Tracey Ullman - They Don't Know - TOTP 1983

Top of the Pops 1983. Song written by Kirsty MacColl - RIP Kirsty, we miss you

[@egyptcat4301]

2024, and still loving Tracey and this song!❤❤❤

[@pbleekm]

I have always liked this song. I'm still hung up on the 80's and 70's music. Love it!!!!

[@axiomaddict]

Tracey, Tracey, Tracey! Not only can she do anything, she does it all so well. Her talent, and the dedication to craft is just, the best!

[@rustshoo5068]

The lyrics flow so well in their reflection of a familiar sentiment among young lovers that the song is over almost before you know it. Tracy Ullman delivers a wonderful performance of Kirsty MacColl’s song. Her wit is subtly channelled into her delivery. The appeal here is that you are entertained with minimum effort. The problem today is that artists make hard work in their efforts to entertain you. The screeching vocalists of today have a lot on their plate: they must vainly enlighten you as well as appeal. And it’s exhausting to listen to them. I almost feel sorry for them. They may enlighten me as to the dire predicament of the bloated pop industry today. And their efforts at appealing to me are in vain, in any case. But here, from 1983, the lyrics are clear and concise. It’s an appealing song. Perhaps we took the music back then for granted because … well, there were just so many classy little pop songs. The slight distortion in sound at the very beginning of this home video-recorded TV performance put a wee lump in my throat. We just wanted to be entertained back then. Mere entertainment!

[@LaPtiteAnglaise]

My little 8 year old self loved this. My 48 year old self loves it more - and Kirsty even more than that!

[@x015388]

Yes..the song was played in the states and, if I am not mistaken was... in the top 10 ... if not #1...for sure! Excellent song...

[@diptipatel525]

*Loved this period of time some really great memories....*

[@magneto7930]

Beautiful, charismatic, beautiful voice, talented in so many different ways, I could go on forever here. And of course it's a cute song, a throwback to the 60s.

[@user-gf2xp5ep5r]

Love this song , totally 80’s MTV era and Tracey looks gorgeous !

[@Slarti]

Great song - nice tune in a minor key which gives it a slighlty melacholic feel. Plus Tracy Ullman is bloody gorgeous!

[@adrianwallis5271]

It's in C major.

[@ScottishSuzee]

There dresses look like there made out of old shower curtains with the hooks left on..LOL. Great Memories and a great 80s tune..Thanks for posting

[@christhornycroft3686]

The outfits scream glam 80s, but the music screams Motown 60s. Amazing.

[@torreyintahoe]

This song is a gem.

[@misti7766]

I love this song so much God Bless the 80s!!!

[@Themanwhocameback2]

This is brilliant. Brilliant in a way,most viewers cannot appreciate. She is sexy, and at the same time mocking sexiness.

[@icallmybabystp]

I've always loved this song, ESPECIALLY the Kirsty MacColl original. I feel like I'm living in some Lynchian dream when I think about how Tracey is now a main character in this season of Curb

[@andytay5507]

I think it's still magic with Kirsty's high note in this version too.

[@toddmurphy664]

Great song!! I love it and I love 1983!! Thanks Tracey!!

[@MM-gq3rx]

I close my eyes and I'm again a school kid dreaming of a better life - a year later my life would change for ever and carelessness would turn to sorrow and despair. Still the dream felt so real... Hugs to all the hopeless souls out there. You are not alone.

[@fullthrottlejeffry]

I hope your life got better. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[@peacefrog9306]

sometimes the dream is more real than anything else

[@broaddusmarines]

I remember watching this in real time as a 12 year old in London.

[@MrKevonski]

I want this played at my funeral x

[@starsweet4]

this is pop done right! simple, clean, and honest!

[@Gregg-eo2le]

Lovely catchy song, early memories first girlfriend in primary school....great times. ....special mention to the blonde backing singer phwoar....

[@northlincsfox243]

Yes, indeed!

[@ziizee66]

Kirsty Macoll, sang with the Pogues, " Fairy Tale in New York" great Christmas song she died in very unfortunate accident. She sang great R.I.P Kirsty

[@ericgeorge5483]

Not heard this in yonks, great song!!!

[@paulrennie2603]

Love the harmonies near the end

[@donzampogna344]

Great song !

[@timjmoran]

ow.. dig that dress.. that hair... what a riot!! Throw-back to the 60's.... This is just such a great slab of power pop.. faB-TASTIC Melody....

[@joeltham1979]

This song makes me feel very sad. Fortunately I forget why but it is weird how this brings back that sadness. 😪

[@vandan1842]

I miss the 80's

[@brianfreeman9554]

You’re not the only one!

