Something About You by Level 42

Album: World Machine (1985)

Charted: 6 7

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"Something About You" is one of Level 42's most popular songs, but they weren't sure it good enough for their World Machine album - it had a more commercial sound and glossier production than their previous jazz-funk recordings. Their fears were banished when it charted around the world and became their first and biggest hit in America, where it earned loads of radio play. In 1991, six years after it was released, it earned a BMI Award for one million broadcast performances.
Bassist Mark King, whose percussive slap-bass technique provided the driving groove for this and other Level 42 hits, is known as the "Man with the Golden Thumb." He is such a good bass player that his record-label Polydor insured his hands for £3 million in the late 1980s.
In the lavish (and very expensive) music video for this song, Mark King appears as a sort of dark carnival barker, overseeing moments of doom shared between the other band members and the same woman. King reprised this role for Level 42's song "Leaving Me Now," also on World Machine.
The band took its name from the Douglas Adams book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in which "42" is the answer to a question about the meaning of life.
The actress Cheri Lunghi (Excalibur, The Mission) plays the love interest in the music video.
"Something About You" is about the challenges that come after the glamor of new love wears off and we find ourselves in a difficult relationship with a very real and flawed person, as well as being left with our own flawed selves. "Is it so wrong to be human after all?" the song asks. Of course not, but that's often all too easy to forget when emotionally enmeshed with someone.
King's bass-playing digits also earned him a less-flattering nickname, as well as a peculiar fashion accessory. He told Guitar World, "Back in the early days I was slapping the bass so hard that I completely split my thumb, and that was a real problem. We'd played 13 back-to-back shows in Holland, and by the end of it I was bleeding all over my bass. The Dutch nicknamed me the Butcher! Ever since then I've always played with a strip of gaffer tape around my thumb to stop it ever happening again."
"Something About You" was a group songwriting effort. It started with a chorus sequence that drummer Phil Gould had been carrying around for years. The band took that song kernel to the loft of King's house in the Streatham district of London. Keyboardist/pianist Mike Lindup crafted the top-line melodies, guitarist Rowland "Boon" Gould, Phil's brother, wrote some lyrics, and longtime collaborator and unofficial Level 42 member Wally Badarou synthesized all the parts together.
Fan lore long held that King's character in the music video was inspired by Laurence Olivier's character in the 1960 film The Entertainer, but director Stuart Orme has never confirmed or refuted this.

