Room At The Top

Album: Manners & Physique (1990)
Charted: 13 17
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • New Wave vanguard Adam Ant (born Stuart Leslie Goddard) wrote this song for his fourth studio album Manners & Physique. It was his second-highest Billboard-charting hit, after "Goody Two Shoes." He also charted far more prolifically in the UK.
    Like "Goody Two Shoes," this song also dwells on the trials and tribulations of being famous. Adam Ant seemed quite disillusioned with fame, making biting social commentaries on it throughout his career.
  • Jon Savage's England's Dreaming, Revised Edition: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond quotes Adam Ant on the forming of his group: "I just entered into the craziness. It was scary; I used to wear rapist hoods and just attack the audience. That was just the way it was. The audiences then, there was an element of danger, but there was excitement: it was like parachuting for the first time."
  • Adam Ant later claimed that Manners & Physique was styled after the Minneapolis sound, popularized at the beginning of the New Wave era by Prince, among others.

Comments: 2

  • Chris from Germany one of his biggest hits in the US but i dont like it
    it sounds like SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY by FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandThis was something of a comeback for Adam, on a new label (MCA as opposed to CBS).
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."