All music stations would not play this music because the station managers only play "bubblegum, Disneyland music" and it appears that the current generation is too apathetic and complacent to know the difference. I'm a satellite radio subscriber and I've complained to "First Wave" in not playing any 70's punk.
God, Hugh is so hot here! Definitely one of my fave videos of theirs, although it is so hard for me to choose the best since they made so many great ones. They will always be one of my favorite bands!
I've seen Hugh Cornwell perform solo three times now and he gets better each time. He sounds more like the Stranglers than the new line up of the Stranglers does.
umm try NIKITA by elton john..I know its a bit of a troubadour effort but a similar spirit and again we see the red prominant as in this presentation..
the mascot/logo of Berlin is a bear..if you were there in the 80's before the wall and wire were dismanteled all would be clear folks..do some reasearch..one carpenter working on the American checkpoint charlie..built a cage locked himself in and refused all efforts to remove him untill he was reunited with his family who were trapped in the east of the city..there was a lot of this at the time..was a strange place to reside I assure you..good tune in it!!
G (g) I'm (m) living' (BH) in a Bearcage. A GMBH is a corporate amalgum that is used in Germany. This may explain the unusual imagery, dreariness, plan crashes in "Bearlin", red colors, guided tours ect. Lyrical content?
my absolute favourite stranglers - brings back nostalgic moments of "3 october", "streepke" and "zizny"... all top early 80's punk - new wave "establishments"...
you can keep your brussels & amsterdam, give me back my summer in "breastenham" ? wow
i was at a hugh gig and i got my foto took with him, got him to do the forced smile he did in this video lol, it wasnt hard for him to do as hes a moody bastard.
As someone who never saw the Cornwell line up I'd like them to. It's never going to happen though. There's far too much bad blood...I'd wish they'd at least just bury the bloody hatchet though. It's been 18 years...surely it's time to forgive and forget?
Even if a reunion gig never happened I hope they settle their differences at the very least.
jet is 70 this year. Good old dave green field will be 59 this month and jj is already 56. Now other than JJ, the rest arent exactyly paragons of healthy living.
If hugh and JJ can bury the hatchet, then they can all retire gracefully and stinking rich. But...they wont.
music is not a sport where when you turn older you have to retire. Check out acdc, pink floyd, the stones, led zeppelin, the police, even the doors. The stranglers could kick ass if it wasn't for (ironicly) the younger paul roberts...
Paul Robert's voice doesn't fit the stranglers style. Hugh should go back. He never will but he should. His solo career will never get to the level he had with the meninblack. And the new stranglers will never
accomplish nothing close to the old level.
Both parts lost and at this time they should realize it.
Hugh is the voice of the Stranglers!You simply can´t replace this!His solo-carrer is better then everything the Stranglers did,allthough I wish it wouldn´t be!Sorry!!!
There's an interview with JJ from 2006 where he said Hugh slammed down the phone on him when they last talked. You could hear pain in JJ's voice.
I think Hugh's solo career is better than the reformed Stranglers, but I do think Hugh was the cunt in this situation. When you listen to 10 and Dreamtime, JJ's voice actually fit better in those mega-produced late 80's tracks. Hugh didn't want to play second fiddle, even though JJ had been second fiddle for a decade. That's my theory.
Although to be fair to Hugh it's not as though the rest of them have exactly shown him much respect since he left.
I think both parties are to blame somewhat...it's a bit of a mess sadly and because of it I sadly don't think the original and best line up will ever reform.
Having met and talked to both of them at various stages I conclude that Hugh felt quite bullied by JJ and John Ellis (who is superior technically at the guitar, but boring musically I must add) and was losing confidence as a guitarist around the ten period, if you listen to Hugh in 1977 -1981 his playing is tight adhering to the set pieces perfectly. Also JJ was annoyed at Hugh's increasing Yuppie like behaviour during the 80's and there was a definite split about the image.
'Bear cage' indicates an annexation of a country by the Soviet Union (Russian Bear). The song refers to East Berlin, or 'Bearlin'and describes the fortune of a stranger trying to make his way there. 'Bearlins' is a play on 'Butlins' and the holiday camp provides a sinster metaphor for the E.G. economic/polical/social system..
Your explanation fits well with the Vladimir and Olga series of songs. But Russia and East Berlin are just a metaphor for the whole world now, or soon. I don't know what the E.G. is but the EU itself is communist-Atlantean in nature.