Comments: 27

David Bloss from Massachusetts, UsaThere is a Tower 42 in London, UK.
James From Germany from GermanyPhil Gould had written (proposed) the original lyrics, but was 86'd by Mark King in favor of his bro Boon's version. Apparently, the row over the lyrics was the impetus of the Gould brothers departure. The question I have always wondered, is there a recording (or even text version) existing of Phil's original idea for the lyrics...?
Ginger from AlabamaMark is mouthing “we’re only human after all.” And then “yeah” right before he gets off the train. There is coincidentally “something about” this song that makes it timeless and so unforgettable. It grabs you from the first chords and never has a weak spot. I could listen to it everyday. The video is one of a kind too. So many layers. I don’t dare try to dissect it.
Mikezmom99 from NjWhat 1980’s movie is this song from? I can picture it but cannot remember the name !!
Jo from Bristol UkI remember this song was always a favourite from Level 42. I often wondered where the location of video was filmed. I have searched and yet still wonder, does anybody know?
Gary O from Iowa, UsaAndy T - he says "We're Only Human After All"
Ambassador Alice from Htown37 years later and this song is never far from my mind. It stands the test of time, with a killer melody, great lyrics, and a guitar solo that's pure late 80's
Time Foolery from Vancouver IslandDoes anybody know what Mark is saying at the end of the video? It has driven me nuts for 36 years!!!
Diet from BelgiumThis song is so damn good...i once whispered the title of the song to a woman s ear ...on a level 42 concert. She gave me a seducing smile...
Bobby Dan From San Antonio from TexasI was 12 when this came out and like Ian from Brent Cross wrote, that song touched my heart so much. I am almost mesmerized when I hear it.
Ian from Brent CrossI'm a fan of Level 42. When Something About You came out in late 1985 I was 15yrs old at the time .That tune touched my heart so much the words and the arrangement to it . It's my favourite tune and always will be till the day I die.
Wolf Of Thorns from Houston, TxWasn't this song used in multiple movies in the 80's? I can't find anything on the internet about this song being used in film.
Ken from NcSchizophrenia & Multiple Personality Disorder - I've watched this video thousand of times as this is one of my most beloved songs. I came across this page and then I began to watch it again and thought, these must be his various personas; creative, playboy, romantic, or something. The clown or ringmaster is the showman behind all of the 3 ring circuses his personalities make up; which also ties us to the sentiment of we're only human after all and deeply flawed. He is always trying to put these acts behind him, but they are always in front like a lot of our flaws and at that time undiagnosed mental illnesses. The breakdowns become an impasse and what we don't see is the failed attempt to hide who we are behind the circus acts. That's why the laughing and outburst from the clown are scary because it shows how we don't seem to have control. Even when it looks like we should be happy, the clown wasn't happy because of the look back into the camera, in effect saying that we don't deserve/can't be happy. The exit from the train when in cuffs was probably an overly nice way of taking him to an asylum of some sort as you can see the clown was in an asylum type facility during the hallway scenes. All that to say this...love drove him crazy!
Andy T from Gravesend. UkCan anybody tell me what Mark is singing in the camera close up sequence on the train towards the end of the video.
Lewis from Newtownabbey UkI noticed that Mark was handcuffed from the way the man in the glasses seemed to be a little annoyed at him at the end and threw his coat over the cuffs. The main girl in the video is there at the end and doesn't seem to pay him any attention suggesting she does not in fact care for him/hasn't noticed him/is not surprised at his situation. The clown is his imagination mocking him for where he is in lift (i.e being transferred in cuffs) and he is inventing his past to deal with his present. Whats really getting me is the the blonde painter is really recognizable - like she was in a movie or two and i cant put my finger on it. She's not credited in the video. Anyone know her???
Michael from Philadelphia Song still is mesmerizing 35 years later
Andy From Oz from Ballarat, VicHas anyone noticed that Mark is handcuffed to the guy with the glasses?
Herman Slavic from Houston, TxMark King is singing about a relationship where love has faded because of the stupid things he's done his SO. They are in a rough period. But they still care deeply about each other, and remain together. He imagines each of his band mates in a relationship with an ideal woman. They each sabotage the relationship in their own way. Mark imagines himself as something of a jester, instigating petty slights, and laughing in amusement. In the end, each of the men realize they have something special, and make amends. In the end, there is a sense each relationship can be salvaged.
Mike from CaliforniaI think these interpretations are wrong. I don't think he knows the other guys on the train at all. He is having problems with his girlfriend and he is wondering if these guys would have the same problems with her that he is having. Would they be a better match for her than him. At first, in his imagination he thinks there is no chance. And then he reverses and thinks the opposite. That's when he freaks out and ends the imagination driven love connection.
Geoff from Sandy, United KingdomHey Randy, Mark is saying "We're only human after all", the line from earlier in the song, but it's not synched up so it appears to be a little odd. Like you I pondered this for a long time before it just came to me. Love Level 42, much under rated, especially in todays world where your talent is measured purely by how much of a Maria Carey/Celine Dionne/Whitney Houston a-like you are in a talent show. These guys wrote, played and produced their music and were s#@t hot live!
Randy from Rio De Janeiro, -Love this song. But one thing has always puzzled me, in the video, right before the end, when the train pulls into the station, the lead singer is shown silently mouthing some additional lines. I often wondered if a transcript of what he's saying existed somewhere.
Travis from Grandisland, FlGreat song and agree with Kate from Austin. it always stood out among many from the 80's.
Duncan from Puyallup, WaCherie Lunghi, and she is awesome. I loved her in excalibur.
Scott from Belleville, IlWHO is the gal on the Something About You video? Anyone know? Thanks
Kate from Austin , TxJust love the song. Very unique.
Manny from Ny, NyI like this interpretation the best..

"He's sitting on the train reviewing the experiences of each of his friends from left to right with the SAME woman. At first he's like a mime in the background watching the show of his friends get CLOWNED by this chick. Then, he has enough and finally gets in her face, standing up to her clowning his friends, and exposes her. There was just something about her that his friends couldn't see that she was just making fools of them. To fall into the role of fool for someone is "human" after all".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giRyQrXiEJ0
Mike from Santa Barbara, CaThe video drew as much attention as the song, and no one seemed to be sure what it was about. It seemed like the front man had a girlfriend whom he thought might be cheating on him with one of his fellow band members, but he didn't know which one, and he was trying to figure it out while the band was traveling on a train.

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