Surely this has to happen every home game if RVN gets the job (3 Viewers)

[nicksar]

The two West Indian lads at the start of the Video are Rexford & Trevor (Rexford in the white Fred Perry) Rex was the drum roadie for the Specials,we were really good mates (went to school together) I knew all of his family very well.
Interesting random fact, Rexford's younger brother Courtney Griffiths was a really bright kid (got a scholarship to Bablake) and became the first black QC in the UK....not bad for a Hillfiields boy.

 

---

[Legia Sky Blue]

Back on the Specials, I understand that those that were not around at the time might not get it, but for that 2 year period to have a provincial town as a hub for a music movement was very unusual and still is. By comparison the biggest band in Leicester at the time were Showaddywaddy! 2 tone was generally considered cool, and within the music industry it still gets a positive press whenever it is commented on. It is one of few connections outsiders positively associate with Coventry.

 

[Skybluecol]

Ffs!! This forum is getting as bad as Twatter lately

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I went to a Jerry Dammers concert in Brighton over the summer. The music is before my time but I personally like it and a couple of the tracks most people will have heard.

Best with all these things is not to try and force it but just go with the flow of what catches on.

 

[rob9872]

Personally I am a fan, but lots of you are missing the point. I appreciate some are younger so I don't want to come across as condescending, but it was about more than just the music.

It was a whole movement, a pushback against society and it was Coventry at the front of the pack, putting the City firmly on the map. A genre viewed even now as the Coventry scene, similar to Liverpool in the 60s or Man(d)chester in the 90s.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Jack Rudoni
Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Just need Ruud Gullit for assistant then it Rudi, Rudi Rudi do ya do ya do ya

*Edit

 

[torchomatic]

Good point. But to be fair the specials are pretty niche. The Beatles were a much bigger deal and remain a much bigger deal.

I’d imagine most people could identify far more Beatles songs than specials

Twist and Shout was a cover too.

 

[deleboshanker]

Never been a ‘cov kid’ although supported them since the age of 8 due to living in leamington. Always been a lover of good music and ‘a message to you rudy’ has been an favourite of mine ever since I can remember.

This is way before I even realised who the specials were.

A timeless classic for sure

 

[torchomatic]

Never been a ‘cov kid’ although supported them since the age of 8 due to living in leamington. Always been a lover of good music and ‘a message to you rudy’ has been an favourite of mine ever since I can remember.

This is way before I even realised who the specials were.

A timeless classic for sure

Two Tone was at its height when I was 14/15 at school. It was a tremendous time and we were equally proud of TT even if we were only in the outer orbit of Coventry and the movement. Worth pointing out that Ghost Town was recorded in Leamington though.

 

[deleboshanker]

Two Tone was at its height when I was 14/15 at school. It was a tremendous time and we were equally proud of TT even if we were only in the "orbit" of Coventry and the movement. Worth pointing out that Ghost Town was recorded in Leamington though.

I was born in 86

The sound is so distinctive which any born and bred Coventarian and supporter of the Sky Blues should be immensely proud of.

Anyone not in line with this is dead to me

 

[SBT]

Pretty disappointing we haven’t already used this song for Jack Rudoni tbh

 

[play_in_skyblue_stripes]

Back on the Specials, I understand that those that were not around at the time might not get it, but for that 2 year period to have a provincial town as a hub for a music movement was very unusual and still is. By comparison the biggest band in Leicester at the time were Showaddywaddy! 2 tone was generally considered cool, and within the music industry it still gets a positive press whenever it is commented on. It is one of few connections outsiders positively associate with Coventry.

Not a town, a City.

 

[play_in_skyblue_stripes]

Good point. But to be fair the specials are pretty niche. The Beatles were a much bigger deal and remain a much bigger deal.

I’d imagine most people could identify far more Beatles songs than specials

Who is bigger The Specials or The Beatles?

Let me come back to you after I've thought it through!

