Tracey Takes On... They Don't Know

[@whouster]

Here in the UK, there doesn't seem to be the same reverence for Tracey Ullman as there is in America. She is an absolute legend, and one of the most brilliant and versatile entertainers Britain has ever produced.

[@jk3521]

I read somewhere that she was Britain's richest comedian and second highest paid actor a few years ago.

[@joepolach9725]

Interesting. She was big-time here in the US.

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

As an American with ancestral roots to the UK. I certainly agree with your assessment 100%. A real treasure.😁

[@Cokeapplewhite]

She is fairly renowned in the US. I dig her the most and I am from Arkansas.

[@syfyfangirl8292]

This came on late night HBO when I was a kid, I used to stay up and watch this and I always loved the song!!!

[@twigagawizard]

syfy fangirl YES!!! I’m not alone!!!

[@SuperWolsey]

syfy fangirl Same

[@raconteur4069]

Same lol. ^_^

[@bradepperly2268]

Lol same here!

[@tiseytise]

I loved this show as a kid

[@en6278]

tracey has brought so much fun & laughter to millions since early 80s. She is such a huge talent and ray of sunshine.

[@ryoamora8655]

Never realized how pretty Tracey Ullman is...Cute and witty, love it.

[@kingboss26u]

She ugly fuck u talking about

[@jacksmith1347]

@@kingboss26u Yeah so are you!

[@kingboss26u]

@@jacksmith1347 great comeback. super original

[@No1KCfan6]

@@kingboss26u Tracey is pretty. You just have bad taste :-p

[@BaseballPlayer0]

She needs to collaborate with carol burnette before they both die

[@399wnka]

I miss this era. Life was simpler in the 90s.

[@BobbyMushinsky]

80s

[@BobbyMushinsky]

this was like 1983

[@399wnka]

@@BobbyMushinsky the show - the song yes; but im referring to her HBO series here.

[@joepolach9725]

No it wasn't.

[@thejellyestbean]

I just heard this song play on the loud speakers at a gas station and was FLOODED with nostalgia. I forgot this existed and was overwhelmed. I miss this show so much!

[@blackmoreinc]

Tracey Ullman is just brilliant and gorgeous. Always been in love with her

[@oskareriksson2202]

Like all of us 😀

[@loubock3238]

What a FABULOUS actress, so versatile real talent LOVE LOVE HER and all her characters!!!

[@aqueenwaits]

She is sooooooooooooo talented! Love her!

[@alonzotanner1226]

I’ve always liked this song. When I found out she was the actual original singer of this song I was like whoa! Plus she sings this quite well live as well.

[@nibora4895]

Kristy MacColl is the original singer of this song. She recorded it back in 1979.

[@deshaunx776]

@@nibora4895 Ugh But Kirsty’s version was NOT A HIT. Tracey made it a hit, so most people know her version. It wasn’t like Kirsty had a huge hit and Tracey came along to cover it.

[@bradsmack1]

The late Kirsty MacColl wrote (at age 16) this song, and recorded it three years later in '79. While it was a radio hit in the UK that year, there was a distributors strike at the time, which prevented the single from reaching (and thus, being sold at) record stores! That means it didn't chart at all on UK's Singles Chart, the coveted reflection of how a single sells in the UK! We'll never know how big a hit (for whom that's a big deal) it could've been! Regardless, a talented singer/songwriter (Kirsty) gone too soon, with a brilliant pop song covered by a talented singer/actress (Tracey) who breathed evocative '60s-era life into the song!

[@BobbyMushinsky]

Kirsty McColl wrote and sang it 1st. She deserves credit

[@Guernsey576]

@@deshaunx776 that doesn't change the fact that she is the original singer (and she wrote it).

[@aaardvarkkk]

Nobody even knew who she was here in the States when the record came out. I bought the single to this song after seeing it on MTV several years before the original "Tracey Ullman Show" even came out, so I was already a fan. Then, when her show came out in 1987, I was like "wow, she's damn funny and an extremely talented impressionist and character-developer". Tracey Ullman is a gift to us all from God.

