BROTHERHOOD OF MAN - “Save Your Kisses For Me”
I’ve argued before that there are no good songs about how lovely small children are: some counter-examples were raised in the comments box, but not many, and this surely wasn’t one of them. “Save Your Kisses For Me” is the kind of chirpy material that used to give Eurovision a bad name before the smirkers got hold of it: catchy, but too winsome to really enjoy. I’d point to it as a classic example of cynical Britain fobbing off any old rubbish on the song contest, except Brotherhood of Man actually won the thing. Especially heinous elements: the root-i-toot toy trumpet riff, the persistent triangle accompaniment, the “awwww” final chords after the twist. THE TWIST. Path to redemption: the opening irresistibly reminds me of “Mother’s Little Helper”. 2
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LondonLee on April 29th, 2008
That’s the only place I know it from too, or “Sing Rittle Birdie” as Mao calls it.
Kat but logged out innit on April 29th, 2008
As a child of the 80s this song has always been murkily omnipresent for me, except instead of the verse I always segue the end of the chorus into the theme from Dad’s Army. “Bye bye, baby, bye byyyye, laaa-laaa, honey, don’t cry, we are the boys who make you think again, SO! Who do you think…” (etc)
Anyway. I think you’re all being a bit harsh. It’s a lovely happy little tune isn’t it? Their little knees poking out there? Awwww. Perhaps my internal lyric-blocker is covering up a multitude of dodgy rhyming sins?
Billy Smart on April 29th, 2008
Light entertainment watch: As you might expect, The Brotherhood of Man had a prolific television career. Here’s a selection of their appearances (sadly the first two do not survive in the archives)
MAKE THE MUSIC SPEAK: Featuring Les Dawson, Brotherhood Of Man (1977)
THE YOUNG GENERATION: Featuring Rod McKuen, Caterina Valente, Brotherhood Of Man (1970)
THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW: Featuring Deniece Williams, Brotherhood Of Man, Damaris Hayman (1977)
THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW: Featuring Barbara Windsor, Brotherhood Of Man (1978)
THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW: Featuring Johnny Logan, Brotherhood Of Man, Jennifer Hill (1980)
BE MY GUEST: Featuring Paul Daniels, Duggie Brown, Brotherhood Of Man (1977)
THE BIG TOP VARIETY SHOW: Featuring Moira Anderson, Brotherhood Of Man, Halfwits (1979)
THE DAVID NIXON SHOW: Featuring Finn Jon, Vince Hill, Brotherhood Of Man (1977)
THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: Featuring Brotherhood Of Man (1976)
LARRY GRAYSON: Featuring Brotherhood Of Man, David Lodge, Anna Dawson (1977)
SEASIDE SPECIAL: Featuring Sacha Distel, Brotherhood Of Man, Frank Carson (1976)
THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: Featuring Dennis Weaver, Brotherhood Of Man, Crystal Gayle (1977)
THE VAL DOONICAN MUSIC SHOW: Featuring Mary O’Hara, Brotherhood Of Man (1978)
Chris Brown on April 29th, 2008
I’m tempted to ask whether the first sentence up there is a spoiler - but on reflection, I’m not sure this record actually can be spoilt.
Is this a Popular first? A record that nobody can say anything good about? If so, they’re obviously right! I remember when I was doing GCSE drama (not in 1976 obv!) going on an excursion somewhere with our drama teacher and friend in the school minibus, and them both singing along to this and ‘You Better You Bet’.
And I think I agree about the Kenickie version too. I have a feeling my brother may still have it on video somewhere.
FT's Tom on April 29th, 2008
Tim @ #24: The bubblegum problem isn’t a problem at all! Eurovision rewards a particular type of track, generally - catchy and over in 3 minutes. But that kind of track can be done well or badly, cynically or wholeheartedly (this doesn’t always map onto ‘well or badly’ of course), and can embrace a multitude of genres and ideas.
intothefireuk on April 29th, 2008
When I listened to this again recently (several times for ‘research’ purposes only) the first thought that struck me as it finished was ‘Has there ever been any other ’song’ that saved it’s ‘twist’ until the very last word ?’ and then I thought ‘this is shit’. It concerns me that I didn’t think that first. As this festered away at the top of the pop charts I was introduced to a new experience, live gigs, via the similarly named Welsh acid rockers ‘Man’. Accompanied by a handful of ‘with - it’ (or so they thought) teachers from my school it wasn’t an entirely liberating experience (no drugs) but it certainly opened up a new musical dimension I hadn’t explored previously ….and it made the BoM type of pop even more facile (if that was possible).
BTW There are some rum entries approaching so I won’t waste too much bile on this.
