"Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!" is a song by Chumbawamba. Released in 1995, it served as the lead single from the group's seventh studio album, ''Swingin' with Raymond''. It was later featured on the group's 1999 compilation, ''Uneasy Listening''. The song criticizes the homes featured in celebrity gossip magazines such as ''
Hello
''Hello'' is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is first attested in writing from 1826. Early uses
''Hello'', with that spelling, was used in publications in the U.S. as early as the 18 October 1826 edition of the ''Norwich C ...
''. Upon its release, the song attained modest chart success in the United Kingdom, where it became their fourth chart entry, spending one week in the top 100. It was generally well-received by critics, who praised its humorous lyrics and composition.
Lyrics
''Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!'' is often thought to be about suburban neighbourhoods, but is actually about the homes of certain rich celebrities. In AllMusic's review of ''Uneasy Listening'', music critic Alex Ogg summarized the song as "a sideswipe at the non-taste of the celebrities featured in Hello magazine."
Release
The song was first included on the group's 1996 album ''Swingin' with Raymond''. It was again featured on their 1999 compilation ''Uneasy Listening''.
Critical reception
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
's Chris Nickson regarded the song as a highlight of ''Swingin' with Raymond'', praising "the interjection of 'In an English Country Garden'
..that gets trampled by buzzing punk guitar and beats."
Music critic
Robert Christgau
Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
praised the song as "funny."
Commercial performance
The song was a modest hit in the UK, reaching number 84 on their
Singles Chart
A record chart, in the music industry, also called a music chart, is a ranking of recorded music according to certain criteria during a given period. Many different criteria are used in worldwide charts, often in combination. These include rec ...
on the chart dated 21 October 1995, becoming the group's fourth entry on that chart.
Formats and track listings
* CD and cassette single
# "Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!"2:23
# "Mannequin"2:30
# "This Girl"3:43
# "Hunchback of Notre Dame"2:13
* 7" vinyl
# "Ugh! Your Ugly Houses!"2:23
# "This Girl"3:43
References
{{Authority control
1995 singles
Chumbawamba songs
One Little Indian Records singles