Adam was a member of Bazooka Joe, the band that the Sex Pistols opened for in the Pistols' first live appearance. Adam and the Ants started as a punk band, but by the early '80s they had taken a different path and started making pop music. By 1981 they were one of the biggest bands in Britain.
In March 1982, feeling certain band members "lacked enthusiasm", Ant disbanded the group. A few months after the split Ant launched a solo career (though he retained Marco Pirroni as guitarist and co-songwriter).
After the split, Ant went solo, taking his song writing partner Pirroni with him. His greatest American chart success was 1982's Friend or Foe album, which included the hit single "Goody Two Shoes" which made it to #1 in the UK and Australia, and #12 in the U.S. Other hits from that album included the title song (which made #9 on the UK chart) and "Desperate But Not Serious". Goody Two Shoes first charted in the UK in Spring 1982, reaching no.1 that summer, but its US peak did not come until 1983 when it reached #12 on the Billboard Top 100.
In 1983, Ant worked with Phil Collins and Richard James Burgess on the "Strip" album which was recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm. The single "Puss 'N Boots" reached #5 on the UK charts, but the BBC banned both the video and the song for the follow-up single "Strip," which peaked at #41. Although Strip had some highlights and hit singles, it marked the end of his reign as one of Britain's top pop stars for a while. That same year, Ant also memorably appeared as a guest performer on the NBC television network's Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special that aired in May.
In 1985, he worked with veteran producer Tony Visconti on his third solo album, "Vive Le Rock". He secured a spot at the Live Aid concert, but was asked to cut his set to one song. He chose his new single, "Vive le Rock." Vive Le Rock was intended to be his ultimate hard rock album but the single underwent a pressing error and the album received mixed reviews. As a result, Adam decided to end his career in music and focus on his acting career.
In 1989, whilst maintaining an interest in acting, Ant returned to America and re-entered the pop music world with the album "Manners & Physique", a collaboration with André Cymone, a solo artist and an early member of Prince's band. The album was another moderate success, and featured the UK and U.S. hit single "Room at the Top". "Rough Stuff" became the second single for the United States and Germany as "Can't Set Rules About Love" charted in the United Kingdom.
In 1993, he toured in support of a planned album called "Persuasion". On account of a regime change at MCA, the record company made the unilateral decision not to release this album on the basis that Manners & Physique had failed to achieve a gold sales certification. Ant was subsequently released from his contract with MCA and later signed by EMI. Persuasion remains unreleased to this day and, as a result, it has become something of a lost legend among "Antfans", although it is widely available online for download.
In 1995, Ant released the album "Wonderful". The title track was a successful single, as was a tour of the U.S. in support of the album. While Ant and his group (which retained longtime guitarist Pirroni) played in smaller venues than they had played in the 1980s, the houses were often packed with enthusiastic fans. The tour was cut short due to Ant and Pirroni both contracting glandular fever (for those who don't know the term, glandular fever is generally a euphemism for what usually manifests as mononucleosis).
"Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter" is the sixth solo studio album by Adam Ant. The album's title was announced by Ant in the NME in April 2010. As per Adam's announcement at his gig in Chatham in September 2012, the new album was released on 21 January 2013 by Ant's own record label Blueblack Hussar Records. Despite the independent self-release, the album reached number 25 on the UK Albums Chart, only one place lower than its predecessor, released on the major EMI label nearly eighteen years earlier. It had previously been at number 8 in the Midweeks.
Hardmentoughblokes
Adam Ant Lyrics
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You got to laugh when they tell you a joke (ha ha ha ha)
Hard men, tick tock
Step away or they'll beat you up (you up)
Ooh they are the hard men
Ooh they are the tough blokes
Vinnie Jones, you can all fuck off
Winstone, Statham
Don't get in my way, pal
Ooh the hard men
Ooh they are the tough blokes
Ooh they are the one percenters
Ooh they are the one percenters
Ooh they are the one percenters
Ooh they are the one percenters
McQueen, Del Toro
Behave
Ooh the hard men
Ooh they are the tough blokes
DeNiro, Van Damme
Winstone, Statham
Look away, all fuck off
Look away now before it kicks off
The hard men, the hard men
Ooh they are the hard men
Ooh the tough blokes
Hard men like mucking about
Give you the occasional clout
Don't try to be one of the chaps
You will find yourself on the wrong end of the slaps
'Cos we are the hard men
Ooh we are the tough blokes
Hard Men (hard men), tough blokes (tough blokes)
Hard Men (hard men), tough blokes (tough blokes)
Hard Men (hard men), tough blokes (tough blokes)
Hard Men (hard men), tough blokes (tough blokes)
The song "Hardmentoughblokes" by Adam Ant is a satirical take on traditional masculine stereotypes. The lyrics poke fun at the concept of being a "tough bloke" and what it really means to be a hard man. The chorus "Ooh they are the hard men, ooh they are the tough blokes" serves as a sarcastic refrain that emphasizes the absurdity of behaving in an overly aggressive, macho manner.
The verses name-drop famous actors such as McQueen, Roth, and DeNiro to illustrate the cultural icons that are often associated with toughness and stoicism. However, the chorus repeats the phrase "one percenters," implying that these individuals are a minority of the population and do not represent the majority of men. The song's use of humor and irony highlight the misguided nature of traditional masculinity and the harm it can cause.
Overall, "Hardmentoughblokes" is a commentary on the facade of masculinity and the societal expectations placed on men to be strong, unemotional, and aggressive. Through satire and wit, it encourages people to question these norms and strive for a more inclusive and empathetic definition of masculinity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hard men, tough blokes
Introductory statement highlighting the type of men being referred to in the song
You got to laugh when they tell you a joke (ha ha ha ha)
A sarcastic statement indicating that these men like to display their sense of humor through intimidation
Step away or they'll beat you up (you up)
A warning to stay out of the way of these hard men to avoid any physical harm
Ooh they are the hard men
Reiteration of the kind of men these hard men are
McQueen, Tim Roth
The mention of famous actors who have played hard men onscreen
Vinnie Jones, you can all fuck off
A dismissive statement directed towards another actor known for playing hard men roles
Winstone, Statham
More actors being mentioned to indicate the qualities these hard men possess
Don't get in my way, pal
A clear message aimed at anyone who dares to challenge or oppose these men
Ooh they are the one percenters
A boastful statement showing that these hard men are a rare breed that not everyone can become
McQueen, Del Toro
More famous hard men actors being named as a reference
Behave
A command issued towards anyone who might want to test the mettle of these tough blokes
DeNiro, Van Damme
Including more celebrities known for playing hard men to emphasize the message of the song
Look away, all fuck off
Another aggressive statement aimed at anyone not worthy of being around these men
Look away now before it kicks off
A warning that things could turn violent if these men get angry
Hard men like mucking about
An ironic statement that suggests that hard men are capable of being playful
Give you the occasional clout
This line shows that hard men can be violent but only when provoked
Don't try to be one of the chaps
A warning that trying to fit in with these hard men is not advisable
You will find yourself on the wrong end of the slaps
A threat of physical violence showing that hard men do not tolerate disrespect or dissent
'Cos we are the hard men
A statement of identity, Hard Men or tough blokes, someone to be feared and respected at the same time.
Hard Men (hard men), tough blokes (tough blokes)
Repetition of the initial statement to drive home the message about the hard men and tough blokes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM ANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind