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.
vanity
Adam and the Ants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And yet I feel so much
I know that woman's arms can heal me
Like an angel's touch
She says she likes the accent
She thinks it's so polite
I think she going to like it more
She cannot speak of what she feels
And yet she feels so much
Except her lover's arms can heal her
Like an angel's touch
Money's money my little honey
A rich man's jokes are always funny
Build them walls but I'm coming through
Don't trouble trouble till it troubles you
Money's money my little honey
A rich man's jokes are always funny
Ring came off in heights of passion
Wear it now, and that's not fashion
You open up your heart heart behold
Another door slams shut
And tongues are not of steel
But take a look how deep they cut
The lyrics of Vanity by Adam and the Ants is a song that touches on the hidden emotional turbulence that exists within us all. The artist himself cannot speak of what he feels but, as paradoxical as it seems, he feels so much. He acknowledges that his woman's arms can heal him like the touch of an angel. The words convey a sense of vulnerability, dependence, and a search for emotional fulfillment.
In the second verse, the woman is portrayed in the same light as the artist - emotionally vulnerable, but very much in love. Although she cannot speak of what she feels, she craves the touch of her lover's arms to heal her. The chorus, however, seems to take a turn in a different direction as it talks about how money can be manipulative and a cause of trouble when not well managed, suggesting that this may be weighing on the singer and his relationship.
In conclusion, Vanity is a song that speaks about the complexities of human emotion, especially in the context of a romantic relationship. It expresses the need for companionship, the desire for emotional fulfillment, and the detrimental effect of unbridled love for material things.
Line by Line Meaning
I cannot speak of what I feel
I cannot express my emotions
And yet I feel so much
But I am overwhelmed with emotions
I know that woman's arms can heal me
I am aware that a woman's embrace can comfort me
Like an angel's touch
Like a divine intervention
She says she likes the accent
She admires my way of speaking
She thinks it's so polite
She finds it courteous
I think she going to like it more
I believe she will enjoy it more
When we're alone tonight
When we are in a private space tonight
Money's money my little honey
Financial wealth is still money, my dear
A rich man's jokes are always funny
Rich people's humor is often well-received
Build them walls but I'm coming through
Obstacles may arise, but I will overcome them
Don't trouble trouble till it troubles you
Do not provoke difficult situations unnecessarily
Ring came off in heights of passion
The ring was removed during a moment of intense emotions
Wear it now, and that's not fashion
Putting it back on now would be inappropriate
You open up your heart heart behold
You reveal your innermost emotions
Another door slams shut
Another opportunity is lost
And tongues are not of steel
We can be hurt by words
But take a look how deep they cut
Words can leave a lasting impact
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM ANT, MARCO PIRRONI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nige
on Lou
So... we're just going to let AI invent song-lyrics now? This is not Adam Ant's Lou. Shameful lazy website.
Ben - Moderator
on Cleopatra
Hi Kevin, I have updated the song facts to reflect these corrections. Please let us know if any further errors are found.
Kevin Manktelow
on Cleopatra
Couple of glaring errors, Cleopatra was first performed on the 10th July 1978 on the Peel Sessions and it was record in in the studio in 1979 for the Dirk Wears White Sox album which was released in January 1980. Marco Pirroni didn't join the band until after Malcolm Mclaren persuaded the rest of the band to quit and form Bow Wow Wow at the end of January 1980. It also wasn't on the normal release of the Prince Charming album, nor was it released as a single.