XTC-The Disappointed -Official Promo Video

From the album NONSUCH
The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. "The Disappointed" was nominated for an Ivor Novello award. The album reached No. 1 on the Rolling Stone College album chart and No. 97 on the Billboard album chart in the U.S. It was the band's second consecutive Top 30 success on the UK album chart.

[@lelabotoxique]

What can I say... The most underrated pop band of all-time. Period.

[@davidbowman4259]

Agree 100 percent. Underrated and overlooked. For me, only the Beatles are better.

[@thomaskwiatkowskiesq.328]

I wouldn't even say "pop". Most underrated music band ever.

[@fossilmatic]

They are not underrated. They are simply not well-known, or were poorly-received by a mass audience. In essence, they were “not popular”. What they are is inventive, consistent, ever-interesting, sometimes challenging, and definitely awesome. Certainly their lack of wider success with those attributes on board would make leave them “disappointed”.

[@shoegazeforever8810]

They are not and have never been underrated by musicians all over the world. Just ask Butch Vig. They are only underrated by the public.

[@KingColonel]

@@thomaskwiatkowskiesq.328 Definitely pop music

[@bestgodzillaman]

This band was magic. They made my life better with their music.

[@jasperchance3382]

same here

They still do. Like, right now, me listening to this. :D

[@paulpatrick4553]

Me too..

[@Preview43]

This song was magic. The band... ?????

[@iamamiwhoamiGOODS]

Incrível é o fato de obter um vocabulário implícito nas imagens, mas são cansativos os comentários por saudosismo e bajulação.

[@spareflyer]

Criminally ignored, a national treasure

[@rebjiii]

did u watch the documentary on SHOWTIME about them ? ....it was very good

[@spareflyer]

@@rebjiii l have watched it three times, excellent stuff. I hope you have the Dùkes stuff too, you may also like The Monochrome Set, Squid, Arcade Fire and of course The Kinks but XTC are and always will be better than the Beatles. Take care ;0)

[@rebjiii]

@@spareflyer Arcade fire's first two albums are very good........I'm not familiar with Monochrome set or Squid

[@spareflyer]

@@rebjiii good, let me know...

[@rebjiii]

@@spareflyer what do u think of Interpol, Strokes, THE THE , Hoodoo Gurus and Camper Van Beethoven ?.....a few of my other favorite bands

[@clashlc]

XTC the best band that no one ever heard of. These guys were light years ahead of the music biz. They did their own thing...made their own way and fucking killed it! Wordsmiths with musianship and arrangements worthy of all time greatness!

[@spazmonkey3815]

Andy.

[@mayhem7427]

How does a band that writes and records the perfect pop song over and over again not become mega? Unbelieveable!

[@stevegirardmedia2255]

It always has to do with the public wanting their top pop songs to be predictable & comfortable, musically & lyrically, and the band's opposition to writing that way. Perfect pop songs to us, but often too challenging for the masses.

[@RafaelRamone1990]

Because they're not Kanye West.

[@stevegirardmedia2255]

@NOT ME! In the US, I knew a bunch of people listening to XTC... because they were heard consistently on what used to be called AOR - Album Oriented Rock - stations... as well as college radio. But most people just listened to top 40 radio. One thing about this band, is that every time I read a post about "they had such great songs, like..." the poster's 'best of XTC' song list is always way different than what I would list. That's the sign of a tremendous group of songwriters/musicians.

[@steve1751]

They were ahead of their time as well.

[@spareflyer]

Being ahead of thier time means they still sell, its not about todays Number 1 its about the long game, and I beleive XTC are winning.

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

Can't believe it has been nearly 3 freakin' decades since I first heard this masterpiece. Beautiful; it has not aged a minute.

[@Forest_Underground]

I just listened to them this year... It's unforgivable that, spending 30 years listening to rock, I don't know about XTC. I love them, their music transmits indescribable sensations to me.

[@cucurucho1961]

if you're watching this then you already know how amazing these guys were, the fact that they weren't one of the biggest bands ever is something that we surely ponder together!

[@davidhenderson1951]

very sad back story, if you do not know of it. Always a few steps ahead of trends, how can they not be better known?

[@pranky4]

Fuck it, we know they exist like a lovely secret.

