The Prince

Madness

About The Prince

"The Prince" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness. It was written by Lee Thompson, and was the band's first single. On 10 August 1979 the single was released through 2 Tone Records and peaked at number 16 in the UK Singles Chart, spending a total of 11 weeks in the charts."The Prince" is a tribute to Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster, who influenced Madness (the band took their name from one of his songs, "Madness", which they covered on the b-side of "The Prince").


Year:
1997
3:19
103 
#1

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Buster, he sold the heat with a rock-steady beat

An earthquake is erupting, but not in Orange street
A ghost-dance is preparing, You got to help us with your feet
If you're not in the mood to dance, step back, grab yourself a seat
This may not be uptown Jamaica, but we promise you a treat

Buster, bowl me over with your bogus dance, shuffle me off my feet
Even if I keep on runnin', I'll never get to Orange street

So I'll say there's nothin' left to say, for the man who set the beat
So I'll leave it up to you out there, to get him back on his feet

Buster, bowl me over with your bogus dance, shuffle me off my feet
Even if I'll keep on runnin', I'll never get to Orange Street

Bring back the
Who is the
We want the

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Madness

Madness are an English ska band from Camden Town, London, that formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s 2 Tone ska revival, they continue to perform with their most recognised line-up of seven members. more »

2 fans

Written by: CATHAL JOSEPH SMYTH, CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOREMAN, DANIEL MARK WOODGATE, GRAHAM MCPHERSON, LEE THOMPSON, LEE JAY THOMPSON, MARK WILLIAM BEDFORD, MICHAEL BARSON

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"The Prince" by Madness falls under the genre of "ska," a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, which combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues.
Release Date
The song was released on August 10, 1979.
Artist Background
"Madness" is a British band, widely recognized as one of the leading bands of the '2 Tone' ska revival of the late '70s and early '80s.
Inspiration
"The Prince" was inspired by Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster, who was a significant influence on Madness.
Performance Statistics
Upon its release, "The Prince" peaked at No.16 on the UK Singles Chart.
Songwriter Credits
The song was written by Lee Thompson, the saxophonist for Madness.
Record Label
"The Prince" was released through the 2 Tone record label.
Format & Length
The track was originally released as a 7" vinyl single, with a total length of 2 minutes and 29 seconds.
Production Credits
"The Prince" was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who became the band's long-term producers.
Recognition
"The Prince" is considered a classic in the ska genre and played a significant role in the ska revival movement.
Live Performances
The song continues to be a staple in Madness's live performances, demonstrating its enduring popularity amongst fans.
Album Inclusion
"The Prince" later appeared on Madness' 1979 debut album, "One Step Beyond."
Lyrics Interpretation
The lyrics of "The Prince" pay homage to Prince Buster, indicating the inspiration they drew from his music.
Music Video
The music video for "The Prince" was famously filmed in a Camden alleyway and includes footage of the band members playing their instruments and goofing around.
Initial Reception
Observers praised the song upon its release for maintaining the energy and authenticity of Jamaica's original ska sound.

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    "The Prince Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/15282624/Madness/The+Prince>.

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