This song started life as a projected title for my second album. I'd originally thought of calling it "Ups and Downs" but Stephen "Tintin" Duffy had beaten me to it back in 1985. However, "Up on the Downs" is a much better title for me as it reflects my love for the South Downs in southern England which I have known and loved all my life (my father was born in Brighton). It was only when I'd finished writing the song that I realised that it had a strong samba groove so I used a virtual samba band for the last minute of the song. The tune couldn't be simpler: it's a simple scale going up from doh to soh and then back down again! Those who have had a sneak preview of the song have told me that it's a real ear-worm so listen at your peril!
The video is probably my most ambitious to date. I shot most of the backdrops very early (6.00am) on a Sunday morning in the deserted streets of Petersfield and at two local locations on the South Downs Way (near Butser Hill and Old Winchester Hill). The green-screen technology that I used nearly foundered when I realised that my anorak (chosen in homage to Paul Whitehouse's "Brilliant Kid" in the "Fast Show") had green stripes on it. So I turned it inside out - problem solved!