Big Country, and Stuart in particular, never got the recognition they deserved. They had to put up with a load of crap about 'bagpipe guitars' , people overlooking what a magnificent songwriter he was and what a tight, tough band they were. They were doing what U2 later did and a FUCK of a sight better. The Crossing is the best British rock album of the 80s/90s and a fitting monument to a sensitive, gifted and - in the end - tragic British musician. He WILL be re-evaluated. Rock on, Stuart.
The majestic song that really started my love for Big Country. “I am an honest man, I need the love of you, I am a working man, I feel the winter too” gets me every time. He had our love but still felt the winter. Rest In Peace Stuart, you will be forever loved and missed. ❤️😢
So strange to find that someone else feels the power of those words, too. They have always moved me. This song is pretty perfect. I hope it isn't swept away.
@@WDRhine this will always be my favorite Big Country song. The fans will never let it be forgotten. Big Country fans are diehards and so loyal. I’ve met so many wonderful people all over the world because of this band.
@@lisaknell1809 It's been my long held belief that this song would have been a hit in America if it had been on the Steeltown album. As it was no song was a hit because no song was a single.
It breaks my heart that Stuart felt so desperate that he felt he had no choice but to take his own life. The most talented artists have so much heart and passion that it is hard to survive in this world. Sometimes the best are taken from us way too soon. God bless you...
I walked into school with a jumper as near to Stuarts as possible a few weeks after seeing this video. I was sent home for not wearing the appropriate uniform. Worth it
I'm 55 now... and this song raises the hairs on my neck now as much as it did back then. It never ages. An absolute incredible piece of music and fabulous lyrics. Love it.
was fifteen when i got "the crossing" and loved it. Somehow i forgot about them. Rediscovering them again. Wish i knew how completely great they were live back in the day. I would have gone to every show i could. Too bad i won't get the chance. What mind blowing talent. They never got huge here in US. They should have. Ive been turning everyone i know onto "come up screaming" cd, young and old. Are any young folks gettin into these guys? learning something about great music and songs?
I remember listening to this on my walkman when all my other classmates were listening to Michael Jackson Thriller. I'd like to think I converted a few, but it wasn't hard, all they had to do was listen.
it still saddens me deeply to think that stuart went unhappy when, after every gig i went to ,crushed against the stage i'd return home very very happy. id be unable to speak for 3 days cuz i'd sung my voice to shreds . i'll never forget one night at bristol studio which was a club upstairs on a suspended floor and as the band played the crowd bounced the floor up and down like a bloody trampalene. RIP stuart, you were an awesome front man in a fabulous band!!
This was, is and will always be my favourite band. Played my dad's The Crossing LP relentlessly and still see it as a perfect album. Saw them play Canada's Wonderland for their The Seer tour and got Stuart and Tony to sign my album cover and t-shirt. This song though - a yearning pervades it yet it harkens wide open, crisp spaces unmarred by humanity. Perhaps this was the world Stuart sought. I hope he is there now.
I can remember watching this the very first time it was released on top of the pops and fell in love with it there and then. Stuart looked and sounded amazing in this video and for me it epitomizes everything the great man was about. One of the greatest guitarists and singer/song writers EVER in my opinion and will never be forgotten. Love you Big man. You made my teenage years such a joy !
im sad they will no longer be making music that moves me ..i love their sound and style and content that inspires ...thank god we have a testament to his life
Great song - Mark Brzezicki's drumming still forces me to air drum to it as soon as I hear it! Shame they were of the era where poor old Stuart feels the need to do some George Michael type dancing!!
Still love this band as much as when I first heard them in 84. Saw them a dozen or more times in the Barras - every gig was life affirming. And on the subject of Icelandic jumpers, my ma used to knit them for me and my brother, she always made the necks too tight and I can still recall the sore ears taking them off and her telling me that they would "slacken off". She is dead now and so is Stuart ..... Happy memories of both. RIP My wee Maw. xx
Am proud to say that i had Big Country on last weekend and found my 12 year old daughter singing along and she knew the words!! hopefully ive passed on the love to the next generation lol
LEGEND! ah the memorys of youth! still got the crossing on vinyl, infact i bought it twice just cos the album covers were different colours R.I.P. Big Man
R I P Stuart,you knew how to write and master brilliant songs.Pitty we only get to listen to them on you tube or from cds we own,I am just glad we dont need a licence to listen to the radio.
I remember listening to this song on my radio when I was a teenager, on the late-night show. It's such a great track but it always makes me feel sad.... That said, it's still a great song and it sounds as good today as it did all those years ago.
Had a friend from the Def Leppard band who really liked this song he would play this all the time I truly miss Steve Clark he also suffered from addiction today will make 28 years that he will be gone I've been listening to this song since 5:00 am thinking of him I remember the first time he played it to me .He said little bit come ere " I have something to play u .He really liked Big Country I to Hope they found their wonderland.
I feel bad for Stuart. He was such an amazing musician and put so much work in his music but is extremely underrated. He definitely should have gotten a lot more recognition. And the way he went to the big guy in the sky just makes his story ever more sad.
