"Ghost Town" remains perhaps the bleakest aural portrayal of a recession-stricken town. It became frighteningly prophetic when serious riots erupted in various English cities during 1981, whilst at the same time the song was making its way on the charts. Race-related violence, police harassment, hunger strike in Northern Ireland, escalating unemployment (in their hometown Coventry and all over Britain): this was the environment when The Specials released their epochal masterpiece. The band had a strong anti-racism stance from their very beginning and included two West Indian vocalists. They headlined the final Rock Against Racism tour in 1981.
According to the song's writer and Specials' bandleader Jerry Dammers, "Ghost Town" was meant to convey impending doom. And it succeeds masterfully. "This town is coming like a ghost town" is the song's central theme, sung by four members as a chant. "Why the youth fight against themselves?" they wonder, before they lament: "Government leaving the youth on the shelf; no job to be found on this country".
Musically, it is one of the most peculiar and unconventional songs to become number one, shunning the traditional verse-chorus-verse structure. Ominous wind sounds open the song. Weird descending seventh chords played in keyboards follow, signalling our descent into the ghost town.The famous ska beat then comes in, along with a simple but instantly memorable eastern-tinged keyboard riff. There are voices like laughing ghosts suddenly fade in and out; plus a middle eight ("Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?") where the song brilliantly shifts to major tonality. All these carefully placed elements add up to create a uniquely eerie atmosphere. The song ends as it opened, with the wind blowing as if we're leaving behind the deserted town.
Shortly after this artistic and commercial peak, all three vocalists left the band. The Specials officially split the same year with all members following other side projects. Bandleader Jerry Dammers pursued political activism. He was not part of the 2009-2010 reunion tour of the Specials.
A few months ago, thirty years later after 1981, England was swept again from violent riots.
According to the song's writer and Specials' bandleader Jerry Dammers, "Ghost Town" was meant to convey impending doom. And it succeeds masterfully. "This town is coming like a ghost town" is the song's central theme, sung by four members as a chant. "Why the youth fight against themselves?" they wonder, before they lament: "Government leaving the youth on the shelf; no job to be found on this country".
Musically, it is one of the most peculiar and unconventional songs to become number one, shunning the traditional verse-chorus-verse structure. Ominous wind sounds open the song. Weird descending seventh chords played in keyboards follow, signalling our descent into the ghost town.The famous ska beat then comes in, along with a simple but instantly memorable eastern-tinged keyboard riff. There are voices like laughing ghosts suddenly fade in and out; plus a middle eight ("Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?") where the song brilliantly shifts to major tonality. All these carefully placed elements add up to create a uniquely eerie atmosphere. The song ends as it opened, with the wind blowing as if we're leaving behind the deserted town.
Shortly after this artistic and commercial peak, all three vocalists left the band. The Specials officially split the same year with all members following other side projects. Bandleader Jerry Dammers pursued political activism. He was not part of the 2009-2010 reunion tour of the Specials.
A few months ago, thirty years later after 1981, England was swept again from violent riots.
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