Newly formed duo Suggs Paul Weller have announced the release of their new single. “Ooh Do U Fink U R” is available to stream digitally now. Suggs’ band The Madness have taken to Twitter to confirm the single’s release, featured in the post is a clip from the song’s music video.
Suggs and Paul Weller have done a great song together called “Ooh Do U Fink U R?”
Get it on 7inch or Stream it from all the usual places: https://t.co/091xpX8vD0 @suggsgmcpherson @paulwellerHQ pic.twitter.com/B1XiZlWKCV— Madness (@MadnessNews) May 4, 2022
The musical partnership consists of two of music’s most influential artists; Madness frontman Suggs and Mod icon Paul Weller. Both singers have achieved great success within their respective bands but have also seen triumphs within their solo careers. After four decades of friendship, the musical titans began their musical partnership during the lockdown of 2020. During and following the lockdown the pair shared demos, rough drafts of songs and lyric ideas, these early creative stages eventually formed Suggs Paul Weller and led to the production of “Ooh Do U Fink U R”. The genre defining artists produced and recorded the track at Black Barn Studio, Weller’s own studio located in Surrey.
The collaborative track takes influence from the pair’s experience in the 1970s schooling system and have confirmed that the single’s title is taken from a phrase in which they heard within the classroom. The track’s musical influences have been taken from the 1960s and has been described as a “gloriously sunny, optimistic and defiant Motown influenced stomper”. The single was also released with an accompanying music video which features animation by Madness’ longstanding partner DNO, the video pays homage to their hometowns and places the singers in quintessentially British locations.
Suggs has spoken on the influence behind the track and discusses his experiences with teachers, “I think teachers are the best people in the world, I love them with all my heart. But you know all those great teachers you read about who dragged their pupils up, and encouraged them and made them into the best possible version of themselves they could be? Well, unfortunately I didn’t have one of those!”
The 61-year-old singer and radio personality continued to discuss the track’s inspiration and origins, “”Ooh Do U Fink U R” was a phrase I heard more often than I wished and sums up my school years- constantly being told to know my place and keep in my box, being given no encouragement but still never giving in, and never giving up. Chatting to Paul reminded me of those experiences. We both found enthusiasm and a purpose in music, and that pulled us through!”
Weller also described the pair’s relationship and spoke on his thoughts concerning the track, “Me and Suggs have been talking about doing something together for the last few years so to see it finally happen is amazing! I love the tune and working with him. He’s truly a man of many talents. We wanted to do something special and I really think this track is!”
Along with a traditional digital release onto streaming platforms, and the single will also be made available on a limited edition 7” vinyl on Father’s Day, 17th June 2022. The vinyl can be pre-ordered here.
