Naa. They aren't poorly rated. For being odd and quirky they were successful. Mainstream music is called that for a reason, and Todd nor Utopia are mainstream. Who cares if they weren't on some list.
This takes me back to Martha Quinn and little Alan Hunter, when homemade bug costumes in low-budget video production were quintessential MTV. Alas America, since our music video production budgets rival US defense spending, perhaps we have gone too far...
Great call........I looked this up the other day - first time I heard it in probably 30 years and that bridge is total XTC and of course Rundgren produced XTC's best album "Skylarking" even though they didn't get along much.
The clip and song is cult because there was no one on the planet doing anything like this at this time. Todd's early video stuff is paradigm changing stuff. He should be in the hall of fame just for that alone. Rodger Powell voice is fantastic and really suits as well.
I first saw this as a freshman at PSU wandering back from a dorm party and stopping through a dorm tv lounge. I was awestruck and stood there like an idiot with my mouth open watching this video. 1983 I believe.
This is a clinic on great pop writing. Any punk who desires coming up with a hit tune can be schooled by this vid. Now, junior...check out Hammer in My Heart for your rock instructions.
No? Sorry, but that’s such an old-person thing to say. This is a fantastic song, but it would not be a hit if it came out today. Times change. This type of music is not popular anymore. If someone wanted to write a hit song, they would follow the trend of currently-popular artists. This would get laughed at by mainstream agents. Sad, but true.
Hace poco volvi a ver este video despues de 40 años. En mi país, Perú, lo vi por un programa que marcó epoca en los 80 'Disco Club'. Este video me marcó. Me trae añoranzas la creatividad, originalidad y gracia del video. La armonía de las voces es maravillosa. La melodia, igual. En vivo suenan igual, todos cantan excelentemente bien y son multiintrumentistas. Bajo el mando de Todd Rundgren
Hey - my ex-girlfriend made all the costumes for this. She was teenager & her boyfriend (not me) worked for Rundgren in Woodstock, I guess back in '81. If I remember right, she told me fueled by deadlines & lots of cocaine she finished it all in under 2 days. She made a career out of costuming, designing & altering clothes. Amazing how she stays calm, never moves fast, yet her work gets done incredibly fast.
HarryRunt- This is Lev. I do a CZcams series called Tales Of Mere Existence. I made a reference to this song in a video I put out yesterday, called "Random Acts Of Somethingness". ... Now that I look at a few of the other comments, I realize that this question was already answered. Hope you don't mind. Cheers, -L
Since this debuted on MTV (I am OLD!), I have adored this video! Every time, I end up swaying, bobbing my head and grinning madly, eyes gleamng. I really need to find some deelybobbers to really get in the mood=} The harmonies are so great, the lyrics and melody so catchy, and the bug costumes "to die for", as they say! It's several minutes in which I am in such a great mood! Thank you for posting the complete video! I've already posted it TWICE at a music forum I visit every day. FUN!
Nem me lembro há quanto tempo procurava esse vídeo. Eu me lembro de programas de clips dos anos 80 "Som Pop" da TV Cultura e "Super Special" da Bandeirantes!
This song like all utopi songs is so unbelievably catchy. Has that 50's vibe. I really like that everyone in the band sung in perfect harmony with the keyboardist on lead in this one. Love the bugs! :) Am surprised the Buggles didn't do a video like this! :)
I remember seeing this on MTV just about everyday, when MTV was cool! I thought of "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" Video as being an alternative College Band as I loved the off beat humor behind it. I was surprised and didn't realize years later that Todd Rundgren was in this group.
Man, this was a bit of a hard song to find. I had to get some help from Weird Paul, but I'm so glad I finally found it. I only liked the video when I was a young kid for obvious reasons, but I didn't realize that the song is pretty damn good. Thanks for posting this.
Lev Yilmaz. He just put out a video which mentioned the song and a lot of people are looking up this song now. Look up "Random Acts of Somethingness Tales of Mere Existence"
In pure Todd style, every album was different, catering to a different aspect of the music fan base. There really weren't any bands similar to them in that respect. I like heavy prog Utopia. :)
An insanely catchy tune and a wonderfully weird, goofy video. THIS is what I remember about MTV back in the great early days.
Watching this with a stupid grin on my face...haven't seen this in decades!
Lol! I know what you mean. Take care!
Utopia is one of the most underated groups in music.
Nah they suck ass.
@@CelestialWoodway why are you even here
Naa. They aren't poorly rated. For being odd and quirky they were successful. Mainstream music is called that for a reason, and Todd nor Utopia are mainstream. Who cares if they weren't on some list.
This takes me back to Martha Quinn and little Alan Hunter, when homemade bug costumes in low-budget video production were quintessential MTV. Alas America, since our music video production budgets rival US defense spending, perhaps we have gone too far...
Deb Thurston A favorite from Al TV!
shut the fuck up you babbling old asshole
God you couldnt of said it any better :)
Todd Rundgren Fan Comment Hall Of Fame.....
Todd Rundgren is greatly under appreciated.
Love is the Answer. Good tunes.
I thought love is the answer was by some other group, the name escapes me but they sang I'd really love to see you tonight
@@XxowendanxX England Dan & John Ford Coley
@@ATalkingBadger was Love Is the answer by todd rungren or England Dan and John Ford coley?
@@XxowendanxX Todd wrote it, and has performed it, but it saw it's biggest commercial success performed by England Dan & John Ford Coley.
I don't care what anybody says...what England Dan & John Ford Coley did to that song is a crime.
Rundgren was so ahead of his time. This is the first HUMAN CENTIPEDE! Hello!
I don’t know why the “Hello!” is the part that got me lol
WOW!! I remember I was watching this video in late 1982 I believe, on MTV. Almost 40 years later and I still love this song. ❤️
Its like XTC crashed into The Tubes -- in a good way!
Todd produced both!
XTC for only one album, but yeah
rache I had no idea! It makes perfect sense, you can hear that influence. Neat!
That's an excellent description :D
Great call........I looked this up the other day - first time I heard it in probably 30 years and that bridge is total XTC and of course Rundgren produced XTC's best album "Skylarking" even though they didn't get along much.
3 minutes of perfect pop music. Love the harmonies, Utopia is awesome.
These guys should open their own Academy of Perfect Pop Song Writing.
i suffer from gout, and with every gout flare, i think of this song
Cherry juice! Hope you are better now ;)
I grew up on Mtv starting in 1982 but I have no memory of this video, glad to finally see it. Todd is the man.
The clip and song is cult because there was no one on the planet doing anything like this at this time. Todd's early video stuff is paradigm changing stuff. He should be in the hall of fame just for that alone. Rodger Powell voice is fantastic and really suits as well.
Man, haven't heard this song in nearly thirty five years, when in my college dorm room, watching MTv!
This is a CLASSIC from the good ole days of MTV.
Can you believe this is 40 years old ?Todd is incomparable!!!!
Love the vocal harmonies during the chorus.
I've always liked
how they restructured
their harmonies on this album!
You have a good ear! This is one of those songs that just puts me in a good mood. Take care!
I first saw this as a freshman at PSU wandering back from a dorm party and stopping through a dorm tv lounge. I was awestruck and stood there like an idiot with my mouth open watching this video. 1983 I believe.
absolutely BRILLIANT vocal work ....
i woke up w this stuck in my head omg
I just did, too!
Started watching MTV in 1984 and they played this alot.great song
One of my all time favorites....Came out I remember the 1st year on MTV.....
This video was considered a high tech production back in them old days!
+Gary Brice No not really. It's pretty cheaply done for even '82. It's still a cool video.
Agreed. I was just being a little sarcastic. It is a classic, to be sure.
For sure. :)
This is a clinic on great pop writing. Any punk who desires coming up with a hit tune can be schooled by this vid. Now, junior...check out Hammer in My Heart for your rock instructions.
Yep, this is top-notch songwriting.
Shitty ass song. Are you high?
No? Sorry, but that’s such an old-person thing to say. This is a fantastic song, but it would not be a hit if it came out today. Times change. This type of music is not popular anymore. If someone wanted to write a hit song, they would follow the trend of currently-popular artists. This would get laughed at by mainstream agents. Sad, but true.
Hace poco volvi a ver este video despues de 40 años. En mi país, Perú, lo vi por un programa que marcó epoca en los 80 'Disco Club'. Este video me marcó. Me trae añoranzas la creatividad, originalidad y gracia del video. La armonía de las voces es maravillosa. La melodia, igual. En vivo suenan igual, todos cantan excelentemente bien y son multiintrumentistas. Bajo el mando de Todd Rundgren
This sounds a cut above the usual 1966 music. They really know how to play, as opposed to those old bands that had no idea what they're doing.
Todd Rundgren as a bug.....I love it!
early MTV classic!
Cool video. I just heard this after maybe 30 years, reminds me of the SCTV musical group Five Neat Guys, lol.
Ahh, the good old 80's, back when MTV was truly worth watching! Haven't seen this one in ages! Thanx for posting it!
I legit used to think that I dreamt this song/video as a kid because no one I know has ever been aware of this song. Such a damn jam, though!
I think Utopia had a lot of fun making this video.
Hey - my ex-girlfriend made all the costumes for this. She was teenager & her boyfriend (not me) worked for Rundgren in Woodstock, I guess back in '81. If I remember right, she told me fueled by deadlines & lots of cocaine she finished it all in under 2 days. She made a career out of costuming, designing & altering clothes. Amazing how she stays calm, never moves fast, yet her work gets done incredibly fast.
How is she holding these days, btw?
Good times...Rundgren...great talent
HarryRunt-
This is Lev. I do a CZcams series called Tales Of Mere Existence. I made a reference to this song in a video I put out yesterday, called "Random Acts Of Somethingness".
... Now that I look at a few of the other comments, I realize that this question was already answered. Hope you don't mind.
Cheers,
-L
Couldn't get the grin off my face through the entire video. Very entertaining. Great album too by the way.
EXCELLENT
album!!
actually, my favourite Utopia platter ...
🏒🚨🏒🥔👁️🍅🍅
Since this debuted on MTV (I am OLD!), I have adored this video! Every time, I end up swaying, bobbing my head and grinning madly, eyes gleamng. I really need to find some deelybobbers to really get in the mood=} The harmonies are so great, the lyrics and melody so catchy, and the bug costumes "to die for", as they say! It's several minutes in which I am in such a great mood! Thank you for posting the complete video! I've already posted it TWICE at a music forum I visit every day. FUN!
I used to get a kick out of this video on MTV in the 80s....and I did again 30+ years later! Thanks for posting!
Nem me lembro há quanto tempo procurava esse vídeo. Eu me lembro de programas de clips dos anos 80 "Som Pop" da TV Cultura e "Super Special" da Bandeirantes!
Wow. Haven't heard this song in 30 yrs Really cool !!
I can't view this video with a straight face...hysterical. Love Todd's sense of humor! You're the man danu!
One of the best/funniest Utopia videos! Love it!
MTV did not give this outstanding video very much air time
love this! I bought the 45 when the song first came out. I was a senior in college.
Totally!! This was early MTV for me and I’ve been searching for this for years! Thanks!!
Watched this with my sisiter in her little studio apt on 96st when MTV first appeared we still get a kick out of it
god; do i love this song!!!!
Man, why Todd/Utopia aren't in the RnRHoF is beyond me.
Not well known enough, maybe? They're like a hidden treasure.
i'm a bit old school (old SCHOOL, SCHOOL), what does that Rn... mean?
Laura Sully-Shelton Rock N Roll Hall of Fame
Laura Sully-Shelton - RnRHoF means "Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame" in Drew Carey's hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
politics!!!!
I vaguely remember Mtv playing this when I was really little. Great song & bizarre video.
Thanks for uploading! Such a fun song.
Great song and video. Thank you for posting!
I love UTOPIA!!!
This song like all utopi songs is so unbelievably catchy. Has that 50's vibe. I really like that everyone in the band sung in perfect harmony with the keyboardist on lead in this one. Love the bugs! :) Am surprised the Buggles didn't do a video like this! :)
Kinda' give me that late 60s vibe! 😊
Great song and video.
amo muito, eu conheci esse video em um programa chamado som pop da tv cultura nos anos 80
verdade ano 1983 por sinal programa muito bom
A cute video for a very catchy song. In my Todd playlist. Thanks for the upload!
I remember seeing this on MTV just about everyday, when MTV was cool! I thought of "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" Video as being an alternative College Band as I loved the off beat humor behind it. I was surprised and didn't realize years later that Todd Rundgren was in this group.
This and Dog Police were two of the competitors for some Basement Tapes award iirc
I have this on VHS with Hammer in my Heart and You Make me Crazy. 11 minute tape.
Middle school memories!!! Getting old boooo
I love Todd....and I always will
I love this Video...
He eases my mind.
Awesome 🎉
Man, this was a bit of a hard song to find. I had to get some help from Weird Paul, but I'm so glad I finally found it. I only liked the video when I was a young kid for obvious reasons, but I didn't realize that the song is pretty damn good. Thanks for posting this.
I wasn’t expecting that last bit from “An Elpee’s Worth of Toons” ... I absolutely love that
And I just (tjist) watched your latest episode, and so I'm here!
This song always makes me cry. So sang true.
I love the new picture on the wall.
Thank You, Thank You for reposting!
I remember this song was on MTV every once in awhile.
I remember this song well from MTV. its a really good song imo.
F yeah! Childhood memories of early mtv
The madden brothers love these guys..listen to we are done ....and find out for yourself
Absoluely, undeniably, awesome. That's Todd for ya.
This is a really good album, too
great song!! I remember!!! Wow classic bad MTV vidio though
I love this vid love it when todds a bug
if my lunch-aid didnt show this to me in 5th grade i wouldnt be the same person
From Utopia's amazing and very underrated self-titled album.
Good tune. Should’ve been a bigger hit. Released on the now defunct Network Records label.
Excellent drumming by Willie Wilcox.
Listened 2 this right after I watched your vid. It's a catchy song, I like it :D Don't know why the clerk hated i.
Todd Rundgren... unheralded genius.
Take your Powder and keep movin
OK so this band and video really did exist. Here I thought I just had a bad trip in school...
The chorus reminds me of george costanza's answering machine tune :]
"Believe It or Not"?
You're not alone lol. Maybe it's time for this song to take over the world
I'm just glad they survived,so far ♥♥♥
Wow, 39 años que no escuchaba esta canción!!!
Lev Yilmaz. He just put out a video which mentioned the song and a lot of people are looking up this song now. Look up "Random Acts of Somethingness Tales of Mere Existence"
I’ve never felt more scared in my life watching something.
This sounds like XTC so much!!
Great Shades of Hanna Bananas Splits...Wonderful...Feet Don't fail Me Now...
why didn't Utopia get huge like all those other 80's bands similar to them
In pure Todd style, every album was different, catering to a different aspect of the music fan base. There really weren't any bands similar to them in that respect. I like heavy prog Utopia. :)
One of the best early MTV songs!
Lev brought me here
I have been looking for this comment so long :)) hello fellaa
Josh Homme is a visionary
Never saw this cool leave it to Todd.