SETLIST from 26 September 2009

We were joined by guest DJ Nick Hills (with a silent H) and his trusty box of seven-inch disques des années Sixties. Verity was busy finishing her PhD, and so there were just three.

Here’s the setlist, with our picks of the night, including TWO Kinks cover versions - one in French and one on Synths:

Sarah
Devo – Patterns
David Bowie – Fashion
Roxy Music – The Thrill of it All
Les Roche Martin – Les Mains Dans Les Poches
France Gall – Baby Pop
Serge Gainsbourg – Le Poinçonneur des Lilas
Stereo Total – Cannibale
Large Number – The Number People
Chicks on Speed – Give Me Back My Man
Ladytron – Olivetti Jerk
Dominic
Gillian Hills – Oublie
Stereo Total – Exakt Neutral
Monty – Que Me Reste-t-il
Silicon Teens – You Really Got Me
Petula Clark – Si, C’est Oui, C’est Oui
Japan – Quiet Life
Jean et Janet – Je T’aime Normal
Brigitte Bardot – Contact
Marie Laforêt (avec Gérard Klein) – Le Vin De L’été
Koko Von Napoo – Polly
Anna Karina – Rollergirl
Nick
Rokes – The Works of Bartholomew
Antoine – La Tramontana
Rokes – Siamo Sotto Il Sole
Michel Polnareff – La Mouche
Erick St Laurent – Eleonor Rigby
Les Compagnans de la Chanson – Le Sous-Marin Vert
Petula Clark – Un Jeune Homme Bien
Sylvie Vartan – De Ma Vie
Sylvie Vartan – Moi Je Danse
Claude François – Si Tu Veux Etre Heureux
Claude François – Comment Fais-tu?
France Gall – Laisse Tomber Les Filles
Sarah
Brigitte Bardot – La Madrague
Chantal Goya – Mon Ange Gardien
Ria Bartok – J'y Pense Tout Bas
Sylvie Vartan – Irrésistiblement
Tom Tom Club – On, On, On, On (remix version)
Toni Basil – You Gotta Problem
A-Ha – We’re Looking For The Whales
The Associates – 18 Carat Love Affair
The Human League – Crow and A Baby
Soft Cell – Chips On My Shoulder
Dominic
Isabelle – Amstramgram
Katsen – Let’s Build A City
Les Shades – Orage Mecanique
Jacques Brel – Jacky
Françoise Cactus – You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory
Ultravox – Vienna
Françoise Hardy – Non, Ce N’est Pas Un Rêve
Bertrand Burgalat & Robert Wyatt – This Summer Night
Die Dorau & Die Marinas – Fred Vom Jupiter
Nick
[we have no song data for Nick’s set]
Sarah
Michèle Richard – Dou Da Dou
Alice Dona – Les Trois Couleurs De L'Amour
Brigitte Bardot – Le Soleil
Chantal Goya – La Pluie Du Ciel
Depeche Mode – Master and Servant
Euryhtmics – Love Is A Stranger
Tubeway Army – Are Friends Electric?
The Human League – Rock ‘n’ Roll
Stereo Total – Orange Mecanique
Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene pt.4
John Foxx – No One Driving
Dominic
Jean-Claude Vannier - L’Enfant Au Royaume Des Mouches
Ronnie Bird – Chante
Bazooka – Dada Dodo (version instrumental)
Eileen – Ces Bottes Sont Faites Pour Marcher
Antoine – Les Élucubrations D’Antoine
Dave Rogers - theme from Cybernoid (Zx Spectrum 128K)
Serge Gainsbourg et Brigitte Bardot – Bonnie & Clyde
Françoise Hardy – Pourtant Tu M’aimes
Röyksopp feat. Robyn – The Girl and The Robot
Michèle et Ses Wouaps – Dam Dam
Sarah
Datarock – Computer Camp Love
Dauerfisch – So Gut!
Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star
Dominic
Jean-Claude Vannier – Danse De L’Enfant Et Du Roi Des Mouches /
French language disques - Numbers
Delphine – La Fermature Éclair
Michel Polnareff – Qui a Tue Grand’maman
Sarah
Sebastien Tellier – Divine
Denim – Romeo Jones Is In Love Again
Add N to (X) – Incinerator No.1
Dominic
Stereo Total – Tu M’as Voulue
Chantal Kelly – Notre Prof D’Anglias
Stella – L’Idole Des Jaunes
Sarah
Magnetic Fields – I Thought You Were My Boyfriend
Dominic
Brezel Göring – Ich Bin So Süchtig
Sarah
The Blue Minkies – You Make Me Blush
Luke Haines – Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop
Dominic
Au Revoir Simone – Shadows
French Language disque – Thank You/Merci … Goodbye/Au Revoir

