Our House
"Our House"
Welcome to "Our House"! Step inside Madness's charming and iconic 1982 pop classic. This nostalgic ode to everyday family life, driven by an unforgettable piano riff and upbeat new wave rhythm, became their biggest international hit and signature song for many worldwide.
Released as a major single from the album The Rise & Fall, this track brought the quirky British band mainstream success in the US, often labeling them a one-hit wonder there. Its infectious blend of new wave pop sensibilities, relatable lyrics, and hints of their ska roots created a truly unique and beloved sound.
This feel-good 1982 pop anthem paints a vivid picture of domestic life with warmth and humour. Its catchy melody, distinctive arrangement, and popular music video cemented "Our House" as an enduring new wave classic and a defining pop culture moment of the early 80s.
SONG MEANING: The song provides an affectionate and detailed portrait of everyday working-class family life ("Father wears his Sunday best / Mother's tired she needs a rest"). It celebrates the ordinary, sometimes chaotic, routines and moments that occur within the family home ("Our house, in the middle of our street"), finding charm and nostalgia in domesticity.
- BAND: Madness
- GENRE: New Wave, Pop
- OTHER: OneHitWonder
- RELEASEDAY: November 12
- YEAR: 1982
"She Blinded Me With Science"
- BAND: Thomas Dolby
- GENRE: New Wave, Synth-pop
- OTHER: OneHitWonder
- RELEASEDAY: October 12
- YEAR: 1982
"Turning Japanese"
- BAND: The Vapors
- GENRE: New Wave, Power Pop
- OTHER: OneHitWonder
- RELEASEDAY: January 28
- YEAR: 1980
