House of Fun: Difference between revisions

"House of Fun"
"House of Fun"
Single by Madness
from the album Complete Madness
Released	14 May 1982
Recorded	1982
Genre	Pop, ska, 2 tone, new wave
Length	2:48
Label	Stiff
Songwriter(s)	Lee Thompson (lyrics); Mike Barson (music);
Producer(s)	Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley
Madness singles chronology
Music video
	"House of Fun" on YouTube

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 00:47, 13 September 2024

"House of Fun" is a song by English ska/pop group Madness, credited to Mike Barson and Lee Thompson.^[1] It was released as a one-off single on 14 May 1982 and reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, spending nine weeks in the charts.^[2]^[3] The song was re-released in 1992, reaching number 40. It is the band's only number one single in the UK and in 2015 the British public voted it as the nation's 8th favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.^[4]

Recording

The song was originally recorded under the title "Chemist Facade", without the "Welcome to the House of Fun" chorus. While the song was being recorded, head of Stiff Records Dave Robinson insisted that the song should have a chorus, so band member Mike Barson immediately wrote the "Welcome to the House of Fun" refrain on his piano.^[5]

At this point, the song had already been recorded, and the management decided not to re-record the whole song. Instead, the recording was edited, and the chorus instruments and vocals dubbed onto the recording. This proved to be difficult, mainly due to technical limitations at the time, and it resulted in the first part of the word "Welcome" being cut off. Due to this, the chorus seemed to begin "Elcome to the House of Fun", so lead singer Suggs was forced to overdub the word "Welcome". Although this proved to be a tough task, it was completed successfully.^[5]

Music and lyrical content

"House of Fun" is composed in the key of D, written in common time.^[6] It is a pop song which moves at an upbeat 126 beats per minute. The song is written in simple verse-chorus form, ending with a repeating chorus fade out (the original 7" release version/mix ends with a sudden keyboard "crash", followed by fairground organ music). The song begins solely with eight drum beats, before the keyboard, bass guitar, electric guitar, trumpet and saxophone are all introduced simultaneously.

The song is about coming of age. The lyrics tell the story of a boy on his 16th birthday attempting to buy condoms at a chemist. The UK age of consent is 16, and he makes a point of stating that he is "16 today and up for fun".^[6] However, the boy is misunderstood by the chemist, as he asks for the condoms using slang euphemisms, such as "box of balloons with a featherlight touch" and "party hats with the coloured tips".^[6] The confused chemist behind the counter eventually informs the boy that the establishment is not a joke shop, and directs him towards the "House of Fun".

Madness guitarist Chris Foreman commented jokingly about the song:^[7]

I'm not sure about this one... I think it's about coming of age, I can't remember much about because when it happened to me it was a long time ago. You could buy a packet of fags, a pint of beer and a three-piece suit for half a crown and still have enough left to go and see Rudolf Valentino at the Gaumont! I can't afford to go to the pictures these days but I hear they talk in them now.

Music video

A substantial portion of the music video was filmed at the Pleasure Beach in Great Yarmouth, with parts of the video featuring the band on the Roller Coaster. This was filmed on 7 March 1982.^[3] The video begins with Suggs dressed as a boy entering the chemist's shop with Lee Thompson and Chas Smash behind him, playing the saxophone and trumpet respectively. On entering the shop, Suggs acts out the lyrics of the song, as a 16-year-old boy awkwardly attempting to purchase condoms, without much success. Suddenly, on the first chorus, three of the band members enter the shop, dressed in gowns and wearing sunglasses and silly headgear (much like Monty Python-esque Pepperpots), and perform a simple, rhythmic yet comedic tongue-in-cheek stepping-dance routine, supposedly acting as dancing pepperpots hired with the Pleasure Beach attraction "Fun House".

The band are later seen in a barber's shop, before the finale of the song is sung on the roller coaster at the aforementioned funfair. The film closes with the band on board an infinite roller coaster loop as the chorus fades.

