Fine Young Cannibals, She Drives Me Crazy - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

[@jwickham65]

You know Amy is into the song when the harp gets some action.

[@seelverado2492]

Everybody needs to watch the amazing music video of this beautiful song, by french choreographer Philippe Decouflé

[@IAMisLove]

2nd this😊. 🖖❤

[@dancrane1193]

Absolutely....the pillow dancers, karate TV head guy, the female fighters who headbutt each other...the music video is a trip

[@ANIWAN-b6w]

They did a fine version of the Elvis Presley hit “Suspicious Minds”imo.

[@mhagain]

And Buzzcocks Ever Fallen In Love. 😎

[@robinhightower9031]

At no point after I got up today, that I would anticipate hearing ''She Drives Me Crazy,'' illustrated so beautifully on the harp, and yet here we are...😂

[@markthomas2577]

My favourite of theirs is 'Good Thing' ........

[@terenceryman394]

It’s fascinating listening to Amy. I’m just a simple lover of music with a very eclectic taste, but I love these breakdowns and interpretations. Thank you Amy.

[@KMM406]

You continue to do a wonderful job of dissecting songs, and exposing aspects of even the most simple tunes, that I find surprisingly interesting. Keep up the good work, Miss Amy!

[@marklill-g3y]

Wonderful review another one for you from this are is GHOST TOWN by the specials so atmospheric and of the time once again very good Amy

[@michavandam]

Now that Amy knows who Bob Geldof is, it would be fun to have her listen to his epic song (with Classical influences) "I Don't Like Mondays". I'm sure she'll like it.

[@5891jonathan]

If you are a certain age you heard this playing everywhere everyday.

[@ANIWAN-b6w]

@@5891jonathan I want my MTV🥲

[@stlmopoet]

I remember hearing this at the time and not having a clue who it was.

[@fernandodeleon7466]

Every saturday night at the 'disco' in those years. Since then in any classic pop radio station.

[@clintatk]

In Montreal it was the song of 89’s summer. You heard it coming from open windows of parties and clubs every night.

[@trexpixx4590]

It is so time for INXS!

[@5skov]

what song?

[@trexpixx4590]

@@5skov Anyone, INXS does not have a "bag song", however most likely to start "Never Tear Us a Part".

[@ReubenAotearoa]

This was definitely my thought too: has she listened to INXS yet? I follow a few react/review channels and it’s hard to seperate who’s done what sometimes!

[@5skov]

@@ReubenAotearoa agree, anything from INXS, but I just hate saxophone...:-)

[@dennish.7708]

@@5skovDevil Inside

[@DC_Prox]

There was a band that was called The Beat (known as The English Beat in North America), and when they broke up in the 80s, the various members formed two new bands, General Public and Fine Young Cannibals. General Public had a big hit with the song "Tenderness", but FYC's first hit "Johnny Come Home" did get quite as much attention or airplay, so it looked like GP would be the success story and FYC would be the footnote. But then The Raw and the Cooked happened, and suddenly FYC had hits with "Good Thing", "She Drives Me Crazy", and a cover of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds". So FYC are still remembered today, but far fewer people remember General Public.

[@catofthecastle1681]

The name Fine Young Cannibals came from a movie of the same name starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty about indolent rich beautiful young people ruining their own lives and those around them.

[@amymikesparks2699]

Close. “All the Fine Young Cannibals”.

[@catofthecastle1681]

@ Did I say the name of the movie? I’ve watched it many times! Just didn’t think it necessary to type it all out! I also own the book, which I’ve also read many times. The name wasn’t the point of what I was saying. Buzz off

[@diogenesagogo]

Thanks! I never knew that.

[@amymikesparks2699]

@@catofthecastle1681 You said “a movie of the same name.” Not quite, but close.

[@donaldb1]

And "The Raw and the Cooked" will be a reference to the anthopologist Claude Levi Strauss.

[@dondebomm6329]

The Raw and the Cooked is a truly great album, beginning to end.

[@ThistleAndSea]

Fun one, Amy! Thanks for sharing it. The video for this song is quirky & fun too. 🙂

[@jelliott3604]

would love to see a Flying Pickets "Only You"

[@davidbowman2035]

I grew up in the 80s, and this is one of my favourite songs.

