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.
Jeanette
The Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kitchenette to let
I bet I get hamburgerette again
We met in a launderette and kissed beneath the air jet
No sweat no threat
Another one in the back of the net
Substitute Ronette
She said, will you remember
I said, I could never forget her
Au naturalette
Her mom's a millionette
So we shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
Jeanette
Jeanette
Dangerous
She's like damp dynamite
Oh boy, enjoy, have a nice night
Won't you promise to write me whenever you can
Make sure that you warn me if you're coming to Birmingham
I get Jeanette
Substitute Ronette
She said, will you remember
I said, I could never forget her
Jeanette
No, no, no I'll never forget you
Touching your skin has proved one thing
That love's still exciting
We're getting there
We're nearly there
Just one final fling
Pushing into a new love steady deep and strong
Steady on
You know we shouldn't talk like this
I met Jeanette
Substitute Ronette
She said, will you remember
Said, I could never forget you
Au naturalette
Her mom's a millionette
So we shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
Jeanette
No, no, no I'll never forget you
Jeanette
No, no, no I'll never forget you
Shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
Jeanette
No, no, no I'll never forget you
Jeanette
No, no, no I'll never forget you
Jeanette
No, no, no I'll never forget you
Shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
The song "Jeanette" by The Beat tells a nostalgic story of a past love affair. The first verse sets the scene in a luncheonette and kitchenette, suggesting a simple life. The singer then reminisces about meeting Jeanette in a launderette and kissing beneath the air jet, reflecting on the excitement of a new love. The second verse describes Jeanette as dangerous, comparing her to "damp dynamite," but also alluring and exciting. The singer promises to never forget her as they share a cigarette and swap false addresses.
The refrain repeats the lines "I met Jeanette, substitute Ronette, she said 'will you remember'", emphasizing the fleeting nature of the encounter and the singer's determination to hold onto the memory. The bridge suggests that the physical intimacy of the relationship has proved that love is still exciting, but also acknowledges the need to move on.
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet feeling of looking back on a past love, remembering the excitement and passion while also acknowledging that it is a thing of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
All set luncheonette
Ready to go to a small, informal restaurant
Kitchenette to let
Small kitchen ready for rent
I bet I get hamburgerette again
I expect to be served a small hamburger again
We met in a launderette and kissed beneath the air jet
We met in a self-service laundry and kissed under the stream of air from a dryer
No sweat no threat
No difficulty or danger
Another one in the back of the net
Another successful achievement
When I met Jeanette
When I met a woman named Jeanette
Substitute Ronette
Replace the name Ronette with Jeanette
She said, will you remember
She asked if I will remember her
I said, I could never forget her
I replied that I could never forget her
Au naturalette
All-natural appearance
Her mom's a millionette
Her mom is a millionaire
So we shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
We smoked a cigarette together and exchanged wrong contact information
Dangerous
Risky or potentially harmful
She's like damp dynamite
She's like explosive material that's moist and causing danger
Oh boy, enjoy, have a nice night
Enjoy your evening
Won't you promise to write me whenever you can
Can you please promise to write to me whenever possible?
Make sure that you warn me if you're coming to Birmingham
Please let me know in advance if you plan to come to Birmingham
Touching your skin has proved one thing
Feeling your skin has shown me something
That love's still exciting
That love is still thrilling
We're getting there
We're making progress
We're nearly there
We're almost done
Just one final fling
Just one last romantic adventure
Pushing into a new love steady deep and strong
Entering into a new strong and deep love
Steady on
Be careful and cautious
You know we shouldn't talk like this
You're aware that we shouldn't talk in this way
No, no, no I'll never forget you
I'll never forget you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WESLEY MAGOOGAN, DAVID WAKELING, ROGER CHARLERY, DAVID STEELE, ANDY COX, EVERETT MORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Stocks
All set luncheonette
Kitchenette to let
I bet I get hamburgerette again
We met in a launderette and kissed beneath the air jet
No sweat no threat
Another one in the back of the net
When I met Jeanette
Substitute Ronette
She said, will you remember
I said, I could never forget her
Au naturalette
Her moms a millionette
So we shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
Jeanette
Jeanette
Dangerous
She’s like damp dynamite
Oh boy, enjoy, have a nice night
Won’t you promise to write me whenever you can
Make sure that you earn me if you’re coming to Birmingham
I get Jeanette
Substitute Ronette
She said, will you remember
I said, I could never forget her
Jeanette
No, no, no I’ll never forget you
Touching your skin has proved one thing
That loves still exciting
We’re getting there
We’re nearly there
Just one final fling
Pushing into a new love steady deep and strong
Steady on
You know we shouldn’t talk like this
I met Jeanette
Substitute Ronette
She said, will you remember
Said, I could never forget you
Au naturalette
Her moms a millionette
So we shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
Jeanette
No, no, no I’ll never forget you
Jeanette
No, no, no I’ll never forget you
Shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
Jeanette
No, no, no I’ll never forget you
Jeanette
No, no, no I’ll never forget you
Jeanette
No, no, no I’ll never forget you
Shared one last cigarette and swapped false addresses
denzil4
One of the best bands of the time. Jeanette is pure class. They never released a bad single and their 3 albums were all brilliant. So much energy, great to dance to. Still play their records and they sound as good today as they did when they came out.
Tracy Nottage
Nice to hear this one again, my most favourite single by the beat and the extended/12inch version too xxx
Jeanette Bale
Not only have i loved this song...But it has my name (spelt correctly!) Growing up i never found my name on a keyring etc.. So i was chuffed to bits when "The Beat" sang about "ME"! 👍😂💪
Phil Manning
Love this song. The album bombed, but mine was worn out. Special Beat Service.
Richard Morales
Ahhh, another hidden Ska classic everybody doesn't know about.
This song is great. Lyrics, guitar, brass , drums, vocals and tempo are truly incredible.
yoshluv7
I know all about it, my mom bought the album back then and this was my favorite song!!!!
Paul Mason
And the virtuoso accordion of Jack Emblow 90 today!
macker33
Why have i never heard this song before?
Awesome, 2020 and i get to hear a new beat song.
pandarello
I love this song so much. Absolutely bostin.
Nelly Nelson
bloody hell, I forget about this song, now I am dacing at the youthclub aged 15 in the summer again.