Digging Your Scene

File:Robert Howard.jpg

A pop, soul, and jazz song with influence from European and British music,{{harvnb| DiCesare |2014|p=143}}{{cite news|last1=Marx|first1=Tommy|title=One Hit Wonder: The Blow Monkeys|url=http://www.popmatters.com/post/102171-the-blow-monkeys/|access-date=31 December 2016|work=PopMatters|date=18 June 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101001341/http://www.popmatters.com/post/102171-the-blow-monkeys/|archive-date=1 January 2017}} The Blow Monkeys subtly discuss the hatred and criticism of individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Tommy Marx from PopMatters claimed that the intrigue and hatred behind the single prompted its success in becoming "a major hit". Dr. Robert, the singer of "Digging Your Scene", additionally sings about life as a homosexual, where he worries, "Tell me why is it I'm digging your scene? / I know I'll die, baby". In contrast with the protagonist he portrays in the song, Dr. Robert was married to a woman - his first wife, Linda Nolte[http://www.soulsaw.com/blow-monkeys/history/index.shtml "Digging Your Scene - The Blow Monkeys and Dr. Robert: The Blow Monkeys Biography." (February 2, 1998)] Retrieved 20 February 2021. - at the time (though they were on the verge of divorcing),[https://apnews.com/article/705dd69feca7d6c2f90d6c37cd1c6d9f Adzgery, Sandy. "The Shy Dr. Robert Rocks With a Wail." The Associated Press, 4 August 1986.] Retrieved 20 February 2021. and he soon went on to marry his current wife (as of 2021), Michele, and have several children.[https://sayitwithgarageflowers.com/tag/the-blow-monkeys/ The Blow Monkeys - "Lockdown is a great opportunity to reboot and sort out your priorities." (April 9, 2020). @sayitwithgarageflowers.com] Retrieved 20 February 2021. At the time, this situation prompted Barry Walters from Spin to write, "Dr. Robert loves camp, so it's difficult to determine if he's bi or just British."{{cite journal|last1=Walters|first1=Barry|title=Spins: The Blow Monkeys|journal=Spin|date=June 1987|volume=3|issue=3|page=30|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VVODZz_egcEC|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|issn=0886-3032}} Writer Colin Larkin thought similarly, stating in his book The Encyclopedia of Popular Music that "Digging Your Scene" was "one of the earliest songs about AIDS".{{harvnb|Larkin|2011|p=2006}} Music researcher Michael Anderson agreed, declaring the "backlash" would "court controversy".{{harvnb|Anderson|2013|p=18}}

Walters also compared the lyrical themes on The Blow Monkeys' third studio album, She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter (1987), to "Digging Your Scene".

Gary Berkowitz, a programmer from Billboard, predicted that the song's sound would appeal to the Top 40 crowd,{{cite magazine|last1=Berkowitz|first1=Gary|title=Out of the Box|magazine=Billboard|date=17 May 1986|volume=98|issue=20|page=10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0iQEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} and similarly, author Martin Charles Strong described it as a destined hit.{{harvnb|Strong|2002|p=263}} AllMusic's William Cooper took a liking to "Digging Your Scene" for being engaging,{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=William|title=The Blow Monkeys – Animal Magic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/animal-magic-mw0000189270|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=AllMusic|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106082326/http://www.allmusic.com/album/animal-magic-mw0000189270|archive-date=6 January 2017}} while Keith Tuber, a columnist for Orange Coast, felt it stood out on Animal Magic before calling it a "good [...] quirky '60s-English-invasion-sounding song".{{cite journal|last1=Tuber|first1=Keith|title=Lightning Strikes from Japan|journal=Orange Coast|date=October 1986|volume=12|issue=10|page=195|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hAEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Emmis Communications|issn=0279-0483}} Regarding its legacy, Walters from Spin claimed that the single "transformed Dr. Robert from a klutzy cult novelty to a mainstream face in his homeland".

