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.
Rotating Head
The Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coiled up and tense, remains on the lookout
Expect to be shot or get given the bullet
Rotating head tries to look on the bright side of things
Rotating heads, friends in high places
No need to guess what he's got in that briefcase
A mind like a gin-trap, one swollen ankle
On the right side of things
Living on tip-toe
Waiting for the next step
The wages of death
What a life for a swivelhead
Understand, underhand, underarm protection
Each new passer-by, a new wave of suspicion
In less than an hour the plane will be leaving
The lights and the cameras
Then sleep on a prayer and a wing, rotating
Living on tip-toe
Waiting for the next step
The wages of death
What a life for a swivelhead
Rotating head, look on the bright side
Coiled up and tensed, remain on the lookout
A mind like a gin-trap, one swollen ankle
The rotating head tries to stay on the bright side of things
That's the right side of things
The lyrics to the song Rotating Head by The Beat can be interpreted as a commentary on the paranoia and anxiety that can come with living in a world where danger seems to be lurking around every corner. The titular "rotating head" seems to be a person who is constantly on the lookout for danger, never fully relaxing or letting their guard down. They expect to be "shot or given the bullet", suggesting that they are in a dangerous line of work or are living in a dangerous place.
Despite this constant state of vigilance, the rotating head tries to "look on the bright side of things", perhaps as a way of coping with the stress and fear of their situation. They have "friends in high places" and appear to be well-connected, but this doesn't necessarily make them feel any safer. Instead, they are constantly suspicious of those around them, seeing each new person as a potential threat. The imagery of the "mind like a gin-trap" suggests that the rotating head's thoughts are tightly coiled and ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of danger.
The chorus repeats the idea of living "on tip-toe", always waiting for the next step and never able to fully relax. The phrase "the wages of death" suggests that the rotating head is engaged in a high-stakes game, where even a small misstep could mean the end of their life. Despite this, they are still trying to find the bright side and stay on the "right side of things". This could be interpreted as a moral choice or simply a matter of survival - by staying on the right side, the rotating head may be able to avoid getting caught up in the danger and violence that surrounds them.
Line by Line Meaning
Rotating heads, keeps on the right side
The people in power always keep themselves on the safe side.
Coiled up and tense, remains on the lookout
They are always alert and prepared for any potential threats.
Expect to be shot or get given the bullet
They know that being in power comes with risks and they are ready to face the consequences.
Rotating head tries to look on the bright side of things
Despite the dangers, they try to maintain a positive outlook.
Rotating heads, friends in high places
The powerful people have a network of influential friends.
No need to guess what he's got in that briefcase
People in power are often secretive and keep valuable documents with them all the time.
A mind like a gin-trap, one swollen ankle
The people in power are cunning and have a keen mind, but they also have weaknesses that can be exploited.
Living on tip-toe
The people in power are always on edge and ready for action.
Waiting for the next step
They are constantly anticipating the next move of their opponents.
The wages of death
Being in power can be deadly, there are always people out to overthrow them.
What a life for a swivelhead
Being in power is a stressful and challenging life.
Understand, underhand, underarm protection
The people in power take all necessary measures to protect themselves, even if it means being unscrupulous.
Each new passer-by, a new wave of suspicion
They are always cautious of new people, as they may pose a threat.
In less than an hour the plane will be leaving
The people in power are always on the move, and have to take plans at a moment's notice.
The lights and the cameras
Their every move is monitored by the media and the public.
Then sleep on a prayer and a wing, rotating
Despite the constant danger and stress, they must still find a way to rest and rejuvenate.
Rotating head, look on the bright side
They must try to remain optimistic and positive, despite the challenges.
That's the right side of things
For the people in power, staying on the bright side is the only way to survive.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Cain
on Mirror in the Bathroom
good judt woks up mustck