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").
Pretty Things
The Beautiful South Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cover in perfume too
Moonlight, mud fight, any kinda sunlight
Still comes shining through
Stuff it with cakes, see if it breaks
Put it in the oven, see how she bakes
Your kind of pretty you can gas mark 11
Your kinda pretty, don't need advertising
Your kinda pretty comes with own billboard
Newly-weds nearly-deads
Anyone with bed-stead
Your kinda pretty
You're all they can't afford
Cover your eyes, see if it dies
Move to the city, start dating guys
You're kind of pretty you can try to deny
But eventually you'll thank the lord
You're kind of pretty don't need an umbrella
It knows what weather can do
Sandstorm, rainstorm, anything a cloud's warn
Can't hide the prettiest view
Cover with paints, see if it stains
Take it to a window, press up against
Your kinda pretty you can drag through a hedge
But no-one would believe you'd been through
Your kinda pretty, don't need advertising
Your kinda pretty comes with own billboard
Newly-weds nearly-deads
Anyone with bed-stead
Your kinda pretty
You're all they can't afford
Cover your eyes, see if it dies
Move to the city, start dating guys
You're kind of pretty you can try to deny
But eventually you'll thank the lord
The Beautiful South's "Pretty Things" is a commentary on the societal pressures put onto women to always look and be a certain way. The song suggests that women can't escape the scrutiny placed upon them no matter how they choose to live their lives or present themselves. The opening line "You're kind of pretty you can cover in make-up" speaks to how makeup, despite its ability to enhance or change one's appearance, can never hide someone's true self or what's underneath. The second verse continues the theme, blithely suggesting that even if you stuff someone with cakes and put them in the oven, they'll never overdo or fully be what you want them to be. The chorus reinforces the idea that women's beauty is commodified, stating that women are all people can afford and that this beauty continues to exist despite protests against advertising and societal expectations.
The second and third verses drive the point home even further. The second verse points out that women's beauty isn't just always present but that it can withstand anything that comes its way, whether it be a mud fight or sandstorm. The third verse highlights the ridiculousness of the perpetuation of this pressure on women, specifically focusing on the idea that women must maintain not only their appearance but also the appearance of their surroundings. The line "Take it to a window, press up against" suggests the hyper-focus on appearances could even extend to ensuring one's beauty looks good in a window reflection.
Overall, "Pretty Things" reminds listeners that women's beauty should not be the focus of their existence and that placing too much importance on what is on the outside can be damaging and unsustainable.
Line by Line Meaning
You're kind of pretty you can cover in make-up
You have the ability to be transformed by cosmetics
Cover in perfume too
A pleasing scent can complement your natural fragrance
Moonlight, mud fight, any kinda sunlight
Your beauty is resilient and shines in any lighting or environment
Still comes shining through
No matter what happens, your beauty remains intact
Stuff it with cakes, see if it breaks
Your beauty can withstand indulgence and excess
Put it in the oven, see how she bakes
You can test your beauty but cannot alter it
Your kind of pretty you can gas mark 11
Your beauty is so exceptional it exceeds even the hottest temperature
But you can't ever overdo
You cannot add too much to your beauty, it is already top-notch
Your kinda pretty, don't need advertising
Your beauty is so apparent it does not require promotion
Your kinda pretty comes with own billboard
Your beauty is so noticeable it can advertise itself
Newly-weds nearly-deads
Your beauty appeals to people of all ages and stages of life
Anyone with bed-stead
Even those with limited resources recognize your beauty
Your kinda pretty
Your beauty is special and unique
You're all they can't afford
Your beauty is priceless and unattainable to some
Cover your eyes, see if it dies
Even if you attempt to hide your beauty, it remains
Move to the city, start dating guys
Your beauty will still be evident no matter where you go or who you meet
You're kind of pretty you can try to deny
You may not acknowledge your own beauty, but others recognize it
But eventually you'll thank the lord
One day you will appreciate and accept your natural beauty
You're kind of pretty don't need an umbrella
No amount of rain or bad weather can ruin your beauty
It knows what weather can do
Your beauty can adapt and withstand any changes or challenges
Sandstorm, rainstorm, anything a cloud's warn
Even inclement weather cannot diminish your beauty
Can't hide the prettiest view
Your beauty is too prominent and alluring to conceal
Cover with paints, see if it stains
Your beauty cannot be marred or contaminated by external factors
Take it to a window, press up against
You can test your beauty but cannot enhance it
Your kinda pretty you can drag through a hedge
Even if you appear disheveled, your beauty still exudes
But no-one would believe you'd been through
Your beauty is so strong, it can mask any hardships you may face
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVE ROTHERAY, PAUL HEATON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
gtm11
One of my fav songs. Superb
ryan Rysdale
its like watching your dad dance, but i kinda quite like that, great up-beat song from a great band
Dublinram
December 06