Released on the Rough Trade record label in 1981, "The Sweetest Girl" (also known as "Sweetest Girl") became Scritti Politti's first song to be a hit, peaking at #64 on the U.K. singles chart. According to the The Sweetest Girl Songfacts, was cited by The New York Times as one of the ten best singles of the year. Scritti Politti went on to enjoy significant success in the music charts in the U.K. and U.S. as the decade went on, rivaling slick new wave contemporaries such as Duran Duran, The Human League, Simple Minds, and others.
Following this period of fame, however, Gartside became disillusioned with the music industry and the related pressures of being an artist. He retired to the South Wales of his childhood for nearly a decade. He returned to music-making in the late 90s, releasing two critically-acclaimed albums (in 1999 and 2006). As well, the success of the 2006 Mercury Music Prize-nominated 'White Bread Black Beer' release proved to be a major comeback for Gartside. He toured the U.K., Ireland, the U.S.A., and Japan in the same year, these efforts being his first time performing live on stage for about twenty-five years.
Gartside is known for his distinctive, whispering vocal style; he was described by one critic as having "a voice that's eternally 14 years old". Born in Cardiff in 1956, Gartside attended Leeds Polytechnic and experienced the Sex Pistols' infamous 'Anarchy tour' in 1977. Like so many others who saw this musical and cultural car crash, he felt inspired to make music. As well, again like so many others, he swiftly became disillusioned with punk's stylistic parameters of the time. Following years of work evolving Scritti Politti's sound, the group's debut studio album, titled 'Songs to Remember', came out on 3 September 1982. Though not a commercial hit, the relase's eccentric set of influences,including 60s pop rock and 70s soul, and many philosophical lyrical references, with Gartside avoiding direct left-wing preaching in favour of confessional storytelling, brought the band serious critical praise.
In 1989, the British music magazine 'Record Mirror' placed 'Songs to Remember' at number fourteen in their critics' list of the best albums of the 80s. Nonetheless, heavy line-up changes occured after that album's release. When 1985's 'Cupid & Psyche 85' came out, that work proved both to be a commercial smash as well as to be innovative in terms its early use of the techniques of sampling and MIDI sequencing. Hit singles such as "Perfect Way", "The Word Girl", "Wood Beez", and "Absolute" brought the group legions of fans.
As stated before, Scritti Politti is known for being, at times, a commercially-friendly outfit, particularly during when Gartside worked with American producer and keyboard player David Gamson and drummer Fred Maher, yet its songs still retained a critically acclaimed, heavily poetic look on life (a factor which, no matter what sound or guise Gartside's current band may adopt, has always been carried through).
In a recent BBC Radio 2 interview, Gartside enthusiastically stated that he will be working on two further albums in the future, one being hip-hop based (a la 1999's Anomie & Bonhomie).
Recently, Gartside has been performing live with Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip - a fellow Mercury Music Prize nominee - and it is rumoured that the pair are currently writing a joint album.
Sex
Scritti Politti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is the soul of indiscretion so let's get indiscreet, yeah
Sex sex sex watch you break out in a sweat
It's what you gonna get
Sex sex sex (uh-huh) but you got the motion
That the boys and girls all wanna touch and take it
Home
Just cut that cute display
(Get it up, get in on)
Just cut that chi chi 'n' machismo
I said oh oh oh
Sex sex sex well you came here just to dance
Well c'est ci bon don't worry it's the same jouissance, yeah
Sex sex sex - don't ever let that go
You find any reason for what you wanna do now
But you got the motion that the boys 'n'
Girls all wanna touch and take it home
Get up and jump to debasement
Get up and masterstroke
(Get it up, get in on)
Amoral disarmament baby
I said oh oh oh-yeah
Sex sex sex - well your angle is acute
You gotta lotta finesse in your sharkskin suit now
Sex sex sex - you don't need no excuse
Your body has a function so you put it to a use, yeah
But you got the motion that the boys 'n'
Girls all wanna touch and take it home
Just cut that small talk 'n' the floorplay
Just cut that cute display
(Get it up, get in on)
Amoral disarmament baby
I said oh oh oh-yeah
Sex sex sex
Sex sex sex c'mon 'n' break that rule
Let's break it into pieces that are long 'n' sweet 'n' cool, yeah
Sex sex sex (oooh) you ain't got no money
But you will afford to loosen up and let it go
Get up and jump to debasement
Get up and masterstroke
(Get it up, get in on)
Just cut that chi chi 'n' machismo
I said oh oh oh-yeah
Sex sex sex well let's lay it on a line
You can let me know with your eyes an'
I'll let you know with mine, yeah
Sex sex sex but don't bush around the beat
This is the soul of indiscretion, let's get indiscreet, yeah
You got the motion that the boys and girls
All wanna touch and take it home
Just cut that small talk 'n' the floorplay
Just cut that cute display
(Get it up, get in on)
Amoral disarmament baby
I said oh oh oh-yeah
The lyrics to Scritti Politti's "Sex" are a celebration of sexual energy and desire. The song opens with the lines "Sex sex sex well don't bush around the beat / This is the soul of indiscretion so let's get indiscreet, yeah," setting the tone for what follows. The lyrics are unapologetic in their focus on physical pleasure, with lines like "Your body has a function so you put it to a use, yeah" reinforcing the message that sex is a natural and enjoyable part of being human. The chorus repeats the phrases "Sex sex sex" and "But you got the motion that the boys 'n' girls all wanna touch and take it home," celebrating the power of sexual attraction.
