It's Going to Happen!

"It's Going to Happen!" is a new wave song originally written and recorded by Northern Irish band The Undertones. The song was written in the winter of 1980 and recorded at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands in January, 1981. "It's Going to Happen!" was the eighth single released by the band, and the second single released to be co-written by lead guitarist Damian O'Neill and bassist Michael Bradley.

For the film in which this phrase is said, see Lawrence of Arabia (film).
"It's Going to Happen!"
Single by The Undertones
from the album Positive Touch
Released21 April 1981 (1981-04-21)
RecordedJanuary 1981
GenreNew wave
Length3:30
LabelArdeck-EMI
Songwriter(s)Damian O'Neill
Michael Bradley
The Undertones singles chronology
"Wednesday Week"
(1980)		 "It's Going to Happen!"
(1981)		 "Julie Ocean"
(1981)
Rear cover
Rear cover of single, depicting the Undertones in 1981
Music video
"It's Going to Happen!" on YouTube

Unlike any of the previous singles released by The Undertones, the majority of which focused on teenage angst and romance, "It's Going to Happen!" was partly written in reference to the 1981 hunger strikes in Northern Ireland. The single is also notable for its inclusion of brass instruments in the recording.

The song was selected by EMI to be released as a single prior to the Undertones' 3rd LP, Positive Touch,[1] and was subsequently released on 21 April 1981, two weeks before the release of Positive Touch. The single reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart on 24 May,[2] and would also reach number 10 in the Irish Singles Chart.[3]

"It's Going to Happen!" was performed on Top of the Pops on 7 May 1981, shortly after one of the hunger strikers, Bobby Sands, died.[4] To mark his death, Damian O'Neill performed the song on Top of the Pops wearing a black armband.[5][6][7]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWritten byLength
1."It's Going to Happen!"Damian O'Neill, Michael Bradley3:39
Side two
No.TitleWritten byLength
1."Fairly in the Money Now"Tommy Tate & The Torpedoes2:34
  • 'Tommy Tate & The Torpedoes' was a pseudonym used by Damian O'Neill.
gollark: At least TJ0*8*'s not here.
gollark: * two TJ09s
gollark: TJ09 is typing.
gollark: Hey, I could join the IRC, be the only user, and get free giveaways! BRB, installing IRC client.
gollark: This can't be the real TJ09. Look, casual conversation.

References
  1. Teenage Kicks: My Life as an Undertone ISBN 978-1-78558-180-9 p. 186
  2. Official Charts.com 24 May - 30 May 1981
  3. Go to search charts and type "The Undertones" in search by artist.
  4. Teenage Kicks: My Life as an Undertone ISBN 978-1-785-58180-9 p. 188
  5. YouTube.com
  6. Martin, Gavin (29 March 2002). "Pop: Songs in the key of real life". The Independent. London. p. 15.
  7. O'Hearn, Denis (5 June 2006). "A Hunger for Justice". The Nation.
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