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Simple Minds — Alive & Kicking
Album: Once Upon A time
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1737









Released: 1985
Length: 4:41
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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You turn me on
You lift me up
Like the sweetest cup
I share with you
You lift me up
Don't you ever stop
I'm here with you
Now it's all or nothing
'Cause you said
You'll follow through
You follow me
And I, I, I follow you

(What you gonna do when things go wrong
What you gonna do when it all cracks up
What you gonna do when the love burns down
What you gonna do when the flames go up
Who is gonna come and turn the tide
What's it gonna take)
To make a dream survive
(Who's got the touch)
To calm a storm inside
(Who's gonna save you)

Alive and kicking
Stay until your love is
Alive and kicking
Stay until your love is
Until your love is
Alive

Oh
You lift me up
To the crucial top
So I can see
Oh
You lead me on
'Til the feelings come
And the lights that shine on
But if that don't mean nothing
Like if someday it should fall through
You take me home
Where the magic's from
And I'll be with you

(What you gonna do when things go wrong
What you gonna do when it all cracks up
What you gonna do when your love burns down
What you gonna do when the flames go up
Who is gonna come and turn the tides
What's it gonna take)
To make a dream survive
(Who's got the touch)
To calm a storm inside

(Don't say goodbye
Don't say goodbye
In the final seconds
Who's gonna save you)

Oooh, oh
Oh
(Ba da da da)
Alive and kicking
Oh
Stay until your love is
Love is
Alive and kicking
Oooh, oh
Oh
(Ba da da da)
Alive and kicking
Oh
Stay until your love is
Love is
(Ba da da da)
Alive and kicking

Oooh, oh
Alive and kicking
Stay until your love is
Alive and kicking
Oh

Ba da da da
Ba ba da da da
Ba ba da oh
Ba da oh
Ba da da da
Ba ba da da da
Ba ba da oh
Ba da oh

(Ba da da da
Ba ba da da da
Ba ba da oh
Ba da oh)
Stay until your love is
(Ba da da da
Ba ba da da da)
Alive and kicking
(Ba ba da oh
Ba da oh)
Oh
Stay until your love is
(Ba da da da
Ba ba da da da)
Until it is
(Ba ba da oh
Ba da oh
Ba da da da
Ba ba da da da).
Comments (106)add comment
I love this song. and simple minds are one of my fav bands- but really it's so backfiring my being alive, cause I ain't feeling it at all--- great performance as always RP. love your being my awesome musical and emotional support all these years! 
Posted 2 years ago by luisaa72    [ Reply ]
 IndyDoug wrote:

Always loved the dreamy keyboard sound in this song.
 




This is from a time when the new era of polyphonic digital synths were hitting the market. Brought a whole new sound to music! 
Posted 2 years ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
 lldjc wrote:

I like fried chicken.  That's all I can hear in my head when I listen to this song.  Great song though.




Great.
Thanks.
Now that's stuck in my head too now.

Stay until you love it
Love it
I like fried chicken
Posted 2 years ago by Psychoscorpic    [ Reply ]
Johnny and the Self-Abusers. I did not know that. If I saw that on the concert marquee, I'd guess a punk band.
Posted 2 years ago by Ok_Sobriquet    [ Reply ]
Nothing like a fuzzy synth!
Posted 2 years ago by Rockit999    [ Reply ]
I paused what I was doing and did an air drum fill instinctually at that one part as I have for the past 35 years, every time I hear this song.
Posted 2 years ago by jnhashmi    [ Reply ]
They live album is pure gold. And this song is a fly. And that chorus - on the point!
Posted 3 years ago by gurke    [ Reply ]
this vocalist had to have given Bono some lessons, right?!
Posted 3 years ago by RoaringMouse    [ Reply ]
A kind of melancholy happy feeling of sweaty goth nightclub dance floors 
Posted 3 years ago by PockettVenus    [ Reply ]
Of all the great music in the 80's, Simple Minds were my favorite. Not my favorite album of theirs, but probably the one that evokes the strongest memories. And that's what good music should do, right? And this song reminds me of my friend from elementary/high school/college, Ted (but we called him Beaver), who knew the album inside and out and would have no problems singing shamelessly. And of course I'd join in too. Ahh, the good ole days!
Posted 4 years ago by johnalexford    [ Reply ]
simple minds has some interesting music, most of which was pre-breakfast club. new gold dream album is other-worldly and one of my all time-faves...
Posted 4 years ago by lynn01    [ Reply ]
8 -=> 9.
Posted 4 years ago by SpencerAR    [ Reply ]
Two of my Top 3 bands in a row......just need Depeche Mode and it would a hat-trick. Made my afternoon :-)
Posted 4 years ago by garydgould    [ Reply ]
I still  have  12" single.  Or was it 'Don't you forget about me'?  Anyway, I remember  a bicycle ride some 35 yrs ago  listening to Waterfront on my no name walkman. 
Posted 5 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
22 y.o. in 1985. You guess it
Posted 5 years ago by sergioso    [ Reply ]
A perfect pop song, an easy 10 from me.
Posted 5 years ago by Vinostop    [ Reply ]
This exploded in my high school years.  Along with The Breakfast Club,  pretty much was my high school years
Posted 5 years ago by obankenobi    [ Reply ]
The beginning of the end of Simple Minds.
Posted 5 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
Yep - pop music of its day, not the worst - but I really don't want to hear over-played pop on RP.
Posted 5 years ago by adib    [ Reply ]
Ok, a little out of date.  Poppy.....
Posted 5 years ago by maquilon    [ Reply ]
SM! Always inspirational.
Posted 5 years ago by DW4554    [ Reply ]
The whole glory of the eighties summarised in a song. The only regret is, this is the short radio edit and not the album version with the longer CP70 solo and the longer drums crescendo in the last part.
Posted 5 years ago by eveliko    [ Reply ]
So great !!!

   
Posted 6 years ago by Michael_in_Paradise    [ Reply ]
 TheKing2 wrote:
never understood the hype over Simple Minds. The only image the springs to mind is the face of the constipated drummer....
 
You are just making a snap judgement based on some Youtube video or something you have looked at. 

If you had followed them and their music over the last 35 years and seen them live (like I have) you would not say that. 
Posted 6 years ago by Stephen_Phillips    [ Reply ]
 Jelani wrote:
I think Bryan Ferry's version would have lacked some of the energy that this has.
 
Bryan Ferry had passed on "Don't You (Forget About Me)", not this song.  I don't think a version of that song by him would have had the energy that the Simple Minds version had either.

Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Saw them live this summer, still brilliant!
Posted 6 years ago by david16    [ Reply ]
I like fried chicken too. {#Hungry}
Posted 6 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
never understood the hype over Simple Minds. The only image the springs to mind is the face of the constipated drummer....
Posted 6 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
 Cueburned wrote:
They were almost U2.
At least U2 thought so.
Or maybe it was the other
way round.   
 
Same era, though Simple Minds released their first album before U2 did.
Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Milton Keynes Bowl 1986 – brilliant!

Image result for simple minds milton keynes bowl 1986
Posted 6 years ago by MackStar    [ Reply ]
 quigui wrote:
 You're mistaaken, that was nah nah nah nahnah. 

NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
this song is too close to that other one of theirs nah, nah nah nah, nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah nah.. that one.

 
This one's actually "ba da da da, ba da da da" though. :^ /
 


Posted 7 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Love this band, love this record
So many great memories

Posted 7 years ago by NorthernLad    [ Reply ]
I will always give a 9 or a 10 to ANY Simple Minds song. If this is a groupie thing, then I have to admit I'm a groupie. Sorry {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 7 years ago by dlabrana    [ Reply ]
 You're mistaaken, that was nah nah nah nahnah. 

NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
this song is too close to that other one of theirs nah, nah nah nah, nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah nah.. that one.

 


Posted 7 years ago by quigui    [ Reply ]
They were almost U2.
At least U2 thought so.
Or maybe it was the other
way round.   
Posted 7 years ago by Cueburned    [ Reply ]
this song is too close to that other one of theirs nah, nah nah nah, nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah nah.. that one.
Posted 7 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Can't stop to be enchanted by this song, even after almost 30 years {#Bananapiano}
Posted 7 years ago by unicornseeker    [ Reply ]
Always loved the dreamy keyboard sound in this song.
 
Posted 8 years ago by IndyDoug    [ Reply ]
I like fried chicken.  That's all I can hear in my head when I listen to this song.  Great song though.
Posted 8 years ago by lldjc    [ Reply ]
 bluejay08003 wrote:

+1  Haven't found many fans of New Gold Dream.  No hit singles; just moody tunes, but they're more distinct than most of the material on Once Upon a Time. Maybe that says more about me... but what do I care?  Glad to find a kindred spirit!

 
+2. Gold Dream was their best. Distinct songs, so much texture. Sparkle in the Rain was also very good. This song is not quite an 8 but close.
Posted 8 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
Upgraded from 8 to 9 just because.
Posted 8 years ago by GuiltyFeat    [ Reply ]
Saw them live a few months ago. Jim Kerr is still a good singer and a top performer. And what great songs they made!
Posted 8 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Wooooo oooo oh oh - ah woo ooo oh oh  a-live and screamin'!!!  Wee-heee this is a fun song
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
ah yes 
watching the girls in the videos on MTV 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
Fabulous album.  Still stands up well today, to these ears. Instant 10.
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Yea, now I see it clear after listening a lot to both groups, Simple Minds and INXS used the same success formula. Nice pop music, and again I love that RP has no problems in playing "populars" combined with more eclectic or rare and selected music pieces from all times.
Posted 9 years ago by hugogdt    [ Reply ]
Even though their stadium rocking days are over, I saw them a few years back at the inaugural F1 post race concert in Singapore with a couple of thousand people and they can still put on a pretty good show.
Posted 9 years ago by Pioneer_Sing    [ Reply ]
Great tune and pretty much their attempt at re-writing 'Don't You Forget About Me' as a follow up to that No.1 single or at least it is to my ears!

Posted 9 years ago by Padutarb    [ Reply ]
Simple Minds had a couple pretty decent tunes considering the times....plus he got to do Chrissie Hinds to boot! Oh wait....maybe that's not such a great deal after all :^ (
https://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/399352/Chrissie-Hynde-boycotts-store-over-foie-gras
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
 {#Cheesygrin}fitmartin wrote:

Yesss!
agreed! 
 

Posted 9 years ago by tembaco    [ Reply ]
 scottygirl wrote:
A big fat 10!! Thanks RP reminds me of my early teenage years :-))))
 
Yesss!
agreed! 
Posted 9 years ago by fitmartin    [ Reply ]
A big fat 10!! Thanks RP reminds me of my early teenage years :-))))
Posted 9 years ago by scottygirl    [ Reply ]
An '80s tune par excellence. It almost embodies the tone of the era all by itself. 

You take me home
Where the magic's from
And I'll be with you 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Today:  I'm alive and kicking, and in possession of a simple mind.  Life is grand. 
Posted 9 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Bumped from 9 to 10...
I dismissed this song as a "Pretty in Pink" song (even though it wasn't in that movie... was it?) when I was a teen in the 80s... It's grown on me over the years and now brings back a lot of great memeories... plus it's really just a great song
Posted 9 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 prickelpit96 wrote:
Ahhh, sweet memories...
Enjoyed them live back in the 80s in my town Hannover // Germany. I was something about 15 or 16. Early concerts are completely burnt in my brain.

Never less than a 10!

 
YESSS! agree on the memories, this was a staple album of the timing!

Thanks Bill!
Posted 10 years ago by fitmartin    [ Reply ]
Ahhh, sweet memories...
Enjoyed them live back in the 80s in my town Hannover // Germany. I was something about 15 or 16. Early concerts are completely burnt in my brain.

Never less than a 10!
Posted 10 years ago by prickelpit96    [ Reply ]
I LOVE  this song. I always have, and now it brings back a slew of great memories, which now makes it even better than before.
Posted 10 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all across the holy moly world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners and B.F. Skinner...  we love this splendiferous song...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
It has been an *age* since I have heard this song!  Thank you Bill!
Posted 10 years ago by NeilBlanchard    [ Reply ]
I am sorry from the bottom of my heart...but love this song...10x10x10
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
I think it's a great driving song, turn it way high up and shout my tail off "Woooh Oooh Oh Oh Alive + Kickin!!!" cursed down as a speedy douchebag by the surrounding folks, sorry people I'll be careful     "Love is  Love is...."
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Nice!
Posted 11 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 Foot wrote:
I was a huge Simple Minds fan, and think the album "New Gold Dream" is one of the best.  However anything past that (like this) I thought they were really only coasting.  Not a bad pop single but...

 
+1  Haven't found many fans of New Gold Dream.  No hit singles; just moody tunes, but they're more distinct than most of the material on Once Upon a Time. Maybe that says more about me... but what do I care?  Glad to find a kindred spirit!
Posted 11 years ago by bluejay08003    [ Reply ]
Jim Kerr still looks really happy with life.
 

Posted 11 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
Owned and heavily listened to this album in 1986 when it was hot, when I was in Kodiak, Alaska, of all places. Tall hills, bears, and strange currents from many places. Strange how we place our music so much geographically. I do anyway.
Posted 11 years ago by randyblew    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
Back in the day, after my refinance when I had a vast expanse of white tile flooring and a balance bar, I used to do my stretches to this song. I think about those days now, and it just HURTS, because I can barely walk now, but I ache for the days when I was limber enough to dance to this song in the dark... (BTW - this is a shortened version of the song.)
 

miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
 Derecho wrote:


Billy Idol *did* record a version of that song, but I don't know whether that was before or after Simple Minds made theirs.  Either way, Billy's version left a lot to be desired.

 
I don't think Billy Idol released his version of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" until after 2000.
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I was a huge Simple Minds fan, and think the album "New Gold Dream" is one of the best.  However anything past that (like this) I thought they were really only coasting.  Not a bad pop single but...
Posted 11 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
Is it good?  Or do I love it because it's so familiar?  Or is there a difference?
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]

Now is the time to play Tighter and Tighter by the band Alive and Kicking


Alive N Kickin’ (known originally as Alive and Kicking, and sometimes spelled Alive 'N Kickin’) is a Brooklyn band, led by singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder, known mainly for their 1970 hit single "Tighter, Tighter" which reached #7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Go Brooklyn
Posted 11 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]

I'm generally not one for 80's pop, but this song is absolutely fantastic.


Posted 11 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
A magical song from a magical time. Many, many memories.
Posted 11 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
how i typically bring this song into casual conversation:
me -  "you know that one good song by simple minds?"
not me - "oh yeah, don't you forget about me?"
me - "no, the good song."
-fín-
Posted 11 years ago by paultron    [ Reply ]
I think Bryan Ferry's version would have lacked some of the energy that this has.
Posted 11 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Great throwback, thanks, Bill. This and 'Colours Fly ... Catherine Wheel', my favourites of the 'Minds.
Posted 11 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
{#Sunny}
Posted 11 years ago by TomJB    [ Reply ]
 MiracleDrug wrote:


The band celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, though it has been 27 years since their only No. 1 single in the U.S. — "Don't You (Forget About Me)." As many hard-core fans know, the song wasn't even written by the band, but instead by soundtrack composer and Billy Idol producer Keith Forsey. (In fact, Billy Idol and Bryan Ferry both turned down the song before it landed in the lap of Simple Minds.)

 

Billy Idol *did* record a version of that song, but I don't know whether that was before or after Simple Minds made theirs.  Either way, Billy's version left a lot to be desired.
Posted 12 years ago by Derecho    [ Reply ]

Many thanks. I agree, this somehow seems made for Bryan Ferry, but his loss is Simple Minds' gain. Love it. 

On a related note, I can't believe it's 35 years, let alone 27 .... 


MiracleDrug wrote:



The band celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, though it has been 27 years since their only No. 1 single in the U.S. — "Don't You (Forget About Me)." As many hard-core fans know, the song wasn't even written by the band, but instead by soundtrack composer and Billy Idol producer Keith Forsey. (In fact, Billy Idol and Bryan Ferry both turned down the song before it landed in the lap of Simple Minds.)

 


Posted 12 years ago by onelittlemoose    [ Reply ]
 onelittlemoose wrote:

Bryan Ferry turned it down?  Don't know that story; can you enlighten? 

MiracleDrug wrote:

I LOVE this song...
it's always amazed me that Bryan Ferry turned this down...

 
 

The band celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, though it has been 27 years since their only No. 1 single in the U.S. — "Don't You (Forget About Me)." As many hard-core fans know, the song wasn't even written by the band, but instead by soundtrack composer and Billy Idol producer Keith Forsey. (In fact, Billy Idol and Bryan Ferry both turned down the song before it landed in the lap of Simple Minds.)


Posted 12 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
8.25 for the song....

0.75 for nostalgia...

9
Posted 12 years ago by donnyballgame    [ Reply ]

Bryan Ferry turned it down?  Don't know that story; can you enlighten? 

MiracleDrug wrote:

I LOVE this song...
it's always amazed me that Bryan Ferry turned this down...

 


Posted 12 years ago by onelittlemoose    [ Reply ]
 MiracleDrug wrote:
I LOVE this song...
it's always amazed me that Bryan Ferry turned this down...

 
Whatever....It amazes me I've never rated this song......get with the program, I guess!
Posted 12 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
I LOVE this song...


it's always amazed me that Bryan Ferry turned this down...

Posted 12 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
Back in the day, after my refinance when I had a vast expanse of white tile flooring and a balance bar, I used to do my stretches to this song. I think about those days now, and it just HURTS, because I can barely walk now, but I ache for the days when I was limber enough to dance to this song in the dark... (BTW - this is a shortened version of the song.)
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
I thought this was Icehouse - for those who didn't grow up in the land down under that is not a compliment
Posted 13 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]

Simple Minds and simpler times. Takes me way back.....


Posted 13 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
 chadlymn wrote:
This song takes me to a happy place!  {#Cheesygrin}

 
Takes me back to the kitchen at Bar-b-que Bills in Bishop, CA, where I was a lowly dish-dog.  I recall washing dishes until midnight with this cranked on the radio.  Good times!

Posted 13 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
ILOVETHISSONG!
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
never will forget that too !!
still kicking ain't it ?
Posted 13 years ago by bleubs    [ Reply ]
This song takes me to a happy place!  {#Cheesygrin}

Posted 13 years ago by chadlymn    [ Reply ]
 gaskeydesign wrote:
What was that? "I like fried chicken."
 


You sod! I can never forget that now :-)
Posted 13 years ago by ianmoff    [ Reply ]
I am putting this song BACK on my iPhone after. Thanks RP
Posted 13 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Apart from the fact that this is a truncated version of the song (someone PLEASE submit the LONG version, okay?), I still love it. I used to do my workouts to this song because it was relentless.  It's good to hear it on RP!  Many thanks to whoever submitted it.
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
{#Sunny}
Posted 13 years ago by TomJB    [ Reply ]
Holy smokes! THIS is something I WASN'T expecting to hear in RP. Nice surprise, though!
Posted 13 years ago by tupicetti    [ Reply ]
I love this song - -

Posted 13 years ago by cybrbug    [ Reply ]

{#Music}


Posted 13 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 gaskeydesign wrote:
What was that? "I like fried chicken."
 

Posted 13 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
What was that? "I like fried chicken."
Posted 13 years ago by gaskeydesign    [ Reply ]
wow, straight back to high school!  {#Cowboy}
Posted 13 years ago by wrangler    [ Reply ]
Good song, bad memories.
Posted 13 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
...wow!..
Posted 13 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]