Next Generation celebrates 30 Years of Ghost Town at Coventry’s 2-Tone Museum
30 years ago Ghost Town by The Special AKA was topping the charts; if urban decay had a sound then this was it. The song spoke of job losses, economic decline; it was beautifully haunting and its lyrics were thoughtful and provoking, that said, it still seemed okay for it to have a sing-a-long chorus.
Last week forty-five 10 to 11 year old children from Whitley Abbey Primary school visited Coventry’s 2-Tone Museum “2-Tone Central” to learn about the song and 2-Tones multicultural history. They performed an emotional version of the song Ghost Town on the museum venue stage. Coventry Music Historian Pete Chambers who was present at the trip said, it was a magical moment to see these children not only perform the song, but understand so much about it too, it was a truly amazing experience. I can’t help feeling that those people who created 2-Tone, The Specials and The Selecter should feel so proud that their legacy is being taught in Coventry schools some 30 years on!
Education Officer at 2-Tone Central Carole Quinney said of the visit...
I believe children learn by taking part, and having a hands and voice on experience. These children were given the chance to talk and ask questions, they had the chance to really view what was on display and answer worksheets with what they had discovered, to design their own badges, they had the chance to have fun, to sing and dance and feel the music that so many have loved and believed in for the last 30 years. They were amazed to see how a record player worked and to see how big a Walkman was, the size of a TV in the 2-Tone bedroom.
The children who came had already started their learning with the enthusiastic teachers, support staff and school governor that accompanied the trip. They had been learning Ghost Town; one pupil had already set it as his mobile ring tone. They had talked about 2-Tone with their families, one boy telling me how his Dad played the music most days and he loved it. They even brought with them fabulous pictures of Walt Jabsco which they had created in school with sheets of black paper and white paper
We would be very pleased to talk with other schools who hope to learn of Coventry's influence and history on the music scene which came to everyone’s attention 30 years ago.
See the performance here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRLadeo1f3w