This song was written at a time when the uk was in a terrible period of decline , poverty , and social disintegration. This song reflected their experiences from their hometown of Coventry in the English Midlands 👍🏴
@@danielwatson3273 I hear exactly what your saying Daniel , I was 19 and thinking wtf am I gonna do for a job ? Britain was being ripped apart by that ….. Thatcher woman !! I’m not sorry to see the back of those days but glad it spawned such a unique and drama filled hit 👍🏴
Hard to believe that songs 41 years old,and sadly even though it got to number one, THE SPECIALS split up afterwards.That song is so relevant today as it was in 1981.A terrible Conservative government,like today,a living crisis,like today,nationwide rioting,and they’re coming,rest assured,especially if this living crisis continues and finally we could have Margaret Thatcher Mark 2 in power on Monday,Liz Truss, a pathetic Thatcher wannabe!😡SO SPOOKY!!!👻
Terry Hall from the Specials Just passed away. It was so heartwarming to see this reaction vid right now. It was amazing watching people hear The Specials for the first time, and it would be to see you do a few more of his songs in tribute. Maybe even a few more from his other band Fun Boy Three. It's good to see this music live on in new fans. He wasn't just a hero to his fans for his amazing music. He was also very adamantly vocal about his anti racist ideals, he was also one of the first male celebrities to openly discuss surviving CSA
Very necessary to check out "free Nelson Mandela" (by The Special AKA, which is the same group).....it was released well before Nelson Mandela was freed and made a lot of people in the world aware of the injustice the freedom fighter was enduring....but....you'd better make sure you guys don't crash into each other 'cuz you're gonna dance to this jam.....it's a banger!
This was life in England in the early 80s for the majority of people. It was absolutely bleak and grim, with massive unemployment rates, urban decay, housing problems, gang violence and race riots. This song captures the mood of the time perfectly
@@cbjcolourblindjim6160You don't remember the 70s do you? The 80s saw huge financial growth. I left school in 82,the 70s were dire. Strikes, rubbish piling up which caused a rat infestation.blackouts, people's loved ones not being picked up for days if they died at home. It was socialism that destroyed the UK. Like the rest of the world,it was capitalism that took people out of poverty. And I'm not even that political. But I have a good memory growing up on a council estate in inner London.
@Bobmudu35UK I was born in 70s I grew up in 80s... power outages war, negative equity, 2 recessions, and high unemployment sewage in the water.. polarisation. School money cuts, public sector cuts, strikes. High homelessness, roits, minors strikes. Privatisations, Yuppies, I 'I am all right Jack' attitude. Gutter right rag press ruling the roost. Etc etc And my parents would be reminiscent about good old days of the 60s.. walk from one job to another labour 60s. No one ever talks about labour 60s do they? and also The tories were in power for half the 70s and Labour had a minority government... so no I dont conceed. Based on facts. Tories near ruined the country in 80s early 90s and are doing the same now.
@@Bobmudu35UKit was a socialist government that rebuilt this country after the war and gave us the NHS, which the tories are now destroying. The tories are the ones who love to sell everything and leave poor people with nothing. If capitalism brings people out of poverty then please explain to me why since 2010 we've seen a big increase in homelessness, unemployment and food banks plus the cost of living crisis all while massive businesses like BP have been raking in some of the biggest profits they've ever seen yet small businesses are going under all over the place and all whilst we have an unelected, tax avoiding millionaire prime minister.
