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Embarrassment (song)
Encyclopedia
"Embarrassment" is a song recorded by ska
/pop
band Madness
, predominantly written by Lee Thompson
, but partially credited to Mike Barson
. The band first began performing the song at live shows in April 1980, and it was featured on their second studio album, Absolutely.
The song was released as a single on November 14, 1980, and spent 12 weeks in the UK singles chart
and reached a high of number 4. The song was remixed for issue as a single, which is different from the album version, although they both have the same running time.
, 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.
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.
The music video
for the single was filmed in Embassy Club, London
, on 7 and 8 November 1980. The music video was particularly dark for Madness, corresponding to the lyrical content of the song. The video mainly features Suggs
at a gloomy bar, interspersed with shots of the band playing various brass instrument
s.
(a.k.a. The Heavy Heavy Hits), Complete Madness
, It's... Madness
, The Business
, Our House and the US compilation Ultimate Collection.
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
, predominantly written by Lee Thompson
Lee Jay Thompson
Lee Jay Thompson , nicknamed Kix or El Thommo, is an English musician, best known as the saxophonist and songwriter of the second wave ska band, Madness....
, but partially credited to Mike Barson
Mike Barson
Michael "Mike" Barson is a British musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the second wave ska band, Madness.-Biography:...
. The band first began performing the song at live shows in April 1980, and it was featured on their second studio album, Absolutely.
The song was released as a single on November 14, 1980, and spent 12 weeks in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and reached a high of number 4. The song was remixed for issue as a single, which is different from the album version, although they both have the same running time.
Lyrical content
The meaning behind the song was particularly dark, considering the band's previous material. Primarily written by Lee ThompsonLee Jay Thompson
Lee Jay Thompson , nicknamed Kix or El Thommo, is an English musician, best known as the saxophonist and songwriter of the second wave ska band, Madness....
, 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.
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
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
). 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.
Music video
 Suggs at the Embassy Club bar. |
The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the single was filmed in Embassy Club, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on 7 and 8 November 1980. The music video was particularly dark for Madness, corresponding to the lyrical content of the song. The video mainly features Suggs
Suggs (singer)
Graham McPherson , better known as Suggs, is an English singer, actor, former radio DJ, TV personality, and most famous as the frontman of the band Madness.-Early life:...
at a gloomy bar, interspersed with shots of the band playing various brass instrument
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
s.
Appearances
In addition to its single release and appearance on the album Absolutely, "Embarrassment" also appears on the Madness collections Divine MadnessDivine Madness (Madness album)
Divine Madness is the 1992 greatest hits album from the British ska/pop band Madness. It presents the group's single A-sides in chronological order, though sometimes in their LP rather than single versions....
(a.k.a. The Heavy Heavy Hits), Complete Madness
Complete Madness
Complete Madness is the first greatest hits album by ska/pop group Madness. It was released in 1982 and included Madness' biggest hits from their first three studio albums and all the stand-alone singles. Complete Madness spent 99 weeks on the UK charts peaking at number 1...
, It's... Madness
It's... Madness
It's... Madness is a compilation album by the British pop band Madness released in 1990. It combines some of the band's hit singles and b-sides. A sequel to this, It's.....
, The Business
The Business - the Definitive Singles Collection
The Business – the Definitive Singles Collection is a 3 disc box set by ska/pop band Madness released in 1993 . It contained all the band's singles up until that point with their respective b-sides and other bonus tracks, some rare. It also includes a 52 page booklet and snippets of interviews with...
, Our House and the US compilation Ultimate Collection.
Track listing
- "Embarrassment" (BarsonMike BarsonMichael "Mike" Barson is a British musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the second wave ska band, Madness.-Biography:...
/ThompsonLee Jay ThompsonLee Jay Thompson , nicknamed Kix or El Thommo, is an English musician, best known as the saxophonist and songwriter of the second wave ska band, Madness....
) - 3:10 - "Crying Shame" (Barson) - 2:36
Chart positions
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Singles Chart | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
4 |