So who exactly are the west end girls? And west of where? The lyrics of tonight’s song focuses on inner-city pressure and class. They were inspired by a T.S. Eliot poem called, The Waste Land. Read it HERE.
Also heavily influenced by hip-hop & a song called “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash, the song became a club hit in the United States and in some European countries during the year of 1984. However, it was re-released in 1986 once the group was signed to EMI and went to #1 in both the US and UK. band’s debut album was called Please.
The track has also won them many awards including Best Single at the Brit Awards and Best International Hit at the Ivor Novello Awards in 1987. In 2005, it earned “Song of Decade” between 1985 and 1994 at the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
Some other song facts: The lyrics were also inspired by a James Cagney movie. The drum pattern is borrowed from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”.
Above is the official music video. A short ad may play beforehand.
