I remember going into our local cafe on a Saturday morning and putting this on the juke box... Has to be the best madness record!! I still play it in my car..
What a masterpiece. Real good songs are immune to the test of time. It sounds as good as it did when I first heard it and it always will. In spite of the name, there's no doubt these lads crossed the thin line between madness and genius.
Madness were simply the best band of their (my generation). All of them were exemplary musicians who really knew how to play their instruments and together they formed a one-of-a-kind sound which will always be remembered fondly by those of us who grew up to their sound of their music....fantastic!
Pretty simple. There are a lot people holding racist beliefs who see themselves in this song. Brilliant writing that took Madness to a level that even they never saw coming. This song, as well as songs like NW5 is why many still love this band today.
Thanks for sharing, great memories! I was just a boy when Madness were dominating the UK charts. My older cousin was a total Madness nut! He even used to have his hair cut and dress like Suggs!
The meaning behind the song was particularly dark, considering the band's previous material. Primarily written by Lee Thompson, the plot of 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 subsequent rejection by her family, and the shame felt, was reflected in the song.[4] As Thompson was on the road with the band, he only heard snippets of the story, through phone calls and letters, but this was enough for him to piece the story together. The song is a clear indication of changing attitudes (see miscegenation). The real-life story had a happy ending, however; Thompson later stated that when the child named "Hayley" was born, the antipathy of Tracy's relatives dissolved
Madness are one of those band that I can never tire of. They are just simply the best I had friends in england constantly sending cassettes and albums to me in Canada so I could be the first one here with copies.
People forget what amazing songwriters the Madness guys were. This is such a poignant song, considering what it was written about. Although I believe there was a happy ending, and the family did reconcile.
Incredible that I was 12 when I first heard Madness, yet had little idea until fairly recently about just how brilliant and successful a band they were. I'm watching uploads of hit after hit; they just didn't get the same level of airplay in the US. I read the dark story behind this song, and am very glad the family reconciled after Thompson's niece was born.
As a 10 year old really loved this song- memories of Falklands, dodging skinheads, deep snow, jumpers for goal posts-....only much later understood the serious message Thanks a lot WayfarerGirl!
It must be very difficult for the few young ladies to decide whether to carry-on, protect and admire your own ancestors bloodline, your own father's DNA that may go back for 100,000 years or more. That made you who you are. This country wouldn't be called Britain without Britons blood. After all. To be called a Traitor must make them feel selfish and sad. Great song
Love this song love all the old british song's i grew up with and the memory's i don't live in britain anymore i find it so sad the way britain has become but i still have the great memery's of growing up there and the great music.
yes mate..feel the same..livin abroad with kids..miss uk,but made a wise choice 4 the kids..80s brit was innocent times,2 tone madness specials the jam bmx breakdancin etc etc..now??i pads and zombies..fuck i miss bein a kid
Top class music; it stands the test of time and still sounds as great as it did back at the time when I bought "Absolutely"... or even better!!. Love Madness
Anybody else notice the piano player near the end of the video? That goes to highlight what the song is meant to refer to and also shows how shrewd Madness were.
Aah..these tunes take me back to my mis-spent youth...great times the 80's ... Loved my crombie and DM's still got a crombie.... too old for the boots haha ;)
I've recently started to appreciate Madness for the great band they are again. This song is about a mixed race relationship and the attitudes of friends and relatives. Madness could write songs about serious issues but make them very listenable. Genius.
Don't know how many times I've seen this video (especially since I date back to the early days of MTV), but I just noticed the sign is misspelled...what an embaressment. What punny nutty boys they were.
Brilliant tune by maddness, proving they could as song writers approach darker and more serious topics, teen pregnancy, racism, alienation...as good today as it was when new, seriously underrated band...one of my faves
Who listened to this at the time nobody just who understood a little music! They were inspiration and pronouncement of other successful music groups !!!
CarlsbergKid100 ..... the song was about Lee Thompsons Sister writing a letter to HIM about the Family's reaction to her having a mixed race baby, And calling HER an embarrassment, That's why he wrote the song, The Embarrassment in the song is ""THE FAMILY""
The kid was a gift from God, but I can understand the sentiments of the family. She had a kid out of wedlock. The kid deserves both a mom and a dad. Here in US we see consequences of birth out of wedlock in high crime rates among young black males. My guess is that they all love him/her now. I presume you are British. Post Protestant British of today are just as quick to preen in moral high ground as their great grandparents. SKA always reminded me of big band with a little more bounce.
