@@reissrobinson3608 kind of but not really. It was the modernised (for the 80s) version of the folk songs that _are_ about the clearances, but Letter from America is about the way that the Thatcher government used mass unemployment to break unions, causing the decimation of blue collar communities and the depopulation of industrial heartlands as people left to find jobs across the seas.
I don't know why there's so many negative comments on this. Yes it's not the same as their previous work but it shows the diversity that they have. There was a comment saying that someone didn't like their pronounciation of "wide" and "fine" but come on, everyone pronounces things differently as we all have different idiolects and diolects that make us who we are. I really like this song and think that people who are picking up on stuff like this should be less shallow minded and learn to enjoy music for what it is
Yeah because that's really how they kind of branched out they were different they sang in their own voices with their accents not pretending to be from somewhere else
She's a trained voice. I'm from Sunderland which is next to Newcastle and I still have my accent when I sing. If you listen to other scotish singers very few keep their accents like this, I think its only Donnie Monroe that I've heard that has done that and even then in some songs he falls into the american singing style
ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT this is the best I have ever heard and I am a little proud to say I am part Scottish. Definitely will subscribe to such music mastery and harmony. Fantastic.. True Love not necessarily is within a few blocks of where you live.
so pleased to discover a magnificent version of this song in the stranger than fiction film, and this also just enhances the whole experience. long may the underrated proclaimers continue - they are just honest and real - so rare to find today
One of the reasons I like this band when I was a kid I must have been 10 was that their music was just I don't know a family friendly I remember seeing their video on VH1 long time ago
having had a look at the wreckless eric version, i get the feeling the proclaimers actually might go the whole wide world, while eric'd be hard pushed to make it off the sofa. dear old chap.
The original is good but I think they did justice. Also Will Farrell is an alright singer but did not sing this song that good. If you think he did you have no taste in music lol.
@Tarzanfan1 Hello, There Scottish Born in Edinburgh and lived in Leith until they moved to London, So stop talking shite!!!!!!!! SCOTTISH NOT IRISH!!!!!
It's a great song. It tells a story which is something you don't hear much anymore. Also, I have to admit, those guys have aged great. They don't look as nerdy as they did in the 80's. Awesome musicians.
Hmmm, I like this version better. Better guitar and the duo singing gives a better sound. That is just my opinion. If you don't like it, you can just keep listening to the other version. I really don't care what you think.
@JoshuaCuthbert well, this is a cover so if a girl covered it, it would no longer be explicitly heterosexual (consider the songs Stephen Merritt, a gay man,has written that have been sun by women--not to mention every Cole Porter song). It's just a good love song, period.
HAPPY WORLD WILDLIFE DAY! AND HAPPY SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA AND CANADA! AND HAPPY WORLD DAY OF PRAYER! AND HAPPY NATIONAL ANTHEM DAY! AND HAPPY NATIONAL SALESPERSON DAY! AND HAPPY CAREGIVER APPRECIATION DAY! AND HAPPY EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY! AND HAPPY SOUP IT FORWARD DAY! AND HAPPY PEACH BLOSSOM DAY! AND HAPPY MULLED WINE DAY! AND HAPPY DRESS IN BLUE DAY! AND HAPPY I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY DAY! AND HAPPY NATIONAL IF PETS HAD THUMBS DAY! AND HAPPY GLOBAL DAY OF UNPLUGGING! AND HAPPY NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE EDUCATION DAY! AND HAPPY PRINCESS DAY! AND HAPPY SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE DAY! AND HAPPY WORLD BIRTH DEFECTS DAY! AND HAPPY WORLD HEARING DAY!.......daaaaaaamn.......
@StrangeIsMyWorld *sigh* ok its fine i forgive easy. and hmmm.... i like the word fuckwit(: im gonna used it in the future if needed. and yea I'll totally check it outt, worth a shot a guess. and yea next time, before you go onsome rampage, calm down haha.
God only knows where my One is. she could be half way across the world. or maybe she'll show up in my life someday. I pray everyday to God to meet her. I hope I meet the girl that I feel nervous around, I can't speak, and she's all I think about. I see her face everywhere and in everything. I want to be that in love.
Please don't go the whole wide world -- please stay in Scotland and make Scots with beautiful Scottish women -- the true minority of the world these days -- and help those lovely Tahitians out by allowing them to find beautiful Tahitian men.
Personal opinion I think this is better than the original. Proclaimers are very underrated mostly only known for 500 miles but have a lot of great songs in their repertoire.,
@StrangeIsMyWorld GOD DAM im sorry! it was an accident! and how do you know I like fantastic mr. fox and twilight? and who are you to tell me that they're crap?
Hard to believe this song was written in 1977. So fresh, and timeless. I'm thinking Wreckless Eric wrote the best single of the punk era, and he was largely ignored. This Proclaimers version is a lot of fun too. This song will always be a favourite for me.
Existe alguien que una vez oyó esta canción en mi presencia, ese alguien estaba marcado por su preciosa aura, su tierno mirar, pero su fiel indiferencia a mi es poesía hecha carne, mi profesora de literatura al volver a oír esta canción todas las partículas de mi ser me gritan en encontrarla nueva mente para verla de nuevo suspirar, pero también pensar el hecho de que no sea mía. sencillamente despliego esto ante cualquiera por que no he encontrado mejor manera de des ahogarlo.
at the 3 minute mark the guitarist is doing an impression of me on the pan on a saturday morning when the beer and the curry fae last night is just about to make itself known and splash a tattoo into the bowl Either that or its his "hitting the vinegar stroke" face, I'm no sure
paradox95 - these guys lyrics (in their own songs), as well as often being funny, are also more punk-like/hit home much harder than 99% of the songs labelled as 'punk' - and 'yes', I am 'middle aged' (45) but grew up loving (and seeing 'live') The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, etc. This is a cracking version and even better when you see them do it live - 'feeling doesn't exist'....??! - MY ARSE!!!!
@IBedtimeCookies and all 52 thumb uppers need to listen to the one of the original recordings. this proclaimers version unfortunately drained every drop of soul and passion out of it. the wreckless eric version (original) however is wonderful and it is also the version that is in stranger than fiction.
@villamartinfun I agree the Wrestless Eric version is better, but I'm pretty sure they just did a cover also. I think the song was originally done by The Monkeys. They did a version anyways and I am pretty sure they are a lot older than either the proclaimers or Wrestless Eric. I actually rather liked the monkeys version too.
@08dawilliams Sure but the ratio of "straight" to "gay" songs in music today or any era is so unbalanced toward heterosexuality that making that statement is nothing more than a homophobic jab. Besides, heterosexuals can "take solace in music" even if it isn't explicitly straight, unless of course you are a homophobic.
no I'm just not a fan of the proclaimers or little Britain. I do not think they have done anything particularly ground breaking, or anything profound enough to make me take interest them. It's funny from a two sentence post, of a quasi-sarcastic nature you've labelled me as a new fan to the band; and someone who likes little britain...whatever
This is the kind of crap I just can't stand. I spend 8 years in college to get my P.H.D. in musical theory as it pertains to the tambourine, and this yahoo/singer/pretty boy thinks he can just cut out the middle man by singing and playing the tambourine (poorly) at the same time. My kids had to eat out of the trash yesterday because they decided to cut corners.
You know, if you're going the whole wide world maybe find those missing band members. There seem to be 2 or 3 other people playing. Now that I think about it there's a movie in that, someone in frigging Polynesia playing bass, doen't know why, just knows there's something missing.