Doctor Casino on April 30th, 2008
If this can’t get a “1″ I wonder what can. Everything that everybody who claims to hate pop hates, wrapped up in a track about which people who claim to love pop can’t find anything nice to say.
rosie on April 30th, 2008
Doctor Casino: What can get a 1? A perfectly agreeable, if not earth-shattering, song like Vincent, that’s what! Sorry Tom, but I know you regret that lapse!
Mark G on April 30th, 2008
“even though you’re only twee” more like.
Tom on April 30th, 2008
I would way rather hear this than “Vincent”!! And also rather this than the last song to get a 1, “Long Haired Lover From Liverpool”.
(There is one song I regret giving a 1 to, just as there’s one song I regret not giving a 10 to. It’s also worth remembering that tracks that infuriated me personally at the time may well get marked down - which this obviously didn’t, though since I was 3 when it came out I thank god my parents weren’t big on pop)
FT's DJ Punctum on April 30th, 2008
DON’T DISS THE VINCENT!!!!
Slam American Pie all you like but Vincent was the one thing McLean managed to get right!
I’d have no hesitation in giving this a zero myself since it gets a total negative on my personal “justify any points” checklist, viz:-
- Would I ever want to hear this again voluntarily?
- If I did hear it again involuntarily or stumble across it, would I want to keep the station/channel tuned?
- Does it have any redeeming factor, e.g. interesting arrangement/chord changes/lyrical content, however minute?
- Does its performance give the song more value than it deserves, or vice versa?
And finally, the most important deciding factor of them all:
- Regardless of what I think about this record, DOES MY MUM LIKE IT?
And even my mum can’t stand this.
Hence: a big, puce-coloured zero.
Erithian on April 30th, 2008
Self (#21) - I deserved to be picked up on that, it should have said “first Cup Final in 13 years” not 14. The 14-year gap was between Cup wins, from the Denis Law-inspired win over Leicester in ‘63 to Tommy Docherty’s finest hour in ‘77. The latter game was commemorated by a single titled “Stretford Enders” by a duo called Burke and Jerk, otherwise known as Brian Burke and Michael Coleman. The world would hear from them again, but Spoiler Bunny stops me pointing out the clue.
intothefireuk (#31) - imagine how your teachers felt having to go to see Man with kids from the school and thus denied the chance to skin up…
FT's Tom on April 30th, 2008
I am pretty sure I’m not going to use the zero - 1-10 is as far as it goes (and erm preserves the bell curve). We’ll see how bad things get though.
Mark G on April 30th, 2008
Tell ‘em what you heard.
Doctor Casino on April 30th, 2008
Ooh, I forgot about “Vincent!” And yes - Long Haired Lover is demonstrably worse than this song. So I guess that’s fair.
(Not that I really care so much about the number-ranking, mind you. But something as continuously lousy as this song raises the issue of whether a 2 constitues actual merit, or rather the absence of egregious, offensive awfulness.)
FT's DJ Punctum on April 30th, 2008
“Long Haired Lover” I would have given one point due to the excuse of youth and also because it doesn’t actively pain me like this one does.
Waldo on April 30th, 2008
This was already number one before it won Eurovision – a cute little homily with a cheesy little twist at the end, the subject being revealed as a three year old child. As with Uncle Ray’s “Claire” four years earlier (which didn’t even try to hide that he was serenading a kiddie), this simply wouldn’t have made first base today. But whereas Gilbert’s song had immense charm, with SYKFM you are simply saying hello again to your last meal. The most cheddar-infused number one since Lennie and Dianne.
I always preferred the brunette.
Snif on April 30th, 2008
“I always preferred the brunette.”
I’m surprised this topic never came up when discussing ABBA.
FT's DJ Punctum on May 1st, 2008
On the contrary, Snif - I’m pretty sure that I mentioned my preference for Frida when we did “Waterloo” and I think Waldo may have done as well.
Tom on May 1st, 2008
Also - plenty more opportunities!!
Erithian on May 1st, 2008
Sorry, but even as a 14-16 year old during the heyday of “the Man”, the fanciability of either of the BoM women wasn’t really on my radar. One or two of the Nolans and even the odd Dooley, maybe, but nobody held a candle to the Abba girls until - well, somebody else we’ll have plenty of opportunities to discuss, who at this point is paying her dues in a scuzzy New York club.
FT's DJ Punctum on May 1st, 2008
Crumbs, the Dooleys! Good record, that “Love Of My Life”…
Also active at the time: Guys N’ Dolls with New Pop-inventing secret weapon within their unknowing ranks…
Waldo on May 1st, 2008
Yeah, Snif. And me and the Scottish Chartmeister have also exchanged notes on Lyn and Eve also…
Waldo on May 1st, 2008
Erithian #37 - Sad to be reminded that you’re another Home Counties Man U supporter. As a life-long Blue, I’ll see you in Hell, sir. (Well, Moscow, actually, where Mr Abramovich will no doubt use his considerably influence with Mr Putin to guarantee 48 hours of sleep and food depravation for the United Party just ahead of the match).
