This small band was formed by a group of friends who just wanted to jam. The band members (see below) are all famous in their own right already and include Mike Myers (of Austin Powers fame), Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet.
The idea to form a band came after Mike Myers and his wife attended a Matthew Sweet concert. Susanna Hoffs performed a gig that same night. They all got to know one another. (Hoffs and Sweet were already good friends.) Sometime during the filming of "Austin Powers", they all got together one evening to watch B-movies. They decided to form a 60's oriented band just for fun.
So they jammed together and called themselves Ming Tea. The name came from a company featured in one of the B-movies they had watched.
So the three of them and a few others got together and wrote some songs and even played some shows in and around Los Angeles, usually in Comedy clubs, combiing the show with their own comedy skits.
Whilst the band never released an album, they have contributed to a couple of the Austin Powers' film Soundtracks. Their song "BBC" features at the end of 'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery' and another of their songs, "Daddy Wasn't There" is in one of the later films. They also contributed some of instrumental pieces in the second film, 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'
Ming Tea are:
Mike Myers (aka Austin Powers) - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Susanna Hoffs (aka Julian Shagwell) - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Matthew Sweet - Bass Guitar and Vocals
Weird Blonde Go-Go dancer ???? - Percussion
Stuart Johnson - Drums and Percussion
Chris Ward - Guitar
B.B.C.
Ming Tea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will ya make me tea?
Make love to me
Put on the telly
To the bbc
To the bbc
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Bbc 1, bbc 2
Bbc 3, bbc 4
Bbc 5, bbc 6
Bbc 7, bbc heaven
Missus
Will ya make me tea?
Make love to me
Put on the telly
To the bbc
To the bbc
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Bbc 1, bbc 2
Bbc 3, bbc 4
Bbc 5, bbc 6
Bbc 7, bbc heaven
Missus
Will ya make me tea?
Make love to me
Put on the telly
To the bbc
To the bbc
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Bbc 1, bbc 2
Bbc 3, bbc 4
Bbc 5, bbc 6
Bbc 7, bbc heaven
Bbc, peace
The lyrics of Ming Tea's song "B.B.C." are a playful and cheeky ode to the British Broadcasting Corporation. The singer addresses his "missus" and asks her to make him tea, make love to him, and put on the telly - specifically, the BBC. He then proceeds to list the various channels available on the network, from BBC 1 through BBC 7 (and even BBC Heaven), all the while repeating the refrain of "To the BBC, yeah yeah yeah." The song ends with a simple message of "BBC, peace."
On the surface, the lyrics may seem like a simple and somewhat silly tribute to British television, but they also hint at a deeper appreciation for the role that media and entertainment play in our lives. The singer's request for his partner to "make love to me" may suggest an intimate connection between the listener, the music and the TV, forming a bond between the singer and the audience. Moreover, the song's insistence on the BBC as the object of affection may be a nod to the network's reputation for high-quality programming and journalistic integrity.
Overall, "B.B.C." is a fun, lighthearted song that celebrates the joys of television and the unique cultural phenomenon that is the BBC.
Line by Line Meaning
Missus
Addressing one's significant other or partner
Will ya make me tea?
Asking for a favor or service, in this case, making tea
Make love to me
Requesting sexual intimacy with the partner
Put on the telly
Asking to turn on the television
To the bbc
Specifically requesting to watch programs on the British Broadcasting Corporation
To the bbc
Repetition of the request for emphasis and rhythm
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Simple exclamation of approval or excitement
Bbc 1, bbc 2
Naming specific channels on the BBC network
Bbc 3, bbc 4
Continuing to list channels on the BBC network
Bbc 5, bbc 6
Further continuing to list channels on the BBC network
Bbc 7, bbc heaven
Exaggeration or humorously implying that BBC 7 is the best channel
Bbc, peace
Concluding the song and possibly suggesting that the BBC provides peace or tranquility
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.