The Undertones - My Perfect Cousin (Official Video)

One of the great pop singles of the early 80s with the kind of lines `he's got a fur-lined sheepskin jacket, my ma said it cost a packet', `he thinks that I'm a cabbage 'cos I hate University challenge' and the immortal `his mother bought him a synthesizer, got the Human League into advise her' that today's pop stars can only dream of writing. And the video is ace -- look out for the famous subbuteo scene -- what we all did for entertainment in those days. A number 9 hit in 1980 it would be number one for a year now.
Download their album Teenage Kicks on iTunes : apple.co/29ixys6
Buy their album Teenage Kicks on Amazon : amzn.to/29gNkye
Listen to Teenage Kicks on Spotify : spoti.fi/29hsenf
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Check out The Undertones on Facebook : bit.ly/29dyUy9
Discover more about The Undertones on their website : bit.ly/29dz08V

[@simoncarney9944]

I’m 70 and I was playing this this afternoon! Great track from a great band!!

[@dmcgarvey956]

69 😜

[@KevinWard-ti7wt]

❤❤❤ respect 🙏 after my own ❤blessings always wen music 🎶 fi em's lv ❤❤❤🎉😊

[@henrikcarmel1]

Yes this is the Music for us between 60-70👍🏻

[@paulfrodsham1759]

Fantastic. 61 me and blasting this out as I type. We were so lucky to have experienced this band in real time...

[@juliethompson1786]

What a great song that was, it was so relatable. We all had a “perfect cousin” who was always being thrown in our faces by our mums! Love The Undertones.

[@granty6447]

@Nicholas Kitto you are Kevin!

[@santakumarichunduri1836]

Yup.

[@stobbinsboy]

Here in the damn states as well, innit?

[@christopherwest4580]

Ain’t that the truth.🐶

[@sunnyjim1355]

Yeah. Unfortunately I was sired from the loins of my loser father (and so brought up by my abandoned, bitter and resentful single mother) whereas his absolutely gorgeous sister married an entrepreneur, and all their kids wanted for nothing. Plot Twist. It was me who scraped my way to University and got a 1st Class Honours Degree, while they flopped. I'm Ace Rimmer, not Hologram Rimmer. Smoke me a kipper... 😎

[@temphold1]

Gets the blood flowing, just like Feargal is trying to do with our rivers now in the UK as a campaigner. Well done Mr Sharkey, respect.

[@stevesgaming7475]

Indeed!

[@harrystick3705]

Yes, love him.

[@keithashmore2371]

Top bloke 👍

[@TrophyGuide101]

You just watch Gone Fishing? Great show

[@NorryJones-kg1se]

Starkey reformed girrrrl pirate is gud 2 X

[@TheOrbit14]

'his mother bought him a synthesizer. got the human league in to advise her'

[@sunnyjim1355]

If Shakespear himself would have been around at this time, he'd have been satisfied with penning that line.

[@misssamjh]

56 yrs young. Thanks YT, I've gone down a 70s/80s path starting with Sisters of Mercy, then Mission, Stranglers, Bauhaus, very early Japan and then Japan, then Buzzcocks and now ending with Undertones. What a ride 😊

[@deanbensobenson7950]

Wot a ride put slf on

[@narodeiphos4606]

'He thinks that I'm a cabbage because I hate University Challenge' hahaha classic

[@dtzjones7632]

Hilarious 😁

[@davehoward22]

Poetry

[@edavalonroofing5735]

Classic!

[@irw4350]

I always thought it was........... "He thinks that I'm a Savage"

[@deanbensobenson7950]

One ov the best lines ever

[@charliechod]

in a hundred years this will be loved

[@cpreston8996]

This is an absolutely superb song. Thank you Derry for the Undertones.

[@John-ro1iv]

Ahem. Londonderry if you please. Fuck that shit Derry all the . Tiochfaidh ar la!!!!!!😘

[@twitch1986mp3]

@@John-ro1iv *slowly deletes paragraph*

[@SAHB]

And my name is Frank

[@SwedishRetroTechNerd]

@@SAHB Ok what does that got to do with anything lol

[@alisteeaiken7667]

Who is derry

[@feargal75]

I've always loved Feargal Sharkey's so special voice !!! also appreciate his solo disks ...