This was a genre of music called ska/two tone and included bands like Madness (The Prince), Bad Manners (Lip up fatty) , The Beat ( Mirror in the bathroom) and The Bodysnatchers (Let’s do rock steady)
Actually it is not "Ska" but "Rock Steady"...not every track of the Specials or any "socalled Ska Band from back then" were played in "Ska- style"...."Ska" is a fast tempo single strum off beat (= 4 off beat single strum pattern per bar = 4 strums = 1 per off beats ) and in "Ghostown" is clearly a slow tempo single strum Off Beat (= 2 off beat single strum pattern per bar = 2 strums = 1 per off beat ) and that is called "Rock Steady"....By the way Reggae is a mixture of both = slow tempo off beat but played with 4 strums/double strum/2 strums per off beat (= 2 off beats per bar like Rock Steady but 4 strums like Ska BUT played as double strum = 2 strums per off beat) Sounds a bit complicated on paper but easily to understand when you hear it..as like it is shown here in that almost 3 minutes vlog th-cam.com/video/C0YCChML0S4/w-d-xo.html
These brothers were talking about some very rough years over here back in the late 70s early 80s . I was only about 10 then, but the older people were really suffering with mass unemployment, the wickedness of the government, indifference to the poor, police brutality etc, and the Specials hit the bullseye with this track. Unfortunately, the bad old days are coming around again - and the youth are getting shafted once more!
This is "Ska" music. It came after "Disco" in the late 70s early 80s. "A Message To You Rudy" has to be next by these guys. They were soo "Special" 🎵🇬🇧
At the time, this song gave me the chills, it was so accurate about UK life. Maggie days. Poverty and no one caring. Thanks - it's one of my fav tunes.
This was a big hit in the UK. The West Indian influence on the youth in UK They are speaking of a town in the UK that was high in unemployment and discontent , it was tough for alot of people , The specials have some great songs. SKA music. Listen to "Rudy"or gangster's
Ah Ska ! This was the music of my youth- thanks for not interrupting! The Specials were part of the ska / two tone revival in the late 70s early 80s - a fun but realistic expression of living in a country, an empire- in decline. Where all you could do to combat that sinking feeling was express your frustration in music and style. Very real, political and of the moment.
Not the first but certainly one of MY first. I think it might have been these guys who sparked the 'is that unusual, then?' conversation in my house. My mother tried to teach me not to be racist, but I had no concept of racism because I was 5. So my mother had to explain the concept of hating people because of skin colour, then told e it was bad to do it. I was like... 'then why'd you bring it up? It hadn't even occurred to me that it was a thing!' I can see the point now, but back then l was confused as hell. It felt like I was be told off for something I hadn't done. These days, I love seeing multicultural bands because so much of music seems to fix on a particular culture or ethnicity. I'm mostly a goth and metal head but my tastes are broader than that, but I get flutters in my tummy when folks from other backgrounds pop up in my music or media.
They were from Coventry (my home town) they wrote this about the city, there was high unemployment at the time. The band performed this on TOTP and split up straight after the performance. Some of the members reformed and became Fun Boy Three. Their cover of the song OUR LIPS ARE SEALED is great. Another great ska/ two tone band from Coventry is The Selector - their most well known hit is ON MY RADIO.
I think the only song of theirs that made it to the US was "A Message To You Rudy" which was big in the early days of MTV. I loved that song. Still have it on my phone. 😁
Music from my neck of the woods! (I live just a few miles out of Coventry). I was just about two years out of school when this was released, and yep, that's how most of us felt back then. Certainly captured the spirit of the times!
The back scenes seem mainly around london - I cannot place them all , the beginning is Barbican Estate / Bank of England up toward Liverpool Street, Barbican Tunnel, then poss Rotherhithe tunnel , not certain if is bits of Bethnal Green Road or down at Sands End, Fulham and part of Clapham Junction
If you like this, check out the spin-off band from The Specials named Fun Boy Three. You are sure to like The More I See (The Less I Believe), The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum, and their version of Our Lips Are Sealed.
Welcome to the world of SKA guy...grew up listening to many of SKA bands in the late 70s early 80s. Saw the Specials live in 2010 I think it was in Manchester UK, best gig I've ever been to, Specials did some great songs, Too Hot is one of my favourites. But check out The Beat, The Selector, Bodysnatchers ect...you won't regret it..
