The Au Pairs - it´s obvious

[Larinho2]

They were so great...sigh.

[Harrylechat01]

10 people like Justin Beiber

[pawnsacrifice1]

I only heard this two minutes ago but love the guitar and menacing bass

[FoxRoxURSoxOff]

I only just learnt this song is like, 30! But it's sooooo goooood!

[daveated]

Takes me back...good stuff

[plattsadam]

brother inytroduced me to this band when i was about ten, never knew anybody else had heard of em. still excellent after all these years

[YunaBonbeurre]

it's obvious nobody here will dare watch EARTHLINGS

[rareflorence]

"not gay, STUPID!"

[donaldnewmanmedone]

Makes me think of Gang of Four. Good stuff.

[hailtothevictorz]

What's so funny to me is that while this is such a great album, the keystone song by the Au Pairs will always be 'Diet' and it was considered a 'bonus' track on 'Stepping Out of Line' Seven years ago you couldn't even get this on CD for under 70 bucks.

[daffers68]

so much better than the commercial slowed down version

[slupoynter]

''Not gay, stupid'' you're equal, but different, you're equal, but different....

[barnseyo1]

Seen these at Newcastle Beer Kellar about 1984. Seriously, the best gig I have been to. If any of the line up reads this......Thanks for an outstanding night.

[AestheticallyWitty]

What a great band. I didn't come here because of "Skins" I just like the band.

[piiikj]

Emily and Katie Fighting brought me here....



[flipidy94]

@piiikj Hearing a lot of the music I loved in skins made the love for the show even more personal than I could ever have imagined

[clarepies]

haha everybody heard this on skins:) me tooo

[MsFeege]

hahaha this really brings back memories (such as I am capable!)

[MrAoua]

Great Song!

[TheCycad]

infectious. the guitar solo!!!! so noisy and dense! I love it.

[La77a]

The Rainbow 1980, North London. Not too sure if they were supporting the Fall (another great band) or they were supported by The Passions...soooo many gigs, not enough brain cells.

[Incudius]

good to find this one has ome interrest.

I married the girl that introduced me to this band, this ablum and its concepts.

30 years and 3 kids (happy, successful) later and I can only recommend this way of thinking as absolutely essential.

The music stands up to the junk we have rammed down our throats in the 21st century too.

You won't find this on any BBC retrospectives......

[LiveThoughtful]

The LP has the fade back at the end ..wh'happen??

[brettsbluesharp]

Googled the title of this song, 30 years after hearing the Au Pairs play it live. A pleasure to hear it again!

[LiveThoughtful]

@brettsbluesharp I think some of them have their own myspace and have been musically active recently. I'll try to find more

[SiouxSyndicate]

Great!

[MissPolygraph88]

I'm obsessed with this song

Love it loads!

[iidontbloodycare]

TWINS SONG. <3

[DownToEarthGuitars]

What gets me is the bassline.

Right from the beginning, it's just TOO sick.

Thumbs up on this shit no matter how you found it, good music is good music :)

[ScowlingWolf]

for Tina , shanga xxx

[ScowlingWolf]

for T

[IAHASS]

"You're EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT!"

"You're EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT!"

"You're EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT!"

"You're EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT!"

"You're EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT!" "You're EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT!"

"You're EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT!"

I need to get that on my head! =$

[savy1234]

Great track, had it on a vinyl once, still sounds fresh.

[emilybronte2005]

@savy1234 me too!

Had the song " diet" on the other side. Loved that too.

[joewhittles]

im such a fan of the slow burner - the kind of song that doesnt ever reach the precipise but just sort of sits there.

[MrJonfatbeast]

love this. saw au pairs 30 times. lucky me x

[ronaldvanderkleij]

Het is maar hoe je het bekijkt. De jaren eind 70 begin 80. Wave neemt zijn plaats in. Hele zolder volliggen met LPs die de deur niet uitmogen ook al liggen ze al jaren in de weg. Me kinderen vinden het vrfeselijk maar goed ik kan niet wennen aan 2010 bwehhhhhhhhhhh.

[JimmyCurrie]

Missing link Girlschool and The Slits.

[bajoink0]

AHAHAHA skins? i watch it..but i didnt discover Au Pairs from skins. I love this songgg

[jo89kiss]

"alcohol" by millionaires

[159lucy159]

Skins is an amazing programme on E4 :D

[jebiusenvy]

WTF is skins?

