1) The English two-tone ska band The Beat known as The English Beat in North America and The British Beat in Australia.
2) The American power-pop band became known as Paul Collins' Beat in Europe.
1. The Beat are a band founded in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.
The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (1930 – 2017) (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop It (1980), Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Too Nice to Talk To", "Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Hands Off, She's Mine" and "All Out to Get You".[3]
Although the group’s main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country’s college radio.
After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.
Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed together on tracks such as “Free Nelson Mandela”. In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums.
Ranking Roger’s son, Ranking Junior, has followed in his father’s footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys’ single “Boys Will Be Boys”. In 2003, The Beat’s original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. As of 2005, The Beat has reformed, counting Roger, Blockhead and Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa (of Desmond Dekker fame).
The Beat’s lead singer Dave Wakeling also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he has done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
Saxa died on 3 May 2017, Ranking Roger died on 26 March 2019.
2. The Beat (known in Europe as The Paul Collins Beat or Paul Collins' Beat), were an American rock and power pop group from Los Angeles, California that formed in the late 1970s. The Beat resurfaced in the 1990s and continues to tour and record new material as Paul Collins' Beat. Frontman Paul Collins has released several projects with his alternative country group The Paul Collins Band, who play Americana music inspired by country rock and folk rock.
Different Kind of Girl
The Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's a different kind of girl
She's a different kind of girl
I fell in love with you
It didn't take too long
Does what she wants to do
And says what she wants to say
She's a different kind of girl
I could belong to you if you take the time
She's a different kind of girl
Does what she wants to do
And says what she wants to say
She's a different kind of girl
Goes where she wants to go
And says what she wants to say
She's a different kind of girl
She's a different kind of girl
Kind of girl
Just look at her face and into her eyes
The way that she smiles
I'll kiss her tonight
Oh I wanna be with you
All of the time
She's a different kind of girl
Does what she wants to do
And says what she wants to say
She's a different kind of girl
She's a different kind of girl
Kind Of Girl
Just look at her face and into her eyes
The way that she smiles
I'll kiss her tonight
She's a different kind of girl
She's a different kind of girl
She's a different kind of girl
She's a different kind of girl
The Beat’s song “Different Kind of Girl”, with its infectious ska rhythm and catchy lyrics, tells the story of a man who falls in love with a woman who is not like any other girl he has met before. The song begins with the man expressing his desire to be with her all of the time. He acknowledges that she is different from other girls and has a unique personality. He is captivated by her and it doesn’t take long for him to fall in love with her. The chorus repeats the phrase “different kind of girl” multiple times, emphasizing her uniqueness.
The lyrics also highlight the woman’s independence and confidence. She does what she wants to do and says what she wants to say. She goes where she wants to go and is unapologetically herself. The man is attracted to her free spirit and admires her strength. He sees potential for a relationship with her and tells her that he could belong to her if she takes the time.
The song’s upbeat melody and optimistic lyrics make it a classic ska anthem. The lyrics celebrate individualism and encourage listeners to embrace their unique qualities. The catchy chorus is a testament to the power of being different and standing out from the crowd.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I wanna be with you all of the time
The singer desires to be with someone they have feelings for continuously without any breaks or interruptions in their company.
She's a different kind of girl
The girl being referred to in this song is unlike any other girl the singer has encountered before.
I fell in love with you/It didn't take too long
The singer quickly realizes their love for the person they are addressing - it did not take much time for them to fall in love.
Does what she wants to do/And says what she wants to say
This girl is someone who is unapologetic about being herself and will do and say what she wants without any inhibitions.
I could belong to you if you take the time
The artist believes that they have the potential to belong to the person they are addressing if they just give them enough time and effort.
Goes where she wants to go/And says what she wants to say
Once again, the girl being referred to is someone who is free to do and say what she pleases without any restrictions.
Just look at her face and into her eyes/The way that she smiles/I'll kiss her tonight
The singer is very taken with this girl and her attributes, such as her smile, and intends to kiss her soon.
Kind of girl
Reiterating that the girl being discussed is a unique individual who stands out from others.
Contributed by Oliver A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Panglos
One of the most overlooked songs ever, on one of the most overlooked albums ever, by one of the most overlooked bands ever.
Even the few who recognize this band and album always seem to somehow skip over the greatness of this tune.
technologic21
This is the root sound of most bands today. these guys kick ass.
Powerpopaholic
Great power pop song! Melody harmony chords etc...just so!. May be over looked because of its medium tempo -- which a great tempo for this song. Stiill, terrific song! and the solo is so well placed and covers the important melody then takes it from there. The lyrics are perfect power pop fodder. Great song, Great job, Paul Collins !
MilleIsGod
...an album that came out back when ALL of your songs had to be better than average at the worst... Great song from a great band that even though they never got the popularity they deserved, are STILL playing live shows today. Power pop at its best...
John Doe
what a great album... when i was a teen and going through alot of abuse, this album came out and really helped me get through it.
Ted Cantu
Seriously underated -- hard to find - but great! I remember seeing this on a late night NY rock video show in 1980 --
Harry Jansen
Played the shite out of this album for the last 40 years! EVERY summer, windows down and on 10+. One of the best albums ever.
Bayhill 19
Absolutely stunning pop. Collins should be the biggest star on the planet, can listen to the brilliance all day long and more…..
rotcivloyal1
I still have the original vinyl LP,many good memories come from this great album, Thanks Paul.
GTinsdale
Many thanks for the posting this!! I've loved this song since I first saw The Beat perform at my school, and I have looked everywhere for it. Love it! Thanks again.