This came out soon after the Riots of 81 where we had several months of riots in cities all over the country. It was a sign of tension towards the authorities with high enemployment, police brutality much of it racial and many cities were crumbling. The tension towards the riots really increased with the investigation into a house fire at a party in SE London where several black youngsters died, they had also been a lot of Racial attacks form the National Front at the time. The results of the investigation (more like none investigation) was the fuse that sparked several months of riots, intially starting in Brixton SE London then spreading nation wide.
What a special band and special song. I grew up to this soundtrack, my music teacher would play The Specials and other bands in class he wanted to inspire the kids with the different genres.
You guys have been recommended a real gem of a song there y'know. Take notice of some of the comments here and listen to more of this iconic ska band. This genre is the epitome of a culture crossover which blended punk with reggae and other black music. Very important in the history of music in general!
As I coventrian, I remember talking to these guys in the dog and trumpet in the city centre. I had a very long conversation with Lynda whilst walking down beake avenue
Love this 43 years on Long live The Specials to also being Fun boy Three in the Early 1980s,Think Shaun of the Dead when this was used in 2004 ,Love the reaction also 🤟🤣🇬🇧❤️🇺🇲
Filmed 2 miles from where I was born and raised and that was The Rotherhithe Tunnel, South East London. I moved 11 miles away 39 years ago and my new next-door neighbour has just moved from 1/2 a mile from there to the edge Of S E London and Kent..
Not their best song or most typical of their style. They're usually a lot more upbeat, in keeping with the Ska sound. But it's timing was perfect. Number one in the charts for ages in the UK, as every major town and city in erupted into riots during the summer of 1981. England was a very angry place at the time, and this song became it's anthem.
One of the best bands of the New Wave. You should watch their live performance of You`re Wondering Now with Amy Winehouse who was a huge fan of the band.
I recommend that people listen to "The Boiler" by Rhoda Dakar & The Specials. It's about a woman who knows she's not much to look at, she calls herself an old Boiler several times during the song. Rhoda describes how a man chats her up, buys her new clothes and takes her to a Nightclub. He insists that she stay the night at his place, she resists, then gives in to his demands, he then drags her along at a brutal pace up a lane way. It's then that Rhoda Dakar gives one of the more convincing vocal performances in music history. If there was an award category, then she would win it. She paints a picture that I don't want to visualise
I was 12 when this came out in the charts in the early 80s, it was played at the school discos. Its one of my all time favourite songs, you need to check out more of their stuff, they're one of many great Ska bands from the time
The specials!!!! One of my favorite SKA groups of all time!! Madness, General public, The Beat, The Skatalites are the best!!! The original reggae music SKA late 1950’s. We were apart of the early 1980’s SKA scene we were called Rudeboys n Rudegirls there was a look, music and SKA dances we did. Keep on Skankin!!! The group Madness “Our house”was probably the most popular ska song then 1983 they used to play it all the time on MTV then! Also Boy George n Culture club was popular then with “karma chameleon” he was from the uk not ska but did put reggae in his music. His other famous sing was “Do you really want to hurt me”
Ahhhh the days of ‘Thatcherism’ in Britain. I was only 7 or 8 years old when this came out in Britain, but I vividly remember run down areas and massive unemployment. This song captures the essence of the early 80’s in Britain. Bangin tune👌🏼😎✌🏻
There are so many great Specials songs Enjoy yourself, Too much to young, Gangsters, Message to you Rudi and many more. They are from Coventry England not Birmingham. The Specials were the sound track to my youth. Steve UK
SKA, uniting the disaffected youth of a nation. A great time for music.The ghost towns were the industrial city's mainly of the Midlands and northern UK a dreadful era of unemployed, and social division and deprivation. Ska was a voice for the youth to get behind, it was a big unifier of the black and white, the north and south, communities coming together through music
Kia ora hello from Aotearoa new zealand hay the last time i saw THE SPECIALS when the intro for this song GHOST TOWN started about five thousand people turned to each other with the BIGGEST SHIT EATING GRINS AND IT WAS ON SKANKING HAPPY FEET
This song is about the strife that the thier native Coventry was going through during Thatcher reign in UK during the late 70's and early 80's. ( I lived there during that time....it was the same thing happening in Reagan 's America during the same time.) Also it was a reflection of the internal strife that went on in the band at the time....This song is relevant now as it was back in 1981....Finally, this is not reggae, but ska which was its predecessor in Jamaica back in the 60's but it was very big in post punk UK with bands such as the Specials,, The Selectet , Madness and The Beat.
