old 1982 great song

[@timothyj1966]

haaaaaahaaaaa LOVE this song... sounds like an old War song....well done as usual Mr.Sting!

[@deanronson6331]

First popularized by Binney Hale. She was all the rage in the 20's and 30's, but probably nobody outside of Britain knows about her by now.

[@korystephens3318]

Mr Cinders

[@one2nd1]

As a police fan in the 80s I remember alot of fans became shy of this song, mind we still ran out and bought Brimstone & Treacle because there was additional Police material on it that we couldn't get anywhere else.

[@paisleybabee]

I was excited about it but more so about I Burn For You. I heard it would be heavy but saw the film when it came out 😳

[@adrianboyddodd8007]

who would ever have thought that sting would be perfect for such an old classic.

[@skelznap]

Great song, well sung & a brilliant video. Takes me back. I hadn't seen this since it aired on TOTP

[@andrewholt3849]

1982. My uncle has a Bang & Olufsen music centre and used to buy several singles and keep spares, which we found after he died. He also likes Typically Tropical ‘Going to Barbados’ 1975 and the Lowry 1978 song.

[@BettinaBalser]

Pretty much the hottest man alive, back in 1982-1984. He is so beautiful in Brimstone and Treacle, it's almost a little distracting. I mean, he is *beautiful* to look at.

[@jonathan_wasilewski]

I know I'm very late, but this is just so wholesome to listen to! Nice job, Sting!

[@TheSnowballEarth]

Ah, some cheerful words of encouragement from the na-baron Feyd Rautha himself. If I had had to cast a musical version of "A Clockwork Orange" back in the 80s, guess who I would've cast in the lead? (And anyone who said "Rod Stewart" knows what they can go do with themselves.)

[@st.patrickskilsythcontact6341]

This song has to be the Coronavirus uplifting song!!!

[@genebh1]

A great movie & a greater number. Sting is just a great Presence. I had this sounstrack on vinyl, not anymore.

[@martlad1]

Thanks for sharing...this song never fails to brighten me up!!..neat lyrics too!! :)

[@brianwilson8596]

Fantastic we should all spread a little happiness make you feel great Brian

[@dumdumboy7796]

Great, as usual. I recommend the movie "Brimstone and Treacle" to those who love stories with a bit of weirdness...and not even mentioning the fantastic duet Sting / Denholm Elliott.

[@jkgcproductions7589]

ever caught leolo?

[@rustykuntz94]

Reminds me of Freddie Mercury's period (mid 80s) when he began to tap dance & sing opera on Broadway (The Great Pretender).

[@steffanhoffmann1906]

Shut up about Mercury ffs

[@Bestman3007]

Endlich habe ich diesen Titel wiedergefunden. Ich habe ihn 25 Jahre nicht gehört, weil ich ihn nur aus dem Radio kannte und den Titel nicht wußte. Aber Gurgel sei Dank bin ich jetzt hier.

[@rhianjones1319]

“Spread a little happiness is one my favourite song by Sting “

[@scarletohara6263]

Mmmm dreamy...he was very good looking back in the day.

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

TY

[@LucaBlasi-rv5hw]

Sting uno dei più grandi in assoluto!

[@dpatterson1489]

A hidden gem!

[@Jolar70]

11 years later, does ANYone else have a higher res version of this? It was a hit single! Did only one person save it on VHS, 6-hour-speed?!!!

[@helenwalsh4507]

Sting is brilliant and gorgeous.

[@snifferdog]

Thanks for posting this. I'd vague memories of Sting singing this

[@joniroxanne96]

*Baby!Bee* is *so adorable* and *cute* in this music video! 😄 🤗 😙 🐝

[@davidbspamboy]

When I saw the police on the "Ghost" tour they played this song over the PA after the band did their final encore. I could tell it was Sting, but I had no idea where it was from until I later saw the movie and the promo clip.

[@Konsker]

love the song

[@YeshuaKingsKid]

Marvelous! And thanks all your posters who have provided deeper insight into this vid...it is cool!

[@postingoldtapes]

Glad to have made it available.

[@AlexaOrchid]

Something truly unique to me. Thank you!

[@jilligain3409]

I love this so much!

[@robduffy9879]

Like a fine wine, Sting gets better with time! Yo!

[@samuelreid6030]

Sting is so cheesy he's emetic ...made his casting so absolutely perfect for this role in Brimstone and Treacle, genius on the part of Dennis Potter

[@JohnnyBeane]

This is from the Brimstone & Treacle movie soundtrack. 1982. Very cool to see this! JB

[@doctone]

Awesome! Thanks for posting this:)

[@byheavenlyhosts]

I love this...it is delightful!!!

