They soon changed their name to The Adicts and became known for their distinctive Clockwork Orange 'Droog' image, which, along with their urgent, uptempo music and light-hearted lyrics, helped set them very much apart from the rest of the genre. Temporary 1980s name changes to ADX and FUN ADICTS, for a children's TV appearance, also occurred.
Their song "Viva La Revolution" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground.
The band still has all its original members, uncommon for a band with such longevity.
The music of The Adicts proves that punk music is a very broad genre, often featuring extra instruments and sound clips such as carousel music (How Sad), violin played by Derick Cook (Joker in the Pack), gongs and keyboard percussion by Anthony Boyd (Chinese Takeaway), and even completely different songs like the switch to Gain To Lose's Tune #24 at the end of G.I.R.L..
The look of the majority of the bandmates is that of the Droogs from the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange based on the book by Anthony Burgess. All white with black combat boots and black bowler hats. The band says that the look appealed to them because of the teenage angst associated with A Clockwork Orange. Singer "Monkey" wears full joker make-up and his clothes are wild, patterned suits, flared trousers, colorful dress shirts, and other such things. His favorites seem to be checkerboard patterns, or polkadots. And of course, there's the obligatory bowler hat and gloves. Along with the look come stage antics involving streamers, confetti, playing cards, joker hats, toy instruments, and glitter just to name a few things.
members:
Keith 'Monkey' Warren - Vocals.
Mel (Spider)Ellis - Bass
Pete Dee Davison - Guitar
Michael 'Kid Dee' Davison - Drums
John 'Scruff' Ellis (Mel’s brother) - Guitar
Dan Gratziani - Violin,Piano,Mandolin
What Am I to Do
The Adicts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That don't quite focus
Like it could be hocus pocus
Flowered clothes in unique style
Intriguing words that beguile
She is sexy in a way
But I don't know what to say
That voice is a mystery
What am I to do is it really true
What am I to do
Should I take a chance on you
The Adicts's song What Am I to Do is about the feelings of confusion and bewilderment when encountering someone whose identity and appearance defy conventional norms. The lyrics describe an enigmatic person with deep, dark eyes that don't quite focus, dressed in unique and flowered clothing that hints at a non-conformist style. The person's voice is described as a mystery, leaving the singer unsure of whether the person is male or female. Despite this confusion, the person is also described as sexy in a way that intrigues and beguiles the singer.
The lyrics are reflective of the band's punk rock ethos and their interest in exploring themes of non-conformity and individuality. The song speaks to a broader cultural moment in the 1970s and 1980s, when gender-bending and subverting traditional gender roles became an important aspect of punk culture. The singer's confusion and uncertainty about how to approach this enigmatic person speaks to the complex and layered ways in which people challenged societal norms during this time.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep dark eyes
Her eyes are a deep dark shade that draws me in
That don't quite focus
But I can't quite tell where her attention is
Like it could be hocus pocus
It's almost as if there is some sort of magic at play
Flowered clothes in unique style
She wears clothes with bold floral patterns in a way that stands out
Intriguing words that beguile
She speaks in a way that captures my interest and even deceives me
She is sexy in a way
Her unique style and words are alluring and attractive to me
But I don't know what to say
Despite my attraction to her, I am unsure of how to approach her
That voice is a mystery
Her voice leaves me uncertain of her gender or intentions
Is he a her or is she a he
I'm unsure of the gender identity of this person and what it means for my feelings
What am I to do is it really true
I am lost and confused about how to proceed with my attraction to this person
What am I to do
I am seeking guidance and direction regarding my feelings
Should I take a chance on you
I am considering whether to risk pursuing a relationship with this person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rafael Villegas
Deep dark eyes That don't quite focus Like it could be hocus pocus Flowered clothes in unique style Intriguing words that beguile She is sexy in a way But I don't know what to say That voice is a mystery Is he a her or is she a he What am I to do is it really true What am I to do Should I take a chance on you