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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think The Beautiful South...

318 replies

RuudVanWrinkleBreath · 28/11/2024 13:38

were...bloody amazing!?

AIBU to think this band might be the most underrated band in the UK...EVER!?

I have just blasted out their greatest hits whilst wrapping presents and had a nostalgic sing-along. So many wonderfully written songs, great singers too. Criminally underrated in my opinion.

AIBU?

OP posts:
CorbyTrouserPress · 28/11/2024 16:53

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 28/11/2024 16:50

Thank you! I was trying to remember the title of the song about the Victorian child to have a listen.

BS provide a working class voice of generations. They convincingly represent the past generations and right up to present day angst. Perhaps PH is more middle class now.

They did some covers. Grease’s ’You’re the One That I Want’ is totally awful, whereas ‘Old red eyes is back. They’re red from the night before the night before’ is total perfection.

Show quote history

Agree about ‘you’re the one that I want’ but I do love their version of S Club 7’s ‘Don't Stop Moving’ and Willie Nelson’s ‘Valentine’ (I actually walked down the aisle to that one 🫣)

ChessorBuckaroo · 28/11/2024 16:51

Sethera · 28/11/2024 16:19

They are a good band but they are hardly 'underrated':

9 top 10 UK albums including a number 1 album

22 Top 40 hits including 6 top 10 hits, 2 number 2s and one number 1.

This is turning into a Mumsnet pet peeve of mine. By all means start a thread about a great band, but don't try to present bands that were hugely successful in their day as some niche interest that hardly anyone has heard of, because that's annoying and silly.

Edited

They had success, but they are not a band who you often hear about in terms of critical acclaim. And I must admit this thread has given me a new found appreciation for them. Just checked their back catalogue and listened to a few songs and they are (were) bloody good. Always nice to hear an artist again that you didn't really appreciate the first time, which also happend to me with Prince.

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 28/11/2024 16:50

CorbyTrouserPress · 28/11/2024 16:39

Artificial Flowers
Old Red Eyes Is Back
The Table (not a very inventive title 😂)

all great lyrics

Show quote history

Thank you! I was trying to remember the title of the song about the Victorian child to have a listen.

BS provide a working class voice of generations. They convincingly represent the past generations and right up to present day angst. Perhaps PH is more middle class now.

They did some covers. Grease’s ’You’re the One That I Want’ is totally awful, whereas ‘Old red eyes is back. They’re red from the night before the night before’ is total perfection.

Needhelp101 · 28/11/2024 16:48

Needhelp101 · 28/11/2024 16:47

Quite. They're about the most un-twee band I can think of!

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Apart from possibly Faith No More. Underwater Love, anyone?

stayathomer · 28/11/2024 16:48

Saw him live last year (she was sick), amazing amazing songs, fab gig!!

Pillarsofsalt · 28/11/2024 16:48

I love Girlfriend too but I’m pretty sure it was a cover. Hope that doesn’t spoil it for you.

Ive Seen The Beautiful South live many times, also Paul Heaton with Jacqui Abbott, Paul Heaton solo and Brianna Corrigan solo and every concert was a 10.

Their lyrics are razor sharp. Love all the old Housemartins songs too.

Edited to add: Girlfriend was originally sung by Pebbles

TwistedWonder · 28/11/2024 16:47

Kitkat1523 · 28/11/2024 16:22

They do….this is MN remember…..most people just come online to be argumentative or talk shite

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Or we all have different taste and genuinely aren’t lovers of some bands.

Im sure many people wouldn’t share my taste in music - doesn’t make them argumentative or talking shite just people with their own taste.

Needhelp101 · 28/11/2024 16:47

OneBadKitty · 28/11/2024 16:43

The thread is getting stupid now- anyone who thinks their songs are twee either doesn't know what twee means, or has never really listened to the songs.

They are NOT twee, twee means cute, sentimental, quaint etc. What is exactly is twee about them?

Quite. They're about the most un-twee band I can think of!

