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
Identity
X-Ray Spex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
Identity, identity
When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself?
Do you see yourself on the tv screen?
Do you see yourself in the magazine
When you see yourself, does it make you scream?
Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
Identity, identity
Yeah!
Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
Identity, identity
When you look in the mirror, do you smash it quick?
Do you take the glass and slash your wrists?
Did you do it for fame, did you do it in a fit?
Did you do it before you read about it?
Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
Identity, identity
Yeah!
X-Ray Spex's song Identity is a powerful and thought-provoking song that highlights the issue of identity crisis. The repeating lyrics of "identity is the crisis" emphasize the urgency and severity of the situation. The song begins by challenging the listener to question their own identity by asking whether they see themselves in the media or in the public eye. The lyric "when you see yourself, does it make you scream?" suggests that the pressure to conform to society's standards and expectations can be overwhelming and emotionally exhausting.
The chorus of the song states that "identity is the crisis, can't you see?" This line encourages the listener to recognize the significance of this issue not just for themselves but for society as a whole. The second half of the song introduces more extreme examples of how an identity crisis can manifest, such as self-harm or actions taken for the sake of fame. These lyrics suggest that the crisis of identity can have dangerous consequences and that society needs to address this issue urgently.
Overall, Identity is a bold and uncompromising song that forces the listener to examine their own sense of identity and the impact that society has on shaping it. It is a powerful call to action for individuals and society as a whole to actively address the issue of identity crisis.
Line by Line Meaning
Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
The pressure to conform to societal expectations and be a certain way is causing a state of panic and confusion.
Identity, identity
Repeating the word 'identity' to emphasize its significance in the context of the song.
When you look in the mirror, do you see yourself?
Questioning whether someone sees their true self when they look at themselves.
Do you see yourself on the tv screen?
Asking if someone sees themselves reflected in the media they consume.
Do you see yourself in the magazine
Questioning if someone finds their true self in the superficial and often unrealistic standards of beauty portrayed in magazines.
When you see yourself, does it make you scream?
Wondering if someone is upset by their reflection, possibly due to feeling like they don't measure up to societal expectations.
Yeah!
An exclamation that emphasizes the turmoil and frustration being expressed in the lyrics.
When you look in the mirror, do you smash it quick?
Asking if someone feels angry or frustrated with their reflection, to the point where they want to destroy the mirror.
Do you take the glass and slash your wrists?
Asking if someone has ever self-harmed because they don't like their identity or have experienced pressure to be a certain way.
Did you do it for fame, did you do it in a fit?
Questioning the motivations behind self-harm, and whether it's done for attention or out of desperation.
Did you do it before you read about it?
Asking if someone has felt pressure to conform to societal expectations and harm themselves, even before being aware of others doing the same.
Yeah!
An exclamation that emphasizes the intensity of the emotions being explored in the song.
Identity is the crisis, can't you see?
Repeating the opening line of the song to emphasize the importance of grappling with one's identity in modern society.
Identity, identity
Repeating the chorus once more to emphasize the importance of the theme of identity in the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARIAN JOAN ELLIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hotelchelsearesident
God i love it how she can scream that song with total punk energy but still give off a positive vibe. not whiney and bitching just striaght up honest and unique. thats so rare to find these days she will be greatly missed.
@monsieurlaguillotine3481
Polly wasn't one of a kind, but she was the first of her kind. RIP to a fucking legend.
@alundavies8402
Brilliant innit!
@russellpotts3069
Well expressed. My thoughts too
@internetpolification
Amazing
@twebster179
Whining and bitching?
@aselmac
It's truly sad to see the original, true punk artists go. RIP Polly.
@jonnyrocket3659
I was 14 then.. I loved this tune, as I did many others at the time by the Clash, Pistols, Buzzcocks etc. Such a great era to become musically inspired. I got my first drum kit in the same year, and went on to play with many bands over the years.
@plathandpinter
Fantastic vocalist...she is a legend
@eekowarrior
Magical - so sad that she died before she could promote her new material -massively underrated seminal influence