Simply Red - Holding Back The Years | REACTION 

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This is a classic 🔥 transcends generations

It is still amazing that a song of this style was able to hit on the pop charts at that time. British Soul at its best and his voice

Yes they are a British soul & pop band formed in Manchester, England. The lead singer name is Mick Hucknall.

He was our Ed Sheeran in the 90s😊. His version of If you Don't Know Me By Now is top tier

He has a song I really like called "Sunrise." It's a song to crank the volume on.

To me, it looks like he's reflecting on his childhood, just based on the lyrics of the song. This song is so very beautiful, and it always gets me emotional.❤

Amazing song. Incredible vocals

One of the best songs from the last century! Timeless and classic.

Yep Jack, the music video shows the lead singer Mick Hucknall walking through the beautiful english countryside & Whitby Abbey. He was reminiscing about his chilhood & the difficult relationship he had with his father. The scene at the end when he was on the train was at and around Goathland railway station on the Nork Yorkshire Moors Railway.

I like Simply Red. This is a great song. My favorite one is “Sunrise” which contains samples of Hall & Oate’s “I can’t go for for that” Good request.

Love him down ! His voice is so beautiful.. Fun Fact : he wrote this song at age 17 !!! Classic timeless music right here ! I feel this song in my chest & heart every time I hear it 🥹😍❤️❤️❤️🙌🏾🙌🏾

Hi Jack great reaction…. Mick is from a little town called Denton in Manchester England, just 10 minutes from me. This was recorded in 1985, so 38 years old and the video was recorded by n a little seaside fishing village called Whitby over on the east coast of England. Mick Hucknall is the lead singer and still sounds incredible, I saw them live last year in his home town, he can still hit those notes! ❤

My mom's favorite childhood song and yes simply red is a band you guys

This song is special...brings back memory of middle school ❤❤❤

Awesome choice! Brings back some memories. 😢

One of the best concerts I’ve ever gone to. Mick Hucknall sounds just like the record singing live!!!

Thank you CRobb for the request!!!

This song is so beautiful!!! Touches the soul.

This song is mesmerizing! Of course it was a massive hit. Awesome reaction!

A few things to mention about Simply Red: (1) I remember that while riding on a Bus in Detroit, a Man started singing this song loud enough that it made the Bus Driver tell Him that He would only move the Bus when the Guy stopped singing! He stopped, and We All finally started moving along. (2) If You want to see Lead Singer Mick Hucknall in a different light, then You can check out the Music Video for the song 'Stars'. He really changed His Look in this one! And (3) When I worked in a Café in Downtown Detroit in the 1990s, I saw the Manager great none other than Mick Hucknall and Lead Bassist and Singer Steve Lewinson into the restaurant, called Café Martinique'. Mick smiled at Me and a Coworker behing the counter while the Owner and Manager named George n'Namdi (He sold Art there as well) spoke with Them. George asked what brought Them here to Detroit and Café Martinique, and They admitted that They wanted to go Sightseeing in Detroit while They were performing there, and in the process They got lost Downtown, so They both decided to come into the Café to rest a bit a have a drink. So that's all that I have to mention about Simply Red for now! Peace, Jack!

This song is so iconic…I have lays loved it and it’s featured in one of my favorite movies Love & Basketball ❤

“I thought this was like the Isley Brothers or something” so basically you were thinking what a lot of us thought for years. Because I thought he was a “Brother” for years😂😂😂 But I love this song❤❤

Love Simply Red very soulful

This is one of those songs that has a permanent spot in my playlist... for over 35 years running. Amazing song, amazing voice, and the video takes it to another level.

To realize "Holding Back the Years", "Human" (Human League), "That's Just the Way It Is" (Bruce Hornsby), "Sweet Love" (Anita Baker), "Tender Love" (Force MDs), "Something About You" (Level 42), "Captain of Her Heart" (Double), were ALL on the charts at the same time is amazing. I was 10 years old. Such a rich moment in time.

