@mickeyundertone

I need a Mars Bar
Hey raid the Spar
To help me through the day
I need a Mars Bar
I’ve had ten so far
It helps me, makes me
Work, rest and play
It helps me, makes me
Work, rest and play
Written By: Michael Bradley / Damian O’Neill

Mars Bars is my favourite song by The Undertones, bar none. Yeah, yeah, Teenage Kicks, I know, but Jimmy Jimmy, the A-side to Mars Bars, is better, as is the magnificent My Perfect Cousin (and I have a cousin called Kevin but I was tops at Subbuteo). True Confessions is better and the list goes on. John Peel was wrong.

Michael Bradley is not wrong. Tweeting as @MickeyUndertone he nails it when he says TwinsTown get an A* for music.

Michael Bradley from The Undertones is a legend and he gives TwinsTown an A* in music.

Hey, and the B for art isn’t bad either. Having just scraped a C I’d have loved a B in art. I’m lovin’ Micky Undertone’s grading almost as much as I love his lyrics. Here’s some more, this time from My Perfect Cousin.

He’s got a degree in economics
Maths, physics and bionics
He thinks that I’m a cabbage
‘Cause I hate University Challenge
Even at the age of ten
Smart boy Kevin was a smart boy then
He always beat me at Subbuteo
Cause he flicked to kick and I didn’t know
Written By: Michael Bradley / Damian O’Neill

“He flicked to kick and I didn’t know.” Calm down, calm down.

You can tell I’m a fan… so what!? It’s The Undertones. Young people sit down, this is not about you. The Undertones: the best band from Northern Ireland ever. That’s not even an opinion, it’s their official status over there. Indulge me here.

Don’t look so surprised
You’ve been telling me lies
It’s hard to wake up to your makeup
So please take off that disguise
All your true
Your true confessions
Written By: Michael Bradley, John O’Neill & Damian O’Neill

What’s that? I’m supposed to be writing about TwinsTown, aye!? Oops, sorry ’bout that, but TwinsTown aren’t really cutting edge. Michael Bradley @MickeyUndertone says so on his BBC MB Record Show. You can listen to him say it.

The Mickey Bradley Record Show, July 2020.

It’s great having someone like Mickey offering TwinsTown such positive feedback.

Cutting edge on a Friday night, who needs it!?

Mickey – I hope I can call him Mickey – likes Mark’s piano and Whanga Records too.

Great piano from Mark Guyan who famously did not play keys with The Darkness. Mark does not believe in a thing called love. His band name is The Darkness. Phew, glad we cleared that up. And Whanga! What a name!

Well, I say Mickey likes Whanga Records, I doubt he’s met them in person. Check this oot.

Stuart Barrett and Craig Birrell, founders of Whanga Records, and what a name it is, honouring the Māori heritage of late friend and former 1/4 Chubz frontman Callum Jake Paterson Whanga.

Then again as a punk icon I guess Mickey might like big Barrett’s 1/4 Chubz and Craig’s Birrell or Biscuit. I hear he has played UFO Space Disco and Top of the Pops. Find out more at Whanga Records.

Finally, a big thank you to Michael for all his work with The Undertones – my childhood benefitted enormously – and on his excellent The Mickey Bradley Record Show on BBC Radio Ulster. I’ll be tuning in again TwinsTown or no. Most of all, of course, thank you to Mickey for playing Dive In and for getting those pesky twins telt. “Plenty more fish in the sea” is a romantic turn of phrase. The song is not about fish. You’d think the writers would know what they’re writing about but it takes a music legend to keep them right.

Oh, I almost forgot, please vote for Dive In by using the link below and feel free to share this post widely encouraging others to join in the vote for TwinsTown.

https://amazingradio.com/shows/audition/poll

Thank you for your kind support.

Stay alive!

Tag: @mickeyundertone

The Undertones’ Mickey Undertone talks TwinsTown and says the music gets an A*