My iPod #179: Supergrass - Cheapskate

This is one of my favourite songs by Supergrass. It is one of my favourites from "In It for the Money". The only problem I have with it is that compared to other songs on the album, it is too short. It is probably for the best though.

I am very sure that "Cheapskate" was in a holiday advert from years and years ago that was on the television. I know it has been used in a film or two, but I am certain I remember it being played for about 30 seconds somewhere else...

The music video was never shown in the United Kingdom. It was a US only single though and got into one of the many music charts that the country has. The band also chose not to release the video on their 'best of' DVD for reasons unknown.

The opportunity for me to see the 'lost' Cheapskate video was back when I was twelve or so. I randomly searched 'Supergrass - Cheapskate' into YouTube, and to my surprise it was there. The version here is what I watched, and is quite different to the one above. The speakers for the family computer were busted, so I had to make do with opening iTunes and playing the song along with the video. A minor inconvenience, yes, but it all worked out well in the end.

But why do I like "Cheapskate" so much? Well the song starts off with this funky groove, apparently influenced by Kool & the Gang according to the band themselves, which carries on through the verses before launching into an atmospheric chorus where the guitar blares out its chords and the overall volume of the song just rises. That along with its lyrics, "I need someone to be around 'cos I'm breaking into life/Somebody stop me, 'cos I'm looking for my high.", just makes me feel warm and very happy inside.

What is the song about? Haven't got a clue. Why is it called "Cheapskate"? The word isn't mentioned once in the lyrics, so your guess is as good as mine. What matters is, I like it, you should probably listen to it, and try and find that advert that I talked about because it is really bugging me just thinking about it.

My iPod #170: Supergrass - Caught by the Fuzz

Supergrass' first official single as a band. Sounding like it was recorded in a few minutes in cramped and compact room, "Caught by the Fuzz" is an autobiographical account of lead singer Gaz Coombe's first time of being arrested by the police when he was only 15.

The song is very quick. Quite punk-esque, with a semi-talking verse and a belter of a chorus which all end with the word 'tonight'. Well, it's not really a chorus. But if you listen to it, you will understand what I mean.

The film "Hot Fuzz" has this track playing during the credits, so if you wanted to know what that song was called.... here it is.

It is the second song on the band's first album "I Should Coco", a bit of Cockney rhyming slang for those of you who aren't familiar.

My iPod #160: Supergrass - Can't Get Up

Sorry there was no post yesterday. I was out. But the place I went to was not very lively; there was no atmosphere. It was kind of a waste of time.

This is the first post out of two to make up for it.

My cousin bought me "Life on Other Planets" for my fourteenth birthday. I had been a fan of Supergrass for about three years at that time, and already owned "In It for the Money" and the self titled album. My new found liking for the song "Grace" also played a large role in me wanting the album.

When the chorus for "Can't Get Up" started, I found myself humming along to the melody even though I'd never really heard the full thing before. I was pretty sure that it was in advert that was on the television a long time ago. I have no recollection of what that advert is, but somehow the song managed to stay in my head.

I was also left unsure as to who the lead vocalist of the song was. For a while I did think it was bassist Mick Quinn, who sings lead on "Sometimes I Make You Sad" and "Beautiful People", but it is Gaz Coombes if you can tell the differences between their voices.

For me, this definitely could have been a single. But what do I know, I am not even a proper critic.

Jamie.

My iPod #65: Supergrass - Bad Blood

When I was thirteen in 2008, Supergrass was the band that I enjoyed listening to the most.

I got "In It for the Money" and their self-titled album as presents for my eleventh birthday, listened to them and didn't think much of them. The songs just passed me by, you know? Except for "Richard III", which was the only reason I got the former in the first place.

Using the free music-video service that was available on my TV provider (Virgin Media ftw) I watched all of their videos from "Mansize Rooster" to "St. Petersburg" and realised that the band's music was one of the most enjoyable and exciting to listen to.

So it was no surprise that I was really excited and could not wait for the release of their then-new album "Diamond Hoo Ha". Although I was quite disappointed in the first song that they promoted from it, the almost title-track "Diamond Hoo Ha Man", it was "Bad Blood" that really got the heart pumping and the blood circulating.

The video played a big part in that feeling. You can watch the making of the video by clicking on this sentence. The weird camera shifting gave me a real sense of adrenaline, almost like being on a rollercoaster.

The song itself is a one of the highlights from the album. It's a great release of energy after the first track. With quiter, chugging verses accompanied by a rip-roaring chorus, the song is one of the best from the Supergrass catalogue of the twenty-first century.

It's a shame that this song didn't do so well commercially, and "Diamond Hoo Ha" turned out to be the band's final album after the members split in 2010. *sniff sniff*

Oh well, the music remains and the good times roll on.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #30: Supergrass - Alright

Supergrass was a band that was at its most prominent during the Britpop era. Although that scene quickly died out around 1997, the band still managed to stay pretty relevant and their last album 'Diamond Hoo Ha', released in 2008, entered at 19 in the album chart.

I miss Supergrass. :( They are one of my favourite bands too.

Britpop was a fine time for British music. New bands were thrust upon the scene; Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Suede and various others dominated the charts. Who could forget 'The Battle of the Bands', which saw Blur and Oasis go head to head for the number one spot, which Blur eventually won?

I talk as if I was 20 years old around this time, although really I had only just been born.

Supergrass were relatively new at the time. 'Alright' was released as the last single from their debut 'I Should Coco' in 1995, and became somewhat of a youth anthem here and in America too after being featured in the film 'Clueless'.

You can't be sad to this song. The intro is unforgettable, as soon as you hear that piano tune you know that you won't be disappointed. The band was young at the time of writing the song and so the youth of the time were able to empathise with what the band was feeling. I guess it wouldn't have been so popular if it was some old man singing about being young when he clearly wasn't.

And watch that video too! It's all so happy. Oh man. Why do you need a video with a concept when you could just be messing around on a beach, or fooling about with bicycles? Steven Spielberg even wanted to do some sort of 'Monkees' documentary based on them, but they declined in order to start work on their second album. That's dedication.

This is considered to be Supergrass' signature song. It's not my favourite, probably because it's the one that will always be played on a holiday advert, or the one Supergrass video that will always be played on a music channel. Supergrass have many other great songs. Not just this one. Find them.

Come back Supergrass. Please!

Until next time.

Jamie.