Rest In Peace Terry Hall, beloved son of Coventry. 2-Tone forever. Much love to his family, the rest of the band and all his fans out there.
Forever a two tone band of my youth. Rip terry.
This song was written at a time when the uk was in a terrible period of decline , poverty , and social disintegration. This song reflected their experiences from their hometown of Coventry in the English Midlands 👍🏴
I was twelve in the UK, it totally hit the zeitgeist.
@@danielwatson3273 I hear exactly what your saying Daniel , I was 19 and thinking wtf am I gonna do for a job ? Britain was being ripped apart by that ….. Thatcher woman !! I’m not sorry to see the back of those days but glad it spawned such a unique and drama filled hit 👍🏴
Jay MacGee no change there then (I was 17 when this song came out)
Looks like its due a return then...
@@planetcampervan your not wrong , big time !
This is my era the 80s there was a lot of tension in some parts of England at the time this song suited the time well also a great tune 🇬🇧
Judge dread was written in this era too. Both in protest of Margaret Thatcher! 😝
Hard to believe that songs 41 years old,and sadly even though it got to number one, THE SPECIALS split up afterwards.That song is so relevant today as it was in 1981.A terrible Conservative government,like today,a living crisis,like today,nationwide rioting,and they’re coming,rest assured,especially if this living crisis continues and finally we could have Margaret Thatcher Mark 2 in power on Monday,Liz Truss, a pathetic Thatcher wannabe!😡SO SPOOKY!!!👻
@Penderyn what where
to me the thatcher years will always be fondly remembered as the reason i dont vote tory
Oh dear what about the seventies with labour. still blaming a dead person for your woes 🥹🏴🏴🇮🇪🏴🇮🇱
Terry Hall from the Specials Just passed away. It was so heartwarming to see this reaction vid right now. It was amazing watching people hear The Specials for the first time, and it would be to see you do a few more of his songs in tribute. Maybe even a few more from his other band Fun Boy Three. It's good to see this music live on in new fans.
He wasn't just a hero to his fans for his amazing music. He was also very adamantly vocal about his anti racist ideals, he was also one of the first male celebrities to openly discuss surviving CSA
Very necessary to check out "free Nelson Mandela" (by The Special AKA, which is the same group).....it was released well before Nelson Mandela was freed and made a lot of people in the world aware of the injustice the freedom fighter was enduring....but....you'd better make sure you guys don't crash into each other 'cuz you're gonna dance to this jam.....it's a banger!
A better song is "Mandela Day" by Simple Minds but I do love the Specials song as well!
not really the same band..jerry dammers paid to keep the name i believe..great album tho..
This was life in England in the early 80s for the majority of people. It was absolutely bleak and grim, with massive unemployment rates, urban decay, housing problems, gang violence and race riots. This song captures the mood of the time perfectly
Basically America today
Uk in decline in the 80s under Tories.
@@cbjcolourblindjim6160You don't remember the 70s do you?
The 80s saw huge financial growth.
I left school in 82,the 70s were dire.
Strikes, rubbish piling up which caused a rat infestation.blackouts, people's loved ones not being picked up for days if they died at home.
It was socialism that destroyed the UK.
Like the rest of the world,it was capitalism that took people out of poverty.
And I'm not even that political.
But I have a good memory growing up on a council estate in inner London.
@Bobmudu35UK I was born in 70s I grew up in 80s... power outages war, negative equity, 2 recessions, and high unemployment sewage in the water.. polarisation. School money cuts, public sector cuts, strikes.
