which is the best saint etienne song?

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― hub, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:37 (twenty years ago)

Best one:
Well. It's not really a S. Ettienne song: Only love can break your heart ... by Neil Young.
Second should be: Nothing can stop us ...
Third: Like a Motorway
Fourth: He's on the phone

― nocure, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:42 (twenty years ago)

1-who do you think you are
2- he's on the phone
3- only love can break your heart

― hub, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:44 (twenty years ago)

"Marble Lions" has to take the prize for me.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

Burnt Out Car
Stars Above Us off the new one is pretty hot

― adam (adam), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

I don't know.

― N_RQ, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

He's On The Phone

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

Mouldy Old Dough

― bored (nostudium), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:10 (twenty years ago)

n the slowies as well...
teenage winter is top

― hub, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:15 (twenty years ago)

"Burnt out car." Or "Hobart paving." Or "You're in a bad way." Or "Who do you think you are." Or "Stop and think it over." Or "The process." Or "Teenage winter." What day of the week is it?

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:16 (twenty years ago)

No other band has as many songs that can basically reduce me to tears of.. kind of joy. "Goodnight" and "Teenage Winter" do this, but it's too early to say if they're REALLY up there, but they must be.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

What's the one which is slow, acousticish, and halfway through there's the sound of a street riot in the distance. On "you need a mess of help"?

That one.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:25 (twenty years ago)

something off of 'tiger bay', probably.

― N_RQ, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:27 (twenty years ago)

911 Is A Joke

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:28 (twenty years ago)

He's on the phone

― Britain's Jauntiest Shepherd (Alan), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

who the hell are saint etienne???

― jenna2, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:31 (twenty years ago)

Some days, for me "He's on the phone" isn't even the best song on that CD single (since it also has "The process" -- which always makes me feel like I'm in a sad but beautifully-lit Bridgette Bardot movie -- and "Groveley Road").

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

You're thinking of "Paper", right, mark?

On some days, I would definitely say "Hug My Soul", mind.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

i'd say hobart paving

― grovesnor, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

Edward, surely that's only because "Hug my soul" is basically a rewrite of "More more more," and so you can imagine Rachel duetting with Scarah, right?

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

'hug my soul' is underrated. also, the first stet record i bought.

― N_RQ, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)

AVENUE

― zeus, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:42 (twenty years ago)

Apparently "A Good Thing" is the next single :( instead of "Lightning Strikes Twice" as wanted.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:43 (twenty years ago)

'how we used to live' is my final answer, though i have played this far fewer times than anything off the first three elpees.

― N_RQ, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

Thanks, Edward o. I had put this onto a compilation and then forgot which track it was...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

Let's Build A Zoo. If you're six.

― gspm (gspm), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:49 (twenty years ago)

Nothing Can Stop Us

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:52 (twenty years ago)

I used to assume that everyone liked the uptempo properpophit ones best, so; "Pale Movie", for the words, but then they released "He's On The Phone" and that did so much better for them. I think I like it slightly better too, now.

"Hate Your Drug", some days. This is pretty hard, best/favourite etc.

― Alex in Sheffield (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

i reckon that a good thing is a top song
but lightening can strikes twice and stars above us were a better choice. or teenage winter as xmas single!

― hub, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

I think "Who do you think you are" is actually a cover version, isn't it?

― nocure, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:02 (twenty years ago)

Yes -- the original was by Candlewick Green.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

"Mario's Cafe" for today at least
but maybe "Spring" or "Avenue" for all time best

― rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:15 (twenty years ago)

Candlewick Green? I thing it's by Jigsaw

― nocure, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

No, Candlewick Green it is.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:23 (twenty years ago)

Mario's Cafe

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

Let me check on allmusic.com
Composers: Des Dyer/Clive Scott

― nocure, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:28 (twenty years ago)

They wrote it, yes, but Candlewick Green recorded the version that was a chart hit.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:35 (twenty years ago)

Their cover of "Who Do You Think You Are".

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:36 (twenty years ago)

Ok thanks edward

― nocure, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

This is just like Sophie's Choice!