Despite the fact that "House of Fun" was not released in the US, the music video was shown on the newly launched MTV. Due to this, the music video, along with others such as "It Must Be Love" and "Cardiac Arrest", helped set the stage in the US for Madness' future song "Our House", which was their biggest stateside hit by far, peaking at number 7 in July 1983.^[8]^[9]

Compilation appearances

As well as the song's single release, it has featured on various compilation albums released by Madness. It was initially included on Complete Madness which was released on 23 April 1982, prior to the release of the single itself. This album also hit number 1 in the UK at the time of the single's release, meaning Madness were at the top of both the single and album charts. The song was then included on the 1992 compilation Divine Madness, which was later reissued as The Heavy Heavy Hits. The song was further included on The Business and It's... Madness. It featured in the Our House musical, which was based on the band's songs, and as such appears on the accompanying soundtrack, Our House. Furthermore, it was part of the US releases Madness and Ultimate Collection.^[10] In addition to these releases, the song also features on several "Best of the 80s" albums.^[10]

The original single contained a 10-second coda featuring music from a fairground. However, the version on the Complete Madness compilation as well as subsequent releases of the song removed this ending with the track fading to a conclusion instead. It wasn't until 2010 that the original 7" version was reissued; it was included on the second disc of the re-release of the band's 1982 album The Rise & Fall. This is also the version used on the A Guided Tour of Madness compilation.

Critical reception

In a review of the 1992 single reissue, Simon Williams of NME commented that "House of Fun" "still sounds as terrifyingly plinky plonky as Liberace and his grand piano falling down a million flight of stairs as it did [in 1982]".^[11]

Personnel

Lead vocals: Suggs
Lead guitar: Chris Foreman
Bass guitar: Mark Bedford
Keyboards: Mike Barson
Saxophone: Lee Thompson
Trumpet: Chas Smash
Drums: Daniel Woodgate
Producers: Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "House of Fun".

1982 release

7" single
1. "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) – 2:58.
2. "Don't Look Back" (Foreman) – 3:31

1992 release

7" single
1. "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) – 2:49
2. "Un Paso Adelante!" (Campbell) – 2:36
12" single
1. "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) – 2:49
2. "Un Paso Adelante!" (Campbell) – 2:36
3. "Yesterday's Men" (McPherson/Foreman) – 4:10
4. "Gabriel's Horn (demo)" (Smyth) – 3:45
CD single
1. "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) – 2:49
2. "Un Paso Adelante!" (Campbell) – 2:36
3. "Yesterday's Men" (McPherson/Foreman) – 4:10
4. "Gabriel's Horn (demo)" (Smyth) – 3:45

"Un Paso Adelante!" is a Spanish version of the group's 1979 hit "One Step Beyond". "Gabriel's Horn" was re-recorded in 1986 when the group were working on the never-completed Lost in the Museum album. A version appeared on The Madness' self-titled LP.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[12]	5
Ireland (IRMA)^[13]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	34
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	23
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	1

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[17]	73
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[18]	40

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)	Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[19]	68

Certifications and sales


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[20]	Silver	250,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "AllMusic.com Madness album overview". Retrieved on 28 June 2007.
^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 409. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ ^a ^b "The Madness Timeline: 1982". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved on 27 June 2007.
^ Westbrook, Caroline (25 July 2015). "The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn't make the cut". Metro. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
^ ^a ^b "CLASSIC TRACKS: 'Our House' by Madness". Retrieved on 22 August 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c Commercial sheet music for "House of Fun".
^ Comments regarding the song on the back of the Complete Madness LP. V2 Records
^ "MTV Madness biography". Archived from the original on 18 February 2006. Retrieved on 24 August 2007.
^ "The Madness Story: Chapter 5". Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved on 19 June 2007
^ ^a ^b "AllMusic.com 'House of Fun' appearances". Retrieved on 22 August 2007.
^ Williams, Simon (18 April 1992). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 18.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 187. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Madness' (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^ "Madness – House of Fun" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^ "Madness – House of Fun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 174.
^ "Official Charts > Madness". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^ "Kent Music Report No 445 – 3 January 1983 > National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^ "British single certifications – Madness – House of Fun". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 March 2022.

External links

[ammadness-1] "AllMusic.com Madness album overview". Retrieved on 28 June 2007.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-2] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 409. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[madness82-3] "The Madness Timeline: 1982". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved on 27 June 2007.

[4] Westbrook, Caroline (25 July 2015). "The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn't make the cut". Metro. Retrieved 27 July 2015.

