"Shut Up"
Single by Madness
from the album 7
Released11 September 1981
Recorded1981
Genre
Length3:23
LabelStiff
Composer(s)Chris Foreman
Lyricist(s)Graham McPherson
Producer(s)
Madness singles chronology
"Grey Day"
(1981)		 "Shut Up"
(1981)		 "It Must Be Love"
(1981)

"Shut Up" is a pop song written by Suggs and Chris Foreman.[1] It was recorded by British pop/ska band Madness, and was featured on the band's third album 7.[1] It was released as a single on 11 September 1981, spending 10 weeks in the UK Singles Chart.[2] It reached a high position of number 7.[2]

The song tells a story of a criminal who, despite obvious evidence, tries to convince people he is not guilty. Even though the song is called "Shut Up", the two words do not appear in the lyrics at all. However, they were the final words of an additional verse which was part of an early version of the song.

Music video

The promotional video for the single released featured the band dressed as a group of criminals, then later as police officers, working for and later chasing, lead singer Suggs. Suggs is presented as a used car salesman/criminal (with mask, bowler hat and black suit/horizontally striped shirt). The video implies that Suggs' character has his friends steal cars for his business, though at the start of the video it is implied that he has been caught for his crimes by the police (with the song being him pleading his innocence).

In one sequence, the costumed band gather round as Chris Foreman (in police uniform) plays the song's guitar solo on the "Super Yob" guitar, previously owned by Dave Hill of Slade.[3][4]

Appearances

In addition to its single release and appearance on the album 7, "Shut Up" also appears on the Madness collections Complete Madness, It's... Madness Too, The Business, Divine Madness (a.k.a. The Heavy Heavy Hits) and Our House. It also features on two US Madness compilations, Madness and Total Madness.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Shut Up".

  • 7" Single
  1. "Shut Up" (McPherson/Foreman) - 3:23
  2. "A Town With No Name" (Foreman) - 2:52
  • 12" Single
  1. "Shut Up (full length version)" (McPherson/Foreman) - 4:05
  2. "Never Ask Twice" (McPherson/Barson) - 3:03
  3. "A Town With No Name" (Foreman) - 2:52
  • Dutch 12" Single (STIFF BUY-IT 126, released with "12 INCH" a title)
  1. "Shut Up" (McPherson/Foreman) - 3:55
  2. "Day On The Town" (McPherson/Foreman) - 2:50
  3. "Never Ask Twice" (McPherson/Barson) - 2:55
  4. "A Town With No Name" (Foreman) - 2:45

Charts

Chart (1981) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 7

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 "Allmusic.com 7 overview". Retrieved on 21 July 2007.
  2. 1 2 "The Madness Timeline: 1981". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved on 21 July 2007.
  3. ↑ Reed, John (30 August 2014). House of Fun: The Story of Madness. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9781783233342. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Superyob!". 22 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Madness: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "British single certifications – Madness – Shut Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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