Greg! The Stop Sign!!
Encyclopedia
"Greg! The Stop Sign!!" is a single by Australia
n alternative rock
band TISM
. It was the second single from the album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons
(1995).
The song, along with its predecessor (He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River
is one of TISM's most popular tracks, and reached #10 in Triple J
's Hottest 100 of 1995
. It became well known thanks to its "Beach Boys style harmony
" in the chorus of the song, to the tune of "Let the Sunshine In" from Godspell
.
The solo
is a variation of the Shadows
instrumental, FBI
.
(road and safety authorities), who are even mentioned in the song, which featured warnings similar to which occur in the song.
One TAC advertisement in particular that was in heavy rotation on Australian television in the early 1990s featured young people driving in a car on a country road. The atmosphere in the car is jovial, the passengers are drinking beer and not wearing seatbelts. The young driver is momentarily distracted and the car travels into an intersection and is smashed by a truck. Moments before the accident, the front passenger yells out, "Greg! The stop sign!", but it is too late to avoid the accident.
As well as the obvious fatalistic meanings, the song is also a satire on the overbearing proselytism of the government-funded ads, which combined a moralistic message with shocking violence.
The song itself revolves around high school
students in their last year of school, learning to drive, choosing a career, and fearing failing exams. Taking their juvenile concerns seriously is potentially pointless, as their promising lives could easily be cut short by an unexpected traffic accident.
The video for the song, directed by Mark Hartley, begins with TISM in the locker room of the St. Kilda Football Club
, eventually having them perform the song in a football field. According to Tim Webster
on the Gold! Gold!! Gold!!!
(1998) video, this was an effort to "Save the St. Kilda club".
Eventually the song turns into a more regular style video clip, with a group of teenagers party
ing in a house. The camera moves into the house to see them all drinking and enjoying themselves, as a standard teenage party would expect to be seen. As the camera moves into the back room, a teenage girl is seen vomiting
on the floor, overlooked by a member of TISM. The video then turns into a series of disappointing moments, all watched by a member of TISM, such as a woman finding her fresh bread
has mould on it and the toilet roll is empty. Back in the house one of the most notorious and well known scenes of the video shows a dog eating the vomit from earlier. Meanwhile, outside a couple argue, once again as a member of TISM watches on.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band TISM
TISM
TISM was a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995...
. It was the second single from the album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons
Machiavelli and the Four Seasons
-GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! For Australia! - A Bonus Disc:To celebrate Machiavelli going "gold", it was re-released with a bonus disc. It featured previously unreleased tracks as well as the b-sides from all the singles released off Machiavelli and the Four Seasons....
(1995).
The song, along with its predecessor (He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River
(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River
Ol' Man River was the first single to be released off Machiavelli and the Four Seasons by Australian alternative rock band TISM....
is one of TISM's most popular tracks, and reached #10 in Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
's Hottest 100 of 1995
Triple J Hottest 100, 1995
The 1995 Triple J Hottest 100, counted down in January 1996, was a countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J. A CD featuring 32 of the songs was released...
. It became well known thanks to its "Beach Boys style harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
" in the chorus of the song, to the tune of "Let the Sunshine In" from Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
.
The solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
is a variation of the Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
instrumental, FBI
F.B.I. (song)
"F.B.I." is an instrumental rock tune recorded by the British group The Shadows, written by Peter Gormley. It was released by EMI as a single in February 1961 on the Columbia label with "Midnight" as the B-side...
.
Song
The song is based on a series of speeding advertisements released by the TACTransport Accident Commission
The Transport Accident Commission is the statutory insurer of third-party personal liability for road accidents in the State of Victoria. It was established under the Transport Accident Act 1986....
(road and safety authorities), who are even mentioned in the song, which featured warnings similar to which occur in the song.
One TAC advertisement in particular that was in heavy rotation on Australian television in the early 1990s featured young people driving in a car on a country road. The atmosphere in the car is jovial, the passengers are drinking beer and not wearing seatbelts. The young driver is momentarily distracted and the car travels into an intersection and is smashed by a truck. Moments before the accident, the front passenger yells out, "Greg! The stop sign!", but it is too late to avoid the accident.
As well as the obvious fatalistic meanings, the song is also a satire on the overbearing proselytism of the government-funded ads, which combined a moralistic message with shocking violence.
The song itself revolves around high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students in their last year of school, learning to drive, choosing a career, and fearing failing exams. Taking their juvenile concerns seriously is potentially pointless, as their promising lives could easily be cut short by an unexpected traffic accident.
Video
St. Kilda Football Club
The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club plays in the Australian Football League, the sport's premier league....
, eventually having them perform the song in a football field. According to Tim Webster
Tim Webster
Tim Webster is a Australian television and radio personality. He currently is a fill-in presenter for Ten News....
on the Gold! Gold!! Gold!!!
Gold! Gold!! Gold!!!
Gold! Gold!! Gold!!! is the fifth TISM video, featuring interviews, live performances, a video clip and TV appearances.-Track listing:# SBS World Soccer’s Les Murray opens proceedings# TISM on Rage 20/5/95...
(1998) video, this was an effort to "Save the St. Kilda club".
Eventually the song turns into a more regular style video clip, with a group of teenagers party
Party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well....
ing in a house. The camera moves into the house to see them all drinking and enjoying themselves, as a standard teenage party would expect to be seen. As the camera moves into the back room, a teenage girl is seen vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
on the floor, overlooked by a member of TISM. The video then turns into a series of disappointing moments, all watched by a member of TISM, such as a woman finding her fresh bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
has mould on it and the toilet roll is empty. Back in the house one of the most notorious and well known scenes of the video shows a dog eating the vomit from earlier. Meanwhile, outside a couple argue, once again as a member of TISM watches on.
Track list
- "Greg! The Stop Sign!!"
- "Strictly Loungeroom"
- "There's More Men In Children Than Wisdom Knows"