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
Junk Food Junkie
X-Ray Spex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's strung out without conviction
He was raised with a microwave
Sticky trashy fast food slave
He's a junk food junky
He could be a lot more spunky hunky
But he's a junk food junky
Mother doesn't really know
Shopping in a glossy show
Then again her budget's low
Her health so bad it makes her slow
She's a junk food junky
She's stressed and very jumpy
She's a junk food junky
Blame it on the food yeah, we know its bad
Blame it on the food yeah, we know it's bad
Jenny's in a fix
With her arithmetics
Poor concentration
Boys in the classroom cause agitation
She's a junk food junky
She could be a lot more fun
But she's a junk food junky
Blame it on the food yeah
Blame it on the food yeah
Blame it on the food yeah
You know it's bad
You know it's bad
be a d ! !
The lyrics of X-Ray Spex's 'Junk Food Junkie' highlight the problems associated with unhealthy food habits. The song talks about three different characters, Johnny, Mother and Jenny, who are all addicted to junk food. The first verse talks about Johnny who is addicted to junk food and the consequences that come along with it. He is strung out and lacks conviction, which could be a reference to his lack of energy, low productivity, and laziness. The next verse talks about Mother, who shops at glossy stores, but has a low budget. She too is addicted to junk food, which is why her health is so bad that it makes her slow. The last verse talks about Jenny, who has trouble concentrating in school due to her junk food addiction.
The song highlights the negative effects of eating unhealthy foods by depicting the lives of the three characters. It shows how their addiction to junk food affects their mental and physical health, productivity, and overall wellbeing. The song suggests that blame should be placed on the unhealthy food, as it is the root cause of the characters' problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny's got an addiction
Johnny has an addiction
He's strung out without conviction
He is addicted and struggling to overcome it
He was raised with a microwave
He grew up with unhealthy fast food and convenience meals as a regular diet
Sticky trashy fast food slave
He is dependent on unhealthy, cheap fast food
He's a junk food junky
He has a serious addiction to junk food
He could be a lot more spunky hunky
He has the potential to be healthier and more energetic if he changed his eating habits
Blame it on the food yeah, you know it's bad
The negative effects of his addiction are due to the unhealthy food he consumes
Mother doesn't really know
The mother is unaware of the negative effects of her diet
Shopping in a glossy show
Her shopping habits are influenced by advertising and marketing tactics
Then again her budget's low
She may not have the financial means to consistently purchase healthy food
Her health so bad it makes her slow
Her poor health is impacting her physical abilities and energy levels
She's a junk food junky
She is also addicted to unhealthy food
She's stressed and very jumpy
Her addiction and poor diet are contributing to her stress and anxiety
Jenny's in a fix
Jenny is having a problem
With her arithmetics
Her poor diet is affecting her academic performance
Poor concentration
Her unhealthy eating habits are impacting her ability to focus
Boys in the classroom cause agitation
Her classmates may also be contributing to her inability to concentrate, but her poor diet is exacerbating the issue
She could be a lot more fun
She has the potential to be happier and more social if she changed her eating habits
Blame it on the food yeah
The root of their problems is their addiction to junk food
You know it's bad
The negative effects of their addiction are well-known and widely documented
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mịn Đỗ
Johnny's got an addiction
He's strung out without conviction
He was raised with a microwave
Sticky trashy fast food slave
He's a junk food junky
He could be a lot more spunky hunky
But he's a junk food junky
Blame it on the food yeah, you know it's bad
Mother doesn't really know
Shopping in a glossy show
Then again her budget's low
Her health so bad it makes her slow
She's a junk food junky
She's stressed and very jumpy
She's a junk food junky
Blame it on the food yeah, we know it's bad
Blame it on the food yeah, we know it's bad
Jenny's in a fix
With her arithmetics
Poor concentration
Boys in the classroom cause agitation
She's a junk food junky
She could be a lot more fun
But she's a junk food junky
Blame it on the food yeah
Blame it on the food yeah
Blame it on the food yeah
You know it's bad
You know it's bad
B a d!
Ethan Hill
Captures perfectly what ails the modern world.
pancho del ocho
<3
Larz Gustafsson
I like the tune but I will never stop eating meat. I hate veganism.