The Specials, X-Ray Spex Both Reunite For U.K. Concerts

A pair of acclaimed British bands reunited this weekend, as both ska legends the Specials and punk act X-Ray Spex reformed. The bulk of the Specials were the surprise guests at this weekend's Bestival at the Isle of Wight, playing their first show together since their 1981 breakup. However, because co-founder and keyboardist Jerry Dammers wasn't present at the show, the band was billed as Terry Hall and Friends. The almost Specials did perform a greatest hits-filled set, including "A Message To You, Rudy" and "Monkey Man." Also this weekend, X-Ray Spex reformed for the first time since 1995 to perform their entire 1978 album Germ Free Adolescents at London's Roundhouse venue. Like the Specials, X-Ray Spex were forced to perform with an altered line-up, as original guitarist Jak Airport died of cancer in 2004.

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Song Stories

“Baby Got Back”

Sir Mix-a-Lot | 1992

While watching a Budweiser commercial during the Super Bowl, Sir Mix-a-Lot thought the skinny female models in the ad didn’t represent reality. So he wrote this ode to ample bottoms, featuring its famous to-the-point lyric: “I like big butts and I cannot lie.” MTV banished the video, featuring shaking booties and sexually suggestive fruit, to 9 p.m. or later. “I thought my career was over,” he told Rolling Stone. “Then I called Rick Rubin, and I told him the video was banned, and he was like, 'Great!' We sold another 2 million records.”

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