[@kensims4086]

Which god?

[@dins5066]

​@@kensims4086Allah

[@anthonytino5103]

Absolute GOLD. Have always loved this song and this video is soooo good. 👌

[@Redmist-se7ld]

Her show deserves a dvd and Blu-ray release

[@davidetienne9404]

The first two complete seasons are on out-of-print DVD's. A blu-ray box set of the entire show would be amazing. It'd be worth every penny.

[@BoomstickAsh]

Always loved Tracey Ullman. Incredibly beautiful, funny, and talented!

[@twigagawizard]

Omfg I used to watch this show on HBO in the 90s. I was just a kid and her Asian character cracked me up.

[@sha11235]

I didn't know this was a song she had done before this show.

[@dalehood1846]

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR ALL OF US, they would raise a real hissyfit if this were on these days. What a talent!!!!!!!!!

[@holasenor1318]

She did blackface my guy

[@ROBYNMARKOW]

Ikr? 🙄

[@SDoesNotKnow]

Lucky for us, she knew how to adapt for the times and is still working and making great works without relying on past comedic standards. She's not clinging on to the past like other outdated comedians who are doing nothing but complaining rather than providing fresh material fit for the new century.

[@christhornycroft3686]

@@holasenor1318Mel Brooks made movies that had that kind of material in it. Everyone knew he was joking. That’s the problem. You can’t joke about anything anymore. There’s a difference between joking about people’s differences and saying there’s actually something wrong or weird about things people can’t help. I’m disabled and I’m tired of being left out of comedy. Nobody wants to laugh at a disabled person’s jokes because they don’t want to feel like bad people. Well, my job isn’t to make people feel good. I just want to live my life as an equal. Not better, not worse. Context is everything. If it’s bullies in a schoolyard mocking someone, of course it’s terrible. But if it’s a professional comedian who isn’t saying there’s something wrong or negative about something and playing on words or social norms, that’s fine. Censorship is for weak people. Of course if you’re just mocking black people and saying they’re stupid, that’s terrible, but she’s a comedian and she was playing a character. That character happened to be black. At what point are comedians not allowed to tell jokes at all if context has no bearing in this Zoomer, customize my life to my preferences so I never have to think ever again world we now inhabit? When Blazing Saddles and Birth of a Nation are considered the same thing, we’re in big trouble.

[@chuckberlin4605]

​@@SDoesNotKnowThank you for your 2023 paragraph! I will search for and watch recent Tracey material.

[@ernietetreault843]

This song always makes me happy even though it sounds almost sad. I love the music and Tracy sings it so beautifully. I just rediscovered it a year ago while streaming KZbin. Funny how addicting this song still is. I drive around the center of my town blasting this with the top down on my convertible. I’ll bet the people probably think I’m as gay as 4th of July fireworks. Well…Lol, I still love you Tracy! I love your songs and your show and seeing your live performances too.

[@TheTraveler976]

I miss that era mid to late 90s.. I grew up watching this, secretly late at night on HBO. Loved Tracey Takes on and Red Shoe Diaries on Showtime.

[@toledolights9]

Oh not the black face right at the beginning 😭

[@spendingtimetogether8428]

Such a sweet song.

[@rickycole6327]

A hit song for Tracey in 1984.

[@rickycole6327]

A hit song for Tracey in 1984

[@sandy7543]

This proves she can play any part!

[@SteveAubrey1762]

Tracy is one of the most talented people I can think of!

[@milliesmith5068]

She is so creative.

[@chrisreid8604]

Wow she is still beautiful!! Wow she is still beautiful!!

[@emmyjo720]

Tracey would be an amazing straight actor, every single character she plays is so real and individual and alive. I love Kay especially.

[@paulcolli9841]

Tracy Ullman. A whole bunch of talent

[@karlreichert9051]

She is awesome even in 2022

[@albymiller2028]

great song by a very funny talented beautiful lady

[@nof-bdybs6948]

I was in college when this series was on. Never cracked a smil, but I ALWAYS would click over as it was going off, because of how cute I thought she looked around the :36 mark. Adorable!

