1984, I was 17, and a group of friends totally obsessed with the New Wave movement went often to this club in Dortmund. Dance floor was elevated with neon lights underneath, like cubes put together. Small Town Boy came on, club and dance floor packed, fog machine on full power and strobe lights flickering, and when that mid part synth came on, it was like out of this world. What a fantastic and surreal experience. This was before recreational drugs - they came in a few years later, you all know what I mean. What a time to be alive that was! Thanx for this. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Subbed
@Nim Chimpsky LOL - you know, there are Germans that do speak English. In my case, it all started with Meat Loaf‘s Bat out of Hell, which ultimately had me living in the U.K. for 9 wonderful years. Even so, my friends there can’t get their head around my thick German accent, which has crawled back in over the last 17 years back in Germany! But that’s ok, don’t you think? I love the language, and sometimes I find it easier to express myself in English. But I am 100% German born and raised!
@Nim Chimpsky Thank you! That’s very kind of you to say. I lived in London and then later down in Brighton - well Hove, actually. I loved it! And I love going back. Britain’s so different, and yet so similar to Germany 😉
I love this! I discovered the tune while traveling in Europe in 1984. When i got back to the States, i found the album in a local avant guarde record shop. Played it at my house party that Saturday night and all my friends were hooked on the tune! Not long after that, a group of us invited Jimmy to our annual fundraiser in Houston where he performed with his two backups. I was his driver for the weekend. One of my great memories. He is not only an outstanding artist with an amazing voice but also a genuinely nice person. Miss ya, Jimmy! RM
This song has always given me massive goosebumps. Not only relate to the subject of the song but musically it is such an amazing written track, hits all the sweet spots of what makes a soulful and impactful song . Incredible
Got a keyboard for the first time this summer to keep myself occupied during this COVID crap. Never had a lesson nor have I played another instrument before. Thanks to this vid I now can play the main riff from great song from my teenage years. I still have no idea what I’m doing but at least being to play along even a little bit brings a smile to my face. One day I’ll get some real lessons. Thanks for this!!!!
This is absolute class! As someone that is fascinated by good music but was never blessed with any kind of musical talent I really appreciate these types of videos.
@@johnpineapple3329 I doubt that many people under 40 could actually name the song, and it didn't hit No 1 in the UK at the time. Of course it doesn't get the credit it deserves.
I was ten years old when this track came out, already with a keen taste for synth music. I taped this song off the radio and just listened to it over and over. Good times.
This guy is the king of deconstructions. I have ni doubt. Ive spent hundreds of hours on TH-cam looking for this type of content and everytime I come back to this channel I just feel like I learned something new.
Brilliant deconstruction. The un-produced sound reminds me of the first studio recording they made at London Records. I wish I still had my copy. RiP Steve & Larry.
I learned more about Live just recreating this song than in all the tutorials I've sat through. Thank you very much for this informative video, I wish you were doing more deconstructions!
Best video in ages. I totally love this, the breakdown of the song was excellent. At 53 years old I remember this song like it was released yesterday. A fantastic job !! Really really outstanding !! More please !!
what a wonderful eveing watching all of this . I thoughly enjoyed you recontructing a song that i grew up with and has been a soundtrack ro my life ... thank you for this video.
Your workflow is outstanding! I was amazed at how fast you were able to put everything together and it sounded absolutely fabulous I just subscribed hope to see more from you!
Bass - SCI PRO ONE Drums - Linn Drum Lead - Yamaha DX 7 mk1 (Harp 1 preset) Also there is a pad sound in the mix that i dont know where it comes from maybe a polyphonic synth or even the DX 7 itself. A NED synclavier was used to trigger the vocals of Jimmy Sommerville. These are "official" infos that happened to know since i talked to Steve (Bronski) on my remix on this famous track. Never made it to a release but gave me the chance to know and get in touch with Bronski Beat and mainly Steve Bronski. Thank you for the music Bronski Beat.
Hi Panos, wow that's amazing! Thanks for sharing your exclusive insight into the making of the track. I think someone commented earlier that they believed the pad sound was a Polymoog
@@skioakenfull Hi Ski never heard of a polymoog used in this track if i talk to steve ever again i may confirm that, another nice info is that the original demo has no recorded drums in there and they used something to keep the rythm (some kind of percussion i mean) but the final production used the then and now king of the drum machines the Linn Drum (This was a LM2). They also used a specialist to program the various drum patterns back then when real records where made. Also the unatural vocal intro is triggered with the synclavier somehow.
For everyone asking about the pad, I'm pretty sure it's the default basic pad in TAL U NO LX with a little bit of adjusting of the vcf freq and a little attack decrease on it.
