Embarrassment (song)

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“Embarrassment”
“Embarrassment” cover
Single by Madness
from the album Absolutely
Released November 14, 1980
Format 7"
Recorded 1980
Genre Ska/Pop
Length 3:10
Label Stiff Records
Writer(s) Lee Thompson (lyrics)
Mike Barson (music)
Producer Clive Langer
Alan Winstanley
Madness singles chronology
"Baggy Trousers"
(1980)		 "Embarrassment"
(1980)		 "Return of the Los Palmas 7"
(1981)
Absolutely track listing
Side One
  1. "Baggy Trousers"
  2. "Embarrassment"
  3. "E.R.N.I.E."
  4. "Close Escape"
  5. "Not Home Today"
  6. "On the Beat Pete"
  7. "Solid Gone"
Side Two
  1. "Take It or Leave It"
  2. "Shadow of Fear"
  3. "Disappear"
  4. "Overdone"
  5. "In the Rain"
  6. "You Said"
  7. "Return of the Los Palmas 7"

"Embarrassment" is a song recorded by ska/pop band Madness, predominantly written by Lee Thompson, but partially credited to Mike Barson.[1][2] The band first began performing the song at live shows in April of 1980,[3] 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.[3]

Contents

[edit] Lyrical content

The meaning behind the song was particularly dark considering the band's previous material. Primarily written by Lee Thompson, 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 following rejection by her family, and the shame felt was reflected in the song.[4]

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 times and attitudes as time goes on. 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.[1]

[edit] Music video

Suggs at the Embassy Club bar.
Suggs at the Embassy Club bar.

The music video for the single was filmed in Embassy Club, London, on the 7th and 8th of November, 1980.[3] 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 instruments.

[edit] Appearances

In addition to its single release and appearance on the album Absolutely, "Embarrassment" also appears on the Madness collections Divine Madness (a.k.a. The Heavy Heavy Hits), Complete Madness, It's... Madness, The Business, Our House and the US compilation Ultimate Collection.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Embarrassment" (Barson/Thompson) - 3:10
  2. "Crying Shame" (Barson) - 2:36

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b "An embarrassment no more". Retrieved on July 2, 2007.
  2. ^ Woodstra, Chris."Allmusic.com Absolutely Overview". Retrieved on July 1, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c "The Madness Timeline: 1980". Retrieved on July 1, 2007.
  4. ^ http://www.lyricsoncall.com/lyrics/madness/embarrasment-lyrics.html Lyricsoncall.com
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