Undertones – "Hypnotised" (1978)

I fell into a trance

Just watching you dance

Watch this video and you’ll fall into a trance, too:

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Did you ever wonder why “hypnotized” is spelled “hypnotised” in the UK?

“Hypnotize” and most other English “-ize” words are of Greek origin.  The “-ize” spelling is closer to the original Greek than the Frenchified “-ise” spelling that’s generally used by the Brits.

I say “Fooey!” to Frenchified words.  (French fries are a different story, of course.)

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The Undertones formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1974.  (I’m not sure if the band’s members are Catholic or Protestant.  St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal for Irish Catholics, of course – not so much for Irish Protestants.)  They released four albums before breaking up in 1983.  

The Undertones

The group reformed in 1999, and are still together today.  In fact, they are scheduled to do a show in Washington, DC, next month.  I’ll be there, unless the tour gets canceled thanks to the damned coronavirus.  (Which it undoubtedly will.)

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My notes indicate that I first heard “Hypnotised” on Steven Lorber’s “Mystic Eyes” radio show on April 26, 1980 – only days after the Undertones’ album of the same name was released.  (My man Steven didn’t let the grass grow under his feet when it came to good music!)

The photo used on the front cover of the Hypnotised album was taken at a seafood restaurant in New York City, one of the eight American cities where the Undertones opened for the Clash during their first American tour in 1979:

The most distinctive thing about today’s featured song is lead singer Feargal Sharkey’s very interesting voice.  Unfortunately, Sharkey didn’t rejoin his mates when the Undertones got back together in 1999.

Click here to listen to “Hypnotised.”

Click on the link below to buy the song from Amazon: