Led by Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard), the band formed in 1977 in London, England, consisting of Lester Square (guitar), Andy Warren (bass guitar) and Paul Flanagan (drums). Square was replaced by Mark Gaumont early in the band's career, before the release of their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox (1979, Do It Records). The album was somewhat dark, with post punk riffs and some vestiges of glam rock. The album was not a success, so Adam and the Ants hired Malcolm McLaren (manager of the Sex Pistols) to help with their image.
While preparing for their second album, McLaren convinced the Ants to leave Adam and form Bow Wow Wow. A new version of the Ants was formed by Marco Pirroni (guitar), Kevin Mooney (bass guitar) and two drummers, Terry Lee Miall and Merrick. Pirroni would go on to become an influential member of the group, and cowrite many of their songs with Adam Ant.
The band signed a major label deal with CBS Records and began recording Kings of the Wild Frontier. That album was an enormous hit in the United Kingdom and put the band at the forefront of the New Romantic moment. The album reached #1 on the UK album charts on January 24, 1981.
There were several hit singles from this LP, including Dog Eat Dog (reaching #4 on the UK singles charts in October 1980), Ant Music (#2 in January 1981) and Kings of the Wild Frontier (#2 in March 1981). In addition, Antmusic made it to No.1 in Australia for five weeks.
Bassist Kevin Mooney left the band in 1981, and was replaced with Gary Tibbs who joined just in time to record the hit single "Stand and Deliver".
In November 1981 Adam and the Ants released another highly successful album, Prince Charming. The band had two United Kingdom #1 singles. "Stand and Deliver" was the #1 single in the UK for 5 weeks in May 1981, followed by "Prince Charming", which topped the UK charts, for 4 weeks in September 1981. "Antrap" reached #3 in January, 1982.
The band seized the opportunities provided by music videos on the new MTV channel to develop a theatrical, charismatic onscreen persona. With romantic costumes and heavy make-up, the band was an early example of the New Romantic movement, with contemporaries such as Duran Duran dressing similarly. Lavish videos were produced for the Prince Charming singles, including Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming, and Ant Rap. In the Stand and Deliver video, Adam Ant is dressed as a "dandy highwayman" and generally indulges his exhibitionist tendencies. These videos helped break the band in the United States when MTV began airing them.
In early 1982 the band received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.
Ants Invasion
Adam and the Ants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The right decision
Heart is beating I'm alive
But I don't call this living
Rationalize 'til I'm blue in the face
You cannot lose if you throw the race
I'm still searching for the
Ants invasion
Ten-thirty-six and I hope I've made
The right decision
Ninety eight point four's the bore
With twenty twenty vision
You want a thrill so you come and see me
A cheap line in fantasy
But I'm still searching for the
Ants invasion
If I'd the courage
I would make my way home
Too many antics in the forbidden zone
Ten-thirty-eight and I think I've made
The wrong decision
Another lifeless man with a strange incision
I hope that insect doesn't see me
He's not renowned for his courtesy
I'm not searching for the
Ants invasion
In the song "Ants Invasion", Adam and the Ants discusses the futility of life and the emptiness of superficial experiences. The lyrics depict a protagonist who is searching for something more substantial than the mundane routine, but cannot seem to find it. Despite attempting to rationalize their actions and decisions, they continue to feel uninspired and unfulfilled. The lyrics refer to the "Ants Invasion" as a metaphor for something exciting and life-changing, but it is unclear what this phrase specifically means.
The song appears to touch on themes of apathy and disaffection, with the singer unable to find a sense of meaning in their life. They are seeking the "Ants Invasion" as a way to break free from this monotony and infuse life with something more vibrant. However, it is unclear what the Ants Invasion represents. There are multiple possibilities, such as a metaphor for a revolutionary movement, a new lifestyle, or even an alien attack. No matter what it represents, the singer is unable to find it and feels disconnected from the world around them.
Overall, "Ants Invasion" is a song that encourages listeners to avoid complacency and seek out deeper meaning in life. It suggests that superficial experiences and distractions may not bring us the happiness and satisfaction we seek, and that we must continue to actively search for something more profound.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten-thirty-five and I hope I've made
The right decision
It is 10:35 and I am hopeful that I have made the right decision.
Heart is beating I'm alive
But I don't call this living
My heart is beating and I am alive, but I do not consider this to be living.
Rationalize 'til I'm blue in the face
You cannot lose if you throw the race
I'm still searching for the
Ants invasion
I am rationalizing until I am tired, believing that if I throw the race, I won't lose, but I am still searching for the Ants invasion.
Ten-thirty-six and I hope I've made
The right decision
Ninety eight point four's the bore
With twenty twenty vision
It is now 10:36 and I hope that I have made the right decision. 98.4 is boring and I have clear vision.
You want a thrill so you come and see me
A cheap line in fantasy
But I'm still searching for the
Ants invasion
You come to see me to fulfill your desire for excitement, but it is just a cheap fantasy. Nonetheless, I am still searching for the Ants invasion.
If I'd the courage
I would make my way home
Too many antics in the forbidden zone
If I had the courage, I would go home, as there are too many strange and unacceptable behaviors in this forbidden place.
Ten-thirty-eight and I think I've made
The wrong decision
Another lifeless man with a strange incision
I hope that insect doesn't see me
He's not renowned for his courtesy
I'm not searching for the
Ants invasion
It is now 10:38 and I think I have made the wrong decision. There is another man here with a strange wound and no signs of life. I hope the insect does not see me, as it is not known for its politeness. I am no longer searching for the Ants invasion.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARCO PIRRONI, ADAM ANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mrmeistroman2393
I can't get this song out of my head ever since the Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer.
This has happened with every Marvel movie since Guardians Vol. 2.
- Fox on the Run by Sweet (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)
- Time to Pretend by MGMT (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
- Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin (Thor: Ragnarok)
- Bagbak by Vince Staples (Black Panther)
- Avengers Theme (Avengers: Infinity War) Yes this still counts because it got stuck in my head
And now,
- Ants Invasion by Adam & The Ants (Ant-Man and the Wasp)
It's insane how they have such good music taste at Marvel.
@TEO.187
Music for when you're playing beanie babies quietly by yourself in your room
@gears8554
Hey I like your shoelaces
@AdventofMechanus
@@gears8554 I appreciate the compliment, a high ranking official of the government gifted them to me.
@bcdm999
Are you sure they were gifted?
@TEO.187
@@AdventofMechanus hey! These are my shoelaces!
@susanowen1709
I hate the fact that I got the reference.
@tazzz745
love to listen to this while im playing beanie babies with myself
@s.camerahead7563
i see we're here for the same reason
@HSDN05
@@s.camerahead7563 I like your shoelaces
@s.camerahead7563
@@HSDN05 your kneecaps are forfeit