I had an Atari ST in those days and in one of the magazines that was around at that time they had a printout of all the notes and chords of that song and I spent hours and hours typing in the code and it sounded fantastic when I was finally done.
what a fantastic record that is ,it takes me right back to when i was 15 and from manchester ,frankie goes to hollywood relax was getting banned off radio one and the music was so controversial and lets not forget the mighty wah with the story of the blues ,good days .
SUPERB! This song is in my DNA, I know ever nuance of it, and you did it justice. Tiny point...the harp lead, has a hint of slap back delay, giving it a double feel. Never seen anyone do the lesser know brass lead at the end...very nicely done!
Hiya thanks for the comment! I’m flattered. The brass part is far more revealed in the extended 12” version so I was able to hear the full riff and work it out. And yes, I heard the slapback on the harp and tried to add it with Ableton’s Echo device, but I don’t think i had it loud enough in the video.
12:19 I like to have either that high pedalnote in my productions, but for breakbeat instead I love a stab rootnote at the start of every bar. Beep - two - three - four. If there's a lot of breaks involved that one stab leads you everytime to where the bar begins, but on a four-to-the-floor the pedalnote is beautiful to keep you hear in which key we are since it also plays the rootnote - this is what both ideas share.
Love this deconstruction of a classic, Could you please do other ones like: The Sun Always Shines on TV-A-ha & In the Heat of the Night - Sandra???? I'm also from UK in England, But in Kent
Blown away of what I have just seen. You are such a clever person. Can you try jermain stuart we don't have to on 12nch? Once again fantastic watch....
1984, I was 17, and a group of friends totally obsessed with the New Wave movement went often to this club in Dortmund. Dance floor was elevated with neon lights underneath, like cubes put together. Small Town Boy came on, club and dance floor packed, fog machine on full power and strobe lights flickering, and when that mid part synth came on, it was like out of this world. What a fantastic and surreal experience. This was before recreational drugs - they came in a few years later, you all know what I mean. What a time to be alive that was! Thanx for this. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Subbed
@Nim Chimpsky LOL - you know, there are Germans that do speak English. In my case, it all started with Meat Loaf‘s Bat out of Hell, which ultimately had me living in the U.K. for 9 wonderful years. Even so, my friends there can’t get their head around my thick German accent, which has crawled back in over the last 17 years back in Germany! But that’s ok, don’t you think? I love the language, and sometimes I find it easier to express myself in English. But I am 100% German born and raised!
@Nim Chimpsky Thank you! That’s very kind of you to say. I lived in London and then later down in Brighton - well Hove, actually. I loved it! And I love going back. Britain’s so different, and yet so similar to Germany 😉
Same in the clubs down here in Melbourne was a great time stay safe cheers
Welcher Club war das in Dortmund?
@@kwietkarma Nagel mich nicht fest, ist immerhin 36/37 Jahre her. Aber ich glaube es war das ‚Memphis‘ in der Bornstrasse.
I love this! I discovered the tune while traveling in Europe in 1984. When i got back to the States, i found the album in a local avant guarde record shop. Played it at my house party that Saturday night and all my friends were hooked on the tune! Not long after that, a group of us invited Jimmy to our annual fundraiser in Houston where he performed with his two backups. I was his driver for the weekend. One of my great memories. He is not only an outstanding artist with an amazing voice but also a genuinely nice person. Miss ya, Jimmy! RM
Awesome. I was 18 in NY in 84 discovering New Wave
This song is so melancholic. 36 years later still one of my favourites.
when this came out I could sing along. since than my voice broke and I learned English ;- )
This song has always given me massive goosebumps. Not only relate to the subject of the song but musically it is such an amazing written track, hits all the sweet spots of what makes a soulful and impactful song . Incredible
The tutorial we didn't know we needed!
Your a genius mate.
One of my favourite songs of all time. This song was the reason I left home and I didn't look back
Watching this is like watching Bob Ross paint.
Or watching Bob Ross with sections of a painting that he glues together rather than actually painting it.
@@gchance or sniffs glue
That is true, really!
@@gchance What an astonishingly ignorant, crass and rude comment!
@@SpeccyMan Thanks buddy! Will you be uploading performance videos of your own soon, or...?
Got a keyboard for the first time this summer to keep myself occupied during this COVID crap. Never had a lesson nor have I played another instrument before. Thanks to this vid I now can play the main riff from great song from my teenage years. I still have no idea what I’m doing but at least being to play along even a little bit brings a smile to my face. One day I’ll get some real lessons. Thanks for this!!!!
I was 15 when this came out, loved it then, now I'm 52 and still love it, great video
I would love to see a deconstruction of Crockett's Theme by Jan Hammer.
Great choice.
Totally agree 👍
definitely !!!
YES ! Excellent choice. Would make a lovely Xmas present ! ;-)
100%
This is absolute class! As someone that is fascinated by good music but was never blessed with any kind of musical talent I really appreciate these types of videos.
