The Sundays: One of the MOST OVER- HYPED BANDS of the EARLY 90’s?

[@rnrtruestories]

Here’s the link to the history of MTV’s 120 minutes kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX_Ki3yrjL99ibssi=J6kSu90xwuYdSpSk

[@eboethrasher]

Actually friends with Dave Kendall on facebook, that was a surreal moment.

[@80sJayOfficial]

They are some of the nicest people i had the pleasure of meeting. They were on their first us tour and i was able to get a press pass. I took photos and sold my pics to a few magazines and got to know them by following some of the us tour. I kept in touch with Paul the bassist for a bit. They all signed a promo poster for me when they left LA. Humble, talented, genuine lovely people. Thats what i remember.

[@sundaypikachu1844]

I'm a longtime fan, but I've never heard The Sundays referred to as overhyped. If anything, severely underrated so that might explain any downvotes you get. 😉 Sundays fans are very protective and defensive of our little golden goose, Harriet. 🥰😍 Even to this day, I still search for any tidbit about Harriet and the band. They did say they would come back once their 2 kids grew up, and both already graduated university (excl. post grad studies). I'm sure they know they are still loved. Elijah Wood posts annually on Twitter about waiting for their return. David Baddiel (David Gavurin's friend) always gets asked about them and when they are coming back. It's insane that I and other Sundays fans still hold out hope they may return, but we do.

[@michaelkenyon6173]

Yes. The title to this YT clip is shite. When were they overhyped? It never happened. I only remember one video from Reading, Writing, Arithmetic. Great albums, loved her voice. They could really play.

[@ccgrey8731]

I agree they were not overhyped especially compared to other bands of the era. They were known as a college radio band back then and I don't remember them even being featured much in the music magazines, at least the American ones, and their songs were not played much on mainstream raidio.

[@stuartmorley6894]

I don't think overhyped is the right term but they were hyped an absolute tonne of you were anywhere near the British music paper orbit. It didn't last, but for five minutes they were the everything. As mentioned in the video they could turn on a dime. They did get criticism in the press after Blind, not because it's bad but because the papers always needed a new thing. Across their career I don't think they got enough good press but I'm not sure they wanted it, or cared.

[@sundaypikachu1844]

@@stuartmorley6894 They did seem to come out of nowhere. Their first song, 'Can't Be Sure', was listed at #1 on John Peel's Festive Fifty countdown in 1989 before they even had an album out, so maybe that's what they meant by hype. As for criticism, I think it was back in the UK.

[@stuartmorley6894]

@@sundaypikachu1844 yep in the UK. It's quite hard to explain the weird world of the British music press in the 80's/90's. Particularly the NME and Melody Maker. It felt like half the school/college/university students read them. They were in some ways all powerful in setting and destroying trends, often within months of each other. You could be a cover star one month and six months later they'd move onto something else and absolutely trash you. Often it wasn't even anything to do with the music but a fashion or just that a couple of writers didn't like you. They could make or break bands up to a certain point and were well aware of this. If you became big enough you left their orbit and it didn't really matter any more but for bands starting out it was almost essential for them to pick you out. They became a parody of themselves as time went on. Just lazily promoting their friends or bands that drank in the right London pubs. The Sunday's very much got the hype but kind of got too big to be taken down and this got them flak.

[@darwonka]

Harriett is a public school teacher currently.

[@Tripfromfacade]

source ??

[@darwonka]

@@Tripfromfacade at this point, I'd call it a very well founded rumor.

[@sundaypikachu1844]

That was a rumor I heard 20 years ago, but I really think it's far-fetched because it said Scotland, and I'm almost sure she still lives in London with her family. You'll read a few people commenting on social media that they saw Harriet on The Tube (subway) or in a store, but that's about it. There is a photo of Harriet at the checkout line of a market, but that's it. I love and respect them too much to dig into their private lives, so these are just things that passively came across online for me. On a side note, Louise Wener of Sleeper did teach a writing course a few years ago somewhere in the UK. Could still be doing it.

[@darwonka]

@@sundaypikachu1844 Ever since I found out that Tony Danza became a public school teacher in Philly, I figure anything is possible.