mp3 selection
Dominic
Silicon Teens – You Really Got Me
[buy Silicon Teens: iTunes | Mute Records shop]
Nick
Petula Clark – Un Jeune Homme Bien
[buy Petula Clark: Amazon.uk]
Sarah
Denim – Romeo Jones Is In Love Again
[buy Denim: iTunes | Amazon.uk]

homework

In preparation for this weeks L'Amour Electronique, you should all be listening to La Chanson de Serge: The Serge Gainsbourg Story which was aired on BBC Radio 2 last Wednesday. It will be on the iPlayer until 20th October (so there's a few days if you missed the first broadcast).

Malcolm Mclaren is your guide, and thankfully he leaves the self-aggrandisation for the last 15 minutes, where he assimilates various personal exploits/happenings-he's-taken-claim-for into the last few years of Serge's life (though on the whole I have to say I was quite impressed with Mclaren's French accent, save for a few clangers).

There are many, more insightful, anecdotes from people who worked with Serge, or have been influenced by his vast output, including Petula Clark, Jane Birkin, Francoise Hardy, Alan Hawkshaw, David Holmes, Mick Harvey, and Gainsbourg-biographer Sylvie Simmons.

So go and listen to it, before it's too late.

l’histoire de Bonnie and Clyde

In homage to Brigitte Bardot who celebrated her 75th birthday last Monday, we bring you l’histoire de BONNIE AND CLYDE.

The year was 1967, Serge Gainsbourg had landed the job of writing and directing a few musical numbers for Le Bardot Show. A working relationship very quickly developed into a series of steamy romantic liaisons, much to the chagrin of every other Frenchman opening his copy of France Soir to see paprazzi snaps of their divine B.B. arm-in-arm with her frog prince, whom she nicknamed “gueule d’amour” or “love face”.

Their courtship didn’t all run smoothly for the louche, chain-smoking Serge, though: After a disastrous early-date, Bardot sent him packing, and requested that, by way of penance, he write her “the most beautiful love song you can imagine”.

He came crawling back the next day, bleary-eyed, a Gitane between his lips and a glint in his eye. A sleepless night had yielded not one, but two, love songs: Bonnie and Clyde, and Je T’aime… Moi Non Plus.

Gainsbourg based the lyrics to Bonnie and Clyde on The Story of Bonnie and Clyde (The Trail's End)
 a poem written by (the real) Bonnie Parker.

Gainsbourg and Bardot duetted as the heroes/villains, having apparently hi-jacked Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway’s wardrobe from the film of the same name (released in August 1967).

Mise en scène: a dingy hideout; Serge skulks furtively in the shadows, with a shoulder-holster and a cigarette; Bardot smolders, all panda-eyed in beret, maxi-jupe and bobbed wig, a tommy-gun perched on her knee.

Serge & Brigitte = Bonnie and Clyde (lyrics: once-removed, costumes: twice-removed)

Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot – Bonnie and Clyde
[buy Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot: iTunes | Amazon.uk]


Mick Harvey recorded an English version of Bonnie & Clyde with Anita Lane in 1995, for his album Intoxicated Man (Songs of Serge Gainsbourg sung in English). Together with Alan Chamberlain he translated the lyrics from Serge’s French words, taking it one step further away from Bonnie Parker’s original poem. Anita Lane’s vocal is more sultry than Bardot’s deadpan delivery, and they even manage to nail the sounds-like-someone-punching-a-baboon-in-a-cage cuíca sound.

