19 (song)

other songs 19 (disambiguation)#Songs October 2020 19 19 single.jpg single Paul Hardcastle Paul Hardcastle Fly by Night April 1985 Synth-pop We-Enhance Simon Fuller: From "American Idol" To Formula 1 Idol. B*tchBack 16 March 2011 Simon Fuller (...) produced "19" for Paul Hardcastle- a very cheesy slice of Eighties' synth pop http://bitchback.we-enhance.com/2011/03/16/simon-fuller-from-american-idol-to-formula-1-idol/ 21 July 2013 electro Steve Huey Paul Hardcastle – Artist Biography AllMusic http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-hardcastle-mn0000018513/biography 21 July 2013 new wavealbum mw0000173417 Various Artists - Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the 80's, Vol. 15 (1995) Review Erlewine Stephen Thomas March 12, 2025 6:20 (album version) 3:37 (single version) Chrysalis Paul Hardcastle William Couturié Mike Oldfield Jonas McCord Paul Hardcastle Eat Your Heart Out 1984 Rainforest 1985 single 19 - Paul Hardcastle.ogg "19" is a song by the English musician Paul Hardcastle, released as the first single from his eponymous fourth studio album Paul Hardcastle (1985). The song has a strong anti-war message, focusing on the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War and the effect it had on the soldiers who served. The track was notable for early use of sampled and processed speech, in particular a synthesized stutter effect used on the words "nineteen" and "destruction" and "Saigon". It also includes various non-speech, re-dubbed sampling, such as crowd noise and a military bugle call. "19" features sampled narration (voiced by Peter Thomas), out-of-context interview dialogue ("I wasn't really sure what was going on") and news reports from Vietnam Requiem,June 2024 the ABC television documentary about the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffered by Vietnam veterans. In 2009, the song placed at 73 on VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s. Rahsheeda Ali 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-05-02/100-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-80s/29/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130505154043/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2013-05-02/100-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-80s/29 dead 5 May 2013 VH1 20 October 2010 "19" had huge international success in the charts; it went to No. 1 in the UK for five weeks, as well as a number of other countries worldwide. "19" became the top-selling single in 13 countries for 1985. This was helped by international versions of the song spoken by well-known local news anchors in French, Spanish, German and Japanese. The song received the Ivor Novello Award for Best-selling single of 1985. The song's English-language release came in three different 12" versions: "Extended Version", "Destruction Mix" and "The Final Story", all with an alternative cover design. Background and content Hardcastle was inspired to create the song after watching Vietnam Requiem (1982), and comparing his own life at 19 to those of the soldiers featured: "...what struck me was how young the soldiers were: the documentary said their average age was 19. I was out having fun in pubs and clubs when I was 19, not being shoved into jungles and shot at." Dave Simpson How we made the pop song 19 by Paul Hardcastle and Ken Grunbaum The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/24/19-paul-hardcastle-ken-grunbaum 24 September 2012 26 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120926233341/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/sep/24/19-paul-hardcastle-ken-grunbaum live The title "19" comes from the documentary's narrative that the average age of an American combat soldier in the war was 19, as compared to 26 in World War II. James E. Perone Songs of the Vietnam conflict 2001 107 Greenwood Publishing Group https://books.google.com/books?id=HHQqoUcbd8gC&pg=PA107 978-0-313-31528-2 This claim has since been disputed. Gary Roush Statistics about the Vietnam War http://www.vhfcn.org/stat.html Vietnam Helicopter Flight Crew Network 2 June 2008 6 December 2009 Assuming KIAs accurately represented age groups serving in Vietnam, the average age of an infantryman (MOS 11B) serving in Vietnam to be 19 years old is a myth, it was actually 22. None of the enlisted grades have an average age of less than 20. https://web.archive.org/web/20100106193244/http://www.vhfcn.org/stat.html 6 January 2010 dead Undisputed statistics do not exist, although Southeast Asia Combat Area Casualties Current File (CACCF), the source for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, shows a large number of deaths (38%) were ages 19 or 20. According to the same source, 23 is the average age at time of death (or time of declaration of death). http://archives.gov/research/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html Statistical information about casualties of the Vietnam War https://web.archive.org/web/20080924163906/http://archives.gov/research/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html 24 September 2008. The song also comments that while the tour of duty was longer during World War II, soldiers in Vietnam were subjected to hostile fire more frequently: "almost every day". Musically, the song was inspired by electro, particularly Afrika Bambaataa, although Hardcastle also "added a bit of jazz and a nice melody", and beyond the sampling of the documentary narration, the song incorporated pieces of interviews with soldiers. The song's pivotal hook, the repetitive "N-n-n-n-nineteen", was chosen due to the limitations of the early sampling technology used. The E-mu Emulator could only sample for two seconds, so the hook was based around "the only bit of the narrative that made sense in two