[@ChasBeauregarde]

As Frank Zappa once said "most people wouldn't know good music if it came up and bit them in the ass"

[@steve1751]

I think their lack of touring really hurt them.

[@countessratzass5408]

Lack of touring is why they were together for so long.

[@DavidTSR2]

Deserved more success than they got , this is a master piece FANTASTIC

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Agree 100%. Maybe the majority of punters around the world didn’t connect with medieval vibes/imagery and excellent British pop sogwriting. Who even are these people?! Oh. Most people. Keep forgetting i’m a weirdo

[@rongwrong1]

I for one am posting XTC on facebook as often as possible. I've loved them for years and firmly believe they are the best band of my generation. If I just get one person to listen I'll feel like it was worth it.

[@LanceVanceDance84]

Words cannot describe how much this song reflects my current emotions. When a song can truly express how you're feeling at the moment, you know that you've stumbled upon something great. The lyrics, the music and the overall quality of this song just astonishes me. It's really a shame that most modern music can't be as meaningful as this. Andy Partridge is a god amongst songwriters.

[@deepalmer3960]

I never ever get tired of listening to XTC! From the late 70s to 2021!

[@CarlBowlby]

I truly think there was a record industry plot to “silence” XTC....their music is phenomenal and soooo much better than anything else that’s out there. Period.

[@Vibration1129]

XTC were exactly as big as they wanted to be. Andy wrote things that were tricky and complicated. Were they Beatles level? Of course! Did they write a ton of songs with mass appeal? Not really. And, check this out: That's why we dig them so much; they're ours.

[@CarlBowlby]

@@Vibration1129 I agree with you but Andy constantly grumbles about royalties and the strain of touring before they stopped. I think they wanted on some level to be bigger than they were.

[@101Volts]

@@CarlBowlby "When we started out, my driving force was to have lots of beer in the dressing room and be very, very rich and famous. Um, we've had the beer in the dressing room." - Andy, early 1980s. He might have been joking, though, I don't know.

[@CarlBowlby]

@@101Volts great quote!

[@LanceVanceDance84]

I'd have to say that this, Towers of London, Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead, Generals and Majors, Respectable Street, No Language In Our Lungs, Dear God, All of a Sudden (It's Too Late), Are You Receiving Me?, Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me), Earn Enough for Us, King for a Day, Runaways, Mayor of Simpleton and Life Begins at the Hop are my favorite XTC songs. Long list, I know, but they're such a criminally underrated band.

[@HLLTAF]

Thanks, I havent heard some of those songs so I am going to try them now!

[@theblackstridersofficial2562]

This got negative reviews in 1991 - only now do people see the significance - andy is a wizzard

[@countessratzass5408]

The Black Striders official The internet is opening XTC to younger generations. It’s timeless. Rock snob reviewers never liked them but they don’t have the ball anymore.

[@bradoozy]

There’s a lot of really good songs on Apple Venus/Wasp Star thoughx

[@LanceVanceDance84]

@Sanity Is Freedom Indeed they did.

[@jeremypykeallen5602]

I am very proud to have been in perhaps the only XTC cover band ever. Blessed and honored. Andy, Colin, Terry and Dave had it going on! Loved their live show; Drums and Wires/ Black Sea so much in S.F that it changed the way I played the drums forever !

[@DoYouFeelit2]

I feel the same way ! I currently have the honor to have "DM" in my band. The way he plays drums inspires me to new heights. These guys had it on every level !

[@rodrigezgozalo4780]

When this song was released Andy was interviewed on radio and said the song was about people that "dissapear" in countries with no human rights,hostages,opponents etc.He said it was changed to "dissappointed"to fit with the melody.Great track,a timeless classic.

[@brighiddara8414]

I came here to search for the deeper meaning behind the lyrics. It has also esoteric overtones.

[@Euarglh]

The disappointed All shuffle round in circles Their placards look the same With a picture and a name Of the ones who broke their hearts The disappointed All congregate at my house Their voices sob with grief That they want to be chief Of the tribe with broken hearts Once, I had no sympathy For those destroyed and thrown away by love Seems, your ring upon my finger Signifies that I've become the spokesman of... The disappointed Will bear me on their shoulders To a secret shadow land Where a sombre marching band Plays a tune for broken hearts And day grows darker now Everywhere, everywhere The disappointed Are coming in their millions They're spilling from the bus At a monument to us Made of bits of broken heart The disappointed Are growing every second They blot the sun to black At the bottom of the pack I'm the king of broken hearts

[@MacXtc]

I renew my love for XTC...

