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Common People is a song by Pulp. It was released as a single in 1995, reaching number two on the UK singles chart. It also appears on the band’s 1995 album Different Class. The song is about those who were perceived by the songwriter as wanting to be “like common people” and who ascribe glamour to poverty. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as slumming or “class tourism”. A similar theme is explored in the 1960’s novel and film “Up The Junction”.
Inspiration
The inspiration for the song came from a Greek fellow student Pulp singer/songwriter Jarvis Cocker knew at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. In the lyrics, the narrator explains that his female acquaintance can “never be like common people”, because even if she gets an apartment where “roaches climb the wall” ultimately, “if called dad he could stop it all”, in contrast to the true common people who can only “watch lives slide out of view”. However, Cocker admittedly embellished the incident - in real life the woman in question said she wanted to “live like common people”, but in the song her character also declares: “I want to sleep with common people like you.” A BBC3 documentary failed to correctly locate the woman, who Cocker also admits could have been on any fine art course but “sculpture” sounded better. The lyrics were partly a response by Cocker, who usually focuses on the introspective and emotional aspects of pop, to more politically-minded members of the band like Russell Senior.
Inspiration
The inspiration for the song came from a Greek fellow student Pulp singer/songwriter Jarvis Cocker knew at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. In the lyrics, the narrator explains that his female acquaintance can “never be like common people”, because even if she gets an apartment where “roaches climb the wall” ultimately, “if called dad he could stop it all”, in contrast to the true common people who can only “watch lives slide out of view”. However, Cocker admittedly embellished the incident - in real life the woman in question said she wanted to “live like common people”, but in the song her character also declares: “I want to sleep with common people like you.” A BBC3 documentary failed to correctly locate the woman, who Cocker also admits could have been on any fine art course but “sculpture” sounded better. The lyrics were partly a response by Cocker, who usually focuses on the introspective and emotional aspects of pop, to more politically-minded members of the band like Russell Senior.
Video
Added by mlucifersam
Pulp performing 'Common People' for the 1st time on Top Of The Pops. Transmitted 18 May 1995.
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Jarvis Cocker
Shouts
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schizobullet wrote:
this is probably the angriest song, ever. and perfect because of it.
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FishOfWar wrote:
I love how it gets more and more and more frantic as the song progresses.
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tcpor wrote:
By far, the best of Pulp!
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jdarsh wrote:
Lovely and underrated...
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MaaRek69 wrote:
distinguished song, i think the best of Pulp
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tjms wrote:
love it!
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shakeaftw wrote:
this song makes me sing everytime i hear that!
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DavidLostInAcid wrote:
Get this to 1,000,000 plays! lol
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Godziiii wrote:
<3 really a great song
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misterpoker29 wrote:
magnifica...obrita de arte,,, esta pa pillarlaaa dando botes en cualquier festival,,,ya os pillare en algunaaa jejejejeje
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koastone wrote:
it's impossible not to sing along with this song! [3]
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ProzacForRichie wrote:
it's impossible not to sing along with this song! [2]
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Terrasidius wrote:
awesome
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malize wrote:
como dice fumarpuedematar (que ya vale con la copla), si es sobre todo arrogante-mente perversa y divertida
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fernandomassuy wrote:
Funny video
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fumarpuedematar wrote:
que decir de esta cancion ...... divertida, arrogante,. lucida, nerviosa, violenta, genial...... I took her to a supermarket, I don't know why but I had to start it somewhere, so it started there. I said pretend you've got no money, she just laughed and said, "Oh you're so funny." I said "yeah? Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here.... Irrepetible
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MatthieuBelAmi wrote:
The word EPIC was created for this one...
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harryscoffin wrote:
one of the best songs ever written...
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richardkuok wrote:
this song somehow describes my life :(
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swegas wrote:
Awesome tune,also love bill shatnas version
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