Jim Foley NO JIM I'M NOT PROTESTANT - AND CAN'T SEE WHY RELIGION HAS ANY BEARING ON THIS AT ALL (BUT FYI I'M A ROMAN CATHOLIC) WHITE YES - AND I LOVED MADNESS BUT WAS MORE INTO THE SPECIALS WHO WERE THE FIRST BAND TO BE INTEGRATED WITH WHITE AND BLACK MEMBERS --- SURE COLOURED PEOPLE HAD SUNG WITH WHITE BANDS AND VICE VERSA BUT THE SPECIALS WHERE THE FIRST BAND WITH WHITE AND COLOURED MEMBERS. Maria Stock English Rose Smith
Got to be their best single, it's one of those records you end up playing 10 times in a row. Their best album track has to be Bed And Breakfast Man (which was nearly a single). They made a video for it but I think I'm right in saying they didn't want to release 5 singles from the album.
Most bands would be happy to have just one hit such as this one. Madness seemed to do this on regular basis, glad I grew up listening to this.
The songs of Madness will always stand the test of time,while other bands fade away The Nutty Boys will be remembered forever.
I remember going into our local cafe on a Saturday morning and putting this on the juke box... Has to be the best madness record!! I still play it in my car..
Madness were (are) a great bunch of musicians, very gifted, a fact that is often overlooked
To write songs like this? yes, i say
beatlefan1964
They are still going strong. Not as popular as they were in the 80s but they can still play and sing
What a masterpiece. Real good songs are immune to the test of time. It sounds as good as it did when I first heard it and it always will. In spite of the name, there's no doubt these lads crossed the thin line between madness and genius.
alextw13jf it's as fresh as ever
👌🏻😎
Saw them on Monday night in Perth, West Australia and they were a first class act. Absolutely brilliant!
I saw Suggs do his show at the Astor, a top night, great stories!
They tended to dance across said line with nary a care.
So many brilliant tunes, this is my favourite of them all!, that sax solo....wow!!
Madness were simply the best band of their (my generation). All of them were exemplary musicians who really knew how to play their instruments and together they formed a one-of-a-kind sound which will always be remembered fondly by those of us who grew up to their sound of their music....fantastic!
I'v seen Madness afew times and they always deliver...Take me back to to 80's...life was good.
It certainly was
the gravest mystery of our time is how 116 people who watched this video gave it a thumbs down...
Got nothing better to do with their miserable lives except try and make everyone else miserable. Failed...
They're *embarrassed*...!
;-)
Some people are just plain stooopid😅
It's probly because they are stupid
Pretty simple. There are a lot people holding racist beliefs who see themselves in this song. Brilliant writing that took Madness to a level that even they never saw coming. This song, as well as songs like NW5 is why many still love this band today.
Thanks for sharing, great memories! I was just a boy when Madness were dominating the UK charts. My older cousin was a total Madness nut! He even used to have his hair cut and dress like Suggs!
freaking proper great band! write their own songs, can play instruments! Just AWEOMSE! Why does this not happen anymore!
Very underrated song. Pure class.
The meaning behind the song was particularly dark, considering the band's previous material. Primarily written by Lee Thompson, the plot of 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 subsequent rejection by her family, and the shame felt, was reflected in the song.[4]
As Thompson was on the road with the band, he only heard snippets of the story, through phone calls and letters, but this was enough for him to piece the story together. The song is a clear indication of changing attitudes (see miscegenation). The real-life story had a happy ending, however; Thompson later stated that when the child named "Hayley" was born, the antipathy of Tracy's relatives dissolved
Cheers for sharing that ...
Perfect explaination,
Thank for your explaination!
control c, control v wikipedia
At least someone gets it
The sax 🎷 is amazing
shelly lullys that's what my wife says haha
so many memories with this band............so many thanks!!
Madness are one of those band that I can never tire of. They are just simply the best I had friends in england constantly sending cassettes and albums to me in Canada so I could be the first one here with copies.
After watching the England team's performance tonight this song just sprung into my head!!!
No change there then ;-)
Football is a load of Bollocks these days, get over it !
People forget what amazing songwriters the Madness guys were. This is such a poignant song, considering what it was written about. Although I believe there was a happy ending, and the family did reconcile.
hyperdrive According to the Wikipedia, the moment that grandma saw the grandson...
Their song writing is up there with the best of British song writers: Davies, Weller, Lennon, McCartney, Jagger, Richards, Costello......list goes on.
Glad you mentioned Ray Davies, Paul Weller and Elvis Costello. They are great songwriters who are often looked over, just like madness.
