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Awarded for their debut album 'The Specials'.

Mercury Prize

BRIT Award

Recognized for their lasting influence and comeback.

MOJO Honours

Awarded for their significant contribution to music.

Q Awards

The Specials are a pioneering English ska band formed in Coventry in 1978. Emerging from the punk and new wave scenes, they became synonymous with the 2 Tone movement, a fusion of ska, punk rock, and reggae. Their music often tackled social and political issues of the time, bringing a fresh and urgent sound to the UK charts.

Key albums include their self-titled debut "The Specials" (1979), "More Specials" (1980), and "Encore" (2019), which saw a return to critical acclaim and commercial success. Iconic singles such as "Ghost Town," "A Message to You Rudy," and "Too Much Too Young" cemented their status as a major force in British music. "Ghost Town," a haunting commentary on urban decay and social unrest, reached number one in the UK in 1981.

The band's initial lineup featured notable musicians like Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, and Neville Staple. Throughout their history, The Specials have undergone various lineup changes but have consistently maintained their distinctive sound and lyrical depth. Their influence extends to numerous bands and artists across various genres.

The Specials have achieved significant milestones, including winning a Brit Award for their contributions to music. Their energetic live performances and their ability to blend infectious rhythms with poignant lyrics have made them a beloved and enduring act.

The Specials are an influential English ska band formed in Coventry in 1978, known for spearheading the 2 Tone movement. Their music fuses ska, punk, and reggae, often addressing social and political themes. Key works include albums like "The Specials" and "More Specials," and hit singles such as "Ghost Town" and "A Message to You Rudy." They have achieved critical and commercial success, influencing many artists and remaining a significant force in British music.

The HD Remaster of the Official Music Video for Nelson Mandela, performed by The Specials.

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Lyrics:
Free Nelson Mandela
Free, free, free, free, free Nelson Mandela
Free Nelson Mandela
21 years in captivity
Shoes too small to fit his feet
His body abused but his mind is still free
Are you so blind that you cannot see? I saidÃ¢?Â¦
Free Nelson Mandela, I'm begging you
Free Nelson Mandela
Visited the causes at the AMC
Only one man in a large army
Are you so blind that you cannot see?
Are you so deaf that you cannot hear his plea?
Free Nelson Mandela, I'm begging you
Free Nelson Mandela
21 tears in captivity
Are you so blind that you cannot see?
Are you so deaf that you cannot hear?
Are you so dumb that you cannot speak? I saidÃ¢?Â¦
Free Nelson Mandela, I'm begging you
Free Nelson Mandela
Free Nelson Mandela, begging you, begging you please
Free Nelson Mandela, you got to, you got to, you got to free, you got to free, you got to free
Free Nelson Mandela
Free Nelson Mandela
Free
Free (I'm telling you, telling you, telling you)
Free (You've got to free, yeah, you've got to free)
Free (Yeah, you've got to free, yeah, you've got to free)
Free (Nelson Mandela)
Free
Free (I'm telling you, telling you, telling you)
Free (Free, yeah, you've got to free him now)
Free (You've got to free him now, you've got to free him)
Free (I'm telling you, telling you, telling you)
Free (You've got to free, yeah, yeah)
Free (You've got to free, yeah, yeah)
Free (I'm telling you, telling you, telling you)
Free (Begging you, begging you please)
Free (I'm telling you, you've got to free, yeah
Free (you've got to free)

#ChrysalisRecords

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The Specials - Nelson Mandela (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster]

You are watching the official remastered HD video for of ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials.  A timeless classic, which originally reached the UK number on in June 1981.  This video was directed by acclaimed designer Barny Bubbles with the band driving around the City and East of London in a 1961 Vauxhall Cresta. The video was remastered by Nacho
 
 
Pre-order the 40th Anniversary Half-Speed Master of ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials –
https://thespecials.lnk.to/GhostTown40th
 
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Lyrics:

This town (town) is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
Too much fighting on the dance floor
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
We danced and sang as the music played in any boomtown
This town (town) is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town

The Specials - Ghost Town [Official HD Remastered Video]

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Lyrics:
You've done too much,
Much too young
Now you're married with a kid
When you could be having fun with me
Oh no, no gimme no more pickni
You've done too much,
Much too young
Now you're married with a son
When you should be having fun with me
We don't want, we don't want
We don't want no more pickni
Ain't he cute?
No he ain't
He's just another burden
On the welfare state
You've done too much,
Much too young
Now you're married with a kid
When you could be having fun with me
No gimme, no gimme,
No gimme no more pickni
Call me immature
Call me a poser
I'd love to spread manure in your bed of roses
Don't want to be rich
Don't want to be famous
But I'd really hate to have the same name as you
(You silly moo)
You've done too much,
Much too young
Now you're married with a kid
When you could be having fun with me
Gi we de birth control, we no want no pickni
You've done too much,
Much too young
Now you're chained to the cooker
Making currant buns for tea
Oh no, no gimme no more pickni
Ain't you heard of the starving millions
Ain't you heard of contraception
Do you really a program of sterilization
Take control of the population boom
It's in your living room
Keep a generation gap
Try wearing a cap!

