Franz Ferdinand and the Return of Coolness in Music

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So, in the opening medley at the Grammy Awards, you had Black Eyed Peas, los Lonely Boys, and Maroon 5 do their bits. Then, they cut to Franz Ferdinand and suddenly there was the sense that you were seeing something OTHER.

Say what you will about Franz Ferdinand's abilities--suffice to say for this thread that they executed their song fine. Whatever you think of them, I think that this sense of otherness about them was palpable. The Beatles had this sense about them when people saw them on Ed Sullivan.

When was the last time something like this happened on the Grammys? Do you have to go back to the original punk/new wave era?

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

What, this is the year punk broke America again?

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

http://indierock4eva.blogspot.com/

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

"A rilly big SHEW...FRAZZ FERDELBANG!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I suppose I'm leaving myself open to jokes about Franz Ferdinand's abilities, though I tried to quell them in the original post. Question was meant in earnest, tho.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

james' answer was meant in earnest too!

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Tim I understand what you're getting at. I just don't think FF being cool is significant, cuz unlike the Beatles they're not the vanguard of anything in particular. It's a shame though, artists today are too nice to be cool.

― Lukas (lukas), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

maroon 5 are "other"?

― stockholm cindy's secret childhood (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:37 (twenty-one years ago)

No, they're the boys next door or something.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

what about the white stripes last year? or even outkast last year? i think there's probably some band you can say this about almost every year.

and as for "otherness" last night, the band that looked and sounded the most unlike all the others, i'd vote for lynyrd skynyrd, not franz ferdinand.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Did I miss anything (except the mighty fine Franz Ferdinand)?

― stevie nixed (stevie nixed), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry dudes, there's no such thing as "other" at the grammies.

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Franz Ferdinand's "otherness" stems from their influences being entirely different from all the act they shared the medley with (i.e. they have taste).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

When was the last time something like this happened on the Grammys? Do you have to go back to the original punk/new wave era?

Half-page photo of Gwen Stefani's legs in today's LA Times entertainment section. Put lead in the pencil.

― Harry Klam, Monday, 14 February 2005 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Franz Ferdinand come from a more obscure place than the White Stripes. If you were to say Outkast, you'd have to also say...I don't know...Prince? Beck?

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

they looked like they stepped out of a time machine. i don't think they looked that cool. i didn't think their song was that cool. but then, maybe, i'm just a little tired of the 80's thing after what seems like a decade of revivalism. i mean, the faint's revivalism 5 years ago seemed old to me 5 years ago. not that it really matters if the music is any good, but i guess i haven't heard franz ferdinand's good stuff.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i think I made the same "coolness" argument about beck in high school and about bono saying "fuck" in middle school. Doubt I'll be doing it again anytime soon.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

acts, that should've been.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i mean, yeah, they didn't look or sound much like gwen stefani and the black eyed peas, if that's what yer getting at.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

No, I'm saying that there was a bizarreness to them that transcends the wackiness of Beck or Outkast.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

ties?

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, it's more that they seem to harbor no desire to incorporate anything that generally feeds American top 40 Pop into their music. No bullshit hip hop posturing, no stupid lingo, etc.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, they didn't seem that bizarre to me.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

(x-post)
i *would* say prince if he appeared on the grammy awards anytime in the early- to mid-'80s (i have no idea if he did or not).

i also have no idea what you mean when you say franz ferdinand comes from a more obscure place than the white stripes.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Sorry.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

you guys gotta hear this song called "all day and all of the night" it's the craziest thing ever

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

in the bedroom

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

BIZARRE
http://www.bradcoweb.com/rockgroups/top1.jpg

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe more obscure than the White Stripes in the sense that true bizarreness is always more obscure than...whatever the White Stripes are.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

haha! this is great

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

And the Raiders always kind of struck me as not bizarre, actually. The Beatles were more bizarre than the Raiders.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Unless you think Captain Kangaroo is bizarre!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

OTHERNESS
ihttp://www.appalshop.org/headwaters/RalphBanjo.jpg

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

dammit. that would be ralph stanley, though.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh those Raiders- Goddamn they look so awesome. What positively kicky boots!!!!

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Keep these exotic boys, customs has decided that it can't be imported back into Europe.

― stevie nixed (stevie nixed), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

anyhow surely franz ferdinand don't evoke the 80s or the 60s nearly as much as they do 2001, which in 2004 (don't hold yr breath on 05) is kinda bizarre! not sure about cool

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Captain Kangaroo is pretty bizarre, when ya really think about it. I mean, really. What sort've vessel does he commandeer? And why Kangaroo? He doesn't hop about. And he's not even Australian!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe more obscure than the White Stripes in the sense that true bizarreness is always more obscure than...whatever the White Stripes are.

that sentence is kind of obscure AND bizarre, i'll give you that!

