The B-52's - Ain't It A Shame

THE B-52's ''Ain't It A Shame'' from the album ''Bouncing Off The Satellites'' (1986.)
Theres a slinky, gorgeous vocal by Cindy Wilson on perhaps one of their most straightforward songs ever. Exquisitely heartbreaking ''Ain't It A Shame'', another in a line of enthralling Cindy-sung weepers that began with ''Dance This Mess around'' and may be the best of them all. It's certainly one of many crowning moments in The B-52's recorded oeuvre!
Lyrics:
Flying saucers could land
And it wouldn't make much difference to my man
I could walk aboard and thank the Lord
And leave this damn town in seconds flat
Check my bags and never come back
Oh, our love is
Like a fuse that's burned out
Oh, our love is
Like a fuse that's burned out
Oh, I've been unkind
Not like you
Ain't I ashamed
Being misused
Oh, our love is
Like a fuse that's burned out
Oh, our love is
Like a fuse that's burned out
I liked your Chevy Duster
I liked your brand new trailer
I liked your colour TV
But you looked at that colour TV
More than me
More than me
Oh, our love is
Like a fuse that's burned out
Oh, our love is
Like a fuse that's burned out

[@sheridanhooper6581]

Probably my wife's favorite B-52s song.

[@slyslaughter5115]

I love Cindy's voice, and this song has haunted me for decades! Such an underrated album.

[@BTTR2011]

So true

[@ernestgreen6821]

Feel the same way! It’s beautiful in a wholistic way! Touching, sentimental, kind, joyous and reflective!

[@johnnyconstantino3749]

One of the best.... I like your color t.v

[@angelolisanti4193]

Good song

[@cristinaamorim8101]

Walking on fluffy clouds..that's how this masterpiece makes me feel. ❤

[@nauort23]

"Chevy Duster"... I love the kind of cluelessness that matches my own. Thanks for 33 years of joy, Cindy.

[@Aramanth]

I have loved this song for years! Cindy said she wanted to write a country song but then she started putting UFOs in it! I love this song and I miss her doing songs by herself, she had three solos on Satellites! That might be why it is my favorite album! Thanks for posting this great track! And go Cindy!

[@mrlonno8201]

Cindy Wilson is one of the best singers of all time.

[@sozontius]

+Mrlonn O Agree, and one of the most original and unique!!!

[@mrlonno8201]

Yep, I still wonder why they haven't been inducted in the rock and roll hall of fame. They are original, creative, and quite talented.

[@sozontius]

Unfortunately, for the wider audience they are most recognizable only for ''Cosmic Thing', and ''Flinstones' period. Most people don't know how fantastic 'total album's band' they are and also very progressive, diversive, influential...It's a pitty that the last studio album ''Funplex'' didn't get better recognition and comercial success! It's a truly masterpiece too!!!

[@mrlonno8201]

Yes, I agree 100% I would have released a couple of singles more and they videos frim Funplex. Their music is way ahead of time.

[@sozontius]

+Mrlonn O I'm glad that we share same opinions! :)) ''Juliet Of The Spirits' is one of the best pop songs of 21st century!!!

[@harrpoe]

Probably the only B52's song with harmonica..or at least faux-harmonica. I was captivated by Cindy the first time I saw her on Saturday Night Live. I fell head over heals in love with her at the Hollywood Palladium in 1980. When she sings these minor chords, pulling heartstrings doesn't begin to cover what she does. Simply amazing and beautiful. RIP Ricky

[@Tavomorales502]

Oh, the B-52´s and Bouncing off the satellites, and specially this song brings me bittersweet memories. Firstly, I was so happy to be listening to a brand new album from my favorite band back somewhere by the end of 1986. When I read the KCT´s booklet, I couln´t understand the special dedication to the memory of Ricky Wilson... WTF I thought, how can it be? You must understand there was no internet at the time and living in Central America didn´t give me the chance to hear the sad sad news. It still touches my heart and almost makes me cry. My guitar hero, my favorite new wave guy was gone. It´s never been the same since then. I loved the B´s very much. I remember going to all my highschool parties with their PARTY MIX LP under my arm and it was impossible that it wasn´t played more than once, specially the A side, although I loved the B side very much as well, but it wasn´t too well known, except for fans. In this cold morning I save a prayer for Ricky Wilson, he´s my favorite artist of all time.

[@sozontius]

Gustavo, thanks for your beautiful memories which you shared here with all of us! Ricky was unique musician and author, and also the rest of the band!!! Greetings from A.

[@Angel-ph5ny]

Gustavo Morales It's too bad he even died. What could've happened if he hadn't?

