The band began in 1978 in the North-Wales town of Rhyl, under the name of 'Seventeen'. Its 4 members were Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist. They knocked around the music scene for a while with little success and reformed as 'Alarm Alarm' (taken from one of Seventeen's songs) in 1981. Then revered BBC DJ John Peel compared them to Duran Duran and Talk Talk and they quickly changed their name to 'The Alarm'. With the change of their name, came a change of location. The Alarm moved to London and shared a small flat in the city to save money for their first single, 'Unsafe Building' b/w 'Up For Murder'. They came to the attention of U2 in '82 and toured with them as their support band (they frequently reprised that role). In 1983, 'Sixty-Eight Guns' was released. It became their biggest hit, propelling them to #17 in the charts, and they appeared on Top of The Pops for the first and last time. Throughout the decade, the band made more albums, including 'Strength' and 'Eye of the Hurricane'; but by the late 80's The Alarm had begun to drift apart, with Dave Sharp feeling isolated and left out of the song writing process. The relationships within the band were deteriorating. Their last album, 'Raw', was fragmented and the group were breaking apart. On June 30th 1991 at the Brixton Academy, Mike Peters announced on stage that he was leaving 'The Alarm' without telling the rest of the band. And thus The Alarm ended.
The Alarm can lay claim to a series of 15 Top 50 UK singles, including their classic hits, "68 GUNS", "SPIRIT OF 76", "RAIN IN THE SUMMERTIME", "STRENGTH" "45 RPM" and of course "THE STAND".
Ten successful albums and over 5 million sales worldwide, The Alarm's pioneering use of acoustic guitars brought the band into direct contact with the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and U2, all whom have appeared and sung on stage with The Alarm.
Both Mike Peters and Dave Sharp embarked on solo careers with Peters again fronting the second generation of The Alarm with James Stevenson (Gene Loves Jezebel, Chelsea), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy, The Mission) and Steve Grantley (Stiff Little Fingers).
In 2004 The Alarm returned to the singles charts with 45RPM, the first single released from the bands album, "IN THE POPPYFIELDS".
The story of how the band released the single under a pseudonym, appearing to be a brand new musical act, complete with a group of 21 year olds appearing in the video for 45rpm to help complete the scam, became an international controversial news story and elevated the bands profile to new heights and a major motion picture based on the story is scheduled for production.
In late December 2005, singer Mike Peters revealed he has been diagnosed with a form of cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but it was diagnosed in its early stages and his prognosis is favourable. This came after he had been in remission from cancer previously that he had fought in the 1990s. Indeed the 1996 solo album Feel Free has a song titled "Regeneration" in which he discusses his diagnosis and subsequent alternative medicine that he believes help cure him.
In 2007 Mike launched the 'Love Hope Strength' foundation which sets to raise funds andand awareness in fighting cancer.
Most recently, in July 2008, The Alarm will be releasing their latest full length album "Guerilla Tactics" Mixed by Gilby Clarke ( Guns N' Roses) on 7 July 2008 and will embark on a U.S. tour this summer on the "Rockin' The Colonies" tour with The English Beat and The Fixx to be followed by The Guerilla Tactics UK Residency tour in 4 Major UK Cities in November 2008.
Mike peters and the band in various forms still meet and play on occasions at local venues. Mike has a strong following and working on his solo career and still is heavily involved in music
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The Alarm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Freeman]
Ici ou ailleurs, petite soeur, seul le coeur mene
Quand ton me saigne et que le mal regne
Le monde est plein d'fourbes, surdous, prets a te flouer
Cloue, la premiere innocente qui voudrait briller
Petite prend garde aux beaux parleurs, le vice c'est leur taffe
Ils abusent de l'innocence, sans honte et sans regrets
Pas chez eux, bien sur, mais dans d'autres pays en secret
C'est devenu une habitude donc c'est rest chez nous
Le but, fille, c'est d'ouvrir les yeux, ici y'a trop d'fous
Et c'est pas ailleurs qui s'forment, c'est fait a domicile
Avec la bonne norme, on revient a l'ge du fossile
Et toutes les grosses tetes de la politique le savent
Mais personne bouge, il est mort, le hros des braves
Comme ces stars qui bavent sur des femmes
Qui pourraient etre leur fille, a l'cran tout a un prix
Ici ou ailleurs, petite soeur, le mal est pos
Qui va oser? S'opposer a ce putain d'bl
Qui dvie de la ralit, y'a pas d'moralit
Je trouve horrible de laisser des pdos en libert
[Refrain - Syleena Johnson]
[Shurik'n]
Ca fait 5 fois que tu vomis cette semaine
Et y'a maintenant 2 mois que tu tournes en rond chez toi
Comme le doute dans ta tete se promene
Ton regard s'arrete sur les fringues que t'avais ce jour-la
Elles sentent encore l'treinte de la coke et du whisky coca
Ce qui aurait du etre un printemps ne fut qu'un sale hiver
Sans prnom grav a 2 dans la pierre
Sincere petite soeur, t'en prends pas a ton rouge a levres
Il voulait te faire belle, que tu sois la reine du bal
Ignorant que trop de beaut ca rveille l'animal
Et le serpent se pointe vite avide
Sachant que vient d'clore une chrysalide
Seconde apres ils sont cent qui salivent, cent qui s'activent
Fuck les tabous, bois un coup, prends-en ou tu seras pas dans le dlire
Tu voulais grandir c'tait tout
Tournoyante sur la piste entoure de hros, t'as pas vu venir l'plus beau
Et Alice croise le rel au rveil a l'arriere d'une Volvo ivre jusqu'aux os
Avec pour seul souvenir et cadeau des traces de doigt sans visage dans le dos
Et l'innocence partie en lambeaux
J'entends d'ici c'connard clamer qu'il s'est marr
Avec une fille bourre, faut pas pleurer ces choses-la arrivent
Faut juste assumer un fragile coeur d'a-peine 18 ans dans un corps de 25
Et ce reflet dans l'miroir qui te dit froidement que t'es enceinte
[Refrain]
[Akhenaton]
Avant tout, je voulais te dire que des conneries on en fait tous
Et qu'a ton ge, la fleche de l'amour fait mouche, souvent
Les garcons partent comme le vent soufflant, ta plume souffrante
Caresse les pages du journal intime soulevant les larmes
Au soleil mourant, chute de courant
Pour ton p'tit coeur nu chaloupant, les sentiments qu'il te porte sont morts
En l'ouvrant, comme toi j'aurais pas aim qu'on se mele
Mais j'aurais vit des problemes, si on m'avait donn un conseil
C'est bete mais c'est important, cette libert qui te fut offerte
Ce jour-la c'est comme une porte de cage qui s'est ouverte
Premiere chose que t'as faite, t'as tourn la tete
Fui dormir chez tes copines en courrant
Ma petite souris, ca rigole plus, t'as mis le pied chez les grands
Et ca depuis la perte d'la premiere goutte de sang
Jusqu'a ta belle connerie du jour de l'an
Emchs, ils t'promettent la terre
Ce qu'ils veulent c'est 1 minute sur toi par terre, dgoutants
Et quand le meilleur pote dit faire la paire
Ils commencent a t'embrouiller avec un air droutant
Et par amour ton jean s'dboutonne, ils font l'affaire
Petits pds, ils mritent minimum une belle paire de claques pour la peine
Ils sont partis te laissant a tes craintes
Aller le crier sur les toits, soutirant des sourires de tes plaintes
Comme si c'est pas assez, laissent dans le futur une empreinte
Ce bout d'papier a chang de teinte et indique que t'es enceinte
The Alarm's song "Close" features three verses, with each verse being performed by a different rapper. The verses address a young girl ("petite soeur") who is warned about the dangers of the world and the people she may encounter in her life. The first verse, performed by Freeman, discusses the prevalence of deception and abuse toward the innocent, advocating for the young girl to be cautious around "beaux parleurs" and those who take advantage of innocence. The second verse, performed by Shurik'n, presents a narrative of a girl who falls into dangerous situations due to drug and alcohol abuse, leading to sexual assault and pregnancy. Finally, Akhenaton's verse offers a voice of comfort and understanding to the young girl, acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes, but also reinforcing the idea that freedom comes with a responsibility to make choices that protect oneself.