[@carlossander6576]

Andy & Colin are like fine wine.

[@hellozio]

WHAT A GREAT CLIP TO A GREAT SONG BY THE GREATEST BAND IN THE WORLD!

[@jean-luccarbo7210]

Un Son merveilleux, un arrangement musical magnifique, une superbe voix, une vidéo plein de charme, je dirai même , une belle œuvre.

[@davidlauter1622]

Some of the greatest Pop music ever written or Recorded !

[@jean-paulrozand2183]

Ce groupe est vraiment génial. Durant toute mon adolescence et jusqu'à maintenant..! Du bon Pop Rock que les Anglais savent faire..! Bravo..! Une reformation peut-être..?

[@MattTheLast]

God, I adore this song.. Now there is a video to go with it. LOVE it!

[@rebjiii]

this video is kind of lame

[@utopia2112]

@@rebjiii Understatement. Especially compared to the music.

[@goinbzurk]

I've always felt they were on par, in their own time and way, with the Beatles! Their creativity and complex productions are unsurpassed! Very unappreciated and underrated! Especially in the U.S. Thanks for this Great clip!

[@justinhartley1888]

One of my favorites from Nonsuch. I get the feeling that the anger and frustration on Andy's face in this video is actual anger and frustration and not just acting.

[@craigd7808]

I've been listening to these boys since 79. This could be their best album.

[@rebjiii]

this was one of their weaker albums.....not nearly as good as Drums and Wires or English Settlement or Black Sea

[@1599maybole]

Skylarking is best

[@gaskellr44]

@@rebjiii I disagree, it's a tie between this album and Skylarking, both masterpieces.

[@stephenbennett1643]

Me to.... Nothing tops English Settelment tho ! But my fave is Drums & Wires.

[@stephenbennett1643]

​@@gaskellr44Both were great albums, but E Settelment, is the real Jewell in the crown.

[@Lyktwz]

Simply beautiful. Great Band, great album, great song, great video...

[@cucurucho1961]

'Nonsuch' is a truly magnificent album, certainly one of the best of the 90's. I always think it is a shame that XTC never got the sane public acclaim that matched the critical success they warranted. I genuinely put them up alongside The Beatles, Smiths, Kinks, and Squeeze as one of England's finest acts.

[@roba111111]

Nobody was ever disappointed by XtC.

[@CSGraves]

Feels like I'm in high school again! I always thought this song and accompanying music video were criminally underrated.

[@rebjiii]

it is sad XTC never hit it big....they had so many great tunes like senses working overtime , complicated game and , living thru another Cuba, I'm the man who murdered love, thats really super super girl, Madam Barnum and MAYOR OF SIMPLETON, Love on a farm boys wages, & ballad of peter pumkinhead and generals and majors

[@mysnellvilleblog]

rebjiii The song 'Dear God' killed them in the puritanical USA...sadly free speech is expensive here.

[@rjjcms1]

Senses Working Overtime made number 10 on the UK singles chart,and Mking Plans For Nigel and Sergeant Rock were top 20 hits as well. Generals and Majors was criminally underrated (only number 32) when out as a single.

[@TheTibmeister]

rebjiii and on and on and on

[@stevegirard-voiceaudiopodcasts]

@@mysnellvilleblog That's kind of ridiculous. I know many people in the US who loved & listened to XTC, and were unaffected by 'Dear God'. In fact, the US mainstream radio stations never played XTC anyway... but King for a Day & Peter Pumpkinhead got lots of airplay on rock stations well after 'Dear God' came out.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

This song does not dissapoint and lives up to its title.

[@donaldcharleston7822]

Yes, I can FEEL their soul in this music!💖🎤

[@flimbar]

Most overlooked and underrated band of all time

[@latinheat1132]

When songs have 50s influence people will like them for sure

[@hughlamb1033]

Brilliant song. My favourite XTC song. Quite a different band." Dear god" was controversial, to a lot of Christian people,but the words made a lot of sense.

[@arcticpenguin4164]

Nonsuch is a magical album..

