The Band Too Heavy for Britpop (Skunk Anansie - "Weak") | New British Canon
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- čas přidán 10. 07. 2024
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As you may know from watching New British Canon: 90s Britain was consumed by Britpop. But Running parallel to this, featuring louder guitars, more working class backgrounds and championed by Kerrang! was Britrock. Awkwardly wedged between these groups, Skunk Anansie evaded all classification. Led by their physically slight yet vocally colossal lead singer Skin, the band were a riotous mix of hard rock, dub and punk. Their social consciousness made it so they were always fighting an uphill battle, but their defiant music and live presence couldn’t be ignored. This is New British Canon, and this is the story of “Weak.”
#SkunkAnansie #Britrock #MusicDocumentary
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Fact-checking by Serenity Autumn.
Soundtrack
Luar - Citrine ( / luarbeats )
Unicorn Heads - Drifting at 432 Hz
B-Side - Pen Unubis
Luar - Anchor ( / luarbeats )
00:00 Introduction
01:17 The Origins of Skunk Anansie
05:15 Recording Paranoid & Sunburnt
09:44 Skunk Anansie vs Categorisation
13:20 Skunk Anansie vs The World
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made possible WITH CRIME. THAT IS HEAVY YOU SICK FASCISTS.
When you are going to do a
Mansun one
Please change the ending of your vids. The stories you cover are very exciting. But lately you are closing them with some depressing commercial. It aint a good flow. Skillshare is great but the tone of the commercial doesnt fit after watching a cool band story.
When I was bullied at school, had no voice at home- this band was everything to me. That voice- reminding me every day that I didn't have to give in to it all.
Ditto.
Similar story for me. For me through uni when I felt like a freak.
Bullying really sucks. After a while you start believing all the negative shit people say about you.
Bullies deserve to be smacked in their teeth, take no prisoners !
Hell yeah!!
rod stewart covering skunk anensie has to be the most random thing I learned today ha
Sho did a song with Tony Iommi.
ikr 🤣doesnt sound too bad tbf.
@@patrickmohan2220 Patrick are you okay?
Rod Stewart never had any taste
Patrick Mohan what is triggering you?
The part about her leaving that abusive man was genius. He begged forgiveness. But even so, the lesson is if a man (and even a woman) without thought hits you. They'll do it for as long as you allow it. Even if you forgive them.
100% men and women hit their partners because they feel that's a valid way of dealing with arguments. It only stops when you leave.
Honestly, at this point with your output being so consistently good I think you can dare approach some of these artists and take this format to the next level.
Maybe it was being weirdly androgynous and also very into punk with ethos but Skunk was total catnip for me as a teen. Always appreciated the utter fearlessness Skin had in being her true authentic self. I never took her as an angry black lesbian because if you listen to her music it’s so rawly emotional and vulnerable as hell. There’s a reason for her fierceness-defiant survival.
Thank you for making sure others get a chance to learn how amazing their music is.
@@patrickmohan2220 ‘I don’t like what you like so you must have a brain injury” who pissed in your cornflakes man? Way to get upset by someone’s taste in music..
Authentic self and these outrageous showy types is almost never true. They're usually way too scared to be themselves so they cultivate an image
@@patrickmohan2220 found the misogynist racist
@@dxfifa Please define what a "self" is
I'm so glad this was covered. Skunk were easily the most influencial band for me growing up, exposing the white middle class to class and racial struggles in the UK. Plus, what a fucking voice!
I agree, so good. What an amazingly powerful voice that needed to be heard.
is that why you all beg for black acceptance ?
Skunk Anansi is such a criminally underrated band.
I don't understand why you say that they are one of the most popular bands in Britain and have had platinum success.
@@fiona3821 one can still think they're underrated - especially when compared to even more successful and popular bands
I love your channel cause you have introduced me to tons of alternative artists that aren't as popular over here in the states. You have turned me on to Kate Bush, the Cocteau Twins, MBV, the shoegaze scene in general and now Skunk Anansie. Looking forward to digging through their discography
Check out Skin’s solo work it’s just as good.
Elder millennial from Boston: First I heard Skin was on the radio singing on the Sevendust (nu-metal band the local DJ was fond of) song "Licking Cream". Her vocals stood way the hell out, I searched Web 1.0 to figure out what else she had done, but the local record shops never carried any Skunk Anansie. Thanks for reminding me of them, now with streaming I can actually listen to them!
I have a similar story. About 10 years ago I was going listening to old Sevendust albums and came across Licking Cream. Afterwards I became obsessed with Skunk Anansie. It's a shame they never became popular in the US. Skin has one my favorite voices ever.
Was that DJ Nick Carter?
@@flipflopperson4493 Mistress Carrie on WAAF
Quick correction, didn't hear Licking Cream on the radio, it was a deep cut on the Sevendust album, but I got turned onto them from radio play on WAAF.
Licking Cream is how I got into skunk as well
The very definition of a band ahead of their time, and one that truly stood the test of it as well.
@@patrickmohan2220 what’s your deal man.literally just hear to hate on every comment saying positive things about SA.Doesn’t that seem like a weird thing to do ?
Yup, that's it. They weren't as popular as they should have been cos they were ahead of their time
There was never a concert where I jumped more and sweated more than at Skunk Anansie. Even the rain felt dry afterwards.
same thing
It must have been the music industry. As the fans, and those watching the tv music shows that existed at that time, loved this band. They were rock solid. And then, you had that Epic voice. You couldn't deny their musicianship.
Great band.
Same as now. Music industry just cares about the US market. THE US market was not open to a mixed race hyper political preLGBTQ ere band that had a woman singing that wasn't straight and proudly oozed beauty ignoring the mandatory "requirement" that beauty require hours hair salon before presenting themselves to the public.
The fans in the UK loved them. It was the fucking industry knobs that were so focused on the USD bonanza that they were not prepared to back this band to the hilt. Travesty because they fucking rock.
@@andrewcole7149 In the UK, people didn't so much categorise bands like that. They didn't focus, so much, on peoples sexuality etc etc. That, was irrelevant to music lovers generally. As it should be, only the music mattered.
And remember, Britain was one of the first countries in the entire world. To write proper laws for the LGBTQ groups (and others). Most of the world ..still hasn't and may never. Don't forget that too ;)
@@Moodymongul I know all this. lol. I live here :)
Being from Canada, I haven't heard of any of these bands. I knew all about Brit-Pop, but not Brit-Rock.
Thank you for everything.
See I’m a Canuck and I def knew about SA…but I was a huge rock fan and didn’t feel fulfilled by a lot of our stuff.
I knew several of them (pretty big Therapy? fan, and love SA, too), but hadn't really heard of the Wildhearts. Got to check out more of their stuff.
eyevocal Just In Lust, My Baby is a Headfuck, 29x the Pain, Sick of Drugs, Caffeine Bomb, all good tunes
@@jonnywishbone4805 I love 'em already for coming up with the title "Caffeine Bomb."
@@gingerkid1048 Im a huge music fan and usually do deep dives into genres. I got really into Britpop and Madchester/Baggy last year. Some how I missed everything in this video lol.
[Still waiting on a Madchester video from TT]
How in the hell have I never heard of this group??? They are freaking awesome!!!
If you grew up watching MTV in the late '90s, they would play "Charlie Big Potato" quite a while!
Check out Sevendust ft skin - licking cream.
Selling Jesus is a great song from them, maybe my favourite.
SA rocks! Post-Orgasmic Chill is such a hidden gem of an album, Secretly is genuinely one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded, they were at their peak in 1999
Not really hidden, but the rest stands.
