1) In a gust of pheromo… Read Full Bio ↴There are three groups called The Teenagers:
1) In a gust of pheromones and with a warm purr of guitars arrives the saviour of French indie pop, The Teenagers. 2008 has seen few Europeans garner more fevered hype than these three Parisian dreamboats, proving once and for all that style and substance needn’t be mutually exclusive. At a time when far too many seemed to be sat waiting for the next novelty bandwagon to jump onboard, this trio of hipper-than-thou ne’r-do-wells have reignited the imaginations of clued-up music lovers across the globe with a curve ball of pervy wit, classic synth-work, and sunshine strumming. Together vocalist Quentin Dalafon, guitarist/synth man Dorian Dumont and bassist Michael Szpinner, have created a daydream world of enchanting melodies and engrossing narratives, as life-affirming as they are insatiably hormonal, and of course all delivered with that trademark audaciously sharp Parisian attitude. Their invitation to either celebrate or recapture one’s youth has proved a hard one to turn down, with a hysterical fanbase growing by the second. And now on the eve of the release of their debut long-player, they stride from underground chic into the mainstream limelight, as one of the world’s most enticing and individual new musical sensations.
Fittingly the bond between the three twenty-somethings was formed in the midst of their teenage years, when childhood pals Michael and Dorian stumbled across Quentin, one of their high school’s true eccentrics. Together, like many kids in Nineties inner city Paris, they fawned over the import of American trash TV, revelling in the sickly-sweet coming-of-age melodrama of shows like Beverly Hills 90210, something that would stay with them. Growing-up together musically, trading mixtapes, they developed a rich tapestry of influences, from national hero Jaques Le Cont and his one-time collaborator Madonna, to classic Nineties rock like Weezer and Nirvana, and further afield to the metal cry of Slayer and Dillinger Escape Plan. Although both Dorian and Michael had spent their teens in and out of bands (Dorian trying his hand at pop and electronica, Michael doing the rounds on their local hardcore punk scene), it wasn’t until one boozy Christmas evening in 2005 that they finally decided to put their creative heads together. The result was 'Fuck Nicole' which prompted the boys to officially form The Teenagers and start a Myspace page. It wasn’t long before their unmistakable sound emerged, with tracks like 'Homecoming' and 'Starlett Johansson' rapidly causing a stir online. These tasters showcased Quentin’s sardonic, often spoken word delivery, and deliciously sleazy lyrics, against a sublime backdrop of woozy synthesisers, simple drum machines and fluttering, twee guitars. A familiar Noughties success story followed – insane online attention gave way to a record industry cat-fight – with label du-jour Merok/XL (having launched the careers of Klaxons and Crystal Castles) winning through in the end.
2007 beckoned with a slew of releases in the pipeline. First up was the group’s X-rated rallying cry, 'Homecoming', already an anthem in some circles by the time it hit shop shelves. The release was complimented by the couldn’t-be-more-perfect promo video by acclaimed director Kinga Burza (Kate Nash etc), nailing the track’s playful, saucy mood with startling poignance. Starlett Johansson – a heart-felt, and typically droll ode to their favourite Hollywood starlet - followed later in the year, coinciding with the group’s first full-scale tour, joining fellow trendsetters Crystal Castles and These New Puritans on Vice Magazine’s show-stopping Unitaur. The massive increase of commitments meant that Dorian and Michael were to join Quentin in the London.
From there they’d meet long-term collaborator Lexxx in the studio to ready their first album 'Reality Check'. The precursor singles are joined by huge new tracks like 'Love No', 'Feeling Better' and others. While the band’s components aren’t dissimilar too many an act of the moment, their implementation is unparalleled. Their candid commentary, both emotional and sincere and ferociously cutting, has resonated in a way that’s neither nostalgic or trendy, but timeless. Their press coverage, having ticked all the major music and style titles off within the release of their first single, has seen the buzz ripple out to tabloid newspapers, surely just a taster of the mainstream acceptance soon to follow.
2)The Teenagers are an American integrated doo wop group, most noted for being one of rock music's earliest successes, presented to international audiences by DJ Alan Freed. The group, which made its most popular recordings with young Frankie Lymon as lead singer, is also noted for being rock's first all-teenaged act.