[recording-5] "CLASSIC TRACKS: 'Our House' by Madness". Retrieved on 22 August 2007.

[sheet-6] Commercial sheet music for "House of Fun".

[foreman-7] Comments regarding the song on the back of the Complete Madness LP. V2 Records

[mtvbio-8] "MTV Madness biography". Archived from the original on 18 February 2006. Retrieved on 24 August 2007.

[madnessstory5-9] "The Madness Story: Chapter 5". Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved on 19 June 2007

[app-10] "AllMusic.com 'House of Fun' appearances". Retrieved on 22 August 2007.

[11] Williams, Simon (18 April 1992). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 18.

[12] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 187. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[13] "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Madness' (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 1 January 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_Madness-14] "Madness – House of Fun" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 January 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_Madness-15] "Madness – House of Fun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 January 2020.

[sc_UK_-16] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2020.

[17] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 174.

[18] "Official Charts > Madness". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2020.

[19] "Kent Music Report No 445 – 3 January 1983 > National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 1 January 2020.

[United_KingdomMadnessHouse_of_FunsingleCertRef-20] "British single certifications – Madness – House of Fun". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 March 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|1982 single by Madness}}
 {{About|the Madness single|the television channel|House of Fun TV}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
 {{Infobox song
 | name       = House of Fun
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | venue      =
 | genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[ska]], [[2 Tone (music genre)|2 tone]], [[New wave music|new wave]]
-| length     = 2:58
+| length     = 2:48
 | label      = [[Stiff Records|Stiff]]
-| writer     = [[Lee Jay Thompson|Lee Thompson]] (lyrics) <br />[[Mike Barson]] (music)
+| writer     = *[[Lee Thompson (saxophonist)|Lee Thompson]] (lyrics)
+*[[Mike Barson]] (music)
 | producer   = [[Clive Langer]], [[Alan Winstanley]]
 | prev_title = [[Cardiac Arrest (Madness song)|Cardiac Arrest]]
@@ Line 23: / Line 24: @@
 | next_title = [[Driving in My Car]]
 | next_year  = 1982
+| misc          = {{External music video|{{YouTube|GJ2X9SANsME|"House of Fun"}}}}
-| misc       =
 }}
-"'''House of Fun'''" is a song by English ska/pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], credited to [[Mike Barson]] and [[Lee Jay Thompson|Lee Thompson]].<ref name="ammadness">{{cite web|url= {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r12189|pure_url=yes}}  |title= Allmusic.com Madness album overview }} Retrieved on 28 June 2007.</ref> It was released as a one-off single on 14 May 1982 and reached number one in the [[UK Singles Chart]], spending nine weeks in the charts.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
+"'''House of Fun'''" is a song by English ska/pop group [[Madness (band)|Madness]], credited to [[Mike Barson]] and [[Lee Thompson (saxophonist)|Lee Thompson]].<ref name="ammadness">{{cite web|url= {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r12189|pure_url=yes}}  |title= AllMusic.com Madness album overview }} Retrieved on 28 June 2007.</ref> It was released as a one-off single on 14 May 1982 and reached number one in the [[UK Singles Chart]], spending nine weeks in the charts.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
 | first= David
 | last= Roberts
@@ Line 35: / Line 36: @@
 | location= London
 | isbn= 1-904994-10-5
-| page= 409}}</ref><ref name="madness82">{{cite web  |url= http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1982/text.htm  |title= The Madness Timeline: 1982  |url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002942/http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1982/text.htm  |archive-date= 28 September 2007  |df= dmy-all  }} Retrieved on 27 June 2007.</ref> The song was re-released in 1992, reaching number 40. It is the band's only number one single in the UK and in 2015 the British public voted it as the nation's 8th favourite [[List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s|1980s number one]] in a poll for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]].<ref>{{cite news | url= http://metro.co.uk/2015/07/25/the-nations-favourite-80s-number-one-12-more-classic-80s-chart-toppers-which-didnt-make-the-cut-5312786/ | title= The Nation’s Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn’t make the cut  | work=Metro | first=Caroline | last=Westbrook | date=25 July 2015 | access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>
