The explanation behind this song from Eddy Grant: Most American listeners didn't read much into the lyrics, but Grant claims "this is a serious song. It refers to a real place in London, and tells the story of a poor man who beholds the things in life he could never achieve. Electric Avenue is a shopping area in the Brixton section of London, named because is was the first street in the area to get electric lights. Brixton was the setting for riots between police and protesters in 1981, which Grant refers to in the opening line, "Down in the street there is violence."
Yeah, I didn't realize when I was a kid that this is a protest song. It's a riot song. It's people who don't have anything saying they're going to go down to "Electric Avenue" and take what they deserve. But the song is so damn catchy that people just see it as a party.
Eddy Grant British singer a Guyanese/British Singer, believe it or not he is 73 now and like most of us back in the 80's no jobs no money anger building and building and like everything else all it takes is one spark and up we all go. I loved how he blended so many genres Rock, Caribbean, soul, so many fabulous songs. reggae and funk, he was different which made him standout.
@@bimtowngirl34 Yes that is where he was born but he was and still is a BRITISH Guiana citizen who now lives in Barbados. His parents both lived and worked here sending money back to support him in 1960 at the age of 12 he emigrated to England.
Eddy Grant is the most misunderstood artist ever, it's sort of comical. His songs touch very serious subjects but happen to be really catchy and upbeat in the tone.
“Who is to blame in what country? Never can get to the one. Dealing in multiplication, and they still can’t feed everyone!” Talk about lyrics ringing through to the present day...
Eddy Grant a one hit wonder? Try "I don't wanna dance", "Do you feel my love", "Living on the frontline", "War party", "Hello Africa", "Till I can't take love no more", "Romancing the stone", "Walking on sunshine" and so many more...
I think he's considered a one-hit wonder in America, because this was his only big hit in the Billboard Hot 100! But he's sure not a one-hit wonder in Europe, where he had loads of more big hits in the charts!
Love this one.. Eddy was from a Guyanese background, but spent most of his life in the UK. He was also the leader of a great 60s band called "The Equals", also worth a listen.
Eddie blending those genres way back :) Eddie moved from Guyana to London when he was 12 and was still putting out music up to 4 years ago :) You should check out Gimme Hope Jo'anna it's an amazing song :)
As a Bajan I feel compelled to point out that this video was filmed in my beautiful country of Barbados!!! Just saying...lol and it's where he currently resides.
Electric Avenue is in Brixton in South London. A Caribbean neighborhood, it had some riots right before this song came out. "Electric Ave" was the first street in Brixton to be electrified in the early 20th Century I believe, hence the name.
As some others have mentioned, back in the 60s Eddy Grant was the leader and songwriter of a band called The Equals, made up of Grant, who was originally from Guyana, two brothers from Jamaica and two white Brit lads - they were the first major interracial band in the UK, which was why they called themselves The Equals. They had several big hits in the mid to late 60s: Baby Come Back, I Get So Excited, Green Light, Hold Me Closer, Softly Softly, etc.
I just love your videos!! You have so much fun and soul, I love it!! Thank you for that!! Hahaha! Electric Avenue is in Lackawanna NY and back in the day there was a bar on every other corner all the way up the Street! So many freaking good times back then!! 🤘🏻✌🏻💃🕺🍺🍷🥃🍹😂❤️
You couldn’t of explained it much better. One of my favourite songs of all time There was something about his voice that I loved . And the video is amazing especially for it’s time
" The Electric Avenue referred to by the British musician Eddy Grant in his 1982 single by the same name is located in the South London borough of Lambeth, specifically the Brixton neighborhood. Notably, this road was the first market street in the world to be lit by electricity in the late 1800s-hence its name "
"Electric Avenue" is a real road in Brixton, South London. At the time of this song there was a large Caribbean community living there and quite a bit of racial tension.
Haven't heard this song in a long time. One of my favorites. Don't be too hard on yourself for not catching on to the meaning right away. It has a really great beat, and when you're caught up in the beat that happens unless you listening to a version where the lyrics are on the screen. Take care of yourself, and stay safe!
One hit wonder!! True Eddy Grant only had 3 billboard top 100 hits, but that’s the USs loss. 16 international hit albums and 16 international hit singles. These figures don’t even include the music he recorded as part of the 1960’s group The Equals, which he formed in 1965. They had many worldwide hits, most notably “Baby, Come Back” in 1968 which did make the US top 40. If there’s two songs by Grant you should check out, they are the afore mentioned “Baby, Come Back” and the solo hit “Gimme Hope Jo’anna”. Ok, I confess, I’m a huge fan of Eddy Grants and am unashamedly biased 😉
Saw Eddie play live at a festival thinking I only knew this song. Every song he played I was like "oh, he sung this!?". AMAZING show, been a big fan ever since! Definitely worth checking out some more of his stuff.
When I was 7 I loved this song so much. Eddie Grant was my imaginary friend and he lived in Eeyore's house (my playhouse in the back yard). Every time I hear this song I remember jumping on the trampoline with my imaginary friend Eddie Grant and singing this song as loud as I could lol.