Mick Harvey & Anita Lane = Bonnie and Clyde (lyrics: twice-removed)

Mick Harvey with Anita Lane – Bonnie & Clyde
[buy Mick Harvey: iTunes | Amazon.uk]



Also released in 1995: Luna made two French language versions of the song. These are more direct cover-versions of the Bardot-Gainsbourg duet, with frontman Dean Wareham as Clyde Barrow and Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier guesting as a slightly-softer-in-delivery-than-Bardot Bonnie Parker. The Clyde Barrow version matches the original for pace and it seems they even got someone to do a valiant impersonation of a monkey being tickled for the cuíca sounds (not sure if they got credited in the liner notes, mind). The Bonnie Parker version is more languid and pensive, with some shimmering wah-guitar - Bonnie & Clyde stripped bare, if you will. Both songs were re-mastered for the Best of Luna album in 2006 - the Bonnie Parker version fared particularly badly, losing a lot of the atmosphere and claustrophobia of this earlier mix.

Dean Wareham & Lætitia Sadier = Bonnie and Clyde (lyrics: once-removed)

Luna – Bonnie & Clyde (Clyde Barrow version)
Luna – Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie Parker version)
[buy Luna: iTunes | Amazon.uk]



And in 1998, Baby Birkin made a sugary lo-fi pop album of English versions of French language songs from les années sixties. It was called Classée X, and it was produced by Russell Senior who’d just jumped from the good-ship Pulp.

The vinyl version included a fun extended romp through Francis Lai’s instrumental St. Tropez (which was released on the 1968 album Brigitte Bardot Show or Special Bardot. Confusingly it was not featured in the TV special of the same name and year), which UK readers may remember from the low-rent opening credits of Eurotrash. The Baby Birkins had penned some witty anecdotal lyrics about holiday romance on a French exchange trip – “He said dansez-vous? I said askez-vous?”

The CD release of Classée X was missing the Eurotrash, in favour of a not-so-fun meander through the underworld of B. Parker and C. Barrow. Taking a nod from Luna’s wah-tinged Bonnie Parker version: Baby Birkin slow-burned it and layed on a really rather sinister whispered confessional, quoted directly from the original poem by Bonnie Parker.

Baby Birkin = Bonnie (not Clyde) (lyrics: direct-from-source)

Baby Birkin – Bonnie & Clyde
[buy Baby Birkin: Amazon.uk]


And there’s more:
MC Solaar sampled his fellow Frenchman on Nouveau Western
According to wikipedia Belinda Carlisle covered it, along with Contact (another song Gainsbourg penned for the ’68 Bardot Show), on her 2007 French language album Voila – YouTube it if you must
And even Kylie isn’t immune to a bit of dirty ol’ Serge – she sampled it on her track Sensitized

Time for a personal anecdote:
Verity and I were drifting through the streets of the Île Saint-Louis, when she, with her bobbed hair and beret, caught the attention of some Parisian road-menders: “Bonneeee Parr-keuuurrrrrrrr” they called after us (in a very non-threatening way, I hasten to add). It is interesting to note that in Glasgow everyone thought she was French: “Ooh La La!”

……………………………………………………………………………..
Addendum:
Having spent a good few hours compiling and researching this post, I note that Filles Sourires did something similar back in 2006, and managed to collect a far more definitive set of versions too – you can read that post here. Then come back and shoot me down.

Incoming cat news

*****************Incoming cat news********************
******************************************************
Our very good friends Katsen released their debut album "It Hertz!" this week on Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation - 12 tracks of sleek and bouncy electro-pop and nascent 8-bit hits.