[@iansane3286]

I’m 62, still listening (LOUD)!,and miss the 1976-84 music gigs but at least I have my vinyl 🙏❤️

[@LordFrobozz]

Fkn legend!!!

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

There was a great BBC4 program on the Undertones last night & they interviewed the real ‘Perfect Cousin Kevin’. So funny... he’s a lovely guy who took a lot of ribbing at the time of the song’s release which understandably upset him, but now in middle age, he’s totally relaxed about “being part of The Undertones story”!

[@dmcgarvey956]

Lol 😂

[@sunnyjim1355]

Keith Woods has taken that place now anyway.

[@user-it8we3od4x]

Just a fantastic tune from a brilliant band way back in my young days.

[@karlmorris-xz6iq]

if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris

[@gmc9451]

Arguably the best lyrics in popular music were written during the post-punk/New Wave era. The Undertones, Squeeze, the Jam, Sham 69, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, XTC, Boomtown Rats etc etc.

[@sunnyjim1355]

You were doing pretty well until you added 'Boomtown Rats'. And that you didn't include Crass either... oh well.

[@gmc9451]

@@sunnyjim1355 the BTRs wrote some fantastic music. I suggest your comment has more to do with not liking their front-man than the quality of the music they produced.

[@rayturvey7967]

Oh god how I love that song, it makes me smile and forget this lockdown horror

[@leemorson2453]

Makes you want a cousin called Kevin

[@leemorson2453]

Still looking for him

[@denisealderton9791]

Back when life was simple

[@duncanholland5735]

tune

[@JesseCrucible]

they would have laughed their pants off if you told them what world we live in today!

[@klotzilla]

Doesn't every teenager have a perfect cousin that the family fawns over? This is teen angst at its most elemental level, full of explosive snottiness. These Irish lads were the best of the best.

[@mrsuperger5429]

That The Undertones are only really known for Teenage Kicks is criminal. They were amazing.

[@richardroyle9123]

you will never forget that voice of Fergul, I live in Malta now, and we go to 'the City of London Pub', this is years ago, one day, a very long time ago, there was a guy sitting there in a tartan biker jacket with musical badges on it, I just knew his face and we started talking - he was the bass player from the Undertones and was so grateful that I'd even ever heard of them, Back in my day is the late 70s listening to John Peel every night , they were on the top of my list of bands, pure genius in what they talked about and the vibe of their sound. Love them forever

[@mrsuperger5429]

@@richardroyle9123 Spot on, brother. I was always a fan and collected their singles. I could never find a picture cover for Get Over You. I saw them in Glasgow, supported by the local band Orange Juice, who later got famous. The Undertones were amazing.

[@davidsphere]

@@richardroyle9123 Unappreciated. I'm always waxing on about them to my young girlfriend to let her know there was a lot more going on than Human League at that time.

[@johnbarry1965]

Their singles from Teenage Kicks to Got to have you back are phenomenal and should be cherished as much as The Beatles Canon!!!

[@tautliners]

Fantastic clever lyrics, we all have a favourite." His mother bought him a synthesizer, Got the Human League in to advise Her" . Ha Ha what a gem.

[@bonesshed.]

I agree. genius bit of writing :-)

[@johnmorrison4716]

Steve A thanks Steve believe me I never knew that got the human league in to advise her bit brilliant 😀

[@timowen7632]

Fuckin brilliant... never noted that.....

[@lewis72]

Human League were barely known in 1979 !

[@ddave7026]

As the kids say now some people "do the most" or " extra" .😂😂

[@Severian19671]

The quintessential youth club band. And responsible for so many perfect singles.

[@karlmorris-xz6iq]

if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris

[@sunnyjim1355]

"The quintessential youth club band." You nailed it. 👏

[@mal-bp5jq]

What a great era we lived in then late 70's & early 80's can't be beat !

[@45rockinwax]

I did too , but I like the mid to late 60s music too

[@lupodelupis3672]

The Undertones always make me smile: pop-punk perfection!

[@MFJ1604]

......."he thinks that I'm a cabbage because I hate University Challenge..." I was 14 in my secondary modern when this genius tune was released....says everything about teen 70's angst...and a tear of nostalgia to the eye.....

[@flo15jo]

This is just great. And yes, it is both pop and punk, and none the worse for either. "He will never be left on the shelf, because Kevin, he's in love with himself ...... " What fun.