+| page= 409}}</ref><ref name="madness82">{{cite web  |url= http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1982/text.htm  |title= The Madness Timeline: 1982  |url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002942/http://www.madness.co.uk/time/1982/text.htm  |archive-date= 28 September 2007  }} Retrieved on 27 June 2007.</ref> The song was re-released in 1992, reaching number 40. It is the band's only number one single in the UK and in 2015 the British public voted it as the nation's 8th favourite [[List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s|1980s number one]] in a poll for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]].<ref>{{cite news | url= http://metro.co.uk/2015/07/25/the-nations-favourite-80s-number-one-12-more-classic-80s-chart-toppers-which-didnt-make-the-cut-5312786/ | title= The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn't make the cut  | work=Metro | first=Caroline | last=Westbrook | date=25 July 2015 | access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>
 ==Recording==
-The song was originally recorded under the title "Chemist Facade", without the "Welcome to the House of Fun" chorus. While the song was being recorded, head of [[Stiff Records]] Dave Robinson insisted that the song should have a chorus, so band member [[Mike Barson]] immediately wrote the "Welcome to the House of Fun" refrain on his piano.<ref name="recording">{{cite web|url= http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun06/articles/classictracks_0606.htm |title= CLASSIC TRACKS: 'Our House' by Madness }} Retrieved on 22 August 2007.</ref>
+The song was originally recorded under the title "Chemist Facade", without the "Welcome to the House of Fun" chorus. While the song was being recorded, head of [[Stiff Records]] [[Dave Robinson (music executive)|Dave Robinson]] insisted that the song should have a chorus, so band member [[Mike Barson]] immediately wrote the "Welcome to the House of Fun" refrain on his piano.<ref name="recording">{{cite web|url= http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun06/articles/classictracks_0606.htm |title= CLASSIC TRACKS: 'Our House' by Madness }} Retrieved on 22 August 2007.</ref>
-At this point, the song had already been recorded, and the management decided not to re-record the whole song. Instead, the recording was edited, and the chorus instruments and vocals dubbed onto the recording. This proved to be difficult, mainly due to technical limitations at the time, and it resulted in the first part of the word "Welcome" being cut off. Due to this, the chorus seemed to begin "Elcome to the House of Fun", so lead singer [[Suggs (singer)|Suggs]] was forced to overdub the word "Welcome". Although this proved to be a tough task, it was completed successfully.<ref name="recording"/>
+At this point, the song had already been recorded, and the management decided not to re-record the whole song. Instead, the recording was edited, and the chorus instruments and vocals dubbed onto the recording. This proved to be difficult, mainly due to technical limitations at the time, and it resulted in the first part of the word "Welcome" being cut off. Due to this, the chorus seemed to begin "Elcome to the House of Fun", so lead singer [[Suggs]] was forced to overdub the word "Welcome". Although this proved to be a tough task, it was completed successfully.<ref name="recording"/>
 ==Music and lyrical content==
-[[Image:House of Fun sheet music.png|left|thumb|330px|The introduction to the song.{{deletable image-caption|Monday, 8 March 2021|PROD}}]]
+<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:House of Fun sheet music.png|left|thumb|330px|The introduction to the song.{{deletable image-caption|Monday, 8 March 2021|PROD}}]] -->
 "House of Fun" is composed in the key of D, written in [[common time]].<ref name="sheet">Commercial sheet music for "House of Fun".</ref> It is a [[Pop music|pop song]] which moves at an upbeat 126 [[beats per minute]]. The song is written in simple [[verse-chorus form]], ending with a repeating chorus fade out (the original 7" release version/mix ends with a sudden keyboard "crash", followed by fairground organ music). The song begins solely with eight [[drum]] beats, before the [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]], [[bass guitar]], [[electric guitar]], [[trumpet]] and [[saxophone]] are all introduced simultaneously.
-The song is about [[coming of age]]. The lyrics tell the story of a boy on his 16th birthday attempting to buy [[condoms]] at a [[Pharmacy#Community pharmacy|chemist]]. The [[Ages of consent in Europe#United Kingdom .28and dependencies.29|UK age of consent]] is 16, and he makes a point of stating that he is "16 today and up for fun".<ref name="sheet"/> However, the boy is misunderstood by the chemist, as he asks for the condoms using slang euphemisms, such as "box of balloons with a featherlight touch" and "party hats