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i also have no idea what you mean when you say franz ferdinand comes from a more obscure place than the white stripes

Scotland is more obscure than Michigan.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

2002?

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought Franz Ferdinand looked dumb. That bass player did that stiff SS strut around the stage that the dudes from the Clash did. And I always thought the Clash looked dumb too.

Bizarre OTHERNESS at the Grammy's is Herbie Hancock with DJ Grandmaster D.ST

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Unless you think Captain Kangaroo is bizarre!

I was on it, so...

Bizarre OTHERNESS at the Grammy's is Herbie Hancock with DJ Grandmaster D.ST

Still one of the greatest things ever. Along with John Denver striking Travolta disco poses.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

The last time the Grammy's saw any genuine "bizarre otherness":

http://www.sidcolton.com/directoryOfSidShows/grammyDylanSoyBomb.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 February 2005 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

"Scotland is more obscure than Michigan."

Gimme a break, that's not what I'm saying. Iggy and the Stooges were from Michigan. The White Stripes are a bore.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, who's the old dude getting the way of the performance art?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

haha and franz ferdinand are more exciting????

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Also: I don't think Captain Kangaroo was all that bizarre in the general context of children's television bizarreness. Maybe Soupy Sales or someone was...

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

"haha and franz ferdinand are more exciting????"

Yeah, personally, I think so. They're certainly more bizarro.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

They always manage to put one more critically acclaimed artist in the Grammies. A more typically "indie" kind of thing. A mid-level band that's had some airplay of their video and seen their song chart mildly.

The current indie trend is post-punk revival. It was garage rock revival before that.

If say, Wolf Eyes or Animal Collective played that would be pretty bizarre. If Steve Reich played it'd be more so. If it was Anal Cunt, then I'd admit to the otherness.

― David Allen (David Allen), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 92 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I'm really glad that I started this thread. I thought twice about it!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:44 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.subcutaneous.tv/gerebil.jpg

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:44 (twenty-one years ago)

http://home.earthlink.net/~xr250rdr/avatars/lemmiwinks_av.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:46 (twenty-one years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002IQI8I.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

double entendre? never.

― mike h. (mike h.), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:48 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/LewisAndClark/images/gerbil.jpg
Franz Ferdinand from the cheap seats

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't catch the Grammy's, but it warms my heart to think that a magic tunnel of coolness opened up between Franz Ferdinand and Tim during the show. Those moments are all too rare and should be cherished.

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

wow - I've got a copy of that SS album but I'd never seen the cover before. Truly hideous.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 14 February 2005 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread is wonderfully entertaining ... which that medley was not. Neither was Skynyrd, for that matter. I was really disapointed ... after at first being thrilled to see of my fave bands make the Grammy line-up.

― Chris O., Monday, 14 February 2005 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

dancefloor filler that combines ethereal sonic harmonies with a gutbucket raunch attack

I MUST HEAR THIS!!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,418125,00.jpg
Gwen airs out her Magic Tunnel

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

When I went to steal that SS pic from amaz0n, they gave me the option to:
"Buy this album with Franz Ferdinand ~ Franz Ferdinand today!"

― mike h. (mike h.), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

every single thread on ILX eventually returns to the same three topics: rodents, ass-fucking, and shirtless photos of male celebrities.

― Riot Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

1 Seikan - Tsugaru Strait, Japan
2 Channel Tunnel - English Channel, England–France
3 Iwate Ichinohe - Tanigawa Mountains, Japan
4 Daishimizu - Mikuni Mountain Range, Japan
5 Simplon (I and II) - Alps, Switzerland–Italy
6 Vereina Klosters–Sagliains, Switzerland
7 Shin Kanmon - Kanmon Strait, Japan
8 Apennine Bologna–Florence, Italy
9 Qinling I-II - Qinling Mountains, China
10 Rokkô - Rokkô Mountain, Japan

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

dan's gerbil/hamster pic is priceless.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,418122,00.jpg
Norah Jones and Stevie Wonder(kneeling)

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:57 (twenty-one years ago)

See, if FF dressed like Gwen does they would be 10x better overnight.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.musicroom.com/images/catalogue/fullsize/am980694.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Your are viewing the Super Magic Tunnel by Pel. The suggested ages for the Super Magic Tunnel is 3.5 - 5. Create active play indoors and outdoors. Kids will imagine crawling through a spy tunnel, exploring a secret cave, finding a pirate hideaway, or creating a secret clubhouse. Portable, lightweight tunnel folds flat for easy storage. 19” diameter and 71” long. Exercise for the body and the imagination.

― mike h. (mike h.), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

where's Marissa Marchant?

― Riot Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

DJ SAMMY! YES!

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,418110,00.jpg
Joss "Man Hands" Stone adjusts the entrance to her Magic Tunnel

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesus, Christina looks possessed in that pic.

I thought FF looked like they were going to lengths to be this "real" urban hip intellectual thang, sort of like college freshman after winter break.

In my oh-so-quotable blurb about them for the NY'er, I called them "the Strokes after a few semesters at the Sorbonne." Oh how we laughed.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

http://content.grammy.com/gallery/arrivals2/01_FranzFerdinand.jpg
and u wonder why we return to ": rodents, ass-fucking, and shirtless photos of male celebrities."

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

http://content.grammy.com/gallery/arrivals2/08_AliciaKeys_JamieFoxx.jpg
Someone better find a fuckin stylist in that tunnel

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:12 (twenty-one years ago)

if they had had those dragostea doodz start the show, THAT would have been cool! They played that song on the top 40 station today when i was in the car! That was the first time I had heard it outside of da noize thread. Sounded wonderful.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

http://content.grammy.com/gallery/show3/09_EllenDeGeneres.jpg
Iggy plus Ellen is other

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Soy Bomb eventually went on to write and sing the pop music ditty "Run Like the Wind With Your Hands on My Timmy Tim Tim."

― George Smith, Monday, 14 February 2005 23:34 (twenty-one years ago)

The depressive rant would run something like this:

Let's face it folks: music as such just ISN'T "cool" anymore. The kids are into games now. It's over. You can stop handing out awards and pack up your things and go home to play Katamari Damacy. "American Idol" has debunked any mystery about the process by which stars on the Grammy level are marketed; the process of demystification has itself run its course and no one even cares about critiquing the demystification of the process (except for ILMer college roommates studying American Idol in school, omgwtf) So, um . . . . Bye bye "coolness", hello ragged survival and making do . . .

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.magic-hour.co.uk/days8b.jpg
ragged survival+making do=supercooooool

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, yes, exactly!!!

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

yoo can download "Raping Adrian Belew In The Dark Of Night (With The Aid Of One Large Alien Probe)" on the tapedeck website:

http://www.thetapedeck.com/

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:47 (twenty-one years ago)

But I don't know why you would want to.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

The Official Linda Manz Appreciation Thread

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

http://fapomatic.com/7/photo4_1.jpg

― disappear into my loins (PUNXSUTAWNEY PENIS), Monday, 14 February 2005 23:59 (twenty-one years ago)

yoo can download "Raping Adrian Belew In The Dark Of Night (With The Aid Of One Large Alien Probe)" on the tapedeck website:

The Tapedeck wrote the coolest promo letters ever, accompanied with wonderful caricatures and art. One of the Tapedecks was jailed by New York's finest, sued Rudy Giulani and won. They vowed to invent "supermetal" but fell short of that goal, breaking up prematurely.

― George Smith, Tuesday, 15 February 2005 00:00 (twenty-one years ago)

wait, even better:

http://img95.exs.cx/img95/4176/photo45su.jpg

― disappear into my loins (PUNXSUTAWNEY PENIS), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahaha. You watched the Grammys! Hahaha!

― fabio_gonzales, Tuesday, 15 February 2005 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

lowest rated Grammy show in 10 years:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050215/ap_on_en_mu/tv_lively_grammys

― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 15 February 2005 01:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Who gives a fuck about anything on this thread when Basement Jaxx won best electronic album, motherfuckers

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.bearshop.net/M-StrongFull.JPG

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 02:12 (twenty-one years ago)

TS: "Magic Tunnels" vs. "Otherness"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

every single thread on ILX eventually returns to the same three topics: rodents [rockism], ass-fucking [indie guilt], and shirtless photos of male celebrities [xgau].

― W i l l (common_person), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

for ILM, that is

― W i l l (common_person), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

for inspiring the mental image of a shirtless christgau you should only drop dead

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw 10 minutes of the show, and by far the coolest thing was Latifah copping a feel on one of her twin mincing top-hatted dancers.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Like you haven't read his sex column, Miccio

― W i l l (common_person), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Speaking of tunnels, there was a real through the rabbit hole thing going on, given how gigantic John Mayer and Joss Stone looked next to the people they were paired with. Either Melissa Etheridge is truly tiny, or Joss Stone is a giant.

A giant of soul!!!!!

Bwah hah hah .... heh ...

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 15 February 2005 21:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh Lemiwinks! go the other way! this end of the tunnel has been blocked by the Great Sphincter!

― AaronK (AaronK), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 00:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Every couple of years Americans will be exposed to European weirdness (no offense) and be totally boggled by it. I'm sure to many Europeans Franz Ferdinand is nothing new in terms of fashion and taste, but to many Americans they are just totally out of place in terms of style.

― Cunga (Cunga), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 03:31 (twenty-one years ago)

What, this is the year punk broke America again?
The next time punk breaks, I'm not going to fix it.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 16 February 2005 03:33 (twenty-one years ago)

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