Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'

Subject: Folklore: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 May 20 - 03:34 PM

I've just watched this 1982 song being performed by Men Without Hats on the TV channel 'That's 80s'.
The video shows no end of English folklore traditions, such as Cotswold Morris dancing, a Punch and Judy show and a Maypole.
I seem to remember it was filmed in a Wiltshire village (West Kington, near Chipping Sodbury) but I couldn't identify the Morris side (to my shame).
The whole song with video can be seen on Youtube. Anyone able to identify the Cotswold Morris side?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 May 20 - 03:54 PM

Sen - The info is out there, because I remember reading it earlier this year.
Probably buried in the comments of the video...
Or I might have googled it...???

Subject: RE: Folklore: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 26 May 20 - 03:58 PM

According to Wikipedia:

"The Morris dancers seen in the video were the Chippenham Town Morris Men, performing a dance called Monkton Park."

Subject: RE: Folklore: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 May 20 - 04:31 PM

Oh well done!! I've never watched Chippenham Town Morris Men at any of the Morris festivals, so perhaps I can be forgiven for not recognising them.
Thank you all!

Subject: RE: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 26 May 20 - 04:55 PM

I did not see this episode, but
when "Dancing with the Stars" (US) had as a guest
Marlee Matlin, who you will remember is a very gifted actress
who is deaf,
they had her and her partner dance to this one.
That was when she got voted off the show,
or got the losing number of votes, however you want to say it.

Her partner was a professional dancer
but not used to working with someone deaf.
Apparently the lack of coordination and rapport between them
was very obvious.

Subject: RE: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 May 20 - 03:36 AM

That's so sad keberoxu. Poor lady, after having been brave enough to go on the show.

Subject: RE: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 May 20 - 08:36 AM

Audio of me singing this song several years back.

Subject: RE: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 27 May 20 - 10:31 AM

I love the original video of the song, I remember watching it on TOTP and went outside afterwards to find my Mk 3 Cortina Estate had been stolen. I got it back a week later minus the battery!

Subject: RE: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 May 20 - 11:32 AM

Georgiansilver, that was brilliant! Well done you!
And poor Bonzo, what a horrible memory. Did the Police catch the thieves?
This song, and the original video, makes me think of that weird film The Wicker Man, set on 'Summer Isle' where all sorts of folksy stuff was going on while the population prepared a human sacrifice. Chilling.
Also Glastonbury. A friend who lives in Somerset took me to visit the place many years ago, and the strange, occult New Age stuff made me shiver. Can't explain why.
I think as a general observation, folk music and old traditions have direct links to a darker past, when people believed in far more than Christianity and conventional life/leisure. I find this endlessly fascinating.

Subject: RE: Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance'
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 29 May 20 - 08:19 AM

No Senoufou they didn't, but I was glad enough to get my car back! Glad you are safe and well.