[@mercian7]

+Flo Jo Awesome tune

[@bollocknaked1975]

Flo Jo . I still dream of orgonon....

[@MarkSmith-er7fe]

its not punk

[@marksamios9714]

I still have subbuteo

[@nakedmambo]

Post punk/new wave. An acknowledged fact.

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

Just wonderful too their best after teenage kicks for sure too.

[@zaxxx1975]

🎤"He thinks that im a Cabbage...cuz I Hate University Challenge!!" 🎓What a killer line! So delightfully crude!🎩

[@nigelchadwick9170]

just a fantastic band. listen to them all the time

[@jimcameron4672]

Undertones, awesome

[@Callie_Scarlett]

Feargal Sharkey was on BBC Breakfast this morning, talking about water quality.. all I could hear was My Perfect Cousin ! Had to have a listen, just as good now as it was back in the day!

[@andysykes5323]

Same reason Im here !

[@karlmorris-xz6iq]

if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris

[@jennycohl8401]

My favorite band as a teenager! Heard these songs at Max's Kansas City at age 14 and I'm 52 now, Thank you, Undertones and Undertones Derry!

[@walleyrange]

'His mother bought him a synthesizer, got the Human League into advise her'. Absolute Genius

[@staffsyeoman]

And the "ooh ee oohs" behind it... Not pals with Phil Oakey were they, then?

[@cerenb7909]

what does that mean

[@janeough45]

what a genius band ,such utter talent never to be forgotten

[@ddave7026]

😂😂😂🤣 Kevin reaaaally is loved

[@andybold4266]

making ots of noise --

[@brendan1522]

This band is just beyond brilliant.

[@stevebowness9435]

What a fantastic wonderful band

[@garyhignett3632]

Some of the best lyrics ever

[@michaelcincotta7694]

One of the greatest RnR songs ever written. Nothing else needs be said

[@martinjenkins8359]

Music of my childhood - real and authentic. Love it!

[@davidtunnicliff5442]

tha jam, rats, souxsie, dexys and undertones, b-52's, my teenage years were full of GREAT music

[@markjohn1910]

What a fantastic group the undertones were

[@sonicsnout]

I was watching one of the docs about the Undertones when they talk about this song - I couldn't believe that the O'Neill brothers actually wrote this song about their real cousin named Kevin - they didn't change the name or anything, that is such a hilariously smart ass move!

[@chickensoup9861]

Well not to smart as Kevin had connections to the ira and wanted to kill the O'Neil brothers.

[@sonicsnout]

Alisha Smedberg Really? I would love to hear more about that aspect of it! Are there any docs or articles you could refer me to? Damn I guess Kevin is more dangerous than he sounds in the song! :D

[@michaelwilliams2231]

Sonicsnout aye my mam used to babysit fergals brothers kids when I was a wee lad of like 3 my mam told me the same story that it’s about their actual cousin Kevin, didn’t know about the RA connections though

[@ddave7026]

😂😂😂😂😂 Shout out to Kevin!

[@nealogorman1810]

@@sonicsnout I heard that Kevin still wont talk to them.

[@andydinesguitar]

44 years later Feargal's anger over the flicked Subutteo kick remains palpable😂

[@lukessummerguitar]

0:51 that building they're climbing up is just round the corner from the Derry Library and at 1:05 that's the old Derry markets behind Feargal and in the distance the old Snooker club that was at the top of Tillie's Brae.

[@rampageclover9788]

I was wondering where this was filmed

[@7887zz]

St Columb's Hall

[@paulmcconnell4720]

Saw them at the eats and beats concert in Newcastle Co. Down this week, this sounds just as raucous today live as then. Brilliant

[@jackgrainger1452]

Love listening to the UNDERTONES !!!!!!!!!!

[@wotchatalkinboutwillis4577]

Man, they don't write songs like this anymore 😞Fuckin tune!!

[@Fatality101]

one of my favourite songs of all time right here. ;P

[@creepergaming1561]

Cheetahhh! Ikr

[@bethanysaunders7728]

I'm 14 and love The Undertones! Not all of this generation is messed up:) x

[@frankiegurney3854]

pick me

[@deanbensobenson7950]

Fucking mint xx

[@deanbensobenson7950]

Get in wot a kid

[@deanbensobenson7950]

Nice one

[@deanbensobenson7950]

Do you still like the undertones

[@falomemo2849]

amo The Undertones desde a idade, dos meninos do video clipe. Amo pra sempre, esta banda.

