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
Party
X-Ray Spex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No not really not really, no not really at all
I was bored stiff all night.
Did you find anyone you could talk to?
Anyone with a lot to say?
No not really no one, no not one not really
Just a boy who had a fixation on his body all the time.
He wanted to know if I, he called 'making love'
I gave up being shocking when you were getting spots
Pour me a lime and soda and I'll not tell a lie
But I've always been searching for something more sublime
Did you enjoy did you enjoy at all?
Did you enjoy did you enjoy at all?
Then I met a Prima, Prima Donna Queen
Who wanted to have a sex change 'cause he thought it would be a scream
Decadence personified daddy's blood runs wild
Half the world is starving mother says, you're a spoilt hung-up child.
Then I met a guy who wanted to die
With a smack crack deathwish his T-shirt said 'destroy'
I know I'm not this body and I'm just a fallen soul
But you have to serve some time before you get out on parole
Did you enjoy did you enjoy did you enjoy at all?
Did you enjoy did you enjoy did you enjoy at all?
The party's over the party's over
The party's over
The X-Ray Spex song, "Party," is a satirical take on the hedonistic party culture of the 70s. The lyrics delve into the singer's experiences at a party, asking if they enjoyed themselves, to which they respond negatively. They were bored stiff all night, unable to find someone to talk to. The only person that paid attention to them was a boy fixated on his body who had a vulgar desire to "make love." The singer dismisses the attention and opts for a lime and soda, wanting something "more sublime."
The song then takes a satirical turn with the introduction of a Prima Donna Queen who desires a sex change because they think it would be a scream. This leads to a discussion about decadence and the singer's conscience reminding them of the starving half of the world. The next encounter is with a guy who wants to die and has a death wish. The lyrics delve into existentialism and the idea that the singer believes they are more than just their physical body, but must serve some time before getting out on parole.
Overall, "Party" critiques the superficiality and narcissism of the party culture of the 70s. It highlights the stark contrast between the indulgent and self-centered nature of a party and the real-world issues that exist outside its walls.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you enjoy the party you went to the other night?
Asking if the person had a good time at the party they attended recently
No not really not really, no not really at all
The person didn't enjoy the party at all
I was bored stiff all night.
The person was extremely bored throughout the party
Did you find anyone you could talk to?
Asking if the person found someone to converse with at the party
Anyone with a lot to say?
Asking if the person found someone interesting to talk to
No not really no one, no not one not really
The person didn't find anyone worth talking to at the party
Just a boy who had a fixation on his body all the time.
The person only found a boy who was obsessed with his physical appearance
He wanted to know if I, he called 'making love'
The boy asked the person if they wanted to have sex
I said, my dear pubescent adolescent socks
The person responded by calling the boy childish
I gave up being shocking when you were getting spots
The person implies that they have moved past the stage where they try to shock others, unlike the adolescent boy
Pour me a lime and soda and I'll not tell a lie
The person is asking for a drink and promises to be truthful
But I've always been searching for something more sublime
The person has always been seeking something more profound or spiritual than casual sex
Then I met a Prima, Prima Donna Queen
The person met a diva-like individual
Who wanted to have a sex change 'cause he thought it would be a scream
The diva wanted to undergo gender reassignment surgery because they thought it would be exciting or thrilling
Decadence personified daddy's blood runs wild
The diva is a symbol of excess, and their behavior is influenced by their father
Half the world is starving mother says, you're a spoilt hung-up child.
The person's mother comments on the inequality in the world and calls the diva spoiled and immature
Then I met a guy who wanted to die
The person met someone who was suicidal
With a smack crack deathwish his T-shirt said 'destroy'
The suicidal person's clothing had a message about their desire for destruction
I know I'm not this body and I'm just a fallen soul
The person believes that they are more than their physical body and sees themselves as a flawed human being
But you have to serve some time before you get out on parole
The person implies that everyone has to go through tough times before they are freed from their problems
The party's over the party's over
The party has ended, signaling the end of the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Marianne Joan Elliott-Said
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind