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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
Cool Blue Lady
The Selecter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Twist your heart out it won't take long
Yeah you wonder just what it's all for
No one would tell you they watch to see you fall
Cool blue lady cool blue lady
Cool blue lady, cool blue lady
How could those people play you like a card
There's so much pain from what you got inside
Makes you want to want to run and hide
Cool blue lady, cool blue lady
Cool blue lady, cool blue lady
Cool blue lady how you sang the blues
When you loved how come no-one loved you
You told your secrets and gave a lot of soul
Seems like you had an impossible goal
Cool blue lady, cool blue lady
Cool blue lady, cool blue lady
The Selecter's "Cool Blue Lady" is a song about the pain and struggle of an artist who sings the blues. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who pours her heart and soul into her music, but is met with indifference and rejection from those around her. Despite her efforts, she is unable to find love and acceptance, and the weight of her disappointment and unfulfilled dreams becomes too much for her to bear.
The opening line, "Cool blue lady sing your song," sets the tone for the song's melancholic mood. The use of the color blue and the term "cool" evoke a sense of sadness and detachment. The song acknowledges the effort that the artist has put into her work, encouraging her to "twist your heart out" as a way to express herself. However, the character's hard-earned talent and dedication are met with disregard from those around her, who simply wait for her to fail.
The chorus serves as a refrain, repeating the line "Cool blue lady" over and over again. The repetition creates a sense of desperation and frustration, emphasizing the depth of the character's sadness and isolation. The song ends with a reflection on the impossibility of the artist's goal, recognizing that despite her best efforts, she remains unappreciated and alone.
Overall, "Cool Blue Lady" offers a poignant meditation on the struggles of artists and the challenge of creating meaningful work in a world that often fails to recognize its value. It is a song that speaks to the complexity of the creative process and the emotional toll that it can take on those who engage in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Cool blue lady sing your song
Encouraging the singer to perform their music with sincerity and passion.
Twist your heart out it won't take long
Expressing that the singer should pour their emotions into their song as it won't take much effort.
Yeah you wonder just what it's all for
The singer questions the reason behind their efforts and if it will lead to success.
No one would tell you they watch to see you fall
The singer believes that people secretly take pleasure in their eventual failure.
Cool blue lady you tried so hard
Acknowledging the singer's hard work and dedication.
How could those people play you like a card
Expressing the frustration and disappointment of being used and manipulated by others.
There's so much pain from what you got inside
The singer has a lot of inner turmoil that they are struggling to deal with.
Makes you want to want to run and hide
The singer wants to escape from the pain they are feeling.
Cool blue lady how you sang the blues
Praising the singer's ability to express their emotions through music, specifically the blues genre.
When you loved how come no-one loved you
The singer is questioning why they aren't receiving the same love and appreciation they give to others.
You told your secrets and gave a lot of soul
The singer has been vulnerable in their music, revealing personal details about themselves.
Seems like you had an impossible goal
Despite their efforts, the singer feels like they will never attain the success they desire.
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.