[Lollypop111988]

it's a teen drama from England:DXD

[4341449]

@jebiusenvy the episodes are on youtube. watch them . goos stuff :)

[plcbbaru]

Good lyrics :D

[Tchukette]

Génial!

[madehubmac]

*o*

[dulaitaufiel]

skins... =)

[StrummerLivesxxx]

Bloody hell, am I only one that didn't find it on Skins!?!? Anyway...underrated band.

[MarieEGM]

@StrummerLivesxxx Season 3, episode 9.

Just after Katie ans Emily's shopping.

[StrummerLivesxxx]

Lol, I don't watch skins :|

[MarieEGM]

@StrummerLivesxxx Oh ok sorry, I'm french and I don't always understand what I read !

[leobthxxx]

Whats the song Katie and Emily were shopping too?

[MarieEGM]

Millionaires - Alcohol

[maryflower212]

@StrummerLivesxxx is it that bad that most of us discovered a lot of great bands and songs thanks to skins?? I think that´s a good thing for them (and for us, of course), don´t you think so? where did you discover them, then?

[StrummerLivesxxx]

No, of course it int a bad thing, I think its great getting more people into good music they haven't discovered! And I think I discovered them whilst using last fm, that site is pretty amazing, I discover new things all the time :D

[martyisaspa]

28th January 10p.m E4!! Watch it! i feel so sorry for cook in this season :(

[bananamonkey694]

im so looking forward to the new series :)

Naomily for ever <3 xxx

[crazygirlka]

skins 4ever!!!

naomily<3

[mikjab14]

anyone know when the new season of skins is comin?? :D

[watashiwasakuradesu]

I think March-April ish....

My friend is in the fourth episode which will be out in April, so, something like that.

:)

[SuuzieQ]

it starts in january next year

[cocomoo2]

@mikjab14

january 20th something of next year.

[perfect63]

@mikjab14 28th January

[denouements]

omg same! skins always has pretty awesome music!

[kitooshy]

I founded this song on Skins too x')

[sparced]

skins? fucking hell. people actually watch that shite.

[heavydutydudes]

AMEN AMEN

[mrnedthomas]

nice one you now what i mean!

[elemily]

I really love this song

[neverbeen2]

how good is this from 1980 :)

[EllieIzShweetJB]

lol - i found this on skins too (:

[onekidgoes]

Such a fantastic LP :]

[vurtsvurtssaara]

yeaah, on skins there are only great songs, like this one. oh yeah, and i also found it on skins. :D

skinsss ♥

[LLwinforlife]

I'm fond of it <3

[plato17714]

12 inches of brilliance

[AmyFuckIt]

fckin love this song!

[Linguist29]

this album is well rare

[FickRick123]

skins is such a conventional way to get music ;]pp

[diosEFFINmio]

mate!

[maclennan73]

@FickRick123 who cares, if people hear music thats all but forgotten about and then goes to find it and maybe buy it can only be a good thing!..?

[lars3939]

@FickRick123 I head this in a slaughter house and I love it...

[nuterfly]

This was on skins!

[primevalfan95]

what scene? Love skins and this song <3

[geegeedolls]

this is from the scene in Katie and Emily where Katie and Freddie talk in the changing room, and keeps playing as Katie and Emily argue over JJ.

[xElfenxLiedx]

i heard this on Skins and i love it :')

[xelectroslutx]

yeah me too! it´s great!

[kbr61263]

am imagining it, or did they perform with Delta 5 in north london poly some time in 1981/2. i am sure isaw them bith there, but was it the same night?

[accepthis]

hello - i wrote stuff down...14th june 1980 both played the London University and the Lyceum on 7 sep (with fucking U2) and 23 jan 81 guildford surrey uni - if any of that helps - Au Pairs were at N London poly supporting the Fall 21 nov 1980

[Risingson2]

Tune!

[ok1001]

Darf in keiner Sammlung fehlen !!!

[jangenk]

you're equal but different... the au pairs sure were different.. spending time by myself is oh so nice

[jmpmeuc]

i could cry, i am so happy to have found this . thank you from an old slimer. johno

[tyroneSloth]

This is my favourite song by them, but prefer "Sense and Sensuality" as an album

[despairtonohair]

Pivked the Vinyl up at a Charity shop in Telford today...somehow missed it the time ...glad I didn't this time round

[mikebott]

i love the first record; 'sense and sensuality' not so much.

it's heartening to see that so many people who followed them in their heyday are here. i was less than 2 when this came out.

[edkollin]

This amazing song by this amazing group was played all the time on Hofstra University's (yes where they had the debate) radio stations show "Post Punk Progressive Pop Party" back in 1981. 27 Years ago!!!!

[SeamusPCollins]

Oohyes! Hearing this is definetely stripping back the years! The lyceum on a sunday night with the likes of this lot. Truly the best of times

[crabstick250]

Ya know...I STILL think the Au Pairs' show I saw was one of the best gigs in my youth. I have a fond memory of seeing them in NYC at the Pep Lounge when in high school.I was drunk since they went on so damned late (remember when bands went on late?) and glued to the stage edge,mezmerized. Now I'm 44 and STILL think it was the best gig I ever went to. This music still rocks, just a great combo of musicians, lyrics and vocals. Many nights spent dancing to this tune in the clubs too!

[marjoryz]

I can't tell you how many times I put this song at house parties back in those days. Running over to the turntable and dropping down the needle..."you're equal! but different!"....everyone screaming and dancing.

[crabstick250]

YES! The minute we heard the beginning of the tune, everyone ran onto the dance floor...then if it was the long mix, we were all exausted by the end. Of course, now I would have a heart attack and die after the first 3 minutes of dancing - but I would die so happy. "Yes, its nice...its paradise...."

[emilybronte2005]

@crabstick250 ... me too I'm 45 now!

[midnightaria]

i love this song its dancable

[CHIRPYCHALLONER]

WHAT?

[liltirent54]

is this really pete?

[CHIRPYCHALLONER]

hi there,yep last time i looked it was me.who's asking?...not the FBI i hope!

[accepthis]

hello then Mr H=to confuse things the above message is from my son's account hence the different name tag.Don't know if you'll remember me or if you are you,but what the hey-this is gary, one of the london based mobling who with unashamed puppy dog devotion hounded you all (these days it would be labelled stalking) for some 30 odd gigs beginning 29 years ago next month.(23.11.79 Electric Ballrooms supporting Go4)TWENTY NINE!!!! i hesitate but my best id clue is exRAMC. So,whatcha been doin?

[DilLspitZen]

prima donnas if /=.I.=\ remember rytl-i

n

I do

single versions different

though equally gud

especially someone given to melodramatic tantrums when displeased.

ETYMOLOGY: 18c: Italian, meaning 'first lady'.

[LilacNell]

Well when I first saw them in Brum ('78?) I thought they were trite ridiculously rich kid hippy shit, But,.. I remember hearing them do this at the College of Food and Domestic Arts in Brum and thinking, gosh, they got good. They had a label too - I think they put out The Pinkies and Dance 7inches? Can anyone clarify?

[grumpybutgorgeous69]

GO FOR GOLD COME OUT/BACK

[HarryUpHarry]

The intro is just like Joy Div's.... Lost Souls?

[simonbnyc]

This was on the other side of the single "Diet" which I bought the day after John Lennon was killed. Or maybe it was the A side - I can't remember but they were both amazing songs. I just wanted to hear it and for some reason it kept me sane that day. Then soon after they came to a pub in Bath and played an astonishing set on a bill with some band who I believe were called Fast Relief.

[HarryUpHarry]

I have that on 7" vynyl and loved both too

[anafewentezz]

great song.

[anarchycastro]

can i say.....fuckin love it...this is it

[rchrdj]

awesome

[brigham600]

Briliant stuff and I can remember seeing this band in 1980 at a pub somewhere in Edinburgh.

[hesbmg]

Wonderful to hear that again - thank you. I saw them once, in Hull, 1980 or 81 when they were supporting Sector 27, Tom Robinson's new band after the Tom Robinson Band broke up. I'm glad I saw Tom, but in truth the Au Pairs blew them off the stage. I agree with all the comments about Wood's lyrics and how good the band were, what topped it off was the dreadful sadness in her voice, you really could believe she was singing for the pain of women everywhere. A criminally undervalued band.

