XTC - Mayor Of Simpleton

XTC - Mayor Of Simpleton (Official Video)
Music video by XTC performing Mayor Of Simpleton. © 1989 Virgin Records Ltd.
vevo.ly/p3P68Y

[@mustafa1name]

XTC made deceptively simple sounding songs, but they have depth, heart, and superb craftsmanship. Built to last

[@andrewrosen6508]

One of best pop songs ever recorded by the most underrated band. THEY SHOULD be in the R&r Hall of Fame! FOR SHAME!

[@reversefulfillment9189]

Once you've achieved Mass acclaim, you've lost. Not proud of that fact.

[@graemeking7336]

Really ? The r & r hall of shame is a scam. XT,C are better off out of it, dignity intact

[@danieladams9950]

After The Beatles, the best band.

[@SorendeSelbyBowen]

Who cares about the rock'n'roll hall of fame.

[@vayres7512]

Correct. That´s an american crap.@@SorendeSelbyBowen

[@pureevilhotsauce6490]

Like how they "cast" ex-bandmates as a fish and a car in this video in their honour

[@austinhealey1120]

That is really cool

[@dethteck2263]

Excellent comment! Thank you for keeping XTC alive!

[@infomanone2801]

Reminded me of Hecklefish. Lol

[@P-Bass_Pete]

Ha! Never thought of that until you said it. That is really cool.

[@P-Bass_Pete]

XTC and Squeeze had some of the best songwriting and lyrics ever.

[@burpo]

One of the happiest sounds ever recorded.

[@treywyatt1842]

I agree!, 100%!

[@0rganfarmer]

This album is the bridge between 80’s new wave and 90’s alternative. What a song.

[@jaimedelafuente9421]

Yes it is! ... That's right! 👍

[@juliusnepos6013]

Yeah

[@James-if3kc]

Sounds a lot like Squeeze.

[@Edyth_Hedd]

@@James-if3kc Only infinitely better.

[@James-if3kc]

Your opinion.@@Edyth_Hedd

[@SomeoneCalledRob]

Colin Moulding (bass) really putting in a shift here.

[@CrypticCocktails]

And on a Rick! I have the same model and it’s a beast

[@ArthurShedsJackson]

The most underrated band of all-time. These dudes are PURE GENIUS!!!!! ground-breaking genius. TIMELESS.

[@terencemcardle2029]

Defo

[@thinkofsomethingcooler]

Does no one else hear this when they listen to Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night”? Both great songs but I immediately thought of this

[@davidbowman4259]

Agree one thousand percent. They're superb, stellar and stupendous.

[@birdg2112]

Incredible band that does not get talked about enough.

[@terencemcardle2029]

McCartney &Lennon without the impetuous

[@toddmichaeljohnson7139]

Secretly the best band of all time!

[@mauriceortiz8817]

Truly I saw their doc too.

[@RnREnglands]

Who else listened over and over and over. .........

[@dvdiii]

That bass line!

[@SeanRainey]

It's like.... Bach-level genius.

[@anthonyjohn3445]

Absolutely beautiful song, played this to death in 89 when I was 19. The song is obviously smash you over the head amazing but goodness me, the bass player, absolutely utterly killing

[@karajones8971]

Same

[@2760ade]

Most people don't even notice the sodding bass line! Irritates me as it is incredibly good!

[@donnysarian]

One of the most incredible and complex bass parts ever constructed for a Pop song. It drives the counterpoint for the whole song! Absolutely incredible!

[@graemeking7336]

It's almost McCartney...

[@mauriceortiz8817]

Yes a lot of the bass work on 80s pop are stellar.

[@danieladams9950]

A glorious song.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

I wish XTC were more popular. I wish this were a real TV show. I wish I could make music and videos this good.

[@originalindiechick7999]

Rick Beato brought me here! 😍👌🏻🎶 So glad he did, a great tune

[@bigsonny45]

I'm mad AF that this only has 284k views when it should have MILLIONS!

[@Al-iv3mb]

Almost doubled since you posted

[@utoob7361]

My favorite XTC song. Wonderful lyrics, jangly guitars and a great rolling bassline.

