Synopsis

The Stranglers perform in a stark, theatrical setting dominated by cages, shadowy lighting, and the image of a black jaguar. Jean-Jacques Burnel delivers the song with a cool, dramatic intensity while the band members appear confined and controlled, turning the performance into a visual metaphor for obsession and emotional captivity. The video's stylized European atmosphere matches the song's mixture of romantic fascination, danger, and restraint.

Factoids & Trivia

• "European Female" appears on *Feline* under the full title "The European Female (In Celebration Of)" and was released as the album's first single in early 1983.

• Jean-Jacques Burnel said the song was inspired partly by his relationship with Anna, a Parisian ballerina. He described the relationship as passionate and destructive, which informed the video's cage imagery.

• Burnel also explained that the song reflected his personal feelings about European identity. He compared its concept to a European counterpart to "California Girls."

• The black jaguar connects the video to *Feline*'s imagery. The album's title was chosen to suggest something seductive, powerful, dangerous, and only partly restrained.

• The band recorded *Feline* in Brussels. The album deliberately combined acoustic guitars and Spanish-influenced elements with synthesizers, electronic drums, and other northern European textures.

• The video was made with a substantial budget after the band signed with CBS, which also funded the video for "Midnight Summer Dream."

• The single reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart, giving The Stranglers their third UK Top 10 hit of 1982-83 after "Golden Brown" and "Strange Little Girl."