written by: Jerry Dammers

Artists: British two-tone band “The specials”

Album: Ghost town

released: 1981

Awards: NME Award for best singles

WHAT IS THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND IN WHICH THIS VIDEO WAS COMMENTING UPON?

cultural – deep respect and knowledge of Ska, the music style that originated in 1950s Jamaica, a precursor to Reggae

social – Addressing themes of urban decay, deindustrialisation, unemployment and violence in inner cities

historical – caught the mood of Summer 1981 as levels of civil unrest not seen in a generation hit the UK. The song was influenced by scenes noted during the band’s UK tour.

• made by a British two-tone band the Specials
• released on 12 June 1981
• spent three weeks at number one and 10 weeks in total in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart
• video directed by Barney Bubbles
• 3–9 April and 15–17 April 1981

Task 1

Ghost town by the specials was released on the 12th of June 1981. The song spent three weeks at number 1 and a total of 10 weeks in the top 40. All three major uk music magazines awarded the song single go the year in 1981. the specials were a British band signed to the label 2 tone. The songs they produced targeted many issues in the uk during the 80s. The music genre of their music was ska/ two tone which was influenced by Jamaican culture.

Task 2

The song ‘Ghost town’ targeted the issue of unemployment, urban decay and violence in inner cities. The song was written about the decline in Coventry (where the band grew up) as well as the scenes seen on their uk tour where they saw lots of shops closed down and violence spreading. At the time the song was released the uk saw a spread of riots caused by racial tensions, as many ethnic minority communities suffered from poor housing and low wages as well as police powers being abused. These riots lead the governments attention to help the unemployed.

Task 3

The music video demonstrates an empty city which would usually have been filled with people. The band were in a car driving around this empty town singing and dancing to the song. During the line ‘why must the youth fight against themselves’ shadows of people fighting is shown to demonstrate the scenes seen throughout the uk.