History Music / ScrittiPolitti

One of the many bands to come out of PostPunk, '''Scritti Politti''' were formed in 1977 in Leeds, by Green Gartside and Niall Jinks. They're one of the bands that marked the shift from PostPunk to its "phase two," New Pop, although, unlike other bands commonly associated with the movement, like Music/{{ABC}}, Music/TheAssociates and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood, were far more intellectual, not only in their lyrics, but also in their ability of mixing Pop melodies and a certain avant-garde spikiness. Their name comes from Antonio Gramsci's political writings, which were markedly Marxist. At the height of their popularity, the band were one of the principal acts in the SophistiPop sub-genre.

[[caption-width-right:344: The more famous line-up: [[FaceOfTheBand Green Gartside]] (at the center) and ThoseTwoGuys.]]

[[caption-width-right:344: The more famous line-up: [[FaceOfTheBand Green Gartside]] (at the center) and {{ThoseTwoGuys}}.]]

One of the many bands to come out of PostPunk, '''Scritti Politti''' were formed in 1977 in Leeds, by Green Gartside and Niall Jinks. They're one of the bands that marked the shift from PostPunk to its "phase two," New Pop, although, unlike other bands commonly associated with the movement, like Music/{{ABC}}, Music/TheAssociates and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood, were far more intellectual, not only in their lyrics, but also in their ability of mixing Pop melodies and a certain avant-garde spikiness. Their name comes from Antonio Gramsci's political writings, which were markedly Marxist.

Released in 1985, ''Cupid and Psyche '85"'' was [[NewSoundAlbum something different altogether]] (as previewed a year earlier in their single "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)". A series of complex programmed soul/funk/dance-style songs which also put a strong emphasis on deconstruction (Derrida-style), it came at the tail end of New Pop, which was receiving a backlash in America (though it didn't stop the single "Perfect Way", which almost made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 during 25 weeks). Despite that, it attracted the attention of people like Music/MilesDavis (who covered "Perfect Way" and later borrowed his trumpet for "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)"), Chaka Khan (whose single "Love of a Lifetime" was co-written, co-produced and featured backing vocals by Green), Music/EltonJohn and allegedly {{Music/Prince}}.

Released in 1985, ''Cupid and Psyche '85"'' was [[NewSoundAlbum something different altogether]] (as previewed a year earlier in their single "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)". A series of complex programmed soul/funk/dance-style songs which also put a strong emphasis on deconstruction (Derrida-style), it came at the tail end of New Pop, which was receiving a backlash in America (though it didn't stop the single "Perfect Way", which almost made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 during 25 weeks). Despite that, it attracted the attention of people like Music/MilesDavis (who covered "Perfect Way" and later borrowed his trumpet for "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)"), Chaka Khan (whose single "Love of a Lifetime" was co-written, co-produced and featured backing vocals by Green), and allegedly {{Music/Prince}}.

** "Jacques Derrida" is, [[CaptainObvious well]]...

[[caption-width-right:344: The more famous line-up: [[FaceOfTheBand Green Gartside]] (at the center) and {{ThoseTwoGuys}}]]

-->"Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)"

One of the many bands to come out of PostPunk, '''Scritti Politti''' were formed in 1977 in Leeds, by Green Gartside and Niall Jinks. They're one of the bands that marked the shift from PostPunk to its "phase two", New Pop, although, unlike other bands commonly associated with the movement, like Music/{{ABC}}, Music/TheAssociates and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood, were far more intellectual, not only in their lyrics, but also in their ability of mixing Pop melodies and a certain avant-garde spikiness. Their name comes from Antonio Gramsci's political writings, which were markedly Marxist.

Other non-musical influences included people like Bakunin, JacquesDerrida (one of their songs is even called "Jacques Derrida"), Deleuze, and Lacan. They lived in a squat house in Camden Town, London, and, besides being a commune, they were also aware of various left-wing movements in Europe, interacting with them at times. They were also one of the bands more capable of practising the DIY attitude, by making their record sleeves themselves and listing production costs and their squat address in said sleeves.

