Fingerpoppin' by The Clash

"Fingerpoppin'" is generally considered to be the very worst of the worst of the songs on Cut the Crap, with the lyrics appearing to be a mix of generic disco tropes ("Is gonna point to the beat, right on time, this finger points in a brand new dance, this finger points for a new romance") and a look at male and female teenage flirting rituals ("Girls, girls around the floor, are you wondering what you came for? Why do these boys stand in groups? Are they urban tribes of fighting troops?"). The music also sounds confused, with a Level 42-style slap-bass which is entirely at odds with the old-skool "back to basics punk" sound the band were going for on the record.
The song only made one live appearance for The Clash - at the Brixton Miner's Benefit show in December 1984. A common joke among critics is of course the fact that the miners subsequently lost their strike action.

Please sign in or register to post comments.

Be the first to comment...

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?