Adam wrote this song when dealing with an everlasting intrusion by the press. They were always asking about his personal life, which was great fodder for the tabloids. Adam Ant was a very intriguing character with a colorful past, and while he sought out attention for his act, he preferred to keep his personal life private.
By the '80s, his only vice was sex - no drugs, alcohol or even cigarettes for Adam Ant. This led to predictable questions from the press wondering if he didn't drink or smoke, then what exactly did he do? It seemed hard to believe that such an outrageous persona belonged to a teetotaler, but it was true. Reporters were often shocked to discover that Ant was very measured and reasonable in interviews - nothing like the warpaint wearing wildman who showed up on stage.
Adam Ant said of this song: "Goody Two Shoes was a sort of answer back manifesto and just trying to keep things level-headed because I felt that, and still do, to a degree, that going on stage is creating an illusion. It's magical and it's wonderful and I love doing it, but off stage there has to be time out."
Word at the time was that this song was about Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners. The rumor was that Adam was going to join a band led by Rowland, but couldn't accept the stringent rules being set down for band membership. Ant explained that the lyrics, "When I saw you kneeling, crying words that you mean, opening the eyeballs, pretending you're Al Green, Al Green" was inspired by a Dexys Midnight Runners concert he saw in 1981. He said, "When I saw Kevin Rowland sing those words and really get into it, I think it was more honest than anything the Clash had ever done." (Thanks, Tony - Vero Beach, FL. Above quotes from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh)
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Suggestion credit: Tony - Vero Beach, FL. Above quotes from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh
Throughout the early '80s, Ant was one of the most popular performers England, but this was his first and biggest hit in the US, thanks mainly to MTV, who introduced America to his outrageous costumes and wild charisma.
Crystal from Florida, UsaA little bit of rockabilly, a little brass...I especially love the tribute to the opening bars of Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" at the very end. Just a great '80s song with some '50s flair.
Marc from -, MdFirst-ever interview with the girl in this video: http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-girl-in-video-goody-two-shoes-1982.html
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 1st 1983, Adam Ant performed "Goody Two Shoes" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'... Two months earlier on November 7th, 1982 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on February 6th, 1983 it peaked at #12 (for 3 weeks) and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100... It reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on June 12th, 1982 on the United Kingdom's Singles chart... And it also peaked at #1 (again for 2 weeks) on August 16th, 1982 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart... This was his first solo effort after the break-up with the Ants, the group had twelve hits on the U.K. Single chart, with two reaching #1 ("Stand and Deliver" and "Prince Charming", both in 1981)... Mr. Ant , born Stuart Leslie Goddard, celebrated his 59th birthday two months ago on November 3rd.
Denise from Philadelphia, Pa@ Rich - OH MY GOD!!! For YEARS I thought I was the only person on the planet who saw Billy Crystal do this Adam Ant impression...I would tell people about it, but nobody else ever remembered seeing it, but they would say "yeah, I could totally imagine Billy Crystal as Adam Ant" and @Nate - thank you so much for the link to the video on YouTube! Now my friends won't think I'm so crazy (well, a little LESS crazy anyway)
Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaUnlike his other hits, it has a touch of rockabilly. In 1980, Queen resurrected rockabilly with Crazy Little Thing, then there was a slew of artists that believed rockabilly was going to be the "next big thing", like Stray Cats.
Lexx from Milton, Indiai love the drums in adam ant's music.... i love stand and deliver....
Jeff from Liverpool, Englandcheck out a young amanda donohue in adam and the ant video for antmusic
Natesummers from Cincinnati, OhRich,
You are correct about Billy Crystal doing Adam Ant and looking dead on. The "song" was called "We Need Jokes" and the video is available here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=K4xwK_Z0_60
Jeff from Columbia, ScAll of Adam and the Ants stuff is real good. Surprising with the pretentious titles and subject matter, but the guitar licks and music are awesome for a New Wave 80's british band.
Julian from Anaheim, Ca"Wonderful" by Adam Ant is one of the greatest songs ever(according to me)
Erich from Atlanta, GaIn the music video, the reporter who dances with Adam Ant was played by Caroline Munro, best known for her roles in numerous 1970s British horror films, as well as the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me."
Rob from Santa Monica, CaSuch a cool, completely irresistable drum track on this song.
Rich from Elkins, WvI think Billy Crystal did a take-off on this and it was great...looked just Adam Ant...or did I just imagine it ...Oh well, if he didn't he should have .
