Proper bands

I was talking today to some ignorant youths who’d never heard of some excellent bands.  For their edification and everyone else’s entertainment, I provide the following.

I want to begin with an absolutely blistering live version of Dexy’s Midnight Runners performing “Let’s Make This Precious” on The Tube.  And, just to emphasise the lesson of today, that’s Dexy’s Midnight Runners: A Great Name for a Great Band.

But my real business here is with Madness, who were, despite what Joanne may or may not think, a monumentally important band in the Eighties and one of the finest pop bands ever.  Of critical importance to this title is that they were one of the first innovators with the pop video format and despite the early ones clearly being done on the tightest of shoestrings, they were done with enough wit and exuberance that the limitation became an asset.  Their great videos are legion – check them out on YouTube.  (I particularly recommend The Sun and the Rain, Shut Up, Our House, and Baggy Trousers for their videos.)

This one, though, has a special place in my heart, misspelt title and all:

A band, there, who write a catchy and upbeat ska-pop song about an unplanned mixed-race teenage pregnancy and litter their video for it with silly mini-saxophones and liberal doses of atmospheric smoke.  Mighty.