[@scottwallace5180]

They came out with 2 great albums and many great hits. Good thing is my fav or Jonny

[@WobblyBiped]

This was age of MTV and video. When I hear this, I also see the B&W video that went with it. Do yourself a favor and watch that, too.

[@vonVile]

This song wouldn't exist without the influence of "Blue Monday" by New Order. "Blue Monday" revolutionalized the music industry in 1983 by being the first band to fully understand how to use the sythesizer and sampling. Be sure to react to the 7 minute version. Another song that helped define the synthesizer is "Cars" by Gary Numan, which came out in 1979.

[@gradypatterson1948]

Definitely need to get "Blue Monday" on Amy's playlist - and some Gary Numan, too - but I'll disagree about New Order being the " first band to fully understand how to use the synthesizer and sampling" - Karlheinz Stockhausen was using electronically-generated tones (not yet called "synthesizers") in the 1950s, and is considered a highly-influential composer. His work was inspirational to Frank Zappa, and more relevantly, perhaps, Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk, of course, was releasing fully-electronic music in the early 1970s, along with fellow German band Tangerine Dream and Japanese composer Isao Tomita. The Alan Parsons Project used synthesizers on their first release "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" in 1976 (with Parsons and Andrew Powell both playing various synths) - along with being one of the earlier uses of the Vocoder in popular music. Alan Parsons' "Tales ..." should definitely be on Amy's list - preferably as a whole-album, but at the very least the "Dream Within A Dream/The Raven" pair. Similarly, Kraftwerk should be in there - perhaps "Man-Machine" or "The Robot", or for a bit longer-form video, the 22-minute full version of "Autobahn" (amazing impressionistic musical imagery!)

[@TerenceShortman]

@@gradypatterson1948 "the early years of the synthesizer" as between 1964 and the mid-1970s, beginning with the debut of the Moog synthesizer. Designed by the American engineer Robert Moog, the instrument was a modular synthesizer system composed of numerous separate electronic modules, each capable of generating, shaping, or controlling a sound depending on how each module is connected to other modules by patch cables. Moog developed a means of controlling pitch through voltage, the voltage-controlled oscillator. This, along with Moog components such as envelopes, noise generators, filters, and sequencers, became standard components in synthesizers. valued by the 1960s psychedelic and countercultural scenes but with little perceived commercial potential. Switched-On Bach (1968), a bestselling album of Bach compositions arranged for synthesizer by Wendy Carlos, took synthesizers to the mainstream. They were adopted by electronic acts and pop and rock groups in the 1960s and 1970s. Such as Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, YES, ELP, Genesis, Jetro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabath, The Who, King Crimson and even the Beatles.

[@mradriankool]

New order only wrote blue Monday as an exit track for their shows. So they could leave the track looping out while they left the stage & venue without having to play encores. The fact the raw & the cooked was recorded at paisley park puts it as far away from new order at the factory as I can process. I’m a huge new order fan and I ever connected them to FYC, the only band I’ve ever thought they crossed over to was maybe the cure and that’s just down to a few tenuous bass sounds. New order for me are new order. No one else sounds like them and they don’t sound like anyone else. Sadly the vocal style of Roland was destroying his chords so this would be the last real FYC album. Still go out on a high. Most of the samples are really just noises they created themselves then feedback to instruments with highly original microphone positions. There’s quite a lot of documentation about the drum track on this and how it was created.

[@freewaresnewsdotit]

I'm sure you'll appreciate Johnny Come Home. It's a very jazz-style song.

[@paulhagger3895]

Their best song in my opinion

[@DC_Prox]

I got so used to the Weird Al parody "She Drives Like Crazy" that it sounds like there's something missing because there are no car engine sound effects. She drives like crazy! Her car's a mess! She drives like crazy, she's got a death wish, I guess.

[@PaulNaude]

Very happy you did this one ❤

[@JuanMartinez-xl2oj]

I loved this as a little boy, oh how I would rewind the cassette over and over to sing to this song, oh Susie- from kindergarten, she drove me crazy!

[@JASmith-oy8db]

Awesome!