You make it look so easy, that’s because you’re very talented and explain very well. Thank you.
This is absolutely OUTSTANDING!!! LOVE IT! ❤
Thanks for watching.
Such a classic track. Doesn’t get the credit it deserves... this was a great cover. Spot on mate
"Doesn't get the credit it deserves?" Are you serious?
@@johnpineapple3329 I doubt that many people under 40 could actually name the song, and it didn't hit No 1 in the UK at the time. Of course it doesn't get the credit it deserves.
@@johnbull1568 completely agree
Completely agree
I’m 15 and this is the beat of my life
The sign of genius is when they make the complex look simple. A brilliant deconstruction and really educational too
I was ten years old when this track came out, already with a keen taste for synth music. I taped this song off the radio and just listened to it over and over. Good times.
This guy is the king of deconstructions. I have ni doubt. Ive spent hundreds of hours on TH-cam looking for this type of content and everytime I come back to this channel I just feel like I learned something new.
Brilliant deconstruction.
The un-produced sound reminds me of the first studio recording they made at London Records. I wish I still had my copy.
RiP Steve & Larry.
So glad you are still doing these deconstructions!
I learned more about Live just recreating this song than in all the tutorials I've sat through. Thank you very much for this informative video, I wish you were doing more deconstructions!
One of the songs I loved as a 15 yr old in 1984. Great video, thank you so much.
Like a time machine direct to the 80s. Thank you.
Bring back the 80s!!!
This song is so simple yet infectious
Insane how good this track is and how simple it is! Shows less is sometimes more
Best video in ages. I totally love this, the breakdown of the song was excellent. At 53 years old I remember this song like it was released yesterday. A fantastic job !! Really really outstanding !! More please !!
This is simply amazing, very well done. One of the greatest pop songs ever written.
You truly are an artist. You hit it spot on!
You wonderful human, this is such a lovely way to boost someones creativity. Means a lot!
Man this song takes me back!
This was simply amazing. I have no words to describe what I’m feeling
Thank you this is one of my favorite songs, lyrically and harmonically, ever. Love how you broke it down.
One of my all-time favorite songs.
Wow - thank you so much . So very interesting . This song was iconic to our youth . Your a genius for showing us how it was made . Thank you 🙏🏼
Thanks for watching!
Absolutely FABULOUS
Utterly brilliant
Thanks for watching.
Nice! I was 22 when this came out. Somehow it reminds me of walking down Halsted St in the bitter cold. Thanks for good memories on a lousy day!
What a great time
Amazing!! So cool to see how these old favorites were constructed.
Thanks, that was excellent, you've got such a good ear to pick up all those instruments.😊
More a reconstruction than a deconstruction...
Awesome!!!
Flash back to the awesome 80's love it. Thanks for doing this one.
what a wonderful eveing watching all of this . I thoughly enjoyed you recontructing a song that i grew up with and has been a soundtrack ro my life ... thank you for this video.
Always been one of my favourite tunes. Another great deconstruction Ski! I wish you would do them more frequently.
great, and passion made
Love this ... love seeing you deconstruction a song. Thanks
Your workflow is outstanding! I was amazed at how fast you were able to put everything together and it sounded absolutely fabulous I just subscribed hope to see more from you!
Holy moly.. Spleeter gives impressive results for what it does. I've been looking for something like this for years.
clever done my friend. This song and all of Bronski Beat will be the classics of the future like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert are for us now.
Totally in awe... again ! 😲
Cheers! love that melody and those chords are deep house gold
Amazing to unpack each segment, show it on its own then reassemble it. Fantastic!
This is a timeless classic
I really enjoyed that. Such an amazing song and Ski did such amazing job. Well done
I love this song. Excellent deconstruction! Fantastic job, thank you.
Bass - SCI PRO ONE
Drums - Linn Drum
Lead - Yamaha DX 7 mk1 (Harp 1 preset)
Also there is a pad sound in the mix that i dont know where it comes from maybe a polyphonic synth or even the DX 7 itself.
A NED synclavier was used to trigger the vocals of Jimmy Sommerville. These are "official" infos that happened to know since i talked to Steve (Bronski) on my remix on this famous track. Never made it to a release but gave me the chance to know and get in touch with Bronski Beat and mainly Steve Bronski. Thank you for the music Bronski Beat.
Hi Panos, wow that's amazing! Thanks for sharing your exclusive insight into the making of the track. I think someone commented earlier that they believed the pad sound was a Polymoog
@@skioakenfull Hi Ski never heard of a polymoog used in this track if i talk to steve ever again i may confirm that, another nice info is that the original demo has no recorded drums in there and they used something to keep the rythm (some kind of percussion i mean) but the final production used the then and now king of the drum machines the Linn Drum (This was a LM2). They also used a specialist to program the various drum patterns back then when real records where made. Also the unatural vocal intro is triggered with the synclavier somehow.
