Alive and Kicking (song)

"Alive and Kicking" is a song released by the Scottish rock band Simple Minds as the lead single from their seventh album, Once Upon a Time.

This article is about the Simple Minds song. For other songs with the same title, see Alive and Kicking (disambiguation).

"Alive & Kicking"
Single by Simple Minds
from the album Once Upon a Time
Released20 September 1985 (US)
30 September 1985 (UK)
Recorded1985
GenrePop rock, new wave, synthpop
Length4:47 (single version)
4:33 (radio version)
5:26 (album/video version)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil
Producer(s)Bob Clearmountain, Jimmy Iovine
Simple Minds singles chronology
"Don't You (Forget About Me)"
(1985)		 "Alive & Kicking"
(1985)		 "Sanctify Yourself"
(1986)
Music video
"Alive and Kicking" on YouTube
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

The song reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 4 in Canada, and peaked within the top 5 of several European countries including Italy, where the song reached number one.

Chart performances

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 number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Top Rock Tracks chart (now called the Mainstream Rock chart). The song also reached number 4 in Canada. In Europe, the song topped the charts in Italy for one week, reached number 2 in Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1992, when re-released as a double A-side with "Love Song" to promote the band's compilation album Glittering Prize 81/92, it managed to reach a new peak of number 6. Elsewhere, "Alive and Kicking" reached number 5 in New Zealand, number 16 in South Africa, and just missed the top 20 in Australia, peaking at number 21.

Music video

The music video for "Alive and Kicking" was filmed near the town of Hunter, at North–South Lake in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. A portion of the video was filmed on the overlook at the site of the old Catskill Mountain House (previously demolished). It was directed by Zbigniew Rybczyński, who directed the video for "All the Things She Said", the third single from the same album.[1]

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

  • Ltd Edition Reflective Gold Sleeve
  1. "Alive and Kicking" (5:26)
  2. "Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental Version) (6:01)
  3. "Up on the Catwalk" (Live) (5:37)

Personnel
  • Produced By Jimmy Iovine & Bob Clearmountain
  • Engineered By Moira Marquis & Mark McKenna
  • Engineering assisted By Martin White
  • Words & Music By Simple Minds (Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil)
  • "Up on the Catwalk" Recorded live at Barrowlands, Glasgow, 5 January 1985
  • Backing vocals Robin Clark

Charts and certifications

Appearances in media

In 1992, "Alive & Kicking" provided the soundtrack for a famous promo, entitled "A whole new ball game" for BSkyB's launch of FA Premier League football.[28][29]

East Side Beat version
"Alive and Kicking"
Single by East Side Beat
from the album East Side Beat
Released18 December 1992
Recorded1992
GenreDance
Length4:05
LabelFFRR Records
Songwriter(s)Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil
Producer(s)Phil Kelsey
East Side Beat singles chronology
"I Didn't Know"
(1992)		 "Alive and Kicking"
(1992)		 "You're My Everything"
(1993)

In 1992, Italian dance music group East Side Beat covered "Alive and Kicking" in a style typical of early 1990s dance music. There are five remixes in total. Two versions are found on the 7" single and an additional three are on the CD single.[30]

Charts
Chart (1992–1993) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 26[31]
Dutch Top 40 20[32]
Belgian Singles Chart 19[33]

References
  1. "videos alive and kicking". simpleminds.org. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0608." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  5. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2 no. 45. 11 November 1985. p. 7. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  6. "Lescharts.com – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  7. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2 no. 47. 25 November 1985. p. 8. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Alive and Kicking". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  11. "Charts.nz – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  12. "Norwegiancharts.com – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  13. "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 A-B". Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  14. "Swedishcharts.com – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  16. "Simple Minds Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  17. "Simple Minds Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Song / Alive and Kicking". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  21. "Jaaroverzichten 1985". Ultratop. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  22. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  23. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  24. "JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1985" (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  25. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (27 December 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 98 (52): Y-21.
  26. "Canadian single certifications – Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  27. "British single certifications – Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  28. "Alive and kicking: The Premier League at 25". sportsjournalists.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  29. Plunkett, John (5 February 2009). "A look back at the best Sky ads from the past 20 years". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  30. "Various - Only for the Headstrong". Discogs.com. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  31. British Hit Singles & Albums (17th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. 2004. p. 630. ISBN 0-85112-199-3.
  32. ultratop.be
  33. ultratop.be
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