I too love good lyrics. That being said, I'm pretty tough on love and heart break songs. I set the bar VERY high and this masterpiece cleared that bar by a long shot! Amazing stuff!
you know.....I don't know why more people aren't privy to them. When I mention my favorite bands I kind of say the Smithereens last because most people never heard of them or thought they were good. My favorite bands; I'd probably put the bands I've come back to over and over for personal reasons and the songs are just good....maybe I'd put them at a tie w STP/ Pretenders for the 5th spot. When I met Pat by accident back in like 2010? I wish I wouldv'e mentioned that I never knew that the song "William Wilson" was about a ghost......when I became a fan of theirs, I was 14 and the house I grew up in was without a doubt haunted! Even my stepdad being a very science minded guy became aware of some things that was going on. It wasn't until I was late 20's revisiting some of my old cd/cassette favorites that I really listened to the lyrics and was dumbfounded. I wonder if the ghost in the house liked that song too.....as I used to play it over and over. Lol.
Even back then I always wondered why these guys weren’t HUGE. Amazing songs, one after another.. songs people still recognize today, even though they may not know the band. (Just heard one used as bumper music on Monday Night Football.)
@@barbaradoyle6093I guess because bands like them don't appeal to the top 40 masses. Other bands that I like that were never really all that main stream were the Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, etc. Smithereens are from my home state
A statement from Jim, Dennis & Mike Today we mourn the loss of our friend, brother and bandmate Pat DiNizio. Pat had the magic touch. He channeled the essence of joy and heartbreak into hook-laden three minute pop songs infused with a lifelong passion for rock & roll. Our journey with Pat was long, storied and a hell of a lot of fun. We grew up together.
I taught in Pat DiNizio's former high school, so I used to walk past the wall of fame everyday to get to my classroom. Pat's face on his plaque welcomed me each morning. We in Jersey have a sense of pride for our own. Just last night, I saw the band perform for the first time although I have always been familiar with their tunes as a singer songwriter. They wrote good, original music that will stick around, I'm sure.
@@smartalix5295 I'd like to think I am included in the pack. Check out my latest single ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ne_47dJAX84.html, written, played, recorded in the great State of N.J. Thanks for listening :). G.
@@mcclift9451 Yes, there are many of us musicians/songwriters here in the Garden State. Check out all of my music/videos on RU-vid if you want a taste of new Jersey voices. Thanks and take care.
I know that they still record and tour, but I miss this band with DiNizio in the lineup. Because they often get enmeshed with the identity of the band, it's hard for most acts to remain at least as successful (whether you guage that metric in terms of record sales, box office numbers, creative/aesthetic quality of the recorded product, or any combination of two of these three or all three) as they continue on after the departure of the original lead vocalist -- whether that be due to firing, quitting, or death. There are a few exceptions to this rule (Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Faith No More, Can, and Black Flag offered as a sampling from that shortlist), but the rule still holds
Celebrating his life. Pat would have turned 67 today.. Patrick Michael DiNizio October 12, 1955 Plainfield, New Jersey, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. He was very proud of his Italian heritage.. We miss you Pat D..
I understand that people like and dislike different things. Thumb down votes don't make them idiots; it simply means they're intolerant and belligerent. I won't waste my time on them. I happen to love this song!
The Smithereens are criminally underappreciated by too many. ROCK fans know how great they were and what a force Pat was. R.I.P. to an ALL TIME GREAT! Jersey or anywhere people appreciate pure rock and roll. Jersey band 1a to E Street band. Bonjovi? EFF OFF!!
We hired him for a "living room concert." It was Pat and a couple guitars. I was pretty young at the time, still in college and I got a little too drunk and accidentally knocked one of his guitars over. I felt like such a stupid dick, but he was really cool about it, "that's alright, Jimbo" while in the middle of his song. He was such a super cool guy. I'm so lucky I met him before he passed.
That is such a cool story. Steve Miller’s brother lived across the street from me when I was a kid and nobody thought of doing something like that. Keep the memory!
This song introduced me to the band in 1989...my senior year in high school. I fell in love with the song right away, and I've been a Smithereens fan ever since. Simple, clean, "no-frills" rock 'n roll...sounds awesome.
Harlin. Perfectly worded statement. You captured the magic of them perfect, like an esteemed critic. I am a conservative white man. The left and the mainstream media tells the world 24 hrs a day who we are. My man, no conservative friends or acquaintances of mine are anywhere near being what we are portrayed as every second of every day. Mr. Neal, just you being a Smithereens fan, I know we would become best friends. And every single person I associate with would welcome you to the family and make sure you are fed a plenty right off the bat. God bless you sir and keep the volume and love for them up.
@@jaymeforeman2931 It's great to know as a white conservative man that you, a black man, just blew all the media story lines to Smithereens! They want you and I divided and in hatred of each other. And you and I just want to listen to good jams together, have tons of laughs, and become great friends quite possibly. Great job Sir. Only 16 words. God bless always.