Mick was 25 here, he's 63 now and sounds just as good even live

I am pleased to say a Manchester England lad with one of the best voices ever loved when they started and still love him now pure talent and he wrote the song

Sad song. He was abandoned by his mother at age 3 and had a distant, disapproving father (particularly of his choice to do music). Holding on probably refers to, in spite of his circumstances he would not give up and hoped for a better future.

I was lucky enough to attend two Simply Red concerts, wonderful and amazing Micke Hucknall has an incredibly distinctive and beautiful voice .❤UK

It's a 🔥🔥🔥🔥 song though and he has nice singing voice WOW very great request so far loving it much love 💜💜💜

When I found out Mick wrote the song when he was 17 it blew me away. "Holding Back the Years" is the third single from SR's debut album, Picture Book (1985); it hit #1 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was also nominated for a Grammy (Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals). Please react to Simply Red - "Stars" and "Sunrise" (my faves!).

Angie Stone's remake of this for the Love & Basketball soundtrack is sublime. There's a live performance of it on RU-vid as well - check iy out if you love the original!

Sunrise is another Simply Red banger. They sample Hall and Oates I Can't Go For That on the track!

Yaaas! The iconic holding back the years of simply red ♥️...wish you'll do a reaction of video of his other hits like "fairground" and "stars" 😊

Blue eyed British Soul!! It’s the video, this is what it was back in the days, music video!!

Another classic i remember this song when it came out back in the day another favorite. Also have that song on my playlist. Stay Groovy my friend keep on the good work ✌️

He wrote this fantastic song when he was 17 only and the fact that it is an autobiography song adds layers of emotions to me.

Hey hey now...talk about one smooth classic right here. The key changes and intricacies n this one too. His voice leads it all. Woo....yes, request the archives now...Indeed ❤

Jack, Mick started writing this at age 17. It's inspired by his true life story where, unfortunately, his mother left him at age 3. How about the harmon muted trumpet? Best choice ever for this song. You can hear the Miles Davis influence as Tim Kellet serenaded us in a very rare mid 80's pop song trumpet solo. Excellent! "If You Don't Know Me By Now" is an AMAZING cover & really shows off Mick's vocals.

This song really makes me emotional, because my Mum sang it to my brother, who has now passed.

One of 'The Red's' greatest hits back here in the UK. Mick Hucknall's brilliant coming of age song about his life and upbringing back here in northern Britain. Another brilliant song they made was their cover of the old Harold Melvin classic 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' where Mick really lets rip. Great band. Great lead vocals!! 🙋‍♂

That’s that blue-eyed soul. Check out Phil Collins One More Night

Love Simply Red, /Mick Hucknall's voice👍🔥 You have to hear: "It's Only Love", "Money's Too Tight", "Sunrise", "If you don't Know me by now" 🔥✌🌼

This smooth jazzy/bluesy 80s sound among so much else variety of the 80s... is also another song to try (if not in the past). Similar sensual vibe 80s song ... "George Michael" - "Careless Whisper" - from 1984 and was a huge international hit official video is good.

Great song and incredible voice

Finally...Mr red❤❤

Simply Red is da truth!🔥🔥🔥🔥

A classic!! 🥰

their whole album “stars” is fire! 🔥🔥

One of my favorites ❤Good song 🎵

We all had the same reaction when we found out who actually sang this song 😆😆😆. Definitely thought it was a brotha singing this when I heard it as a kid

He’s got other nice ones too “Stars”, “Sunrise” & cover of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”…one of those blue eyed Soul singers

17 yrs old when he wrote this, it's about the fact that his mother left him at 3 yrs old & never came back. That's why he sounds so angst in this track. That' a Trumpet!

You would 🤍 "Something Got Me Started" by them also, it's an absolute bop 👍🏻

Love and Basketball ❤️

This song has always been dope!! 🔥🔥🔥

Mick Hucknall is just an amazing vocalist!! A song I still love, and he sounds just as great now as he did in the 80’s!