[@MachineintheMonkey]

@@ChrisTheStalkeryou on that glass barbecue again Christopher?

[@fratboy1824]

One of my favorite bands! Only 3 albums. Wished they would continue

[@whoami7721]

I loved The Sundays the first time I heard/saw the video for "Here's Where the Story Ends" on MTV. I could've seen them on their 1997 tour but I think I found out about the gig too late. All three of their albums are classics, no really bad songs on them, really. It would be nice to have some more music from them, but perhaps they had their time and, if you missed it, too bad.

[@ivanterrible7362]

Harriet has one of the most ethereal and beautiful voices ever recorded.

[@jamesrussell7669]

Yes she does

[@littlejimmy7402]

I think "The Sundays" always kept their heads. I was part of a tiny music video show back in the 90's, the corporate 'music business' can be pretty gross. The band was so smart to not let themselves be exploited (which can hard to resist because the money gets pretty big). I'd love to hear new music, but deep down I think I understand what they did. They have a family now, and that's what's important to them.

[@DarmokAtTanagra]

Perhaps you mean it some other way but "over-hyped" suggests that their popularity was/is undeserved. That's preposterous. Those songs are iconic.

[@alienteknology5390]

So true.

[@Miblive]

If anything, they are under-hyped, underrated and underappreciated.

[@rudimerm7686]

They never vanished. They just never sold their souls.

[@bongodave13]

Do you have to sell your soul to make good music? If that were the case, we'd be awash in good music. We're not.

[@jakesj]

the idea of selling your soul for fame is old and boring find a new gimmick

[@rudimerm7686]

@@jakesj The idea of trolling a relevant comment is lame. Find a new gimmick.

[@jakesj]

@@rudimerm7686 what are you yapping about 62 likes is not relevant

[@rudimerm7686]

@@jakesj Relevance and likes are the same? 🤣Projecting much? *If I had zero likes, the statement is relevant to the music industry.* Bullies/cowards/trolls like you are the reason, I and many others don't have social media accounts. Have a great life. Muted.

[@brucifer0]

Reading Writing and Arithmetic is a masterpiece imo still listen to it regularly never gets old..

[@cepson]

This is how remarkable The Sundays were: I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I first heard "Here's Where the Story Ends." As soon as I could, I went out and bought Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

[@jmclivaudais3291]

Over-hyped? Hell no. Underappreciated, yes.

[@alymejj7084]

I think he means at the time of their initial fame

[@monsterguyx]

I still throw on "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic" every now and then, usually on rainy days. Wheeler's voice instantly transports me to another time & place.

[@KiloEcho75]

I first heard “Reading, Writing and Arithmetic” from a friend’s older sister who was home from college in 1990. I was hooked immediately, and with me being an indie rock/punk/hip-hop kid, the music was so beautiful and jangly that I loved them immensely. When “Blind” came out in ‘92 I knew this band was going to be a part of the fabric of my life. Saw them in ‘93 and when I went to college the Fall of that year they were a huge piece of my early college days. When “Static & Silence” was released I picked it up immediately and, strangely enough, thought this was probably going to be the last album we got from them. And it was. To this day, as much as I wish we’d have gotten more from them, the sublime beauty and sheer art we got from those albums is good enough for me. Great video as usual and I think that once again you’ve shown that you have one of the best music music doc channels on KZbin!

[@jamesrussell7669]

Well said

[@andiestewart7423]

I first heard their music in the spring of 1991. I have very fond memories of that time and they were part of my soundtrack back then ❤️

[@michaelwills1926]

Same. For me their sound is a bullet train to 1989

[@tzt1182]

The Cocteau Twins influenced so many good bands of that era. Thank you Liz Fraser, Simon Raymond, and Robin Guthrie!

[@Wowjustwow37]

Seriously! Cocteau twins are life!

[@Bobbroberg]

Any first wave bands did . Indie rock wouldn’t exist without first wave .

[@allaboutmika]

heaven or las vegas is still one of the best albums of all time! ❤

[@wallyr.7854]

Still to this day, Harriet is my all-time favorite female vocalist 🥰

[@alienteknology5390]

Same here.

