'House of Fun' is composed in the key of D, written in common time. 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). House of Fun’s friend giveaway lets your buddies know you’re thinking about them, enriching your relationship and bringing you closer together. Your friends will love playing House of Fun coins just as much as you do. Playing HOF slots is a great group activity, full of heart pumping action, edge of your seat excitement and intense joy.
“Chow fun” is both a noodle and a dish most commonly seen in the cuisine of Southern China and Hong Kong, though it also appears in some regions of both Malaysia and Singapore. In most cases, this name is only used for the dish in countries that speak English. The Southern Chinese dialectical term for the noodles is ho fun, and the style of preparation — usually stir-fried with vegetables or meat — is shahe fen. The Anglicized name is widely believed to derive from the Mandarin, or Standard Chinese, translation of shahe fen, which is chao fen.
The Noodles
Only very wide noodles qualify as chow fun. Most of the time, they are made from ground rice, and are typically sold dry either in thick strips or in sheets. They are usually at least an inch (about 2.5 cm) wide, and anywhere from 6 to 12 inches (about 15 to 30 cm) long. Fresh markets may also sell the noodles wet, usually coated in oil to help them maintain their elasticity.
Means of Preparation
There are usually two ways of preparing a chow fun dish. The first method is “dry” frying, in which the noodles are cooked on their own in a wok or deep skillet. The heat of the pan gives the noodles a distinctive smoky flavor that many consider a delicacy.
The alternative is “wet” cooking, in which the noodles are soaked in oil or a savory sauce before cooking, then fried while moist. These noodles often turn out more slippery than those cooked dry, but may be more flavorful.
Types of Dishes
Differences from Lo and Chow Mein
Chow fun noodles are usually made of the same rice starch as chow mein or lo mein, but are very different when it comes to shape and presentation. Both chow and lo mein are rounded thin noodles, often about the size and width of spaghetti. Chow mein are fried in oil before serving, which makes them crunchy. Lo mein are cooked soft, and are usually piled at the bottom of a stir fry dish or topped with meats or cooked vegetables. Fun noodles, in contrast, are usually cooked alongside other ingredients and served as one large mixture.
Nutritional and Health Concerns
Chow fun is rarely considered a health food, even when made with plenty of vegetables. It is typically known for its greasy, oily texture, and the thick sauces most chefs use carry a lot of calories. Some home cooks are able to make moderately healthy chow fun from scratch, but the majority of the dishes that are purchased in restaurants are not considered particularly healthful.
Points of Sale
In the south of China, where the dish originates, noodle stalls and roadside food stands are popular places to find the 'fun' preparation, with each vendor offering a slightly different twist. Sometimes, the distinction comes through the sauce or the additions; other times, it is the cooking style. In its many variations, the dish is one of the most popular street foods of Hong Kong and the Guangzhou region of China.
Most Westernized Chinese restaurants and take out services offer a variety of chow fun dishes as well. Some of these are similar to what could be found in China or Southeast Asia, but others are much more adapted to local tastes and customs.
| '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 | 2:58 | |||
| Label | Stiff | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Lee Thompson (lyrics) Mike Barson (music) | |||
| Producer(s) | Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley | |||
| Madness singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
'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[edit]
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[edit]
'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 hatswith 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.
Promotional film[edit]
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 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 barbershop, 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[edit]
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, 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.
Personnel[edit]
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Formats and track listings[edit]
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of 'House of Fun'.
1982 release[edit]
- 7' Single
- 'House of Fun' (Barson/Thompson) - 2:58.
- 'Don't Look Back' (Foreman) - 3:31
1992 release[edit]
- 7' Single
- 'House of Fun' (Barson/Thompson) - 2:49
- 'Un Paso Adelante!' (Campbell) - 2:36
- 12' Single
- 'House of Fun' (Barson/Thompson) - 2:49
- 'Un Paso Adelante!' (Campbell) - 2:36
- 'Yesterday's Men' (McPherson/Foreman) - 4:10
- 'Gabriel's Horn (demo)' (Smyth) - 3:45
- CD Single
- 'House of Fun' (Barson/Thompson) - 2:49
- 'Un Paso Adelante!' (Campbell) - 2:36
- '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'. '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[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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See also[edit]
References[edit]
What Is House Of Fun
- ^'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. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^ ab'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.
- ^ ab'CLASSIC TRACKS: 'Our House' by Madness'. Retrieved on 22 August 2007.
- ^ abcCommercial sheet music for 'House of Fun'.
- ^Comments regarding the song on the back of the Complete MadnessLP. V2 Records
- ^'MTV Madness biography'. Retrieved on 24 August 2007.
- ^'The Madness Story: Chapter 5'. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved on 19 June 2007
- ^ ab'Allmusic.com 'House of Fun' appearances'. Retrieved on 22 August 2007.
- ^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 187. ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^'The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'Madness' (from irishcharts.ie)'. Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^'Dutchcharts.nl – Madness – House of Fun' (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^'Charts.nz – 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.