An indescribably brilliant 50s-style rock'n'roll ballad, with vocals by the inimitable Marquis de suave. The musical setting is breathtakingly authentic, and the emotions are raw and powerful, as the vocals screech 'in my dreams...../I dreamed you didn't want me...' It's extremely hammed up and over the top, but quite wonderful all the same. Most of this band went on to form the excellent Flaming Stars.
20 Jan 03 ·phil: I was just searching for the earls of suave on the internet, and google returned this entry - and I just had to agree with mr Delicado here. A truly stupendous piece of work that everyone involved should be very proud of - sounds like it was recorded on 10 pints and is all the better for it.
I've done a bit of research into this, and as far as I can tell, the Marquis de Suave now works in advertising.
04 Jun 06 ·headcoat: this song appears in the punk film "Shooting at the Moon" watchable here:
http://cuntyscoundrel.com/films.html
this is a twisted sort of house/techno number that will appeal to non-lovers of house. Its heavy enough, tweaked enough, etc. and the vocals are nice and twisted. dark, but still humorous "im losing my mind"
I heard this again today for the first time in a while; I still think it's one of the best pop songs written in the 80s. The production is smooth and slightly spooky, and the repetitive tune which continues in the background throughout the song makes it even more catchy. The words are rather stirring, and Julian is as enchanting a vocalist as ever.
from My Nation Underground (Island) available on CD - Floored Genius (Island)
wicked beat... cool ass clarinets... sounds of people going off... lots of good energy.
from keep it unreal, available on CD
07 Dec 01 ·delicado: I'm very fond of his track 'Fish'. I never seem to tire of it. 14 Dec 01 ·n-jeff: Its a great track, they were playing it in a local record shop, and I had to buy the LP. Nearly all the musical parts are off a much shorter track by Moondog, called Lament #1, and I'd recommend that as well. In spite of the identity of the musical source thay are very different beasts.
for years friends have been telling me i should give st. etienne a listen as they thought it was something i'd like. well, it took me long enough but they were right. if they had recorded nothing else than this song i would consider it one of my favourite pop songs. with lines like: "i should have told you to lose that girl/i should have told you that's not your world /on her radio she turned the disco down..." it was destined to end up a favourite of mine.
from Good Humor, available on CD
17 Dec 01 ·delicado: I'm also a recent convert to St. Etienne. I insisted to friends that I didn't like them, but I recently got 1992's 'So Tough', and thought it was brilliant. 09 Apr 02 ·tempted: If there's one group I find very difficult to criticize it's St. Etienne. People say they've made a bad album or two but I think they all are different faces of perfection. "So Tough" is probably the best choice to start with them. That's the band in a nutshell. And the most widely appreciated album. 12 Jan 05 ·OneCharmingBastard: Talk about a sleeper. Not their most obvious single by a long shot (that honor still goes to either their Jimmy Webb tribute "Avenue" or their Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods cover, "Who Do You Think You Are"), but this track not only stands the test of time, but improves like a fine wine.
Someday people will love this band. Until then, little four minute bursts of brilliance like this are part of my own private stash of cool cuts.
