Dexys Midnight Runners "Come On Eileen"

I remember this big pop song when I was in high school and while MTV was still a new phenomenon. This was 1982 and I was just barely starting my transition form pop/rock top-40, to the sublime genre of Prog (thanks to a friend of mine).  The song was "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners.  It was a big hit, so it couldn't possibly be Prog, right?  Well......I've thought for quite a while that this song is a Prog song.  I just heard it on the radio in my workplace break room, which would usually be an immediate indicator that what I'm listening to is NOT Prog.  I swear this song seems very Proggy to me, and I'd just like the opinions of you all to verify that my suspicions are correct and I'm not imagining this OR to have you affirm to me, that yes indeed, I am crazy, ha.  

I love Dexys Midnight Runners but sorry, man. Not prog. It is really catchy pop rock with Celtic folk that got lumped into the new wave tag. That's a kick ass song but can't imagine how you would get prog out of it! Remember that experimental doesn't mean prog ;)

Kevin Rowland of DML is kinda crazy excellent pop artist indeed.

paisanojac wrote: Ha, OK.....I am officially crazy, and thanks for the friendly comments. I wonder if I had the Proggy sensation for this song because of these things below: When you hear that song, do you hear: Counter-melody ? Tempo changes ? Key changes ? Tone change ? Yeah, those things don't necessarily make it Prog, just like a song being 20 minutes long or having meaningful lyrics doesn't make it Prog.  Violin too. Thanks for the responses!

Yeah a lot of things happening in just four minutes. Impressive stuff really. Anyone thinking this is average top 40 sh*te isn't listening. Its something maybe Gentle Giant could or should have come up with if they they had the slightest knack for writing that hit they were so desperate for. I'll bet its a a lot harder to nail this one than most neoprog of the same period. That said I do find it somewhat grating on the ears nowadays (but so does a lot of later Gentle Giant). That's probably due to overexposure. Now Geno - that is a great song.  

Edited by Saperlipopette! - September 12 2018 at 23:47

Edited by someone_else - September 13 2018 at 04:31

Arrrrggghh! I come on this site to get away from this sort of crap not have it thrust in my face. I feel abused

It's not prog just because it changes tempo. This song just brings back memories of naff parties in the 80s and it's just another "Hi Ho Silver Lining"-type handbag dancing song.

it's been played to death everywhere, I don't mind it, but I don't wanna hear it anytime soon. :)