― O'so Krispie (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

Marble Lions

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 12:48 (twenty years ago)

Top 5 - Hobart Paving, Mario's Cafe, London Belongs To Me, Nothing Can Stop Us, He's On The Phone. Ability to separate any of them from potent memories of moving to London - nil.

― Dorian, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

Top 2 : i buy american records and Hate your drug are my top2
Both b sides of the almost equally fantastic Jug my soul
They gained my respect forever by releasing these 2 tracks as b-sides (they are the best b-sides bands with Suede i always found - could be a good thread idea : "best b-sides band"

― Arnault (arc73hk), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

In the US, Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods had a minor hit with "Who Do You Think You Are?" - it was their follow up to "Billy Don't Be a Hero" (also a cover of a then-recent UK hit.)

― Felix Happer, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

Avenue
Nothing Can Stop Us
Spring
Hug My Soul
Amateur

nope, can't get any more accurate than that.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

also their cover of "Stormtrooper in Drag" is completely perfect

― rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

1. Cool Kids Of Death (Underworld remix).
2. Hobart Paving (single version)

― everything, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

The best Saint Etienne song is "Avenue". If the question was: which is the second best SE song? I probably could not come up with an answer.

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

The Bad Photographer

― k/l (Ken L), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

It's true, "Avenue" is pretty fucking amazing.

― everything, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

1) Only Love Can Break Your Heart (cover); 2) Hobart Paving; 3) Avenue

― DJMonsterMo, Tuesday, 6 September 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

"We're In The City" is my favorite cut.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

hobart paving, nothing can stop us, avenue.

the later albums suffer because they're more consistent.

― Mitch Mitchell (mitya), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 22:55 (twenty years ago)

it'd be "avenue", were it not for the existence of "paper" on the B-side.

i interviewed sarah cracknell years ago (she was lovely) and waxed lyrical about "paper". she got all shy and said it was one of her absolute favourites too (did she, in fact, write it? i can't remember now.)

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

fucking hell. reading this thread reminds me a) how great saint etienne are; b) that i haven't listened to them in years; c) that i owned a best-of of some kind (white cover, sarah, tracklisting next to her) which i'm 99% sure disappeared along with "philophobia" and that fucking brilliant babybird album about the kids and the petrol cigarettes when my flatmate split up with his girlfriend. gaah.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 23:16 (twenty years ago)

"Filthy" is pretty good too ...

― nocure, Wednesday, 7 September 2005 10:27 (twenty years ago)

Phill Jupitus on Turnpike in the new, um, Radio Times! rock'n'roll!

― Alex in Sheffield (Alex in Doncaster), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 10:29 (twenty years ago)

SAINT ETIENNE, what a band!

― rug-y, Wednesday, 7 September 2005 10:37 (twenty years ago)

Hobart Paving, Archway People or Sylvie.

― Anna (Anna), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

nine months pass...

My favourite remains "You're In A Bad Way". I think I decided this was my favourite at some point, and haven't bothered to change my mind. Other contenders: "Paper", "Marble Lions", "I Buy American Records" (in fact, most of "Tiger Bay").

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:58 (nineteen years ago)

are you a fan of "hobart paving"?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

(i think "you're in a bad way" is my fave too)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

's not so bad, I suppose...

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:05 (nineteen years ago)

"Who Do You Think You Are?" is still dee-vine.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

A man could lose himself in London. Lose himself. Lose himself. Lose himself in London!

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

my favourite constantly changes. right now, perhaps the alternate version of 'nothing can stop us' as found on the 'nice price!' compilation.

― gear (gear), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 16:59 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah it's "Avenue" for me, tho they have at least 10 songs which come close. I have trouble believing how great they are sometimes. Anything off "Good Humor" could contend, but then I could just about say the same about "Tiger Bay".

― LOSE HIMSELF (Andrew Thames), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 05:06 (nineteen years ago)

For me personally, it's "Been So Long".

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 05:19 (nineteen years ago)

the alternate version of hobart paving on nice price is great!

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 05:36 (nineteen years ago)

'been so long' is the shit

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 06:23 (nineteen years ago)

add another vote to "nothing can stop us"

― el juan (el juan), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 06:55 (nineteen years ago)

what the hell is 'nice price'?

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 08:03 (nineteen years ago)

the alternate version of hobart paving on nice price is great!
-- fortunate hazel (haze...), June 21st, 2006.

I think I need to know more about this. Please tell.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 09:41 (nineteen years ago)

Become a member of the St Et Fan club (online, it's free)

Then buy a limited edition copy of.

I have one, it's very nice.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 21 June 2006 10:35 (nineteen years ago)

how do i shot fan club?

― Roughage Crew (Enrique), Thursday, 22 June 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

"Shoot Out The Lights"

― Fsck Washing Ong's Hat (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:04 (nineteen years ago)

Never liked them unless in moderation. But 'He's On The Phone', 'Hug My Soul' and 'Join Our Club are hard to bee-ee-eeaaatt.

― Hal! Jordan! HAL! JORDAN! (Barima), Thursday, 22 June 2006 18:12 (nineteen years ago)

Great selections here. Nice to see all those older classics retaining their value!

Naming one, way too hard. Saint Etienne have been top 5 band status for me for at least a decade. So the faves change and get more and more esoteric all the time.

Singles you can get pretty easily. So, here are 10 random non-singles I would prefer not to live without:

Think Twice
B92
Sometimes In Winter
Marble Lions
Spring
Goodnight Jack
Railway Jam
Sushi Rider
Lonesome
Teenage Winter

(Even this list is too short.)

― bkjj40a (bkjj40a), Friday, 23 June 2006 00:14 (nineteen years ago)

oh, yes, B92 is lovely! i change my mind a lot. the other day the alt. version of Goodnight was making very happy. 'Former Lover' and 'Marble Lions' are really incredible too. and 'Who Do You Think You Are'.

what are 'Lonesome' and 'Think Twice'????

i much prefer the 7" mix of 'Sushi Rider' to the longer version. has it been on a comp. yet?

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 23 June 2006 04:56 (nineteen years ago)

Think Twice is on "I love to paint"

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 23 June 2006 08:44 (nineteen years ago)

Carnt Sleep
Urban Clearway
London Belongs To Me
Calico
Afraid To Go Home
Madelaine
Former Lover
People Get Real

One of those. Or a different one.

― David Orton (scarlet), Friday, 23 June 2006 09:25 (nineteen years ago)

See, another completely amazing list. Yes, 'Think Twice' is on I Love to Paint. And no offense to all present owners of that treasure, but I would really hope SE will package some kind of extensive, remastered reissue of key B side/odds ends recordings. That 7" mix of Sushi Rider sounds better to me, too.

I almost put 'Former Lover' on that list too. Also 'On the Shore.'

Really, no end of great stuff, which has caused me to attempt to snap up every errant cd-single and complilation they have.

― bkjj40a (bkjj40a), Friday, 23 June 2006 22:11 (nineteen years ago)

Avenue but depending on my mood I might love Shower Scene just as much.

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 24 June 2006 02:04 (nineteen years ago)

in addition to the previously mentioned 'nothing can stop us'...

'slow down at the castle'
'been so long'
'heart failed in the back of a taxi'
'mario's cafe'
'pale movie'
'burnt out car'
'stop and think it over'
'angel' (nice price version)
'mr donut'
'b92'

― gear (gear), Saturday, 24 June 2006 06:09 (nineteen years ago)

oh, 'mr. donut' is great!
'erica america'
'urban clearway'!
'suburban autumn lieutenant'
'side streets'
'london belongs to me'!!!
'spring'

― derrick (derrick), Saturday, 24 June 2006 07:55 (nineteen years ago)

five years pass...

I heard Shower Scene in a nightclub the other night and even though there was nobody there it just sounded so good, even more so than usual. I think it might have overtaken Sylvie after that for me.

― ha ha ha ha jack my swag (boxedjoy), Tuesday, 12 July 2011 10:29 (fourteen years ago)

I like "People Get Real" a lot, but dont think its the best. Maybe "He's on the Phone"...

― phil-two, Tuesday, 12 July 2011 21:32 (fourteen years ago)

six years pass...

Some days it's definitely
Nothing can stop us

― tinnitus the night (Ross), Thursday, 22 March 2018 15:15 (seven years ago)

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