In Scotland the Simple Minds members Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill tell the story behind the song 'Waterfront'. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo (Dutch Public TV) from 2014.
Loved this song for 40 years. Never get tired of it. Addicted to it. Interesting story behind the song. Out of a bad economic situation came a powerul, joyful, energetic kick-ass song for the ages.
My father was a shipbuilder and we had moments when he was out of work back in the 80s/90s That’s why I love this song Even in the dark days my dad still kept trying to get work He still tried his best to provide for his family, even whilst having alcohol and gambling addictions It was tough times and he was trying to win big to help his family Glasgow riverside was a big part of our legacy in my family Before my father there were those who worked that river… I wanted to be a welder like him but being female that was not allowed Love this band love this song…. Saw them last Friday In Glasgow, they were amazing.. third time seeing them, which I regret wish I’d seen more of them But last Friday there was something quite special about that gig that will live with me forever..
I was 16 in 1981 when "love song" came out here in Australia, completely blew my mind and gave me a life long love of late '70s and '80s UK music. Waterfront is such an iconic track, my only question is why is this only 6 minutes long? I could have sat down for half an hour or so
Couldn't agree more. I was living in Brisbane in '81 and turned 16 that year. While the Australian music industry was really kicking on, we had new bands like Simple minds, Duran Duran, and U2 bouncing into our music charts. For me the early to mid '80s were a great time for music aficionados. My playlist to this day is still 90% songs released in those years.
I scatterd my mother and grandmothers ashes at the mouth of Irvine harbour so every time i hear waterfront i get a little teary eye .Been a fan of this group since 82 they are the best love them .
1983 and I'm in my SF flat with the sun shining in and the radio tuned to rock of the 80's channel and this tune comes on for the first time and I start dancing, and my world changed again!
Holy moly! Were you referring to San Francisco? If so, the very same thing happened to me. I was at work listening to a rock station on the radio (KFOG) on a glorious sunny, spring day. The DJ Bruce was in a happy mood as he introduced the song, commenting about such a fine day. That was the first time I heard Waterfront and was instantly hooked. Bought the album soon after, recorded it on a cassette and listened to it endlessly on my Walkman. Forty years later and this song still moves me with its power and glory.
WOW, thank you. We respected SM here in NZ, but Sparkle in the Rain and Waterfront blew our minds! I explored that deserted, discarded Clyde shipyards area on a beautiful calm summer's day in August 2018. I found a very very old blacksmith forged nail, from the timber ships days, and prize it. My ancestors left the Clyde in the 1880s to sail to a new life in New Zealand, on the City of Dunedin. I honour them.
Thanks to Simple Minds for finally acknowledging how important Derek Forbes is to raising their level of music. Without Derek, their repertoire would have never been the same.
Their music to me is just epic, been listening to them since 85. My favourite song of theirs is "All the things she said" , would like if they did a story about that song.
Hi .the song is actually "inspired" by the polish solidarity leader in the 80s leak vawenser sorry carnt spell his name but sounds like thst .anywsy in the 80s Poland was a communist country and if you : striked" you got slung in jail .Jim was listening to it " all" the guys wife was saying things like if they put you in jail ill wait for you I'll be with you no matter what .Anywsy now I've told you thst go listern to the song again and it will all make sence. The Belfast child is another interesting one .but another time way to much typo.....
This band was great while Derek Forbes was in it….amazing how simple this bass line is and it works…Wish he had stayed…together the made magic in those early days…they had the combination of unique skills that just worked….
Thank you so much Simple Minds! This unbelievable Powersong gives me so much energy, emotions and goosebumps every time I play it! Been a fan of you guys my whole Life..... ❤❤❤
Jim Kerr : a natural born singer - no gimmicks, just sings the song - and the band Simple Minds - all legendary - the legend lives on - thank God for music - music lover Philippines *
exactly.. the waterfront thing was just a lot of belching noise...artistically not spectacular. And by that time I had lost interest in Simple Minds...as they tried to clinch on the successes and riffs of U2...and of course lost the grip.
A phenomenal tune. I remember playing the entire album over and over again whilst lost in Edinburgh Brilliant. Eventually found the place we were staying.
Don't know if anyone else knows this, but Tears for Fears sampled the bassline for Waterfront, tweaked it, and built 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' on it.
@@andrewherbert8125 Ha! I doubt they got a penny! To be fair Roland Orzabal is quite open about it. The very same year Midge Ure Sampled Tears for Fears' 'The Hurting' for the intro to 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' so I guess it all works out!
Hola soy carlos de Buenos Aires (Argentina). Quiero felicitarlos por estos documentales que están buenísimos,lastima que no esta traducido en español. Les mando un abrazo muy grande y aguante los 80 .
the bass line is a heart beat tone mind control hypnotizing frequency. still as a christian in a million years I'm going to step on up to the water front. Carry on in Christ Jesus name!.
after putting a cross on their 81-82-83-84 album jim kerr seems to like buddhism the most and on good news he sing he gives me that jesus save me stare
It's a universal phenomenon. Much (not all) of an accent resides in vowel modulation, and that is overridden by singing modulation. Plus singers are alive to the need for commercial succes across the English-speaking world. If desired, the Scottishness can be retained (Proclaimers!) or the Aussie-ness (Land downunder!) etc.
well, charlie sounds scottish jim sounds like a dutchman who had a stroke in dublin. amazing theyve both travelled all over the world together and yet only charlie was able to keep his accent...
@@DrWhom Biffy Clyro managed to keep their Ayrshire accent; I am sure that many singers, esp back in the 80s, sang in American because that's how pop music was to sound.
Such soul in their music beautiful music is timeless I love to hear Jim Kerr speak such humble poetry moving inside of him I love to see him perform even today always reminded me of a preacher performing a sermon love them still loved them for many many years move me like no other xxxx
There's a BBC Radio 1 evening session version of this song from the 1980s with a completely different bass line. Done for a DJ called Janice Long. It had a walking bass line: I told my m8 about it and he was incredulous! I'm not making this up.
They're GENUINELY just as good now, Aitor. I saw them just a few years ago and they were better than I had ever heard them. If you get the chance, go and see them. 🙂
