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

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

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.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.