"Life In A Northern Town" by The Dream Academy

Whenever i hear this song it reminds me of winters during the 1980's when i was in grade school.

"Life In A Northern Town" is a nice little two hit wonder that sticks out a bit from what was on the radio at the time (1986). The song has a light yet haunting and ethereal sound that remains distinctive; however, when compared to the classic wonders on this list, the song must suffer in its rating. For the record, "Life In A Northern Town" charted in the U.S. for 11 weeks in 1986, peaking at #7. Rumor has it that Rick Springfield covered this song, but I haven't actually heard it.

This song really hits a raw nerve with me as I grew up in the 1980s in a town in the North of England - and absolutely everything (the simple but poignant lyrics, the haunting melody of the music, and the harsh basic monochrome of the video) all bring memories of that part of my life flooding back to me... it really couldn't have been expressed better!

Touching without being cloying, vaguely relevant to 80s rustbelt decay (all the work shut down), this haunting little piece will probably never quite die. It first caught my ear after catching my eye--the video is a poignant study in wet wintry industrial monochrome--bare trees and aging modern real estate viewed through a rainspotted windshield, etc.

Reminds me of summer in Banff.