Strange that they'd be complaining here, because JJ Burnel was like a prophet of a "united Europe" which is now coming true. See: Euroman.
Also -- I think Radiohead's fanged bear logo was directly or subconsciously taken from this single's sleeve.
As much as i love The Stranglers & always loved this song,this video says to me,that they watched Baggy Trousers by Madness video & jumped the bandwagon..Top song but video is very dubious,unless your tripping owta yer nut on acid..!
It's a parody about England mate - pretty obvious too. 'Bearlins'?? Hmmm...rings a bell huh? It's all about living in England...hahah! Very true too...
I've just finished Hugh's book and he says it's the other way around - the others are against him. I wish they'd reform, even for one gig for the fans' sake. At least I saw them when they came to Australia. They really shook up this conservative country!
Whatever has been said...the fact remains that the classic line up of Hugh, JJ, Dave and Jet are one of the best line ups ever...the new Stranglers line up are decent but it's just not the same without Hugh, they lost perhaps the key member. They wouldn't have been the same without JJ, Dave et al but Hugh was the one they could least afford to lose.
First time I have seen this video and I owned this way back on a 7". Thanks for posting.
PliskinLee 1 year ago
the real stranglers could fart in a jar it would sound good to me
brenga66 1 year ago
this video is excellent..long live the stranglers
mightywhite41 1 year ago
This video is very disturbing
captaincrap1995 1 year ago
Legends - the whole lot of them. I would give my right arm to be in The Stranglers - but then I would only be able to sing
doctorlen1 2 years ago 2
All music stations would not play this music because the station managers only play "bubblegum, Disneyland music" and it appears that the current generation is too apathetic and complacent to know the difference. I'm a satellite radio subscriber and I've complained to "First Wave" in not playing any 70's punk.
slummly123 2 years ago
I noticed the location well because I used to live in that area of Roehampton off Danebury Avenue.
I wonder when this was recorded?
Forestamtul 2 years ago
God, Hugh is so hot here! Definitely one of my fave videos of theirs, although it is so hard for me to choose the best since they made so many great ones. They will always be one of my favorite bands!
roxiestar74 2 years ago
I've seen Hugh Cornwell perform solo three times now and he gets better each time. He sounds more like the Stranglers than the new line up of the Stranglers does.
lemsip 2 years ago
one of my favorite Stranglers songs
thenameisbond 2 years ago
Why don't modern music channels play this classic stuff any more???????
AcDcAiRbOuRnERoX 2 years ago
umm try NIKITA by elton john..I know its a bit of a troubadour effort but a similar spirit and again we see the red prominant as in this presentation..
groaninspace 3 years ago
the mascot/logo of Berlin is a bear..if you were there in the 80's before the wall and wire were dismanteled all would be clear folks..do some reasearch..one carpenter working on the American checkpoint charlie..built a cage locked himself in and refused all efforts to remove him untill he was reunited with his family who were trapped in the east of the city..there was a lot of this at the time..was a strange place to reside I assure you..good tune in it!!
groaninspace 3 years ago
GMBH
They never told me what was the truth!!
Sarah8674 3 years ago
timeless masterpiece!
SollyMotherF 3 years ago
ONE OF MY FAVE TUNES LIKE
illastic1 3 years ago
awsome, the vacation from hell. Did they drop him like a bomb, lol. Making him smile & guidng the people around with cattle prods.
deadringer22000 3 years ago
JJB has gorgeous movements He rox!
malenaxpl 3 years ago 2
their best video. Love the part where they make him smile.
deadringer22000 3 years ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
wanting new friends
energetic fun smart and loves this video TJ
BeatTheBoss 3 years ago
Jet Black, under-rated drummer.
Brian Duffy!
markyboythewolf 3 years ago
Why is JJ playin without a pick in this one?
bilebeast 3 years ago
Just before they started filming, he dropped it and it blew away.
thechriswheelie 3 years ago
G (g) I'm (m) living' (BH) in a Bearcage. A GMBH is a corporate amalgum that is used in Germany. This may explain the unusual imagery, dreariness, plan crashes in "Bearlin", red colors, guided tours ect. Lyrical content?
gattler22 3 years ago 3
Is that a real keyboard Dave is playing or a prop?
envaneo 3 years ago
I always thought they sang 'give me back my summer in Preston Pans'.
sfluendy 3 years ago
dear reverend, can you help me? i live like a king but i work hard, i'm living in a bare cage.
yours trooly
thepipeandslippersman
pipeandslippersman 3 years ago 3
Save your marks.
