After several albums featuring few original compositions from the quartet came and went (1969's Beginnings, 1970's Play It Loud), the group began to write their own tunes, grew their hair long, and assumed the look of the then-burgeoning glam movement, joining the same cause championed by such fellow Brits as David Bowie and T. Rex. This new direction paid off in 1971 with the number 16 U.K. single "Get Down and Get With It," which soon touched off a string of classic singles and led to Slade becoming one of the most beloved party bands back home. They released Slayed? in 1972. Slade also utilized another gimmick, humorously misspelled song titles, as evidenced by such singles as "Coz I Luv You," "Look Wot You Dun," "Take Me Bak 'Ome," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," "Gudbuy t'Jane," "Cum on Feel the Noize," "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me," and "Merry Xmas Everybody" (the latter of which re-entered the charts every holiday season for years afterward). Several attempts at cracking the U.S. market came up empty (with track listings between their U.K. and U.S. full-lengths differing), although such albums as Slade Alive! and Slayed? are considered to be some of the finest albums of the glam era.
Slade continued to score further hit singles back home, including such correctly spelled tracks as "My Friend Stan," "Everyday," "Bangin' Man," "Far Far Away," "How Does it Feel," and "In for a Penny," but with glam rock's dissolution and punk's emergence by the mid-'70s, the hits eventually dried up for the quartet. Despite the change in musical climate, Slade stuck to their guns and kept touring and releasing albums, as the title to their 1977 album, Whatever Happened to Slade, proved that the group's humor remained intact despite their fall from the top of the charts. A large, dedicated following still supported the group as they offered a performance at the 1980 Reading Festival that was considered one of the day's best, resulting in sudden renewed interest in the group back home and Slade scored their first true hit singles in six years with 1981's "We'll Bring the House Down" and "Lock up Your Daughters."
Slade received a boost stateside around this time as well, courtesy of the U.S. pop-metal outfit Quiet Riot, who made a smash hit out of "Cum on Feel the Noize" in 1983 that resulted in a strong chart showing for Slade's 1984 release Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (issued as The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome in the U.K. a year earlier). Slade then enjoyed a pair of U.S. MTV/radio hits, "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My." Holder and Lea also tried their hand at producing another artist around this time as well, as they manned the boards for Girlschool's 1983 release Play Dirty. Despite another all-new studio release, Rogues Gallery, and Quiet Riot covering another classic Slade tune ("Mama Weer All Crazee Now"), Slade was unable to retain their newfound American audience or rekindled British following and they eventually faded from sight once more, this time without a comeback waiting around the corner. During the '90s, a truncated version of the group dubbed Slade II was formed (without Holder or Lea in attendance), while Holder became a popular U.K. television personality as well as the host of his own '70s rock radio show. A 21-track singles compilation, Feel the Noize: The Very Best of Slade, was issued in 1997 (re-released under the simple title of Greatest Hits a couple of years later), which proved to be a popular release in England.
Discography
Beginnings (as Ambrose Slade, 1969)
Play It Loud (1970)
Slayed? (1972)
Slade Alive! (1972)
Old New Borrowed and Blue (1974)
Slade in Flame (1974)
Nobody's Fools (1976)
Whatever Happened to Slade (1977)
Return to Base (1979)
We'll Bring the House Down (1981)
Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983), re-released in 1984 as:
- Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984)
Rogues Gallery (1985)
Crackers - The Christmas Party Album (1985)
You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)
Keep on Rockin' (1994) (as Slade II), is the only studio album by Slade II. The album was released in 1994 and has seen various re-issues and guises under alternative names such as Wild Nites (1999), Cum on Let's Party! (2002) and Superyob (2003).
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Slade less commonly refers to Grady Slade, Jr, a Rap artist
3. Slade also refers to a rapper who made music from 2013-2016 under the label, Chapter 9. He currently makes music under a new alias, Dante Oasis.
Dirty Joker
Slade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's a dirty joker all through the day
Makes me do what he says
He's mine all the time never wanting to go
This way or that way
This way or that way which way to go
Will I take the right track
He calls from his side
Mine is the problem to decide
He knows the weakness I've got
Doesn't it stand out on my face
What a dirty joker
What a dirty joker try to make himself clean
What a fancy powder
You can tell from his smell that he's just like a queen
He calls from his side
Mine is the problem to decide
He knows the weakness I've got
Doesn't it stand out on my face
Ohhh-oh
Ohhh-oh
He's a dirty joker
He's a dirty joker all through the day
Makes me do what he says
Yet he's mine all the time never wanting to go
He calls from his side
Mine is the problem to decide
He knows the weakness I've got
Doesn't it stand out on my face
Ohhh-oh
Ohhh-oh
The song Dirty Joker by Slade is about the power dynamics in a relationship where one person has a lot of control over the other. The person being controlled is referred to as a "dirty joker," which could be interpreted in a couple of ways. On one hand, it could be seen as a derogatory term, implying that this person is inferior or "dirty" in some way. On the other hand, it could be seen as a term of endearment, indicating that the singer loves and accepts their partner despite their flaws.
Throughout the song, the singer describes how their partner makes them do what he says and always wants them around. They also mention that the partner knows their weaknesses and exploits them to maintain control. Interestingly, the singer also comments on the partner's appearance and hygiene, calling out their use of fancy powder and queen-like scent. This could suggest that the partner is trying to cover up their own insecurities with superficial qualities and projecting an image of power.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a dirty joker
He is manipulative and deceitful
He's a dirty joker all through the day
He is always using his tricks to get what he wants
Makes me do what he says
He has the power to control me
He's mine all the time never wanting to go
He doesn't want to leave my side, even though he is causing me harm
This way or that way
I am struggling to make a decision
This way or that way which way to go
I am conflicted and unsure of the right path to take
Will I take the right track
I am hoping to make the correct choice
He calls from his side
He is constantly trying to influence me
Mine is the problem to decide
I am the one responsible for the decision, but he is making it difficult for me
He knows the weakness I've got
He is aware of my vulnerabilities
Doesn't it stand out on my face
My weakness is obvious, and he is taking advantage of it
What a dirty joker
He is truly a malicious and cunning person
What a dirty joker try to make himself clean
He is attempting to appear innocent and blameless
What a fancy powder
He is superficial and obsessed with his appearance
You can tell from his smell that he's just like a queen
His vanity and pretentiousness are apparent in every aspect of his being
Ohhh-oh
An exclamation of frustration and despair
Contributed by Jayce E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.