Music Monday: Being Number One by Black Box Recorder

Music Monday is a meme that was created by Drew from The Tattooed Book Geek. Bjørn and I will pick a song alternatively on each Monday and share our thoughts about them. Bjørn’s pick this week is Being Number One by Black Box Recorder.

The entire Passionoia album is ironic AF, but nowhere is it more apparent than on ‘Being Number One’ performed by a band who released six singles, out of which one made it into the UK top 40. Sarah Nixey is one of the quietest vocalists in the world, as I’ve read in the interview with an engineer recording her voice – I was reading because I wanted to find out what microphone to use to sound good (don’t worry, I have given up singing and devoted myself to writing in silence). She practically roars when she sighs about ‘twenty-four-seven promotion’ and ‘laughing all the way to the bank’ (the sound effect that follows must be heard to be believed). 

Black Box Recorder no longer exist, but they have given me four amazing albums – trying to choose my favourite and most representative song was a challenge. Only in Britain this sort of pop music happens (see also Saint Etienne and Dubstar) and only in Britain it invariably fails to set the airwaves alight. I don’t know what’s in the British water, but maybe only the bands get the contaminated supply?

Mr. Tillman, good to see you again
There’s a few outstanding charges just before we check you in
Let’s see here, you left your passport in the mini fridge
And theHeard in on Sunday evening
Organised a bit of a do
Get off the phone, Mum
Someone important’s trying to get through
(Number One)
24/7 promotion
(Number One)
It’s hard work, but it’s fun
(Number One)
Adventures start in shopping centres
(Number One)
Pray that we’re number one

(Being Number One)
A bed of roses
(Number One)
A box of chocolates
(Number One)
A bowl of cherries
(Number One)
Being number one
Being number one
Being number one

A triumphant return to the home town
(Ooh, ooh, ooh…)
Treated with love and respect
A special school assembly
Before they would have broken my neck

(Being Number One)
My favourite colour
(Number One)
An E-type Jag
(Number One)
Roll out the red carpet
(Number One – Being number one)
A glass of champagne – Not the cheap stuff!

God bless the public, God bless Number One
God bless the radio, God bless TV
God bless pocket money, these are the days
(These are the days)
Of too much wine and song

Being Number One
Being Number One
Being Number One
Being Number One
Being Number One

The skeletons dance out of the closet
Laughing all the way to the bank
(ha, ha, ha, hee, hee, hee)
A dozen illegitimate children
(ooh, ooh, ohh)
I guess we’ve got Max Clifford to thank

(Being Number One)
Toppermost of the poppermost
(Number One)
Every truck driver’s friend
(Number One)
Climbing up the airwaves
(Number One – Being number one)
From John O Groats to Lands End
(Number One)
You’re watching you waistline
(Number One)
A second release
(Number One)
You sleep with the dogs
(Number One – Being number one)
You wake up with fleas

Being Number One
Being Number One
Being Number One