Regular visitors to our L'Amour Electronique night will almost certainly have heard us play Katsen over the past few months, and followers of Miss Pain will know them for their purr-fectly formed, C64-driven re-make of Kiss Cuddle Torture.

Here's their charming video for my favourite: Let's Build A City! [which you can download for free here]




Another very good friend, and tamer-of-the-Miss-Pain-live-beast, Feline1 performs a special one-off, never-to-be-repeated live set this week:

Feline1 LIVE IN PERSON! WITH SYNTHS!
Wednesday 30th September at the Prince of Wales, 47 Clarence Square, Brighton, BN1 2ED (you know, the one next to the dirty burger van by Churchill Square)
It is a Brighton Live event, so it's FREE ENTRY - Doors 8pm.

Expect bare-foot bass-pedal action and one man controlling more analogue synths than one man should be able to physically control by himself.

Here is Feline1 in action sometime in the past with the now defunct The Feline Dream:

BB:75

Bon Anniversaire Brigitte Bardot: 75 today.

28 September 1934: God created Bardot



























Serge penned this tribute to BB at the height of their steamy affair:

SETLIST from 22 August 2009

It seems we've gone over our bandwidth allowance again this month - apologies for that -everything should resume as normal on 1st October (If it happens again, I'll looking into an alternative space for hosting the mp3 files).

Last month's setlist is below, including one mp3 selected by each DJ for your listening pleasure.

See you Saturday...

Dominic
Amadou & Mariam – Sabali
Jiji – La Fusée
Michel Polnareff – Voyages
Marie Laforêt (avec Gérard Klein) – Le Vin de L’été
Human League – Gordon’s Gin
Serge Gainsbourg – L’Hotel Particulier
Walter Carlos - Title music from A Clockwork Orange
Katsen – Let’s Build A City
Ladytron – Olivetti Jerk
Françoise Hardy – Et Même
Verity
Jacques Dutronc – Fais Pas Çi, Fais Pas Ça
Silver Apples – Oscillations
Depeche Mode – Shake The Disease
Human League – The Touchables
Eurythmics – Tous Le Garçons et Les Filles
Chris & Cosey - October Love Song
Kraftwerk – The Model
France Gall – Laisse Tomber les Filles
Françoise Hardy - Que Mal y a t’il à ça?
Serge Gainsbourg – Bonnie & Clyde
Sarah
Monster Bobby – Heaven Hides Nothing
Smartypants – Knee Sox Girl
Blue Minkies – Pick Your Records Up
Peepholes – Trouble in Heartbreak High
George Pringle – LCD I Love You But You’re Breaking My Heart
Katsen – Play For Today
Stereo Total – Tas De Tôle
Chantal Goya – Oh Raconte Moi
Brigitte Bardot – Ciel de Lit
Christie Laume – Agathe Ou Christie
Françoise – Hum! Hum!
Serge Gainsbourg – Sous le Soleil Exactement
Dominic
Karo – Un Garçon en Mini-Jupe
Virginie – Commando Spatial (Space Patrol)
Kraftwerk – Numbers
Stereo Total – Furore
Michèle et Ses Wouaps – Dam Dam
Stereolab - Freestyle Dumping
Telex – Ça Plane Pour Moi
Françoise Hardy – Pourtant Tu M’aimes
Clothilde – Le Chanson Bête et Méchant
Verity
C++ - Les Hasards
Michel Polnareff – Oiseau de Nuit
Divine Comedy – Europop
OMD – Messages
Magnetic Fields – I Can’t Touch You Anymore
Desireless – Voyage Voyage
Etienne Daho – Tombe Pour la France
Heavenly – Nous ne Sommes Pas des Anges
Stereolab – John Cage Bubblegum
The Clicks - Seconds
Sarah
Add N to (X) – Brothel Charge
T.Raumschmiere ft. Miss Kittin – The Game Is Not Over
Dandi Wind – Balloon Factory
The Associates – Helicopter Helicopter
Devo – Working in a Coal Mine
Soft Cell – Chips on My Shoulder
Ria Bartok – Ecoute Mon Couer
Chantal Goya – Si Tu Gagnes Au Flipper
France Gall – Pense a Moi
Sylvie Vartan – Ballade Pour Une Fugue
Dominic
Chantal Goya – Laisse Moi
Les Bel-Air – Ils Parlaient Dans Mon Dos
Normand Frechette et Les Hou-Lops – J’Etudie Mon Grec
Michel Polnareff – Dans La Maison Vide
Madeleine Pascal – Dieu N’est Pas Vieux
Jacques Brel – Les Filles et Les Chiens
Stereo Total – Johnny (for Les Paul RIP)
Jacques Dutronc – Les Gens Sont Fous, Les Temps Sont Flous
Bazooka – Dada Dodo (instrumental version)
Space – Magic Fly
Verity
The Knife – Heartbeats
Françoise Hardy – Comment Te Dire Adieu
Mareva Galanter – L’Hotesse de l’Air
Sandie Shaw – Pourvu que ça dure (Long live love)
C++ - Comme Dans Les Films
The Normal – Warm Leatherette
Mick Harvey – The Barrel of My 45
Jane Birkin – Raccrochez, C’est Une Horreur
Simon Bookish – Handsome Girls
Depeche Mode – The Meaning of Love
Serge Gainsbourg – Torrey Canyon
Sarah
France Gall – Ne Sois Pas Si Bête
Sophie Makhno et Colin Verdier – Obsessions 68
Françoise Hardy – Le Temps de L’Amour
Serge Gainsbourg – La Javanaise
Chantal Goya – Il Court Les Filles
Bunty – Achana
Stereo Total – Miss Rebellion des Hormones
M – Pop Muzik
Human League – Only After Dark
Roxy Music – In Every Dream Home a Heartache
Dominic
The Chap – Now Woel
Isabelle – Amstramgram
Chantal Goya – Tu M’as Trop Menti
Brezel Göring – Ich Bin So Süchtig
Emanuelle – Le Reel Facile
Divine – Native Love (Step By Step)
Verity
OMD – Electricity
Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le Taxi
Serge Gainsbourg – 69 Année Erotique
Jacques Dutronc – Les Cactus
Patrick Wolf – Vulture
Nick Kershaw – Dancing Girls
Sarah
Tom Tom Club – Wordy Rapping Hood (12” mix)
Toni Basil – Be Stiff
Bat For Lashes – Pearl’sDream
Clor – Love + Pain
Dauerfisch – So Gut
Dominic
John et Jehn – 20L07
Brigitte Bardot – Contact
Claude François – Eloise
Verity
Pet Shop Boys – Left To My Own Devices
Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy
Sarah
Sparks – Get In The Swing
Pulp – This Is Hardcore

mp3 selections

Verity

C++ - Comme Dans Le Films

[buy C++: iTunes | Amazon.fr]

Sarah

Bunty - Achana

[buy Bunty direct from her myspace]

Dominic

Chantal Goya – Tu M’as Trop Menti

[buy Chantal Goya: Amazon.uk]

L'Amour Electronique - this Saturday

Salut! Sorry the number of posts has fallen a bit on the wayside of late. Things are a little hectic and fraught and there's too much going on to sit down and do the necessary.

There is, however, another L'Amour Electronique to keep things swinging.

This Saturday 26 September
9pm - 3am
at The West Hill pub, 67 Buckingham Place, Brighton, BN1 3PQ

6 hours of the finest and strangest of synthesized sounds, electronic music and French pop.

Sarah and I will be joined by our good friend Nick 'ills, who is amassing a fine collection of ye-ye seven-inches as we speak.

It is FREE ENTRY and drinks and snacks will be available to buy from the genial bar-staff.

There will also be Eiffel Towers and Tricolore decor, comme ca:


see you there
Domx

ps. August setlist should be up by the end of the week