Classic

Simply Red (the band) still makes amazing music. The lead singer Mickey's voice only got better with age. Definitely react to some of their 90s/00s projects too.

I like that you had the closed captions on 👍🏾

Totally agree, the use of the French horn echoes the melancholy of the lyrics. Great analysis!

I've always loved this song. Suggestion: Terence Trent D'Arby's "Sign Your Name". Another great song from the 80s.

Man, I’ve been WAITING for you to react to this. Thank you for doing this!!!

Definitely a Classic !!! ❤ this song one of my favs!! I know ALL the words REAL MUSIC 💯

fun fact : this music video was filmed in the seaside resort of Whitby, United Kingdom :)

They used to be my song. Oh my God back of the day I’m telling on my age now because oh my God I used to love that song and yes I was around then, so you know

YESSSSS❤❤❤❤❤. Jack Jack you are on a role😊😊😊. Also some of themost soulful white artists are from the UK. As they had a greater appreciation for black soul music. Starting decades back.

😭😭😭💖💖❤️ No Words

Thanx for reacting (Y) beautiful song.

One of the most beautiful voice in music. You should check other songs . I love him 🥰🥰🥰

This song is on the movie soundtrack Love and Basketball

I've always loved this song. I heard it when I was a child, and I would always think, 'I don't want to get older and be singing this song with regrets', which was a very deep thing to think, but I've always been a deep thinker. Also, Mick wrote this song when he was 17 years old.

This is one of my dad's favorite songs. Absolutely love❤

I went to see them twice last year and was great he still got the voice ❤

Masterpiece ❤

Del boy alone after Rodney's wedding...if you know you know. Amazing track.

stars is my favorite and red wine

Love this

Great song! You better sing 🎶 Jack🎙!!! I love the trumpet in this song too. It's it's hauntingly beautiful, filled w/ melancholy & memories. Have a good one 🌄 🌞✌🏽!

Classic Simply Red. Check out their cover of If You Don't Know Me By Now. I know you'll be impressed. Then explore their more upbeat funky cuts.

Aw come on Jack! I'm surprised that you're surprised by the quality of this song - you know what of hotbed of musical genius the UK was, especially in the 80's and 90's ... its our super-power !!!💪

It's just as good now as when it first was released. It's been a favorite of mine for decades.

This one here is one of my favorites, including SAY YOU LOVE, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER...

Really enjoyed your reaction. 😊

British white soul singers are some of the best from the 60s to the 90s.

In your music journey you will realise when you cross true talent. It transcends time and genre. ❤

The song is phenomenal. You should do Money's Too Tight to Mention next.

I still listen to this song to this day. Great choice

One of my fave songs growing up ❤ what an awesome request

Hi Jack, so it's possible that the version of this song you live stream years ago was by the Isley Brothers. They did do a cover of this song.

Great reaction and a fantastic band! For a completely different - yet equally good - vibe from Simply Red try their earlier tune "Money's Too Tight To Mention" next.

This is a classic!

So funny you saying you thought it was The Isley Brothers🎤💜 they did a cover of the song and the lead singer is Ronald Isley. He has a very distinct voice as well, similar to Mick's🎶...

Their entire debut album Talking Book was dope !!!!

I love this song! Yes Simply Red was part of that second British Invasion of music of the eighties! He has an amazing sound! This is just a great music video! Mick Hucknall is the lead singer of Simply Red! Check out their hits: “Money’s Too Tight To Mention”, “Stars”, their remake of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, and more!❤❤

I’m surprised that you didn’t know this artist, he is amazing worldwide famous, everyone knows him here in Brazil 😅

Mick Hucknall can sing. Respect this voice.

Tone in the voice is the most important thing some would say. Lyrics are a kind of a Poetry-.

He wrote this song when he was 17 years old.