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The Selecter are a British ska revival band from Coventry, formed in the late 1970s as one of the essential bands of the British ska movement.
Much of what set apart The Selecter from many of the other ska bands at the time was the voice of Pauline Black. She had to disguise herself as a man in order for the band to get gigs, but once they did, there was no disguising her voice. Like other ska bands of this movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line up, and songs about violence, politics, marijuana, a fictional spy's theme song, James Bond, and reggae classics. The name of the band is a reference to the Jamaican word for a music selecter, known elsewhere as the DJ. Also typical to the style is the mix of one vocalist singing, and the other toasting in a Jamaican style, a precursor to rapping.
The Selecter's first recording Too Much Pressure was recorded at the end of 1979 and beginning of 1980 and issued on the pre-eminent 2 Tone/Chrysalis label. Their second recording Celebrate the Bullet was issued in 1981. Though the band has continued to regroup and reform on and off, most of the many recordings available are recompiled selections from these first two albums, either live or studio recordings. The Selecter's first two albums are essential British ska recordings.
Pauline Black has been the singer in The Selecter since its formation in 1979 when the band spearheaded the Two Tone movement alongside The Specials releasing the singles "The Selecter", "Three Minute Hero", "The Whisper", "Missing Words" and "On My Radio" as well as two albums; "Too Much Pressure" and "Celebrate The Bullet". The Selecter were also featured in the cult film Dance Craze. The band split in 1982, Pauline carved out a career in TV and theatre, appearing in dramas like The Vice, The Bill, Hearts and Minds and 2000 Acres of Sky. She won the 1991 Time Out award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the play All or Nothing At All and starred next to Christopher Lee in the schlock horror film The Funny Man. She reformed The Selecter in 1991 and has released several new albums and has toured all over the world.
Nick Welsh is probably best known for being the bassist in The Selecter and formerly Bad Manners but he has worked with some of the biggest names in Ska and Reggae, Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, Rico Rodriguez, Dave Barker and most recently Lee "Scratch" Perry with whom he received a Grammy Award Certificate for his work on the CD Jamaican ET which won The Best Reggae Category in 2002. Nick also writes music for TV which has been used world-wide on shows as diverse as WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), The Osbournes and even adverts for Ariel soap powder.
Neol Davies the founder and writer of the classic hits returns with a brand new band in 2010.
neoldaviesakatheselecter plays the mainstage at Bestival 2011 with new album and remixes.
Original line-up
Pauline Black : vocals
Compton Amanor: guitar
Charley Anderson: bass guitar
Charley Bembridge: drums
Desmond Brown: Hammond keyboard
Neol Davies: guitar
Arthur Hendrickson: vocals
Anderson and Brown left The Selecter in 1980. They were replaced by James Mackie: Hammond organ and Adam Williams: bass guitar
Reformed line-up: 1991
Pauline Black: vocals
Neol Davies: guitar
Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson - vocals
Martin Stewart: keyboards
Nick Welsh : bass
Perry Melius : drums
The Selecter 2010 lineup includes
Founder and songwriter Neol Davies- vocals/guitars
Lead Vocals- John Gibbons
Daniel Crosby- Drums
Andre Buyani- Bass
Tim Cansfield- Guitar
Victor Travino- Congas & Percussion
Dean Ross- Hammond Organ
Selecter Horns
Bad Dog
The Selecter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't get no biscuit
Sad dog
Don't get no more money x2
Every time I look into those brown eyes
I get a jolt
Don't criticise
I have to stop
To my surprise
Oh oh nothing really matters now
Oh oh you're too slow
Oh oh don't make me mad again
Oh oh, cos you're not God
Bad Dog
Don't get no biscuit
Sad Dog
Don't get no money x2
Maybe I'm looking for a hole in the jar
I'm cracking up
Don't tell lies
But by and large I know it's espionage
I have to stop
To my surprise
Oh oh nothing really matters now
Oh oh you're too slow
Oh oh don't make me mad again
Oh oh cos' you're not God
Oh oh nothing really matters now
Oh oh, you're too slow
Oh oh, don't make me mad again
Oh, oh cos you're not God x2
Bad dog
Don't get no biscuit
Sad dog
Don't make no money x2
Bad Dog
Sad Dog
Bad Dog Sad Dog
Bad Dog
The Selecter's song "Bad Dog" is an upbeat ska tune that delivers a message about the consequences of bad behavior. The lyrics tell the story of a misbehaving dog that won't receive any treats or affection from its owner until it learns to behave properly. The chorus repeats the simple, yet poignant message - "Bad dog don't get no biscuit, sad dog don't get no more money" - emphasizing the importance of learning to behave.
The verses of the song explore the inner struggle of the dog's owner as they try to balance their love for their pet with their frustration at its behavior. They describe the way the dog's puppy-dog eyes and cute demeanor make it difficult to stay angry for long, but ultimately, the owner knows that they must stand their ground and not reward the bad behavior.
The song drives home the point that actions have consequences, and this message can be applied to many aspects of life beyond just dog training. The catchy ska beat and simple, repetitive lyrics make the song an earworm that sticks in your head long after it finishes playing.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad dog
Addressing a disobedient dog
Don't get no biscuit
The dog will not receive a treat for its bad behavior
Sad dog
Emphasizing the negative emotions that come with being a disobedient dog
Don't get no more money
The dog will not receive any more rewards or benefits
Every time I look into those brown eyes
The singer reflects on the dog's adorable appearance
I get a jolt
Engaging with the dog creates a sense of excitement
Don't criticise
The singer defends their actions regarding the dog's punishment
Can't you see I'm on a really high wire
The singer views their responsibility as precarious
I have to stop
The singer feels obligated to restrain from giving in to the dog's desirable behavior
To my surprise
The singer is caught off guard by the dog's disobedience
Oh oh nothing really matters now
The singer expresses apathy towards the situation
Oh oh you're too slow
The singer expresses frustration towards the dog's lack of obedience
Oh oh don't make me mad again
The singer warns the dog not to repeat the negative behavior
Oh oh, cos you're not God
The singer reminds the dog of its inferiority
Maybe I'm looking for a hole in the jar
The singer seeks a loophole to the current problem
I'm cracking up
The singer is experiencing stress and frustration
Don't tell lies
The singer urges honesty from the dog in order to improve its behavior
But by and large I know it's espionage
The singer observes that the dog's misbehavior is often planned and deliberate
Oh oh, cos you're not God x2
The singer reiterates that the dog cannot expect to have full control or authority
Bad Dog
Re-emphasizing the dog's negative behavior
Sad Dog
Focusing on the negative emotions that come with disobedience
Bad Dog Sad Dog
Summarizing the song's overall message
Bad Dog
Closing the song with a final warning to the dog
Writer(s): Pauline Black, Nick Welsh Copyright: Cherry Red Songs
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Micha'el O Ruaidh
Great tune
Fliss
Been after this song for ages. Thank you!