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They had a number of big songs in the 80s like "Down Under" and"Overkill" (brilliant song) and their videos were all over MTV. Lead singer Colin Hay is a very talented songwriter. His right eye does point outward which is a condition called exotropia. He later started a record label called Lazy Eye Records. He said he wrote this song when he had no money and lived in an apartment next to a drug dealer and people would often mistakenly knock on his door at all hours. It made him paranoid to open the door because he didn't know if it was a drug user or a bill collector.
Thank you for the backstory. 😊 Back when this was popular and I was a teenager, it was just a silly song. But, as I gained life experience, I developed PTSD and severe anxiety and panic disorders ... now, the song is totally relatable in a sadder way. I do still love the song, though, and agree with you about Colin Hay. I remember he performed Overkill on an episode of Scrubs and how impressed I was with it. Completely stripped down, and so deep ... 🎶✌😊💗🎶
Sorry about your problems with PTSD. I've had pretty severe anxiety issues my whole life. It must be in our family, my brother is far worse off than me. But things like a knock at the door send me into a panic with heart racing for no reason. I was 11 or 12 when the song came out, but hearing it again when I was older I could identify with the paranoia of the song. And, yes, I've heard Colin's acoustic version of "Overkill" and it's beautiful. "Ghosts appear and fade away ...." has always been one my favorite lines from a song.
Add my vote in for Overkill as their best song... There's an acoustic solo version that was worked into an episode of the TV show Scrubs, it's out there if you google for it
The lead singer was on an Aussie talk show years ago and said, "i'm the one you'd want with you during a bank heist. I would be a great lookout. I could stand on the corner and see both ways." At the time, I thought it was awful for him to make fun of himself. But now I think it's great, because he accepted who he was and just rolled with it.
Lead singer with the famous crooked eye is Scottish-Australian rock singer Colin Hay -- has a successful solo career to this day and he was also a member of Ringo Starr's All-Star Band for a spell. "Be Good, Johnny" is a trip also by Men at Work. Hay has one of the most distinctive looks & voices in rock music.
1980s no play list. Had to wait for song to play on radio. What a great feeling when your favorite songs came on. Now a click and you can here what you want. The fun is gone. Kids will never know that thrill. 😔
I still remember sitting by the radio with a casette in place when the charts came on, with my finger on the record button trying to press it at the right moment hoping the dj wouldnt talk through the intro of the songs i wanted to record. Those where the days lol
Ladyravenn....you took the words right out of my mouth. Those countless hours waiting for "your" song to come on so you could have it on cassette (and being pissed off because the DJ talked all over the into and then cut the song short)....UUGGHHHH!!!!! I still have many of those cassette tapes (but no player)!! When music was sought after and had meaning (lyrically and musically)....unlike the disposable majority of today.
I think you're mistaking necessity with fun. I only listened to the radio because I was poor. Never bought music. Missed out on a lot. Kids aren't missing much today aside from perspective. But the poor still get spit on, metaphorically speaking. The wealthy hoarding animals continue to ruin the world.
Men at Work were HUGE in the early 80s, catchy hooks, humurous vids, Colin, the lead singer, he of the Wonk Eye, appears in a episode of Scrubs (my fave tv series of all time) where his classi Men At Work song, Overkill, is worth a watch....he is very talented...and Overkill is my fave song from them as well.....great job doin the reacts, looking forward to the next one....
Men At Work is a great Aussie band whose popularity peaked in the 80s. The band is so tight and Colin Hay has a great voice with major range. Some of my favorites from them besides this one are Overkill, It’s A Mistake, Be Good Johnny, Still Life, Underground, and Down Under.
We're all insomniacs!!! You really are taking me way back!!! I all ways thought they were a little different in there videos. I still hide when some people come to my door!! LOL
The year was 1983 and Men At Work was my first concert without an "adult" to keep an eye on me. Six Flags Arlington Texas(my home town born/raised there). Was an awe inspiring night and will always remember Men At Work very fondly. Not my gsnre of music but everyone was having a good time that night
I have not seen this video in a looong time. 1982 I was a crew chief on the C141b Charleston AFB SC. This song brings back so many memories. Greg Ham, saxophone in this video 1953-2012. R.I.P.
Colin Hay (lead singer, guy with the crazy eyes) still performs in Los Angeles at the Largo. It's a small venue so it's easy to meet him after the show. One time I imitated his odd eyes in front of him and he did the crazy eyes back! Funny guy. Great musician.
my second oldest son and I used to play this song when we would stop by to see his dad ( he was on that stuff) He would laugh with us. ( He has been clean for years now. We are best friends still😄😄)
I always loved this song. Perfect Anthem for Paranoia! And his eyes are amazing! Either he has one eye slightly off center or he can move his eyes like, which is really hard to do. I've seen drug addicts that live this song. Men at Work have always had fun.
Men at Work has a lot of great fun and funny songs. *"Overkill"* is one that is totally serious, with a less extreme theme that is similar to "Who Can It Be Now?" In "Overkill", the singer realizes that he is giving too much thought to the things he is worried about, and that keep him up at night -- "It's just overkill". It's a beautiful song, and stands out as stylistically unique, and reflective, among Men at Work's several great songs.
You wondered about his eye ? It's a glass eye. This is a great group, I even gave my daughter a CD of them when she was about 7 (2008) because she loved them so much
Men At Work held no 1 in the USA for 16 wks in 1982 amazing for an Australian band they were a worldwide sensation in the early 80s, band members COLIN HAY, JOHN REES, RON STRYKERT, JERRY SPEISER, GREG HAM.
Found your channel yesterday and I binge watched for the diversity of music you are reacting to! Lol I showed my husband and he suggested I request that you check out White Lion "When the Children Cry"- if you're interested in a classic 80's tune. It's fun going down memory lane! Hard to believe you've never heard these songs, so It's like watching & hearing these songs for the first time, all over again, but with a new perspective. Thank you so much! Enjoying your channel loads! God bless you in Jesus name! ~jenn & husband
You should give Chicago 25 or 6 to 4 a try. Chicago was a mastermind at composing huge brass and woodwind sections and stirring in some jazzy blues on top of rock. Naked at 400degrees for ten minutes and serving it with a refreshing fantasy filled story.
Oh we are doing Australian hits now huh....You need some AC/DC or Cold Chisel in your life. AC/DC - If You Want Blood or Cold Chisel - Khe Sahn being a couple of my favorites.
80's were a lot of experimentations! ;o) I liked this song. His voice, the beat.. today I understand the lyrics, but younger I didn't understand English really ... It's funny to finally know what is all about!.. I act like that when somebody is ringing at the door! lol
I always really liked this band. This was a great song. If I remember correctly, the lead singer either had a glass eye or had some other problem with one of his eyes. This was one of the coolest videos on MTV. Everybody loved it and the song. "Down Under" is another good song. It's probably the first time Americans heard about Vegemite sandwiches, which were eaten in the U.K. and Australia.
This song was the moment I was cooler than my local DJ... I heard it on MTV, called up my local radio station and requested it, and they had never heard of it... A few weeks later it was everywhere. It was nice to be ahead of the curve (I was 13 or 14 I think at the time)…
Men at Work, the band’s from down under. Really had some great music. They were in the start of the New Wave era “ U2, Depeche Mode. Some really great music!
This is a great song, they had a huge international hit also with "Down Under" which you've probably heard before. Sadly the sax/flute player (Greg Ham) took his own life a few years ago in part to that song, because they were sued back in 2009 by a stupid copyright holder who owned the rights to a 1930's Aussie song called "Kookaburra" and alleged that Men at Work copied a part from it for the flute used in "Down Under" and Greg took it really hard and felt it tarnished their song and band.
Men At Work had some great songs! One of my favorites is called "Overkill". I think you would really like it! The lead singer is Colin Hay, and he is an amazing singer and guitarist, not to mention clever songwriter. Their style was VERY similar to The Police. Oh, and yes, I know exactly what you meant about the Exorcist guy......... "I wish you shelter from the storm A cozy fire to keep you warm But after all, when snowflakes fall I wish you Love" ;)
Ty Smith, James Bova here.l am glad you liked Men At Work's "Who Can It Be Now". The video came out late 1982 or early 1983.l was a kid at that time.Men At Work's lead singer is Colin Hay.They made their music videos Entertaining and Understandable.Most of the music at that time came from bands from England and lreland.There are so many that l could tell you about.I would love for you to review from Men At Work "Down Under" or "Overkill". l think you will enjoy them both.Look at all of their videos on RU-vid.Just type in Men At Work Vevo.l guess Vevo is connected with RU-vid.Also look at singer Elvis Costello.His stuff is Awesome too.You probably have heard "Watching The Detectives" by him.Thank you for responding to me about The METALLICA song " Master Of Puppets".God Bless
Their by far best known song is "Down Under", and also the singer did an appearance on a popular episode of the tv series Scrubs where he sang their "Overkill" song which of course made that song that much more famous as well v=jrGmcuj44DQ
I relate to this song so much and for a reason that is probably going to seem as odd as the song and video clip. For years, I worked in mining, flying in and out of remote mine sites. When I was away at work, I would be thinking of and planning everything I wanted to do and needed to do when I got my week of R&R back home. I treasured my time at home so much, I would resent it if anyone or anything intruded into that time, so much so that if someone knocked on the door, I would just ignore them! If it was family or friends and they had called to tell me they were coming over, I was usually OK with that. But if they hadn't called, I wouldn't answer the door. One of my sisters was always turning up abruptly, usually wanting a favour and even she was ignored. It's become so much a part of my life now, I don't even try to be quiet when the knock comes on the door, I just continue on with whatever I was doing at the time. Yeah, I know it all sounds a bit weird, but I explain it away to other people like this: My house - my rules. So, for me, its no longer "Who can it be now?", but more "Who cares who it be now?" Well, not me, that's for sure!