[@miltonrose1638]

In the early 90s I was in a record store and the Sundays version of Wild Horses was playing, I asked a employee who was playing and that was it I couldn’t get enough.

[@eboethrasher]

They were not overhyped - they delivered! But they had a family. And if you're in Britain, you're splashed on the front covers of the dailies if you have a good sound. And then they will drop you just as fast. Staying afterwards and keeping fans is the delivery.

[@eboethrasher]

Also, this is your second video on the Sundays, dipping back into that well?

[@Capt_Samba]

FYI Summertime is still played today on Australia's national broadcaster on the kids channel, making new memories for a whole bunch of younger kids

[@rnrtruestories]

Thanks for sharing

[@robinpettit7827]

They wrote songs that were cerebral as well as unique and addressed topics that most bands wouldn't touch. That is why I am a major fan. They were also good musicians, but not overly taken by the pull of money.

[@jameskeyes9112]

"Over-hyped"? They were more like ghosts. Appearing, amazing music, then disappearing for long periods, then a brief remergance with "Static and Silence". Sort of a play on words since they have been silence since then.

[@matthewche]

I saw them in San Francisco for Static & Silence. It was their second show and they were not ready. They had to stop and start a few times but were charming and apologetic in the process. Seeing and hearing Harriet sing live was special.

[@olliedad]

I was at their opening show in Seattle. It was the same, David was taking a lot of time to figure things out. Yes, it was me that yelled from the second row of the balcony “we love you, David!”

[@fadedSF]

When they were touring in 92 they didn't seem to have any trouble at all. it was a sorta short art tho. Luna opened, they played with everyone back then lol

[@keeop]

Saw them in Atlanta on the same tour. It was mesmerizing. I'll never forget it.

[@eboethrasher]

@@fadedSF probably because they were rusty after 5 years away. I never got to see them. I haz a sad.

[@gallium1284]

Do you remember when this was, just curious. The year maybe? 😅

[@toddwallace3602]

I loved this band and saw them in Deep Ellum in Dallas - miss that time - thanks for the video

[@itsmedrooms6071]

They were one of my favorite bands and they still are. I loved those alternative tuning, textural guitar parts and Harriet’s lovely vocals that retained her English accent. I think their first album was their best although I think the subsequent albums had better production. I saw them live at the University of Texas Ballroom in Austin and they were just a great live band; one of my most memorable concert experiences.

[@briancooper9983]

Liberty Lunch 1990. They played the whole album and then for the encore played "Here's where the story ends" a second time.

[@itsmedrooms6071]

@@briancooper9983 I didn’t catch that show, not sure I knew of them that earlier on, but I think I saw them after Blind was released.

[@jakubowskij]

Finally!! Someone brought up the Sunday i worship this band.

[@johnsenior2566]

Love the Sundays they spoke to my heart. My Blind tour shirt was stolen from my football kit bag, 3 days after gig. 32 years ago and still upset. Music like the Sundays is more than rock and roll it's personal.

[@PristonFestivalVids]

The Sundays made shockingly lovely music. Loved forever by us and many, many more.

[@gltwn]

One of the best bands of the 1990s. They have several songs that are as good as anything. They are a very underrated guitar band, and of course the vocals are extraordinary. That song Summertime was a huge hit from where I was standing in late summer 1997

[@Wowjustwow37]

Huge hit! And I didn’t see it coming and they were my favorite band. That was the soundtrack to my senior year

[@tenebrousoul9368]

Static and Silence will always be one of the best albums I've ever listened to.

[@GrenOulio]

100pc

[@andrewprentice8857]

For me it's "Blind". I love that album!

[@Emberdays]

I like them all. Heard blond first. Then static. But reading writing and arithmetic is my fave.

[@KrisMorena.]

The clock struck 12 then BAM ..Monday.

[@richardslifer1052]

And that…..is where the story ends…..

[@notmyrealname9059]

@@richardslifer1052 Until 6 o'clock (and there's kissing Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream in the meantime)

[@EyepopTheSailorMan]

_Blind_ didn't quite "feature a cover of a Rolling Stones tune" in the manner suggested. It was the B-side of "Goodbye" in much of the world, just tacked onto the end of DGC North American copies. The cover actually went largely unnoticed in some territories!

