The band soon grew a live following and recorded their first demo songs, some of which would be officially released later in their career. The band's first single, "Fingers On It", received some minor recognition when it was featured in the 1986 movie Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Band members during this period also included drummer B.W. Boeski and guitarists Gino Martino and Alex Kane.
The group has released twelve studio albums as well as five live albums as of 2014, and they're perhaps best known for their hit singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" from their self-titled debut album, tracks that remain classic rock favorites. Despite becoming popular during the glam metal movement of the 80s, the band has little in common with many of those artists and has continued to record and tour since its formation, with the group being notable for its internal songwriting (influenced by classic pop such as The Beatles).
Coming out the gate with 1989's 'Enuff Z'nuff', the group received critical praise, with Allmusic saying that the band "deserves more respect than they'll probably ever receive." The album hit the #74 slot on the Billboard 200 top albums chart, with "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" both being top 40 hits on the Mainstream Rock chart. Sadly, though musically being inspired by bands such as Cheap Trick, Enuff Z'nuff's record label decided to present them in garish, tie-die outfits and foster a related glam image that the group resented.
There was more band member shuffling in May 2014 when guitarist Tory Stoffregen and drummer Randi Scott each left the band. Drummer Erik Donner joined on drums in June, while Enuff Z'Nuff continued touring as a 3-piece. In April 2016, the band continued with Chip Z'nuff as the lead singer, Tory Stoffregen back on lead guitar, Tony Fenelle (Ultravox) on guitar and Daniel B. Hill on drums.
Enuff Z'nuff released an album of older, previously unreleased original material in late 2016, titled Clowns Lounge. It mainly features demo material from studio sessions originally recorded in 1988 and 1989. Enuff Z'nuff released an album of new material with Chip Z'nuff on lead vocals, Diamond Boy, in 2018.
Enuff Z'Nuff released their 15th studio album, named Brainwashed Generation on July 10, 2020. In August 2021, a 3-CD set of formerly unreleased demo recordings titled Never Enuff was released.. A new cover album, Hardrock Nite, released on November 12, 2021 is a Beatles tribute record.
Enuff Z’Nuff consisting of Chip Z’Nuff on lead vocals and bass, Tory Stoffregen and Tony Fennell on guitars, and Dan Hill on drums will be releasing their new studio album Finer Than Sin on November 11, 2022.
The Jean Genie
Enuff Z'Nuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strung out on lasers and slash-back blazers
Ate all your razors while pulling the waiters
Talking 'bout Monroe and walking on Snow White
New York's a go-go, and everything tastes right
Poor little Greenie, ooh-ooh
Keep her comin'
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Sits like a man but he smiles like a reptile
She love him, she love him but just for a short while
She'll scratch in the sand, won't let go his hand
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
And keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
Poor little Greenie, ooh-ooh
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
He's so simple-minded, he can't drive his module
He bites on the neon and sleeps in a capsule
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved
Oh, Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Go!
Go!
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Go, go go!
The Jean Genie is a song by Enuff Z'Nuff, originally written and performed by David Bowie. The song is about a small and rebellious character who sneaks into the city and becomes addicted to the party lifestyle. The character is described as being "strung out on lasers and slash-back blazers" which could be interpreted as a metaphor for being on drugs and seeking out the excitement of the city. The character is also described as being obsessed with the Hollywood lifestyle, invoking the names of Marilyn Monroe and Snow White. The chorus of the song encourages the character to "let yourself go" and embrace the wild lifestyle they have stumbled into.
The song is full of colorful imagery and metaphors, which could be interpreted in many different ways. The lines "he sits like a man but he smiles like a reptile" suggest that the character is devious and cunning, while the lines "He's so simple-minded, he can't drive his module, he bites on the neon and sleeps in a capsule" suggest that the character is carefree and reckless. The chorus repeats the lines "The Jean Genie lives on his back, the Jean Genie loves chimney stacks" which could be interpreted as a reference to the character's promiscuous lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
A small Jean Genie snuck off to the city
A diminutive Jean Genie sneaked away to the metropolis
Strung out on lasers and slash-back blazers
Addicted to the use of lasers and flashy jackets
Ate all your razors while pulling the waiters
Consumed all your blades while ordering from the servers
Talking 'bout Monroe and walking on Snow White
Conversing about Marilyn Monroe and strolling on Snow White
New York's a go-go, and everything tastes right
New York is electrifying, and everything is perfect
Poor little Greenie, ooh-ooh
Sympathy towards the small Greenie
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie prefers to lie on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
The Jean Genie adores stacks of chimneys
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
He's strikingly peculiar, he yells and cries (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Jean Genie, unleash yourself completely
Sits like a man but he smiles like a reptile
Sits like a person but has a crocodilian smile
She love him, she love him but just for a short while
She loves him, she loves him but only for a brief period
She'll scratch in the sand, won't let go his hand
She'll etch on the sand and hold onto his hand
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
He declares himself a cosmetologist and trades nutrition
And keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
And collects all your dead hair to manufacture underclothes
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie prefers to lie on his back
He's so simple-minded, he can't drive his module
He's so simple, he can't operate his system
He bites on the neon and sleeps in a capsule
He chews on the neon light and slumbers in a container
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved
Likes to be adored, likes to be adored
Go!
Proceed!
Go!
Proceed!
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Jean Genie, unleash yourself completely
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie prefers to lie on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
The Jean Genie adores stacks of chimneys
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls (Jean Genie)
He's strikingly peculiar, he yells and cries (Jean Genie)
Jean Genie, let yourself go, whoah
Jean Genie, unleash yourself completely
Go, go go!
Proceed, proceed, proceed!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND KLAGES, FATS WALLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind