Alive and Kicking (song)

"Alive & Kicking"
Single by Simple Minds
from the album Once Upon a Time
Released 20 September 1985 (US)
30 September 1985 (UK)
Format 12", 7"
Recorded 1985
Genre Pop rock, New Wave
Length 4:47 (single version)
4:33 (radio version)
5:26 (album version)
Label Virgin
Writer(s) Simple Minds
Simple Minds singles chronology
"Don't You (Forget About Me)"
(1985)
"Alive and Kicking"
(1985)
"Sanctify Yourself"
(1986)
Music sample
"Alive and Kicking"

"Alive and Kicking" is a song by the rock band Simple Minds, released as first single from the band's 1985 album, Once Upon a Time.

Following on from the success of previous non-album single, "Don't You (Forget About Me)", "Alive and Kicking" was released as a single, reaching #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[1] (Four weeks at Top Five Billboard) and #7 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

The music video for "Alive and Kicking" was directed by Zbigniew Rybczyński, who directed the video for "All the Things She Said", the third single from the same album.

It was re-released in 1992 as a double A-side with "Love Song" to promote the band's Glittering Prize 81/92 collection. Around the same time, it was used on trailers for BSkyB's recently acquired coverage of FA Premier League[3] matches. The double A-side reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Spin magazine's review of the album Once Upon a Time had mixed messages about the song saying that the song was an "ornate epic", but that the lyrics are so vague that the band "only describes nirvana without attaining it".[4]

Football League Two side Aldershot Town play this song at the start of their home games.

Contents

Track listing

7" Single

  1. "Alive and Kicking" (Single Version) (4:47)
  2. "Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental Version) (6:01)

12" Single

  1. "Alive and Kicking" (5:26)
  2. "Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental Version) (6:01)

Second 12" Single

  1. "Alive and Kicking" (5:26)
  2. "Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental Version) (6:01)
  3. "Up On the Catwalk" (Live) (5:37)

Personnel

Chart performance

Country Peak
position
Dutch Top 40 2
UK Singles Chart 7
Canada Music Chart 3
Billboard Hot 100 3
Billboard Top Rock Tracks 1
Hit Parade Italia 1
Ireland Singles Chart 2
New Zealand Singles Chart 5
German Singles Chart 17
Australian Singles Chart 21
Belgium Singles Chart 1
Norway Singles Chart 5
Sweden Singles Chart 11
European Hot 100 Singles 3

Other versions

The version by East Side Beat reached #26 in the UK Singles Chart in 1992.[5]

References