Ever since the dawn of MTV and Friday Night Videos, the music video has significantly impacted musical tastes and pop culture. It might not be as extreme as when the Buggles declared that "Video Killed the Radio Star", but there is no arguing that the music video certainly could make or break a song's popularity. So this regular Flashback Video feature will serve to remember some of the music videos from the great '80s decade that made an impact on me in one way or another.
This issue we will cover "Holding Back the Years" by Simply Red. This was released in November of 1985 as the third single from the band's debut album. After "Holding Back the Years" was re-released in May of 1986, it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #2 on the UK singles chart. At the 1987 Grammy's, it was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (but lost out to "That's What Friends Are For"). I remember the song very well because the ballad had a somewhat unique melancholy sound for the time which stood out on pop radio and on MTV.
The music video for "Holding Back the Years" was directed by Tony van den Ende who had also directed their debut single "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)". He first gained notice in 1982 for A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)" then went on to direct many other videos in the '80s including Rufus & Chaka Khan "Ain't Nobody", The Cult "Rain", Samantha Fox "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" and Rush "Lock and Key" among many others and continuing into the '90s.
In the video for "Holding Back the Years", lead singer Mick Hucknall travels through the English countryside of North Yorkshire including Whitby Abbey thinking about his childhood memories and the difficult relationship he had with his father. He is later seen walking by a cricket game, the Whitby 199 steps and eventually riding a train. The train scenes were filmed at and around Goathland railway station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Here is the music video for "Holding Back the Years" by Simply Red...
Footage from the "Holding Back the Years" video was later shown in the music video for Simply Red's hit cover of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" in 1989. Another soulful song by the group that I have grown to love more and more over time.
Hope you enjoyed another trip back to the '80s thanks to Flashback Video!
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