I love the adding of the trumpets/sax every time they're played... genius!
Oh the saxophone parts.. i close my eyes and I'm ten years old again in junior school and just getting deep into music..
FANtastic Lee Thompson ⭐️🎷⭐️
Incredible that I was 12 when I first heard Madness, yet had little idea until fairly recently about just how brilliant and successful a band they were. I'm watching uploads of hit after hit; they just didn't get the same level of airplay in the US. I read the dark story behind this song, and am very glad the family reconciled after Thompson's niece was born.
As a 10 year old really loved this song- memories of Falklands, dodging skinheads, deep snow, jumpers for goal posts-....only much later understood the serious message
Thanks a lot WayfarerGirl!
It must be very difficult for the few young ladies to decide whether to carry-on, protect and admire your own ancestors bloodline, your own father's DNA that may go back for 100,000 years or more. That made you who you are. This country wouldn't be called Britain without Britons blood. After all.
To be called a Traitor must make them feel selfish and sad. Great song
1982 junior school disco,awesome memories
My favourite Madness song.. Saxophone is perfect!
My favourite too
And mine 👌🏻
Seen them live - brilliant, and took me back to my youth.....Happy Days!!!
This song is simply amazing, and for multiple reasons.
Love this song love all the old british song's i grew up with and the memory's i don't live in britain anymore i find it so sad the way britain has become but i still have the great memery's of growing up there and the great music.
yes mate..feel the same..livin abroad with kids..miss uk,but made a wise choice 4 the kids..80s brit was innocent times,2 tone madness specials the jam bmx breakdancin etc etc..now??i pads and zombies..fuck i miss bein a kid
Top class music; it stands the test of time and still sounds as great as it did back at the time when I bought "Absolutely"... or even better!!. Love Madness
Such a great song from a great band. Looking forward to seeing them at PRBM this year.
Anybody else notice the piano player near the end of the video?
That goes to highlight what the song is meant to refer to and also shows how shrewd Madness were.
Pure class,we were in different times then,thank the Lord,lol
Different times? Not everyone has caught up.
One of my faves. I just love Lee's sax playing on this.
Brilliant song! Always loved this one the most!
what a really beautiful song which have such striking words and lyrics that remind me so much of growing up as a teenager...
That sax combined with the backing rhythm in this song is truly stunning.
Aah..these tunes take me back to my mis-spent youth...great times the 80's ... Loved my crombie and DM's still got a crombie.... too old for the boots haha ;)
I've mostly seen over 50's wearing DMs
Madness!!. 1 of the only groups i know that has never changed their music style and look. Amazing band :)
lyrics on this are amazing
Forgot just how bloody good these guys were/are!!
Going to see then Sunday 18th if August in Edinburgh. Can't wait!!! Takes me right back to my youth!!
Just bloody love this group 😊
Suggs is an underestimated singer
My favourite ever Madness song.. Great music and great memories growing up in the 80's
"This is a serious matter." Great song from a great band.
I've recently started to appreciate Madness for the great band they are again. This song is about a mixed race relationship and the attitudes of friends and relatives. Madness could write songs about serious issues but make them very listenable. Genius.
Official song of the England EURO 2016 campaign
Haha, you beat me to it Jonathan!!
Ha Ha!
Roses are red violets are blue ,England one Iceland two..
Jonathan Pesquale hahahahahaha class
Official song of the Trump presidency.
THE BEST CHILDHOOD TRACKS EVER,,I WAS 10 AND REMEMBER THIS ALWAYS,,
Also takes me back to my school days, top band with proper tunes. What a great time!
ah the lads.
my first ever album 'Absolutely' great memories...
thanks for the posting
Such an admirably angry song. Underrated like so many of their other classics.
one of my favourite madness songs and this is definetly in my top all time 100.
It's just a bloody good song love madness
MADNESS ! MADNESS
Simply the best. from Texas, USA
One of my fave songs too, of all time. Good choice. Thanks for posting xxx Suzy xxx
Brilliant song from madness like this one 🤩😊😎🤗
oh the 80's with Madness!
Yeah growing up as teenager it was an amazing experience with music like this.
This is on the radio alot and the this is great masterful track with the subject matter, bloody genius
I know right, not a lot of people with subject matter/demographics in mind actually know how successful their songs were! THE MONTY PYTHON OF MUSIC!
Madness were on tv this afternoon. Good to see them back together again.
Don't know how many times I've seen this video (especially since I date back to the early days of MTV), but I just noticed the sign is misspelled...what an embaressment. What punny nutty boys they were.