seconds". Hardcastle was not optimistic about the song's chances in the charts. His previous two singles for independent labels had failed to make it into the UK's top 40 and the musical policy at Radio 1 was felt to be unsupportive of dance music. News interest in the song helped, with the tenth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War seeing Hardcastle interviewed by Alastair Stewart of ITN. Tony Blackburn, then breakfast DJ for Radio London, was an early supporter of the song and it quickly reached number 1 in the UK and most of the world. Hardcastle produced different mixes of the song to help maintain interest in it. Although the song only reached number 15 in the United States chart, Hardcastle claims "it outsold everybody else for three weeks solid, it only reached number 15, because back then the chart was based on airplay as well as sales". The song was held back in the US by some radio stations refusing to play it, feeling that the song took an anti-American stance, something Hardcastle denies, noting he "had tons of letters from Vietnam vets thanking [him] for doing something for them". The song's reliance on sampling also caused problems with legal clearance. Ken Grunbaum recalled in 2012 that "there were no precedents for something like this. We ended up having to pay royalties to the narrator, Peter Thomas." 19 PTSD In 2015, Hardcastle released a charity version of the song for the Talking2Minds organisation, who raise money for troops suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This PTSD remix was also found on 19: The 30th Anniversary Collection, a compilation album which included 14 versions of the song such as the Cryogenic Freeze Remix and a version which included samples of Marvin Gaye. Paul Sinclair Paul Hardcastle: 19: The 30th Anniversary Collection Super Deluxe Edition 15 April 2015 28 February 2021 https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/paul-hardcastle-19-the-30th-anniversary-collection/ Paul Sinclair Paul Hardcastle on '19' at 30 Super Deluxe Edition 21 May 2015 28 February 2021 https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/interview/paul-hardcastle-on-19-at-30/ Mark Blunden Eighties star Paul Hardcastle re-releases anti-war hit 19 to raise funds for British soldiers Evening Standard 20 May 2015 28 February 2021 https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/eighties-star-paul-hardcastle-rereleases-antiwar-hit-19-to-raise-funds-for-british-soldiers-10263342.html Music video After the song's unexpected, rapid climb to the top of the UK Singles Chart, Chrysalis asked Vietnam Requiem directors Jonas McCord and Bill Couturié to rush a video into production. Jim Bessman Anti-War Clip Provokes Network Wrath 1 June 1985 Billboard https://books.google.com/books?id=4yQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT39 38–39 97 22 0006-2510 Due to the lack of a band able to perform the song, the video was primarily composed of clips from the Vietnam Requiem documentary, edited together by Ken Grunbaum. The first version of the video included footage from the television networks NBC and ABC, including a newscast by ABC anchorman Frank Reynolds. After it was aired on MTV in the US, NBC and ABC objected to the "bad taste" of using the serious clips in a "trivial" form of "propaganda". McCord and Couturié were forced to produce a new cut incorporating public domain footage, but ABC permitted Reynolds' audio to remain. Couturié asserted at the time that the television networks opposed the video because it involved rock music: What is the difference between the words in our song and the 7 o'clock news? The only difference is rock'n'roll. And why did they love the documentary and hate the video so much? Every word in the song is from the film, and there was never any argument with the facts. The only difference is the music. Critical reception John Leland of Spin wrote, "This is Hardcastle’s sharpest slice of beatbox muzak to date, but it's still a pain in the ass. The power of the track comes from a deadpan voiceover. This hits like all political chic: momentarily chilling, but not redemptive." Spin Singles John Leland August 1985 4 36 Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart (1985)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) Hits of the World Billboard 15 June 1985 97 24 66 https://books.google.com/books?id=-SQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%2219+paul+hardcastle%22&pg=PT83 0006-251010Austria 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013Flanders 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013Canada RPM 2 326 1 June 2013Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits MusicSeek.info http://musicseek.info/no1hits/1985.htm dead 14 June 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060614052216/http://musicseek.info/no1hits/1985.htm1France 15 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013Ireland2 1 19 (re 1) 1 June 2013Italy (Musica e dischi)http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php Classifiche Musica e dischi it Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Paul Hardcastle".1Dutch40 1 1985 26 21 July 2013Dutch100 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013New Zealand 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013Norway 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013South Africa (Springbok Radio) South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (H) Rock.co.za http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(H).html 1 June 20134Spain (AFE)Aranegui Fernando Salaverri 2015 Sólo Éxitos 1959-2012 1985 [Singles] es Fundación SGAE 307–311 97884804886622Sweden 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013Switzerland 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 