There was an Aussie band called Cold Chisel that where huge. Some awesome talent. There song Bow River is amazing and I think you'd really enjoy it. There's a lot of Aussie bands that where unknown internationally but are up there with the best😊😊😊. Loving your reactions, your true love of music is wonderful to see!!!
Early 80’s. Cool music. Fun music. Coolness in the form of a channel-MTV!! VH1 came a year or so after MTV’s updraft, which had ALL of us at a loss for words! We had to fuse more words together just to describe what we were seeing. Videos had never been this b4 then. Now, look! Ppl with a YT channel and some umpteen ‘fans’ can get sponsorships, toys, and other merchandise-just for being ON.
Biggest hit down under here all thru the 80's....we used to hypothesise who it was...the cops, the bank, debt collectors, drug dealers - or his own head as hie said "its just my fantasy"... biggest hit imaginable at the time...you just cant imagine!
Colin Hay has some great solo stuff as well. He was on Scrubs and performed an amazing version of the song Overkill. He's on the road with Ringo and touring on his own as well. He tells funny stories and is a very nice person. Go see him. He sounds the same and always has a smile on his face!
Love the 80's, all it took was talent and creativity regardless of things like looks or age, which could produce classics like this song, how awesome that they even zoomed in on his face and used his lazy eye and he gave zero fucks for the sake of this crazy video lol, great band from Australia, check out their song "Overkill" one of my faves by them.
This was the first MTV-style music video I ever saw. They showed it at the cinema right before the showing of "ET The Extra Terrestrial." Honestly....I had no idea what it was! I thought it might be an ad for a record...it was only later after MTV had established itself that I realized what it was.
Colin has a classic case of divergent strabismus in his right eye. The axis of the eye points outward away from the bridge of the nose, also called walleye. Convergent Strabismus is where the eye axis points inward towards the nose, causing a cross-eyed look.
LOL A lot of 80s videos are a bit off the wall.. It was a great time to be a teen! :D ( We had awesome like Twisted Sister - Leader of the pack and Motley Crue Smoking in the boys room too!)
I love this song...I used to listen to Men at Work when I was a teen. I've always loved this song. It's about being paranoid. I like the video too. I used to watch it on MTV back when they actually showed music videos. It's from the 80's Years later I actually got to go to Australia. I had a great time. Everyone seemed to like my American accent. Some would ask me to "say it again in American" Everyone was hospitable and friendly.
Not sure if it’s been mentioned... in the 2011 version of “The Thing” this song is played on the radio in one of the scenes, which links in with the paranoia feel of the rest of the movie. I remember because I thought “Ooo an Aussie song” 😆 (Sorry found this video a little late haha)
The band was inspired to write this song when they lived in a crappy house and would smoke weed all day. The grumpy old neighbor would come over and pound on the door and give them a hard time about the yard being all grown up tall with grass and everything being a mess. They would be stoned and paranoid with the banging on the door. They refused to mow the grass and bought a goat to take care of the lawn instead, which didn't work out because the goat decided he wanted to be one of the guys and would hang out with everyone inside and get whacked on second hand weed smoke. That's the story as the singer explained it.
Well....you're partly right, and somewhat wrong. Some early years were at that house, but did not write WCIBN? there. Was written when living in NSW with girlfriend.
The singer Colin Hay has a great voice, which unfortunately is not so well known but for a few years in the early 80's. A classic video and equally amusing song and video to check out is Be Good Johnny
The dude has a lazy eye and this was their first video. That's what made people freak out was his lazy eye and they came out with more songs just as good. It was just wild watching him after burning one. haha
In real life...Colin Hay, the lead singer and songwriter, lived next to a drug.dealer.and sometimes he'd get the dealers "enemies" bursting down his door in the middle of the night.. very scary.
Lol. My brother was phoning some corporation and was on hold with the speakerphone on; this is the song they were using for their hold music. I want to do that, too.
You gotta check out The Specials, man. "Ghost Town". Or, barring that, The English Beat "Mirror on the Bathroom". Two-Tine ska is filled with awesome sax parts, man.
I always get men at work and men without hats confused 😆....I was gonna request "Safety Dance" thinking it was men at work....so I'll mention "Down Under"
Do not worry about being offensive; the singer, Colin Hay, chose the name "Lazy Eye Records" for his record label and made what some might consider a negative into a positive.