[@joehunter6413]

She is pretty and oh SOOOO talented. Funny as all get out too.

[@tourritaylor918]

Oh my Gosh!!! I used to watch this show all tha time.. And tha theme song ws so catchy.. I love it.. Just turned on my tv at 6:25 and she was on "The Tracey Ullman Show" 2016.. Can't believe she's still at it..

[@missfabolous000]

Tourri Taylor Me too!! My momma used to watch her show all the time on HBO back when I was a kid. Brings back a lot of good memories 💖

[@DMAASD]

I love her! And her show that was on HBO u have to find this song and download it

[@eunicestone838]

She looks like Janis Joplin twin.

[@jameswarren423]

My child hood crush 😢❤

[@billy1673]

This was such a great show!

[@DjSavir361]

I never knew that was her I heard the song on the 80*s on 8 on Sirius xm and sounded familiar so I pushed info and it was here crazy she used this for her show very talented

[@bar-ok1zd]

DjSavir361 She released it as a single in the early 80's, it got to no.2 in the UK & no.8 in the US.

[@dalehood1846]

@@bar-ok1zd should have been number 1 both countries!

[@TLouise1959]

So talented

[@sejejo7565]

Like Moms always said. If it’s really funny you can get away with anything. We knew she was doing Blackface and Brownface but it was funny. I miss that show

[@sugarismagic]

I used to watch this as a kid or teenager when I first got cable and now I can't find it on HBO

[@thomashong2938]

The show moved to Hulu from HBO in 2012.

[@SLYSPYHIWAY90]

Love this woman , so talented and sexy as well . i wish she would come back

[@edwardpate6128]

Damn Tracey is so talented and very hot!

[@SpeedyDeath]

I miss this show!

[@glennquagmire7696]

Swing that hair, cutie pie. 0:39 Say what you will. I always considered TU very good looking.

[@krisisnkaos]

She did blackface?!

[@BaseballPlayer0]

Yes, and it slapped

[@Redmist-se7ld]

Her show was a great part of u childhood on hbo 😇🤟🏼

[@jgalt5002]

Love this song

[@nibora4895]

I remember this show. If it wasn't for her The Simpsons would be no bodies.

[@yvonneallen7227]

She was ( and is ) fantastic . Well done tracey .

[@sticksman1979]

So cute back then.

[@pinkpantherer]

So good

[@Happyboymargarine]

Her real hair is luscious

[@zuketroop1]

Kirsty McColl was clearly very talented as she wrote this song. However her version differed from Tracey's. In my opinion, Tracey's version took the song to a new level. This has happened before. Cat Stevens wrote and recorded a great song, "Here Comes My Baby", but the Tremeloes in the 60's took this great song to another level.. in fact I think to another stratosphere. So much so, that the song has been covered since by other acts who use the Tremeloes version as their template.

[@jacksmith1347]

Totally love her!

[@zachy888]

that was back in the days when we had the USSB satellite or at least I did so nostalgic.

[@druinvinciblemijac5824]

ussb satellite

[@christhornycroft3686]

She brought a lot of that UK humour to America that was badly needed, at least in the beginning. But when you spend too much time in the US, you catch that disease that makes you less funny, less intelligent and bland. She didn’t catch too bad of a case, but you can’t stay there for long without getting some of it on you.

[@darrenverni3662]

In hindsight, this show was very based

[@sandy7543]

Nice

[@44bthknuckles]

Shes like melissa McCarthy

[@BaseballPlayer0]

Don’t insult Tracy

[@rogergarrison4271]

I got dizzy watching her do them spins

[@devinwilliams400]

1:46

[@BaseballPlayer0]

Black face would get her cancelled today, sadly

[@charizardvhs]

Recorded on A REAL VHS TAPE US/UK/JNTSC SIGNAL

[@eunicestone838]

The only comedienne I know that gets by with blackface.

[@BaseballPlayer0]

All should

[@misterjones7522]

Not happy about the black face tracey!

[@dalehood1846]

Boo hoo.

[@BaseballPlayer0]

Get over it. Black face is funny

[@marthablair8842]

Love Tracey Ullman

[@henrikb7636]

Hihihi, funny😄😄😄😆

[@lanedropify]

Omg the blackface

[@durrellkitchen9047]

KJ Apa as Archie Andrews Molly Ringwald as Mary Andrews and Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper on 'Riverdale'

[@alsehl3609]

Here in the U.S., Tracy would be cancelled, her career ended and made a pariah for appearing in blackface. No matter how inoffensively. We live in a fascist culture.

[@xrashtiks]

lmao. You can't appear in BLACKFACE without facing some public criticism, therefore you live in a fascist culture? LOLOL. Please learn what fascism is.🤣

[@SuperTiaanBro]

If you're against blackface you're a facist?

[@ringsofblayze4026]

Blackface will always be offensive. You all never ask us how we feel. You make assumptions based on one black person in your life.

[@ringsofblayze4026]

You goofy af fr

[@threynolds2]

The video is distorted (4:3 stretched to 16:9) so why isn't the audio??

[@mechanicalmusic]

Because the audio and video are on different codecs. Looks fine on my end.

[@threynolds2]

@@mechanicalmusic I was being sarcastic about the original 4:3 aspect ratio video being stretched (distorted) to a 16:9 image. If it's OK to "distort" the video, why isn't OK to distort the audio? I'm a video purist. 4:3 video should NEVER be stretched (distorted) to fill a 16:9 screen. I'm fine with the resulting black bars on the sides of the video. Apparently, since I watched this video three years ago, KZbin has adjusted the code to keep aspect ratios as they are uploaded and not stretching everything to 16:9.

[@teganbigone2366]

Some time ago I rewrote this song for LGBT couples. I give my consent to anyone who wants to record it - without editing the text. I'm not a singer or I'd do it myself. Here's the lyrics: Hey Baby, got a hold on me Our love will last from now until eternity Hey baby don’t you leave me now It’s you and me alone but we’ll make it some how No they won’t listen to a word we say And their arms don’t open and they keep us at bay They don’t wanna know about us cuz they’ve never heard of love Hey Baby, gonna make it thru I couldn’t live this lifetime if it wasn’t for you But baby they just want us to go They keep us in a blindspot so they don’t have to know About us or listen to a word I say And their arms won’t open till I send you away No they don’t wanna know about us cuz they don’t know a thing about love Hey Baby, you just listen to me We’re not the ones in trouble now, just wait and see Cuz, Baby, you know what they’ve done? They’ve turned the world against us, but with God & His Son On our side, we’ll never be alone again Cuz I know that the Good Book doesn't call us a sin But they don’t wanna hear about us They don’t know the Golden Rule is Love Hey Baby, gonna make it last We’ll focus on the future and we’ll throw out the past Hey Baby, now you’re in my heart We’ve got it like a marriage and with all the good parts So I won’t listen to a thing they say Till their arms are wide open and they say we’re okay If they don’t wanna know about us, it’s cuz they’ve never heard of love No I won’t listen to their tired lines Cuz they’ve closed their hearts as they’ve closed their minds And they will never hear about us, cuz they don’t care a thing about love

[@valobrien9596]

I can hardly believe nobody has given your comment a like, or left any comments, after 5 months. I like your lyrics, and I hope that one day somebody who can sing (which I can't personally) stumbles across your comment and gives it a go.

[@teganbigone2366]

@@valobrien9596 Thank you so much for that compliment! Its actually a good thing you posted a reply because it brought me back to look over my lyrics - and I realized I left an entire line out! I was able to fix it. :)

[@aaronmorris1513]

Go home!

[@sumthingwikked4257]

Night, Tracey!

[@camillamaxild6043]

Tracey Ullman actually wrote this Super Hit.

[@zekeedwards7904]

Camilla Maxild kirsty mccoll wrote it

[@dins5066]

No she didn't

[@krisisnkaos]

No she didn’t. It’s a cover.

[@mechanicalmusic]

Don't people have Google?

[@stevebarlow1969]

@@dins5066 Yes she did