[@jrnqproductions9939]

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is easily one of the best albums made. The Sundays were never "overhyped". Still good to see them get attention.

[@denisefreitas6727]

Great video! Love The Sundays!

[@rnrtruestories]

Thanks

[@bcretty606]

Loved the Sundays. They always reminded me of The Innocence Mission.

[@chrisdelisle3954]

Two of the greatest voices I've ever heard in my life in Harriet Wheeler and Karen Peris.

[@NigelFortune]

Loved The Sundays thanks for the video 👍

[@KentuckyIrish]

Here's where the story ends..

[@13thRaven]

You beat me to it 😊😊

[@WilliamNeish]

Well played my friend

[@Emberdays]

It’s that little souvenir. Of a terrible year (terrible take they’re “overhyped!” They’re the best) that makes me want to cry.

[@vid1fl]

I n ver ever thought they were overhyped. They were that damn good. I loved all their songs and albums. I played their debut album/cassette/cd all the time.

[@tommymaguire2839]

The Sundays played the TLA in Philly back in the day. I shared a bag of salted cashews with Harriett after the show in the loby of the theatre. She was absolutely lovely. So sweet and cool. She was a million times more charming than the loads of other "stars" I've run into over the years. Total doll. I still play their LPs and smile thinking about the cashews and the brief chat with Reading's finest.

[@ms8742]

The Sundays were awesome. I think Blind is their best album. Saw them on that tour. Harriet is an Angel

[@jimshomestudio]

Definitely one of my all time favorite bands. Love their music. I am glad you covered this, of course even long time fans are going to learn something here. Well done, again. Thank you.

[@tomsiebert1941]

Thanks for this. Maybe my fave band of the 1990s. STATIC & SILENCE is flawless. I can't believe they just left, but the music business is a nightmare. Hopefully we get something else from them someday.

[@rustyzipper3213]

bullshit. I saw them in concert in 91 or so and it was quite intimate and very good. They were certainly not over hyped.

[@alienteknology5390]

Over hyped? Lord no! If anything they are one of the most underrated indie bands ever. The reason their success hit such a sharp upwards curve was the songs they were coming up with & Harriet's astoundingly beautiful & unique voice. Those first releases are absolute gold from the outset & comprise some of their best work ever. The execs knew this straight away. They also realized how amazing Harriet's voice was & the potential that was waiting to be unleashed. After hearing the Sundays my first thought was how unique the singer's voice was. In the following years I began to hear other singers appearing with a tone & style similar to Harriet's. I even thought one of them actually was Harriet until I learned this was not so. I don't think she spawned ranks of imitators but I do believe she opened the way to others with a similar style.

[@GRAHAMAUS]

Over-hyped? If so, I wasn't aware of it. In fact I don't recall any hype whatsoever (I never watched MTV or really any TV at the time). I found out about them through a friend playing them in his car, which caught my ear. In other words the music simply spoke for itself - at least as far as I was concerned.

[@quinnrollen]

Thank you for making this video happen!!

[@briteness]

I was unfamiliar with the story of the Sundays until now. It seems like they were both exceptionally lucky and exceptionally sensible. They were smart not to take the music industry game too seriously. What kept coming back to me as I watched this, though, was how different the game is now, when hit records are often made on laptops and successful bands can make more money selling t-shirts than albums. The 20th century was another world. I miss it sometimes, even though my life is better now than it was back then.

[@EJY318]

I love this band. I used to hold out hope for new music, but now I’m ok with it just being three great albums.

[@eboethrasher]

I remember when Static and Silence came out of nowhere, Summertime popped up and it was just amazing.

[@brianbriscoe2128]

The fastest human made object is the Parker Solar Probe at 330,000 mph. Coming in at a close 2nd would be me buying a new Sundays album.

[@PaulBoudreau]

There’s a million ways to describe the Sundays. “Over hyped” is not one of them.

