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On the subject of music did anyone know that..
Choice
Posts: 2,863
The song "Embarassment" by Madness was written about a band members sister who got pregnant by a black fella. Have a listen to the lyrics sometime..Back in the day of Major Gowan and Fawlty Towers you could get away with this sort of thing, imagine someone producing this sort of material now. End of career time! see also: Ron Atkinson
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Always thought it was about a girl getting pregnant, that's implied in the lyrics.
But it doesn't say that explicitly or mention anything about the guy being black.
It does say "you're a disgrace to the human race". Now if it said "white race" then what you said would make sense but it doesn't.0 -
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Received a letter just the other day
don't seem they wanna know you no more
they've laid it down given you their score
within the first two lines it bluntly read
You're not to come see us no more
keep away from our door
don't come round here no more
what on earth did you do that for?
Our Aunt she don't wanna know she says
what will the neighbours think they'll think
we don't that's what they'll think we don't
but I will 'cos I know they think I don't
Our uncle he don't wanna know
he says we are a disgrace to the human race
he says how can you show your face
when you're a disgrace to the human race
They've made a commitment you're an embarrassment
yes an embarrassment a living endorsement
the intention that you have booked
was an intention that was overlooked
They say stay away
don't want you home today
keep away from our door
don't come around here no more
Our Dad he don't wanna know he says
this is a serious matter
too late to reconsider
no one's gonna wanna know ya
Our Mum she don't wanna know she says
I'm feeling twice as old she says
thought she had her head on her shoulders
'cos I'm feeling twice as older
I'm feeling twice as older
You're an embarrassment0 -
at no point does this song refer to the views of madness just what people wouldve said at the time
i dont see nothing wrong with that at all
i really hope people do not make a big thing out of one of the best groups out of London and from this country in years0 -
I like Madness, I reckon if anything they were just taking the piss, that's all.0
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Did you know also that Every Breath You Take by The Police is about stalking?0
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[cite]Posted By: nth london addick[/cite]i really hope people do not make a big thing out of one of the best groups out of London and from this country in years
well said that man ... and the most recent album, Liberty of Norton Folgate, is stunning0 -
[cite]Posted By: PaddyP17[/cite]Did you know also that Every Breath You Take by The Police is about stalking?
Yeah, heard an interview where Sting was saying how funny it was that so many people choose it as their wedding song when it's about stalking your ex.0 -
i always thought it was actually quite a creepy song, not romantic at all.0
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wernt there a police song about a schoolgirl wanting her teacher as well0
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[cite]Posted By: nth london addick[/cite]wernt there a police song about a schoolgirl wanting her teacher as well
Don't Stand So Close To Me0 -
thought so0
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Nothing wrong with them lyrics at all.Whose to say what ANY song is really about.
No way on earth i'm going to bad mouth madness.They wrote the only ever song about buying johnnies for christs sake!0 -
I remember that, I had the original LP (maybe even a box set) and there was a book inside explaining the songs, I can honestly say I have always thought that the song is about having a mixed race baby.0
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as mentioned i also thought it was about a mixed race baby. 'complete madness' was the first album i ever bought. i can remember being about 11-12 and walking around blackpool one summers day with my best mate, in my harrington jacket and farahs with doc martins thinkin we were so cool. i had huge madness patch sewn in middle of the back and a set of 7 button badges each with a letter spelling out the bands name and a member of the band on each one. would have been about 1982-3. happy days. still a great album. recommended to anyone that doesn't know their work.0
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Just seen this and had to point out that the sentiment of the song is the exact opposite of that implied by the OP. It is a song about the stigma involved and was to point out the negative attitudes around it from a sympathetic standpoint of support for the couple involved against the prejudice that they faced from their family. If there was one thing that Madness were, it certainly wasn't racist, quite the reverse.0
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Yeah Lee Thompson wrote it.
Thought everyone knew what it was about.
Madness wrote a lot of political songs which never got noted
due to their 'nutty' image.0 -
[cite]Posted By: bigstemarra[/cite]Just seen this and had to point out that the sentiment of the song is the exact opposite of that implied by the OP. It is a song about the stigma involved and was to point out the negative attitudes around it from a sympathetic standpoint of support for the couple involved against the prejudice that they faced from their family. If there was one thing that Madness were, it certainly wasn't racist, quite the reverse.
my view entirely
well said sir0 -
Oh and Madness were/are great. I saw them not so long ago at the Benacassim festival in Spain and they created an instant party for around 50,000 people and all the Brits (including myself) went instantly crazy and had a fantastic time. Top stuff.