Dude that was the joke!
I love this tune. It's good to know that later - "when the child, named Hayley, was born, the antipathy of Tracy's relatives dissolved"
Fantastic... I do enjoy a bit of madness, and what better than Madness to accompany it!
This is the best Madness song and there are a lot of very good Madness songs.
Embarrassment,what a tune,big madness fan, this is up there x
Spent so many years following the Suggs Graham McPherson,never miss a concert when Madness r in town,luv u Suggs,xx
I heard it on the radio yesterday! love it
Another one of the best, I'm sure we've all felt a little embarrassed.
Brilliant tune by maddness, proving they could as song writers approach darker and more serious topics, teen pregnancy, racism, alienation...as good today as it was when new, seriously underrated band...one of my faves
Superb track..never forget this and born in 82
Love this song! Love your channel:)
My all time fave song from the Nutty boys. Showing a more serious side not really heard until Grey day,Utterly brilliant mate,cheers.
Who listened to this at the time nobody just who understood a little music!
They were inspiration and pronouncement of other successful music groups !!!
Pioneers and full of personality!
I love this song - when I saw them in the early 80s they played this song first, so it's quite memorable.
Quality-this song stands the test of time,still sounds just as good now as it ever did..
Now this is what you call real music I’ll give anything for the madness to come back
CarlsbergKid100 ..... the song was about Lee Thompsons Sister writing a letter to HIM
about the Family's reaction to her having a mixed race baby, And calling
HER an embarrassment,
That's why he wrote the song,
The Embarrassment in the song is ""THE FAMILY""
The First Single I ever Bought myself
The kid was a gift from God, but I can understand the sentiments of the family. She had a kid out of wedlock. The kid deserves both a mom and a dad. Here in US we see consequences of birth out of wedlock in high crime rates among young black males. My guess is that they all love him/her now. I presume you are British. Post Protestant British of today are just as quick to preen in moral high ground as their great grandparents. SKA always reminded me of big band with a little more bounce.
Jim Foley NO JIM I'M NOT PROTESTANT - AND CAN'T SEE WHY RELIGION HAS ANY BEARING ON THIS AT ALL (BUT FYI I'M A ROMAN CATHOLIC)
WHITE YES - AND I LOVED MADNESS BUT WAS MORE INTO THE SPECIALS WHO WERE THE FIRST BAND TO BE INTEGRATED WITH WHITE AND BLACK MEMBERS ---
SURE COLOURED PEOPLE HAD SUNG WITH WHITE BANDS AND VICE VERSA BUT THE SPECIALS WHERE THE FIRST BAND WITH WHITE AND COLOURED MEMBERS. Maria Stock English Rose Smith
Tis what made the specials so special I say
Maria Stock TOTALLY MARIA
COULDN'T AGREE MORE
this is the best song i ever heard , and i heard a lot of songs . They don't make them as good as this these days ...
Fantastic lyrics...fantastic song!
One of the few times that Madness write a song about a dark subject, in hit form. Awsome
I'd forgotten the simplcity of this video. Brilliant stuff!
fantastic single. bloody marvelous
This song is so underrated
A brilliant song. I never get tired of listening to this.
Grew up listening to these classics ^^
At their Very best. My personal favourite Madness song. Amazing.
Got to be their best single, it's one of those records you end up playing 10 times in a row. Their best album track has to be Bed And Breakfast Man (which was nearly a single). They made a video for it but I think I'm right in saying they didn't want to release 5 singles from the album.
saw them at newbury racecourse last week , brilliant live performance
Madness, first album i ever bought was One Step Beyond, going to see them at V Fest in Sydney today, who'd have thought 30 yrs later eh :-)
Wow 42 yrs old and I just found out what the song is about! I've been listening to Madness since I was 13 y/o and shaved lol.
Madness masterpiece resisting fabulously the test of time.
I remember Madness from my Ska days...awesome band
2019 still a great song
john bob - even better....
Its mad that people don't realise we all haven't got that long on this crazy rock peace
aidan gannon exactly we are all subliminal hypocrites
Whatever the song is about is really makes no odds,people see what they want, me i just think is a great song from the nutty boys
still have this on vinyl 7 inch, in my humble oponion their best tune,
and thats a hard call all my madness friends..
my fav from this gang ....im quite happy to get up n give it large any time any place when this track ...pulls up lmao ..yeah appy days xx
Great tune reminds me of school and so many ska bands at the time
A soulful undercurrent. Bless em.
How much do I love this band?!