[@emmettmccann949]

Great band what a tune still today

[@harristonmiller4399]

classic pop song from one of my favourite all time bands

[@josephmurphy-eb6eu]

To be played loudly....only!!!....Brilliant song.

[@Rascal356000]

What a terrific find on You Tube. One of those songs I'm so glad I stumbled on.

[@scousesean9623]

Saw them play Liverpool Royal Court in 1980 (Empire Theatre) They were awesome live & the crowd went wild. They wouldn't leave the stage & did encore after encore. In the end, the management turned the big lights on & unplugged them; pure class.

[@deeshaw9275]

Still timeless!!

[@laraghcon]

Timeless classic

[@tonkool4736]

Aaahhh.... Those eighties... We used to watch The Rockpast Nacht on the German t.v., enjoying the Undertones live... Those were the days... :-).

[@Pedro8k]

This is what is missing from new music today raw talent great song from way back

[@garethwilliams3819]

He will never be left on the shelf, 'cause Kevin, he's in love with himself - great lyrics

[@OnceWasRStrathfield]

Kevin has his own song about Feargal - it's called 'My Whinging Cousin'. It has the same tune as 'My Perfect Cousin', but a change of lyrics that goes 'he calls his girlfriend a little thief and says a true heart is heart to find. He's always wanting teenage kicks but can't seem to get me off his mind... My Whinging Cousin...'

[@silverkitty2503]

lol

[@BostonAndProud]

Now I got a cousin called Feargal He's a white version of Steve Urkel

[@janeough45]

WOW WHAT A PURE CLASSIC ,,the words are utter magic ,,, only these guys could have written such profound words lol xx

[@GaryHind701]

Never gets boring this tune, listen to it most days with my headphones on while I'm working ;-)

[@rickyraw5457]

One of the best pop tunes in the last 50 years .....pure gold....🤩

[@gildamx]

The Undertones are underrated. What a great band! (Message from France)

[@1Sapphire1]

I went to a Joe Jackson concert around 1980. The Undertones were the opener. I just hopped on here after reading a story that listed 17 Irish bands with these guys among those mentioned.

[@steedwards-th2tg]

Brilliant song

[@myturkishlife1777]

Still a great song in quarantine 2020 Those were the days no "ahem"social media , simple days good times 😁

[@MELLYBOY58]

Take me back home ✌✌🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@stevebowness9435]

Great song anytime mate 👍

[@frecs09]

`his mother bought him a synthesizer, got the Human League into advise her'

[@lewis72]

This track was recorded December 1979. The Human League weren't very well established back then, only having 1 hit, "Being Boiled", which got to No 6, which was the original line up.

[@markharrison5307]

I'm a getting older,, still a Punk. The good times in Eric's. What a great atmosphere in there. The warehouse was brilliant seen the Kennedy's there and millions of dead cops, and Crass are still my favourite you get a video as well

[@Jord472]

Love the lyrics on this song pure talent

[@SloaneAlone]

It seems that we've all got a perfect cousin - One who is never in the wrong, never to be criticised and no matter how good you are at something, they can always do it so much better! AAAARRRRGGHHH! 😠😠😠😠 This song is PERFECT for releasing pent up angst!!!!

[@renodavid]

Fantastic to see this again after so many years. I think I appreciate the humor even more now. It’s crazy to realize that the O’Neill brothers were only 18 and 22 when they recorded their first album. Genius!

[@numannut8539]

I just flew back into my teenage years again! That was brilliant! Am I mad I prefer this too Teenage Kicks. Just love the fashion range Great times. 👍

[@angelagreen8221]

Just brill lyrics, well just great still listening!!! 💖

[@pinkpanther4943]

A fur lined sheepskin jacket, where else could you hear such lyrics...top quality

[@dmitriybroderick6182]

Great song

[@swapmeetsheriffdonknottexp3046]

This is a throw back to my time! Love it! GenX

[@markcarruthers9902]

Wonderful raw talent, with a twist of fun and sarcasm, what’s not to like .

[@hettyawen4289]

I moved to Ireland because of the Undertones and SLF as a teenager without money, visa, contacts and it was the best decision! Thank you guys!