21 July 2013UK 1 1985-05-11 22 July 2013US Billboard Hot 100 Paul Hardcastle – Awards AllMusic http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-hardcastle-mn0000018513/awards 4 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131104024050/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-hardcastle-mn0000018513/awards15US Billboard Hot Black Singles8US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play1US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales1US Cash Box CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JULY 27, 1985 Cash Box http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850727.html 1 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121001104815/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850727.html21West Germany 1 Paul Hardcastle 19 1270 21 July 2013 Chart (2011)PeakpositionUK 40 20110521 22 July 2013 "UK" Year-end charts Chart (1985)RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985 Kent Music Report Imgur 23 January 2023 Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien dead https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134948/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 6 October 201493Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) Jahreshitparade 1985 Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien 16 June 2014 http://www.austriancharts.at/1985_single.asp de14Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) Jaaroverzichten 1985 Ultratop. Hung Medien 16 June 2014 http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1985 nl15Canada Top Singles (RPM) RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985 RPM 43 16 28 December 1985 16 June 2014 https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=697&app=rpm38Germany (Official German Charts) Jahrescharts – 1985 Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts http://www.officialcharts.de/year.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1985&x=31&y=3 dead 15 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141015113417/http://www.officialcharts.de/year.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1985&x=31&y=3 de3Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985 Dutch Top 40 16 June 2014 http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985 nl5Netherlands (Single Top 100) Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985 Single Top 100. Hung Medien 16 June 2014 http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1985&cat=s nl3New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) End of Year Charts 1985 Recorded Music New Zealand 26 September 2019 https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1985-12-316Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985 Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=1985 16 June 2014 de7UK Singles (Official Charts Company) Chart Archive – 1980s Singles everyHit.com 16 June 2014 http://www.everyhit.com/chart.html4 Certifications and sales Canada single Paul Hardcastle 19 Gold 1985 1985 Germany single Paul Hardcastle Gold 1985 1985 United Kingdom single Paul Hardcastle 19 Gold 1985 1985 73-3433-1 785,000 Rob Copsey Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1985 Official Charts Company 9 April 2021 13 April 2021 https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-top-40-best-selling-songs-of-1985__32861/ yes Parody In the same year of release, comedian Rory Bremner, using the band name The Commentators, released a parodied version of the song as "N-N-Nineteen Not Out", about the England cricket team's poor performance in test matches, with references to the team's disastrous 1984 home series against the West Indies in which captain David Gower had averaged 19. West Indies in England, 1984 – Test Averages http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1984/WI_IN_ENG/WI_IN_ENG_1984_TEST_AVS.html ESPNcricinfo 2 February 2009 Other uses in popular culture Manchester United used the "19" soundtrack to celebrate their 19th Premier League title in May 2011, Gregg Roughley Manchester United fans campaign to get 19 to No1 when club wins title The Guardian 9 May 2011 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/09/manchester-united-song-19-title 11 July 2013 and the song made a reappearance in the UK Top 40. See also 28em I Was Only 19, a 1983 song of similar themes from the perspective of an Australian Vietnam War soldier List of anti-war songs Lists of number-one singles (Austria) List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1985 List of number-one hits of 1985 (Germany) List of number-one singles of 1985 (Ireland) List of number-one hits of 1985 (Italy) List of number-one singles from the 1980s (New Zealand) List of number-one songs in Norway List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden List of number-one singles of the 1980s (Switzerland) List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s List of Billboard number-one dance/disco singles of 1985 References Category:Songs about teenagers Category:1985 singles Category:1985 songs Category:Paul Hardcastle songs Category:Anti-Vietnam War songs Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Music video controversies Category:Number-one singles in Austria Category:Number-one singles in Germany Category:Number-one singles in Italy Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand Category:Number-one singles in Norway Category:Number-one singles in Sweden Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland Category:Song recordings produced by Paul Hardcastle Category:UK singles chart number-one singles Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles Category:Chrysalis Records singles Category:Works about post-traumatic stress disorder Category:British collage films