Embarrassment (song)

Infobox Single
Name=Embarrassment


Artist=Madness
from Album=Absolutely
Released=November 14, 1980
Format=7"
Recorded=1980
Genre=Ska/Pop
Length=3:10
Label=Stiff Records
Writer=Lee Thompson (lyrics) Mike Barson (music)
Producer=Clive Langer Alan Winstanley
Chart position=* #2 (Netherlands)
* #4 (UK)
Reviews=
Artist=Madness
Last single="Baggy Trousers"
(1980)
This single="Embarrassment"
(1980)
Next single="Return of the Los Palmas 7"
(1981)Extra tracklisting
Album = Absolutely
Type = studio
Tracks = ;Side One
# "Baggy Trousers"
# "Embarrassment"
# "E.R.N.I.E."
# "Close Escape"
# "Not Home Today"
# "On the Beat Pete"
# "Solid Gone";Side Two
# "Take It or Leave It"
# "Shadow of Fear"
# "Disappear"
# "Overdone"
# "In the Rain"
# "You Said"
# "Return of the Los Palmas 7"Extra tracklisting
Album = Divine Madness
Type = Compilation
prev_track = "Baggy Trousers"
prev_no = 5
this_track = "Embarrassment"
track_no = 6
next_track = "Return of the Los Palmas 7"
next_no = 7"Embarrassment" is a song recorded by ska/pop band Madness, predominantly written by Lee Thompson, but partially credited to Mike Barson. cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4465666.stm|title= "An embarrassment no more" Retrieved on July 2, 2007.] Woodstra, Chris.cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a9fixqq5ldhe |title= "Allmusic.com Absolutely Overview" Retrieved on July 1, 2007.] The band first began performing the song at live shows in April of 1980, cite web|url= http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1980/text.htm |title= "The Madness Timeline: 1980" Retrieved on July 1, 2007.] 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.

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. [ [http://www.lyricsoncall.com/lyrics/madness/embarrasment-lyrics.html http://www.lyricsoncall.com/lyrics/madness/embarrasment-lyrics.html] "Lyricsoncall.com"]

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.

Music video

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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", "" and the US compilation "Ultimate Collection".

Track listing

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

Notes