For everyone asking about the pad, I'm pretty sure it's the default basic pad in TAL U NO LX with a little bit of adjusting of the vcf freq and a little attack decrease on it.
Fascinating and very instructive!
mighty impressive!
My boy Ski doing his thing. Always amazing
I had an Atari ST in those days and in one of the magazines that was around at that time they had a printout of all the notes and chords of that song and I spent hours and hours typing in the code and it sounded fantastic when I was finally done.
I love watching this stuff. So difficult to get my head around. He is so deep into his skill that I am constantly confused as to what is going on.
I really love this! thanks for sharing!!!
The acapella extractor is a great tip!
...even if it does sound horrendous, so much so that you couldn't actually use it in track you wanted anyone to hear.
@@soots-stayingoutofthespotl5495 In the time of t-pain and autotune, nothing sounds "horrendous"
10:41 : Shazam says it's Bronski Beat - "Smalltown Boy". Good work!
Had to try it myself, nice. I wonder how many of his videos get copyright strikes.
@@BlackDuke235 è vero! 👍
PERFECT!
That brass is the signature sound for me!
One of my all time favorite songs...
what a fantastic record that is ,it takes me right back to when i was 15 and from manchester ,frankie goes to hollywood relax was getting banned off radio one and the music was so controversial and lets not forget the mighty wah with the story of the blues ,good days .
This song always makes me feel blue, I often can't listen to the entire thing. But it's an incredible piece of music that I love.
one of the all time great synth hooks
This was just soooo brilliant!!! Man, this song just never gets old, so timeless!!!
SUPERB!
This song is in my DNA, I know ever nuance of it, and you did it justice.
Tiny point...the harp lead, has a hint of slap back delay, giving it a double feel.
Never seen anyone do the lesser know brass lead at the end...very nicely done!
Hiya thanks for the comment! I’m flattered. The brass part is far more revealed in the extended 12” version so I was able to hear the full riff and work it out. And yes, I heard the slapback on the harp and tried to add it with Ableton’s Echo device, but I don’t think i had it loud enough in the video.
I love to see these classic tracks teared down. You really make Ableton sing. Fantastic so glad I grew up in the 80's!!!!!
Just awesome!
Your hand gesture at 15.39 I loved it😊
I am so glad to see you with your great talent & enthusiasm! Loving it! ❤️
Great job.
12:19 I like to have either that high pedalnote in my productions, but for breakbeat instead I love a stab rootnote at the start of every bar. Beep - two - three - four. If there's a lot of breaks involved that one stab leads you everytime to where the bar begins, but on a four-to-the-floor the pedalnote is beautiful to keep you hear in which key we are since it also plays the rootnote - this is what both ideas share.
C'est génial, bravo et merci Monsieur pour ce super boulot, ça rappelle quelques souvenirs 😁👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏
Great breakdown of an iconic song. 👍
I love watching your break the song down. Nice Job.
Fantastic! Welcome back Ski, as always, brilliantly deconstructed and very insightful.
Really enjoyed seeing this being broken down and it sounds pretty spot on too. What a tune, that never gets boring. Thanks for sharing 😊
Amazing what you did here. This song is wonderful. I can't stop listening to it
Nice work. I cannot create but I love to listen to great work.
Gear of that era: Sequential Pro-One, Yamaha DX7, Memorymoog, Linn. The Bass is actually a Roland MC-202.
my endless childhood favourite track back in the day!!!! awesome work and thx for the journey
Thanks for inside look on favorit...genius...peace my man.
A magician at work
Brilliant deconstruction, an absolutely timeless classic from the 80s
Very glad to have you back Ski !! Your deconstruction videos are always outstanding and make me smile, even on bad days..! I never miss any!
Ski awesome as always! And it is so fantastic to see how he enjoys himself with this true 80s synth pop classic.
What a fantastic musician you are
Made my day!
OMGGGGGG!!! This is so cool! Subscribed
this is so much fun to watch !!! thank you !
Love this deconstruction of a classic, Could you please do other ones like: The Sun Always Shines on TV-A-ha & In the Heat of the Night - Sandra????
I'm also from UK in England, But in Kent
Awesome!!! one of my favorite songs.
Bravo Ski!
Woop woop!
What a video! This is an example of a raw, basic, music composing/re-creating. So simple yet so powerful! 👏😎
Thank you very much for this deconstruction. I love how easy you are doing this.
Blown away of what I have just seen. You are such a clever person. Can you try
jermain stuart we don't have to on 12nch? Once again fantastic watch....
Fascinating