RevAustin 2 years ago
watch the sharks
fpittion 2 years ago
Gee I'm living in a bear cage too
thegoodusernameman 3 years ago 2
Watch what i do when i swim with the sharks....those were the days...Keep your Brussels in Amsterdam....
fartmeister01 3 years ago
One of my fav Strangler vids
envaneo 3 years ago
luv this.
andyspet 3 years ago
I like this song but I don't think it worked as a single though..
allyplumb 3 years ago
cant bear it?
hanging1v 3 years ago
oh fucking ah !!
kraalomega 3 years ago
im just a young man loosing his youth they wrote..........aint that the truth top tune......
Blueskinedbeast 3 years ago
my absolute favourite stranglers - brings back nostalgic moments of "3 october", "streepke" and "zizny"... all top early 80's punk - new wave "establishments"...
you can keep your brussels & amsterdam, give me back my summer in "breastenham" ? wow
jangenk 3 years ago
try dresden man
hammbetta 3 years ago
Bear Cage is definitely one of their very best songs
ninelivecat 3 years ago 4
i was at a hugh gig and i got my foto took with him, got him to do the forced smile he did in this video lol, it wasnt hard for him to do as hes a moody bastard.
thenos4rat2 3 years ago
Great liitle known song from a superb band.
aarthoor 3 years ago
in october i will see them for the 38th time ha ha ha ha ho ho ho hoo hoo hik hik ho blip blip blop.
alanhug 3 years ago
As someone who never saw the Cornwell line up I'd like them to. It's never going to happen though. There's far too much bad blood...I'd wish they'd at least just bury the bloody hatchet though. It's been 18 years...surely it's time to forgive and forget?
Even if a reunion gig never happened I hope they settle their differences at the very least.
Baronvon 3 years ago
What a band! One of their best songs. Thanks Austin!
alphachina 3 years ago
jet is 70 this year. Good old dave green field will be 59 this month and jj is already 56. Now other than JJ, the rest arent exactyly paragons of healthy living.
If hugh and JJ can bury the hatchet, then they can all retire gracefully and stinking rich. But...they wont.
Sad isnt it?
armalyte 4 years ago
this used to scare me sooo much, u cant beat the stranglers.
laurenluvincraig 4 years ago
music is not a sport where when you turn older you have to retire. Check out acdc, pink floyd, the stones, led zeppelin, the police, even the doors. The stranglers could kick ass if it wasn't for (ironicly) the younger paul roberts...
lacusicusi 4 years ago
Paul Robert's voice doesn't fit the stranglers style. Hugh should go back. He never will but he should. His solo career will never get to the level he had with the meninblack. And the new stranglers will never
accomplish nothing close to the old level.
Both parts lost and at this time they should realize it.
lacusicusi 4 years ago 3
They're all just to old now. I'm sure even the new version will retire soon. Era gone bye-bye.
satorres82 4 years ago
the reformed stranglers???? the band never split up,hugh left to do his own thing.jj,jet and dave carried on being in the best band ever.
hoopinblack 4 years ago
I meant reform as in the original line up getting back together...
Glad the Stranglers are still doing the trick for some people but for me the band that I love ceased to be when Hugh left.
Baronvon 4 years ago
Hugh is the voice of the Stranglers!You simply can´t replace this!His solo-carrer is better then everything the Stranglers did,allthough I wish it wouldn´t be!Sorry!!!
dickerkata 4 years ago
We all love Hugh, but sorry you can't say his solo career is better than anything The Stranglers did. That's mad! And it's just not true.
TMarlowe26 3 years ago 2
Excellent !
ninelivecat 4 years ago
There's an interview with JJ from 2006 where he said Hugh slammed down the phone on him when they last talked. You could hear pain in JJ's voice.
I think Hugh's solo career is better than the reformed Stranglers, but I do think Hugh was the cunt in this situation. When you listen to 10 and Dreamtime, JJ's voice actually fit better in those mega-produced late 80's tracks. Hugh didn't want to play second fiddle, even though JJ had been second fiddle for a decade. That's my theory.
LoneConformist 4 years ago
Although to be fair to Hugh it's not as though the rest of them have exactly shown him much respect since he left.