"Digging Your Scene" is one of The Blow Monkeys' most commercially successful singles. In the United Kingdom, the recording peaked at number 12, becoming the group's second-highest-peaking single, behind "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way", which peaked at number five in January 1987. On the United States' Billboard Hot 100, it entered at number 89 for the week ending 3 May 1986, becoming the issue's fifth-highest entry.{{cite magazine|title=The Hot 100 – The Week Of May 3, 1986|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-05-03|access-date=31 December 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=3 May 1986|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109205125/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-05-03|archive-date=9 November 2016}} The song continued increasing its position on the chart before reaching its peak position of number 14 on 2 August of the same year.{{cite magazine|title=The Hot 100 – The Week Of August 2, 1986|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-08-02|access-date=31 December 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=2 August 1986|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109205307/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-08-02|archive-date=9 November 2016}} The following week, the single decreased its position to number 21.{{cite magazine|title=The Hot 100 – The Week Of August 9, 1986|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-08-09|access-date=31 December 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=9 August 1986|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106004613/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-08-09|archive-date=6 November 2016}} "Digging Your Scene" consistently escalated down the Hot 100 until 6 September 1986 when its position was at number 99, the final mark before departing.{{cite magazine|title=The Hot 100 – The Week Of September 6, 1986|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-09-06|access-date=31 December 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=6 September 1986|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128114856/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-09-06|archive-date=28 January 2017}} It also peaked at number 16 on the Hot 100 Airplay, a component chart for the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 Sales & Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=26 July 1986|volume=98|issue=30|page=69|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7iQEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} The United States remix reached the number seven mark on the Dance Club Songs chart, which was formerly called the Hot Dance/Disco chart. On its 13th week on Canada's official charts, compiled by RPM, "Digging Your Scene" peaked at number 19, also the group's highest entry in that respective country. In Australia and New Zealand, it peaked at numbers 16 and 10, respectively, while in Germany and the Netherlands, it peaked at numbers 25 and 23, respectively.

The official music video for "Digging Your Scene" was released in 1986. It features the band members performing the single at a show in front of a large group of individuals. Other scenes show Dr. Robert sitting with the audience at tables and backup dancers wearing striped attire. The video was featured and debuted at the first International Music & Media Conference that took place in Montreux, Switzerland between 7–10 May 1986.{{cite magazine|title=A Major International Event Is Coming Into Focus|magazine=Billboard|date=26 April 1986|volume=98|issue=17|page=64|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LCQEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} It also received heavy rotation on MTV's lineup of music videos in mid 1986.{{cite magazine|title=MTV Programming|magazine=Billboard|date=14 June 1986|volume=98|issue=24|page=59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCQEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}}

"Digging Your Scene" was included on the British compilation album Hits 4, released on 17 March 1986 as a collection of singles in the United Kingdom.{{cite AV media notes|others=Various artists |title=Hits 4 |type=liner notes |publisher=CBS |year=1986 |id=HITS 4 }} The Blow Monkeys also included it in several of their greatest hits albums, including Choices – The Singles Collection (1989),{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=Choices – The Singles Collection |type=liner notes |publisher=RCA |year=1989 |id = 7 4321 13707 2 }} Best Selection (1994),{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=Best Selection |type=liner notes |publisher=RCA |year=1994 |id =BVCP-2604 }} The Best of Blow Monkeys (1994),{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=The Best of Blow Monkeys |type=liner notes |publisher=BMG |year=1994 |id = 74321183262 }} For the Record (1996),{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=For the Record |type=liner notes |publisher=Camden Deluxe |year=1996 |id = 74321 393342 }} Blow Monkeys the Masters (1997),{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=Blow Monkeys the Masters |type=liner notes |publisher=Eagle |year=1997 }} Complete Singles (2000),{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=Complete Singles |type=liner notes |publisher=BMG, RCA |year=2000 |id = BVCM-37114, 74321-75219-2 }} and their final collection Digging Your Scene: The Best of The Blow Monkeys (2008).{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=Digging Your Scene: The Best of The Blow Monkeys |type=liner notes |publisher=Music Club Deluxe |year=2008 |id = MCDLX079 }} The band also created a lullaby children's version of "Digging Your Scene" for Atomic Lullabies: Very Best of The Blow Monkeys (1999).{{cite AV media notes|others=The Blow Monkeys |title=Atomic Lullabies: Very Best of The Blow Monkeys |type=liner notes |publisher=Camden Deluxe |year=1999 |id = 74321 698822 }} Japanese group Paris Match covered it for their 2007 album, Our Favourite Pop, in dedication to Our Favourite Shop, a 1985 album by The Style Council.{{cite AV media notes|others=Paris Match |title=Our Favourite Pop |type=liner notes |publisher=Victor |year=2007 |id= VICL62248 }} "Digging Your Scene" was mentioned in Marc Spitz's novel How Soon Is Never?, where the protagonist Joe Green recalls listening to it on the radio with his girlfriend, Jennifer.{{harvnb|Spitz|2010|p=138}}

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;Standard edition 12" maxi single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=12" maxi single |publisher=RCA |id=PT 40600}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" – 6:25
• A2. "I Backed a Winner (In You)" – 2:39
• B1. "Digging Your Scene" (Short) – 4:14
• B2. "Digging Your Scene" (Longer) – 5:41

;Canada & Europe 7" single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=7" single |publisher=RCA |id=PB 40599}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" – 4:13
• B1. "I Backed a Winner (In You)" – 2:39

;Japan 12" single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=12" single |publisher=RCA |id=RPS-1027}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" – 6:25
• A2. "Digging Your Scene" (Instrumental) – 6:28
• B1. "Wicked Ways" – 4:14

;United Kingdom 10" remix single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=10" remix single |publisher=RCA |id=PT 40602}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" (Remix) – 7:33
• A2. "I Backed a Winner (In You)" – 2:37
• B1. "Digging Your Scene" (Instrumental) – 5:27
• B2. "Man from Russia" (Remix) – 3:26

;United Kingdom 12" promotional single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=12" promotional single |publisher=RCA |id=PT 40544}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" – 6:25
• B1. "Digging Your Scene" (Short) – 4:14

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;United Kingdom 12" remix single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=12" remix single |publisher=RCA |id=PT 40544}}

• A1. "Digging Your Re-Mix" – 7:33
• A2. "I Backed a Winner (In You)" – 2:37
• B1. "Digging Your Instrumental" – 5:27
• B2. "Digging Your Scene" (Short) – 4:14

;United States 7" promotional single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=7" promotional single |publisher=RCA |id=JB-14325}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" (U.K. Mix) – 4:13
• B1. "Digging Your Scene" (U.S. Mix) – 4:40

;United States 12" promotional single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=12" promotional single |publisher=RCA |id=PW-14327}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" (Extended Mix) – 6:25
• B1. "Digging Your Scene" (LP Version) – 4:13
• B2. "Digging Your Scene" (Dub Cosmic Mix) – 5:42

;United States 12" single{{Cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=The Blow Monkeys |year=1986|type=12" single |publisher=RCA |id=JR-14326}}

• A1. "Digging Your Scene" (LP Version) – 4:13
• B1. "Digging Your Scene" (LP Version) – 4:13

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• Dr. Robert: Lead vocals, Guitar
• Mick Anker: Bass guitar
• Neville Henry: Tenor Saxophone
• Tony Kiley: Drums

• Peter Wilson: Keyboards, String arrangements
• Luís Jardim: Percussion
• Axel Kroll: Drum programming
• Dixie Peach, Morris Michael: Backing vocals

{{Infobox song

| name = Digging Your Scene

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Ivy

| album = Long Distance and Guestroom

| released = 27 May 2002

| recorded = 2000

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=40}}

| label = Imperial

| writer = Dr. Robert

| producer = {{flatlist|

• Adam Schlesinger
• Andy Chase

}}

| prev_title = Edge of the Ocean

| prev_year = 2001

| next_title = Thinking About You

| next_year = 2005

}}

American band Ivy recorded a cover of "Digging Your Scene" for their third studio album, Long Distance (2000). It was first distributed to modern rock radio for airplay in June 2001, coinciding with the release of the aforementioned album.{{cite magazine|last1=Cohen|first1=Jonathan|title=Despite Calamities, Nettwerk's Ivy Gets Lift From Far East|magazine=Billboard|date=7 July 2001|volume=113|issue=27|page=20|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IxQEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}} However, it was released for a second time as a CD single on 27 May 2002 by Imperial Records, exclusively in Japan, becoming the lead single for Guestroom (2002). Their rendition was produced by band members Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase.{{cite AV media notes|others=Ivy |title=Long Distance |type=liner notes |publisher=Nettwerk |year=2000 |id=0 6700 30218 2 1}} Ivy's cover was used on the science fiction television series Roswell, on the November 2001 episode "To Have and to Hold".{{harvnb|Burnett|2002|p=266}}

Lead singer Dominique Durand sings "Digging Your Scene" in "her usual deadpan elegance", according to Rolling Stone{{'}}s Rob Sheffield, especially when she coos lines like, "I'm like a boy among men". Billboard{{'}}s Michael Paoletta referred to Ivy's twist on the recording as "dizzying".{{cite magazine|last1=Paoletta|first1=Michael|title=Reviews & Previews: Albums|magazine=Billboard|date=21 July 2001|volume=113|issue=29|page=20|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DxUEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|issn=0006-2510}}

