Madness movie - Take It or Leave It
May 4th 2006 10:15
I’m going to continue on a Madness tangent today having gotten my frustration about imitators out of my system.
On a quick note, did you know that Madness were the most successful UK band of the eighties, having the most songs in the UK charts? Also, they have appeared on Top of the Pops more times than all but a handful of artists.
Moving on to Take It Or Leave It. I have been a Madness fan for some time now, but only saw the Madness movie, Take It Or Leave early this year. The film, starring Madness themselves, documents the bands beginnings and is an interesting look at London in the late seventies/early eighties. Though some aspects are fictionalised, the members who came and went very early on and the events that took place are pretty true to form.
If you are into ska and reggae, the locations, clothes and soundtrack are outstanding. Even the acting isn’t so bad and the story is interesting enough. To see seven guys going about in sixties suits, Harrington jackets, Levis and Doc Martens with a sense of humour and all to the ska and reggae sounds of Madness is fantastic for a fan.
If you aren’t a musician it is great to see what terrible beginnings a top band can sprout from and the difficulties in getting the entire band together to rehearse at the same time. The film ends while they guys are still young and just beginning to play some really big shows, which is a good thing because the film gives an overall feeling of enthusiasm towards being in a band, before the hardships of touring and the like take their toll.
Great film for any ska and reggae fan, but because it is professionally shot and directed it will be enjoyed by a broader audience also.
On a quick note, did you know that Madness were the most successful UK band of the eighties, having the most songs in the UK charts? Also, they have appeared on Top of the Pops more times than all but a handful of artists.
If you are into ska and reggae, the locations, clothes and soundtrack are outstanding. Even the acting isn’t so bad and the story is interesting enough. To see seven guys going about in sixties suits, Harrington jackets, Levis and Doc Martens with a sense of humour and all to the ska and reggae sounds of Madness is fantastic for a fan.
If you aren’t a musician it is great to see what terrible beginnings a top band can sprout from and the difficulties in getting the entire band together to rehearse at the same time. The film ends while they guys are still young and just beginning to play some really big shows, which is a good thing because the film gives an overall feeling of enthusiasm towards being in a band, before the hardships of touring and the like take their toll.
Great film for any ska and reggae fan, but because it is professionally shot and directed it will be enjoyed by a broader audience also.
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