I think both parties are to blame somewhat...it's a bit of a mess sadly and because of it I sadly don't think the original and best line up will ever reform.
Baronvon 4 years ago
Having met and talked to both of them at various stages I conclude that Hugh felt quite bullied by JJ and John Ellis (who is superior technically at the guitar, but boring musically I must add) and was losing confidence as a guitarist around the ten period, if you listen to Hugh in 1977 -1981 his playing is tight adhering to the set pieces perfectly. Also JJ was annoyed at Hugh's increasing Yuppie like behaviour during the 80's and there was a definite split about the image.
almklit 2 years ago
hugh cornwall rools woo!
u2bitch 4 years ago
Hugh!!
jiiheikki 4 years ago
'Bear cage' indicates an annexation of a country by the Soviet Union (Russian Bear). The song refers to East Berlin, or 'Bearlin'and describes the fortune of a stranger trying to make his way there. 'Bearlins' is a play on 'Butlins' and the holiday camp provides a sinster metaphor for the E.G. economic/polical/social system..
daggereyes1 4 years ago 6
Your explanation fits well with the Vladimir and Olga series of songs. But Russia and East Berlin are just a metaphor for the whole world now, or soon. I don't know what the E.G. is but the EU itself is communist-Atlantean in nature.
Strange that they'd be complaining here, because JJ Burnel was like a prophet of a "united Europe" which is now coming true. See: Euroman.
Also -- I think Radiohead's fanged bear logo was directly or subconsciously taken from this single's sleeve.
LoneConformist 4 years ago
great song and great vid
howlsfish 4 years ago
Ive looked up Butlins and all, got some info from Wikipedia. But I just can't seem to comprehend much of the video. Its weird, but I wanna get it.
Any insights from anyone who was living this era?
AliciaValencia0112 4 years ago
really don`t think they cared too much about videos
bainty66 4 years ago
so what is this exactly? a satire on Butlins or something! i dont get it a guy crashes in aplane and theres people caged in what does that signify
DonLettsmadetheClash 4 years ago
As much as i love The Stranglers & always loved this song,this video says to me,that they watched Baggy Trousers by Madness video & jumped the bandwagon..Top song but video is very dubious,unless your tripping owta yer nut on acid..!
peterwoods04 5 years ago
It's a parody about England mate - pretty obvious too. 'Bearlins'?? Hmmm...rings a bell huh? It's all about living in England...hahah! Very true too...
jimbo9998823 4 years ago
without dout the best band i have seen live on the raven tour. not worth listening too without hugh
zombie1962 5 years ago
Thanks RevAustin. Never seen it. Fascinating to watch. Too bad the others won't talk to Hugh. It'd be great to have a reunion concert.
AussieLou06 5 years ago
You know, I heard JJ tried but Hugh said something along the lines of "Fuck off!"
Either way I wish Hugh was still in the Stranglers. =(
RevAustin 5 years ago
I've just finished Hugh's book and he says it's the other way around - the others are against him. I wish they'd reform, even for one gig for the fans' sake. At least I saw them when they came to Australia. They really shook up this conservative country!
AussieLou06 5 years ago
Whatever has been said...the fact remains that the classic line up of Hugh, JJ, Dave and Jet are one of the best line ups ever...the new Stranglers line up are decent but it's just not the same without Hugh, they lost perhaps the key member. They wouldn't have been the same without JJ, Dave et al but Hugh was the one they could least afford to lose.
Baronvon 5 years ago
Hughs a cunt he DID live a disgrace. dont know if he still does but he had uber talent
DonLettsmadetheClash 4 years ago
No problem!
And if theres one thing I know, it's that time heals all.
I'm willing to put my money on a reunion. Just don't know when.
RevAustin 4 years ago
I saw him, i saw Hugh yesterday in a bar in Kassel and it was great!
I never thought that he would play this incredible-song that night!
baeckerstern 5 years ago
Perhaps my favourite song...one of them anyway.
Baronvon 5 years ago
Great song and video about life in West Berlin, when there was still a wall around it. Typical bit of black humor from the Stranglers.
Eszpresszo 5 years ago
I never realized it was about West Berlin.
Thanks!
RevAustin 5 years ago
This song is incredible even still after all these years.I think the Stranglers where actually very underrated.
ninelivecat 5 years ago
classic clip,excellent,cheerz
jackoinblack 6 years ago