Prince Charming

Adam Ant wrote this song with his guitarist, Marco Pirroni, who Ant credits with giving his music a commercial appeal. The group's previous single, "Stand and Deliver," was a #1 UK hit, and when "Prince Charming" followed it to the top of the charts, Adam & The Ants were the hottest act in England. Their tribal sound, based on the Burundi beats from Africa, was the basis for what they called "Antmusic for Sexpeople." Legions of fans bought into the warrior mentality, joining forces to rebel against authority and conformity. This song was a rallying cry, letting the youth of England know that "ridicule is nothing to be scared of." The message of the song is Prince Charming doesn't have to be a tall, handsome fellow in royal garb.

Adam & The Ants had little success in America until MTV picked up steam in the early '80s. Much of their success was a result of their charismatic lead singer and striking visuals. There were plenty of outlets to show videos around Europe, and the "Prince Charming" clip was wildly popular. The designs were inspired by the French Revolution, and Adam Ant's look was based on a French dandy of that era, strutting for attention among the masses. Ant was a student of graphic art and felt that visuals were a huge part of his presentation. He came up with this theme after researching historic fashions in the London library.

The video uses a Cinderella theme, with Adam Ant getting a visit from a fairy godmother so he can attend a royal ball. This could be seen as a metaphor for his life, as he went from a cult figure to superstar after transforming himself with a new image. The fairy in the video was played by Diana Dors, who was a British starlet popular in the '50s and '60s. Ant made a personal appeal to Dors, who in accepting his offer, became the first film star to appear in a music video. Dors died in 1984 at age 52.