Come on Eileen was a song that was capable of encapsulating the spirit of youthful rebellion, exuberance, and romantic longing in the music of the 80s.
It was 1982 when Dexys Midnight Runners released their song Come on Eileen. The song was an instant success. It taught the charts in both the UK as well as the US and quickly became one of the most recognizable songs of the decade. Featuring a unique fusion of soul, Celtic, and folk music, the infectious energy of Come on Eileen made it an enduring symbol of the era. It embodied everything that made the 80s free-spirited.
The Rise of Eclectic Pop Music of the 80s
Without question, the 80s were a time of immense social, cultural, and technological innovations. Thanks to the release of MTV back in 1981, the decade saw a broad range of genres pop up overnight. Suddenly, synthpop and new-wave rock could be heard playing on car radios across the country. Dexys Midnight Runners capitalized on the music video as a way to market their new sound to a larger audience.
Thanks to their retro folk and roots-styled music, and their use of energetic music videos, Dexys Midnight Runners was able to rise to the top of the charts quickly. While other bands were focused on using synthesizers and other electronic sounds, Come On Eileen included fiddles, brass instruments, and raw yet heartfelt vocals. With everyone wanting more eclectic and genre-bending sounds, the band could easily resonate with audiences around the world.
Major Developments and Trends in Music of the 80s
The song Come on Eileen set the stage for many popular trends and music of the 80s. Not only did they blend musical genres together, but they used MTV and music videos to accelerate their climb to the top. And, they relied on nostalgia and youthful innocence to increase their popularity with the MTV generation.
A Blend of Musical Genres
Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of Come on Eileen is its ability to blend multiple genres into one single song. Write out the back, you can hear the Celtic folk sound when the fiddles start to play. Yet, the music has a pop to it and was sung in a soulful manner that made it a unique blend of multiple different genres from around the world.
Not only do they have fiddles, but they also use banjos and a wide array of brass instruments throughout the song. This is then paired with the vocals of Kevin Rowland, to create a very distinct sound that stood out from other music of the time. This helped it to dominate the charts in both the UK and the US.
However, Come On Eileen Was not the first attempt by Dexys Midnight Runners to create a hit by blending soul and pop music together. In fact, they had released several songs prior to, but none of them were quite as popular. Come on Eileen took their experimentation with blended genres to a whole new height. The structure itself is highly unconventional and the tempo changes provide dramatic shifts in intensity throughout the song. This created a dynamic that kept listeners engaged throughout the entire track. And, this unique blend of musical genres redefined pop music of the 80s.
MTV and Music Videos in the 80s
MTV was introduced to the world in 1981, and its existence completely revolutionized the music industry. Prior to its launch, bands relied solely on their ability to market their music to individual radio stations in order to get airtime. But, for MTV, it wasn’t just about vocals, because you had to create a visually aesthetic music video that offered a good beat and kept people interested. And, Dexys Midnight Runners did just that by dressing in scruffy dungarees and playing in a virtually deserted town. They created something that sharply contrasted everything else that was available at the time.
The visual style that the band created was refined, yet earthy and nostalgic. This reinforced the song’s themes of useful rebellion and romantic longing. Throughout the early 80s, it played heavily on MTV which only helped to boost the song’s popularity. Thanks to the catchy tune and the easily recognizable images, Come On Eileen became the quintessential anthem of 80s music.
Nostalgia and Youthful Innocence
Dexys Midnight Runners were able to tap into the early 80s trend, that sought simpler and more authentic sounds. There was a resurgence of folk and roots music at the time, and Come on Eileen was able to capture everything that the modern technology of the time could not. They were able to present to the world more traditional sounds and instruments in the song as a way of grounding it.
The song itself, also captured the hearts of the younger generation, as the narrative is all about a man’s infatuation and romantic struggles with a girl called Eileen. It resonated with the youthful generation at the time, who were looking for nostalgia and romantic longing. When coupled with the fiddle that played throughout the song, it was able to evoke a more rustic bygone era while still managing to sound fresh and contemporary. Dexys Midnight Runners perfectly blended the old with the new to create a timeless song that redefined a generation.
Who Were Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners were not really well known prior to the release of Come on Eileen. But, with the help of the lead singer and songwriter, Kevin Rowland, the band was able to create something that was truly unique. Roman had a vision for the man, to create music that was not just deeply emotional, but also included a number of different genres, more specifically Celtic folk, and soul. His vocal style which was raw and passionate, gave the song the personality it needed to rise to the top. And, his ability to blend all of these genres and his vocals into a single work of art, made him one of the key figures in music of the 80s.
Come on Eileen – A Music of the 80s Success
There is no question that Come On Eileen was a huge commercial success. But beyond its success, Dexys Midnight Runners left a lasting impact on the culture of the 80s. The song itself garnered A Brit Award for Best British Single back and 1983, which helped to solidify the song’s place as one of the most defining tracks of the decade. The infectious melody, and the theme of love, rebellion, and romantic longing allowed the song to become a staple at parties, weddings, and on every single retro playlists around the world.
Still today, the song’s legacy lives on. It has made frequent appearances and TV shows, films, and commercials. And, it has also become a touchstone of what 80s nostalgia truly is. The song was able to embody the carefree and emotionally charged atmosphere of the decade. A number of bands and artists today, often cite Dexys Midnight Runners as a major influence in their own music. This helped to further extend Come on Eileen’s reach across the generations.
Conclusion
In the end, Come On Eileen was more than just a chart-topping hit. It was a cultural phenomenon, and it reshaped the music of the 80s. It was capable of representing an entire decade’s eclectic musical landscape in a single track. With the help of MTV and music videos, they were able to create something that was truly authentic and grounded in a world that was filled with ever-changing technology and innovation. Their ability to seamlessly blend multiple genres into a memorable soundtrack helped to define them as one of the most innovative bands of the early 80s.