[uksclavain]

Was at same gig and totally agree with you :)

[mike1800S]

The pain of women everywhere? What a load of crap! Their in no more pain than the other half of the population. I see unfullfilling sex has been mentioned as one of their 'pains' Why is unfulfilling sex so much more painfull for women? Theres plenty of men out there getting infrequent and rubbish sex as well - but of course it will all be their fault. Garbage. and i saw the Au Pairs in 1980 at norbrek Castle in Blackpool, they were OK but nothing special.

[HarryUpHarry]

If you don't like it then ok - no need to hate it the rest of us who like it

[schmidt64]

Wouldn't you say that the chance of getting raped while going home late at night is pretty much bigger for a woman than for a man? And does the number of men killed by their ex-girlfriends /ex-wives even come close to the number of women killed by their ex-boyfriends / ex-husbands? - So maybe they ARE in more pain... and why is this thought so unbearable for you?

[midnightaria]

i agree....woman are the one who punish by not giving sexy time to there husbands then they wonder why guys cheat...when they dont feel loved by the one they chose

[Marian0127]

Un morceau intemporel...

enfin retrouvé, même si je n'ai pas mis tant de temps, étant de la génération d'après.

Wasn'it obvious ;)

[eboisbunon]

cela fait plus de 20 ans que je recherhais cette musique .perdu le vynile .merci!

[PollenB]

Thanks for this. Bought the single in Ken Market one Saturday morning. Saw them at the Venue Victoria, I think it was.

[PollenB]

Correction: I first heard it at the Venue apres band - maybe Bauhaus. It could have been the Lyceum or Brixton where I saw them. Many moons have passed.

[nanning001]

I think they were one of the best live bands. Saw them several times and always great.

[aredhedguy]

they were AWESOME. Thanks for the music, Au Pairs.

[lovesGenet]

wow this was a great song and they covered he Bowie song about wife beating on that pink album. a decidedly female Marxist band .Gang of Four days!!!

[dougeroo1]

This album rocked! I couldn't understand why my mom hated it so much when I had it cranked up. It still sounds great to me, and I'm as old as she was then(or older, yikes!). Time flies when you take the Tardis.

[Mhaza]

OMG i had that album and it was my fav ban ever great miss too thanks for posting that song and hugs from Brazil^_^

[andrewlewis963]

what are womens issues?

[hitmanisback]

hair and shoes lololo

[schlomiebird]

What happened to them? I saw them in 1980 or '81 and they were fucking great. I remember a live album and perhaps one more studio record and then they vanished. I guess the days of politically radical rockers are gone.

[johnnyhbobbyhi]

Paul foad, my guitar teacher, says that their record dealer cheated them.

[Xephon212]

Gone but not forgotten.

New bands will emerge in this tradition again.

Au Pairs helped blaze the trail, for sure.

[29O9]

grandi! Li ho visti a Milano all'ex-Odissea 2001. Ricordo che il chitarrista venne in mezzo al pubblico a suonare una canzone

[29O9]

grandi! li ho visti dal vivo a Milano all'ex-Odissea 2001. Ricordo che il chitarrista venne in mezzo al pubblico a suonare una canzone

[immeris]

i loved them and miss them still. there's never been an equal to the Au Pairs. I thought Hole was going to do it in the early 90s, but Courtney didn't give a shit, did she.

[mrblifil]

Lucky enough to have seen them at Mudd Club in New York. I think it was their only US Tour. It was certainly their first. They were unforgettable. We loved the hell out of them, the whole package. Miss 'em badly.

Wish there was more video. Obviously it exists somewhere. They played MANY gigs all over the world.

[hitmanisback]

the guitarist paul foad is a friend of mine i will ask if he has some footage,so i can post it

[smilepogo]

please do!!!!!

[batgurrl]

That must have been SOMETHING. aahh.. White Street.

Brilliant song - thanks for posting even without a video. I can't stop listening to it.

[sbor2020]

The Au Pairs were AMAZING. Listen to this single and "Playing with a different sex" album and you realise just how amazing they were - one of the best rhythm sections of any band. Lyrically, Lesley Woods was sharp and they were one of the first groups to deal with "women's issues" - their lyrics deal with domestic abuse (Headache for Michelle) and unfulfilling sex (Cum Again). As the Gang of Four sang:

Is this so private

Our struggle in the bedroom

[barmbekgirl]

I couldn´t have said it better :-))

Thanks for your comment!