Their first single "Skank Bloc Bologna" picked up a good amount of airplay on the John Peel show, and it was followed by the release of two E.Ps (one of them the "2nd Peel Session"). However, a greater exposure and a tour with Gang Of Four and JoyDivision caused Green Gartside's stage frights, coupled with a certain debilitation of his health and anxiety, to suffer a [[CreatorBreakdown big mental breakdown]].

->And don't feel sorry for loverboy,\\

He wants the world to love him, then he goes and spoils it all for love.\\

One of the many bands to come out of PostPunk, Scritti Politti were formed in 1977 in Leeds, by Green Gartside and Niall Jinks. They're one of the bands that marked the shift from PostPunk to its "phase two", New Pop, although, unlike other bands commonly associated with the movement, like Music/{{ABC}}, Music/TheAssociates and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood, were far more intellectual, not only in their lyrics, but also in their ability of mixing Pop melodies and a certain avant-garde spikiness. Their name comes from Antonio Gramsci's political writings, which were markedly Marxist.

* IAmTheBand: Green Gartside.

** "Asylums In Jerusalem" is this to {{Nietzsche}}'s thing about the preponderance of desert prophets and fake seers who were Jesus's competitors.

* CreatorBreakdown: As documented above, it caused Green to start to change the sound of the group.

The new songs started to come out in 1981. "The "Sweetest Girl"" was featured in a free cassette tape given by NME called C81, which also showcased bands that would also become well-known like Pere Ubu, Orange Juice, or The Raincoats. The song featured Robert Wyatt, on piano. The songs were far more melodic now, as shown in their debut album, ''Songs To Remember'', released on Rough Trade, which also showcased an interest in Reggae.

Green was also becoming more interested in Hip-Hop and, after disbanding rest of the band, relocated to New York, and, with the help of producer Arif Mardin, David Gamson and Fred Maher, recorded the next album.

* {{Bishounen}}: Green, [[http://funnynamesblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/green-gartside.jpg obviously]].

* PissTakeRap: Maybe it wasn't intentional, but there is one in "Jacques Derrida". And it's quite funny.

One of the many bands to come out of PostPunk, Scritti Politti were formed in 1977 in Leeds, by Green Gartside and Niall Jinks. They're one of the bands that marked the shift from PostPunk to its "phase two", New Pop, although, unlike other bands commonly associated with the movement, like Music/{{ABC}}, Music/TheAssociates and Music/FrankieGoesToHollywood, were far more intelectual, not only in their lyrics, but also in their ability of mixing Pop melodies and a certain avant-garde spikiness. Their name comes from Antonio Gramsci's political writings, which were markedly Marxist.

Released in 1985, ''Cupid and Psyche '85"'' was [[NewSoundAlbum something different altogether]] (as previewed a year earlier in their single "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)". A series of complex programmed soul/funk/dance-style songs which also put a strong emphasis on deconstruction (Derrida-style), it came at the tail end of New Pop, which was receiving a backlash in America (though it didn't stop the single "Perfect Way", which almost made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 during 25 weeks). Despite that, it attracted the attention of people like Miles Davis (who covered "Perfect Way" and later borrowed his trumpet for "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)"), Chaka Khan (whose single "Love of a Lifetime" was co-written, co-produced and featured backing vocals by Green), and allegedly {{Music/Prince}}.

* CoverVersion: "She's a Woman" (TheBeatles) and "Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me" (Gladys Knight).

* ThoseTwoGuys: David Gamson and Fred Maher, with their important contribution to Scritti's sound in ''Cupid and Psyche '85'' and ''Provision''.

* SingerNamedrop: In "Tinseltown To The Boogiedown":
--> "Call a time out, Scritti Politti, Major climb down
--> The cracks of the streets waste no time on beats".