 

[Peter Billing Eyes]

There appears to be a dissimilation here between which band is more popular or recognised vs what band or song represents Coventry more closely. I would say that nationally or internationally, through time, The Specials are more recognisable than The Enemy, but no one has questioned the relevance of having WLADITT as representative of Coventry. It’s never been queried as to how appropriate Twist and Shout is as a Sky Blue anthem but people would possibly moan about having a far more pertinent Cov tune “Love and Pride” as a run out song - “Get your Boots on”? It’s fair to say that King were all CCFC supporters, far less so The Specials or The Enemy.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

Not a town, a City.

Thanks for your pedantry!

 

[blunted]

So we sing an Isley Brothers song that was covered by the Beatles and I'm all for a Dandy Livingstone song that was
covered by the Specials. Covs premier band throughout the decades that created a whole musical movement. I get some people don't like their style and that is a musical taste choice.
I saw all the major bands from that era the Clash, Jam, Pistols, Buzzcocks, Police, Stranglers and even the old timers like the Stones and Skynard. IMHO at their height, the Specials were the best live band in the country. They were awesome and it is such a shame they split instead of just going off and doing their own thing as well as coming back together.


.

 

[blunted]

There appears to be a dissimilation here between which is band is more popular or recognised vs what band or song represents Coventry more closely. I would say that nationally or internationally, through time, The Specials are more recognisable than The Enemy, but no one has questioned the relevance of having WLADITT as representative of Coventry. It’s never been queried as to how appropriate Twist and Shout is as a Sky Blue anthem but people would possibly moan about having a far more pertinent Cov tune “Love and Pride” as a run out song - “Get your Boots on”? It’s fair to say that King were all CCFC supporters, far less so The Specials or The Enemy.

Jerry actually worked at the turnstiles at Highfield Rd and as a Cov kid has/had an interest in the Sky Blues. Likewise Lynval who always asked after the score. Think Brad was interested. Never heard Roddy pass comment. Roadie was a City fan (still is) but Terry was Man U and The Road Manager is/was Man City when they were not so great. Worst of all is Chris Long from The Swinging Cats who is a Villa fan.

 

[baldy]

Granted it was a very short time but between 1979 and 1981 they were very big. They were featuring at the top of the music charts when people bought a serious amount of records. It's what a lot of people outside Coventry positively associate with us.

Even if you want to discount the music, the 2 tone movement and the anti racist message it sent out is something we should be proud originated from our town. I've never understood the need by some to denigrate them. I guess in football terms it could be argued that it follows from our history of slating homegrown players from Bobby Gould, through Andy Blair, Marcus Hall, Gary Mcsheffrey and now Josh Eccles, and that there will always be elements of bitterness to local boys done good..

People don't HAVE to like The Specials just because they're a Cov band - I think they're shit too

 

[Peter Billing Eyes]

Jerry actually worked at the turnstiles at Highfield Rd and as a Cov kid has/had an interest in the Sky Blues. Likewise Lynval who always asked after the score. Think Brad was interested. Never heard Roddy pass comment. Roadie was a City fan (still is) but Terry was Man U and The Road Manager is/was Man City when they were not so great. Worst of all is Chris Long from The Swinging Cats who is a Villa fan.

Brad was a Chelsea fan as is Lynval, Horace was/is largely ambivalent about football. Terry was Man U, Nev is pro-Coventry but not really a football fan, the same can be said of Roddy. Only really Jerry followed the City. Steve Brophy is a Cov fan but doesn‘t go to games as far as I know.

 

[Flying Fokker]

‘A message to you Rudy’ being belted out before kick off.

25k + jamming to this is giving me serious vibes

No thanks.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Wouldn’t you need 25k+ liking the specials?

there’s so significant portion of our fanbase who weren’t even alive when they were about

I was alive never really liked them.
Find them OK now but only just.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

People don't HAVE to like The Specials just because they're a Cov band - I think they're shit too

Thanks Cliff

 

[blunted]

Brad was a Chelsea fan as is Lynval, Horace was/is largely ambivalent about football. Terry was Man U, Nev is pro-Coventry but not really a football fan, the same can be said of Roddy. Only really Jerry followed the City. Steve Brophy is a Cov fan but doesn‘t go to games as far as I know.

I have been in Lynvals company on many occasions when he asked about the Coventry score and seemed really interested. Never heard him mention Chelsea. However, perhaps he was/is a Chelsea glory boy. Never talked football with Brad just reggae. It has to be remembered that due to hooliganism football back then was completely uncool and you had to be really a big fan to keep going, as gates took a massive dive all around the country.

 

[deleboshanker]

After reading this thread I’m convinced this forum is full of Leicester fans on a trolling mission

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

After reading this thread I’m convinced this forum is full of Leicester fans on a trolling mission

Because people don’t like the same music you do?

 

[deleboshanker]

Because people don’t like the same music you do?

I’ll listen to anything from country music to drum and bass buddy. The fact is ‘A message to Rudy’ is a timeless masterpiece and I thought this long before I found out they were from a band from Coventry

 

[baldy]

I’ll listen to anything from country music to drum and bass buddy. The fact is ‘A message to Rudy’ is a timeless masterpiece and I thought this long before I found out they were from a band from Coventry

Yes - in your opinion

 

[deleboshanker]

Yes - in your opinion

What kind of music are you into out of interest?

 

[baldy]

What kind of music are you into out of interest?

Definitely nothing like yours by the look of it - you seem very annoyed that people don't like The Specials for some odd reason

 

[deleboshanker]

Definitely nothing like yours by the look of it - you seem very annoyed that people don't like The Specials for some odd reason

like I said previously, I listen to and appreciate pretty much all music so do not get it twisted

 

[tomreagan84]

Also

Best stop singing Twist n Shout then too.

Also a cover version.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

I’ll listen to anything from country music to drum and bass buddy. The fact is ‘A message to Rudy’ is a timeless masterpiece and I thought this long before I found out they were from a band from Coventry

In your opinion it is… it’s not one of my go to songs when I put on Apple Music. Like I said most people are likely to go to their generation as such. You’re welcome to try to get it started. You never know it might catch on

 

[The watchmaker]

Cant speak for the youth but the specials had a no 1 album in 2019 which I think makes them more recent than the enemy. Also middle aged people in foreign lands seem to have heard of them whereas I doubt the enemy have traveled as well (no disrespect intended).

 

[Otis]

I wasn't actually a big fan of the Specials when they came out, but I think Gangsters and Ghost Town are both classics and like I say, I think A Message To You is a great record.

Never quite got my head around why people have to say a band is shit, instead of just saying they don't like them.

It's like them have to overemphasize just how much they don't like them.

We should all be proud of the Specials anyway, for really putting Coventry on the map. It was a scene that conjured up some excellent bands (Madness of course, for one) and was a scene that is still considered very important in music history.

And Ska music is actually still really big. They have Skabour here where I am every year (Ska at the Harbour, an event which features probably about 30-40 bands playing at multiple venues over the course of a weekend) and it sells out every year.

As I say, I wasn't quite part of the Two-Tone movement. I had just come out of punk, had my own band and was getting more into the New Wave and electronic music that was around at that time (Human League, Depeche Mode, New Order, Kraftwerk etc.)

Anyway, bottom line is, I love A Message To You Rudy and find it joyous.

 

[RobinsSkyBlues]

If you were around for the days of SKA you would appreciate them more.

England was a dangerous place them days especially if you're black. Totally open racism. Bernard Manning 'top' comedian. Open racism was the norm. We were coming back from the days of interest rates of 15%. All out strikes everywhere.

The lyrics said everything. Concrete Jungle and Ghost Town were about Coventry and gave a snap shot of the time. They were days of high unemployment and no hope for the younger generation. Friday Night, Saturday Morning was about the Locarno in the city centre. It was the place to go but constant trouble, frequently racially motivated.

SKA was the first time black and white people had a music genre enjoyed by both although the reggae purists called it 'white trash'. It introduced a lot of white people to the beat of reggae. It brought a lot of people together.

So you don't like the music by The Specials and similar? Not a surprise as the majority won't be in agreement of your choices. It doesn't make your choices rubbish. The untimely death of Terry Hall showed how popular and how much it meant to so many people.