Pat DiNizio, you'll be missed. Give our best to David Bowie, Prince, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell... Only a Memory, best of memories.. it's back to The Smithereens we all shall go.. R.I.P. brother..
The Smithereens were one of the most underrated bands of their time, they were great musicians. RIP Pat DiNizio, and thank you for the years of great music.
I've been listening to The Smithereens since almost the beginning, and I think this is my favorite song they do. I could hit the repeat button on this one and just drift. Fantastic Rock. RIP Pat.
Let's put it this way if everyone liked everything it would be a bit boring.. If anything the audio needs to be remastered on this clip . And yes lol I like the song
I saw these guys can't remember when exactly but it was in a small hole in the wall club on Hillsborough St. (NC State) in Raleigh NC. Place was PACKED. The only place I could stand was next to a massive speaker next to the stage. Haha. Damn that place rocked. My ears rang for a week. LOL.
I was fortunate enough to see them at the Greek Theater here in LA back in the early '90s. They were fabulous, and were playing on a double bill with Los Lobos - one of the best concerts I've EVER seen. Will never forget it.
When I was in middle school, I learned to play the saxophone. I dropped it when I left middle school. For years, I've wanted to play an instrument. I've thought about picking up a Tenor sax, polishing my skills, and finding a place to play. ...and a lot of that was inspired by this band's music. They were pegged "alternative," but they were a straight up classic bar band at the core--raw, stripped down, and primal. RIP, Pat...and thank you.
RIP Pat DiNizio. Was luck have seen the Smithereens in concert 3 times in my life. Those shows are undoubtedly more than only memories, they were experiences I'll always remember.
I first saw this video on MTV back in the late 80's...you know...back when MTV actually "MUSIC TELEVISION"!!!!! This song introduced me to the band, and I love this song decades later. It's simple, clean, honest rock music without all the filler, hype, and crappy vocals a lot of pop and rock bands of my 80's generation and even today have. To this day, I'm still impressed with the style of this band...and I still love this song.
One could make a good case that the three most underrated bands of the 1980's were King's X, The Fixx, and The Smithereens. R.I.P. Mr. DiNizio. Your music makes you eternal now.
What a kick ass band. Love The Smithereens! These guys were ahead of their time in the 80's. Their sound got lost in all of the hair band crap that saturated the radio waves in that decade. Their sound was perfect for the alt rock that came later in the 90s.
everyone who has ever been in a relationship can really indentify with the lyrics from this song.. because when you split.. thats all it is.. only a memory.
I have always loved the Smithereens I am so sorry for the loss of Pat D. Beautiful voice so gifted. He is Loved by many and will be missed. Thank you !
One of the best 80s bands...yea Im a Priest, Maiden , Malmsteen, Satriani, IceT, IceCube, Public Enemy fan...best decade of music that will never be experienced again.
Rickenbackers through Marshalls...and that's only the tip of the iceberg as to why this band was one of the best. Great lyrics and great melodies. We miss you.
TBS did a contest when Green Thoughts came out, i wanted to win that prize so bad!! These guys spoke to the quiet guys who couldn"t ever tell the girls what they really wanted to. Thanks Pat and the boys, love you guys!
I remember playing The Smithereens in College radio back in day (88-92) and having the second most listened radio show my senior year! I was even sent to NYC for a college radio convection because it seemed I was in Gaven Music magazine that year!
One of the best bands of the '80s and '90s (and the surviving members: Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, Mike Mesaros) are stil out there playing shows with guest vocalists in place of the late great Pat DiNizio. This is a great song. Mesaros and Diken are such a piledriving rhythm section.
I got to open for these guys as a local venue after most people who even knew the name forgot them and after bands stopped playing "Girls Like You". Many bands who get that close and no further, or who drop into has been are jaded and filled with attitude. Not these guys. They treated us like we equals. We were absolute nobodies outside our world and they never once made ys feel that way. Truly a rare quality in "name" bands.
Great band, great singer with a unique voice ... so rare in this day of digitalized post-production. We used to play a few Smithereens songs in my band back in the '80s, I always liked their music. R.I.P. Pat ...
my husband and i grew up in new jersey, and we were lucky to see the smithereens 10 times over the years. they were always great. i was truly heart broken when pat died. i still am...
Pat DiNizio passes away It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pat DiNizio, lead singer and songwriter of the influential New Jersey rock band, The Smithereens - America’s Band. Pat was looking forward to getting back on the road and seeing his many fans and friends. Please keep Pat in your thoughts and prayers. LONG LIVE THE SMITHEREENS ! RIP MY BROTHER ! YOU WILL MISSED MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY !
My dad and aunt hooked me up with a Living Room concert for my 18th birthday. I fondly remember playing this song WITH him (and of course I have the pictures and video to prove it of course). I'm 35 now and I've been a die hard fan for 30 years. The Smithereens is a hidden gem - one of the true GOATs in Rock and Roll.