Agree what was said about the Norton Folgate; I was very impressed and surprised that it was so good - the film made about it was great too.0 -
[cite]Posted By: PaddyP17[/cite]Did you know also that Every Breath You Take by The Police is about stalking?
REM wrote two songs on this subject: 'Strange Currencies' on Monster which was sequelled by 'Be Mine' on New Adventures in Hi-Fi.
It shows how little people listen to the words to choose the The Police song for their wedding.
This does however lead me to a little anecdote. Our wedding video has a sequence of pictures which is played to 'It Must Have Been Love' by Roxette. We didn't choose this at all - the wedding was in Argentina and the video-man thought it was a real love song!0 -
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[cite]Posted By: bigstemarra[/cite]If there was one thing that Madness were, it certainly wasn't racist, quite the reverse.
I definately wasnt implying Madness were racist especially coming from a SKA background and growing up in Camden area, I was just pointing out that the song told a story that these days nobody would write at the risk of being branded racist.0 -
Talking of "Every Breath You Take" ...............Heres another little gem which IMO is the all time classic wedding first dance cock up, you should see peoples faces as the lyrics are sung. Quite clearly clients dont listen to the words when they choose "Band Of Gold" by Freda Payne as their first dance not realising the song tells a story of a recently married woman whose husband is incapable of loving her (even though he tried), resulting in the couple sleeping in separate rooms on their honeymoon, to her dismay. It would appear that the marriage ended in the husband's abandoning his bride, leaving her with no more than the titular 'band of gold'.
You would be surprised how many times this song is chosen as a first dance or as a post first dance song....
Now that you're gone
All that's left is a band of gold
All that's left of the dream I hold
Is a band of gold
And the memories of what love could be
If you are still here with me
You took me from the shelter of a mother I had never known
Who loved any other
We kissed after taking vows
But that night on our honeymoon
We stayed in separate rooms
I wait in the darkness of my lonely room
Filled with sadness, filled with gloom
Hoping soon that you'll walk
Back through that door
And love me like you tried before
Since you've been gone
All that's left is a band of gold
All that's left of the dream I hold
Is a band of gold
And the dream of what love could be
If you are still here with me
Ooh, don't you know that I wait in the darkness of my lonely room
Filled with sadness, filled with gloom
Hoping soon that you'll walk
Back through that door
And love me like you tried before
Since you've been gone
All that's left is a band of gold
All that's left of the dream I hold
Is a band of gold
And the dream of what love could be
If you are still here with me0 -
I think reading the actual article is pivotal here...0
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[cite]Posted By: bigstemarra[/cite]Just seen this and had to point out that the sentiment of the song is the exact opposite of that implied by the OP. It is a song about the stigma involved and was to point out the negative attitudes around it from a sympathetic standpoint of support for the couple involved against the prejudice that they faced from their family. If there was one thing that Madness were, it certainly wasn't racist, quite the reverse.
I raise my (Pork Pie) Hat to you sir.0 -
[cite]Posted By: razil[/cite]I think reading the actual article is pivotal here...
from Wikipedia
The meaning behind the song was particularly dark considering the band's previous material. Primarily written by Lee Thompson, the song reflected the unfolding turmoil following the news that his teenage sister, Tracy Thompson, had become pregnant and was carrying a black man's child. The following rejection by her family, and the shame felt was reflected in the song.
This does not imply that Madness as a band had an racist tendancies, just that one band members family had issues. These days a band i think would consider more carefully what material they produced as it could reflect badly on the band which this story does if the article hadnt been read in its entirety0 -
I think it's short sighted to suggest lyrics aren't as challenging these days. There are still some good popsters out their making meaningful songs. As has been said, people just don't listen to lyrics.
We all remember the meaningful songs from our 'age'. I am guessing most people in this thread are 30-40. I could point out some provocative lyrics from the 50s / 60s and I'm sure there are some 20somethings on here who have some from today. Its just the issues that tend to change.0 -
[cite]Posted By: Harveys Trainer[/cite]Its just the issues that tend to change.
good point0 -
challenging lyrics
marshall mathers
cuting his wives throat and throwing her in the lake
I loved taht albumn and was bloody as dark as it could be0 -
Apparently this is the only song on Callum Davenports I-Pod....0
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[cite]Posted By: MrOneLung[/cite]Apparently this is the only song on Callum Davenports I-Pod....
oh dear0
