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.
Deutscher Girls
Adam and the Ants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll try the Fox Trot
I'll eat a mango
You drink a straight scotch
You know I told you
You could be classy
So why did you have
To be so nasty?
Remember the curls
Of the Deutscher Girls?
A love of mine
From down on the Rhine
I'll fill your bath with
The finest champagne
I'll lick your skin dry
I cherish your name
The stakes get higher
As you dress sparsely
So why did you have
To be so nasty?
I love your blonde hair
I kiss your pigtails
And I could not share
The scratch of your nails
And though you mark me
Your eyes so glassy
Oh why did you have
To be so nasty?
The lyrics to Adam and the Ants's song Deutscher Girls are about a love interest who has been encouraged to be more sophisticated, but instead behaves in a nasty and provocative manner. The lyrics describe the singer's attempts to please this person with luxurious gestures and affectionate gestures, such as filling their bath with champagne and cherishing their name. However, the singer is dismayed by the object of their affection's provocative behavior and wonders why they couldn't act with more class. The chorus refers to the singer's memories of a past love from Germany, indicating that perhaps they are seeking a more refined and classy partner than the person they are currently pursuing.
The lyrics suggest a certain amount of frustration and disappointment with the object of the singer's affection. Despite the luxurious gestures and loving attention, the person remains "nasty" and unwilling to conduct themselves with class. The references to past loves, beautiful blonde hair, and the scratch of nails suggest that the singer is seeking a passionate and intense relationship with someone who embodies both refinement and sexual energy. The contrast between the idealized past love and the unrefined present love interest suggests a certain amount of disillusionment and longing for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
We'll do the Tango
Let's dance the Tango
We'll try the Fox Trot
Let's try the Fox Trot
I'll eat a mango
I'll enjoy a mango
You drink a straight scotch
You enjoy a straight scotch
You know I told you
You know I said
You could be classy
You could be sophisticated
So why did you have
Why did you need to
To be so nasty?
Be so cruel?
Remember the curls
Don't forget the curly hair
Of the Deutscher Girls?
Of the German girls?
A love of mine
One of my loves
From down on the Rhine
From the Rhine valley
I'll fill your bath with
I'll put in your bath
The finest champagne
The best champagne
I'll lick your skin dry
I'll make you dry
I cherish your name
I treasure your name
The stakes get higher
Things are getting more serious
As you dress sparsely
As you wear less clothing
I love your blonde hair
I love your blonde hair
I kiss your pigtails
I kiss your pigtails
And I could not share
And I couldn't resist
The scratch of your nails
The pleasure of your nails scratching me
And though you mark me
And even when you scratch me
Your eyes so glassy
Your eyes shining
Oh why did you have
Why did you need to
To be so nasty?
Be so cruel?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM ANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clairepod1
Killer opening riff with that wicked bass that creeps in. That plus the handclaps just makes this tune.
@justgeeks
Andy Warren on bass, AFAIK
@johnhuston9934
I bought this single when it was released (same cover as above) I still have it... just no record player... great to hear it again.
@TheDjackso1
Mine came in the plain white sleeve, the kind with the hole in the midde so you could see the label
@Kelly14UK
My first record player was a £25 Fidelity mono job. The lps half covered the speaker. Prince Charming was the album then. Man i LOVED that Xmas present. Straight home from school, bugger the homework and Young Parisians would go on.
@handeyecoordinationskills
What yr did it come out ?
@MrPixiepantz
@@handeyecoordinationskills this version was 1982 I think. The original with slightly different lyrics was on the soundtrack for the 1978 film Jubilee.
@handeyecoordinationskills
@@MrPixiepantz ah ok , thanks for that , I was 12 in 82 and liked the ants , music was raw and brilliant then
@jenkno4859
My favourite Adam Ant & the ants song by a mile, just a shame because i can't to find it on spotify :/
@hixxy220Muse
I was quite young when this came out but always had a very eclectic taste in music and still do, I found it a few years back now on a cd called Three Minute Heroes, I'm sure there's a few tracks on it that you'd love to reminisce hearing 👍