Nice by The Stranglers (2024)

Nice

The Stranglers

The Stranglers are a rock music group, formed on September 11, 1974 in Guil… Read Full Bio ↴The Stranglers are a rock music group, formed on September 11, 1974 in Guildford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. They were originally called The Guildford Stranglers and operated from an off-licence in the town. They also based themselves in the nearby village of Chiddingfold for a while.

Original personnel were singer/guitarist Hugh Cornwell (from Kentish Town, London), keyboardist/guitarist Hans Wärmling (from Sweden, replaced within two years by Brighton-born keyboardist Dave Greenfield), London-born bass guitarist Jean-Jacques Burnel and drummer Jet Black (real name Brian Duffy), a native of Ilford, Essex.

They began as a sinister sounding, hard-edged pub rock group, but eventually branched out to explore other styles of music. The Stranglers were, beginning in 1976, tangentially associated with punk rock, due in part to their opening for The Ramones' first British tour. The Stranglers were also associated with new wave music as well as gothic rock, but their idiosyncratic approach never fit completely within a musical genre.

In August 1990, founding member Cornwell left the band to pursue a solo career. In his autobiography, Cornwell states that he felt the band was a spent force creatively, and cited various examples of his increasingly acrimonious relationship with his fellow band-members, particularly Burnel. The remaining members recruited two replacements, including John Ellis, who had opened for the band in the 1970s as a member of The Vibrators, and singer Paul Roberts.

Interest in The Stranglers resurfaced when, in 2001, singer Tori Amos covered their song "Strange Little Girl" and titled the album it was featured on Strange Little Girls. "Golden Brown" was also used in the hit film Snatch by film director Guy Ritchie and extensively in the Australian film He Died With A Felafel In His Hand. Their hit "No More Heroes" was covered by Violent Femmes and used for the film Mystery Men. "Peaches", finally, also appears prominently in another British movie, Sexy Beast by director Jonathan Glazer.

The Stranglers had a critical and popular renaissance in 2004 (together with their first top 40 hit for 14 years - "Big Thing Coming") with the acclaimed Norfolk Coast album and a subsequent sell-out tour. The follow-up album, Suite XVI, was released in September 2006 (the title is a pun on "Sweet 16" and also a reference to the fact that it is the band's 16th studio album).

During the recording of Suite XVI Paul Roberts left the band to pursue his solocareer. Guitarist Baz Warne, who replaced John Ellis in 2000, became the main vocalist.

A quite rare Hugh Cornwell audio interview may be listened to on http://www.jasonwrightonline.com/

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just look at that girl
She knows the world owes her something and she's alright
Just look at that girl
She knows she got that something and she's alright
She's got diamond rings from her dad
She's got fancy things from her dad
All the world, it wants this lady
All the world, it wants her

So nice in Nice (so nice in Nice) so nice and neat (so nice and neat)
So nice in Nice (so nice in Nice) so nice and neat (so nice and neat)

Just look at that girl
She owns the ground she walks on and she walks all over you
Just look at that girl
She smiles and breaks your heart, there's nothing you can do
She's got diamond rings from her dad
She's got fancy things from her dad
All the world, it wants my baby
All the world, it wants her

So nice in Nice (so nice in Nice) so nice and neat (so nice and neat)
So nice in Nice (so nice in Nice) so nice and neat (so nice and neat)

Do not tell me
Lies you can't support
I wouldn't believe you
I wouldn't believe at all
Even if I saw

Just look at that girl
Well, where once she wore leather jackets, now she's wearing furs
Just look at that girl
She walks around owning everything that's not even hers
She's got diamond rings from her dad
She's got fancy things from her dad
All the world it wants my baby
All the world it wants her

So nice in Nice (so nice in Nice) so nice and neat (so nice and neat)
So nice in Nice (so nice in Nice) so nice and neat (so nice and neat)

She walks straight ahead (so nice in Nice)
Walks all over you (so nice and neat)
She smiles and breaks your heart (so nice in Nice)
But that's okay (so nice and neat)

(So nice in Nice)

(So nice in Nice)
(So nice in Nice)

Overall Meaning

The song "Nice in Nice" by The Stranglers is a commentary on the excess and privilege found in the French Riviera, specifically Nice. The lyrics describe a girl who is completely aware of her wealth and status and uses it to her advantage. She is portrayed as being untouchable and unemotional, easily breaking hearts without a second thought. The repetition of the phrase "so nice and neat" serves as a sarcastic commentary on the shallowness of the luxury lifestyle enjoyed by those who frequent this area.

The lyrics also touch on the idea that this lifestyle is not necessarily earned, but rather inherited. The lines "She's got diamond rings from her dad, she's got fancy things from her dad" suggest that the girl's wealth and status are not a result of her own hard work, but rather a privilege bestowed upon her by her family. The chorus of the song, with its upbeat melody and catchy lyrics, adds to the irony of the song's message.

Overall, "Nice in Nice" is a critique of the excess and shallowness of the French Riviera lifestyle, and the way in which it can corrupt those who indulge in it too deeply.

Line by Line Meaning

Just look at that girl
The singer points out a certain woman

She knows the world owes her something and she's alright
The woman has a sense of entitlement but is contented

She knows she got that something and she's alright
The woman is self-assured of her appeal

She's got diamond rings from her dad
The woman received expensive gifts from her father

She's got fancy things from her dad
The woman received luxurious possessions from her father

All the world, it wants this lady
The woman is highly desired by many

So nice in Nice (so nice in Nice) so nice and neat (so nice and neat)
The woman is living comfortably in Nice, France

She owns the ground she walks on and she walks all over you
The woman has a dominating personality and mistreats others

She smiles and breaks your heart, there's nothing you can do
The woman can hurt others with her charm and they can't resist her

All the world, it wants my baby
The singer views the woman as his possession and is possessive of her

Do not tell me
The singer anticipates hearing lies

Lies you can't support
The singer expects the lies to be unprovable

I wouldn't believe you
The singer wouldn't trust the liar

I wouldn't believe at all
The singer is highly skeptical

Even if I saw
The singer wouldn't believe the liar, even with visual proof

Well, where once she wore leather jackets, now she's wearing furs
The woman's fashion sense has evolved to more expensive clothing

She walks around owning everything that's not even hers
The woman acts as if everything she sees belongs to her

She walks straight ahead (so nice in Nice)
The woman progresses confidently

Walks all over you (so nice and neat)
The woman asserts her superiority over others

She smiles and breaks your heart (so nice in Nice)
The woman can be charming while causing emotional pain

But that's okay (so nice and neat)
The singer is willing to accept the woman's behavior despite the hurt