Cliff Richard, “Some People,” and the night laughter almost drowned out a serious message
On September 12, 1987, Cliff Richard appeared on the wildly popular British television show The Dame Edna Experience!, hosted by the flamboyant and razor-sharp comic persona Dame Edna. The show was famous for satire, exaggerated humor, and playful mockery — hardly the place one would expect a socially reflective song.
Yet that night, Cliff Richard performed “Some People.”
At first glance, the performance seemed lighthearted. The audience laughed, the host joked, and Cliff smiled politely. But beneath that surface was a song carrying a message far removed from comedy. “Some People,” released in 1987 on the album Always Guaranteed, was not a love song, nor a feel-good pop number. It was a quiet commentary on social neglect — about people living on the margins, unseen and unheard.
The lyrics speak of individuals trapped in poverty, loneliness, and indifference. Cliff does not preach or accuse. Instead, he observes. His delivery is calm, almost gentle, which makes the subject matter even more striking. In a decade dominated by glossy pop and escapism, “Some People” stood out as something unusually grounded.
That contrast became even sharper on The Dame Edna Experience! While the show thrived on laughter, Cliff stood center stage singing about social invisibility. Some audience members chuckled, caught between the song’s seriousness and the comedic setting. It wasn’t mockery — it was confusion.
By 1987, Cliff Richard had already reinvented himself multiple times. He was no longer the teenage heartthrob of the early 1960s, but a respected veteran navigating adulthood, faith, and social awareness. “Some People” reflected that maturity. It showed an artist willing to use his platform for more than entertainment.
In retrospect, the performance feels almost deliberate. By placing a serious song in a humorous environment, Cliff forced a moment of discomfort — the kind that makes people listen more closely. It was a reminder that beneath the laughter of television, real lives continue to struggle.
“Some People” may not be Cliff Richard’s most famous song, but that 1987 performance turned it into something quietly powerful: a moment where pop music briefly interrupted comedy to tell the truth.