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The Beat — Best Friend
Album: What is Beat
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1126








Released: 1983
Length: 2:51
Plays (last 30 days): 2
i just found out the name of your best friend,
you been talkin' about yourself again,
and no one seems to share your views.
why doesn't everybody listen to you kid?
how come you never really seem to get through, is it you?
talk about yourself again, you.
talk about yourself,
always you, you, you.
talk about yourself again.

she's on a holiday,
she's got her summer frock on.
suck on an ice cream,
it's meltin' in the hot sun.
first date's made you pray for more.
i wanted you, wanted.
everybody knows the score,
i wanted you, wanted.
what are we pretendin' for?
let's talk about ourselves on the floor.
let's talk about yourselves, nothing more i promise.
talk about ourselves again.

i just found out the name of your best friend.
talk, talk, talk about yourself again.
yes i just found out the name of your best friend.

i just found out the name of your best friend,
you been talkin' about yourself again,
and no one seems to share your views.
why doesn't anybody listen to you kid?
how come you never really seem to get through, is it you?
talk about yourself again, you.
talk about yourself,
always you, you, you.
talk about yourself again.
again, again, again, again.

i just found out the name of your best friend,
just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend,
just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend,
just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend.
Comments (107)add comment
 pinto wrote:


Byrds on meth, maybe



LOL! Too funny!
Here's one that really holds up
 toker wrote:

Man...These guys sound like the Byrds !!



Byrds on meth, maybe
 nut222 wrote:

Great band, not sure why they renamed themselves - used just to be The Beat - maybe some legal issue?


No renaming, and only applicable in the USA.  

Your guess is correct:  The different name was strictly related to the existence of a band in the U.S. with rights to the name The Beat at the time; which is no longer the case.  In recent (-ish) years there have been U.S. releases using the original name; but those releases usually also include the altered name for better recognition here in the states.
These guys were underrated.  They had pop hits, but/and they were a brilliant band.
 tinypriest wrote:
Impossible to stay still when the English Beat are played. 

What he said. Good to know it's not just me!

Impossible to stay still when the English Beat are played. What a lot of fun they were. Always appreciated those great insightful lyrics from Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger about the times of the day, and about the behaviours they observed, this song being a great example of that. They went on to become General Public and then Fine Young Cannibals and kept the same hooky musicality and energy in those incarnations. 
The English Beat used to play in San Jose every year--always a fun show.  I remember hearing this song from my house on the way to the park...RIP Rankin Roger.  And now there's COVID.  Times have changed.
 craigonthelake wrote:
I discovered the English Beat (known as simply "The Beat" in England) in 1980- first time in England, missing high school graduation but making new friends and dancing the night away in English pubs. Lots of good memories of this song. 

 

 jrozzelle wrote:
My favorite concert memory:  The Beat at the UNC Chapel Hill Memorial Auditorium, 1983.  REM opened.  
 

Saw the English Beat in April 1983 in New Haven.  Their warm up band was REM (who, in the infinite wisdom of a 16 year old, I  thought was worthless).  It was a spectacular concert, and I've been a fan of the band and Ska ever since.  Currently loving the album Encore, by The Specials - Bill, play more of that here perhaps?  
My favorite concert memory:  The Beat at the UNC Chapel Hill Memorial Auditorium, 1983.  REM opened.  
 toker wrote:
Man...These guys sound like the Byrds !!
 

If the Byrds spent years in the Caribbean learning ska.
 haresfur wrote:

Break dancing? Tired of this? Maybe you should have tried just dancing up to the massive speakers and hugging them like the spandex and chain-clad beauty in the ex-Disco club I heard this at at the time, or danced with yourself in the mirrored wall like the equally spandex-clad and beautiful black women in the same club, to develop an appreciation. So put this on, do the MAMIL* and try again.

*Middle Aged Man In Lycra 

 
And as I have said before, "The Domino Club. It wasn't always a good time, but it was always an interesting time."
 kcar wrote:
That, sir, is the understatement of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
 
I hope you be having a groovy time right this minute, kcar...  everybody in my hotel room thinks this song is sooo good for the ears...

ah, the memories. My 80s
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I got this album when it came out... played it for a few days until I got tired of it, and took it off the turntable and propped it (in the sleeve) against the speaker you know how you do sometimes...

Came home and my roommate was trying to teach himself how to break dance and a foot flew around and Chuck Norris'd the record right in half. Being a decent guy, he immediately went out and bought a replacement copy. But I was still tired of it so I just put it unopened on the shelf (this time) and never listened to it. Years later I sold it back to the store for about a break-even price. 

Break dancing. No shit.

 
Cool story Bro!
Great band, not sure why they renamed themselves - used just to be The Beat - maybe some legal issue?