[@CrypticCocktails]

How many songs start like this and never let up? True pop and rock mastery

[@WarrenCromartie2]

This was the song that reignited my interest in XTC. It came on a video jukebox in a pub one rainy Saturday afternoon back in 1990. I had stopped listening at English Settlement, but went out and explored their subsequent albums and have been 're-hooked' ever since. Thanks to whoever put this song on the jukebox that day :-)

[@eddienebula6084]

i want to thank the UK for 90% of my music collection ❤️🍺🇬🇧

[@danieladams9950]

XTC were extraordinary. The best UK band after The Beatles.

[@Ida-iu3uj]

@@eddienebula6084 lol so true!

[@michaelratcliff8634]

Everything about this song is wonderful. That bass ...

[@GammaRayBurst417]

I was just a boy when this gem was released. As a 50 yr old I still love this song.

[@atoddswithitall672]

In 1980 I was 12yo and a drummer. But my set sucked. When my mom said no to a $200 20" Zildjian ride cymbal (probably more now), she said yes to a much less expensive bass guitar kit, a Fender Squire P-Bass plus 40watt Peavey amp....so I learned bass, and 9 years later, burned out on Rush, Zeppelin, etc., who are all great bands btw, but when this song came out, I had to effing learn it. I banded up with some chums and we used to laugh and cry about the energy this song exuded...choice of notes both instrumentally and vocally. The harmony of the vocals, and music, and the harmonies within harmonies....we analyzed it, note for note...I would suggest everyone do the same, it is mind boggling mathematical, symmetrical, linearly precise. These guys are more than musicians, they are mathematical musicians.

[@richardlevesque7234]

One of the best band ever. Their whole corpus of work is made of very thoughtful lyrics and arrangements. And Colin's bassline is unreal.

[@danbrockettDOP]

Many don't know that Andy wrote that bass line and showed Colin how he wanted it played. Colin kills it but it was Andy's line.

[@101Volts]

@@danbrockettDOP I've also heard that Colin added to it - that Andy wrote the primary bass riff that you first hear in the song (and which repeats,) but he didn't write the rest. Though really, I don't know for sure.

[@lewisb85]

@@101Volts andy wrote it, dave gregory played this song with his band tin spirts and said andy wrote it "you can tell it wasn't written by a bass player".

[@jeffwolinski2659]

​@@lewisb85 Colin Moulding has proven beyond any doubt that he is an outstanding singer, songwriter, and bass player. Dave Gregory doesn't hold a candle to Colin's talent, his goofy miming to vocals he doesn't sing says it all.

[@Igor_Vinicius]

@@jeffwolinski2659 That must be one of the stupidest things ever written on youtube. Congratulations. (the Dave Gregory part, I mean)

[@jc6594]

Happy 65th Birthday Andy Partridge

[@bencolon71]

Hugely underrated band.

[@noonthumbs2644]

I knew Dave Gregory's mum & dad, lived at the top of my little Close. They were the reason I got married to my husband!

[@James-if3kc]

Nobody cares.

[@Al-iv3mb]

​@@James-if3kcYou cared enough to make a juvenile and pathetic comment

[@Al-iv3mb]

I'm sure there's a lovely story there

[@James-if3kc]

@@Al-iv3mb Again, nobody cares about her or you.

[@Al-iv3mb]

@@James-if3kc I get the impression that you're desperate for someone to care, to notice you, even to try and understand you. There's help out there; start by contacting your GP s/he will listen and be able to find the people who can try and help. Good luck.

[@Al-iv3mb]

XTC were that rarity, a band who's music matched the intelligence of their lyrics.

[@vahi37]

XTC is a great band.

[@kandragraham5769]

I love the lyrics to all their songs. This one is awesome because it shows that someone who doesn't have a degree can still be good and loving.

[@silvermainecoons3269]

Is that what this song means? 🤔

[@michaelray9576]

THANK GOD FOR XTC...ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BASS LINES OF ALL TIME...THANK YOU FOR YOUR MUSIC...

[@brianborchardt7198]

One of the best bands from the 80s. So underrated and didnt get near the attention they so deserved.

[@brianvanwagner4802]

I played them a lot at my college radio station.

[@101Volts]

There's finally a VEVO for XTC now, this much later in KZbin's existence? I wasn't expecting it.

[@dannycostello1978]

Contender for one of the best songs ever made.

[@VallinSFAS]

I love the *Partridge Family* shout-out!

[@kirklarson4536]

"Well, I don't know how to write a big hit song." Yeah, I guess that's true, but maybe for the best. I love the stuff you did write.

[@thebaron8169]

I play this everyday.

[@kevinbraid579]

Swindon's finest Mr Andy Partridge.

[@stephentot5011]

I like the bass riff on this song

[@eric7922]

stellar video...highly addictive tune...I take it once a day, sometimes twice...I’m afraid I might get to three soon

[@kelvinwilson9217]

The beauty of this band is genius. Forget about the rock and roll hall of fame rubbish, and appreciate three amazing musicians who have made more classics than most of those bands put together.

[@Eersian]

I remember this song as one of the first bands my dad introduced me to. It's even on one of my family's home video tapes. Thanks dad for introducing me to good music

[@lindaweston4482]

Love this song!

[@williammorgan5320]

Great band, great song, great everything, and a wild bass line. Love it.

[@tomwagner6334]

Incredibly underrated band.

[@paulelliott3220]

XTC - truly great band Brilliant set of albums and another classic song

[@karmicselling4252]

Andy in the middle. David with the Strat. Colin with the RIC Bass. Simply beautiful! Masters of their Art!.

[@rattan3793]

That's not a Ric bass. It's a Kay K-20B in the video but the song was recorded with a Wal bass.

[@davidboyce8683]

These guys were genius .

[@classiclife7204]

When you haven't heard it in a while, you need to listen to this song about 3 times to get satiated by its zest and fun.

[@Themanwhocameback2]

Well said!

[@otmargreb6110]

Well, I'm here again saying, "This work of Art is Pure Brain Candy!"

[@modelleg]

Really EPIC pop song.

[@Pfeffa]

The funnest bassline of all time. Also leads to tendonitis lol

[@edwinastawski6033]

It's my most cherished track in the world.

[@stevenhendry841]

This song really is a fantastic masterpiece

[@Augfordpdoggie]

not only is the song catchy, with an incredible bass line, the video is brilliant

[@scottallison2296]

Exquisite genius

[@daviddaly4382]

Super top draw, very underrated band XTC. Thankfully we have the luxury of being able to see these great video's and listen to some of their back catalogue on KZbin. A great band! 😊😊

[@peterbland7227]

Wonderful pop from the 80’s.

[@desert.mantis]

Great tune! It's as fresh as the day I first heard it.

[@stevesmith2529]

Never gets old, still lovin it since the 80's

[@jlynn2724]

You could tell me this is Elvis Costello and I would 100% believe it.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

That explains why I don't care for this.

[@gdeezy]

Love that they cast Rain Wilson as the lead singer.

[@UltimateRubberFool]

Those guys can play!

[@davesnothere2879]

That’s how you do it kids

[@cruzdiabIo]

pleeeeaaasssse be upstanding for the maaaajor of simpletonnnn

[@marshalllancaster2314]

Was driving around in my college town the first time I heard this. I remember the turn I was making in 1989. Yes, I was completely enamoured of it. Bought the cassette and played it that whole summer.

[@go-goakins1489]

Great song by an awesome 👏 band!👏😎👍🤘

[@radiojet1429]

I can't imagine not having this kind of XTC in my life.

[@darrenlee-ross4432]

This band are the best ever - absolute genius :) x

[@user-ms1pg2ok4i]

I was 21 in 89. Good stuff here.

[@jane3ta]

Hello Rick Beato people! Exploring the whole XTC back catalog like me? Next up - Peter Pumpkinhead!

[@Edward-bd8iy]

"....But he made too many enemies Of the people who would keep us on our knees Hooray for Peter Pumpkin Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead...." Remind you of anyone?..... Say... somebody with orange hair?

[@816amnet]

This is the greatest pop song ever written.

