A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away) [1982]
A Flock Of Seagulls
"A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)" Video
Amateur Video
A dude wearing an ugly red shirt—and sporting one of the strangest (and dumbest) haircuts in the history of rock 'n' roll—spins around a cheap set full of aluminum foil. In a robotic voice, he sings about walking along an avenue, meeting a girl and then running away. A couple of overweight sluts—with painted faces and dressed in garbage bags - witness the action.
Nobody remembers the video, but everybody remembers the ridiculous haircut (one critic referred to it as a "waterfall" haircut). If this asshole had walked around my neighborhood with a haircut like that, he would have received a serious ass kicking. In fact, the band was started by a couple of hairdressers, including lead singer Mike Score. During the summer of 1982, MTV must have played this video a couple thousand times. Catchy song! A one-hit wonder all the way.
A Flock of Seagulls took a sensational nosedive about as rapidly as they shot up the charts. However, the band toured for years thereafter, pathetically trying to reclaim its past glory. Nobody was listening. Great haircut, though! Side note: In the Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer (1998), a strange guy-with a waterfall haircut and working an airline ticket counter-asks Sandler (whose character's name is Robbie Hart) if he likes A Flock of Seagulls. Bottom line: This is a ridiculous video but a pretty catchy tune and I am sad to admit I play it on Pandora all the time!
Update: I was wrong, I like one other Flock of Seagulls tune, Wishing . . .
A Flock of Seagulls Trivia
- A Flock of Seagulls, which formed in Liverpool, consisted of Mike Score (keyboards, vocals), Ali Score (drums), Frank Maudsley (bass) and Paul Reynolds (guitar).
- The band took its name from a line in The Stranglers' "Toiler on the Sea" from the album Black and White.
- A Flock of Seagulls reunited for a performance on the VH1 series, "Bands Reunited."
- The song, "D.N.A., from the band's debut album, A Flock of Seagulls, won a Grammy Award in 1983 for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance."
- "I Ran" was A Flock of Seagulls most successful single, reaching No. 9 in the United States and No. 1 in Australia.
- On the VH1 special, "100 Greatest Songs of the '80s," "I Ran" was listed at No. 55 and No. 2 on VH1's "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s."
- "I Ran" has been covered by several artists, including Assemblage 23, Terminal Choice, Bowling for Soup, Hidden in Plain View and Tori Amos, among others.
User Comments - Add a Comment
The Grooviest Baileys - 2003-04-21 19:51:01
The synopsis on "I Ran" was hilarious and highly accurate.
Jeff Kramer - 2003-08-02 20:11:41
about the top's comments: I KNOW, ISN'T IT THE BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
ALittleSaxMan@aol.com - 2004-01-09 03:02:08
dont be hating they played on vice city oh yah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Kraus - 2004-04-30 13:52:38
Trash 'em if you want, but "one hit wonder"? Um... no. That you don't remember "Wishing" and "Space Age Love Song" doesn't change the fact that both songs hit the top 40 in '83.
Jean Napier - 2004-12-25 18:23:14
Yea, they were a great band. You may not of liked "I Ran" but try listioning to a few of there other songs and maybe you will change your mind. One hit wonder, no, great band, yes.
Lise 67 - 2007-01-27 07:24:27
Alas the video has been removed so I can't view it again,but the thing that stays with me from my memories of watching this as a teenager was the lead singer's ridiculous piano playing.He has his ONE finger on one key for ages,then changes that one finger to another key,& after an enormous length of time changes back to the original key."Johnny-One-Note" I called him back in the eighties,but on recollection that may have been too generous.
I loved the tribute to this guy in 'The Wedding Singer'A real LMAO moment.
Mutant Leader - 2007-01-27 09:50:55
Yes, it seems a little out-of-date now. . .but at the time, this is what I remember thinking (mind if I share?:))
this is what's COOL now, guys like THIS with loud GUITARS & punk HAIRCUTS &
apocolypto girls (like MS DARYL HANNAH in "Blade Runner" on). . .but i'm just *12*; where
do i go to SEE such girls? a city that's been DESTROYED?
i better start being COOL like the Flock of Seagulls *guitar player* is. . .
Should be obvious eh? - 2010-03-02 17:52:35
Well, after reading your critiquing, "A Flock of Seagulls" I'm sort of wondering with you innate and arrogant, self absorbed attitude......How many hits did you say you had?....Ahhh, that's right......None!!! Whose to say if someone walking through your neighborhood with his haircut would have gotten his ass kicked? Might have been the other way around. Not all loud mouths have what it takes to back up their pie hole ejection's. And for what sure reads like you were disgusted with the band makes me wonder why you have a video of them on your site??? Hmmm!!!Are you a closet Seagull?
Dale Sams - 2003-01-31 23:50:20
Don't be so hard on The Flock....They played Miami Beach a couple of = years back and the line to get in ran wayyyyyy down the street.