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Welcome to the Last FM page of the swing-hop duo, The Correspondents. MC Mr Bruce and DJ/Producer Mr Chuckles collaborate to make Hip Hop for the 1930s, Big Band music for the 00s. Splicing swing samples with squelchy synths over dusty drum loops they’ve depicted a modern day journey into time of rogues, lust, affordable clowns and foot-tapping toe curling "get your brogues on" dance floor swing beat.
The Correspondents started out in November 2007, when old friends, Mr Bruce and Mr Chuckles, returned to London after a firm schooling at their respective Universities. In Leeds Mr Chuckles had been tinkering with the sounds of Hip Hop, Jazz and Dance music for several years, meanwhile further North in Edinburgh Mr Bruce exerted his vocal dexterity over Drum 'n' Bass, Breaks & Funk. The unlikely pair cut their teeth at a few parties and decided to cement the live performance relationship in their makeshift recording studio. Since then tracks have been recorded, stages have been stomped and knees have hit nipples.
The Correspondents have shared stages with the likes (or unlikes) of Florence & The Machine, Lilly Allen, Mika, Little Boots, VV Brown, Bat For Lashes, Lazy Habits, Daedalus, Bassment Jaxx, Rob Da Bank, Rusko, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Cuban Brothers, Brass Roots, Jocelyn Brown, Dub Pistols etc... etc...
You might have seen them at Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Bestival, Shambala Festival, Lovebox Weekender, The Big Chill Festival, Camden Crawl, Innocent Village Fete, Scala Amersham Arms, Bungalow 8, Soho Revue Bar, Vibe Bar, Concord 2, Bloomsbury Bowls, Art Car Boot Fair, Last Days Of Decadance, Madame Jojo's, Notting Hill Arts Club, Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, 33 Portland Place, Shepard's Bush Pavillion, 5 Cavendish Sq, Corsica Studios, Proud Camden, Village Underground, The Cobden Club, The Battersea Arts Centre, The Colony Rooms, and Selfridge's.
www.myspace.com/thecorrespondentsmusic
"The Correspondents aren't the first group you'd expect to see at a South London dubstep/fidget house night and yet their performance at Corsica Studios over a year ago had everyone quickly switching their allegience from wobbly basslines to beats over samples from 'The Jungle Book'. The skin-tight trouser clad MC Mr Bruce strode to the stage and began shaking his impossibly long legs to the beats put down by his DJ, Chuckles, and from that point on, everyone was a convert." NME.COM
“Pop also-ran Frankmusik was far more exciting, revealing his 'great voice for a white boy' but also the overly perfect future pop that's thus far prevented him finding fame with a mass audience. One duo who could, however, are the Correspondents, who filled in between sets throughout the weekend. With fast-spit rhymes over twenties flapper tunes, and MC Mr Brogues a gangly enthusiastic dancer with natty threads to match, these two deserve a stage all themselves.” INTHENEWS.CO.UK – BESTIVAL REVIEW
“My fear for the contents of my wallet and the softer parts of my anatomy were quickly replaced by joy at the sights and sounds of The Correspondents. These two dapper purveyors of swing-hop derring-do pretty much stole the show. I’m proper feeling the vaudeville approach to hip-hop (cfThe Anomalies, Krugers passim), and The Correspondents are amongst the most charming to take that approach. Everyone had a sing-a-long with them. Aww. Find them on MySpazz – you’ll be glad you did (and relieved MySpazz still has its uses).” KRUGERS MAGAZINE – DAEDALUS @ CORSICA STUDIOS REVIEW
"A stark contrast with the reaction received by The Correspondents, the Wandsworth duo who wander onto the Great Stage in the middle of the hottest day of the year and through the skatting, scratching and infectious dancing of the Mask-a-like Mr Bruce, managed to persuade everyone to forget their heat induced woes and dance like they had some serious itch to scratch. Forced back on to the stage by a fiery and pumped up crowd demanding more, Mr Bruce and compatriot DJ Chuckles then do it all over again, much to the amazement of them and their newly acquired groupies. Which goes to show the wonder that is Secret Garden Party. Hierarchies are toppled and the unknown underdogs are taken into the bosoms of the crowd while the headlining 80s superstars are made to look like, well, bosoms." LOUD AND QUIET MAGAZINE - SECRET GARDEN PARTY REVIEW
"Sunday starts with a beautifully bizarre moment, as Wandsworth swing-hip-hop duo The Correspondents enthral an unfeasibly huge midday main stage crowd with a rendition of 'I Wanna Be Like You' from The Jungle Book. After that we’re delirious putty in their capable hands and the stunned pair are summoned back for a giddy encore." WWW.VIRTUALFESTIVALS.COM - SECRET GARDEN PARTY REVIEW
Only One Not Smiling
The Correspondents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He skipped to be the next big thing
But why do I feel like I′m watching an advert every time he sings?
