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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
Neurotica
The Selecter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't like it
I don′t like it too
A lamb to the slaughter
I can't fight it
I can't fight it too
I got chips on me shoulders
I can′t hide it
And then me eyes start to smoulder
I need some water
Pour water on you
Neurotica, neurotica
I got a new kind of powder
Full of badness
Full of madness too
When it gets in me structure
I get excited
I get excited too
But when I bust out of Eenya
Dem nah go catch me
Dem nah go catch me too
I'm gonna slip through their fingers
I′m gonna dazzle them
I'm gonna dazzle them too
Whoi yoi yoi
Whoi yoi yoi
Neurotica, neurotica
I′m cool pon your corner
Nah badder watch me
Nah badder watch me too
Got chips pon me shoulders
I can't hide it
I can′t hide it too
I got a new kind of powder
Full of badness
Full of madness too
And when it gets in me structure
I get excited
I get excited too
Neurotica, neurotica
The Selecter's song "Neurotica" explores the feelings of being out of place, helpless, and angry. The singer describes themselves as a fish out of water, a lamb to the slaughter, and having chips on their shoulders, conveying a sense of powerlessness and feeling overwhelmed by their surroundings. This emotion is compounded by a new kind of powder they have acquired that fills them with a sense of excitement and madness, which they can't resist. The chorus, "Neurotica, neurotica," serves almost as a release for everything the singer is feeling, and it's repeated throughout the song to drive home that sense of frenzy.
Despite feeling trapped and like they're constantly being hunted, the singer is determined to fight back. They vow to escape and even to "dazzle" those who are after them. This shows a resilience and determination even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Overall, the song seems to be about the struggle of feeling out of place, of wanting to escape but feeling trapped, and of finding a way to fight back against those who would hold you down.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm like a fish outta water
I feel out of place and uncomfortable.
I don't like it
I am unhappy and discontented.
I don't like it too
My feelings are intensified and prolonged.
A lamb to the slaughter
I am vulnerable and at the mercy of others.
I can't fight it
I am unable to resist and defend myself.
I can't fight it too
My lack of strength and power is causing me great distress.
I got chips on me shoulders
I am resentful and have a chip on my shoulder.
I can't hide it
My feelings of anger and hostility are visible to others.
I can't hide it too
I am unable to conceal my negative emotions and attitude.
And then me eyes start to smoulder
I become angry and incensed.
I need some water
I need to calm down and alleviate my anger.
Neurotica, neurotica
A call to acknowledge and address my anxiety and stress.
I got a new kind of powder
I have found a new way to cope with my problems.
Full of badness
My coping mechanism is unhealthy and dangerous.
Full of madness too
My actions may have irrational and harmful consequences.
When it gets in me structure
When I use this coping mechanism, it affects me deeply.
I get excited
Using this coping mechanism gives me a sense of euphoria and thrill.
I get excited too
My use of this coping mechanism is escalating.
But when I bust out of Eenya
I plan to break free from the hold of this coping mechanism.
Dem nah go catch me
Others will not stop me from pursuing my goals.
Dem nah go catch me too
My determination to overcome my problems is unwavering.
I'm gonna slip through their fingers
I will evade anyone or anything that tries to stop me.
I'm gonna dazzle them
I will succeed and impress others with my strength and resiliency.
Whoi yoi yoi
An exclamation of excitement and anticipation.
I'm cool pon your corner
I am confident and in control of my situation.
Nah badder watch me
No one can bring me down or hold me back.
Got chips pon me shoulders
I am still holding onto my grudges and anger.
I can't hide it
My negative emotions continue to affect my behavior.
I got a new kind of powder
I am still using my unhealthy coping mechanism.
And when it gets in me structure
My use of this coping mechanism is continuing.
Neurotica, neurotica
My anxiety and stress are ongoing and persistent.
Writer(s): Nick Welsh, Pauline Black
Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.