X-Ray Spex's other distinctive musical element was Poly Styrene's voice, which has been variously described as "effervescently discordant" and "powerful enough to drill holes through sheet metal". As Mari Elliot, Poly had released a reggae single for GTO Records in 1976, "Silly Billy", which had not charted. Born in 1957 in Brixton, London, of Somali-English parentage, Poly Styrene became the group's public face, and remains one of the most memorable front-women to emerge from the punk movement. Poly Sytrene also became one of the first high-profile black people in punk rock. She wore braces on her teeth and once stated that "If anybody tried to make me a sex symbol I would shave my head tomorrow".
X-Ray Spex existed from mid-1976 to 1979, during which time they released five singles - "Oh Bondage, Up Yours", "Identity", "The Day the World Turned Day-Glo", "Germ Free Adolescents", and "Highly Inflammable" - and one album, Germ Free Adolescents. The album and title single reached 30 and 19 in their respective charts, although "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" is regarded as their most enduring artifact, both as a piece of music and as a phrase. The song was not originally on the album, although later CD releases added it as the final track. The group did play a fortnight's residency at New York's CBGB's even though Germ Free Adolescents was not released in America until 1992. Exhausted by touring, Poly Styrene left the band in 1979 to release a solo album, Translucence, before joining the Hare Krishna movement (as did Lora Logic, in a coincidental move, who left the band aged 16 in 1977 to form a new group called Essential Logic).
Without Styrene, the group lost its momentum and split up. Hurding and London went on to form Classix Nouveaux, while Paul Dean retired from musical activities.
In 1991 re-grouped X-Ray Spex played a surprise sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy. Uniquely, this version of the group did not include Poly Styrene, and according to an interview with Lora Logic: "...that was a mistake. They put that together with another singer and I played with them for a tour but you can't really have it without Poly."
The group reformed more successfully in 1995 with a line-up of Styrene, Dean and Logic to release a new album Conscious Consumer. Although heralded as the first in a trilogy, the album was not a commercial success. Styrene later explained that touring and promotional work suffered an abrupt end when she was run over by a fire engine in central London. The group disbanded, but subsequent releases include a compilation of the group's early records, a live album, and an anthology of all the aforementioned.
Jak Airport later worked for the BBC's Corporate and Public Relations department under his real name, Jack Stafford; he died in August 2004.
Discography
Singles
"Oh Bondage, Up Yours", 1977
"The Day The World Turned Day-Glo", 1978 #23 UK
"Identity", 1978 #24 UK
"Germ Free Adolescents", 1978 #19 UK
"Highly Inflammable", 1979 #45 UK
Albums
Germ Free Adolescents, 1978
Conscious Consumer, 1995
Poly Styrene later went on to reform X-Ray Spex with a 30 year anniversary sell-out gig at The Roundhouse, Camden, London September 6th 2008 with original bass player Paul Dean, Jak Airport sadly no longer with us was replaced by Saxby guitarist for Arnold, saxophone was provided by Flash formerly of Rip Rig & Panic and finally drummer Sid (Sidation) Truelove from Rubella Ballet and Flux of Pink Indians, hand picked by Poly for his authentic resemblance to B.P. Hurdings original punk style completing the line up for one of the most long awaited gigs of the last three decades. This performance will be available to buy on DVD and live album in November 2009 on Future Noise Music, for more info go to www.futurenoisemusic.com
Polystyrene sadly lost her battle with cancer and passed away 26/04/11
www.x-rayspex.com// http://www.myspace.com/xrayspexrealofficialpage
X-ray Spex
Germ Free Adolescents
X-Ray Spex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to get to know you but you're deep-frozen like the ice
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
Cleans her teeth ten times a day
Scrub away, scrub away, scrub away, the S.R. way
You may get to touch her if your gloves are sterilized
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
Cleans her teeth ten times a day
Scrub away, scrub away, scrub away, the S.R. way
Her phobia is infection, she needs one to survive
It's her built-in protection
Without fear she'd give up and die
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
Cleans her teeth ten times a day
Scrub away, scrub away, scrub away, the S.R. way
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
Cleans her teeth ten times a day
Scrub away, scrub away, scrub away, the S.R. way
The lyrics of X-Ray Spex's song "Germ Free Adolescents" address a person who is so obsessed with cleanliness that it has become an obsession. The singer tells this person that they "smell nice," but they are "deep-frozen like the ice" and seemingly unapproachable. The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, imploring that "cleanliness is her obsession" and scrubbing away with the "S.R. way," a reference to a toothpaste brand of the time. The bridge of the song reveals that this obsession with cleanliness is a form of protection. The person's fear of infection is what keeps them from becoming ill.
