The Beautiful South Biography
- Birth Place: Hull
The Beautiful South Biography
The Beautiful South formed out of the ashes of the Housemartins in 1989. The Housemartins had a dower northern reputation – they came from Hull – so founders Paul Heaton and David Hemmingway sarcastically came up with their new name and added some more jazzy and R&B smooth tunes to their witty dark humour.
'Song for Whoever' (1989) was an instant UK success, so the band worked on to record their debut album 'Welcome to the Beautiful South'. The band wanted the original album sleeve showing a suicidal girl with a gun in her mouth but Go Discs Records over ruled them and the album was well reviewed.
The bitter duet between the feisty Irish Briana Corrigan and Hemingway took the band to No 1. Admitting to his wish to subvert optimistic love songs, Heaton wrote ironies, rows and fights into his lyrics. The song was supported by a memorable video that won the Best Music Video award at the 1991 BRIT Awards.
Heaton's most cutting lyrics to date were in "My Book" which included a hilarious reference to the soccer player Peter Beardsley and caused Jazzie B. of Soul II Soul to sue for the slight use of the "Back To Reality" refrain.
Heaton’s lyrics drove Corrigan to leave the band after she decided lyrics about topless models in page 3 tabloids held too many interpretations.
Jacqueline Abbott joined the band for its fourth album 'Miaow'. She also quit in 1999 shortly after the release of 'Quench'.
The following year, Heaton released his solo debut, 'Fat Chance', under the pseudonym Biscuit Boy Aka Crackerman.
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