The 1977 Cup Final always reminds me of one of Motty’s most inane comments, which would have flown over the heads of most people anyway:
“And surely it is only fitting that a man called Buchan should mount the thirty nine steps to the Royal Box…”
AAAARRRRGH!!!!!!!
Didn’t know about Burke and Jerk’s Man U record, although this does not surprise me, as they came from Salford. Bunny’s whiskers are a-twitchin’ so I shall shut up.
FT's DJ Punctum on May 1st, 2008
Waldo, you’re never going to get a Russian visa with your record.
(”what record?” “Russians by Sting.” “Oh, heck…”)
Erithian on May 1st, 2008
Manchester born and bred though, Waldo, and when I was first old enough to know what football was (around the time Arthur Brown was gracing TOTP with that flaming colander) we were living in Stretford and it dawned on me that that lot who played just up the road were European champions. These days I’m still a Red, but more closely involved with Erith & Belvedere FC’s perennial struggle to get out of the Kent League, and so are my twins born within sight of the Millennium Dome.
When the appropriate time comes I’ll treat you to the lyrics of “Stretford Enders” - bet you can’t wait.
Waldo on May 1st, 2008
Respect, Erithian, especially with your efforts with Erith and Belvadere FC. My own surrogate side, Eastbourne Borough, are in good shape for the play-offs to the Conference, one step away from the League itself. Most exciting.
Marcello - I shall be watching the Champions League final at home. You’ll be pleased to know that I do not feature on the C.R.O and even those pesky Russkies could not deny a visa to a guy who’s just a harmless drunken eeedjut? If I was minded to try to obtain one, I would invite Maria Sharapova to act as my sponsor.
(Cue deep-rooted phlegmy growls from within…)
rosie on May 1st, 2008
I met a Nolan Sister once, when I was invited backstage at the New Theatre, Hull, for the end-of-run party for the Christmas Pantomime. I can’t remember which Nolan it was, mind. I was too distracted by meeting one of my childhood heroes, Lenny the Lion.
Erithian on May 2nd, 2008
Waldo - Eastbourne Borough passed E&B on their way up through the Dr Martens League, either side of their name-change from Langney Sports. As I understood it, there were no less than three Eastbourne clubs, but Borough got the council’s backing much to the annoyance of the other two and never looked back!
One of the “faces” at E&B is George Webb, who plays jazz dates at the club on the first Sunday of every month. His band the Dixielanders played at the Red Barn in Barnehurst just after the war and signed up players such as Humphrey Lyttelton, and the trad jazz boom started right there. George is in his 90s and still playing - he played at George Melly’s last gig.
Billy Smart on May 18th, 2008
Dale Winton’s verdict this afternoon: “Say what you will, I think it was a good record!”
Billy Smart on June 2nd, 2008
Light Entertainment Watch Update: Yet more! The Brotherhood Of Man were also seen on;
BE MY GUEST: Featuring Ken Dodd, The Brotherhood Of Man, Paul Daniels, Sacha Distel (1977)
CRACKERJACK: Featuring The Brotherhood Of Man, Elaine Paige (1978)
THE GOLDEN SHOT: Featuring Charlie Williams, The Brotherhood Of Man, Ken Dodd (1974)
THE GRAND PRIX NIGHT OF THE STARS: Featuring James Hunt, Shirley Bassey, The Brotherhood Of Man, Henry Cooper, Patrick Moore, The Chris Barber Band, Lena Zavaroni (1976)
MIKE YARWOOD IN PERSONS: Featuring Mike Yarwood, The Brotherhood Of Man(1978)
ROLF ON SATURDAY O.K?: Featuring Rolf Harris, The Brotherhood Of Man (1979)
THE WHEELTAPPERS & SHUNTERS SOCIAL CLUB: Featuring Bernard Manning, The Brotherhood Of Man, P.J. Proby, Russ Conway(1974)
FT's DJ Punctum on June 3rd, 2008
PJ Proby on the Wheeltappers I MUST see this!!
FT's and everybody elses Mark G on June 3rd, 2008
I’m still battered/bruised by his version on OpNox of “An American Trilogy” as the Masked Singer.
Erithian on July 4th, 2008
Billy (#56) - picking up on this a long time after the initial discussion, but does anybody else remember “Be My Guest”? It was a variety show with an ace twist - at the end of the show they put all the performers’ names into a hat, drew one out and the winner got to pick the line-up for the following week’s show. Probably ended up as a bonanza for the artist’s agent, so the show didn’t last long. One of my comedy heroes, Bob Williamson (the bloke who re-worked SYKFM as “You Gave Me Kippers For Tea”) got his national TV debut as a result. I think Ronnie Dukes’ mum (remember Dukes and Lee?) won it one week.