The Land Of Make Believe

Album: Are You Ready? (1981)
Charted: 1
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the second of three UK #1 singles for the British Eurovision winners Bucks Fizz, staying at peak position for two weeks in January 1982. The song also topped the singles charts in Ireland and Netherlands.
  • Rock fans were surprised to learn that this seemingly child-friendly pop concoction was co-written by prog rocker poet laureate Pete Sinfield, a founding member and lyricist with King Crimson, who also penned most of Emerson, Lake & Palmer's lyrics. He recalled in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "It is 10 times more difficult to write a three minute hit song, with a veneer of integrity, than it is to write anything for King Crimson or Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But I half succeeded, for instance, The Land Of Make Believe, beneath its 'Tra la las' is a virulent anti-Thatcher song. Oh yes it is, something nasty in your garden, waiting, till it can steal your heart."
  • The record's final moments features a nursery rhyme penned by Sinfield. The poem was narrated by former Minipops singer Abby Kimber, who was the 11-year old daughter of an executive of RCA Records. At the time, radio stations were instructed to fade the song before the narration.

Comments: 2

  • Jon Kutner from UkI was at Radio 1 at the time and I never heard anything about fading the song early. Quite often it made for a nice end up to the news or the Greenwich Time Signal. Other stations may have faded it, but none that I've heard. Jon Kutner
  • David from Nottingham, United KingdomWhy was this, that radio stations were instructed to fade the song before the narration? I can't see anything controversial in it.
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