Tom Topkoff from Hybrid Magazine lauded Ivy's version, writing, "Durand's treatment seems so natural...if you didn't know the original, you'd think it was written with her vocals in mind".{{cite web|last1=Topkoff|first1=Tom|title=Ivy – Long Distance|url=http://www.hybridmagazine.com/reviews/1001/ivy.shtml|website=Hybrid Magazine|access-date=30 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111081551/http://www.hybridmagazine.com/reviews/1001/ivy.shtml|archive-date=11 January 2017}} Michaelangelo Matos of the Minneapolis' City Pages was also fond of the cover, calling it "giddy without putting a mask on the experience that went into getting it made".{{cite news|last1=Matos|first1=Michaelangelo|title=Ivy: Long Distance|url=http://www.citypages.com/music/ivy-long-distance-6702879|access-date=30 December 2016|work=City Pages|date=15 August 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002642/http://www.citypages.com/music/ivy-long-distance-6702879|archive-date=2 February 2017}} CMJ New Music Monthly{{'}}s Ken Scrudato claimed that their cover proved that Ivy is "painfully hip".{{cite journal|last1=Scrudato|first1=Ken|title=Reviews|journal=CMJ New Music Monthly|date=November 2002|volume=107|page=67|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LyoEAAAAMBAJ|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|issn=1074-6978}} Heather Phares, an editor for AllMusic, called the track a highlight on Long Distance due to its "superior songwriting", although she found it to be "an ironic move".{{harvnb|Bogdanov|Woodstra|Erlewine|2002|p=566}} Sheffield of Rolling Stone was positive, claiming that Durand "end[s] Long Distance on an enigmatic, seductive and wildly appropriate note" with "Digging Your Scene".{{cite magazine|last1=Sheffield|first1=Rob|title=Ivy Long Distance|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=2042855&cf=819|access-date=31 December 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=16 August 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020622215858/http://www.rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=2042855&cf=819|archive-date=22 June 2002}} Regarding its inclusion on Guestroom, Noel Dix from Exclaim! remarked that on the album, the best tracks were ones that are already "familiar to Ivy fans", alluding to the fact that their cover had been previously released; he also stated that the best thing about their rendition was the "joyful infection" it induces.{{cite news|last1=Dix|first1=Noel|title=Ivy – Guestroom|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/ivy-guestroom|access-date=31 December 2016|work=Exclaim!|date=1 January 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222150432/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/ivy-guestroom|archive-date=22 December 2015}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD single{{cite web|title=The Band Ivy: Discog|url=http://thebandivy.com/discog/|publisher=The Band Ivy|access-date=30 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415020603/http://thebandivy.com/discog/|archive-date=15 April 2017}}{{cite AV media notes |title="Digging Your Scene" |others=Ivy |year=2002 |type=Liner notes / CD single |publisher=Imperial |id=5037703313927}}

| title1 = Digging Your Scene

| length1 = 3:40

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

Works cited

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last1=Anderson|first1=Michael|title=The Ultimate 80's Music Book|date=2013|publisher=Lulu.com | isbn= 978-1409209041 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Binnie|first1=Steve|title=The Sound of the Crowd – a Discography of the '80s|date=27 November 2014|publisher=Lulu.com |edition=third |isbn = 978-1326073589}}
• {{cite book|last1=Bogdanov|first1=Vladimir|last2=Woodstra|first2=Chris|last3=Erlewine|first3=Stephen Thomas|authorlink3=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul|date=2002|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn= 9780879306533 |edition=illustrated}}
• {{cite book|last1=Burnett|first1=Robyn|title=Crash Into Me: The World of Roswell|date=2002|publisher=ECW Press | isbn= 1550225391 |edition= illustrated }}
• {{cite book|last1=DiCesare|first1=Christopher|title=Surviving Evidence: Memoir of an Extreme Haunting Survivor|date=2014|publisher=Lulu.com | isbn= 978-1365576959 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Larkin|first1=Colin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|date=27 May 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press | isbn= 978-0857125958 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Spitz|first1=Mark|title=How Soon Is Never?|date=5 May 2010|publisher=Crowd/Archetype |isbn= 978-0307531162}}
• {{cite book|last1=Strong|first1=Martin Charles|title=The Great Scots Musicography: The Complete Guide to Scotland's Music Makers|date=2002|publisher=Birlinn, Limited |edition=illustrated|isbn = 1841830410}}

{{refend}}

{{The Blow Monkeys}}

{{Ivy (band)}}

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Category:1986 songs

Category:1986 singles

Category:2002 singles

Category:The Blow Monkeys songs

Category:Ariola Records singles

Category:Imperial Records singles

Category:Ivy (band) songs

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Songs about HIV/AIDS