+The song is about [[coming of age]]. The lyrics tell the story of a boy on his 16th birthday attempting to buy [[condoms]] at a [[Pharmacy#Community pharmacy|chemist]]. The [[Ages of consent in Europe#United Kingdom and Crown dependencies|UK age of consent]] is 16, and he makes a point of stating that he is "16 today and up for fun".<ref name="sheet"/> However, the boy is misunderstood by the chemist, as he asks for the condoms using slang euphemisms, such as "box of balloons with a featherlight touch" and "party hats
 with the coloured tips".<ref name="sheet"/> The confused chemist behind the counter eventually informs the boy that the establishment is not a [[novelty item|joke shop]], and directs him towards the "House of Fun".
 Madness guitarist [[Chris Foreman]] commented jokingly about the song:<ref name="foreman">Comments regarding the song on the back of the ''[[Complete Madness]]'' [[LP album|LP]]. ''[[V2 Records]]''</ref>
-{{quote|I'm not sure about this one... I think it's about coming of age, I can't remember much about because when it happened to me it was a long time ago. You could buy a packet of fags, a pint of beer and a [[three piece suit]] for half a crown and still have enough left to go and see [[Rudolf Valentino]] at the [[Gaumont State Cinema|Gaumont]]! I can't afford to go to the pictures these days but I hear they talk in them now.}}
+{{blockquote|I'm not sure about this one... I think it's about coming of age, I can't remember much about because when it happened to me it was a long time ago. You could buy a packet of fags, a pint of beer and a [[three-piece suit]] for half a crown and still have enough left to go and see [[Rudolf Valentino]] at the [[Gaumont State Cinema|Gaumont]]! I can't afford to go to the pictures these days but I hear they talk in them now.}}
 ==Music video==
+A substantial portion of the music video was filmed at the [[Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach|Pleasure Beach]] in [[Great Yarmouth]], with parts of the video featuring the band on the [[Roller Coaster (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)|Roller Coaster]]. This was filmed on 7 March 1982.<ref name="madness82"/> The video begins with [[Suggs]] dressed as a boy entering the chemist's shop with [[Lee Thompson (saxophonist)|Lee Thompson]] and [[Chas Smash]] behind him, playing the [[saxophone]] and [[trumpet]] respectively. On entering the shop, Suggs acts out the lyrics of the song, as a 16-year-old boy awkwardly attempting to purchase condoms, without much success. Suddenly, on the first chorus, three of the band members enter the shop, dressed in gowns and wearing sunglasses and silly headgear (much like Monty Python-esque Pepperpots), and perform a simple, rhythmic yet comedic tongue-in-cheek stepping-dance routine, supposedly acting as dancing pepperpots hired with the Pleasure Beach attraction "Fun House".
-[[Image:House of Fun - Screen Capture.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Funfair part of the music video.{{deletable image-caption|Sunday, 7 March 2021|PROD}}]]
-A substantial portion of the music video was filmed at the [[Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach|Pleasure Beach]] in [[Great Yarmouth]], with parts of the video featuring the band on the [[Roller Coaster (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)|Roller Coaster]]. This was filmed on 7 March 1982.<ref name="madness82"/> The video begins with [[Suggs (singer)|Suggs]] dressed as a boy entering the shop with [[Lee Jay Thompson|Lee Thompson]] and [[Chas Smash]] behind him, playing the [[saxophone]] and [[trumpet]] respectively. On entering the shop, Suggs acts out the lyrics of the song, as a 16-year-old boy awkwardly attempting to purchase condoms, without much success. Suddenly, on the first chorus, three of the band members enter the shop, dressed in gowns and wearing sunglasses and silly headgear (much like Monty Python-esque Pepperpots), and perform a simple, rhythmic yet comedic tongue-in-cheek stepping-dance routine, supposedly acting as dancing pepperpots hired with the Pleasure Beach attraction "Fun House".
-The band are later seen in a [[barber]]shop, before the finale of the song is sung on the roller coaster at the aforementioned funfair. The film closes with the band on board an infinite [[Loop (roller coaster)|roller coaster loop]] as the chorus fades.
+The band are later seen in a [[barber]]'s shop, before the finale of the song is sung on the roller coaster at the aforementioned funfair. The film closes with the band on board an infinite [[Loop (roller coaster)|roller coaster loop]] as the chorus fades.