Overall, "Close" is a heavy and cautionary song that shows the harsh realities and dangers that young women face. The different rappers offer insight into various aspects of these dangers, whether it be deception by men, substance abuse, sexual assault, or unwanted pregnancy. However, the song also makes it clear that the young girl can overcome these challenges and emerge stronger.
Line by Line Meaning
Ici ou ailleurs, petite soeur, seul le coeur mene
No matter where you are, it's only the heart that leads you.
Quand ton me saigne et que le mal regne
When your soul bleeds and pain rules.
Le monde est plein d'fourbes, surdous, prets a te flouer
The world is full of deceivers, smart enough to fool you.
Cloue, la premiere innocente qui voudrait briller
They nail down the first innocent one who wants to shine.
Petite prend garde aux beaux parleurs, le vice c'est leur taffe
Be careful of smooth talkers, deceit is their profession.
Leur schlasse, ces pourris n'ont pas de face
They're cowards, these lowlifes don't have a face.
Ils abusent de l'innocence, sans honte et sans regrets
They abuse innocence without guilt or remorse.
Pas chez eux, bien sur, mais dans d'autres pays en secret
Not in their home, of course, but secretly in other countries.
C'est devenu une habitude donc c'est rest chez nous
It became a habit, so it stayed here.
Le but, fille, c'est d'ouvrir les yeux, ici y'a trop d'fous
The goal, girl, is to open your eyes; there are too many crazies here.
Et c'est pas ailleurs qui s'forment, c'est fait a domicile
And they're not trained elsewhere, it's done at home.
Avec la bonne norme, on revient a l'ge du fossile
With the right standards, we're back to the old age.
Et toutes les grosses tetes de la politique le savent
And all the big heads of the politics know it.
Mais personne bouge, il est mort, le hros des braves
But nobody moves, the hero of the brave is dead.
Comme ces stars qui bavent sur des femmes
Like those stars drooling over women.
Qui pourraient etre leur fille, a l'cran tout a un prix
Who could be their daughter, everything is a price on the screen.
Ici ou ailleurs, petite soeur, le mal est pos
Here or anywhere else, little sister, the evil is laid down.
Qui va oser? S'opposer a ce putain d'bl
Who will dare oppose this damn whiteness?
Qui dvie de la ralit, y'a pas d'moralit
That veers from reality, and there's no morality.
Je trouve horrible de laisser des pdos en libert
I find it terrible to let pedophiles loose.
Ca fait 5 fois que tu vomis cette semaine
You've thrown up five times this week.
Et y'a maintenant 2 mois que tu tournes en rond chez toi
And it's been two months since you've been wandering around your house.
Comme le doute dans ta tete se promene
Like the doubt that wanders through your mind.
Ton regard s'arrete sur les fringues que t'avais ce jour-la
Your gaze stops at the clothes you were wearing that day.
Elles sentent encore l'treinte de la coke et du whisky coca
They still smell of the embrace of coke and whiskey coke.
Ce qui aurait du etre un printemps ne fut qu'un sale hiver
What should have been spring was nothing but a dirty winter.
Sans prnom grav a 2 dans la pierre
Without a name engraved together in stone.
Sincere petite soeur, t'en prends pas a ton rouge a levres
Truly little sister, don't blame your lipstick.
Il voulait te faire belle, que tu sois la reine du bal
He wanted to make you beautiful, so that you'd be the queen of the ball.
Ignorant que trop de beaut ca rveille l'animal
Unaware that too much beauty awakens the beast.
Et le serpent se pointe vite avide
And the snake quickly appears, greedy.
Sachant que vient d'clore une chrysalide
Knowing that a chrysalis has just hatched.
Seconde apres ils sont cent qui salivent, cent qui s'activent
A second later, there are a hundred salivating and active.
Fuck les tabous, bois un coup, prends-en ou tu seras pas dans le dlire
Fuck taboos, drink up, take some or you won't be in on the fun.
Tu voulais grandir c'tait tout
All you wanted was to grow up, nothing more.
Tournoyante sur la piste entoure de hros, t'as pas vu venir l'plus beau
Spinning on the dancefloor, surrounded by heroes, you didn't see the most handsome.
Et Alice croise le rel au rveil a l'arriere d'une Volvo ivre jusqu'aux os
And Alice encounters reality, drunk to the bones in the back of a Volvo upon waking up.
Avec pour seul souvenir et cadeau des traces de doigt sans visage dans le dos
With only a memory and a gift of fingermarks without a face on your back.
Et l'innocence partie en lambeaux
And innocence torn to pieces.
J'entends d'ici c'connard clamer qu'il s'est marr
I can hear that jerk boasting he had fun.
Avec une fille bourre, faut pas pleurer ces choses-la arrivent
With a drunk girl, you shouldn't cry, these things happen.
Faut juste assumer un fragile coeur d'a-peine 18 ans dans un corps de 25
Just assume a fragile heart of only 18 years in a 25-year-old body.
Et ce reflet dans l'miroir qui te dit froidement que t'es enceinte
And that reflection in the mirror that coldly tells you that you're pregnant.
Avant tout, je voulais te dire que des conneries on en fait tous
Above all, I wanted to tell you that we all do stupid things.
Et qu'a ton ge, la fleche de l'amour fait mouche, souvent
And at your age, Cupid's arrow often hits its target.
Les garcons partent comme le vent soufflant, ta plume souffrante
Boys come and go like the blowing wind, leaving your suffering feather.
Caresse les pages du journal intime soulevant les larmes
Caressing the pages of your diary, eliciting tears.
Au soleil mourant, chute de courant
In the dying sun, a power outage.
Pour ton p'tit coeur nu chaloupant, les sentiments qu'il te porte sont morts
For your little heart swaying nakedly, the feelings it carries are dead.
En l'ouvrant, comme toi j'aurais pas aim qu'on se mele
Opening it, like you, I wouldn't have liked anyone to interfere.
Mais j'aurais vit des problemes, si on m'avait donn un conseil
But I would have quickly had problems if someone gave me advice.
C'est bete mais c'est important, cette libert qui te fut offerte
It's stupid but it's important, this freedom that was offered to you.
Ce jour-la c'est comme une porte de cage qui s'est ouverte
That day was like a cage door opening.
Premiere chose que t'as faite, t'as tourn la tete
The first thing you did was turn away.
Fui dormir chez tes copines en courrant
Run away to sleep at your friend's place.
Ma petite souris, ca rigole plus, t'as mis le pied chez les grands
My little mouse, it's not a laughing matter anymore, you've stepped into adulthood.
Et ca depuis la perte d'la premiere goutte de sang
And it's been that way since the loss of the first drop of blood.
Jusqu'a ta belle connerie du jour de l'an
Until your beautiful stupidity on New Year's Day.
Emchs, ils t'promettent la terre
Drunk, they promise you the world.
Ce qu'ils veulent c'est 1 minute sur toi par terre, dgoutants
What they want is one minute with you on the ground, disgusting.
Et quand le meilleur pote dit faire la paire
And when the best friend says they'll do it together.
Ils commencent a t'embrouiller avec un air droutant
They start to confuse you with a peculiar air.
Et par amour ton jean s'dboutonne, ils font l'affaire
And for love, your jeans come undone, and they do it.
Petits pds, ils mritent minimum une belle paire de claques pour la peine
These bastards deserve at least a good slap in the face for their actions.
Ils sont partis te laissant a tes craintes
They left you with your fears.
Aller le crier sur les toits, soutirant des sourires de tes plaintes
Go shouting it from the rooftops, eliciting smiles from your complaints.
Comme si c'est pas assez, laissent dans le futur une empreinte
As if that wasn't enough, they leave a mark in the future.
Ce bout d'papier a chang de teinte et indique que t'es enceinte
This piece of paper has changed color and indicates that you're pregnant.
Writer(s): PETERS MICHAEL LESLIE
Contributed by Allison R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bels Bling
Can;'t stop listening to this tune, love it
Bels Bling
Love this song
daz Northeast
Truly magnificent