[@telboy1965]

With you on that miss those days so bad best times ever 😔

[@MATTUK10]

Brilliant absolutely brilliant love it great song

[@adric137]

great song!

[@MrKevonski]

I love her she's perfect in every way xx

[@telboy1965]

Bring back the eighties ... Tracey we love you 😘

[@derfnosredna]

You are so right... she owns the camera... what a performance...

[@donnawilliams9769]

My childhood memories ❤

[@sneakyskunk1]

You know what I like about this upload? The uploader preserved everything about this video that I could want. This perfectly replicates what seeing this on television at the time would be like. Thank you 80smusicdude, for ensuring the original integrity of this moment exactly as it was meant to be seen.

[@sludge4125]

I can’t stop watching this video. I mean, she’s no Vanilla Ice, but, she’s pretty good.

[@catherinecathy0775]

Kirsty died in a moror-boat accident, she sang that Xmas song with the Pogues that is always on the radio since it came out 20yrs ago.

[@kostas6621]

One of my favorite songs wow it has been awhile...... :)

[@gavinpowers1217]

Ooof Tracey. She's still one of a kind these days!

[@marttileksis3153]

The BEST version!

[@jefflongsr2062]

KZbin,,,the best thing since sliced bread.....oh to have my youth again.....happy birthday to me..8-5-2018.......

[@annach7914]

These 80s totp vids (esp this one) remind me of earlier this year during the spring month preparing for matu. Online school days...Kept looking at the girls thinking how raaaat they are with a girly paaahty atmosphere. I imagined I’d be Tracy once I finished❤️😀

[@rsvihla]

Love the 4K quality.

[@igolfjtweetler4097]

quite hot back then

[@truthseeker8903]

Music of a different time. Not easier, but different.

[@Outlier999]

She was incredibly sweet and attractive in those days.

[@Beatlejoose56]

Bloody right mate me hands to cold to play a cord. I was a teen in the 60s so when this ditty came about I was allready getting misty about me youth during the British invasion love. Seems like yesterday all me troubles were so fart away.

[@SLYSPYHIWAY90]

This was a winner, A very funny girl with a good voice !

[@SraidMacSuibhne]

love it

[@hardy5288]

A lovely and very talented girl.

[@janlind5729]

The most wonderful, beautiful song...!

[@netman88]

The good old days..

[@jackieemler8311]

i loved her tv show too!

[@perlazehetner4143]

Sweet Memories!

[@ShikiraPressley]

Romani Celtic girls some of the best singers in the world - Ullman testimony to this as well as Kirsty McColl

[@rodneyhackenflash]

I Never realized how Great she is!!

[@falldownhard]

Ah, I was but 18 when this went to #8 on the US charts...absolutely brilliant and perfect. Musically we've sucked into utter suckdom compared to this now. Perfection.

[@peterbeltran5543]

you girls are the best. love you forever

[@dave5147]

AWESOME!

[@sharksport01]

shes great in "A Dirty Shame"

[@michaelsnow7252]

WHY dident she want to be a pop star, she comes over so well....

[@CWM11B]

Preach it! I'm in for the trip if you find one.

[@Jtc1888]

Tracey and Benny Hill would have made an amazing Love Child

[@xpaul777]

From this sound I feel the spirit of the 60s, not the 80s.

[@johngalaxy4290]

Backing singer on the right is Amanda Dickinson. She's better known for playing Bert Quigley's wife Jean in "London's Burning"!

[@RandyMandy8888]

John Galaxy Thank you for the info...i thought i recognized that face...a blast from the past..loved watching London's Burning.

[@johngalaxy4290]

Amanda A You are welcome! I've no idea whether Ms Dickinson actually sang on the recording, all three of them are miming in this video. She is, or was, a friend of Tracey Ullman's, apparently.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

+John Galaxy The backing vocals on the recorded track were Kirsty MacColl, and may have been lifted in their entirety from her original version. The "Bay ay bee ee " that Ullman "sings" at the conclusion of the guitar solo was DEFINITELY lifted from MacColl's version. AFAIK none of the "backup" singers in Ullman's videos or "live" performances sang so much as a note either live or on the recordings

[@davekemp3690]

Gazzara5 In which case they must have missed out the 'baby' bit as Kristy sang it on the recording as TU couldn't reach the note.

[@thomashong2938]

@@davekemp3690 The BABY was lifted from Kirsty’s original version of the song and was tweaked one semitone higher in the studio for use on Tracey’s cover version. Tracey couldn’t hit the Baby note. But apparently neither could Kirsty, which is why they had to use the BABY from the original recording.