[@sandijohnson2216]

I loved this band - still listen to them and Cocteau Twins. Morrissey and The Smiths - on the daily ❤

[@paulosicne8498]

I respect the bands who knew when to leave music and not return in their older age. There's a shelf life for all bands. The 90s were so awesome and The Sundays were a big part of my years of being young in that great time. Much respect to The Sundays, The Smiths, and all other bands that refused to return. Look at all the bands that stayed active for too long, or returned in their older age, and have become pathetic parodies of their former selves. I'll always love the lasting legacy of The Sundays and their great music so I hope The Sundays don't return as a functioning band. And I don't acknowledge the song "Wild Horses" as a Rolling Stones song. It's 100% a song by The Sundays, because they play it 100% better.

[@richarddiaz1241]

I saw them the first time they played LA and they did Can’t be sure as an encore even though they already did it in the set. They ran out of songs but we didn’t care. A girl jumped on stage and hugged Harriet, which we pretty much all wanted to do. Dave looked concerned but it was cool. Great show. Great band.

[@pigeonbraine]

Okay this is actually SO WEIRD bc i was just searching the sundays on youtube just to see where they went and watched ur last video on the sundays, only for this to be ur most recent ???? Weirdddd

[@spencercorbin8426]

by far one of the best bands of the Gen X generation. All 3 albums and singles are just fantastic.

[@DakkhonBlackBlade]

Sorry not feeling the over hyped comment lol. There were good and I really enjoyed their music and it seems at the time people really liked them. Hence the popularity. Good story on them otherwise.

[@musicismagic3001]

“Here is where the story ends” helped me put a final end to a relationship I had where my “fiancé” who had just met my family, announces weeks later that he got his ex-wife pregnant! 😳The humiliation was real. 😭 I was the perfect song at the time. Beautiful music. 💕

[@zenarcher9633]

I think Coachella would be the last place The Sundays would be interested in playing. Three amazing albums then raising a family and living happy ever after, sounds like a perfect plan.

[@JohnnyTong215]

Wish that the new recordings were released!!!! The Sundays are one the great bands of the 90s!!!

[@RealHeyMark]

I feel like they did it right: They got what they wanted out of the music business and knew when to get out. If only we all were so wise and disciplined.

[@realkoko-loco]

“Overhyped”??? I say, “Underhyped”. The Sundays are amazing!

[@CupofCloud]

the MTV Munchies Corner interview is the best one available online. the young quirky host didn’t know much about them at all, but nevertheless, charmed the both of them and had them laughing and sharing all kinds of information. great unplugged live version of When I’m Thinking About You too

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

Thank you for the update! ✌🏼😊

[@evilotis01]

"over-hyped"? nope. they were great.

[@AmmoEntertainment]

They sound like they had a pretty cool life

[@greggotoole1675]

You have the best delivery of music based documentaries around. Honestly, I am riveted to the story of bands I thought I could have cared less about. Great work!

[@rnrtruestories]

Thanks! That means a lot! I try to create as much diverse stuff on my channel as possible

[@paulsto6516]

An adorable and talented couple that has brought us much joy! I'm not so much sad that they are gone as I am happy that they did what they did.

[@jessemayra]

The Sundays and Sixpence non the richer were my high school years soundtrack

[@rnrtruestories]

Sixpence is coming this Friday…

[@truthseeker2587]

Overhyped? Nah they are truely underrated

[@bananaclipper7692]

incredible band. HIGHLY influential

[@drewgeraci8434]

The rock press can be out-and-out mean sometimes. Request: Crowded House and/or The Church

[@_Grimblewedge_]

I've seen The Church live twice in the past year and they've been excellent shows! Even though Kilbey is the only original member, I think they sound better live now than when I saw them on the Starfish tour back in ye olden tymes.

[@stgonzales]

One of the best bands at that time in my opinion. Totally different from any other music I was listening to but bad ass none the less😊

[@eboethrasher]

Another great band in the vein of The Sundays, for those inclined, is The Moon Seven Times. They came out of the ashes of the gothy band Area, but are a bit more alt--rock oriented, with a real drummer.

[@antonioespinoza4021]

I love this band ❤

[@sorayaq9329]

No BB. been. No BB n. N. N

[@floydsemlow8253]

❤ such an awesome group and unique sound!

