Uptown

Album: Beautiful Future (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Bassist Mani told the Sunday Times that this began life as a fairly standard disco song but gradually took on its unique character - "Like Jah Wobble playing with Chic."
  • This song, along with several others on the album, was produced in Stockholm by Bjorn Yttling of the Swedish trio Peter, Bjorn & John. When recording these tracks they used some of the same instruments as Scandinavia's greatest pop exports ABBA. Frontman Bobby Gillespie enthused to The Sun July 11, 2008: "It's a great studio and also kinda cool. Abba recorded Knowing Me, Knowing You and Dancing Queen there. I love all that pop mythology. On 'Uptown' and 'The Glory Of Love,' our drummer Darrin Mooney played the marimba used on 'S.O.S.' and 'Money Money Money.' I thought it was a good omen. At one point, Bjorn pointed at the grand piano and laughed and laughed before saying 'Dancing Queen.' He cracked up and so did we."
  • Bobby Gillespie told Q magazine October 2008 that the song "is about working class culture. What have you got? F--k all, except going out dancing at the weekend, looking good. Then you're back to work and the drudgery on Monday."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.