[@WindmillChef]

I chuckled a laugh and a smile when I opened my computer and saw this thumbnail. This is NOT rock music, this is pure 80's pop and quite okay. When I heard it for the first time I thought the song was a joke, comedy music, caricature-istic. But gosh darned it is catchy, and in 89 we danced and sang along it in our cars, in a bar, where ever we heard this. And of course there's a reference to a girl I was dating at the time. I bought the album in 1989 and it is not a bad listen. Based on it I expected more in the future for this band. I believe they pulled a second single off this album and I believe they produced a second album that didn't have near the success. Thanks Amy, brought me cheerful memories and when you're doing this kind of music, "A Flock of Seagulls" can't be too far away. Great stuff.

[@StormChaserJeremy]

Did you miss the POP rock part?

[@jelliott3604]

Wow - that this only got to number 5 in the UK and more that it got to no 1 in the US. Fantastic song, brilliant album, still listen to it every so often.

[@rocstar2001]

A great tune, it came on the radio a few weeks ago and it always creates a good vibe. A tune of the 80s for sure.

[@marcelmarceau2526]

They also do a good cover of ‘Suspicious Minds’, the Elvis Presley song

[@gradypatterson1948]

This song seems to me to be a study in contrasts - the chord pattern is a simple & very common 1-4-6-5 throughout the whole song, and there is an echoed "ping" sound that plays a single note repeatedly from start to finish - it isn't in the bass register, but it functions like a pedal tone. On top of this repetitive foundation, we have the "crunchy" guitar, or the synth-string pads, and Roland Gift's vocals switching between his rather distinct falsetto and more "normal" tone - these provide the variation which makes the song keep the attention. The lyrics themselves seem to be a kind of contrast, as well - the unnamed girl drives the protagonist crazy with desire, but also with frustration - and we are left wondering which one is the "good" crazy and which is the "bad"!

[@mikewe3001]

the Video to this song is a masterpice of Art - i recommend watching it

[@bronwynthorn4494]

Back when I was young and partied a bit, this was my cut loose song!

[@toddmoore9841]

Please follow this up with Weird Al's "She Drives Like Crazy" 😊

[@alans2012]

In detail in depth explanation Very nice !

[@seansersmylie]

Always loved this track, the video is great too!!

[@MelTuly]

Happy Blast from the past . Never really noticed before , but this has a bit of an INXS vibe . Or maybe the other way round 💚💙

[@dennish3032]

I agree , you must see the video to fully enjoy the music. And a thought , my wife ( rip ) always said that I did not listen to this to be nice. I played it when I could get away with it. And I was nice.

[@marileecornelius1777]

[@stevenalper3890]

I wonder what Amy's reaction would be to Cameo's Word Up?

[@continental_drift]

Great track, great album.

[@joeybonin7691]

This record has some of the best audio imagery I've ever heard. It's one of the best 80s songs.

[@lisar6510]

Fine Young Cannibals also had a hit with the song Sweet Thing. I think you would enjoy it

[@markjones2349]

Can't believe we're listening to this song right now.

[@einatliberman4186]

the melody is very thin here, but the magnificent vocal delivery is the hook of this song.

[@brianboye8025]

The melody is in the background but it is constant and contrasts well with the synthetic pops and stark guitar work.

[@SpeedyVV]

I thought for a second we were going to see Amy start dancing!

[@petemc5070]

Always loved the production on this song.

[@toxitron7385]

i know you ve been told this often, but this one goes with the video! it was a big hit on mtv and i think that video is a big part of the success of this song.

[@marileecornelius1777]

Straight up 80's synth pop, and a very fun example of it for sure!

[@patturk7408]

I remember watching "Meet the Richardsons and noticed one of the actors. After 30 seconds it dawned on me it was Roland. Living in the US I wasn't familiar with his post cannibal career.

[@ahmednour9708]

i think we need from you to covering this song on harp , that will be so wonderful for sure

[@fladder1]

I think you'll love "the flying pickets" with their acapella cover of "only you" as well.

[@thomasalexand]

I love this song. I first heard it in a pub (a bar, if you're American), and I knew it was going to be successful. The same goes for Gorrila's Dare, another good dance song.

[@quantenmoi]

By 1989 digital music technology had become highly developed. Most synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, and some effects units were equipped with MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) that can be used to coordinate the instruments. And this factors heavily into the rhythmic feel of this piece. There is some acoustic percussion, but the overall framework is based on a drum machine. So, it’s a tight grid. But much of the rhythmic interest comes from the synth and/or sampled parts. They have short delay (echo) and tremolo effects. But the key point is that these effects are in sync with the tempo via their MIDI interfaces. This creates a tight precise rhythmic feel rather than the loose, spacey, and atmospheric feel of analog effects. You can hear the effects on the individual parts more clearly in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKGpoKCBYt2ars0 There also seems to be a slight delay effect on some of the vocals, and this is synced to the tempo as well.

