BRITAIN’S UNITY ROCKERS: THE ENGLISH BEAT'S SOUL SALVATION!
The first thing that grabs you about an English Beat single is, of course, the BEAT: Pulsating, snakey, sort of reggaeish only faster (but not ska—more on that later!). Then come the chiming guitars, followed by a rich vocal with a feel not unlike Elvis Costello in a good mood.
BRITAIN’S UNITY ROCKERS: THE ENGLISH BEAT'S SOUL SALVATION!
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John Neilson
The first thing that grabs you about an English Beat single is, of course, the BEAT: Pulsating, snakey, sort of reggaeish only faster (but not ska—more on that later!). Then come the chiming guitars, followed by a rich vocal with a feel not unlike Elvis Costello in a good mood. Another vocalist appears, counterpointing the first with a sassy, street-smart bravado all his own, and then this bright, slinky saxophone swoops in and steals the show.
Somewhere in the midst of all this you look down and see your right foot is tapping uncontrollably. Not to be outdone, the left one soon follows suit. Da Beat a come all ovahyou tonight, Right! Go feet, go!
But wait...what was that lyric that just flew by? “Slip slowly into mental illness... you’re drowning...what a Third World War...pushes your dead body under a microscope...I can’t hang qp for much longer...”