-Despite the fact that "House of Fun" was not released in the US, the music video was shown on the newly launched [[MTV]]. Due to this, the music video, along with others such as "[[It Must Be Love (Madness song)|It Must Be Love]]" and "[[Cardiac Arrest (Madness song)|Cardiac Arrest]]", helped set the stage in the US for Madness' future song "[[Our House (Madness song)|Our House]]", which was their biggest stateside hit by far, peaking at number 7 in July 1983.<ref name="mtvbio">{{cite web|url= http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/madness/artist.jhtml |title= MTV Madness biography }} Retrieved on 24 August 2007.</ref><ref name="madnessstory5">{{cite web|url=http://www.hilltop61.freeserve.co.uk/2tone/madness5.html |title=The Madness Story: Chapter 5 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215040907/http://www.hilltop61.freeserve.co.uk/2tone/madness5.html |archive-date=15 December 2007 |df=dmy-all }} Retrieved on 19 June 2007</ref>
+Despite the fact that "House of Fun" was not released in the US, the music video was shown on the newly launched [[MTV]]. Due to this, the music video, along with others such as "[[It Must Be Love (Madness song)|It Must Be Love]]" and "[[Cardiac Arrest (Madness song)|Cardiac Arrest]]", helped set the stage in the US for Madness' future song "[[Our House (Madness song)|Our House]]", which was their biggest stateside hit by far, peaking at number 7 in July 1983.<ref name="mtvbio">{{cite web|url= http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/madness/artist.jhtml |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060218114437/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/madness/artist.jhtml |url-status= dead |archive-date= 18 February 2006 |title= MTV Madness biography }} Retrieved on 24 August 2007.</ref><ref name="madnessstory5">{{cite web|url=http://www.hilltop61.freeserve.co.uk/2tone/madness5.html |title=The Madness Story: Chapter 5 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215040907/http://www.hilltop61.freeserve.co.uk/2tone/madness5.html |archive-date=15 December 2007 }} Retrieved on 19 June 2007</ref>
 ==Compilation appearances==
-As well as the song's single release, it has featured on various compilation albums released by [[Madness (band)|Madness]]. It was initially included on ''[[Complete Madness]]'' which was released on 23 April 1982, prior to the release of the single itself.  This album also hit number 1 in the UK at the time of the single's release, meaning Madness were at the top of both the single and album charts. The song was then included on the 1992 compilation ''[[Divine Madness (Madness album)|Divine Madness]]'', which was later reissued as ''The Heavy Heavy Hits''. The song was further included on ''[[The Business - the Definitive Singles Collection|The Business]]'' and ''[[It's... Madness]]''. It featured in the [[Our House (musical)|''Our House'' musical]], which was based on the band's songs, and as such appears on the accompanying soundtrack, ''[[Our House: the Best of Madness|Our House]]''. Furthermore, it was part of the US releases ''[[Madness (Madness album)|Madness]]'' and ''Ultimate Collection''.<ref name="app">{{cite web|url= {{Allmusic|class=song|id=t1535395|pure_url=yes}}  |title= Allmusic.com 'House of Fun' appearances }} Retrieved on 22 August 2007.</ref> In addition to these releases, the song also features on several "Best of the 80s" albums.<ref name="app"/>
+As well as the song's single release, it has featured on various compilation albums released by [[Madness (band)|Madness]]. It was initially included on ''[[Complete Madness]]'' which was released on 23 April 1982, prior to the release of the single itself.  This album also hit number 1 in the UK at the time of the single's release, meaning Madness were at the top of both the single and album charts. The song was then included on the 1992 compilation ''[[Divine Madness (Madness album)|Divine Madness]]'', which was later reissued as ''The Heavy Heavy Hits''. The song was further included on ''[[The Business – the Definitive Singles Collection|The Business]]'' and ''[[It's... Madness]]''. It featured in the [[Our House (musical)|''Our House'' musical]], which was based on the band's songs, and as such appears on the accompanying soundtrack, ''[[Our House: the Best of Madness|Our House]]''. Furthermore, it was part of the US releases ''[[Madness (Madness album)|Madness]]'' and ''Ultimate Collection''.<ref name="app">{{cite web|url= {{AllMusic|class=song|id=t1535395|pure_url=yes}}  |title= AllMusic.com 'House of Fun' appearances }} Retrieved on 22 August 2007.</ref> In addition to these releases, the song also features on several "Best of the 80s" albums.<ref name="app"/>
-The original single contained a 10-second coda featuring music from a fairground.  However, subsequent releases of the song removed this ending with the track fading to a conclusion instead. It wasn't until 2010 that the original 7" version was reissued; it was included on the second disc of the re-release of the band's 1982 album ''[[The Rise & Fall (album)|The Rise & Fall]]''. This is also the version used on the ''[[A Guided Tour of Madness]]'' compilation.
+The original single contained a 10-second coda featuring music from a fairground.  However, the version on the ''Complete Madness'' compilation as well as subsequent releases of the song removed this ending with the track fading to a conclusion instead. It wasn't until 2010 that the original 7" version was reissued; it was included on the second disc of the re-release of the band's 1982 album ''[[The Rise & Fall (album)|The Rise & Fall]]''. This is also the version used on the ''[[A Guided Tour of Madness]]'' compilation.