So very sad his genius wasn't noticed as much as it should have and that he had demons or depression that is so common with genius's! But he will forever live in our Hearts and Minds with his song writing and music! RIP Stuart!! We Love You!!
They rocked! The entire album was amazing! So simple with so much power. I got this album when it first came and it blew me away! Still does... I love love love BIG Country! Listening STILL gives me chills!
Agreed! I grew up in CNY and I remember the first time I heard this on the radio I was in a store in Utica. It was on 96.9 WOUR. The cashier groaned..got up and changed the channel!!! I was 14 and furious..never forget it. LOL I think I have listened to them everyday since 1983. Best band ever IMHO.
Sadly missed. Maybe he'd still be around if enough humans were as emotionally in touch, a man born out of time. His lyrics invariably make me cry, I was lucky enough to see BC in concert in 85, unsurpassed as yet.
Always loved this track, melody, vocals lyrics so superbly written, simple yet complex and honest. Rest in Peace big man - love you - love your music. Thank you.
I had this Vynl EP as a 12 year old - Best shit ever on the way to the schenectady planetarium on a middle school trip .... big ass walkman ... Wonderland ...
one of the best years ever for music bands and singers the 80s they will play on foreva not like the shite played now will be forgotten the 80s music will live on
I watched this video on vhs many times at my parents house This is one thing I will thank my father for, this band was a beautiful introduction to real music
We only have their greatest hits, but this is one of my favourite songs off it. Also like Just A Shadow. Well I like them all, but that one particularly.
there's something affecting about stuart up on the mountainside in the snow LOVING singing the woaoaowoah bits into the freezing air of (eye like to think) scotland (but if my memory serves, it isn't). that was a fantastic gig you were honoured to behold, one of the great concert films. is there any sign of a dvd release? in my teens, eye painted a mural on my wall; a collage of bc imagery, featuring the wonderland mountains, the stag, and the pub from the back of 'iabc.' wonderland it.
Stuarts sweater personifies the era this video comes from - all geometric patterns. Brings back many memories. Superb band, lucky enough to see them live - still have fond memories of that day.
Big Country....ABSOLOUTE QUALITY!! Real music, real lyrics...and QUALITY GUITARS!! Stuart, you had so much more to offer!!...keep the dream alive boys!!
I was hit by BC in 1983. Wonderland was, simply, shocking. It took The Crossing into another land. I was so inspired by it. It made me feel important as a stupid 17 year old. I watched that pride be torn apart beneath a darker sky? How could a 17 year old understand this epic journey. When Steeltown emerged I became an adult overnight. My dear friend Stuart. I miss you every day.
I stood on the top floor of the carpark on Westgate Street to listen to them then went to the pub before Bowie came on :-) Got to see them in Newport-fantastic band and Stuart was such a wonderful genuine guy.Still feel so sad when I think about his death :-(
I vaguely remember seeing this video on MTV when I was 14 in ‘84. Of course, they had great music back then. I have been playing Wonderland regularly since 2019 even after discovering that this video was pretty much hit or miss while in current rotation on MTV because it received light rotation only. If you’re going to ask me “so what?”, then you and me both because it’s a great song by BC anyway.
I had the priveledge of seeing Big Country in Daytona Beach (free concert), spring break 1984. These guys were very good! I will never forget the sound, it was incredible! Just so happened I was 17 years old and skipped school, me and some freinds drove to Daytona about 20 miles away, low and behold Big Country and Modern English, were getting ready to take stage, We got a parking spot and the rest is history! Also I must add that Modern English was good! concert was at the Band shell!
this music will live longer than 80 percent of other 80's stuff. it has soul, and if you listen closely to all their songs, you can hear the passion and love in every note and word.
21 years ago on December 16, 2001, Stuart took his own life a few miles from where I live. Yet, 7,000 away from where he was born. A long distance from loved ones. Miss you Stuart..
I lived in Montana and remember only being able to find the crossing and wonderland lp......i had them in casette tape and literally wore them out and was desperately waiting for new music that never came.........For me they literally dropped off the planet until i saw by chance the album "Why the long face" in a record store in the mid 90s and it re lit my hunger for their music............
They were the best oh my God were they the best without any doubt, on every conceivable level. Big Country Big Wow! What guitar, and wish I could have built snowmen with him💖
It upsets me to read all the comments on BC tunes on here,I didnt realse how popular and loved they were.If only Stuart could of read all these comments , then maybe just maybe , he would still of been around and realised how many fans were devoted to him.
the crossing was a great album desrved to be on the list of the top albums of all time and a completly original sound ..wow great band i have a imported clear 12 " vinyl of this single:)
Great band I had the pleasure of seeing them live 10 times between 85-99. Amazing live band. Brings back many happy memories of the early/mid 80's. Always thought they deserved more success than they achieved. RIP Stuart
I have been listening to this song a lot lately...always been a fave, and just rediscovered how much I toally love it! One of my faves of the 80's too.
First heard this live in March of '84 - had to wait 4 more mos. before my local record shop had the EP - most amazing thing I'd ever heard @ the time - STILL ranks right up there!!
Your are right the talented people definitely have a lotta hear & passion and end up taking their life as this world does not appreciate them. They feel like a fish out of water in this world (specially the post 80s world SUCKS).
