That’s Entertainment // The Jam
Born as the son of a cabbie and a part time cleaner, Paul Weller has never forgotten where he came from. In his youth, he became a disciple to the working class religion of the Mods and throughout his career; his blue collar values have been a constant source of inspiration for his creative output.
The Jam fan favourite ‘That’s Entertainment’ is no exception. It sees him reeling through some of the simple pleasures of the modest life, with a dryness and uncanny sense of universality; we can all relate to the strange comfort of “Watching the telly and think about your holidays” and the sense of yearning and wanderlust attached to “Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away.” He even manages to give “a kick in the balls” an almost bittersweet sense of charm.
On top of that, through his lyrics he manages to massage your every sense with memories of his hometown of Woking; in your mind’s eye, you can paint a vivid mental picture of a vandalised phone box. Hot in your nostrils, you can almost smell the damp on the walls and on your breath, and taste the bitterness of petrol in the air. These things seem far from grandiose but Weller is able to expertly mine them of their humble beauty to stunning effect.
Words by Thomas Johnston