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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!" is a powerful commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of alienation, anxiety, and the search for identity. The opening lines, "I'm like a fish outta water, 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," create a vivid image of a person who feels out of place and powerless in the world. The metaphor of the fish out of water and the lamb to the slaughter emphasize the singer's vulnerability and lack of control over their circumstances.
The second verse introduces the idea of a "new kind of powder" that the singer has been using. This could be a reference to drugs or other substances that provide a temporary escape from the pain and anxiety of the world. But even with this escape, the singer is still aware of the danger that surrounds them: "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." The idea of "slipping through their fingers" suggests a sense of freedom and agency, but also a constant need to stay one step ahead of those who would seek to control or harm the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm like a fish outta water
I feel uncomfortable and out of place
I don't like it
I don't enjoy feeling this way
I don't like it too
I really don't like feeling this way
A lamb to the slaughter
I feel like I'm helpless and vulnerable to harm
I can't fight it
I don't have the power to resist this feeling
I can't fight it too
I'm completely powerless over this feeling
I got chips on me shoulders
I have a lot of resentment and anger bottled up inside
I can't hide it
I can't conceal my negative feelings
I can't hide it too
It's really hard for me to keep my feelings to myself
And then me eyes start to smoulder
I feel like I'm about to lose my temper
I need some water
I need to calm down and cool off
Pour water on you
I need another person's help to calm down
Neurotica, neurotica
This is what I feel like inside
I got a new kind of powder
I have a new source of something dangerous or addictive
Full of badness
The new substance is harmful or toxic
Full of madness too
The new substance has an effect on my state of mind
When it gets in me structure
When I ingest the substance
I get excited
I experience a rush or high
I get excited too
I really enjoy the feeling
But when I bust out of Eenya
When I escape from my current situation
Dem nah go catch me
The people who want to control me won't be able to
Dem nah go catch me too
I'll be completely free from their grasp
I'm gonna slip through their fingers
I'll be able to evade their control
I'm gonna dazzle them
I'll be able to impress and surprise them
I'm gonna dazzle them too
I'm really looking forward to this happening
Whoi yoi yoi
Vocalization to express excitement, anticipation, or enthusiasm
Neurotica, neurotica
This feeling and state of mind is still present
I'm cool pon your corner
I'm present and in control of my situation
Nah badder watch me
Others don't need to worry about me
Nah badder watch me too
I'm confident in my ability to handle things
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.