[@bpictcnews2529]

Saw them when I was a teen....brilliant and not much older than me and my mates. We hung around after the gig and helped them load their gear into a large van. Great days and good lads

[@mikeltom6413]

What a great voice.

[@colinjennings3661]

Always preferred this to teenage kicks..although both brilliant.

[@shaunboden3719]

Wat about Jimmy Jimmy?

[@netsk1679]

Me too, Jimmy Jimmy and I need a Mars bar as well!

[@rabbitss11]

Can't get better than this, those Undertone boys penned some great songs

[@jameszac2664]

Geez the tones were great first heard this song on Bondi beach couldn’t get it out of my head still use it as a ring tone

[@Mk7adxm]

always spotless clean and neat, the smoothest you can get them!😃

[@sonzchapman73]

Pure brilliance!

[@brusselssprouts560]

Timeless!

[@mrshifter9582]

What a tune.

[@ronanmurray4275]

i was 11 years old living in Perth Australia the most isolated capital city in the world when I first heard this song. i had NFI what subbbudteo or University Challenge were.. but I was a huge Human League fan!!

[@brandonjames2368]

I will never understand ow The Undertones were so under recognized by the vast majority of the Punk World.

[@sunnyjim1355]

... because there was a hell of a lot of talented bands back around then. Your "under recognized" opinion is just that, 'yours' - because they sure were recognized - they appeared on TOTP with all their hits! Oh, by the "Punk World"... wtf does that even mean? Best British 'punk' band were Crass, so by that metric The Undertones weren't even a 'punk' band... they were mainstream. 🤷‍♂

[@karlmorris-xz6iq]

if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris

[@richardroyle9123]

oh we knew at the time how wonderful they were - we met the bass player in Malta years ago, he was amazed I knew who he was, one of my all-time favorite bands, ever

[@richardroyle9123]

@@sunnyjim1355 there was nothing 'mainstream' about them, they delivered pure uplifting joy.

[@stevenwalker2297]

Fantastic Song , Never get tried of listening to it 👌

[@karlmorris-xz6iq]

if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris

[@stevenwalker2297]

@@karlmorris-xz6iq Just been listening to Your Brother Sounds good 👍

[@ailurophile17]

I was despairing for my then 8 year old nephew six years ago who had grown up listening to his father's collecton of 70's lame-o's like Kiss, Grand Funk, and even Styx and Kansas. Well, after trying all sorts of my favorite 50's and 60's bands on him, I FINALLY got his attention with the Ramones and then it was the fabulous Undertones that turned his world around and now he's even a fan of That Petrol Emotion, the Godfathers, the Dickies, the Saints, and lately the Buzzcocks. He LOVES "Teenage Kicks" and "Jimmy Jimmy" which are his two favorite songs of all time (or so he tells me). We just watched this together an hour ago and now I'm gonna play the Vibrator's "Pure Mania" and Wire's "Pink Flag" for this ultra-hip 14 year old skate--punk!

[@philmalley7888]

Saw the undertones on tour in 1980 and 81 and seeing them live was joyous. John o' neill wrote so many new wave / power pop songs I was totally in love with.

[@declanmcgowan7780]

He will never be left on the shelf cos Kevin he's in love with himself ..tune

[@pemberino]

IF you were ten in 1979 as I was, this nails it. Parkas, boots, cheesy grin, Subbuteo. That was it.

[@gmc9451]

So many great lyrics from bands of the punk/new wave era concerning so many aspects of the lives of ordinary folk.

[@petergreen2552]

Fabulous. Name me another song that has Subbuteo in its lyrics. Genius.

[@taffwob]

Never thought of it at the time but hearing this song recently conjures up some memories. This was my lived experience as a kid, you'd always be compared to one of your cousins by all the assembled Mums in the family. They'd constantly be saying thigs like "Well your cousin Anthony can already . . . " It became a pissing contest for them and they didn't realise it just made us roll our eyes and care even less.

[@thesnowfox7262]

just heard this on Spotify, had to look up the mv, love the last punchline

[@birthabutt9555]

Great pop band! So many excellent songs...Up Derry!

[@297bigbird]

He always beat me at Subbuteo,cause he flicked to kick,and I didn't know !! Brilliant lyric,love this song.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Beta250trials]

I'm 53 going on 17 again fantastic

[@mikeltom6413]

What a great VOICE.

[@karlmorris-xz6iq]

if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris