les rita mitsouko

super fun wonderful photo archive of the early years here:
http://www.ritamitsouko.org/1979-1985.htm

Yeah, not nearly enough people have heard them.

'le petit train' is an ANTHEM. I'd just start replicating the track listing if I began listing the other good ones.

thanks for the previous thread link.

what's their thing? funny vocals over semi-electronic music?

'Hip Kit' -- she just doesn't waste any time, does she? 45 seconds into the song and she's already at the top of her register. Wow.

On this compilation the songs from the 1993 album don't seem like much, but the songs from 2000's 'Cool Frenesie' are quite good actually.

Pretty much the only people I know who have over here (aside from you fine folks) are the denizens of the Sparks list.

Two years ago they starred in a J.L. Godard film where they merely played their songs in the studio. "Marc & Robert" is their Sparks album. But I like "No Comprendo" more: it has "andy" and "C'est comme ca" and "Les histoires d'amour finis mal en general"

they are an amazing singles band, meaning 'bestov' is the best place to start. the selection of material is dead-on.

there are a few more classic songs on the debut 'les rita mitsouko', particularly 'restez avec moi', but the whole record is happiness, how could I be a rabid conny plank fan and turn 33 without knowing about this record... though it's certainly a plank production, the point is the songs.

'the no comprendo' is also good. after the singles, 'marc et robert' is a bit on the cheesy side, also too many songs in english where ringer doesn't sound as insane. 'system 7' is a bit blah. all the best songs from each are on 'bestov'. 're' the 1990 remix album is Horrible.

about the recent reunion -- I think they're sounding better than ever. the production is a bit toned down, but their songwriting has gotten more consistent. the new one 'femme trombone' has several excellent songs, 'ce sale ton' and 'sacha'. I love the video for 'sacha' at their website...

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:m8b8b5c4nsqk

I love this band so much.

2002's 'Femme Trombone' is as good as anything they've done. I also liked the live w/symphony orchestra record they put out last year, especially the first song, though it wanders a tiny bit.

I was listening this morning to 'Singing in the Shower' (the one with Les Sparks). I'm surprised there isn't more love for that tune on ILM.

I love that song, baader. It was the theme tune, you might say, to my year in Paris in 88-89. "We're feeling cleeeeeean"

I just obtained some more Rita Mitsouko last night - seconded the love for Marcia Baila, but not listened to the rest yet.

I've only ever heard "C'est comme ca" and I like that song, the rest of their stuff like that?

Nah, I can't say any single song is representative of their whole output. The best of, "Bestov", as mentionned above is a good place to start.

"marcia baila" is one of the greatest pieces of art ever created by man, woman, or some combination of men and women. it makes me happy and kind of fierce every time i hear it. (it was also one of my wedding songs.)

Wow, that's pretty cool. Yeah, it's one of those rare songs that still get sme despite the zillions of times I've heard it. Great dancing tune too.

So this isn't revived 'cos of the new album? Heard it was uncompressed -in this day and age.

I've been listening to the new album Variety a lot. They're on a roll, this new one and the last one Femme Trombone I rate just as high as the 80's stuff. (they got a little lost in the 90's but they've been back at 100% since 2000's Cool Frenesie, though they don't release as many English versions of their songs so they haven't been marketed over here, you have to search for it)

The production on the new one is a little less euro-electronic than Femme Trombone and there are fewer standout tracks like 'ce sale ton' or 'sascha'. Maybe some people would think it sounds bland but Ringer's still got the voice and the melodies are wonderful, I think it's a consistent record -- every track has something to it, I don't skip any of the songs.

Their official website's been revamped with all their video clips, the clip for 'cool frensie' is pretty crazy, that song reminds me of ABBA's 'voulez vous' for some reason

& yes, the new album sounds pretty uncompressed. it's got a few English songs on it, it's better than 95% of the albums being marketed over here, it should be getting tons of reviews, they're still great

thumbnail guide:

bestov - 2001 compilation, start here
rita mitsouko s/t - 1984 - produced by conny plank -- this one has 'marcia baila' and the other tracks are similar stripped down german electro, the coolest -- probably has the most songs I love that aren't also on 'bestov'
the no comprendo - 1986 - produced by tony visconti, I rate this as his best large scale project since the bowie 'heroes' / 'lodger' albums, this had their breakout hits
marc et robert - 1988 - confident followup, this has 'singing in the shower' & two other songs with Sparks, and it also has 'le petit train' anthem of all time
re - 1990 - remix album, dates very badly, william orbit alert
systéme D - 1993 - sort of weak followup, production & songwriting just not quite there, not sure they had their hearts in it
cool frenesie - 2000 - beautiful confident return, very mainstream europop production might throw english listeners, the singles are great though and has the non-single track 'un zero' which is one of their weirdest ever, bizarre vocals
le femme trombone - 2002 - on fire, slick / weird, some people might mind the 80's drum machine but I hear the quotes around it and ringer's vocals are more consistently unhinged
concert lamoureux - 2004 - orchestral arrangements of their songs performed live - class act - some songs don't quite catch fire for me but in shuffle play some of these are great
variety - 2007 - should be a hit

Playing at the 100 Club on July 11th. Tempting....

"marcia baila" is one of the greatest pieces of art ever created by man, woman, or some combination of men and women. it makes me happy and kind of fierce every time i hear it. (it was also one of my wedding songs.)

-- Tracer Hand, Thursday, June 28, 2007 12:25 PM (5 months ago) Bookmark Link

^^^^ :)

RIP

Yeah :(

Definitely. :-/

been listing to marcia baila on repeat... this extended bilingual version i found on some blog... what a song!

actually it was on WFMU's beware of the blog IIRC

uh YSI??

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/12/goodbye-fred-ch.html

'Marcia' is just the tip of the iceberg, they've got many more songs waiting for you. and the most consistently brilliant videos of any of my favorite bands.

not sure if that 'Marcia' remix is as classic as the original but it's fun to hear the lyrics in English: 'but DEATH is like something that is impossible to you'

all their lyrics, really. when I finally figured out what 'le petit train' was actually about, boom

s1oki go youtube the video for "marcia baila" immediately, and then watch "le petit train"

ya i've been watching the MB video... there's two up actually, but i assume you mean the super stylized dancey one?

incidentally milton i've been enjoying that comp you made & leonardoed a while back

i just want to second dominique's post up there..

this weekend i heard "andy" played at top volume in a club and the place went nuts.. that synth line sounded so warmly harsh and definite, the lyrics ("dis-moi oui") and singing so desperately sexual and playful.. good god!

still so good..

aaaaa-haaa
I wouldnt worry about it
we're feeling CLEAN!

??!!

Just found this on my computer for some reason. I threw it on and thought, "great, more Urban Outfitters music." Apparently it's from the 1980s, though. Weird.

they let you bring your computer into work?

1) I'm a student 2) If you're implying something, screw you. If not, go to 1)

yeah, pretty much the only people that work at urban outfitters are 1) students and b) dickholes

I think it's interesting that in a time when companies are laying off people in droves, you're content with judging people by where they work.

i judge people by where they don't work

The small train
Goes in the countryside
To and fro
Continues its path
Serpentine
Wood and scrap
Green rust and gray
In the rain

It is beautiful
When the sun ignites
At sunset
through fields

Hats of Country-women
Undulate in the wind
They laugh
Sometimes to tears
Dreaming of their lovers

Oats have already sprouted
Have you returned the wheat?
This year the cows made
Hectolitres of milk

Toy train
Where within do you go?
Train of death
But what do you do?
Will you still remake it?

Nobody knows what has been done
Anybody who does, does not believe
But me I am nevertheless there

The small train In the countryside
And children?
The small train In the mountain
Grandparents
Toy train
Bring them to the flames through fields

Le petit train
Goes in the countryside
To and fro
Continues its path
Serpentin wood, scrap
Maroon and gray
In the rain

One will re-examine this
At another time
Passing trains
Some other time?
It is not me who will answer

Nobody knows what has been done
Anyone who does, does not believe
But me I am nevertheless here

Toy train
Where within do you go?
Train of death
But what do you do?
Will you still remake it?

Will there be another time
That trains like this will pass?
It is not me who will answer

classic

found the second album on vinyl yesterday. it's alot more straightforward than "andy" led me to believe, but i'm enjoying it. i feel like i'm gonna get really into the songs at some point and worry less about the production. her voice is fantastic

my girlfriend said she saw them live a few years ago, before the death of fred chichin

wanna hear the album with conrad

not that the production is bad - i should say, worry less about the straightforward arrangements. you know what i mean

apparently les rita mitsouko was the name of a japanese perfume

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVuc8MigDiw