Thursday 16 March 2017

You think you're smart - stupid, stupid



Timeslip moment alert...

We're off in Buck Rogers' "Ranger 3" to the wild'n'wacky world of 1982 - a year dominated by E.T., the Falklands War, Michael Jackson's Thriller, tabloid newspaper Bingo games, the SDP, the Israeli war in Lebanon, IRA bombings in London and the births of the compact disc, The Smiths and Prince William.

In the news in March thirty-five years ago: the Argentines raised their flag in the British territory of South Georgia, sparking the political and military drama of Britain's first war in decades; the reprehensible "moral campaigner" Mary Whitehouse was stopped in her tracks from pursuing a lawsuit of "gross indecency" against the National Theatre over the play Romans in Britain (which featured a male rape scene) by the Attorney-General; loony Christians in the USA started burning Iron Maiden albums because of their "satanic lyrics"; HM The Queen opened the Barbican Centre arts complex in the City of London; in the ascendant were Charles Haughey (who became Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland), Adobe Systems (newly founded, its software - which eventually became Photoshop - sparked the "desktop publishing revolution"), and Canada (which, with the passing of The Canada Act 1982, was able to take over authority for amending its own constitution from the British parliament), but "Blues Brother" John Belushi was found dead (aged just 33) of an overdose of heroin and cocaine. In our cinemas: Made in Britain (with Tim Roth), Death Wish II, and the faboo Evil Under the Sun. On telly: On Safari (with Christopher Biggins), the debut series featuring the fifth Doctor Who (Peter Davison), and Crown Court.

And in our charts this week in 1982? Tight Fit's supremely camp version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight was at #1, with the dreaded Goombay Dance Band Seven Tears snapping at its heels. Also in attendance were Toni Basil, Haircut 100, Fun Boy Three with Bananarama, Bow Wow Wow and J Geils Band. But ascending the scale with an eye on the top slot (ultimately thwarted by the bloody Goombay lot) was that most glamorous of the post-punk revolutionary bands ABC - with the peerless Poison Arrow!


If I were to say to you
"Can you keep a secret?"
Would you know just what to do
Or where to keep it?
Then I say, "I love you"
And foul the situation
Hey, girl, I thought we were
The right combination

Who broke my heart?
You did, you did
Bow to the target
Blame Cupid, Cupid
You think you're smart
Stupid, stupid

Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow

No rhythm in cymbals
No tempo in drums
Love on arrival
She comes when she comes
Right on the target
But wide of the mark
What I thought was fire
Was only the spark
The sweetest melody
Is an unheard refrain
So lower your sights
Yeah, but raise your aim
Raise your aim

Who broke my heart?
You did, you did
Bow to the target
Blame Cupid, Cupid
You think you're smart
Stupid, stupid

Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow

I thought you loved me
But it seems you don't care
I care enough to know
I can never love you

Who broke my heart?
You did, you did
Bow to the target
Blame Cupid
You think you're smart
That's stupid
Right from the start
When you knew we would part

Shoot that poison arrow to my heart
Shoot that poison arrow
Shoot that poison arrow to my heart, heart, heart
Shoot that poison arrow


I love it...

2 comments:

  1. Whoof ! I had such a pash on them back then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, so did I - totty with talent, in gold lamé suits! What more could one ask for? Jx

      Delete

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