[@NadiaOstacchini]

This is just a great song. I have always loved it.

[@jtimleck]

LOVE this song - play it again and again....Oh, I've been unkind....Not like you Ain't I ashamed....Being misused

[@Toner12]

Song has such a great feel to it. Perfect to the music and Cindy's vocal is wonderful.

[@DavidLanglois1]

Give Me Back My Man & Dance This Mess Around are all the proof needed that the B's can sing the blues. There needs to be at least one Cindy ballad on every record.

[@TheB52sRule]

One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

[@sozontius]

Yeah, Ricky and Keith's vocals here are totally great! Sound so pleasent!

[@ste52s]

Cindy on centre stage and Ricky on backing vocals captured forever in this song of beauty. Satellites was Ricky's album and this is a tribute to his genius I wish they'd do it live again.

[@mrlonno8201]

Cindy's talent is undenyable.

[@dancingirl11]

Hauntingly beautiful.

[@KENKENNIFF]

Thumbs up for the saddest harmonica theme out

[@user-bl1iw9wl3g]

Great song

[@urbanguy99]

This is such a gem of a song. Again another track from the totally under rated Album Bouncing off the Saterlights - I love that Ricky is singing with his sister in backup vocals

[@sharksport01]

Still makes me cry.

[@Swe4rbox]

My fav B52's song...reminds me of all sorts of strange things...was in Saudi Arabia when I first heard this...sometimes I wish that flying saucer would land and whisk me away...maybe one day.

[@sozontius]

Totally agree with you! 'Ain't It A Shame' still sounds so fresh and modern! I'm glad that especially Australia recognized most of their qualities!

[@sozontius]

Thank you for sharing your devotion with all of us to this great singer, band, song and album!!! GO CINDY!!!

[@LFelecia]

Best B-52 song not released as a contender before Love Shack. Beautiful song.

[@dang9375]

love this song so much :) .......

[@HoldenForrestSongs]

there are dozens of B52s songs that I absolutely love, that i wish i'd written :-) But for some reason this song is my all-time favorite. My 4 yr old daughter loves it too. We just groove out in the car over and over. This dang song has haunted me for over 20 years. Why doesn't this clueless boyfriend appreciate his awesome girl? Thanks so much Alek for posting it (and in such high quality too)!!

[@olivier55s]

So rare and so Beautiful !

[@b2xs]

This has always been my favorite song by them. I never understood why this wasn't there huge hit rather than Love Shack

[@slyslaughter5115]

Me either

[@pdmcwywh]

Haunting, beautiful...one of the VERY best tunes of the pop genre......in my Desert Island Discs along with Floyd.....

[@sozontius]

pdmcwywh totally agree :))) In my Desert Island Discs too :))) Pink Floyd's ''Hey You'' also, ''Pigs (Three Different Ones)...etc etc :)))

[@pdmcwywh]

aleksandar stanojević Interesting choice of Floyd tracks......I think Echoes and Shine On have to be their finest works, but I do think the Animals album is excellent. I don't thing Waters quite got the lyrics right on Pigs though.....

[@sozontius]

pdmcwywh thanks! :)) yeah! ''Echoes'' is a true masterpiece (one of my favourite PF pieces too), 'Wish You Were Here'' album too :)) It's so difficult to pick any particular song in that glorious and unbeatable ''Waters driving force period''...''The Wall'' is my extra special favourite album, but somehow i picked ''Hey You''...!? :)) OOOH, I like so much Waters Orwellian lyrics on ''Animals'' album! :))

[@pdmcwywh]

aleksandar stanojević Alek, I would say WYWH is the finest PF album and personally for me the finest piece of music in the history of rock music - if you HAD to pick one album! I think the theatrical material on The Wall lets it down...Vera, Bring the Boys Back Home......The Trial - they are awful and belong on a solo album. I think they should have expanded the Another Brick in the Wall theme and cut out the stuff I mention. Dark Side is perfect, but it does not draw you in like WYWH - in my opinion. My tutor at Cambridge was at school with Dave Gilmour and keeps in touch, they were best pals. I never met him but narrowly missed doing so once in Cambridge as a student right at the time of The Wall....

[@sozontius]

pdmcwywh yes, in my opinion WYWH is even better than DSOFTM, but i simply adore every secoond of theatrical 3rd side of ''The Wall'' album) :)) I think it gives the album some extra and new quality and that ''The Wall'' practically became the rock opera! :)) I must say that i don't like what Gilmour had done with his wife and with Rick and Nick and other guest musicians after Roger left the band (in December 1985.) That was total catastrophy and enormous shame but it's something which didn't surprise me at all! Everybody knows 'which one is Pink?'' :))) Sorry, this is my deep and constant impression for a long, long time! :))

[@timogriffith]

My absolute favorite. Beautiful instrumentals and gorgeous vocals from Cindy. Heartbreaking really. Thanks for the post. ; (

[@michaelmatthews9435]

This song is from the only B-52's album, that I don't own. No longer, because after hearing Cindy sing like this. I must own it! Plus, the band photo is priceless. I really want a poster! So do you - admit it. . .