High homelessness, roits, minors strikes. Privatisations, Yuppies, I
'I am all right Jack' attitude. Gutter right rag press ruling the roost. Etc etc And my parents would be reminiscent about good old days of the 60s.. walk from one job to another labour 60s. No one ever talks about labour 60s do they? and also The tories were in power for half the 70s and Labour had a minority government... so no I dont conceed. Based on facts. Tories near ruined the country in 80s early 90s and are doing the same now.
@@Bobmudu35UKit was a socialist government that rebuilt this country after the war and gave us the NHS, which the tories are now destroying. The tories are the ones who love to sell everything and leave poor people with nothing. If capitalism brings people out of poverty then please explain to me why since 2010 we've seen a big increase in homelessness, unemployment and food banks plus the cost of living crisis all while massive businesses like BP have been raking in some of the biggest profits they've ever seen yet small businesses are going under all over the place and all whilst we have an unelected, tax avoiding millionaire prime minister.
This was a genre of music called ska/two tone and included bands like Madness (The Prince), Bad Manners (Lip up fatty) , The Beat ( Mirror in the bathroom) and The Bodysnatchers (Let’s do rock steady)
Don't forget The Selecter with On My Radio... amazing band
@@richardctaylor79 I saw them play last year when they were supporting From the Jam
Well Scar was around before these brit bands and the specials mainly covered old jamaican scar
@@DjAlanBarratt yea prince buster, the ska king.
Actually it is not "Ska" but "Rock Steady"...not every track of the Specials or any "socalled Ska Band from back then" were played in "Ska- style"...."Ska" is a fast tempo single strum off beat (= 4 off beat single strum pattern per bar = 4 strums = 1 per off beats ) and in "Ghostown" is clearly a slow tempo single strum Off Beat (= 2 off beat single strum pattern per bar = 2 strums = 1 per off beat ) and that is called "Rock Steady"....By the way Reggae is a mixture of both = slow tempo off beat but played with 4 strums/double strum/2 strums per off beat (= 2 off beats per bar like Rock Steady but 4 strums like Ska BUT played as double strum = 2 strums per off beat)
Sounds a bit complicated on paper but easily to understand when you hear it..as like it is shown here in that almost 3 minutes vlog th-cam.com/video/C0YCChML0S4/w-d-xo.html
Shawn & Mel, you'll love their "A Message To You Rudy", :Rat Race" and "Nite Klub"!! Ska!
Don't forget Guns of Navarone!
and "Pressure Drop" ...... th-cam.com/video/rE2jctig4HI/w-d-xo.html
The message to Rudy … is a class song . And RUDY isn’t a woman … Rudy is in reference to the Rude boys
YES!! Rudy!
RIP Terry Hall.Lead singer with the "Specials "and" Fun boy three"passed away aged 63:
Clicked so fast!! Thank you for the suggestion! One of my favorite bands.🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤
I had this on repeat walking the dog during lockdowns 😂 love me some ska!
These brothers were talking about some very rough years over here back in the late 70s early 80s . I was only about 10 then, but the older people were really suffering with mass unemployment, the wickedness of the government, indifference to the poor, police brutality etc, and the Specials hit the bullseye with this track. Unfortunately, the bad old days are coming around again - and the youth are getting shafted once more!
Have a listen to ‘Too much too young’ by the Specials to hear how Ska fused with punk, which were both prevalent in the UK at this time.
You're married with a kid when you should be having fun with me.
This is "Ska" music. It came after "Disco" in the late 70s early 80s. "A Message To You Rudy" has to be next by these guys. They were soo "Special" 🎵🇬🇧
To much to young it has to be surely
@@paulstarskey1012
Yep. Or that one..... Actually, I think I like that one better. 👍🎼🇬🇧
LETS SKANK
Rudy isn't by The Specials, their version is a cover.
And Too Hot..
RIP Terry Hall
At the time, this song gave me the chills, it was so accurate about UK life. Maggie days. Poverty and no one caring. Thanks - it's one of my fav tunes.
This was a big hit in the UK. The West Indian influence on the youth in UK They are speaking of a town in the UK that was high in unemployment and discontent , it was tough for alot of people , The specials have some great songs. SKA music. Listen to "Rudy"or gangster's
its 2tone skinhead reggae,and rudys a rock steady tune
Ska in the uk will never die thanks for this reaction you two 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😊👍🏻🏴
Classic two tone track from the truly great band The Specials. Still sounds amazing today all these years later. Good reaction guys.
Appreciating this from Ellicott City, MD! Thank you both !
My number 1 band. I love, love, love the Specials. Rest in Power Terry Hall 🖤🤍🖤🤍
Ah Ska ! This was the music of my youth- thanks for not interrupting! The Specials were part of the ska / two tone revival in the late 70s early 80s - a fun but realistic expression of living in a country, an empire- in decline. Where all you could do to combat that sinking feeling was express your frustration in music and style. Very real, political and of the moment.
their you go black and white brothers!! making good music!!!. love the reaction. ; )
they were very big in the uk ,they were one of the first multicultural bands in the uk
Lots of 80s band multicultural , it was a great time bands included Culture Club , Blow Monkeys , Wham , Style Council
@@catman2629 the equals, 1965.
Hot chocolate 1970.
WRONG
Not the first but certainly one of MY first. I think it might have been these guys who sparked the 'is that unusual, then?' conversation in my house. My mother tried to teach me not to be racist, but I had no concept of racism because I was 5. So my mother had to explain the concept of hating people because of skin colour, then told e it was bad to do it.
I was like... 'then why'd you bring it up? It hadn't even occurred to me that it was a thing!' I can see the point now, but back then l was confused as hell. It felt like I was be told off for something I hadn't done.
These days, I love seeing multicultural bands because so much of music seems to fix on a particular culture or ethnicity. I'm mostly a goth and metal head but my tastes are broader than that, but I get flutters in my tummy when folks from other backgrounds pop up in my music or media.
I was in London at the time, 1980... love Ska... Gwen Stefani& No Doubt , a little bit later, started off as a ska band
They were from Coventry (my home town) they wrote this about the city, there was high unemployment at the time.
The band performed this on TOTP and split up straight after the performance. Some of the members reformed and became Fun Boy Three. Their cover of the song OUR LIPS ARE SEALED is great.
Another great ska/ two tone band from Coventry is The Selector - their most well known hit is ON MY RADIO.
A fellow Coventrian!
Oh wow, I had no idea part of them were Fun Boy Three!
@@tomraffell1923 Same here :)
@@eyesofisabelofficial PUSB!
One of the greatest bands of all time. Ska brought people together back in the early 80’s. They taught us to groove and think.
Rip terry hall🌤️
I think the only song of theirs that made it to the US was "A Message To You Rudy" which was big in the early days of MTV. I loved that song. Still have it on my phone. 😁
Music from my neck of the woods! (I live just a few miles out of Coventry). I was just about two years out of school when this was released, and yep, that's how most of us felt back then. Certainly captured the spirit of the times!
Hahaha that was great guys you had smiling the whole way through! The specials were a big Ska/reggae band big in the UK in the 80’s
skinhead reggae
Taken me back to when I was nine years only, way back in 1981. I had never heard anything like this at the time. Still enjoy listening to it now.
best reactors on TH-cam, they appreciate all genres of music
The back scenes seem mainly around london - I cannot place them all , the beginning is Barbican Estate / Bank of England up toward Liverpool Street, Barbican Tunnel, then poss Rotherhithe tunnel , not certain if is bits of Bethnal Green Road or down at Sands End, Fulham and part of Clapham Junction
Yes!!! 2nd Wave Ska Music!!!
Just got to love the Specials, great Ska band, love this song, great atmosphere and music.......
One of my all-time favorite songs!
Loved your reaction. The Specials 1981. 42 years ago!
Ghost Town was in the soundtrack of the British movie "Shaun of the Dead". Its a really good zombie movie.
If you like this, check out the spin-off band from The Specials named Fun Boy Three. You are sure to like The More I See (The Less I Believe), The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum, and their version of Our Lips Are Sealed.
Our lips are sealed ist richtig gut....
Welcome to the world of SKA guy...grew up listening to many of SKA bands in the late 70s early 80s. Saw the Specials live in 2010 I think it was in Manchester UK, best gig I've ever been to, Specials did some great songs, Too Hot is one of my favourites. But check out The Beat, The Selector, Bodysnatchers ect...you won't regret it..
Came out at the time of widespread UK riots in the summer of 1981 & became the soundtrack for it.
This came out soon after the Riots of 81 where we had several months of riots in cities all over the country. It was a sign of tension towards the authorities with high enemployment, police brutality much of it racial and many cities were crumbling. The tension towards the riots really increased with the investigation into a house fire at a party in SE London where several black youngsters died, they had also been a lot of Racial attacks form the National Front at the time. The results of the investigation (more like none investigation) was the fuse that sparked several months of riots, intially starting in Brixton SE London then spreading nation wide.
I love this song
Love your vibe! 👌
Subscribed just for y'all representing the O's.
The specials best British ska band ever they come from Coventry England rest in peace Terry and brad
one of the more unique 80s songs! So good! ♥
Loved this song when it came out 🏴
One of my favourites, when it was number One. Still like it!
Lol i love your reaction!
RIP Terry Hall 🙏
What a special band and special song. I grew up to this soundtrack, my music teacher would play The Specials and other bands in class he wanted to inspire the kids with the different genres.
the specials at their finest
the tunnel scene they drive thru, is 5 mins from where i live, near london bridge. its been used in various music vids and tv shows
Terry Hall the lead singer died today. RIP
This was a great era listen to the Jam Town called malice Paul Weller voice is amazing
Rest in peace Terry Hall. His band made the UK a better place to live in especially for non-whites. Salute to him and family 🙏
You guys have been recommended a real gem of a song there y'know. Take notice of some of the comments here and listen to more of this iconic ska band. This genre is the epitome of a culture crossover which blended punk with reggae and other black music. Very important in the history of music in general!
you two groove so smooth🔥
As I coventrian, I remember talking to these guys in the dog and trumpet in the city centre.
I had a very long conversation with Lynda whilst walking down beake avenue
Great reaction to a great song. One of the first records I ever bought.
Yeah…love how music transports you back to your youth in a split second 😁
What a great choice. The Specials. For a more up beat song, with a message, please try The Specials " Too Much Too Young"
there was a slow version
I saw The Specials a few years ago in Coventry great music
The ska sound that others have pointed out was in its second incarnation here, originally a sound from the mid 60s.
Love this 43 years on Long live The Specials to also being Fun boy Three in the Early 1980s,Think Shaun of the Dead when this was used in 2004 ,Love the reaction also 🤟🤣🇬🇧❤️🇺🇲
I was singing this walking at work yesterday. At the hospital, near the old morgue. For real
Filmed 2 miles from where I was born and raised and that was The Rotherhithe Tunnel, South East London.
I moved 11 miles away 39 years ago and my new next-door neighbour has just moved from 1/2 a mile from there to the edge Of S E London and Kent..
just a totally perfect record, the smiles on your faces say it all
They were having fun but there was a serious message behind the song. Glad you liked the song.
Not their best song or most typical of their style. They're usually a lot more upbeat, in keeping with the Ska sound. But it's timing was perfect. Number one in the charts for ages in the UK, as every major town and city in erupted into riots during the summer of 1981. England was a very angry place at the time, and this song became it's anthem.
only sounding ska when dick and rico played,top tune was stupid marrage
Dude, you’ve got the RIGHT hat on!! Well done, sir.
This song never gets old!
The Specials came from Coventry in England. The Wiki page tells the whole story of this track. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Town_(The_Specials_song)
One of the best bands of the New Wave. You should watch their live performance of You`re Wondering Now with Amy Winehouse who was a huge fan of the band.
I recommend that people listen to "The Boiler" by Rhoda Dakar & The Specials.