The lyrics suggest that the person's fear of infection is so strong that they need it to survive. It may seem irrational, but in reality, the desire to protect oneself from illness is a shared human trait. The song may also be interpreted as a commentary on societal expectations surrounding hygiene, with the "S.R. way" representing the pressure to conform to a certain level of cleanliness.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you're antiseptic, your deodorant smells nice
I recognize that you prioritize cleanliness by using antiseptic products, and I appreciate the pleasant scent of your deodorant
I'd like to get to know you but you're deep-frozen like the ice
I am interested in building a relationship with you, but your obsession with cleanliness makes it difficult to connect with you emotionally
He's a germ-free adolescent, cleanliness is her obsession
The subject of the song is a teenage individual who is obsessed with cleanliness, taking multiple measures to avoid contact with germs
Cleans her teeth ten times a day
The individual brushes her teeth an excessive amount of times during the day
Scrub away, scrub away, scrub away, the S.R. way
The individual uses a specific brand, known as 'the S.R. way,' as part of her cleaning routine to ensure thorough sanitization
You may get to touch her if your gloves are sterilized
The individual is cautious about physical contact and requires others to take special measures, such as wearing sterilized gloves, in order to touch her
Rinse your mouth with Listerine, blow disinfectant in her eyes
In order to interact with the individual, one must rinse their mouth with a mouthwash and spray disinfectant into her eyes to ensure no germs are present
Her phobia is infection, she needs one to survive
The individual is so fearful of germs and infection that it has become an integral part of her survival and coping mechanisms
It's her built-in protection
The individual's obsession with cleanliness and avoidance of germs serves as a form of innate protection to avoid illness and infection
Without fear she'd give up and die
The individual's fear and phobia of germs is so extreme that if it were to go away, she would feel like giving up and feel unable to go on
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARIAN JOAN ELLIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Art Hughes
I know you're antiseptic
Your deodorant smells nice
I'd like to get to know you
But you're deep frozen like the ice
He's a germ free adolescent
Cleanliness is her obsession
Cleans her teeth ten times a day
Scrub away scrub away scrub away
The S.R. way....
You may get to touch her
If your gloves are sterilised
Rinse your mouth with listerine
Blow disinfectant in her eyes
Her phobia is infection
She needs one to survive
It's her built-in protection
Without fear she'd give up and die
Ross Hutchison
I never feel that Polly gets enough credit outside of her fanbase for her incredible contribution to music. A pure talent, amazing lyrics, stunning voice, ahead of her time. Taken too soon but her legacy will live on.
db0800
The world needs anti-heros. That do dance different and are true to there own art. Modern life is rubbish; indeed.
Josh G
Been thinking about this a lot. People look back on legendary artists with a degree of unconscious sexism. Of course groups like The Clash and The Ramones, Sex Pistols deserve to be discussed as legends, but X-Ray Spex don't get their due. This album is easily one of the greatest punk records ever made. There's an argument that Poly is the best punk singer ever, but she's often overshadowed by those with bigger catalogs. The Go-go's are also unfairly overshadowed by male artists. Poly is also credited with all the writing on Germfree Adolescents, and I think the album holds some of the best-written material in punk.
I notice it in other genres too. Bonnie Raitt is rarely talked about with the amount of respect she deserves relative to her peers in country and blues. Queen Latifah in Hip-hop... No female hip-hop artist went platinum until Lil'Kim went came out with hyper-sexualized material and presentation. Hip-hop, in particular, seems to still have this bias. Monie Love said her goal was always "notice me for the craft first". To a degree talented artists are acknowledged, but the hypersexualized female artist is a proven marketing formula. In hip-hop, Rapsody, Sa Roc, or Little Simz may have more talent, but Cardi B and Megan the Stallion will get the attention. That's not to say those artists are UNtalented, but that they benefit from following that proven marketing formula.
Lord Elpus
Hear, hear. She was a one off, a true pioneer.
Claire Ellis
Beautiful. Ty.
Claire Ellis
Ty! Wow. She was lovely person. Album was amazing.
Jason Blitz
X-Ray Spex greatest track for me. I adore the synth intro, Polly's vocal delivery, her lyrics and the sax. What a brilliant spin on Punk. Truly original and pushing the boundaries on what Punk was 'supposed' to be. RIP beautiful Poly. a true individual which the world now lacks unfortunately :-(
KillerSputnik
If this is your definition of Punk, then I guess every band actually pushes the boundaries of what punk is 'supposed' to. I hear Joe Diffee pushed the boundaries the most.
pigknickers
The intro is a guitar through tremolo, not synth
i am inside your home
@KillerSputnik
okay ben shapiro fan