Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 1985 a new band called The Dream Academy released their debut single 'Life in a Northen Town', which became a smash hit single across the world, helped by a catchy African style chanting chorus.
Officially written to be about the collapse of the shipping industry, the music video was filmed in the centre of the country in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
The single proved to be the only real chart hit for the band who never again made it into the Top 40.
40 years on, join usvas we have a look at how the locations compare today to 1985.
Hey ma ma ma....
In 1985 a new band called The Dream Academy released their debut single 'Life in a Northen Town', which became a smash hit single across the world, helped by a catchy African style chanting chorus.
Officially written to be about the collapse of the shipping industry, the music video was filmed in the centre of the country in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
The single proved to be the only real chart hit for the band who never again made it into the Top 40.
40 years on, join usvas we have a look at how the locations compare today to 1985.
Hey ma ma ma....










