Forgotten Classic Video(s) of the Week

Once again, because of American Idol, I forgot to post a video last week so I have to double up. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to do two-fers on any day but Tuesday, but Tuesday is Idol night, so deal with it.

I thought I was going to have to dig deep this week to find something because I've been feeling lately like my forgotten video well is running a bit dry. But then, after a quick search of my blog, I was amazed to discover that I somehow never posted one of my favorite '80s songs - one that certainly qualifies as "forgotten," and one that could be a "classic," depending on who you ask.

Ladies and gents, I give you "Kayleigh" by British prog-rockers, Marillion.



This lovely tune only made it to #74 on the US charts but the video got plenty of MTV airplay, despite the lack of "prettiness" in the band. The song hit #2 in the UK, where Marillion enjoyed much greater success. I'm fully expecting my one regular Brit reader (and current Firecrotch, The Imaginary Reviewer) to dazzle us by rattling off several more Marillion hits in the comments section. Maybe he'll even know where Fish is hiding these days. (The lead singer, not Abe Vigoda.)

The follow-up single to "Kayleigh" was "Lavender," which I remember seeing about 3 or 4 times on MTV before these guys completely fell off the face of North America.



I can kind of understand why "Lavender" was never a bigger hit. Even though the song has a pretty melody, that chorus is just ridunkulous. I mean, Fish is singing about lavenders being green and blue? Aren't lavenders lavender?? And what's with all the "dilly dilly" nonsense? He's craving a Dilly bar? A pickle? It was probably one of those stupid placeholders, like "sussudio," and, like Phil Collins, Fish just left it there because he was too lazy to think of something that actually made sense.

Well, now I'm craving a Dilly bar. Dammit.

Comments

Anonymous said…
NO. No you did not just get that song stuck in my head again. It's taken me YEARS to get it out, goddamn it.

What sort of a dude calls himself FISH anyways?
lack of "prettiness" is an unerstatement.
Heh, no presssure, eh? I actually don't recognise 'Lavender', but I do recall another single that did quite well called 'Incommunicado'. 'Kayleigh' was they big hit in the UK as far as I know.

I've no idea what happened to Fish, but throughout my NME reading days I still saw Marillion tour adverts, so I guess they're probably still on the road, playing to a handful of denim jackets in smoky pubs. I could be wrong, but I remember reading somewhere that they were one of the first bands to take pre-orders for a new album from fans over the internet to fund its recording. That would have been around 2000.

Vegetable Assassin: Someone who was born with the name "Derek Dick".
I had no idea what a Dilly Bar was before now, but damn I want one.
SkylersDad said…
Hey, don't throw Abe Vigoda under the bus. Abe could rock back when...until that hip went out.
rachaelgking said…
And now I will spend the rest of the day trying to get that out of my head...

Still worth it :-)
Tony Alva said…
Many of my music friends back in the day and current are huge proggers. Me, I’ve always had an aversion to the genre as a whole preferring my rock to stick within it’s original simpler 4/4 style and subject matter. Despite my known feelings and with the best intentions, these guys attempted to lure me into appreciation on a fairly consistent basis by sliding Yes or Genesis records (Gabriel Genesis ONLY of course) into the listening queue. Two things happened that open the door for me to these bands music: I spent the summer of 1985 studying art in England, and it so happened to coincide with Marillion’s sudden rise to popularity. I’d say ‘Kayleigh’s’ pop accessibility was what cracked the door open (Sorry Veggie, I think the song’s a good one). Then and now, I’m still bearish on prog (If I’m not mistaken, on the LP version of Misplaced Childhood ‘Kayleigh’ is predicated by a song called ‘Pseudo Silk Kimono’ I mean, REALLY?), but I was dragged to Marillion show by one of the above mentioned friends and I really enjoyed it. Super musicianship, great production, and Fish had a great sense of humor about it all.
Wow. I feel like my world's a better place for not remembering these songs, but maybe I'm just scared of how right they are.