[@johnny0531]

I prefer the loose, spacey, and atmospheric feel of analog. Drum machines and sampling is a poor substitute for real people playing real instruments.

[@fernandodeleon7466]

Best two notes guitar riff ever 😊

[@divarachelenvy]

Well said Amy. You should listen to their cover of the Elvis song "Suspicious minds:...

[@apple7233]

FYC performed as a house band in a nightclub in the movie Tin Men. They played their other big hit 'Good Thing' in the movie which starred Danny Devito and Richard Dreyfuss as aluminum siding salesmen - good movie.

[@StuartHanson-fo7iw]

Part of my early childhood, loved them🇬🇧

[@BossNerd]

I don't know why but I have always thought of this song as a call back responding to "Momma's Got a Squeeze Box". These songs are from different era's, and not particularly similar, and yet I always think this is what "daddy who can't sleep at night" sings back in response.

[@alisonh7229]

There are loads of bands from this time which are worth a lauren. Ultravox, human league, Duran Duran, George Michael, more Prince, Inxs, more U2, Madonna. Simply red, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Kate bush. So much great music!

[@vanthspiritwalker]

The Raw and the Cooked is the title of a very famous essay from the french anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss

[@christopherlockwood986]

When will you finally get to Depeche Mode?

[@BrendanAshton]

My favorite Fine Young Cannibals song is Not the man I used to be

[@petrilampela]

I remember hearing this countless times as a kid. But now that I've heard it again on the radio I get so distracted by the snare sound that I can't bear to listen to it at all 😂 Same with some of the songs on Michael Jackson's Bad album. I never paid any attention to the snare sound as a kid but now if I think about if for a second it just ruins the song. Don't get me wrong, I love me some eighties synth pop, but some of the production choices really "drive me crazy".

[@buning_sensations5437]

The Specials - Ghost Town. Please check out Ska music. The t-shirt worn by Sting in "Don't Stand So Close" is the Ska band "The Beat" in USA "English Beat" where Fine Young Canabales come from.

[@mirkus21]

Hope u get rich your work is great… hope some day you see Soda Steeeo… from Argentina… they were great!!!

[@edwardkennelly677]

. QUEEN: MARCH OF THE BLACK QUEEN

[@luluadapa5222]

You're going to have to be patient. Vlad has his grand plan (and he's a bit of a tease!)

[@michaelfrank2266]

I'm always for a relationship song and this one has that great hook, "... and I can't help myself." So been there. A very well done pop song. Edit: Sorry. Good review too.

[@johnlemon874]

I recently stumbled accross "Elmore James" and I'd suggest a listen to "Dust My Broom" as I can hear the real fundamentals to rock music in his playing and song structure.

[@Vhaloskor]

FYC- Good thing.

[@viceroyzh]

This sounds like a tennis match.

[@brianboye8025]

Very funny.

[@JoeBlow_4]

Nice little pop ditty.

[@bluetopguitar1104]

So much fun. Also check out "good thing"

[@olavl8827]

I like your civilised take on the meaning of the song. To me it was always simply about lusting for someone who's holding off. You know, she's like a bit of a tease, playing with your affections. Roland Gift's voice feels quite primal in the chorus. It's an expression of male sexuality and desire, in a good way.

[@jeffreyparks2371]

Don’t Look Back is my favorite by them.

[@ephemeralable]

Maybe also try UB-40

[@h.c4898]

next react are "I'm not the man I used to be", "Johnny come home", "Good thing", "blue". 👍👌

[@amymikesparks2699]

If you revisit FYC, give their cover of “Suspicious Minds” a listen.

[@eh1702]

Roland Gift really thought of himself as an actor till this point, rather than a singer, and actually I think he carried on preferring acting (stage and film), and has also written at least one play.

[@BrendanAshton]

There was a radio play where he built a story around a number of fine young cannibals songs and their themes

[@SpaceCattttt]

This was the most overplayed song at the time. It was INSUFFERABLE! Today, I'm OK with it, but I can't stand the synth snare drum that overpowers EVERYTHING! If they could just tone that down about 200%, this song might finally sound good.