Eddie was born in Guyana, came to England in the 60s. Electric avenue is in London and this is a protest song. Riots in 1981 which he refers to in the first line of the song. Check out more of his songs living on the frontline, I don't wanna dance and many more. He was also in the band called the Equals.
Yes! This is one of my favorite songs ever! Has everything I love - his voice, lyrics with content and a killer beat. Absolutely love this ❤ I remember my friends didn't seem to catch the lyrics but that seems typical in the US.
In the 80s when this was popular, the city adopted the song and changed the lyrics...."We're gonna walk down to WISCONSIN AVENUE and catch the Freeway Flyer" (which was a busline from downtown. Wisconsin Ave was a major hub back then).
In the summer after 6th grade, I won my age bracket in a dance contest at camp. My prize was a 45 single of this song. I played it until I nearly ran holes in it and I still have that record. When I was older and realized what this song was about, I came to love it even more. Thanks for this reaction!
@Luna Raven hahah right!! I'd get up early in the morning to listen to American Casey Casen top 40 on some radio channel and have the cassette deck ready!!
@Luna Raven hahaha I'm Casey Casen and welcome to the American Top 40. I can't believe you remember that! That's great!! Yep I was up around 4 or 5 in the mornings to listen that. Take note of what song number I wanted and be ready the next day if I missed getting it right. I was always the first to have the latest" mixed tape" at school! Hahaha I think we had the best childhood and still get to enjoy all the new tech toys later in life.
@Luna Raven hahaha I kicking back with some Dragon, Noiseworks, Taylor Dayne at the moment. Just reminiscing about those great days😁😂😂😂edit: up to Split Enz message to my girl and the Time Bandits Endless Road. Gotta keep the tube in sync with my likes with this new acct.
Yes it's in Brixton South London First Street to have electric lights.hence the name. Scene of riots in the early 80 s. Large West Indian community.. Got a lot of friends who's parents still live there Old school Jamaicans Salt of the earth great people. 🇯🇲✌🏾👍🏻
I absolutely loved this track when it came out! Eddy Grant was amazing, another one of those Artists who opened my World - I think this was my first experience of Reggie & Caribbean music! Thank you Jayvee, I've not heard that track in years!
Whoa! You've read my mind. Yesterday, I was thinking about this song, and how it could be a good episode of your reactions, and voilà: here is the thing! Never stop bringing so diverse styles of music to your audience. You make a huge valuable work with these videos. Cheers!
This is your best reaction yet Jay. I would like to thank you for sharing your positive attitude with all of us. This has been a tough year for all of us, but you have been the guiding light of positive vibes ✌️❤️✊ from Dublin Ireland 💚🤍🧡
I was a college kid back in 1983, and this song was a huge hit. I was working at a pizza place over the summer. The manager had a key to the juke box and could get free plays, and he would dial up a few for us after we locked the doors and had an hour of clean-up to do. This was one of the songs we always played. In case you are wondering, this is a great beat to mop by. ;-)
If you're looing for 1 hit wonders then you need to check out Athea and Donna "Uptown top ranking". When they were on Top of the Pops the crowd didn't know what had hit them or how to react.
I LOVE THIS SONG... It was part of a Brazilian soap soundtrack way back in 1983/1984 I guess... I was 13 at the time... :D Check out his other hit down here: I DON´T WANNA DANCE
Love this song, it was about the Brixton roit 1981. The police were going undercover and arresting people under suspicion, who hadn't committed a crime, but were deemed so. Eddy Grant great musician please listen to more of his music. 😊❤
Amazing that this song gets me moving the way I did almost 40 years ago when it first came out. Great tune! Forgot to mention this was about the 1981 Brixton (London) riots.
Electric Avenue is in Brixton London which had a large Afro Caribbean community. Today it has an open air market but originally it was the first street in the U.K. to have electric street lighting. I love this part of London for many reasons but it was this song that made me aware of Electric Avenue…
Yo Jay I bought this back in the day 82 love this track at the time.. Eddy was a class act and he was in a band called the the equals in the 60s big hit was baby come back... And in 82 his other smash was I don't wanna dance was massive.. Respect to the man.. Electric avenue is in Brixton London and eddy is singing about that where he lived...
This and “Gimme Hope Jo’anna” and “I Don’t Wanna Dance” are my favourite Eddy Grant songs 👍 Edit - he was born in British Guiana. He has lived in the UK since 1960.
Fantastic Choice! Next song suggestion = Real McCoy - Run Away /Another Night, Crystal Waters - 100% Pure Love, All Saints - Pure Shores, Robbie Williams - Rock DJ, Blur - there's No Other Way, the Weekend -Can't Feel My Face, Tov Lo - Talking Bodies
This track was definitely filling the dance floor back in the day - in spite of the tragic events it's portraying, that was going down in London's (UK...) Brixton neighborhood, back in the early 1980's. "ROMANCING THE STONE" (which was written for the movie with the same name, featuring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner...) by Eddie Grant is another must listen!