Prefer their "Twist and Crawl" and "Mirror in the Bathroom" tracks - very energetic!
 hbs47 wrote:
Men at Work tribute band?

 
You're joking right?
Bad band, never liked them anyway.
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I got this album when it came out... played it for a few days until I got tired of it, and took it off the turntable and propped it (in the sleeve) against the speaker you know how you do sometimes...

Came home and my roommate was trying to teach himself how to break dance and a foot flew around and Chuck Norris'd the record right in half. Being a decent guy, he immediately went out and bought a replacement copy. But I was still tired of it so I just put it unopened on the shelf (this time) and never listened to it. Years later I sold it back to the store for about a break-even price. 

Break dancing. No shit.

 
Break dancing? Tired of this? Maybe you should have tried just dancing up to the massive speakers and hugging them like the spandex and chain-clad beauty in the ex-Disco club I heard this at at the time, or danced with yourself in the mirrored wall like the equally spandex-clad and beautiful black women in the same club, to develop an appreciation. So put this on, do the MAMIL* and try again.

*Middle Aged Man In Lycra 
 Lazarus wrote:

This song is good for the ears...
 

 
That, sir, is the understatement of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
 hbs47 wrote:
Men at Work tribute band?
 
Men at Work WISHES.
 Limpopoking wrote:

Could just be the other way round methinks

 
Men without Brains have NOTHING in Common with The English Beat.
Never heard this before, but when it started I said to myself " '83?".    Ah, still got it.
ANOTHER REASON I SPENT THE 80S ON JAZZ...........
 hbs47 wrote:
Men at Work tribute band?

 
Could just be the other way round methinks
I got this album when it came out... played it for a few days until I got tired of it, and took it off the turntable and propped it (in the sleeve) against the speaker you know how you do sometimes...

Came home and my roommate was trying to teach himself how to break dance and a foot flew around and Chuck Norris'd the record right in half. Being a decent guy, he immediately went out and bought a replacement copy. But I was still tired of it so I just put it unopened on the shelf (this time) and never listened to it. Years later I sold it back to the store for about a break-even price. 

Break dancing. No shit.
Just plain happy and fab to hear this again
So good to hear this again.

This song is good for the ears...
 
Thanks Bill!! You're bringing the fun today.
My 1st PSD on RP. OMG.
 gemtag wrote:
English Beat smokes The Specials.
 
RFO!  (Right F'n On!) {#Bananajam}{#Bananasplit}
 LowPhreak wrote:


...and then some Psychedelic Furs, yeah?
 
Oh wow! yes please.
 oldsaxon wrote:

no. no, really....how?
 
That McGuinn guitar thing, methinks.
 dctrpunda wrote:
You know, your'e right. I'm mean it's the English Beat, but I do see the nod to the Byrds here.
 
no. no, really....how?
rude boy, yeah!!!!! luvit
Men at Work tribute band?
English Beat smokes The Specials.

This song also appeared on "Just Can't Stop It"


The 80's...............Love it

What is Beat
Masterpiece of an album!{#Notworthy}
Not my cuppa.
ska lives! got any toasters?
 fdobbs wrote:
 
Let's just move straight into the Specials after this one. :)
 

...and then some Psychedelic Furs, yeah?
Teeny bopper music.
Always have loved this group.
Saw both the Beat and the Cannibals back in the day. How could you NOT dance, there were no seats in the place!

Wow, I am remembering the women I met at those shows............. 
best of the last three 80s songs
Saw Dave and the latest incarnation of the Beat earlier this year. Rocked the house. Dancin' in the aisles.{#Dancingbanana}
Saw General Public a few years ago opening for Hootie & the Blow fish totally by accident (they weren't mentioned on my free ticket). GP drank H&TBF's milkshake! Slurp!  They even came back to back Darius on an encore...the Blowfish couldn't keep up.

Ska!
whoa, what's going on here?!?!
Yeah because of legal reasons they had to be called "The English Beat" in the States instead of just The Beat. Whatever... they were amazing
Great Friday music. The Beat always make me smile. Saw them back when and saw Dave W. & co. recently. They always rock the house. Let's just move straight into the Specials after this one. :)
coloradojohn wrote:
Yeah! They're just called The Beat
They were always called The Beat everywhere in the World. The prefix "English" seems to be used only in the US to distinguish them from another band in the US < who are no longer called The Beat any more>
Wilmshurst wrote:
Has RP ever played Fishbone? That would be SWEET!
FISH...BONE!! c.
sharkartist wrote:
Got to see Dave Wakeling and his latest incarnation of the English Beat, just a couple weeks ago. This one really got the crowd dancing. What a great band!
Yeah! They're just called The Beat, and they rocked us out pretty hard, turned our world into a ska jump and shake fest, down in Daikanyama just a few months back... Mirror In The Bathroom and this song were the clear faves of the night! They can still heat up a place in no time!
Gotta rewind that one for another listen... I wasn't finished chair dancing yet.
toker wrote:
Man...These guys sound like the Byrds !!
You know, your'e right. I'm mean it's the English Beat, but I do see the nod to the Byrds here.
bobrk wrote:
Ah, college. That was fun.
Yes, yes it was. Sigh
moomatz wrote:
We need some Fishbone after this!
Has RP ever played Fishbone? That would be SWEET!
Every time I hear this, I think of my sister-in-law. It's not a good thought.
toker wrote:
Man...These guys sound like the Byrds !!
What!?! Been smoking something?
Man...These guys sound like the Byrds !!
bobrk wrote:
Ah, college. That was fun.
Right on! How could anyone not like this tune? Yes it's 80's, but it makes your feet move
Ah, college. That was fun.
Got to see Dave Wakeling and his latest incarnation of the English Beat, just a couple weeks ago. This one really got the crowd dancing. What a great band!
Geecheeboy wrote:
Reminds ME of "we got the beat" by, hmmm who, Go-Go's?
Yeah, maybe. Better yet, this reminds me of a group from the 80's called "The English Beat." Loved those guys. ;)
Can't believe I've never heard this song before. I LOVE it!!!
Reminds ME of "we got the beat" by, hmmm who, Go-Go's?
catbirdman wrote:
If the song didn't make me smile, these little guys would sure do it.
THE ENGLISH BEAT - Best Friend I just found out the name of your best friend, You been talkin' about yourself again, And no one seems to share your views. Why doesn't everybody listen to you kid? How come you never really seem to get through, is it you? Talk about yourself again, you. Talk about yourself, Always you, you, you. Talk about yourself again. She's on a holiday, She's got her summer frock on. Suck on an ice cream, It's meltin' in the hot sun. First date's made you pray for more. I wanted you, wanted. Everybody knows the score, I wanted you, wanted. What are we pretendin' for? Let's talk about ourselves on the floor. Let's talk about yourselves, nothing more I promise. Talk about ourselves again. I just found out the name of your best friend. Talk, talk, talk about yourself again. Yes I just found out the name of your best friend. I just found out the name of your best friend, You been talkin' about yourself again, And no one seems to share your views. Why doesn't anybody listen to you kid? How come you never really seem to get through, is it you? Talk about yourself again, you. Talk about yourself, Always you, you, you. Talk about yourself again. Again, again, again, again. i just found out the name of your best friend, (fade out)
I am working LATE in the office today. It just became OK again! !
Art_Carnage wrote:
Hummm.... That riff sounds awfully familiar. Playing with the Queen of Hearts. Knowing it ain't really smart... Juice, I think you've got a lawsuit here.
Juice? Juice Newton?? "Queen of Heart's" was written - and originally recorded - by Dave Edmonds. ...kid's today...
Hummm.... That riff sounds awfully familiar. Playing with the Queen of Hearts. Knowing it ain't really smart... Juice, I think you've got a lawsuit here.
The English Beat are one of the most underrated groups of all time. Excellent song as usual from the Beat.
phineas wrote:
The previous Talk Talk cut and now this --- Mugro, we prove that good taste in music transcends political differences.
I feel the same way when reviewing CanuckBeaker's top-rated list.
boy how i listened to this one back in the early 80s. does feel a bit dated now though, innit?
Roverfish wrote:
I'd take 5 of these over 1 Talk Talk. Great cut.
What he said...
I'd take 5 of these over 1 Talk Talk. Great cut.
Mugro wrote:
The English Beat is so much fun! Would it be too much to ask for a ska revival???
The previous Talk Talk cut and now this --- Mugro, we prove that good taste in music transcends political differences.
The English Beat is so much fun! Would it be too much to ask for a ska revival???
We need some Fishbone after this!
SKA!!! And really good ska, too.
n4ku wrote:
I totally agree!
Gives me a serious case of happy feet
There is no bad Beat. Rock on!
"...And I feel like Jonah , in the belly of the whale!"
Yesssch!
wow, i just got WAY too excited to hear this song on RP! Long Live the Beat! (well, too late for that, but you know what I mean.)
RichardPrins wrote:
8) again...again...again
What he said.
not for me...sorry
Ska-lite-ful.
Great stuff!
Irritating. :?
8) again...again...again
AliGator wrote:
Thanks Ali. This one is one of my uploads. Glad I could put a little air under your feet today.
like Fresca lite...then it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. but I never like diet drinks, so what do I know.
Three minutes and two seconds of absolutely perfect pop....with a refreshing hint of ska.