[@davecoalwood9487]

Its always been an absolutely amazing song. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@misternewoutlook5437]

This video is so artistic and compliments this song well. The models have an odd beauty to them costumed in attire recognizable from the Middle Ages. A+

[@costabotes9107]

Great song. Mental video.

[@jfpOne23]

These guys are still amazing 20 years later

[@wizzoz17]

One of the fine most creative pop group. Fantastique The ducks of stratosphear

[@mauriciogherrera]

One of the best songs of alternative music. A gem? I agree. The lyrics are good and the original sound is fantastic.

[@moreheff]

oh God (yes, I know, I did it on purpose) I love this song so much. A more perfect slice of pop (for want of a better word) music I defy you to find. In three and a half minutes Andy Partridge and co deliver more quality than most bands manage in a whole career. Absolutely, sublimely, utterly, beautifully brilliant. Except that they delivered consistently, equally superb tracks so regularly it almost hurts.

[@punchu2006]

Nonsuchは内省的な曲が多くてXTCで一番好きです

[@tinkersong]

Great track! Love the sound of the guitars. The disappointed... the king of broken hearts. Music never ceases to amaze.

[@josejones7025]

The best band you never knew

[@池田敏之-s9h]

XTCは正に元祖カリスマバンドです!!!

[@PeterMayer]

never seen this. David Gregory is grossly underrated musician.

[@gurgisjones1120]

Dave Mattacks laid down some solid drums here too. Many of the albums between Terry leaving and this were with drum machines, so a welcome return to real drums.

[@NickFlores_Music]

I love their musical reference towards medieval era

[@isabellelachambre5051]

Great song, and lovely video !

[@jeromebriffaut9233]

Un pur bijou pop. Souvenir de l'année 92 et ses cassettes single. La face B "the smartest monkeys" est également un chef d'œuvre.

[@rodrigezgozalo4780]

This song should be our national anthem.Its a marching rolling spirit moving masterpiece that uses simple yet stunning powerchords with harmonies that the beach boys would be proud of.WHY are XTC not recognised as one of the top 5 bands in the world ever!!

[@petermcintyre100]

Skillful, Clever, Eccentric, Creative. XTC

[@mileslindley3760]

I played nonsuch to death, absolutely to death.

[@VinylCollectorJames]

unbelievably well-crafted pop song.

[@paulwinn2142]

Should be in the hall of fame this band, brilliant songs that never age. 😂

[@pint6x]

What a choon! Excellent stuff!

[@pavelvalentinych]

the one of most beautiful harmony and melody in the last 20 years...

[@paulelliott3220]

Magnificent in every way

[@Lyktwz]

This song, Bungalow, are the quintessence of the melancholy. I knew it as soon as I listened to it, in spite of not catching the lyrics absolutely. Lamentably I cannot suitably relate you (the English is not my language) an anecdote from the great Argentine musician Leon Giego, about the "soul of the songs", happened during a performance in Australia. If you wish it I can relate it in my English style "Me Tarzan, You Jane"...

[@davecoalwood9487]

This song should be the theme tune of Our resurgance. ❤❤❤❤

[@rabbitboy008]

Best south west band ever and so under-rated

[@acrovader]

I really miss XTC. They are my favorite band and Andy Partridge is my hero. Great song from a great album by a great band. The younger um, "indie" bands could learn a thing a or two about great music from these guys. Andy is an expert songwriter.

[@zen_light]

Superb Song, Superb Musicianship, Superb Production. Nonsuch is the Jewel in the Crown.

[@petermcintyre100]

Great Post. Not heard that for a decade. Another 'That sounds like a good tune' from the XTC factory !

[@seanemmettfullerton]

a smart cheeky look at the joyless and barren lives of our modern humanity... brilliant!

[@propaganmessiah388]

I absolutely LOVE their music no matter how many times I hear it................!

[@Reidak12]

This song is so eerily beautiful.

[@krollpeter]

So many stunningly beautiful songs, so many clever lyrics. How come they do receive so little recognition? Peter Kroll, Singapore

[@karanaman68]

Thank god there is bands of this calibre. What a wonderfully sad and beautiful song. Shame more people cant appreciate this sort of beauty

[@YoungPike]

A great song by the most underestimated and misunderstood band in the history of popular music.