The Teenagers had their origins in The Earth Angels, a group founded at Edward W. Stitt Junior High School in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan by second tenor Jimmy Merchant and bass Sherman Garnes. Eventually, Garnes and Merchant had added lead singer Herman Santiago and baritone Joe Negroni to their lineup and evolved into The Coupe De Villes. In 1955, twelve-year-old Frankie Lymon joined the Coupe De Villes, who changed their name to first the Ermines and later The Premiers.
The same year Lymon joined the group, he helped Santiago and Merchant rewrite a song they'd composed to create "Why Do Fools Fall In Love". The song got the Teenagers an audition with George Goldner's Gee Records, but Santiago was too sick to sing lead on the day of the audition. Lymon sung the lead on "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" instead, and the group was signed to Gee as The Teenagers, with Lymon as lead singer.
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was The Teenagers first and biggest hit. The group, known for both their harmony and choreography, also had hits with "I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent" and "The ABCs of Love".
By 1957, the group was being billed as "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers". This caused in-fighting, and by September Goldner had pulled Lymon out of the group to record solo. The Teenagers continued recording, bringing in new lead Billy Lobrano. Lobrano, as the group's first white member, made them even more racially mixed, now with two black, two Hispanic, and one white member. The group had little success with Lobrano, and he left in mid-1958.
Merchant, Santiago, Garnes, and Negroni continued as a quartet, but were not able to find success in any new recordings. They tried a quintet lineup again in 1960, first with new lead Howard Kenny Bobo, then with another lead, Johnny Houston, but to no avail. They continued mainly as an "oldies circuit" group from this point on. By 1973, the Teenagers had resorted to using a female singer to imitate Lymon's prepubescent voice; the last of their female lead singers was Pearl McKinnon.
Sherman Garnes died of a heart attack in 1977, while Joe Negroni died a year later due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Their replacements were Bobby Jay and Frankie's brother Lewis Lymon, respectively. By the 1980s the group had settled on a new lead, Jimmy Castor. Castor remained lead until the 1990s, when he was replaced by Timothy Wilson, former lead of Tiny Tim and the Hits. This lineup appeared on the PBS special, Doo Wop 51, in 2000.
Lewis Lymon left to join Beary Hobbs' Drifters around 2003. He was replaced by Dickie Harmon. Jimmy Merchant retired shortly thereafter, and the group continued as a quartet. The group's current lineup is Herman Santiago, Bobby Jay, Timothy Wilson, and Dickie Harmon. They are often billed as "Frankie Lymon's Legendary Teenagers". This lineup appeared on the PBS special, My Music: Doo Wop Love Songs, in 2007.
In late 2008 Bobby Jay and Dickie Harmon both left the group. Jimmy Merchant has come out of retirement and returned to the Teenager's current line-up.
3) A punk rock duo from Jersey City featuring Ryan Larsen of The H-Bombs and Dead Tired, and Peter Murphy
4) A generic group of performers from the musical Bye Bye Birdie
Fuck Nicole
The Teenagers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But already the bitchiest queen
Your room's a mess
I'm not impressed
But, damn, you have
The cutest dress
The world's not fair
You just can't deal with your despair
Aspirins and alcohol
Are not enough to die, Nicole
Here's a party you're waiting for
Make some room for the perfect whore
All your friends are arriving
Mainstream hits and magazines
Morning comes and you're not home
Hey Nicole, what have you done
What you've lost is memory
Poor Nicole
Aspirins and alcohol
This is a cocktail for Nicole
Fuck Nicole is out of control
Call Nicole and fuck Nicole
Alcopops and ketamine
This is a cocktail for my teen
Fuck Nicole is in my dream
That Nicole is more than real
Aspirins and alcohol
This is a cocktail for Nicole
Fuck Nicole is out of control
Call Nicole and fuck Nicole
Alcopops and ketamine
This is a cocktail for my teen
Fuck Nicole is in my dream
That Nicole is more than real
Don't call your mom
Her baby's gone
You're in disgrace
In your black dress
Dry your tears
Get on your feet
Morning comes and you're not home
Hey Nicole, what have you done
What you've lost is memory
Poor Nicole
Aspirins and alcohol
This is a cocktail for Nicole
Fuck Nicole is out of control
Call Nicole and fuck Nicole
Alcopops and ketamine
This is a cocktail for my teen
Fuck Nicole is in my dream
That Nicole is more than real
Aspirins and alcohol
This is a cocktail for Nicole
Fuck Nicole is out of control
Call Nicole and fuck Nicole
Alcopops and ketamine
This is a cocktail for my teen
Fuck Nicole is in my dream
That Nicole is more than real
Morning comes and you're not home
Hey Nicole, what have you done
What you've lost is memory
Poor Nicole
The Teenagers' song "Fuck Nicole" tells the story of a 19-year-old girl who lives a reckless and self-destructive lifestyle filled with substance abuse and promiscuity. The singer is critical of this behavior but also expresses admiration for some of her attributes, such as her cute dress. The lyrics depict a party environment where drugs and alcohol are prevalent, and the singer, Nicole, becomes lost in the party scene. The line "Aspirins and alcohol are not enough to die, Nicole" reveals that the character may be attempting to harm herself consciously or unconsciously. The song ends on a melancholic note as Nicole's memory is lost, and she is left in disgrace.
The lyrics are unapologetic, raw, and provocative, as they explore themes of youth, rebellion, and the darker side of party culture. The message appears to be a cautionary tale warning against the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, especially for young people who may be vulnerable and not fully aware of the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
You're just nineteen
Nicole is only nineteen years old.
But already the bitchiest queen
Nicole is already a very unpleasant and difficult person to be around.
Your room's a mess
Nicole's living space is untidy and disorganized.
I'm not impressed
The singer is unimpressed with Nicole and her behavior.
But, damn, you have
Despite the singer's negative feelings toward Nicole, he can't help but notice one good thing about her.
The cutest dress
Nicole is wearing a nice dress.
The world's not fair
The singer believes that life is unjust or unfair.
You just can't deal with your despair
Nicole is overwhelmed by her feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Aspirins and alcohol
Nicole is using medication and alcohol to cope with her emotions.
Are not enough to die, Nicole
Despite using potentially harmful methods to cope, Nicole is not attempting suicide.
Here's a party you're waiting for
Nicole is excited for an upcoming party.
Make some room for the perfect whore
The singer is calling Nicole a derogatory term and implying that she is promiscuous.
All your friends are arriving
People are beginning to show up at the party.
Mainstream hits and magazines
Typical pop music and glossy magazines are present at the party.
Morning comes and you're not home
Nicole did not return home after the party.
Hey Nicole, what have you done
The singer is concerned about Nicole's actions during the party.
What you've lost is memory
Nicole cannot remember what happened at the party.
Poor Nicole
The singer feels sorry for Nicole's situation.
This is a cocktail for Nicole
The combination of alcohol and medication that Nicole is taking is referred to as a cocktail.
Fuck Nicole is out of control
Nicole's behavior has become uncontrollable and unmanageable.
Call Nicole and fuck Nicole
The singer appears to be encouraging others to have sex with Nicole.
Alcopops and ketamine
Nicole is using a dangerous combination of alcohol and the anesthetic drug ketamine.
This is a cocktail for my teen
The singer is also using alcohol and drugs to cope with his feelings.
Fuck Nicole is in my dream
The singer is thinking about having sex with Nicole.
That Nicole is more than real
Nicole seems almost too good to be true in the singer's imagination.
Don't call your mom
The singer is advising Nicole not to contact her mother.
Her baby's gone
Nicole's mother will be upset to learn that her daughter is not at home.
You're in disgrace
Nicole is in a shameful or unacceptable situation.
In your black dress
Despite her negative situation, Nicole is still wearing her same nice dress.
Dry your tears
The singer is telling Nicole to stop crying.
Get on your feet
The singer is telling Nicole to pick herself up and keep going despite her difficulties.
Morning comes and you're not home
Nicole has still not returned home and the singer is growing more concerned.
Contributed by Chloe H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.