[@geoffjoffy]

Haven't heard this for years and years. But it was played on Boom Radio yesterday. So I came here to revisit the video.

[@r1madbrit]

This song is a life philosophy.

[@lisalynnemaloney]

Finally! I've waited to see this video for a long, long time. Thank You!!!

[@troypage5994]

Love this song!

[@postingoldtapes]

He really was quite good in the film. His acting career never really took off though.

[@twilightolga8958]

I always thought that sting’s a great actor. He also liked acting. But he just kept on being a singer.

[@darienhigh]

I used to hate every time this video came on MTV. Now I searched for it. And I like it.

[@btecbusiness6834]

My late 1/2 sister (Lola Gosling) make a short appearance as a dancer in this video. She's the one who appears from the pews dancing her socks off in a rather exaggerated fashion behind and to the left of Sting from 1.45 to 2.04. Daft Lass !!!

[@matthewfranklin1827]

She’s dancing in heaven you’re beautiful sister Lola☘️🌹🥂👍🇬🇧✝️

[@postingoldtapes]

Well, this is a long time ago, before even "Syncronicity", an before he started taking himself so seriously.

[@Missmjf87]

LOL! Who is he and what has he done with Sting? That actually made me smile!

[@sting8209]

I agree - I think Sting was great in the role of devil/angel. I believe he was in a number of films, but probably not his main passion.

[@napomania]

I remember of his little role in Quadrophenia

[@sastal]

I looked for it for over a decade. I finally found it. From this standpoint, thank goodness for the internet age.

[@thenagoyan]

i was browsin' 20's songs and nice to see somebody familiar.

[@Play-fun-15]

NÃO IREI CANSAR DE FALAR QUE AZIRAPHALE TEM BELOS GOSTOS MUSICAIS!!!!

[@ElvenArtistsForest]

This may very well be the very best video ever!

[@robertofraser101]

Love it

[@trishdiggins]

I both love and am deeply disturbed by this performance.

[@chokispokis]

Awn i love this video, how i wish it could be on a better resolution!

[@karlblanch3898]

Love Stings version of Spread A Little Happiness from the summer of 1982 and even had the single. Do any out there know where I can buy a cd with this classic song Please help or should that be Police help.

[@DAVEYBOYUS]

Fantastic sting I’d do versatile

[@michaelmccloud2376]

Great song xxx

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

This is the first time I've ever seen this! It's both corny and cool at the same time!

[@r.grantham9945]

Brimstone and Treacle 1982, Good Film.

[@sirdidymusbarks]

I really love Brimstone. Cool, albeit twisted, movie. I've never seen this video though, so thanks for bothering to post it. I love Sting to bits.

[@GrannySea]

this lovely song could have been my late father's signature tune, if he'd had one!

[@andeemart]

I didn't realise "Brimstone and Treacle" was such a dark film, that is until I watched it this afternoon.

[@paisleybabee]

I saw it when it came out...there went a bit of my innocence

[@AngelKisses]

@@paisleybabee I am STILL traumatized by it....and I saw it more than a couple of decades ago!!! 😭

[@paisleybabee]

@@AngelKisses I hear you! I keep wondering if I might watch it again as it's on here and my husband has never seen it but....welll

[@AngelKisses]

@@paisleybabee DON'T DO IT!!!😵 I remember seeing it on VHS... wow, I couldn't get it out of my house quick enough after seeing it !!! My then unquenchable thirst for Sting was well quenched for a long time...lol. That'll teach me.

[@JaimeNegron-hd3ev]

Such great memories ❤😊🎉

[@postingoldtapes]

milkphish2 posted: I remember watching a video for this song on Frid*y N*ght Vid*os back in 1982(?) on N B C. I've searched high and low to find the name of this song, and couldn't find it anywhere. Thanks for posting it. It is a true gem! Please, don't mention the names of networks on KZbin comments, or at least not mine. They search for their names and delete every video where they appear. Thanks.

[@CindyMusi5c90]

I loove this song ♪ ♪ ♪ your dreams come true ♪

[@lisalynnemaloney]

Thank You!

[@lisalynnemaloney]

That's why he looks so good!!!! Oh, why did he get rid of the cute mole. I liked it.

[@larrybliss8330]

A lovely song, performed with verve.

[@almadora]

lovely song really...he's not even like, the same person anymore. i want the old sting back.