Fair enough, fair enough
Everyone's trying to make a living
Everybody needs to make a deal with
Diet coke to keep all the plates spinning
"Sale now, on sale now! On...
"The big discounts of the year!"
The crowds outside the store are bigger than a Hollywood premier
And I′ve seen, I've seen two sets of punches thrown
The first for an HD TV, the second for a phone
Am I the only one not smiling in this place?
What's this, what′s this? Is it 1955?
He says she′s asking for trouble with that dress that shows her thighs
Now, with a bottle of wine, bottle of wine
Oh, I see him making a move
Than I hear him call her freaky just because she refused
She's the only one not smiling in this place
Drink up, drink up, I really want to leave
Those red-faced men in here are shouting stuff wouldn′t believe
Anyone, anyone, who's not what they know
Is a direct threat that might infect that status quo
And they′re the only ones not smiling in this place
Time out, time out! I wanna get-a this right
I've been to the top three times and three times I though I′d died
Can I opt out, opt out? It's too fast for me
You may wanna see the world as a blur but I would rather sightsee
How will this madness ever reign?
Are we the only ones still smiling in this place?
What do you know, what do you know?
Here I feel just fine
I'm not waiting sun and face to hear something out of line
What do we do, what do we do?
I know it might sound strange
But I can feel a turning point if you can see a change
What do you know, what do you know?
Here I feel just fine
I′m not waiting sun and face to hear something out of line
What do we do, what do we do?
I know it might sound strange
But I can feel a turning point if you can see a change
The Correspondents' song "Only One Not Smiling" reflects on the absurdity of consumerism and societal norms, depicting a world where everyone is grinning and trying to keep up with the latest trends, while the singer refuses to conform to the pressures of consumer culture.
The lyrics describe a scene of a person skipping to become the next big thing, but the singer can't help but feel like they are watching an advertisement every time he sings. The song then moves on to the wider issue of consumerism, with people trying to make deals with corporations like Diet Coke just to keep their heads above water. The lyrics also touch on the outrageous consumerist behavior during sales events, where people will fight over discounted items, and the way individuals who do not conform to societal norms are often looked down upon.
The song ultimately concludes with the idea of a turning point where people can begin to break away from the madness of consumerism and societal pressures. The lyrics suggest that if one can "see a change", they can potentially facilitate this turning point.
Line by Line Meaning
Clap along, clap along
Let's clap along to the beat of the music
He skipped to be the next big thing
He tried to achieve fame and success quickly
But why do I feel like I'm watching an advert every time he sings?
Why does his performance feel more like a promotional ad than genuine art?
Fair enough, fair enough
That's a reasonable point
Everyone's trying to make a living
Everyone needs to earn money to survive
Everybody needs to make a deal with Diet coke to keep all the plates spinning
People often have to make compromises and form partnerships in order to maintain their lifestyle and income
Am I the only one not smiling in this place?
Does anyone else feel unhappy and uncomfortable in this environment?
"Sale now, on sale now! On...
Advertisements promoting sales and discounts
"The big discounts of the year!"
The discounts being offered are the biggest of the entire year
The crowds outside the store are bigger than a Hollywood premier
The amount of people gathered outside the store is comparable to the size of a premiere for a Hollywood movie
And I've seen, I've seen two sets of punches thrown
I witnessed two instances of physical fights occurring
The first for an HD TV, the second for a phone
The first fight was over a high-definition television, while the second was over a mobile phone
What's this, what's this? Is it 1955?
Does it seem like we've gone back in time to an era with outdated and oppressive social norms?
He says she's asking for trouble with that dress that shows her thighs
He believes that a woman wearing a dress that shows her thighs is inviting negative attention and deserves any negative consequences that come from it
Now, with a bottle of wine, bottle of wine
He's now drinking wine
Oh, I see him making a move
It appears he is trying to make a romantic move on someone
Than I hear him call her freaky just because she refused
I then heard him insult and degrade the woman he was trying to pursue, simply because she rejected his advances
She's the only one not smiling in this place
She is the only person who is obviously unhappy and uncomfortable here
Drink up, drink up, I really want to leave
I want to finish my drink quickly and leave as soon as possible
Those red-faced men in here are shouting stuff wouldn't believe
Men in this place are saying and shouting things that are difficult to believe or comprehend
Anyone, anyone, who's not what they know
Anyone outside of their norm is seen as a threat
Is a direct threat that might infect that status quo
Anyone different from them has the potential to disrupt their current way of life
And they're the only ones not smiling in this place
The people with the most hostile and intolerant attitudes seem to be the most unhappy in this environment
Time out, time out! I wanna get-a this right
I need a break and want to make sure I get this right
I've been to the top three times and three times I though I'd died
I have experienced great success three times, but each time I also experienced great difficulty and near-death experiences
Can I opt out, opt out? It's too fast for me
Is there a way to exit or slow down this fast-paced lifestyle, as it is overwhelming me
You may wanna see the world as a blur but I would rather sightsee
You may prefer to navigate through life quickly and see everything as a blur, but I would rather take the time and care to see and appreciate things slowly with great detail
How will this madness ever reign?
How will this insanity and chaos ever stop or come to an end?
Are we the only ones still smiling in this place?
Are we the only ones who are still somewhat content and happy in this environment?
What do you know, what do you know?
What knowledge or insight do you have?
Here I feel just fine
I feel comfortable and content in this place
I'm not waiting sun and face to hear something out of line
I do not want to have to wait until the sun comes up to address any inappropriate or harmful behavior
What do we do, what do we do?
What actions can we take to improve this situation?
I know it might sound strange
I am aware that my suggestion may seem unusual or unconventional
But I can feel a turning point if you can see a change
I believe that a positive shift or transformation is possible, but only if we are willing to make changes and take action towards it
Writer(s): Ian Bruce, Tim Cole
Contributed by Jackson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AlovicGrim
LYRICS HERE! GETCHA LYRICS!
Clap along, clap along,
He's tipped to be the next big thing.
But why do I feel like I'm watching an advert, every time he sings.
Fair enough, fair enough, everyone's trying to make a living.
Everybody needs to make a deal with diet coke, to keep all the plates spinning.
Am I the only one not smiling in this place?
Sale now on, Sale now on,
The biggest discounts of the year.
The crowds outside this store are bigger than a Hollywood premier.
And I've seen, Ive seen, two sets of punches thrown.
The first for an HD TV, the second for a phone.
Am I the only one not smiling in this place.
What's this, what's this, is it 1955?
He says she's asking for trouble with, that dress that shows her thighs.
Now with a bottle of wine, a bottle of wine. Oh I see him making a move.
Then I hear him call her frigid, just because she refused.
And she's the only one not smiling in this place.
Drink up, drink up, I really want to leave.
Those red faced men in here are shouting, stuff you wouldn't believe.
Anyone, anyone who's not what they know,
Is that direct threat that might infect our status quo.
And they're the only one's not smiling in this place.
Time out, time out, I want to get off this ride.
I've been to the top three times, and three times I thought I died.
Can I opt out, opt out, it's too fast for me.
You may want to see the world as a blur, but I would rather sight see.
How will this madness ever end?
Are we the only ones still smiling in this place?
What do you know, what do you know, here I feel just fine.
I'm not waiting solemn faced to hear something out of line.
What do we do, what do we do, I know it might sound strange,
But I can feel a turning point, if you can see a change.
What do you know, what do you know, here I feel just fine.
I'm not waiting solemn faced to hear something out of line.
What do we do, what do we do, I know it might sound strange,
But I can feel a turning point, if you can see a change.
@Andrew-ow6fq
I understand how it feels to be committed to something like this and be frustrated when it's not finished, but you guys could've probably just taken pieces of the animation and just looped them. Most videos to songs look that way, anyways. This being said, you guys seem to put in more personal work and creative effort than a lot of people whose songs (not written by themselves) absolutely blow up, and I appreciate both the ethic and the honesty. Please keep at it!
@dylanwilson7544
when in doubt: L O O P
@cherrymetoo
👆👆
@LisaNaniOfficial
It should be stated that in the animation industry, LOOPing and REUSing old animation is a given.
@clawgerber1992
judging by the narrative of the song I believe the "unfinished" is entirely on purpose, it is what they call 'meta'
@clawgerber1992
wait no they Favorited you... fair e-bloody-nough
@ThereIsAnExtension2UndoHandles
I might be reading too deep into it, but I feel like the animation being 'unfinished' was done on purpose, as it matches the feel of the song perfectly.
@goblinteehee
He hearted it, your a genius
@niccy266
@@goblinteehee your
@J.A.N.O.S
It was on purpose. He have only 2 frames at bottom.