Alive and Kicking (song)
"Alive & Kicking" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Simple Minds | ||||
from the album Once Upon a Time | ||||
Released | 20 September 1985 (US) 30 September 1985 (UK) | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | Pop rock, new wave, synthpop | |||
Length | 4:47 (single version) 4:33 (radio version) 5:26 (album version) | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil | |||
Producer(s) | Bob Clearmountain, Jimmy Iovine | |||
Simple Minds singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Alive and Kicking" on YouTube | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
"Alive and Kicking" is a song by the Scottish rock band Simple Minds. Released in 1985 as the first single from the band's most successful album, Once Upon a Time,[1] it reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 4 in Canada, and peaked within the top 5 of several European countries including Italy, where the song reached number one.
Chart performances
Following on from the success of previous non-album single, "Don't You (Forget About Me)", "Alive and Kicking" was released as a single, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Top Rock Tracks chart (now called the Mainstream Rock chart). The song also reached number 4 in Canada. In Europe, the song topped the charts in Italy for one week, reached number 2 in Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1992, when re-released as a double A-side with "Love Song" to promote the band's compilation album Glittering Prize 81/92, it managed to reach a new peak of number 6. Elsewhere, "Alive and Kicking" reached number 5 in New Zealand, number 16 in South Africa, and just missed the top 20 in Australia, peaking at number 21.
Music video
The music video for "Alive and Kicking" was filmed near the town of Hunter, at North–South Lake in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. A portion of the video was filmed on the overlook at the site of the old Catskill Mountain House (previously demolished). It was directed by Zbigniew Rybczyński, who directed the video for "All the Things She Said", the third single from the same album.[2]
Track listing
7" Single
- "Alive and Kicking" (Single Version) (4:47)
- "Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental Version) (6:01)
12" Single
- "Alive and Kicking" (5:26)
- "Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental Version) (6:01)
Second 12" Single
- Ltd Edition Reflective Gold Sleeve
- "Alive and Kicking" (5:26)
- "Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental Version) (6:01)
- "Up on the Catwalk" (Live) (5:37)
Personnel
- Produced By Jimmy Iovine & Bob Clearmountain
- Engineered By Moira Marquis & Mark McKenna
- Engineering assisted By Martin White
- Words & Music By Simple Minds (Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil)
- "Up on the Catwalk" Recorded live at Barrowlands, Glasgow, 5 January 1985
- Backing vocals Robin Clark
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts"Alive and Kicking"
"Love Song" / "Alive and Kicking"
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Appearances in media
In 1992, "Alive & Kicking" provided the soundtrack for a famous promo, entitled "A whole new ball game" for BSkyB's launch of FA Premier League football[25][26].
East Side Beat version
"Alive and Kicking" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by East Side Beat | ||||
from the album East Side Beat | ||||
Released | December 18, 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | Dance | |||
Length | 4:05 | |||
Label | FFRR Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil | |||
Producer(s) | Phil Kelsey | |||
East Side Beat singles chronology | ||||
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In 1992, Italian dance music group East Side Beat covered "Alive and Kicking" in a style typical of early 1990s dance music. There are five remixes in total. Two versions are found on the 7" single and an additional three are on the CD single.[27]
Charts
Chart (1992–1993) | Peak position |
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UK Singles Chart | 26[28] |
Dutch Top 40 | 20[29] |
Belgian Singles Chart | 19[30] |
References
- ^ "Allmusic: Simple Minds (Awards)". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ^ "videos alive and kicking". simpleminds.org. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0608." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ a b "I singoli più venduti del 1985" (in Italian). Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Alive and Kicking". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 A-B". Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ^ "Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Simple Minds Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Simple Minds Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Song / Alive and Kicking". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1985" (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Songs of 1986 - Billboard Year End Charts". Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "CRIA Pours Out a Torrent of Certifications". Billboard. 18 January 1986. p. 52. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- ^ "British single certifications – Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 August 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Alive and Kicking in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "Alive and kicking: The Premier League at 25". sportsjournalists.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Plunkett, John (5 February 2009). "A look back at the best Sky ads from the past 20 years". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
- ^ "Various - Only For The Headstrong". Discogs.com. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ British Hit Singles & Albums (17th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. 2004. p. 630. ISBN 0-85112-199-3.
- ^ ultratop.be
- ^ ultratop.be
- 1985 songs
- 1985 singles
- 1992 singles
- Simple Minds songs
- Number-one singles in Italy
- Songs written by Jim Kerr
- Music videos directed by Zbigniew Rybczyński
- Virgin Records singles
- Song recordings produced by Bob Clearmountain
- Song recordings produced by Jimmy Iovine
- Songs written by Charlie Burchill
- Songs written by Mick MacNeil