[@garganega]

INXS "Not Enough Time."

[@drfunkology8164]

have you touched on ska ? Specials etc ?

[@jelliott3604]

I'd drive my car If I had a car to drive Baby baby don't look back

[@zzzaphod8507]

Fun song, although it's no "Within You Without You", ha

[@michavandam]

Vlad, can you make sure that the music is not a whole lot louder that the talking? That's been a problem in the last couple videos.

[@beingaware8542]

always loved FYC! great morning. someday try Crash Test Dummies. 😊 Also, it's great whenever you bring in your harp.

[@vruz]

Up next: Hootie and the Blowfish? Milli Vanilli? 🙂

[@johnny0531]

Milli Vanilli would be a great introduction to lip syncing.

[@hypatian9093]

@@johnny0531 All of Frank Farian's work, even the older stuff of Boney M., is a perfect example for their time. The man knew how to make mainstream dance stuff - and he showed that he had a quite adaptable voice, too ;)

[@rogerwitte]

You always need to read ahead because the 'h' is pronounced in reference to Alabama but silent in reference to the West Midlands of England.

[@jackbooten2681]

What about Lucky Man from ELP.

[@Ethelred77]

Yes! ELP, i am all for it. From the beginning would be nice too, or maybe The barbarian. ELP did a couple of rock interpretations of classical music, very fitting for this channel.

[@АлексейМаксюк-с8ч]

hello.Please, can you listening sabaton christmas truce?

[@XFLexiconMatt]

A percentage of Fine Young Cannibals was more retro 60s RNB in a way. They has a little bit of range.

[@michavandam]

This song has the same four chords throughout, even though the chorus sounds different than the verses. Still, when the chorus comes, it feels familiar, since we've heard the same chords already, over and over again. This was Prince's way of writing hits. I wonder if FYC were influenced by him.

[@gernwind9262]

They went to Minneapolis with this. And yes, used Prince's producer. So indeed, very much Prince writing. A deliberate move to get that international breakthrough success.

[@michavandam]

@@gernwind9262 Great information!

[@gernwind9262]

@@michavandamIt's amazing how you picked up on the connection. I wouldn't have, but then I'm not that deep into Prince. Read it years ago in an article that went over the production history of The Raw & The Cooked. Can't find that anymore but the gist of it you can get by googling a bit. The producer was David Z (Rifkin), also responsible for the nauseating Funkytown back in the day.

[@michavandam]

​@@gernwind9262 Thank you. I'm actually not into Prince. It's the Beatles who are my musical bible. "Funkytown" - ha ha ha!

[@Aleeecstasy]

Amyyy please react to Sting - if I ever lose my faith in you

[@magusscorpiones9276]

This is textbook 80s dance music if you want the full experience put this on and get Vlad to dance with you.

[@sharonsnail2954]

Come on, Amy. No mention of the drums!!?? Are they (is it) needed?

[@mana3735]

His voice makes me laugh.

[@Chromeostasis]

NOT one-hit wonders - they had some bangers ❤

[@wakeinfright5498]

I always thought these guys ripped one of Prince’s sounds.

[@eh1702]

The quality of his non-falsetto voice isn’t really coming through the uo-frint instrument mix here. It’s a bit overwhelmed. He has an unusual… I dunno what to call it - not exactly coloratura. Like a long hallway opened at the back of his throat.

[@BrendanAshton]

It’s good to see the musical snobbery come out for this band, or it would be if this had any less musical value of whatever people consider more importantly. Obviously the most overly complex music is better that’s why it’s so popular, or does it become of less value when more people connect with it. Elitist, surely not in music ;)

[@Kris_T_]

This ain't really rock.... but that's no reason to pass it by.... in the words of the great John Paul Jones... "you can learn something from everything, from the most avant garde jazz to the most vacuous pop...even if all you learn is, Don't do that"

[@diogenesagogo]

So, about P J Harvey .......... kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5y5aoulebuIorc

[@jensmaas555]

Weird Al ruined that Song for me. She Drives like crazy

[@OscarInAsia]

I keep waiting for the car horn sounds.... Oh wait that was the Weird Al version! 😆

[@thomasalexand]

​@@OscarInAsiaSo, it wasn't just me.

[@johnny0531]

And as usual, the Weird Al version is better than the original.