[@rimshot2270]

Tracey was so sexy, and sang so well. she still does. This has become her theme song.

[@mikeysuzefour]

*They don't know about us...They never heard of love.*

[@timolundberg4083]

Oh my goodness, what a ladies. I can not say more. ( Sigh. )

[@samuelcole7736]

WOW.....Who knew Tracey was so BANGABLE back in 83?

[@amyclarke41]

and a good actress etc remember a girl at school who looked like her the staff member said as her hair was similar to Tracey !😎

[@adamclarke8863]

probably wouldn't say no even now 😂

[@redrock1963]

I saw TU recently on the GN show - yes she still has it.

[@user-lj6gk4lv9s]

Everyone

[@frasseh]

Good times!!!

[@Toon696969]

Nope she was born 30 December 1959. So 23 years old at the time of this video.

[@phildirt3]

Tracey is always cool

[@Charlienmeg]

I've just read that Kirsty McColl did backing vocals on this, plus that's Kirsty's "baby" as Tracey couldn't reach that high.

[@thomashong2938]

The BABY was lifted off Kirsty’s original version of the song and was tweaked in the studio one semitone higher for Tracey’s cover version.

[@Charlienmeg]

@@thomashong2938 Regardless, I've just watched it again because I couldn't remember what I was talking about, and my god, it's bloody awful. Kirsty all the way. 👍

[@belziebub]

to my best guy friend in the world whom I was going to marry when I was younger- I love you

[@jasperman515]

@almamatters2471 This song reached #2 in the U.K.; #8 in the U.S. in 1983.

[@operatorjeffdeathstar7759]

I'd give it one!!

[@thebob3428]

Just realised the blonde dancer went on to star in London’s burning as sick notes wife

[@57highland]

Great song, cute girl ...

[@theo3000]

I'm in love.

[@Jk-vl8bq]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Bonzi_Buddy]

People can make fun of the big hair and bright colored miniskirts, but ... look at the freakos today. Green and blue hair. Nobody will look back on that fondly.

[@auntsally3058]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@JayWill-i2t]

I’m not sure if there is someone on the planet with a layered sense of humor paired with intellectual underlying thoughtfulness and raw talent that’s somehow still down to earth? What planet is Tracey from?

[@monkeybuns8616]

❤️❤️

[@draoi99]

Apart from everything else I love the cheesy dancing.

[@rastafarievers]

B-ay-by!

[@garysnowdon1918]

Oh to be a teen again, having crushes on girls at school.

[@hookproductions13]

@wb5oxq 100% agreed - she's got that sumpin sumpin goin on!

[@rebeccarvelliqu314]

Ronettes...

[@Adrian68ification]

the song was actually written by Tracy ullman later covered by Kirsty MacColl they both happened to good friends :-)

[@thomashong2938]

No.No.No. The song was actually written by Kirsty MacColl in 1979 and was covered by Tracey Ullman in 1983. You have it backwards. Tracey bought Kirsty’s single in 1983 and “ played it and played it and played it” (Tracey’s own words) on her record player.

[@phoenixshade3]

rudeger... Correct, this is lip-synced. Traci could not hit the high note in "baby," and on the album version, you are hearing Kirsty Maccoll's voice. (She was also the orginal singer of this song; Traci Ullman's version is a cover.)

[@Doug4422]

Actually, only the BA-BY! part is Kristy MacColl, the rest of the song is a track recorded specifically for Tracey, the key is totally different from the Kirsty MacColl original.

[@thomashong2938]

Kirsty and Rosemary Robinson provided the backing vocals for Tracey’s cover version. So, she contributed more than BABY, which was lifted from her original recording of the song and tweaked one semitone higher for Tracey’s version. The rest of what you wrote is spot on.

[@ayihsotioan6220]

懐かしいねぇ・・・。

[@DaveInBridport]

Was this a Kirstie McColl song?

[@almamatters2471]

brills! what number on the chart was she here?

[@ianjrivers]

I'm afraid I didn't notice, my attention must have been elsewhere, for some reason ....!

[@bobanob1967]

Janice if ever you happen to read these comments do you remember this was our song? Sorry i was such a shit....

[@abcbcde9985]

Tracey doing great Merkel and Sturgeon impressions nowadays. Talented lady!

[@martynduffen2249]

Best decade of music ever, wish I could go back there ❤️

[@paulcasini4759]

I LOVED THE 80S BUT IT WAS NO MATCH FOR THE 1960S THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AT HOME IN THE SUMMER OF 64 GRAND

[@64fairlane305]

@@paulcasini4759 yup, 60s was it, 70s was also wery good but our ciw started it`s fall in the 80s