[@rundoetx]

I'm Stupidly Happy listening to this song.

[@Earthguest]

Great comment! I’ve been listening to it over and over for the last several days. I just close my eyes and wave my arms like a little child enjoying every freaking walk down, every freaking stereo-bounced guitar lick, going back and forth. I’m kind of wanting to hear his lyrics a little better in the mix, but hey, it’s XTC, whatever they do is all right by me!

[@roba111111]

I absolutely agree. I've listened to a lot of music since XTC stopped recording, but I still hark back to these wonderful songs. Maybe not a National Anthem but I loved this song and so should others! Andy you were brilliant back then!

[@Rotateitbaby]

Surreal vid. Great Song!

[@racketman2u]

Yet another XTC song that never came up on my radar when it was released, that I like more every time I hear it.

[@95thFoot]

Bloody hell- brilliant songwriting, stellar playing and an imaginative video appealing to smart people. No wonder it sank without a trace. Talk about pearls before swine...

[@lorenzor4024]

Still listening in March 2020

[@Al-iv3mb]

I have it on good authority, I mean REALLY good authority that this was Andy's favourite XTC album. It's mine too

[@otisfreeman8766]

My favorite of XTC

[@thedrunkenfool]

I love XTC, they reach the places other artists cannot reach ( to coin an old beer slogan ). Think it is really harsh to offer criticism of production values having only heard 2 songs. However, most XTC fans will probably agree that production values pale into insignificance and the real values in the songs are the way they make you feel deep down inside. XTC have always, and still do, carried me on a rollercoaster of emotion with their words, music and lyrics.

[@slessorpr]

Nonsuch is the name of a truly fabulous palace Henry VIII built just south west of London. It was a unique building, not a castle, so much as a rich mans playground. It was a symbol of the new age of reason and good taste Henry hoped he cd inspire in his subjects. Sadly the problems of his later life overshadowed such delights as Nonsuch, and all that survive are drawings and descriptions.

[@Pellow]

Great track, Nonsuch is my fave XTC album as well. The video reminds me of the wars that they used to have in the olden days.

[@isabellelachambre5051]

Lovely video. Great costumes !

[@terminalmf]

Although that could just be due to how enamored I am with how he delivers the "Once I had no sympathy/for those destroyed and thrown away by love" line.

[@stevenphillips9685]

another great song that most people will never hear

[@mitchikaboola]

Great, great, great song. As all of Andy's songs are. Thanks you for posting.

[@christopherwelch1094]

Such a great song. Even by XTC's stupidly high standard. Simon Mayo championed it on radio 1 and it went top 40. Andy didn't like many of the video's Virgin made them make but this is definately one of the better ones. What was odd about Virgin was they made expensive music videos for XTC then failed utterly to promote the single they were attached too. Thus getting the band more and more in debt.

[@gaskellr44]

Yes, and look what they did with Wrapped in Grey, arguably XTCs finest composition, withdrew it as they thought it wasn't good enough to be a hit(F*cking Idiots) apparently about 1000 copies are circulating around at a value of over £600 each. A stunning song, which is why they went on a 7-year strike.

[@PooperScooperTrooper]

Briiliant song. I cannot believe I've only JUST heard it! XTC have fast become a favourite band of mine!

[@MarieRChild]

what a wonderfull song !!! The beatles and english sound are in the air ! ^^

[@YoungPike]

This song is pure genius! Musically and creatively, XTC stood head and shoulders above their contemporaries and yet third-rate bands like Duran Duran and the tedious Simple Minds sold albums in the millions! I predict that XTC's stature will increase in time as more people discover their amazing and uplifting back catalogue.

[@deceiver444]

This is some seriously refined songwriting.

[@edlawn5481]

IMHO Nonsuch has Andy's best songwriting, and that's saying something.

[@kevins9703]

always been a huge xtc fan. never heard this. thank you.

[@MrNaKillshots]

A magical song.

[@PeterPumpkinhead1]

A beautiful song from a beautiful band!

[@scott7521]

Partridge looking like Bob Mould here

[@Comunister]

one of my most favourite clips

[@chad-te9oj]

Love it!❤

[@namelessneed]

I so agree w/what you have to say about todd, and andy's comments. I expect that in retrospect he realizes todd's amazing influence