That's Entertainment

The Jam

About That's Entertainment

"That's Entertainment" is a 1980 song by British punk-mod revivalist group the Jam from their fifth album, Sound Affects. Although never released as a domestic single in the UK during the band's lifetime, "That's Entertainment" nonetheless charted as an import single (backed by a live version of "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight"), peaking at No. 21. It was given its first full UK release in 1983 and peaked at No. 60. A second reissue in 1991 also made the top 50. The song remains one of the two all-time biggest selling import singles in the UK, alongside the Jam's "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?", which hit the charts at number eight as an import in 1982. "That's Entertainment" has been listed by BBC Radio 2 as the 43rd best song ever released by any artist. 


Year:
2003
3:36
91 
#1

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A police car and a screaming siren 
A pnuematic drill and ripped up concrete 
A baby wailing and stray dog howling 
The screech of brakes and lamp lights blinking 
That's entertainment

A smash of glass and the rumble of boots 
An electric train and a ripped up phone booth
Paint splattered walls and the cry of a tomcat 
Lights going out and a kick in the balls 

That's entertainment
Days of speed and slow time Mondays
Pissing down with rain on a boring Wednesday
Watching the news and not eating your tea
A freezing cold flat and damp on the walls

That's entertainment
Waking up at six a.m. on a cool warm morning 
Opening the windows and breathing in petrol
An amateur band rehearsing in a nearby yard
Watching the tele and thinking about your holidays 

That's entertainment
Waking up from bad dreams and smoking cigarettes 
Cuddling a warm girl and smelling stale perfume 
A hot summers day and sticky black tarmac 
Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were faraway 

That's entertainment
Two lovers kissing amongst the scream of midnight 
Two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude 
Getting a cab and traveling on buses 
Reading the graffiti about slashed seat affairs 

That's entertainment

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The Jam

The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes, and they incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock and R&B influences rather than rejecting them, placing The Jam at the forefront of the mod revival movement. more »

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Written by: Paul John Weller

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


5 facts about this song

Song Information
1. "That's Entertainment" is one of The Jam's most popular songs. It was released in 1981 as part of their album "Sound Affects." 2. It was not initially planned to be a single but was eventually released due to its high demand.
Chart Performance
3. Despite being a simple demo recording with minimalist instrumental accompaniment, the song reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. 4. The song re-charted in, first in 1983, then in 1991 reaching number 60 and 55 on the UK Singles Chart, respectively.
Song Composition
5. Paul Weller, the frontman of the band, wrote the song. 6. The song is considered folk music, deviating from The Jam's typical punk rock style. 7. It's known for its acoustic guitar instrumentation and thought-provoking lyrics.
Impact and Legacy
8. The song describes typical British life. The cynical yet real view of the mundanity of everyday life has made it an anthem for many. 9. NME named "That's Entertainment" as the best single of 1980. 10. In 2005, it was voted number 306 in the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. 11. It has also been covered by several artists, including Morrissey and Billy Bragg.
Miscellaneous
12. The song was supposedly written by Weller in 10 minutes on a drunken night. 13. The track was recorded in one take, a rarity for any song. 14. In the original demo, Weller can be heard giggling, which was kept in the final version.

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