ImRonBurgandy · 28/11/2024 16:46

I vividly remember as a child just thinking they were meh pop. As an adult actually listened to the lyrics and was converted. Whoever said juxtaposition up thread is correct.

usernother · 28/11/2024 16:44

I also love the end of the song I'll Sail this Ship Alone. A brutal and sudden end to a sad song someone trying to get back with an ex.

Well, they said if I burnt myself alive
That you'd come running back

Piggywaspushed · 28/11/2024 16:44

CorbyTrouserPress · 28/11/2024 16:43

Dave Hemingway.

I always feel a bit sad for him, he was one of the three lead singers but seems to have been completely forgotten by most now. He was also the drummer in The Housmartins after Hugh left and sang on a few of their songs, most notably Build.

Show quote history

I love Build!

Piggywaspushed · 28/11/2024 16:44

OneBadKitty · 28/11/2024 16:43

The thread is getting stupid now- anyone who thinks their songs are twee either doesn't know what twee means, or has never really listened to the songs.

They are NOT twee, twee means cute, sentimental, quaint etc. What is exactly is twee about them?

Maybe all the rock and metal fans think any gentler singers are twee by default. REM and The Smiths will be twee next!

DrSeuss · 28/11/2024 16:43

I love them from the bottom of my pencil case!

CorbyTrouserPress · 28/11/2024 16:43

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 28/11/2024 16:39

The bloke who isn't Paul Heston always reminds me of Neil from the Office

Dave Hemingway.

I always feel a bit sad for him, he was one of the three lead singers but seems to have been completely forgotten by most now. He was also the drummer in The Housmartins after Hugh left and sang on a few of their songs, most notably Build.

OneBadKitty · 28/11/2024 16:43

The thread is getting stupid now- anyone who thinks their songs are twee either doesn't know what twee means, or has never really listened to the songs.

They are NOT twee, twee means cute, sentimental, quaint etc. What is exactly is twee about them?

Stresshead84x · 28/11/2024 16:42

Tortielady · 28/11/2024 15:29

When they're good, they're very, very good. (A Little Time, Song For Whoever.) When they're bad, they're horrid. (Perfect 10 🤮)

I prefer the older songs with Brianna- a little time is my favourite, I don't love perfect 10 or rotterdam. I grew up listening to beautiful south and doctor hook and I still love them both.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 28/11/2024 16:40

*Heaton ffs

Needhelp101 · 28/11/2024 16:40

Also Baby Bird. ♥️

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 28/11/2024 16:39

The bloke who isn't Paul Heston always reminds me of Neil from the Office

CorbyTrouserPress · 28/11/2024 16:39

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 28/11/2024 16:36

All these comments for the LOVE and HATE I totally agree with both!

As a tween and teen I was excruciatingly embarrassed by my parents’ love for them. I found them so earnest and self-righteous.

As an adult I love how their lyrics deviate so
much from usual pop content. There was one about a Victorian child making and selling paper flowers and dying of the cold, a dying/dead alcoholic that really rounds out his character, a song from the POV of a table…

Their songs remind me of Simon Armitage’s poetry, in all of its sixth-formy political glory. I guess they are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me.

Artificial Flowers
Old Red Eyes Is Back
The Table (not a very inventive title 😂)

all great lyrics

usernother · 28/11/2024 16:39

I love, love, love the words to this song

Now you're older and I look at your face
Every wrinkle is so easy to place
And I only write them down just in case
That you die
Let's take a look at these crows feet, just look
Sitting on the prettiest eyes
Sixty 25th of Decembers
Fifty-nine 4th of Julys
Not through the age or the failure, children
Not through the hate or despise
Take a good look at these crows feet
Sitting on the prettiest eyes

Piggywaspushed · 28/11/2024 16:39

I also like 10000 Maniacs, REM and Martin Stephenson and the Daintees, whilst we are reminiscing.

I had all these on DVDs in a car I wrote off and lost them .

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 28/11/2024 16:38

I loved Bell Bottomed Tear

Piggywaspushed · 28/11/2024 16:37

Yes, probably quite Simon Armitage - y. Good shout.

Needhelp101 · 28/11/2024 16:37

I love them. Song for Whoever has possibly the most breathtakingly cynical lyrics of any pop song ever written but I'm a hard bitten old moo, so it resonates 😁