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.
Vive Le Rock
Adam Ant Lyrics
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Did not, did too
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Bouncing Betty on you
I try to tell you but you just don't understand
You've got my entire life in your hands
Vive le rock, vive le rock
'Cause you don't know what you got
And if the enemy don't see it your way
Be smart, play dead, live to fight a new day
And vive le rock, vive le rock
Oh well you don't know what you're missing
'Cause you don't know what you got
Vive le rock, vive le rock
C'mon honey Vive le rock
If this is it then I'm afraid it's not enough
Here's Johnny and he's calling your bluff
So vive le rock, vive le rock
Well you don't know what you're doing
'Cause you don't know what is what
(Look out! rockers going Starwars!)
You're scratching records but you won't be scratching mine
Don't give me chish-chash in rinky-dink time
Just vive le rock, vive le rock
Well I've been where I was going
And it's not Tom of Finland
Vive le rock, vive le rock
Vive le rock
Bang bang you're dead
Did not, did too
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Bouncing Betty on you
The lyrics of Adam Ant's Vive Le Rock are enigmatic, metaphorical, and playful. The first stanza appears to reference a conflict between two friends, with the singer warning the other to stop being naive and pay attention to what is happening in the world around them. The refrain of 'vive le rock' appears to be a rallying cry, urging the listener to embrace their creativity, take risks, and find joy in life's struggles. The second verse suggests that if one cannot convince others to see things their way, it may be necessary to feign compliance and come back more prepared another day. The bridge of the song expresses frustration with the current state of affairs, with Johnny 'calling your bluff' and the singer reaffirming the need to 'vive le rock.' Towards the end of the song, Adam Ant identifies himself as a political artist - someone who has been where he's going and knows what he's talking about.
Line by Line Meaning
Bang bang you're dead
I have shot and killed you
Did not, did too
A childish argument of disagreement
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Stop dancing foolishly
Bouncing Betty on you
A type of landmine exploding on you
I try to tell you but you just don't understand
I am attempting to communicate my feelings to you, but you lack the ability to comprehend them
You've got my entire life in your hands
You have a significant influence on my life
Vive le rock, vive le rock
Long live rock and roll
Oh well, you don't know what you're missing
You are unaware of what you are failing to experience
'Cause you don't know what you got
You do not appreciate what you possess
And if the enemy don't see it your way
If your opposition does not agree with you
Be smart, play dead, live to fight a new day
Be strategic, pretend to be dead, and wait for a better opportunity to fight
C'mon honey Vive le rock
Come on, my dear, let us celebrate rock and roll
If this is it then I'm afraid it's not enough
If this is all there is, I am dissatisfied
Here's Johnny and he's calling your bluff
I am challenging you to prove the validity of your claims
Well you don't know what you're doing
You lack knowledge about what you are attempting to accomplish
'Cause you don't know what is what
You do not understand the basics of the situation
(Look out! rockers going Starwars!)
(Warning! musicians are acting erratically!)
You're scratching records but you won't be scratching mine
You are ruining my possessions, but I will not allow you to ruin my music
Don't give me chish-chash in rinky-dink time
Do not provide me with foolishness in a poor quality manner
Well I've been where I was going
I knew and understood my destination
And it's not Tom of Finland
It is not an inappropriate or immoral location
Vive le rock
Long live rock and roll
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM ANT, MARCO PIRRONI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@youknomyname8890
"Vive Le Rock"
Bang bang you're dead
Did not, did too
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Bouncing Betty on you
Bang bang you're dead
Did not, did too
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Bouncing Betty on you
I try to tell you but you just don't understand
You've got my entire life in your hands
Vive le rock, vive le rock
Oh well, you don't know what you're missing
'Cos you don't know what you got
And if the enemy don't see it your way
Be smart, play dead, live to fight a new day
And vive le rock, vive le rock
Oh well you don't know what you're missing
'Cos you don't know what you got
Vive le rock, vive le rock
Vive le rock
If this is it then I'm afraid it's not enough
Here's Johnny and he's calling your bluff
Vive le rock, vive le rock
Oh well you don't know what you're doing
'Cos you don't know what is what
Vive le rock, vive le rock
(Look out! rockers going Starwars!)
Bang bang you're dead
Did not, did too
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Bouncing Betty on you
Bang bang you're dead
Did not, did too
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Bouncing Betty on you
You're scratching records but you won't be scratching mine
Don't give me chish-chash in rinky-dink time
Just vive le rock, vive le rock
Well I've been where I was going
And it's not Tom of Finland
Vive le rock, vive le rock
Vive le rock
Bang bang you're dead
Did not, did too
Stop diddy-bopping buddy
Bouncing Betty on you
Look Ma, I'm on top of the world
Source: azlyrics.com
@aBerlin1945
No one will ever be as cool as Adam Ant
@stevesnyder3440
So true!
@AJAXKID123
Please, please, protect this man at all cost! He is an absolute treasure.
@wolfenstein6676
As an old punk rocker I have to say that I loved this track when Adam and Marco released it. Adam is on record admitting that the one thing he really didn't enjoy, as he became a worldwide success, was seeing all his punk fans drift away. We'd been with him since the very start. This track and the video was like a tribute to their old punk days, with torn denims, leather motorcycle jackets and great guitars.
@timbayliss4153
I have to admit that I am normally an old Soul Rebel, but I have ALWAYS liked Adam Ant, and a few odd Rock artists and Glam Rock artists.
@noestahechalamielparatuboca
Se vendió como un producto e hizo lo que pudo, pero dinero no le faltó que es lo que buscaba
@melissaburke6004
Lovehim
@celestewarren8548
@@noestahechalamielparatuboca He ensured his success and financial security for not only him, but those who worked alongside him. Not a sell out in anyway.
@potato-otatop1
As a young punk rocker, i wish i could go back in time to see adam.ants journey evolve ☹️. Music is boring now i want more people to be as determined and as talented (without autotune) as adam.
@gioknows
35 years later and I still love this song.