Madness, Madness, They Call it Madness
Magnificent, masterful, and mind blowing. What an absolutely stunning performance.
Madness are without a shadow of a doubt a jewel in the crown when you consider what the UK has given to the world musically. The Beatles, Kinks, Rolling Stones, Bowie, the Clash and the Sex Pistols, have always muscled in to command attention at the front of the pack of greats, but there’s Madness right there too. Cheekily slipping in to rub shoulders with them, and rightfully laying claim to being an iconic institution who can more than hold their own in such esteemed company.
Welcome to the House of Fun
Slip on a compilation of their hits in any company and everyone knows who they are. And they aren’t just aware of them in some sort of nebulous understanding of their existence, but instead they really know who they are.
Who can’t sing along to Baggy Trousers, or House of Fun? Who doesn’t instantly get on board with Night Boat to Cairo?
They are in the DNA of this country.
And that they can virtually fill a stadium mid week in the run up to Christmas when money and time is tight is testament to the high regard they are held in by the public. From children to pensioners the venue was a melting pot of society that were all coming together to simply enjoy themselves, and enjoy ourselves we did.
It can’t really be understated how important that is in this day and age either. In the midst of dark dividing forces seemingly intent on tearing the fabric of our society asunder there is Madness spreading their arms wide and embracing us all together before breathing life into a night of fun and laughter that we can communally enjoy.
We need that. We always need that.
It Must Be Love
We need It Must Be Love, My Girl, and everything else they can throw at us. Everyone needs to wear a fez at least once, everyone needs to dance with a stranger. We need to be swinging around a lamp post as we sing in the rain and fill the hills with the sound of music, and Madness deliver all that and more.
Let’s not beat around the bush here.
There’s a reason that this band have had decades of success tucked under their belts, and that reason is because they have always spoken to us consistently through their music, videos, and performances. They mirror our lives in their art and we feel the connection. They are us, and we are them.
You can’t really get much better than that can you?
What a magnificent bunch of marvellous, and talented, people. I doff my cap, again, as I always do in the morning after the night before of a Madness show.
The point that I’m poorly making is that these nights are more than just a band playing their songs. These nights go far beyond that. I guess if you haven’t experienced one of their shows then it would be difficult to comprehend the energy they generate, but you should get your pencil out just now and add seeing them to your bucket list of things to do before you can’t.
You will thank me when you ultimately draw a line through it.
So here’s to the next time, the time after that, and all the times that follow because as long as we have Madness then Madness have us.
All words by Alex “Mainy” Main