The second verse introduces the idea of cutting out small talk and pretense, with lines like "Just cut that chi chi 'n' machismo." The lyrics emphasize the importance of being true to one's desires, with lines like "You find any reason for what you wanna do now." The song culminates in a call to action, with lines like "Get up and jump to debasement / Get up and masterstroke" urging listeners to embrace their sexuality.
Overall, "Sex" is a song that celebrates the joy and excitement of sexual energy without shame or judgment. It encourages listeners to embrace their desires and live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Sex sex sex well don't bush around the beat
Let's not waste time playing around, let's get down to the heart of the matter
This is the soul of indiscretion so let's get indiscreet, yeah
We're going to throw caution to the wind and let our desires run wild
Sex sex sex watch you break out in a sweat
You know what you're getting into and you're excited for it
It's what you gonna get
You're going to experience sexual pleasure
Sex sex sex (uh-huh) but you got the motion
You have the right moves that turn people on
That the boys and girls all wanna touch and take it
Everyone is attracted to you and wants to be with you
Just cut that small talk 'n' the floorplay
Let's skip the small talk and the flirting, and get straight to it
Just cut that cute display
Don't bother with superficial displays of affection or attraction
(Get it up, get in on)
Get ready and get involved in the sexual act
Just cut that chi chi 'n' machismo
Don't worry about being fancy or macho
I said oh oh oh
Let's get wild and enjoy ourselves
Well you came here just to dance
You're here to move your body in sensual ways
Well c'est ci bon don't worry it's the same jouissance, yeah
It might be seen as indecent, but it's still a joyous and pleasurable experience
Don't ever let that go
Hold onto this feeling of pure pleasure and enjoyment
You find any reason for what you wanna do now
You don't need an excuse to do what feels good
But you got the motion that the boys 'n' Girls all wanna touch and take it home
Your body moves are so appealing that everyone wants to be with you
Get up and jump to debasement
Let's let pleasure override any other societal or moral values
Get up and masterstroke
Get in control and make it the most exhilarating sexual experience ever
Sex sex sex - well your angle is acute
You're sharp and precise in your movements and seduction tactics
You gotta lotta finesse in your sharkskin suit now
You're smooth, stylish and confident in your own skin
You don't need no excuse
You don't need to justify your sexual desires or actions to anyone
Your body has a function so you put it to a use, yeah
Your body is made for sex and you're not afraid to use it
Let's break it into pieces that are long 'n' sweet 'n' cool, yeah
Let's make this a very satisfying and enjoyable experience for both of us
Sex sex sex (oooh) you ain't got no money
You don't need money to experience the best sex ever
But you will afford to loosen up and let it go
You can afford to let go of inhibitions and indulge in pleasure
Sex sex sex well let's lay it on a line
Let's be honest about our desires and intentions
You can let me know with your eyes an' I'll let you know with mine, yeah
We can communicate our desires without words
Sex sex sex but don't bush around the beat
Let's not be coy or timid about our sexual desires
This is the soul of indiscretion, let's get indiscreet, yeah
Let's embrace our hedonistic and lustful desires and throw caution to the wind
You got the motion that the boys and girls all wanna touch and take it home
Your moves are so good that everyone wants to follow you and take the pleasure home
Amoral disarmament baby
Let's forget about morals and ethics and just focus on pleasure
I said oh oh oh-yeah
Let's have fun and enjoy ourselves
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Green Gartside
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xilitla!
this song bashes my skull in with a cinderblock and sends me into convulsions what a fucking banger
Andrew JS
The album was completed in August 1981 but they waited a whole year to release it in September 1982.
c clark
Very good Green.......A updated version would sound cool
jashc
Thankyou for this.
Holly W
🔥🥵
boofuls
Is it just me or is there a, Lets go outside -George michael ,vibe here 🤔
Andrew JS
True.
Soul Product
This was obviously loooooong before George Michael or even Wham. Green was just ahead of his time.
SuperHoggar
hot!!!!!
chippiparaiVEVO
so freakjbr steuf TRU eeee