@@gwaptiva It may as well have been hidden. When it came out, I was the only person who owned a copy out of everyone I knew, which was about 3.5 club scenes. I played it for friends all the time when hanging out and they simply didn't get it. I had a girlfriend who was really into Pat Benatar and Ani DiFranco and she didn't get it. It got no airplay and no one knew it existed. What was insane is that some of them owned Sevendust's "Home" album and still didn't know who SA were. One girlfriend liked SA a lot and luckily I'm with her still. This was the Punk, Goth, Metal and Hip Hop club scenes from Tampa, FL in 2000-2005.
@@visionop8 I suppose it was a bit more visible in the UK, where I lived at the time
@@gwaptiva Oh in the UK they were massive! I wish I was there for that! Here in the U.S. honestly I never met anyone who has heard of them.
I've lost count of the number of times I've seen SA on tour. They're up there with Skindred as a band I have to go and see whenever they're playing somewhere I can get to. Skin's voice is just as amazing live and the energy at their shows is just incredible.
If anyone reading this has never seen them live, you have to the next time there's an opportunity. You will not regret it.
Skin performing "You'll Follow me Down" with Pavarotti is one of the most amazing moments in music, confirmation that Skunk Anansie are a band for everyone and that their message is bigger than anything that tries to hold it back.
They're also grass roots champions of new music venues as I'd often see them loveliest
I can't believe ididn't know this existed until i saw your comment. Thank you for that sir. That is now a constant rotation recording.
THANK YOU!! Wow, I'm so happy; when I commented on the Evanescence video asking "what about Skunk Anansie and Skin?", I didn't think such a great piece was about to land on your channel!
Brilliant video for a brilliant group, and I hope many will get to discover or rediscover the magnificence of Skin :'D
Skunk's song "you ought to be by yourself" on the cruel intentions soundtrack changed my life. The whole soundtrack is amazing!
As an American, I'm furious this is the first I've heard of Skunk Anansie and Skin!
this is why you should have watched the movie Suckerpunch XD
such a great band, with one hell of a singer, they are never talked about
@@patrickmohan2220 What do you mean by that?
@Patrick Mohan are you okay buddy?
@@drcrusher5785 He's come here to be a dickhead because he has got a head full of boo hoo.
One of the best bands I ever saw live fronted by one of the most charismatic performers. I'm lucky I got to do so in their prime. I love both their albums.
Thank you for giving the recognition Skunk and Skin deserve they were true artists and talked about social issues that are only just being touched on now
back in the 90's. Amazing video
everyone was rubbing along together just fine in the ninties in britain, this shit show today is another time,another generation nothing like the 90's in anyway at all. pound for pound the 90's was the best decade ever
Funny you both say that. I've heard a ton of people who say the opposite 🤔🧐
I grew up in the 80s having all this social justice shite shoved down my throat by my school, my white middle class family & the media. I used to support it all now I'm utterly over it. If people don't like The West move to Africa & try being a lesbian there
@@LordStompyHarpLoonyTunes original though, ngl
I LOVE SKUNK ANANSIE THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO
I'm from America and I never heard of them. I graduated in 93 so I'm surprised I never heard them before. And I can't believe they aren't huge. I'm digging what I'm hearing in this video and I'm definitely going to add them to my Spotify list. ✌️
@@davee.9906 they have some really powerful songs, I would recommend looking into them. A good starting point is hedonism or weak they are the two big hits!
I clicked on this because SA were one of my favourite bands growing up, but then you mentioned other bands I loved back then (Ash, Feeder, Terrorvision, Reef, 3 Colours Red) and others I fell in love with a little later in life (The Wildhearts, Therapy.) Great video, as always!
SKIN!! I loved her solo albums too. I'm glad my country got all the british music, love this series
I was introduced to this band from the “Strange Days” soundtrack. Selling Jesus is an awesome song
and they are in the movie ;)
that's how i discovered the band. i thought they were cool. i remember howard stern was praising them and thought they were the future and got into an argument with gary over the band and howard's wife, at the time, called in to put gary in his place.
I think it was the Cruel Intentions soundtrack that introduced me to these guys. Awesome band, still listen to Post orgasmic chill to this day.
YES!!! Thank you for covering this!!! I've been a fan of SA - Skin in particular - since I was 5
Great band. Also a great example that there was so much more going on in the 90's than brit pop. A brilliant time to be young :)
fuck, they were so good. my big sister introduced me to them (along with a whole host of other awesome bands, so thanx sis 😘) and i honestly had their albums on repeat for a time. now they remind me of my teenage years (and teenage angst lol) and it's almost bittersweet to listen to them. i thought skin was the coolest woman ever.
I love them too. I feel like they are sort of UK's own version of Tool, but with their own message and aesthetic.
I think Ash probably top the Brit Rock list for me. That Trailer EP and the 1977 album were just superb.
And this would be a timely reminder for anyone remotely into sci-fi to go watch Strange Days (if you can find it). A movie co-written by James Cameron and was a bomb at release sadly because it was waaaaaaaaaay ahead of the curve when it comes to media, VR and social media.
Ralph Fiennes is arguably the best he's ever been as Lenny, a real sleazeball which is against type for him. And I fell in love with Angela Bassett due to her role in it as Mason.
Quick extra musical fact: Bassett's line in the film "Right here....right now" was famously sampled by Fatboy Slim.
And directed by the amazing Kathryn Bigelow his ex wife who still does amazing films
This band and this girl are gem. I love them from very first time I accidentally heard them as support of Lenny Kravitz concert which my girl wanted to see and I didn’t 😂 Skunk anansie and Skin are my all times favorites and true music landmark. 👍
Thank you so much for this! I'm from Brazil and I've discovered Skunk Anansie just recently but it already resonates so much to me
I proudly support you on patreon. I urge anyone who loves these videos and values them to support this channel! Xx
I asked if you would cover Skin/ Skunk Anansie on a previous video and watching this has made me so happy. One of my favourite bands! Great video
So glad you did this episode. I was already a big fan before seeing them at Glastonbury, I looked up from moshing to find a small space had appeared around my big sweaty body even though I was only 10 back from the front. One of my all time favourite bands.
I've been going to gigs for over 30 years now. If someone asked me which my favourite one was, I would instinctively say Skunk Anansie at Aberdeen City Hall in about 1997. They were fucking amazing, so loud and intense. My very small claim to fame is that I have touched Skin's sweaty belly button. This happened when she was crowd surfing over the top of us. I didn't have much choice lol.
Skin and Skunk Anansie were so ahead of their time it's insane!
I love this period of British rock music - it’s still my go-to daily soundtrack, and still the focus of many of the gigs I go to. If this grows to become a sub-series of your New British Canon theme, then please, bring it on, starting with The Wildhearts and the bands that fed into, grew from, and flourished along side: Three Colours Red, Honeycrack, amongst many.
i read this guardian article too, so glad you picked it up as a basis to delve into this awesome band
One of the first groups I ever worked security for … at Wolverhampton civic … Skin wore a hoodie and walked around amongst the crowd before the gig … they were amazing to watch and hear . One of the greats .
I had no idea this band existed, but now I'm excited to hear more of their stuff.
Appreciate the short little Bob Vylan shoutout, they are fucking amazing!
Thank you, mate, for this documentary. I have never heard of this band before today. Again, thank you!
Thanks for talking about this! I hope it will get more people into them. They never seem to get much credit here in America.
I've been enjoting your content for a while now but was beginning to wonder if/when you were gonna talk about Skunk. Glad you finally did-great job!
Proud to report that when I purchased the Paranoid and Sunburnt CD, in the mid 90s, a major chain retailer at the time, correctly placed it in the Rock section on the sales floor.
Stoosh is one of my all time fave albums... totally blew me away back then...and still does when I put it on now. Raw energy, raw emotion, and a completly original sound. Fuck it.. I'm going to stick it on right now and let all my neighbours hear it too.
Supergrass is one of the most talented bands i have ever heard. listened to a few songs then bought every album. i was blown away that EVERY album was fantastic. It is EXTREMELY rare to have a band write such strong material every album. SG ranks right up there with the Beatles.
They were awesome.
Its a shame they broke out just as the british music scene was shifting towards Simon Cowells manipulations
What an absolute powerhouse! How the hell I missed this band while growing up really baffles me. Well, now is certainly gonna be my playlist for the next months at least.
That small montage of songs at 00:20 gave me such good flashbacks to childhood and teens
Thank you for this, there was so much good hard rock coming from over the pond. I feel like Therapy? is one of the most overlooked bands of the 90s.
One of the things I love about this channel is how it always tells me something I never knew about the music I adore. Rod Stewart covered Weak?!? That blew my mind.
I still get so emotional when I see Manëskin in videos like this one, my babies are international now 💕
i nearly missed the fact they got mentioned in the vid!! (also it reminded me that she basically knew about them since they were starting ebcause lets remiend she did soemthign with X-Factor Italia back when they were in the show and saw them performing there!! :D cant remmebe which sogn they were doing but i remmeber she was talkign about them with Manuel Agnelli during like rehearsals, or well, he was talking with her xD)
@xCarrye I did not know that, thank you!
Great video, brings me back to when I first heard Skunk Anansie on Strange Days, now going to relisten to Paranoid & Sunburnt 💕
I’m an Aussie, so thanks so much for introducing me to this band for the first time! You are a legend! Good video, too, btw.
OMFGD I LOVE SKUNK ANANSIE!!!! Her voice is a masterpiece, she is so badass, this entire band was a game-changer when it came out in the mid-90's. She gives me strength every time I hear her voice.
Another day, another fascinating Trash Theory video about an apparently super-popular band I never heard of in America. Keep em coming!
One of the best, craziest, most energetic bands I've seen live!
Fantastic photo of Sylvia Massey at the ultra-rare Neve "everything including the kitchen sink" console!
YES! This was mega! Loved this review of Skunk Anansie. Never was into them that much, but they were clearly much different to other music happenings on the island at the time.
Fantastic. You always do great documentaries. But this one is just fantastic.
I was lucky enough to see Skin perform a couple of times, I felt she came at a moment when vocal performance kind of didn't matter , she was underrated, She was the alternative Whitney, She had pipes.
She was what Jada Pinkett Smith wanted to be musically.
Yeah, neither Cobain nor Liam Gallagher could sing for shit, better than your average pub singer
That was an excellent documentary on them, great job.
god i love this band. owe everything i am to that voice and the songcraft
I just got into Skunk Anansie by listening to Post Orgasmic Chill, truly defied categorization but that's what I love about a band: being unpredictable. Great video!!! But now you have to make a video for Therapy? PLEASE!!!! Thanx!!!
Seeing Skunk Anansie get some love makes me feel good.
Fantastic band, and of course its effing political.
Another awesome segment. Thank you for your research and insights.
Really appreciate your channel! Well done!
Mate I must congratulate you on your videos. Brilliantly done, well researched, well thought out. And bring back some serious nostalgia lol. Every video I go away and re download stuff I had forgotten about.
Finally a video about Skunk Anansie!!
Awesome video on a great band, also love that you gave Bob Vylan and Nova Twins a shout at the end, they're both brilliant! Would you consider doing a video on early 2000s UK post-hardcore, specifically bands like Hundred Reasons and Funeral For A Friend reaching some unexpected chart success?
Had the GOOD FORTUNE of seeing them live mid 90’s in St. Louis of all places 😎💜🤘 was VERY IMPRESSED!
Paranoid and Sunburnt was one of the first albums I ever bought. I never thought they got the recognition they deserved. One of my all time favourites, although to be honest I'm not really crazy about what they're doing now, what they were putting out in the 90s was amazing, and Charlie Big Potato is awesome!
Such an amazing band I was obsessed with them at the time. As a young teenager I was perhaps a bit too naïve to understand just why they got so much flak from certain parts of the rock community at the time.
Despite their success, they are still massively underrated in my opinion. I still play 'Brazen (Weep)' occasionally, just an incredible emotional powerhouse of a song.
Thanks for covering them, they deserve way more listeners!
Years back in Bristol, the band I was in always had "Weak as I am" in the set, female vocalist too, we were called First Element, doing The Fleece, Bierkeller, Reckless Engineer, if any in the West Country can remember us.. still up on BBC Somerset music I think...
Non british guy here. Would manic street preachers qualify for a episode here or is wales a completely different thing?
Wales is in Britain. And the manics, in my view, were and still are a hugely important band in British music. I think it could be a very long video because there is so much to say about them!
Huggy bear and the political Brit punk of the 90s sooooooo deserve a vid.
P.s this channel is everything 🔥
COME ON THRU!!! OMG, I loved Skunk Anansie. It was so hard to find Black Women in rock because it's not supported. Plenty of fans and plenty of talent out there, though. I was visiting London in 2002 and was Na Na Na club and Skin was there that night. Do you know HOW thrilled I was.
Skunk Anansie have been 100% my favourite band for at least 15 years. I watched the Netflix episode on Britpop from the 'This is Pop' series and was so excited to see Skin interviewed, but then they just asked her about her opinion on Oasis and didn't mention her music. Thank you so much for covering them here. I love watching New British Canon and this was a real treat for me
Man, what a great band, and what a great video. Thank you.
WOW I never thought I'd see a video like this. Skunk Anansie were a massive part of my musical identity growing up. And while I'm no minority - I'm a straight middle-class white guy, about as "majority" as it gets over here - Skin was always an inspiring figure to me. Don't get me wrong, I loved other music like Pulp and Supergrass that was made by people who, superficially at least, were more like me ("In it for the money" is another massively underappreciated gem of an album in my opinion). But Skin was a totally different voice that felt so refreshing and exciting to hear. Didn't hurt that Skunk were such a massively talented band either. My favorite album of theirs is "Post-Orgasmic Chill". "Charlie Big Potato" and "And This Is Nothing That I Thought I Had" remain in my personal top rank of rock "bangers", "Tracy's Flaw" hits me in the same way that Alanis' "Perfect" does in that I feel like I know the exact person described in both songs, and "Secretly" is a freaking masterpiece. Oh, and for a non-"POC" favorite, "Glorious Pop Song" is just fantastic. Combining that "pop" hook with those lyrics... absolute perfection.
Another classic!!! You never miss!
as always... Damn Man... you are bloody brilliant... great essay...
A+++++! Man this is the best UK music channel on CZcams. Kneill X ( ex Killing joke).
I didn’t know this band existed. It sounds amazing! I feel bad it took me this long but I’ll surely check them out now.
Holy crap! I’ve never heard of this band or Skin and I’m in awe.
It's been almost 10 years now since I saw them live. Hopefully I will see them again soon.
I was first made aware of Skin when she collabed with Sevendust on Licking Creme from the album "Home". Didn't realise she was from a kickass band until much later- they have so many great songs. Weak is one of my faves.
Saw there guys at the Glasgow Barrowland, maybe 1996. My girlfriend at the time wanted to see them (I wasn't keen). They were amazing, one of the best live acts I ever saw. Skin's frontperson skills were off the dial.
I heard them on the Cruel Intentions soundtrack and her voice floored me! Such great energy.
I love this group! I first saw them performing "Selling Jesus" in the movie Strange Days. I had to track down their other stuff after that.
Addicted to this band now. Thank you!
Britain should have replaced it's monarchy (and parliament) with Skunk Anansie long ago.
Each band member get's their face on a coin or note.
Skin is already a Queen so... like... make it happen aye? :D
A very clear and concise analysis. Love it!
I remember seeing this band in Phoenix AZ around 95-96. They had something special IMO.
I remember reading about them in magazines, but never heard their music. They were just too damned good.
How divided was music in Middle America during the 90s? Emanim's first single was played on St. Louis' "alternative station" (105.7 The Point). The only poc on that station were Living Colour and The Urge.