#TheSpecials #ChrysalisRecords

The Specials - Too Much Too Young (Live) [HD Remaster]

Dance Craze

The Specials: Live at the Lyceum

The Specials: 30th Anniversary Tour

The Old Grey Whistle Test

Top of the Pops

Saturday Night Live

Something Else

Tiswas

Cheggers Plays Pop

The Tube

Oxford Road Show

Later... with Jools Holland

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Late Show with David Letterman

The Graham Norton Show

The Late Late Show with James Corden

The 2-Tone Story

Rock Family Trees: The Coventry Ska Scene

The Specials: Ghost Town - 2-Tone Britain

The 80s with Dominic Sandbrook

Gangsters

A Message to You, Rudy

Too Much Too Young

Rat Race

Stereotype

Do Nothing

Ghost Town

Free Nelson Mandela

What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend

Vote for Me

10 Guys

B.L.M.

Terry Hall

Jerry Dammers

Dick Cuthell

John Bradbury

Rico Rodriguez

Neville Staple

Steve Cradock

Lynval Golding

Horace Panter

Kenrick Rowe

Gary Powell

Roddy Byers

Mark Adams

Adam Birch

Jonathan Read

Charlie 'H' Bembridge

Nikolaj Torp Larsen

Silverton Hutchinson

The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1978. They are known for their socially conscious lyrics and influential music.

thespecials.com

2-tone.info

Wikipedia

IMDb

The Specials

A cover of Dandy Livingstone's 1967 ska hit, this version became one of The Specials' signature songs, known for its smooth, instantly recognizable horn intro.

A commentary on societal apathy and the feeling of being lost, with a driving rhythm and urgent vocals.

Blank Expression

A more upbeat and defiant track that showcases the band's youthful energy and rebellious spirit.

Can't Stand Still

A moody and intense track that captures the gritty urban environment and the anxieties associated with it.

Concrete Jungle

A reflective track with a more melancholic tone, exploring themes of relationship struggles and unspoken difficulties.

Doesn't Make It Alright

A biting commentary on the music industry and the band's early experiences, this track features a distinctive, menacing groove.

A cover of a lesser-known ska track, given The Specials' distinctive treatment and energy.

Longshot Kick The Bucket

A vibrant cover of Toots and the Maytals' classic, injected with The Specials' signature ska energy.

Monkey Man

A cover of Toots and the Maytals' reggae classic, delivered with a driving ska beat and assertive vocals.

Pressure Drop

A more melodic and reflective song, often played as an encore, known for its poignant lyrics.

You're Wondering Now

A more laid-back, but still rhythmically compelling track, it showcases the band's ability to blend ska with other influences.

A more experimental and atmospheric track from 'More Specials,' featuring distinctive vocalizations and instrumentation.

Holiday Intensify

A more experimental and laid-back track from the 'More Specials' album, featuring a distinctive vocal style.

It's Really Been A Day

A song that directly confronts racism, delivered with the band's signature blend of urgency and melody.

Racist Friend

A high-energy track with a powerful brass section, critiquing the materialistic and competitive nature of society.

A sharp, observational song dissecting societal assumptions and prejudices, delivered with the band's characteristic wit.

Sterotypes (Part 1)

A live recording of the anti-unemployment anthem, capturing the raw energy of The Specials' live performances.

A stark, atmospheric track reflecting the social and economic turmoil of early 1980s Britain, featuring an iconic, haunting instrumental.

A powerful political statement and a call for the release of Nelson Mandela, this track was a significant international hit.

A cover of Roy Ayers Ubiquity's funk classic, reimagined with a ska-infused energy.

Running Away

A lively and infectious track that harks back to their ska roots, demonstrating their enduring energy.

B.I.G. (The British Invasion Group)

A standout track from their comeback album, showcasing a mature and refined sound.

Man Without A Clue

A politically charged track from their 2019 album, critiquing the political landscape.

Vote For Me

A reinterpretations of classic protest songs, this track offers a modern take on a timeless theme.

10 Commandments

A powerful and politically charged song from their latest album, reflecting on the devastating impact of conflict.

The Specials

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