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Miss America (The Big Dish song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Miss America'" is a song by Scottish pop band The Big Dish, which was released in 1991 as the lead single from their third and final studio album 'Satellites'. The song was written by Steven Lindsay, Craig Armstrong and Brian McFie, and produced by Warne Livesey.
"Miss America" peaked at No. 37 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for five weeks. It was the band's only single to reach the UK Top 75. The song also reached No. 16 on the 'Music Week' Playlist Chart. A music video was filmed to promote the single.
Background
Lindsay has described "Miss America" as being about a woman who is "beautiful in a lot of ways, but she's not intelligent". In a press release for 'Satellites', Lindsay said of the song's message, "I hope that people don't take it as an anti-American statement, because it isn't meant that way at all. It's about something that happens everywhere, not just in America."
Lindsay felt "Miss America" brought the band back on track sound wise, telling 'The List' in 1990, "'Miss America' is a bit more like the stuff on 'Swimmer'. I think we lost our way a bit on the second album."
As the band's debut release on East West, "Miss America" successfully broke the band in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart. Lindsay told 'The Independent' in 1991 of his surprise at the song's success, "We're not fashionable, and we've tried to stick to our original plan. We thought 'Miss America' would be representative of us, but didn't think it would be a big hit single."
Critical reception
On its release as a single, 'Music & Media' described "Miss America" as "evocative, thoughtful and engaging pop" with "passionate vocals" from Lindsay. David Quantick of 'New Musical Express' stated, "That wisting Blue Nile vocal loads into a rhythm produced with all the beauty of, erm, a rhythm produced quite well. This record has all the character of a second hand opinion. These people are the Gerry and the Pacemakers of the 1987 Scots rock scene." David Owens of the 'South Wales Echo' felt the song was "alluring in a sort of dark, damp, soppy winter's night [kind of] way". He believed fans of the "rather catchy pop/soul overtones" of Wet Wet Wet and Deacon Blue would like the track.
John Harris of 'Sounds' described it as "a polished, impassioned tune" and "the kind of praiseworthy song that occasionally tops the American charts". However, he also noted a lack of "excitement" in the track, only "the sound of well-dressed earnest young men working in well-upholstered studios la Sting and Peter Gabriel". Harris concluded, "Arrogant party sexpots like Tim Burgess are today's gods, and sensitive, eloquent but ultimately boring records like this aren't gonna change that." In the US, 'Billboard' considered the song to be "sensitive" and "lyrically and rhythmically poetic" which "evoke[s] images of quiet, unsettling desperation". They added, "[The] track takes on a number of visionary transitions in its quest to relate a story that is individual, yet hauntingly universal."
In a review of 'Satellites', 'Hi-Fi News & Record Review' praised the song as "a classy pop song with memorable hook-lines". Adam Sweeting of 'The Guardian' commented, "The smooth, dreamy textures and Lindsay's perfectly polished tunes make this ideal late-night driving fodder, especially 'Miss America' or 'Give Me Some Time'."
Track listing
;7" single
#"Miss America" 3:58
#"From the Mission Bell to the Deep Blue Sea" 3:15
;12" single
#"Miss America" 3:58
#"From the Mission Bell to the Deep Blue Sea" 3:15
#"The Town Celebrity" 4:12
;CD single
#"Miss America" 3:58
#"From the Mission Bell to the Deep Blue Sea" 3:15
#"The Town Celebrity" 4:12
#"Roll Down the Flag" 4:12
;CD single (US promo)
#"Miss America" 3:58
Personnel
'Miss America'
* Steve Lindsay vocals, guitar
* Brian McFie guitar, backing vocals
* Craig Armstrong piano, keyboards
* Warne Livesey programming
'Production'
* Warne Livesey producer of "Miss America"
* Steven Lindsay producer of "From the Mission Bell to the Deep Blue Sea", "The Town Celebrity" and "Roll Down the Flag"
* Richard Moakes engineer on "Miss America"
* Felix Kendall mix engineer on "Miss America"
'Other'
* John Stoddart photography
Charts
References
Category:1991 songs
Category:1991 singles
Category:East West Records singles
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