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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
Hairspray
The Selecter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said hello, she looked the other way
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
OhOhOh you're so set in your ways
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
Shopping for fun may chase the blues away
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
OhOhOh you're so set in your ways
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
Bored housewives re-arrange the pottery
Hoping one day they'll win the lottery
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
OhOhOh you're so set in your ways
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
You're oh so hard
You're oh so cool
You're oh so smart
You're just a spray on fool
I met a man who swore that Jesus Saves
I asked him for a loan 'til Judgement Day
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
OhOhOh you're so set in your ways
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
OhOhOh you're so set in your ways
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
OhOhOh you're so set in your ways
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
With your spray on suit and your spray on hair
Your spray on smile and your spray on stare
Your spray on curls and you're spray on shirt
You're just spray on dirt...
The Selecter's "Hairspray" is a satirical take on consumerism and materialism in modern society. The song was written and released in the early 1980s, a decade known for its excesses and consumer culture. In the song, the singer meets a girl who refuses to acknowledge her, turning away when greeted. The chorus suggests that her obsession with personal appearance has made her shallow and unwilling to engage with others. She is so "set in her ways" that she must need a hairspray to maintain her image.
The following verses further highlight the absurdities of consumer culture. The line about Imelda Marcos buying more shoes refers to the controversial former first lady of the Philippines, who famously owned a vast collection of shoes. The next verse references bored housewives rearranging their pottery while dreaming of winning the lottery. The final verse exposes the hypocrisy of those who claim to be devout but refuse to help others: a man who "swore that Jesus saves" is asked for a loan but does not help, emphasizing his self-serving nature.
The chorus is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the message that those who are too consumed with their appearance and possessions are missing out on true connection and meaning in life. The final line, "you're just spray on dirt," suggests that this obsession ultimately leaves one empty and unfulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a girl I knew the other day
Encountered someone known before
I said hello, she looked the other way
Acknowledgment ignored and evaded
Oh Oh Oh you must need a hairspray
Mocking the superficiality and vanity of the person
OhOhOh you're so set in your ways
Critical of the inflexibility and conformity of the person
Shopping for fun may chase the blues away
Retail therapy can provide temporary relief from sadness
Imelda Marcos bought more shoes today
Reference to infamous Filipino First Lady known for her shoe collection
Bored housewives re-arrange the pottery
Housewives with nothing to do find ways to keep themselves busy
Hoping one day they'll win the lottery
Dreaming of a big win to escape their mundane lives
You're oh so hard
You portray yourself as tough and unyielding
You're oh so cool
You present yourself as hip and fashionable
You're oh so smart
You come across as intelligent and knowledgeable
You're just a spray on fool
You are a phony who covers up their true self with superficiality
I met a man who swore that Jesus Saves
Came across a religious person who firmly believes in salvation
I asked him for a loan 'til Judgement Day
Humorous request for a loan until the end of the world
With your spray on suit and your spray on hair
Person dresses and grooms themselves in a fake manner
Your spray on smile and your spray on stare
Even your expressions and demeanor are fake and insincere
Your spray on curls and you're spray on shirt
Everything about you is superficial and fake
You're just spray on dirt...
Beneath the spray-on exterior, there's nothing of substance
Contributed by Lily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.