In The Beautiful South, Heaton shared the lead singer's role with Hemingway and female singer Briana Corrigan to create a trio of lead vocalists. This set-up helped to characterise the bittersweet kitchen sink dramas played out in Heaton's often-barbed songs.
The band's music might sound like bubbly, catchy, lightweight pop but Heaton's sour, savage and amusing worldview on everything and anything (alcoholism, religion, sex, politics and, mostly, the down side of relationships) is always lurking beneath the surface of the quirky melodies. The tastes and smells of the local pub are never far away either, with the band gaining a reputation for boozing. The band's first album was Welcome to the Beautiful South (1989) and spawned the hits Song For Whoever and You Keep It All In. The release of 1990's Choke album saw the band claim its only Number 1 hit to date, A Little Time. 0898 followed in 1992, with hits including Old Red Eyes Is Back.
In 1994, after Corrigan quit the band when she saw Paul's lyrics for the forthcoming album Miaow, St Helens supermarket shelf-stacker, Jacqui Abbott, was brought on board to fill in. Heaton had heard her sing at an after show party in St Helens and remembered her vocal talents.
Jacqui's first album with the band was Miaow in 1994. Hits included Good as Gold (Stupid as Mud) and a cover of Fred Neil's Everybody's Talking, previously popularised by Harry Nilsson. The end of that year saw the release of Carry on up the Charts, a "best of" compilation consisting of the singles to date plus new track One Last Love Song. The album was massively successful and it is said that 1 in 7 homes in the UK owns a copy.
Blue Is the Colour (1996), Quench (1998) and Painting It Red (2000) followed with varying success. Jacqui also quit the band in 2000. After a second Greatest Hits album Solid Bronze in 2001, they recorded Gaze in 2003 with yet another female vocalist, Alison 'Lady' Wheeler. Wheeler was still in place for 2004's Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs, an album of unusually arranged cover versions including Livin' Thing, You're The One That I Want, Don't Fear The Reaper and I'm Stone In Love With You. In 2006 the band released their tenth studio album, Superbi.
The band broke up in January 2007, releasing the statement: "The Beautiful South have split up due to musical similarities. The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music."
Former members of the group have since played Beautiful South songs together as 'New Beautiful South' and more recently 'The South'.
In 2007, Mercury Records released Soup: The Best of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South, a compilation album containing 7 hit singles by The Housemartins ("The Housemartins Condensed") and 15 tracks The Beautiful South ("Cream of The Beautiful South").
Mini-Correct
The Beautiful South Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say be careful where you come at night, I just shoot straight from the hip
When it comes to loves great fountain, I won't just take a sip
I'll swallow and I'll gulp until the fountain makes me sick
So it's me left with the baby and disease
You can't say you didn't want it on your hands and on your knees
You made me feel so special
I'm sorry that you misunderstood
These neatly folded corduroys hide rubber underneath
But the only rubber you have worn is that useless rubber sheath
I won't have what I've got for you stolen by no thief
'Cause the safest sex I've ever had was hanging from a tree
So you've left me for another pretty face
That's not true I left you for one half the human race
Now I'm by myself
A woman who knows her place
It's not so much the chase, it's the race
They say treat her like a lady and she'll treat you like her jewels
They say cruel to be kind, I just say cruel to be cruel
They say only marry once, I say only marry fools
They wouldn't have made the cane if you weren't meant to break the rules
Have you told them that you'll hurt them then be gone?
I've told them that I'll hurt them if that really turns them on
You left a bitter scar
I tied those ropes too tight!
I'll tie them loose for you tonight
When I told you that I loved you
I meant mini-correct
When I said I'd never leave you
I meant mini-correct
A ring around your finger, a chain around your neck
That was major correct
The Beautiful South's song "Mini-Correct" touches on the topic of love and sex from a somewhat twisted point of view. The song goes against the grain of the common sayings and beliefs when it comes to sex and relationships. The lyrics reflect a "devil-may-care" attitude towards social conventions, such as always using a condom and being careful where you come at night, which the singer thinks is unnecessary. In contrast, he thinks it's safer to use a whip and take sex as far as possible until it makes him sick.
The song hints at the negative consequences of such behavior, such as diseases and unplanned pregnancies, which the singer treats rather lightly. He seems to blame his sexual partner for leaving him with the baby and the disease, claiming that she wanted it just as much as he did. The lyrics reflect the singer's bitter feelings towards his ex-partner, accusing her of not truly understanding him and leaving him for another person.
In short, the song is a sarcastic take on relationships in which the singer exudes a sense of regret while still maintaining his cavalier attitude towards love and working within the framework of a dysfunctional relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
They say always use a condom, I say always use a whip
I believe in unconventional sexual practices and don't follow traditional advice.
They say be careful where you come at night, I just shoot straight from the hip
I don't worry about the consequences of my actions and take risks in my sexual encounters.
When it comes to loves great fountain, I won't just take a sip
I don't settle for small doses of love or pleasure.
I'll swallow and I'll gulp until the fountain makes me sick
I indulge in love or pleasure to the point of excess and harm.
So it's me left with the baby and disease
I am suffering the consequences of my reckless sexual behavior.
You can't say you didn't want it on your hands and on your knees
I am blaming my partner for our situation and not taking responsibility for my actions.
You made me feel so special
My partner flattered me to get what they wanted from me.
Well you were especially good
My partner was particularly skilled in manipulating me.
I'm sorry that you misunderstood
I don't feel remorse for my actions or their consequences.
These neatly folded corduroys hide rubber underneath
I use unconventional or hidden methods for contraception.
But the only rubber you have worn is that useless rubber sheath
My partner didn't follow safe sex practices and relied on ineffective contraception.
I won't have what I've got for you stolen by no thief
I am possessive of my partner and don't want them to be with anyone else.
'Cause the safest sex I've ever had was hanging from a tree
I associate dangerous or extreme sexual practices with safety.
So you've left me for another pretty face
My partner has abandoned me for someone else.
That's not true I left you for one half the human race
I left my partner for someone else and am deflecting blame onto them.
Now I'm by myself
I am alone and without a partner.
A woman who knows her place
I believe in gender norms and roles for women.
It's not so much the chase, it's the race
I am more interested in competition than the actual pursuit of a partner.
They say treat her like a lady and she'll treat you like her jewels
I don't agree with traditional gender roles or expectations in relationships.
They say cruel to be kind, I just say cruel to be cruel
I believe in being mean or hurting others for my own enjoyment.
They say only marry once, I say only marry fools
I don't value the concept of marriage and believe only foolish people get married.
They wouldn't have made the cane if you weren't meant to break the rules
I believe in breaking rules and norms, and even creating new ones.
Have you told them that you'll hurt them then be gone?
I am upfront with my partners about my intentions to harm them and leave.
I've told them that I'll hurt them if that really turns them on
I am sadistic and enjoy hurting others for pleasure.
You left a bitter scar
My partner hurt me emotionally or physically and left a lasting impact.
I tied those ropes too tight!
I caused physical harm to my partner during a sexual encounter.
I'll tie them loose for you tonight
I am apologizing or attempting to make amends for my previous actions.
When I told you that I loved you
I said something meaningful to my partner.
I meant mini-correct
I only meant it in a small or insignificant way.
When I said I'd never leave you
I made a promise to my partner.
I meant mini-correct
I only meant it in a small or insignificant way.
A ring around your finger, a chain around your neck
Symbols of ownership or possession over a partner.
That was major correct
That was a significant and meaningful action or choice.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVE ROTHERAY, PAUL HEATON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind