Figaro (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Figaro
Type = Single
Artist = Brotherhood of Man
from Album = "B for Brotherhood"
B-side = "You Can Say That Again"


Released = 1978
Genre = Pop
Length = 2.57
Label = Pye Records
Writer = Tony Hiller / Lee Sheriden / Martin Lee
Producer = Tony Hiller
Last single = "Highwayman"
(1977)
This single = "Figaro" (1978)
Next single = "Beautiful Lover" (1978)

Figaro is a 1978 No.1 single by pop group Brotherhood of Man.

By 1978, Brotherhood Of Man had experienced a certain amount of chart success in both the UK and Europe, notably so with "Save Your Kisses For Me" and "Angelo". Following this, came the surprise failure of their next single "Highwayman" (released in late 1977). In January 1978, they released this song, which borrowed the title-idea from their previous No.1 "Angelo". The song became a No.1 hit in February, spending one week on top of the charts in the UK and becoming one of the twenty best selling singles of the year. This was to be Brotherhood of Man's final No.1 single. [ [http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=7625 Chartstats.com - UK Chart details] ]

"Figaro" was written by band members Lee Sheriden and Martin Lee along with their manager Tony Hiller, who also produced the track. The lead vocals are sung jointly by members Sandra Stevens and Nicky Stevens. The opening drum roll on the song was performed by Clem Cattini of the 1960s band The Tornados.

The song tells of a (presumably) Spanish cabaret singer who is intent on gaining the interest of young ladies and was inspired by Hiller's daughter who had recently been holidaying in Spain and seen similar situations occurring there. [ [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gary.hart/lyricsb/brotherhood.html "Figaro" song lyrics] ] Musically, the song has been reported on many occasions of its similatity to ABBA's "Fernando", and while this may be partly true of their previous No.1 ("Angelo"), stylistically, these particular songs are very different apart from similar titles. Member Sheriden denies these allegations. Ironically however, it was ABBA themselves who knocked Brotherhood Of Man off the top of the charts in the UK, with their single "Take a Chance on Me"

"Figaro" became a hit in many European countries, including Ireland, where it was a No.1 hit. [ [http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement The Irish Charts - All there is to know ] ] The song featured on the group's album "B for Brotherhood," and was followed up by top 20 hit "Beautiful Lover". "Figaro" went on to be voted best song of the first half of 1978 by readers of "Look-in" magazine and best song of the year by viewers of TV's "Magpie".

Chart performance

References