+==Critical reception==
+In a review of the 1992 single reissue, Simon Williams of ''[[NME]]'' commented that "House of Fun" "still sounds as terrifyingly plinky plonky as [[Liberace]] and his grand piano falling down a million flight of stairs as it did [in 1982]".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Simon |date=18 April 1992 |title=Singles |magazine=[[New Musical Express]] |page=18}}</ref>
 ==Personnel==
-{{col-begin}}
+{{div col}}
+* Lead vocals: [[Suggs]]
-{{col-2}}
-* Lead vocals: Graham McPherson AKA [[Suggs (singer)|Suggs]]
 * Lead guitar: [[Chris Foreman]]
 * Bass guitar: [[Mark Bedford]]
 * Keyboards: [[Mike Barson]]
-{{col-2}}
 * Saxophone: [[Lee Thompson (saxophonist)|Lee Thompson]]
 * Trumpet: [[Chas Smash]]
 * Drums: [[Daniel Woodgate]]
 * Producers: [[Clive Langer]] and [[Alan Winstanley]]
-{{col-end}}
+{{div col end}}
 ==Formats and track listings==
@@ Line 83: / Line 84: @@
 ===1982 release===
-* '''7" Single'''
+*'''7" single'''
-# "House of Fun" ([[Mike Barson|Barson]]/[[Lee Jay Thompson|Thompson]]) - 2:58.
+*# "House of Fun" ([[Mike Barson|Barson]]/[[Lee Thompson (saxophonist)|Thompson]]) – 2:58.
-# "Don't Look Back" ([[Chris Foreman|Foreman]]) - 3:31
+*# "Don't Look Back" ([[Chris Foreman|Foreman]]) – 3:31
 ===1992 release===
-* '''7" Single'''
+*'''7" single'''
-# "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) - 2:49
+*# "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) – 2:49
-# "[[Un Paso Adelante!]]" ([[Prince Buster|Campbell]]) - 2:36
+*# "[[Un Paso Adelante!]]" ([[Prince Buster|Campbell]]) – 2:36
+*'''12" single'''
+*# "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) – 2:49
-*'''12" Single'''
-# "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) - 2:49
+*# "Un Paso Adelante!" (Campbell) – 2:36
+*# "[[Yesterday's Men]]" ([[Suggs|McPherson]]/Foreman) – 4:10
-# "Un Paso Adelante!" (Campbell) - 2:36
-# "[[Yesterday's Men]]" ([[Suggs (singer)|McPherson]]/Foreman) - 4:10
+*# "Gabriel's Horn (demo)" ([[Chas Smash|Smyth]]) – 3:45
+* '''CD single'''
-# "Gabriel's Horn (demo)" ([[Chas Smash|Smyth]]) - 3:45
+*# "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) – 2:49
+*# "Un Paso Adelante!" (Campbell) – 2:36
-* '''CD Single'''
-# "House of Fun" (Barson/Thompson) - 2:49
+*# "Yesterday's Men" (McPherson/Foreman) – 4:10
-# "Un Paso Adelante!" (Campbell) - 2:36
+*# "Gabriel's Horn (demo)" (Smyth) – 3:45
-# "Yesterday's Men" (McPherson/Foreman) - 4:10
-# "Gabriel's Horn (demo)" (Smyth) - 3:45
 "Un Paso Adelante!" is a Spanish version of the group's 1979 hit "[[One Step Beyond (song)|One Step Beyond]]". "Gabriel's Horn" was re-recorded in 1986 when the group were working on the never-completed ''Lost in the Museum'' album. A version appeared on The Madness' [[The Madness (The Madness album)|self-titled LP]].
@@ Line 118: / Line 117: @@
 | style="text-align:center;"|5
 |-
-!scope="row"|Ireland ([[Irish Singles Chart|IRMA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/DdYAprO.jpg|title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'Madness' (from irishcharts.ie)|publisher=Fireball Media, via Imgur.com|access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|Ireland ([[Irish Singles Chart|IRMA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/DdYAprO.jpg|title=The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Madness' (from irishcharts.ie)|publisher=Fireball Media, via Imgur.com|access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|1
 |-
@@ Line 140: / Line 139: @@
 |-
 |}
 {{col-2}}
 ===Year-end charts===
-{|class="wikitable sortable"
+{|class="wikitable"
 !Chart (1982)
 !Rank
@@ Line 152: / Line 150: @@
 |}
 {{col-end}}
+==Certifications and sales==
+{{Certification Table Top}}
+{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|certyear=1982|relyear=1982|artist=Madness|title=House of Fun |award=Silver|id=3012-259-1|type=single|access-date=12 March 2022}}
+{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
 ==See also==
@@ Line 158: / Line 161: @@
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+==External links==
+* [https://oldielyrics.com/lyrics/madness/house_of_fun.html Lyrics of this song]
+* {{YouTube|GJ2X9SANsME|channel=|Madness – House of Fun}}
 {{Madness}}
@@ Line 165: / Line 172: @@
 [[Category:Madness (band) songs]]
 [[Category:1982 singles]]
-[[Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles]]
+[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Lee Thompson (saxophonist)]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Mike Barson]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Clive Langer]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Alan Winstanley]]
 [[Category:1982 songs]]
 [[Category:Stiff Records singles]]
+[[Category:Virgin Records singles]]

