Pale Movie vs Summer of Love vs Strangest Thing

[AGinAg (37)]

Three fabulous pop songs with very similar DNA. But which is YOUR favourite?

 

[Sheena]

No contest. All 3 are 10/10 but Saint Etienne will forever have my heart.

 

[Sheena]

"She's the softness of cinema seats" is also one of my favourite lyrics ever.

 

[AGinAg (37)]

Saint Etienne need to be awarded for services to pop. While this is the most glaring example, I honestly think they laid the groundwork for the pop revolution around the turn of the century, in particular Steps and maybe even Girls Aloud. They were just disguised as an indie band and arrived while guitars and high energy europop were the serves of the day.

But yes ALL 10s.

 

[BoysForSeles]

1 Saint Etienne
2 George Michael
3 Steps

 

[Sheena]

Saint Etienne need to be awarded for services to pop. While this is the most glaring example, I honestly think they laid the groundwork for the pop revolution around the turn of the century, in particular Steps and maybe even Girls Aloud. They were just disguised as an indie band and arrived while guitars and high energy europop were the serves of the day.

But yes ALL 10s.

Also remember that Brian Higgins (who was basically Xenomania and obviously instrumental in Girls Aloud as well as all the other stuff of the 90s/00s) started out as part of the Motiv8 set up. Motiv8 became a remix outfit but their proper pop breakthrough was with "He's on the Phone", which started life as a very different version before his mix was used as a single to promote Saint Etienne's "Too Young To Die" compilation.

I agree, though, Saint Etienne never really fit in. They were too arch and knowing for the pop world (often too clever for their own good) and got lumped in with Britpop. Which was never really what they were about.

 

[AGinAg (37)]

He's on the Phone", which started life as a very different version before his mix

I know the single version and obviously the sensational Motiv8 mix which is a standard tits out banger... but there was another version?

 

[Sheena]

I know the single version and obviously the sensational Motiv8 mix which is a standard tits out banger... but there was another version?

It's complicated!

Etienne Daho had a hit in 1984 in France with this French classic:



In 1995, he met Saint Etienne at a gig and they professed mutual admiration and a desire to collaborate. That became an EP called "Reserection"

(featuring a marvellously glammed up Sarah and Etienne on the cover) which was released in the French market. The songs on that EP were all led by Daho, with the Etienne (Bob and Pete) providing musical accompaniment, except "Accident (Weekend A Rome)", which is basically "Weekend A Rome" with English lyrics, sung by Sarah, and with a speech from Etienne at one point:



Motiv8 remixed it into what we know and love today, concentrating on Sarah's vocals, though Etienne's speech can be still heard as backing vocals in the final instrumental bridge bit...

 

[VoR]

Gosh, Etienne Daho was quite the piece in his day, wasn't he?

 

[AGinAg (37)]

It's complicated!

Etienne Daho had a hit in 1984 in France with this French classic:



In 1995, he met Saint Etienne at a gig and they professed mutual admiration and a desire to collaborate. That became an EP called "Reserection"

View attachment 13284

(featuring a marvellously glammed up Sarah and Etienne on the cover) which was released in the French market. The songs on that EP were all led by Daho, with the Etienne (Bob and Pete) providing musical accompaniment, except "Accident (Weekend A Rome)", which is basically "Weekend A Rome" with English lyrics, sung by Sarah, and with a speech from Etienne at one point:



Motiv8 remixed it into what we know and love today, concentrating on Sarah's vocals, though Etienne's speech can be still heard as backing vocals in the final instrumental bridge bit...

Now you mention it, I recall some of that. Still, what a moment in pop.

 

[Sheena]

He was also fairly QUEER ADJACENT. At one point, there were lots of rumours he'd died of AIDS- the Reserection EP was actually titled that because of that. The intro track "Reserection", which is the same speech used in "He's On The Phone" is basically about him being reborn and everlasting.

 

[AGinAg (37)]

I think I never clicked with Summer or Strangest Thing because they were such obvious rip offs. Did they ever get credit for either? They seem far too chilled out to sue someone.

 

[Sheena]

I also really love some of Etienne's stuff.





This is actually a cover of a Sarah Cracknell solo song. They have crossed paths quite a lot:

 

[Sheena]

I think I never clicked with Summer or Strangest Thing because they were such obvious rip offs. Did they ever get credit for either? They seem far too chilled out to sue someone.

They didn't. I think Summer is the obvious one, but Saint Etienne have ripped off enough in their time to probably not want the hassle. "Hug My Soul" and "More More More" being the most obvious of the lot...

 

[lolly]

Seeing that Reserection cover has made me wonder (I probably do it about once a year), what has happened to Pierre et Gilles? Are they still working together? Or even alive?

 

[Christian]

Seeing that Reserection cover has made me wonder (I probably do it about once a year), what has happened to Pierre et Gilles? Are they still working together? Or even alive?

Still alive! I don't think they do much these days though. They must be knocking on a bit.

Quite amazing that you can spot their work a mile off - it's so distinctive and still simultaneously somehow feels quite ahead of its time, and very of its period too.