Madness Songs Ranked
Madness is an English ska band from Camden Town, North London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s two-tone ska revival, they continue to perform with six of the seven members of their original line-up. Madness’s most successful period was from 1980 to 1986, when the band’s songs spent a total of 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. (UB40 shared the same number of weeks, the largest for any British group in the decade, but over a longer period.) Here are all of the Madness songs ranked
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20. NW5 (The Liberty of Norton Folgate, 2009)
“This is a slow-burner – it’s only after a few listens you realise it’s a great track. Up there with their greatest hits. Madness has mellowed a bit with age, but the rhythms, hooks, lyrics and melodies have grown, become more complex and wonderful with time.”
19. The Sun and the Rain (Keep Moving, 1984)
“This is my all-time favorite song (The Sun and the Rain) I can NEVER get sick of this song. This is a song about overcoming depression and fitting back into society. It has a strong personal meaning for me. That’s all I have to say…”
18. Madness (Madness, 1983)
“Sadly, Madness has inexplicably been relegated to ‘one-hit-wonder’ status in the US, which is a damned shame considering they were one of the most original, most talented, and funniest bands of the ’80s.”
17. Grey Day (7, 1981)
“So Madness had a melancholy side after all. This was a brilliant single, despite being as miserable as sin lyrically. ‘The rain is falling on my face, I wish I could sink without a trace’ was a line every teenager could identify with, and although it was something of a mood shift for the band, it paid off handsomely by giving them a top five hit.”
See more: Madness Albums Ranked
16. Sorry (FIFA 08 Soundtrack, 2007)
“Absolutely spot on. Have always liked sounds of the 80’s and this band pretty much sums up the decade as a whole. “
15, Bed and Breakfast Man (One Step Beyond…, 1979)
“The sound itself is introduced as if it were some diversive from a type of music that took itself too seriously, or too violent, as it was in those years. This was music for every young kid that wanted to dance and have a good time in a somewhat tasteful way.”
14. Benny Bullfrog (7, 1981)
“Madness started to show promising signs on this, their third outing. Yes, they could still be delightfully and lovably silly (nutty) such as on the energetic goofiness of “Benny Bullfrog”
13. Driving In My Car (The Rise & Fall, 1982)
“This is Madness at the top of there game. Forget about some of them silly singles like Baggy trousers and House of fun, This proves what a truly great band they were, but never seemed to get the credit for it.”
12. Wings of a Dove (A Celebratory Song) (Keep Moving, 1984)
“Non-album single in the UK, from Keep Moving in the States. Either way, it’s a nifty song. Not the band’s best, but nothing to whine about either. Rather-typical b-sides – decent enough, but nothing necessary.”
11. Embarrassment (Absolutely, 1980)
“An all-time great single. The perfect 3 minutes, so loose and yet so tight. A tale of rejection featuring Morrisey-like lyrics and deadpan delivery over a big, bouncy bass navigating a stairwell of chords. Plus the band just rocking out towards the end.”
10. Night Boat to Cairo (One Step Beyond…, 1979)
“Night Boat to Cairo is great fun and I think even almost a bit psychedelic, with its exotic melodies – it’s one of those songs that gets better every time you hear it.”
9. My Girl (One Step Beyond…, 1979)
“Madness achieved the nigh impossible … a band for kids that created music that has lasted decades. Songs like “My Girl”, with its poignant lyrics and catchy hooks, make it obvious why Madness are national treasures in the UK – and one of few bands to be genuinely loved.”
8. In the Rain (Absolutely, 1980)
““In the Rain” is a more lightweight snapshot of a brief and non-too successful romantic liaison, which unfortunately probably rings a bell with the majority of us!”
7. Shut Up (7, 1981)
“Madness were masters at knocking out great singles and this was just one of them. Emphasising the fun side of felony, this had the usual manic hooks, witty lyrics and fun video that we came to expect.”
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6. Baggy Trousers (Absolutely, 1980)
“It’s like all your schooldays crammed into one mad burst of three minute mayhem. The nutty boys got the whole educational experience nailed down perfectly, from ‘smashing up the woodwork tools’ to ‘walking home and squashing snails.’ Should really be compulsory reading on every school curriculum.”
5. Michael Caine (Keep Moving, 1984)
“Is it just me, or does everyone else think Michael Caine does the voice for the Geico gecko as well? If that isn’t him, it darned well should be. He’s definitely a good Madness single, though. Not their best, not their nuttiest, but good.”
4. One Step Beyond (One Step Beyond, 1979)
“There is a bit of reggae, a bit of eastern european music, a bit of punk, rocksteady beats, and in Swan Lake they even make a cracking version of a classical music piece. It’s daring in the sense that it’s never stiff, never boring.”
3. House of Fun (Complete Madness, 1982)
“Another wonderful non-album single from Madness. They were like the pilgrims in the socket. I love this band, love this song, love the fish in the backyard pond, love the rhythm, love the beat, love the toes on my wife’s feet.”
2. It Must Be Love (7, 1981)
“This is at the point and time that they started to get good, this one is a delightful mix of new wave and ska. The song is happy one but not euphoric like so many dumb pop hits of the time “Mickey”. The guitar work is nice, as is the drumming. It must be love, love love.”
1. Our House (The Rise & Fall, 1982)
“Adorable. That’s really the sum of it. It’s got all the trumpets, strings and other 2-tone goodness, but the real heart is just… well, yeah, how much heart it has. Only Madness could ever have written a song about their own goddamn house and made it a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, but when you hear how warm and comfy and generally lovely it is you won’t wonder how they did it anymore. One of those songs everyone can relate to without it sounding too mawkish. I love it.”