v t e Madness
Chris Foreman Mike Barson Lee Thompson Suggs Dan Woodgate Mark Bedford Chas Smash
Studio albums	One Step Beyond... Absolutely 7 The Rise & Fall Keep Moving Mad Not Mad The Madness Wonderful The Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1 The Liberty of Norton Folgate Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da Can't Touch Us Now Theatre of the Absurd Presents C'est la Vie
Compilation albums	Complete Madness Madness Utter Madness It's... Madness It's... Madness Too Divine Madness The Business Total Madness (1997) Our House Total Madness (2009) Ultimate Madness A Guided Tour of Madness Forever Young: The Ska Collection
Live albums	Madstock! Universal Madness Madness Live: To the Edge of the Universe and Beyond
Box sets	The Business A Guided Tour of Madness
Extended plays	Work Rest and Play The Peel Sessions
Singles	"The Prince" "One Step Beyond" "My Girl" "Night Boat to Cairo" (Work Rest and Play EP) "Baggy Trousers" "Embarrassment" "The Return of the Los Palmas 7" "Grey Day" "Shut Up" "It Must Be Love" "Cardiac Arrest" "House of Fun" "Driving in My Car" "Our House" "Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)" / "Madness (Is All in the Mind)" "Wings of a Dove" "The Sun and the Rain" "Michael Caine" "One Better Day" "Yesterday's Men" "Uncle Sam" "Sweetest Girl" "(Waiting For) The Ghost Train" "The Harder They Come" "Night Boat to Cairo" "Lovestruck" "Johnny the Horse" "Drip Fed Fred" "Shame and Scandal in the Family" "Girl Why Don't You" "Sorry" "NW5" "Dust Devil" "Sugar and Spice" "Forever Young"
Related articles	Discography Lucky 7 Records Dikran Tulaine Our House the Musical 2 tone Zarjazz Records "Starvation/Tam Tam Pour L'Ethiopie" The Madness Take It or Leave It The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra Boring (The Young Ones) Sick (The Young Ones) Unreleased album