Synopsis

Simple Minds perform "Alive and Kicking" against the expansive natural scenery of New York's Catskill Mountains. The video opens beneath a full moon, with the band gathered beside North-South Lake, before moving through forest paths, open grassland, a lakeside setting, and a dramatic cliffside overlook. Jim Kerr leads the performance as daylight gradually shifts toward sunset, while Robin Clark appears during the backing vocal passages. The scenic presentation gives the song a broad, atmospheric quality, matching its grand, anthemic arrangement.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed near the town of Hunter at North-South Lake in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.

• Several shots were made at the overlook associated with the former Catskill Mountain House, a once-famous resort that had already been demolished.

• Rather than using a conventional storyline, the clip is built around landscape, changing light, and staged performance footage. The movement from moonlight to sunset mirrors the song's expansive, emotional tone.

• Robin Clark, who contributed backing vocals to the recording, is also featured in the performance sections of the video.

• The promotional video was released in 1985 alongside the lead single from the album "Once Upon a Time."

• The video uses the longer album version of "Alive and Kicking," which runs approximately 5 minutes and 26 seconds.