[@efftee3702]

Love The Sundays. Hopefully they put out new music soon.

[@justj9737]

No mention of their Stones cover being used in the film Fear.

[@JohnnyTong215]

A great Gen-X thriller from the 90s!!! Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon nailed their roles to a T!!!

[@stevesnailfish]

After watching this, I've just ordered a 2nd hand copy of their 3rd album on cd as I'm old school.....I've liked this band since the debut, ended up seeing them in Cambridge UK on the Blind tour (with The Cranberries as support) and just thought they just faded out of view....I even thought they'd just done the two albums..... It was the vocals and the tempo on some songs that got me.....They were different.....I'd been into Cocteau Twins since '82, so was a bit shoegazey even back then and it was just off on a tangent to that genre..... I've just got my 2 cd's out (Reading and Blind) and they'll be in the car tomorrow..... Enjoyed this and it takes me back to my very late 20's......Great era for music.

[@pat5882]

They didn’t give up on music. Harriet and David decided to start a family, it’s just a different type of music.

[@fv6125]

The Sundays need to get over their insecurities. They didn't stop making music but were afraid to put it out.

[@martinprice9441]

When I heard Harriet's voice on a studio recording, I thought that it was probably enhanced in the studio. Then she sounded as good live. She is incredible, not overhyped. They did what they did on their terms and moved on when they were done.

[@stephenanthonythomas3533]

Great review on this much underrated band. 1990 was an interesting year for music. The 80s “greed is good” hangover was kicking in and grunge hadn’t taken over yet.

[@williestackson5720]

You forgot to mention that the Wild Horses cover was used in the movie Fear which featured Mark Wahlberg & Reese Witherspoon. The scene that the song plays is super intense and sexual.

[@VoiceofHarold1]

I still.go back to their debut. It's a great record! Am I the only one that thought the Cranberries were derivative of the Sundays, initiallly?

[@fadedSF]

Cranberries were probably also listening to bands like the Smiths a lot... and while they had a similar bass guitar drums and relatively clean guitar setup, the songs vocal style were fairly different. Linger perhaps could be the most common ground. Steven Street produced the cranberries- he also did all the early Morrissey singles and the last couple Smiths albums. His influence was pretty heavy early on

[@jeffblack5024]

Hard to believe Harriet is now 60.

[@vp1000mph]

We had tix to a Sundays gig at the Roxy in LA some time in the early 90’s. We showed up at there was a big line out front…only they didn’t look like Sundays fans. Turns out the gig was cancelled and Poison was doing a video shoot. No, we did not stick around. The Sundays were one band I really wish I saw live.

[@edwardluna9907]

Man I love this band.

[@philipmarsh3522]

I hope they do release some more music. Every once in a while their music will pop up on the radio or on one of those automatic playlists my computer comes up with and I’ll listen to one of their albums. They really were (are?) talented songwriters and made some great music.

[@westentrance]

Great band, underpromoted

[@ledfarmer4571]

The Sundays were awesome

[@tracyott4095]

Could you do a documentary on Curve?

[@lettucefire]

I bloody miss them

[@jae200ful]

I live in Texas (yes it sucks) and remember being introduced to this band when i went to a haunted house with my dad and there was a radio station there handing out free tapes and CDs. I got a copy of Blind knowing nothing about the band and fell in love with them. For a few years after i thought I’d never hear new music by them until Static and Silence came out. I still remember sitting on the porch with a CD player staring up at the moon, the same moon as on the cover and loving it. I was sad it was the last new music we would get from them.

[@mjm5081]

❤Reading, Writing and Arithmetic❤

[@sscoutistaken]

I like how they were able to get away from all the bad stuff that usually breaks bands up.

[@df3575]

This one is too bittersweet. ...and makes me feel OLD AF. Damn.

[@stevebalmer111]

The Sundays are the band that The Cranberries wish they could be.😮😂😮

[@pedrodelgado6214]

Completely dissimilar, clueless dolt.

[@mowler8042]

super under-rated band

[@danlogan5657]

would love to hear what they are up to.static and silence was amazing

[@robertgomori7913]

Don't tell mother 😊