SotD80 - Souxsie and The Banshees

Inspired by our series of articles looking back at music released 30 years ago, Jimmy Hunter takes a step further back in time to give us a Song of the Day 1980. This week, he runs a Happy House...



There’s nothing I can write about this week’s choice that hasn’t been written before [Helpful!! – Ed] so I won’t bother. Rather, I’ll let my choice do the talking for itself, it’s more than capable.



Happy House by Siouxsie and The Banshees. There. I’ve said it. It’s the follow-up to Mittageisen and I’m sure I had interaction with the lovely Albie people about this, perhaps during #NotBaconBits January this year. Who knows? [We do, it's here - Ed] What I DO know is that this is a cracking record.



From the squeaky guitar and synth intro with Siouxsie’s “oooooooo oooooooo oooooooo ooooooooo” you’re hooked. This is the hook. I’m always surprised when the record starts as it never seems to belong to the intro. Just me?



One thing I love about her songs, her writing, is the relentless attack on suburbia. Sorry Ms Harry, if you’re looking for a rebel then I think Siouxsie Sioux pips you to the post.

And she remained a punk. Don’t ever, in her presence or mine, call her a goth. About 10 years ago, when asked about this in a rare interview, she responded “I’m not a fucking goth, never have been” glaring intensely at the camera. Then she laughed, as if to say “idiot!!”. I laughed too.



Suburbia. This record is a well aimed slap across the net-curtained lives of those who would wash their cars in their driveways before eating too much Sunday lunch. Not a life to which I was ever party but Happy House bubbles delightfully with sarcasm about those semi-detached lives that refused to be ruffled.



This is a great record and very reflective of its time. I’d normally find, or at least try to, an HQ video for you but I found this great clip of the band performing live in 1981. Picture quality ain’t all that but the sound is good. Enjoy …







Image - Amazon