It's about a woman who knows she's not much to look at, she calls herself an old Boiler several times during the song.
Rhoda describes how a man chats her up, buys her new clothes and takes her to a Nightclub.
He insists that she stay the night at his place, she resists, then gives in to his demands, he then drags her along at a brutal pace up a lane way.
It's then that Rhoda Dakar gives one of the more convincing vocal performances in music history.
If there was an award category, then she would win it.
She paints a picture that I don't want to visualise
recently seen these guys live in a castle when they played this the Atmos was just brilliant.
I was 12 when this came out in the charts in the early 80s, it was played at the school discos. Its one of my all time favourite songs, you need to check out more of their stuff, they're one of many great Ska bands from the time
Keep smiling guys
The specials!!!! One of my favorite SKA groups of all time!! Madness, General public, The Beat, The Skatalites are the best!!! The original reggae music SKA late 1950’s. We were apart of the early 1980’s SKA scene we were called Rudeboys n Rudegirls there was a look, music and SKA dances we did. Keep on Skankin!!! The group Madness “Our house”was probably the most popular ska song then 1983 they used to play it all the time on MTV then! Also Boy George n Culture club was popular then with “karma chameleon” he was from the uk not ska but did put reggae in his music. His other famous sing was “Do you really want to hurt me”
I grew up I'm the uk. My youth was this period. ❤
Ahhhh the days of ‘Thatcherism’ in Britain. I was only 7 or 8 years old when this came out in Britain, but I vividly remember run down areas and massive unemployment. This song captures the essence of the early 80’s in Britain. Bangin tune👌🏼😎✌🏻
That decline was caused by Labour and the Unions. Thatcher actually stopped the rot and got people back working.
Ska Music on the Two Tone Label.
RIP Terry
This song reminds me of my late teenage years and early 20's
The British beat...Mirror In The Bathroom! Banger!!!
Fantastic group ! .. Their debut album, "I Just Can't Stop It" is an absolute masterpiece .. All killer, no filler.
"The English beat" as they were called in America, In the UK, they were just "The beat"
ABSOLUTE CLASSIC
This was the very first single i ever bought
Best song from 1981.
I was 14 / 15 at the time.. great memories.
There are so many great Specials songs Enjoy yourself, Too much to young, Gangsters, Message to you Rudi and many more.
They are from Coventry England not Birmingham. The Specials were the sound track to my youth.
Steve UK
they were not specials songs,they were covers,lloyde charmers done a tune called birth controll ( 2 much 2 young)
We love Shawn
We love Mel
If you don't love them
Go to hell!!
Well said!
SKA, uniting the disaffected youth of a nation. A great time for music.The ghost towns were the industrial city's mainly of the Midlands and northern UK a dreadful era of unemployed, and social division and deprivation. Ska was a voice for the youth to get behind, it was a big unifier of the black and white, the north and south, communities coming together through music
Kia ora hello from Aotearoa new zealand hay the last time i saw THE SPECIALS when the intro for this song GHOST TOWN started about five thousand people turned to each other with the BIGGEST SHIT EATING GRINS AND IT WAS ON SKANKING HAPPY FEET
Imagine how we all felt when we first hear this in the UK??? Hook line and sinker magic
Takes me back 👍
This song is about the strife that the thier native Coventry was going through during Thatcher reign in UK during the late 70's and early 80's. ( I lived there during that time....it was the same thing happening in Reagan 's America during the same time.) Also it was a reflection of the internal strife that went on in the band at the time....This song is relevant now as it was back in 1981....Finally, this is not reggae, but ska which was its predecessor in Jamaica back in the 60's but it was very big in post punk UK with bands such as the Specials,, The Selectet , Madness and The Beat.
I cannot even explain to you how this changed the entire world... when 90% of the world didn't even realize it existed. 💯💯💯
They're from Birmingham, video filmed in London. During the filming the PA Crestas' bonnet got damaged by the camera mounted on the bonnet.
Madness, Bad Manners, The Specials. Ska was the sound in the early 80s. lots of fun.