* Feargal Sharkey (lead vocals),
* John O'Neill (guitar),
* Damian O'Neill (guitar, keyboards and vocals),
* Michael Bradley (bass and vocals), and
* Billy Doherty (drums).
John O'Neill was the original main song writer, with his brother Damian and Mickey Bradley writing in various solo & combined variations for most of the remainder.
Sharkey's power pop tenor was distinctive, and the band regarded a tight ensemble. By 1977 they were performing their own three-chord pop punk material influenced by Nuggets-type material and Ramones, and in 1978 released their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on Good Vibrations. It became a hit with support from DJ John Peel, who considered that EP's title song (Teenage Kicks) his all-time favourite. The song has been covered by many including boyband Busted (at the 2003 Brit Awards), American group The Raconteurs, Swedish band [aritst]Sahara Hotnights and French band Nouvelle Vague.
The original band released four studio albums:
* The Undertones (1979)
* Hypnotised (1980)
* Positive Touch (1981)
* The Sin Of Pride (1983).
Falling sales linked to their changing musical direction and tensions within the band, leading to their split in 1983. A compilation album titled All Wrapped Up featured a woman dressed in lunch meats wrapped in clear plastic on the (non band approved) cover. Several other compilations including the superb BBC sessions CD Listening In (named after a song on their first album) (2004) exist.
The O'Neill brothers went on to form That Petrol Emotion. The Undertones reconvened in 1999, initially to play a few shows in their hometown of Londonderry, replacing singer Feargal Sharkey with a similarly warbling new recruit, Paul McLoone. Since this time, the band has continued to play a small number of gigs each year in various places around the world.
The band have also released two further studio albums:
* Get What You Need (2003)
* Dig Yourself Deep (2007)
NOTE: There is another band with this name - The Undertones, a subset of the University of Notre Dame Glee Club who sing a capella arrangements of popular songs. For more information on these guys, check out www.nd.edu/~utones.
Wednesday Week
The Undertones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll get no sleep tonight
With a constant vision she still can see
She was the girl for me
Wednesday week - she loved me
Wednesday week - never happened at all
She's gone to school with her best friend
She only does the things she likes to do
Now she wants something new
Wednesday week ...
Here she comes ...
Wednesday week
The Undertones' song "Wednesday Week" captures the emotional turmoil of a young man who is struggling to move on after a loved one leaves him. He is haunted by the constant vision of the girl who was perfect for him, and he can't seem to escape his desire for her. The song's chorus echoes the hope and heartbreak of unfulfilled promises, as the singer remembers the girl's declaration of love on "Wednesday Week," only to have it "never happen at all." He is left with the bittersweet memories of what might have been, still dreaming of his lost love while trying to make sense of his own feelings.
The lyrics of "Wednesday Week" convey a relatable sense of longing and heartache, particularly to young listeners who have experienced unrequited love. The song's upbeat, jangling guitar chords and driving drums give the impression of a frenzied, restless energy, mirroring the singer's own turmoil. The ultimately unresolved tension of the song's lyrics and music leave an impression that lingers, capturing the lasting power of lost love and the pain that can come with moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
Here she comes to say good night
The singer's love interest is approaching to bid him good night.
I'll get no sleep tonight
The singer is too excited after seeing his love interest, making it difficult for him to sleep.
With a constant vision she still can see
Despite not being physically present, the image of his love interest constantly lingers in the singer's mind.
She was the girl for me
The singer believes that his love interest is the perfect match for him.
Wednesday week - she loved me
A specific Wednesday, one week away from the present, the singer's love interest expressed her love for him.
Wednesday week - never happened at all
However, that specific Wednesday never came, and the confession of love never occurred.
There she goes I want to see her again
As his love interest walks away, the singer expresses his desire to see her once more.
She's gone to school with her best friend
The singer's love interest is going to school with her closest companion.
She only does the things she likes to do
His love interest only participates in activities that bring her joy and happiness.
Now she wants something new
Although content with her current activities, his love interest is eager for something different and exciting.
Wednesday week ...
Reiterating the fact that the events of that particular Wednesday never transpired.
Here she comes ...
The singer's love interest is once again approaching him as he reminisces about their past interactions.
Wednesday week
The specific Wednesday that held a significant event that never came to fruition.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@staffsyeoman
Little bits of perfection their songs; grab you, hold you, carry you and just as quickly, gone, says what it wants to say without outstaying their welcome. Genius.
@alanmangan424
Perfectly put
@mmff5242
@@alanmangan424 agreed
@leeholmes26
Fergal is class whatever he turned his hand to. Like weller and terry hall. Simply talented guys. Thank god im not a teenager growing up today. Late 70s early eighties, yes please!
@michaelmurphy2330
This is my own personal favourite Undertones song! utterly beautiful, and it has the best ever middle eight section ever put on plastic!!!
@MrJeepsters
C' est aussi ma favorite.
@alanmangan424
Utterly brilliant
@dancemuzak2714
Me too. I really like a lot of their songs but this one has something extra and still sounds brilliant in 2024!
@jeannemariagriffin5820
One of the most likeable bands to emerge on the rock scene. Their songs were infectious and always a joy to listen to
@howardyoung1000
My teenage years were 70's to early 80's so I've lived and breathed some of the finest music ever !!!!! LUCKY ME - and my memory is still relatively intact. And this is simply one of the most perfectly crafted pop/punk ? songs I've ever heard- still sends a shiver down my spine. A song to sing along to day in and day out !!! Thank you gentlemen