[@sozontius]

Holden, it's so fantastic that you share with your 4 year old daughter your passion and devotion for this superb song! ;) It's my big pleasure to exchange impressions with the real fans of this unique and fantastic band and this song in particular! Every time i play it, it's always sounds magical, fresh, mysterious and hypnotic in some way ;))

[@sozontius]

My favourite THE B-52's song in general! ;)))

[@afimaci]

It's in my B-52's top-5 - it's a shame that Cindy didn't get to sing more songs on the albums...she deserves more credit as a singer.

[@trfesok]

Covered by Sinead O'Connor, believe it or not. So, I put both versions in my Sinead playlist. Thanks for the upload!

[@leandrozanetti7677]

O love this song!

[@sozontius]

It's a great pleasure for me to share similar devotion to this great song with so many other interesting fans! Greetings and GO CINDY!!!

[@hermitageboy]

i'm just discovering all these brill B52 songs! didn't realise how diverse they were, not just the main hits they had.

[@sozontius]

it's a great that you shared your feelings about this superb song! ;)) Thanks! Welcome to the club! ;))

[@havanakim]

this is some amazing song. Beautiful voice..

[@oli101010]

so beautiful

[@cindynichols2698]

I can't wait to see these guys in heaven

[@MaidNoMore]

Great song, great pic. Bittersweet.

[@Gabriel-gx6dy]

Outstanding song. I heard it for the first time maybe like 20 years ago. Great memories. Thanks a lot Aleksandar for posting it !

[@KENKENNIFF]

One person is like a fuse that burned out.

[@sozontius]

thanks a lot that you shared your great memories with us and i'm so glad to realize that amongs true fans this unique album and this song in particular has a special appreciation!

[@SofiaPresse]

Their Best Song!!!!

[@unque4484]

Cindy. The best in b52

[@popelineout6143]

❤️love Cindy this band never die 🇵🇹First recording in Bahamas

[@ClaudioEtzhagas]

I love this music. It was played in several FM radios here in Brazil.

[@pasadener]

heartbreakingly beautiful. domini wherever you are. this remains ours

[@doctorevil7665]

Шикарнейшая группа ! Я наверное первый русский, кто оставил коммент под видосом 😜🎼🎸🎹

[@rullmourn1142]

nice, thanks for this upload...Cindy has always be my favorite.

[@natasnatas9581]

such a beautiful song !!!

[@DavidLanglois1]

Touching.

[@schl0tte]

What a great song!

[@sozontius]

You 're absolutely right! I wish the same!!!

[@sozontius]

Glad to hear that!!! Thanks!!!

[@rodrigopoppe]

One million likes!

[@popelineout6143]

Recording in the Bahamas?❤️🇵🇹🇺🇸thanks Cindy

[@sozontius]

You are absolutely right! ;)))

[@jimdean5020]

Flying saucers could land And it wouldn't make much difference to my girl

[@SHILTONFEDERICO]

Temazoooooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@janmikolajczyk5587]

Brilliant albuim from a second to none band they r uneque

[@sozontius]

Thumbs UP !!!

[@sozontius]

You're welcome, Gabriel! The pleasure is mine too! ;)) Greetings!

[@biggasbiggas]

This is the Best song Ever! d-_-b

[@juanmora6237]

oH, los amo!!

[@sozontius]

YEAH! Agree! ;)))

[@alexfernandohuenten1374]

kate is awesome.

[@bimbo1803]

lost and found

[@bimbo1803]

hello alex i am toni from croatia habe lange diesen song gesucht...javise kod mene

[@michaelchristensen4423]

...I would have...

[@sozontius]

hmmmmmm! interesting!

[@sozontius]

;))

[@Freaksnake]

'thank the lord'? is this their superstitious song? Do they have other religion songs? I've never heard this before....

[@MemoTercero]

I heard Sinead O’Connor’s version, and prefer it.

[@gerald4133]

Thanks for posting this. Thanks you. 👍

[@gerald4133]

Great and sad.

[@gerald4133]

I wonder why this great song didn't any air tim????? :\ 📻 radio

[@gerald4133]

Typo time

[@gerald4133]

Too much CoLoR 📺. Cool song :(