Cockney Translation

Album: Tongue in Cheek (1984)
Charted: 71
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Songfacts®:

  • Smiley Culture appeared on the British music scene as reggae's answer to the Cheeky Chappie, but unlike Max Miller who relied on innuendo with ditties like "The Hiking Song," Smiley kept it clean. In September 2010, he told the Guardian: "With 'Cockney Translation' I was a black man talking cockney. I integrated cultures even though I didn't understand it at the time. I was invited to meet the Queen, who said she listened to my records in the palace."

    His debut single, which he (real name: David Emmanuel) wrote himself, was a tongue-in-cheek guide to the language immortalized by Chas & Dave with songs like "Rabbit." It was released in both 7-inch and 12-inch formats on Fashion Records, and also as a 12-inch on Polydor. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

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