"Elstree" is a synthpop song by The Buggles from their debut album The Age of Plastic. It was the fourth and final single from the album, released on 27 October 1980. It was written by Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. "Elstree" is a tribute to the U.K. film company Elstree Studios. It follows the story of a failed actor who, according to Wave Maker Magazine, is "taking up a more regular position behind the scenes and looking back at his life in regret." The song is 4 minutes and 32 seconds long, and is played at a BPM of 136. Geoff Downes performed an old-sounding grand piano and a minimoog in the song to emulate an oboe. The music video was filmed featuring Trevor Horn as a BBC janitor cleaning a cemetery set on a sound stage as he recalls his days as a bit player in Elstree Studio b-films. Intercut with scenes of black and white sword fighting and retro movie scenes are included in the video. As Horn reminisces, black-and-white footage of his "films" play, illustrating the various roles he recalls in the song. ACTION I had a dream on a back lot I saw my life like a long shot I smile at faces in a picture parade of all the stills from the films that you've made and we would see me solo up there drinking coffee on the G O condo Elstree, Remember me I had a part in a B movie I played a man from history Elstree, I look at me Now I work for the BBC Life is not what it used to be I took no dives in the fight scene I had a stuntman keep my suit clean there's no technology could make up the song they stop the orchestra and you get it wrong Elstree, remember me I had a part in a B movie I played a man from history Elstree, I look at me Now I work for the BBC Life is not what it used to be Elstree They made a field into a war zone I beat the enemy on my own all the bullets just went over my head there's no reality and no one dead Elstree, remember me I had a part in a B movie I played a man from history Elstree, I look at me now I work for the BBC Life is not what it used to be Elstree Elstree Elstree Elstree Elstree

• published: 04 Oct 2013
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