Malcolm McLaren and the World Famous Supreme Team Show 'Aria On Air'

Chart Peak: Did not chart in the UK
YouTube

As far as I can tell, this track was never released as an A-side in the UK, but was a popular B-side to his not-very successful single 'Operaa House'. Though this title meant nothing to me, I recognised the track instantly as the theme song of a 1989 British Airways commercial - it's an updated mix of the Flower duet, a more conventional recording of which had charted in 1985 from another advert.

Although it's questionable how much he personally contributed to them, McLaren had made rather a name for himself as a solo artist by bringing together disparate forms and turning them into a pop hits. But this point his commercial appeal had waned somewhat and to be honest the idea was starting to seem a little tired. It seems even more so now and in all honesty this isn't really that entertaining without the visuals. At least he doesn't do any vocals I suppose.

Malcolm McLaren 'Madam Butterfly'

Chart Peak: 13

YouTube

A song possibly better remembered now for the video, regularly dug out by VH-1 because it has some women in it without much on. Well, at least McLaren isn't in it in person...

I do wonder how many of the viewers remembered the song itself, which is another of McLaren's attempts to blend old and new styles, in this case 80s RnB and opera. It's not a bad idea, I suppose, but the execution isn't as effective as it could have been, especially now it's not modern any more. And McLaren's narration just grates on me. I think perhaps you had to be there.

Also appearing on: Now 1
Available on: Fans

Malcom McLaren 'Double Dutch'

Chart peak: 3

YouTube

The trouble with McLaren is that he sets himself up as a hate figure so assiduously that it's difficult not to feel that you're playing into his hands by criticising him.
However, there's no getting away from the fact that his vocals are pretty much the worst thing about this record, which otherwise manages the unlikely feat of being a big hit about skipping. Well, I think it's about skipping anyway - being a boy I was never wholly initiated into all that stuff at school, so I don't really know what any of it means.

There's no question that this was an important record for its time, one of the first major hits to combine hip-hop, world music and an annoying bloke who sounds like a bingo caller, becoming an influential crossover success. The disadvantage of this is for my present-day self is that this record seems so carefully suited for its time that it can't really have any of the same impact a quarter of a century later when all these ideas have become commonplace and the Trevor Horn production sounds a bit dated - in fairness, maybe it would be better if I had a mint 12" copy and really cranked it up to get all the bass, rather than just listening online.
Of course, this tune got a second (at least) lease of life in 1999 thanks to 'Double Double Dutch by Dope Smugglaz, which I actually bought for some reason. Years later I discovered that some people I was at school with had mimed the string section to that on Top Of The Pops.

Also appearing on: Now 4
Available on: Duck Rock [MP3 only]