The Au Pairs were a post-punk band who formed in Birmingham, UK in 1979. Mu… Read Full Bio ↴The Au Pairs were a post-punk band who formed in Birmingham, UK in 1979. Musically they were very similar to bands such as Ludus, Gang of Four and Delta 5. That is, the rhythm section was tight and funky (obvious influences were James Brown and Funkadelic), but the guitars were light and "scratchy" (like Subway Sect). All these bands shared a strongly left wing social outlook, but the Au Pairs stood out due to their frontwoman, Lesley Woods, being an outspoken feminist and lesbian: the band were greatly influential in this respect on the riot grrrl movement a decade later. Music historian Gillian G. Gaar noted in her history of women in rock that the band mingled male and female musicians in a revolutionary collaborative way as part of its outspoken explorations of sexual politics.

Their first album Playing with a Different Sex is considered a post-punk classic with strong, sarcastic songs like "It's Obvious" and "We're so cool" taking a dry look at gender relations. Other songs, such as "Armagh" with its refrain,"we don't torture" took a pro-republican look at the then ongoing "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, which caused some controversy at the time.

The band's second album, Sense and Sensuality, showed an even greater influence of jazz, soul, funk and disco on the band's sound, but was less well received. The band broke up in 1983 just before they were about to go into the studio to record an album with producer Steve Lillywhite. Woods formed an all woman band called the Darlings in the late '80s, but then left the music industry. She now works as a lawyer. Guitarist, Paul Foad remains an active musician, playing with Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes, a Jamaican Jazz band and teaching guitar in and around Birmingham. He has also published a guitar technique book, co-written with Stuart Ritchie, titled The Caged Guitarist (2000). Bass player Jane Munro works as an alternative therapist in Birmingham. Pete Hammond also remains an active musician and teaches percussion in Birmingham.

The Au Pairs released two official albums "Playing with a Different Sex" (1981) and "Sense and Sensuality" (1982). Two more albums were released in 1983: "Live in Berlin" and the "BBC Sessions".

Original Line-up:
Lesley Woods - guitar/vocals
Paul Foad - guitar/vocals
Jane Munro - bass
Pete Hammond - drums

Pretty Boys
Au Pairs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I like pretty boys
They get everywhere
I like to look at you
To see the clothes you wear
And some have beautiful shapes
And I like to look at you
I see their beautiful shades
And I love to talk to you

'Cause you're a real fine boy
'Cause you're a real fine boy
You're such a real fine boy
You're such a real fine boy

I like pretty girls
They get everywhere
I like to look at you
To see the clothes you wear
And some have beautiful shapes
And I like to look at you
I see their beautiful shades
And I love to talk to you
'Cause you're a real fine girl
'Cause you're a real fine girl
You're such a real fine girl
You're such a real fine girl

I like pretty girls
They get everywhere
I like to look at you
To see the clothes you wear
And some have beautiful shapes
And I like to talk to you
I see their beautiful shades
And I love to look at you
'Cause you're a real fine girl
'Cause you're a real fine girl
You're such a real fine girl
You're such a real fine girl
You're such a real fine girl
Yes, you're a real fine girl
Ah, such a real fine girl

Oh, such a real fine girl
Real fine girl

Overall Meaning

The Au Pairs’ “Pretty Boys” is a song about the singer’s love for aesthetically-pleasing people of both genders. The lyrics describe the singer’s attraction to “pretty boys” and “pretty girls” and their admiration for their physical appearance and fashion sense. The song emphasizes the importance of superficial beauty and presents it as a desirable quality in a partner. The repetition of the phrase “real fine” emphasizes the singer’s admiration for their appearance and suggests an idealization of physical attractiveness.

However, there is a sense of irony in the song’s lyrics. The repetition of the chorus with the minor change of gendered pronouns highlights the idea that the singer's definition of beauty is interchangeable and arbitrary. Moreover, the use of the phrase “get everywhere” creates a sense of superficiality and shallowness. It suggests that the attraction to pretty boys and girls is based on their societal status and not on their personality or character.

In conclusion, the song’s lyrics convey a message about the superficial standards of beauty that society imposes on people. It shows how people are valued based on their appearances and how this can lead to a shallow understanding of human relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

I like pretty boys
I am attracted to men who are conventionally attractive and well-groomed

They get everywhere
These men are often successful and hold positions of influence

I like to look at you
I enjoy admiring your physical appearance

To see the clothes you wear
Your fashion choices are also something I appreciate and find visually pleasing

And some have beautiful shapes
I appreciate the physical features of some men because they are aesthetically pleasing to me

And I see their beautiful shades
I find a certain attractiveness in a man's complexion or skin tone

And I love to talk to you
I enjoy interacting with you on a personal level

'Cause you're a real fine boy
I consider you to be a highly attractive and desirable man

You're such a real fine boy
I find you to be exceptionally attractive

I like pretty girls
I am also attracted to women who are conventionally attractive and well-groomed

You're such a real fine girl
I find you to be exceptionally attractive