Thursday 18 December 2008

Sing along with the common people

I don't suppose Love Of The Common People will've appeared on all that many seasonal compilation albums over the years, but I always think of it as a Christmas song, for a few reasons. Namely:

1) It was, crucially, a hit at Christmas time - at least Paul Young's version was, in 1983. (I hadn't even realised his was a cover, actually, until looking it up earlier tonight; the Everly Brothers and Waylon Jennings had apparently both recorded versions many years previously.)

2) There are a few mentions of snow in the lyrics and some sleigh bell noises during the chorus. Fancy!

3) It has a Christmassy promo video, featuring Jeanette "Queenie" Charles and a superb sequence towards the end which sees Glynn "Dave from Minder" Edwards cutting a rug on the dancefloor (or at least in the front room). Gawd knows what the regulars in the Winchester would say if they ever clapped their minces on this!



Whatever happened to the Fabulously Wealthy Tarts anyway?

6 comments:

I Am Not The Beatles said...

Trust you to pick one of two songs in my life that, once I even remotely start singing it, am doomed to endlessly repeat it in my head for days. Argh! Aaaaaargh!

Oh, what's the other one ?

The Copocabana, of course - I was once afflicted by that for nearly 6 weeks, and very nearly went totally bonkers.

Kippers said...

Heh! Altogether now: Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl...

No, I shouldn't joke, as the whole "earworm" thing (as I believe it's known) can obviously be a serious affliction. Spike, my occasional co-blogger, has a similar problem with The Pina Colada Song by Rupert Holmes, for example. Almost drove her batty a while back, suddenly hearing that on the radio!

Dennis said...

The Everly Brothers? Seriously? I've never heard that version. Homework for tonight!

Anonymous said...

i only know the nicky thomas version

Anonymous said...

For when several are gathered together to discuss 'Love of the Common People', lo and somebody will pull out the Stiff Little Fingers version, and verily it is good.

Anonymous said...

I hate to be the awkward Yank in this,but I..I think I perfer Pulp's ditty. However, I'd love to hear Stiff Little Finger's version.