[@terrymcgee3504]

Please be upstanding for XTC.

[@tmage23]

2:04 "Assistants to Andy Partridge" lists character from "The Partridge Family" TV show. Never noticed that before.

[@signcrash]

This is the US version of the video. The UK version doesn't have that. The UK version is posted here on KZbin.

[@RailsUpNorth]

What an incredible song!

[@drdexter33]

I love these guys

[@laurence2824]

One of the things I love about XTC is their hugely innovative approach to diatonic harmony. Sorry if this gets a bit bookish, but I'm a retired music lecturer so maybe you'll indulge me for a moment. This song could so easily have been conceived as an easily accessible money-spinner but the harmony is, as ever with XTC, quirky. "Please" of "Please be upstanding etc." is sung on the 9th dissonant note of the scale - later the melody comes in canon (further unsettling the stability of the tonic chord). This superimposition of conflicting diatonic harmonies is called pandiatonicism (and is usually associated with composers like Stravinsky and Milhaud). It's amazing and thrilling that exotic complexities of this kind snuck their way so naturally into British pop. XTC's 'That's Really Super, Supergirl' is another example where the verse-melody starts on the leading 7th degree of the diatonic scale. The sonic montage at the end of 'Chalkhills and Children' is both radical and beautiful; there's not much in contemporary pop about which you can say that!

[@Mr._Bassman97]

They use diminished passing chords often too. These guys know what they’re doing. To create such a vast amount of interesting music, you’d have to.

[@laurence2824]

Indeed; which gets us into the world of Messiaen, Debussy and Mussorgsky. I'm fond of Shakatak too, who also have a sophisticated sense of harmonic freedom. What tickles me particularly about XTC is their frequent experiments in chromatic saturation (not a million miles from Charles Ives' astonishing harmonic palette - do you know the 2nd movement of his 4th symphony? Amazingly composed as early as 1912) ​@Mr._Bassman97

[@user-wz2qe2pv6r]

Another of the many original tunes from that period.....must have been something in the water....They all now sound fresher than they did back then...its amazing.

[@marywatkins6798]

Such a great pop song!!!!

[@basketburger]

One of the best tunes ever 👍

[@BobSchoepenjr]

Amazing intelligent pop song with a timeless mastering

[@darlamundine]

New wave beauty in early 80s Texas🔥

[@blackiefitzpatrick6611]

Still Awesome. THX Andy and Boys.

[@rehetbutler]

Great feekin song

[@DougSmith-kd3en]

Timeless music and Video

[@JN-jg2ke]

Nice references to the Avengers in the video.

[@thevoid99]

not to be confused with marvel's the avengers.

[@JN-jg2ke]

British Avengers tv series came first - 1961. Marvel team wasn't created until 1963.

[@espens255]

I just wish they all could become friends again..

[@originalindiechick7999]

This song gets better on every listen! 😍🎶👌🏻

[@neriodavidsevilla9689]

Música Genial!!!!

[@alisonrosenfeld1620]

my favorite song.

[@Pfeffa]

Perfection

[@RailsUpNorth]

Bloody brilliant video too. If you ever read this Andy , this song makes me so happy !

[@JoelBryant1960]

No other better pair to craft a catchy song with a hidden message most probably will never get. The tongue in cheek is painful if not so spot on.

[@stevengoomba6490]

such a cool and fun song. I like the somewhat rambling and unpredictable melody but also the triplets on the post-chorus

[@Themanwhocameback2]

Charming song, and very charming video.

[@lesliegooch7565]

Such a great song! I love this video, it's just really fun to watch!! 💜💜💜Andy💜💜💜

[@melhenderson2844]

Great song and video. Looks like they had great fun making it too. LOVE XTC.

[@ICA17887]

Fabuleux XTC!

[@walcoman]

So punchy and the harmonious vocals are seamless!❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@PhilipHarwell]

Jangly and catchy. Two of my favorite song attributes! Love it!

[@user-gi9rs1mu2i]

きやーー！！　カッコ良すぎる😂

[@JOHNHEALY-mg2xy]

SO WONDERFUL

[@jasondunn5410]

Class..