It presents the group's single A-sides in chronological order, though sometimes in their LP rather than single versions. The 1992/1995 Japanese CD versions add In The City, which was a single there.
The album peaked at number 1 in the UK charts, and it eventually led to a Madness reunion and their first concert in six years (which was recorded for their Madstock! album).
Divine Madness was also released as a video and eventually DVD with all Madness music videos, including "Bed & Breakfast Man", "Sweetest Girl" and "I Pronounce You", the latter performed by spin-off group The Madness. The group's Japanese TV adverts for Honda City cars were also included.
The album was re-packaged in 1998 as The Heavy Hits with the addition of the single version of "The Sweetest Girl" (placed in its correct chronological position after "Uncle Sam").
In 2000 it was re-issued, under its original title of Divine Madness, with the further singles "Lovestruck" and "Johnny the Horse" included, but once again omitting "The Sweetest Girl". The album versions of "The Prince", "One Step Beyond...", "The Return of the Los Palmas 7", "Cardiac Arrest", "Shut Up" and "Tomorrow's Just Another Day" were replaced with the single versions, although the heavily edited version of "Shut Up" was used, which, at 2:51, fades out more than 30 seconds short of the actual single version.
The Prince
Madness Lyrics
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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
Lyrics Interpretation:
The song "The Prince" by Madness is a tribute to the Jamaican ska music and its pioneers. The lyrics portray a scene of a party where the music is playing, and people are dancing to the rock-steady rhythm sold by Buster, who could be a reference to the ska guitarist Buster Bloodvessel. The earthquake and ghost-dance mentioned in the lyrics could be metaphors for the excitement and intensity of the music, which is so powerful that it seems to shake the ground beneath their feet. The singer urges the audience to dance and participate actively, warning those who are not in the mood to step back and find a seat.
The song also pays homage to Orange Street, also known as Beat Street, a famous location in Kingston, Jamaica, where the ska music scene flourished in the 1960s. The singer expresses his desire to go there, but realizes that he will never get there, no matter how fast he runs. One interpretation could be that the singer is symbolically chasing the elusive quality of the ska music, which he is unable to grasp fully, despite his admiration and enthusiasm for it. The song ends with a chant of "Bring back the Who is the We want the," which could be a call for the return of the ska kings who have left their mark on music history and inspired a new generation of musicians.
Line by Line Meaning
Buster, he sold the heat with a rock-steady beat
Buster, the musician, superbly played his instruments and created a captivating rhythm
An earthquake is erupting, but not in Orange street
Something exciting and life-changing is happening, but it's not happening in the usual, expected place
A ghost-dance is preparing, You got to help us with your feet
We are getting ready to participate in something mystical and unknown, and we need your presence and energy to help make it happen
If you're not in the mood to dance, step back, grab yourself a seat
If you're not feeling the rhythm, it's okay to relax and observe from the sidelines
This may not be uptown Jamaica, but we promise you a treat
We may not be in the most prestigious or glamorous location, but we assure you there will be something special and worth experiencing here
Even if I keep on runnin', I'll never get to Orange street
Even if I keep searching for something better, I may never find it in the usual or expected places
So I'll say there's nothin' left to say, for the man who set the beat
There's no more praise or acknowledgement we can give to the person who created the rhythm that's captivating us
So I'll leave it up to you out there, to get him back on his feet
It's now up to the audience to show their appreciation and energize the musician to keep playing
Bring back the
The song is transitioning into the chorus section
Who is the
The chorus is building anticipation and setting up for the next line
We want the
The chorus is demanding to hear more of the captivating rhythm that's been created
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CATHAL JOSEPH SMYTH, CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOREMAN, DANIEL MARK WOODGATE, GRAHAM MCPHERSON, LEE THOMPSON, LEE JAY THOMPSON, MARK WILLIAM BEDFORD, MICHAEL BARSON
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