A couple of days ago I watched Tarantino's "Grindhouse" on disc and nearly fell out of my chair when the end credits came up. The song over the credits was "Chick Habit" by April March! April was a layout artist on the second season of Ren & Stimpy! Check out this YouTube version of the song (above).
We all thought April had talent but most of us weren't familiar with the French Yay-Yay (spelled right?) style that she worked in. Now I feel stupid for not having paid more attention. I'm really happy for her. Here's (above) a video of another of her songs, "Mignonette."
Here's a fan favorite (above): "Cet Air-La."
I assume everyone here is familiar with the Yay Yay style, but in case you're not here's (above) a sample by Sylvie Vartan.
I've been a big fan of April March for years. Her newer album "Triggers" is fantastic. Also her song "Cet Air La" makes me cry every damn time I hear it.
Her MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=173100078
I've listened to her stuff for a while now, and when looking on a Wikipedia page I saw that she had worked on Ren and Stimpy, which I thought was pretty cool/unbelievable.
HOLY!!!! HOMINA HOMINA HOMINA!!!! She's talented, draws, has rhythm and a voice to match (speaks French too MEOOOOWWWW) and on top of that is quite a looker!
Damn John can sure pick his talents quite well in just about ever area! I love being a cartoonist :).
I remember April March! We knew her when she was still an animator named Eleanor Blake.
Multi-talented, funny, sweet - and even cuter in person than she is in that music video.
BTW Eddie - there are much better, more representative clips of Sylvie Vartan than the one you posted. I tried to find her greatest Scopitone performance on YouTube, ("Est-ce Que tu Le Sais") but it wasn't listed, cuss the luck.
However, I did find THIS one! (You won't be disappointed!)
Eddie, BTW, are you sure the last video is in the same "style" as the first two? I can't find any musical commonalities between them at all. Plus the last one is about 35 years older than the others! What are the defining features of this "Yay Yay" style, anyway? Does anyone know?
Wow! Her French is very good. I thought she was French or French Canadian because of how well she spoke it. I was suprised to learn that she is American.
I have heard of April March before, but I didn't know that she worked in animation. I always learn something from you.
lester: Thanks for the definition! Sylvie was a big Yay Yay star but you're right, the song isn't typical. I couldn't resist putting it in because the dancing was so funny. I found myself laughing out loud at it.
I'm the wrong person to ask to define Yay Yay. I'm not even sure if I'm spelling it right!
In the 90's I DJ'd a radio show at Concordia Radio in Montreal (CRSG), and one of the records I played was Voodoo Doll by April March. I had no clue it was Elanor Blake of Ren & Stimpy fame at the time.
Y'know, I can say a good thing or two about that Mignonette song but damn, that Sylvie clip and song rock in so many ways. I can't stop playing it.
This kind of music is amazing. The orchestra, the organ, the basslines, that psychotic drumming and there's something about European French that just works for these singers. Plus the cheese factor makes it 1000 times cooler. Screw the Beatles!
Congratulations on my behalf, and I wish her career in music will flourish towards a very bright future. Why is it, that all the female cartoonists are total babes, while men in the same profession are complete dorks?
Anyway, I have recently posted part 1 of my Terrytoons posts, Eddie, in case if have the time to read it.
yeah, i got in on this type of music from katie rice. sylvie vartan, francoise hardy...i dig it all.
did you mention it already? but: what did you think of grindhouse? everyone hates it, leaves early, & never end up watching 'deathproof'. wonder that extended cut has to offer.
Bruce: A very interesting piece on Terry! Maybe we're lucky that he valued speed above all things, otherwise we might never have seen what Jim Tyre was capable of!
Jose: I liked "Grindhouse." I saw it on rental discs and the special features really helped. I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I'd seen it in a theater.
I liked the Kurt Russell parts of Tarantino's film but girls were terrible. The wife in Rodriguez's part wasn't bad...I wish her part had been bigger.
i was lucky to be around when they were playing it at, i think it was, the regent in hollywood. tickets to grindhouse for 3 BUCKS!
yeah, kurt russell was great. great introduction to his character in that bar too. he's so charming, and likeable, almost pitied slightly. then he changes to psycho killer. then to wimpy victim. great major turns for that character.
and how about that heel kick to that face right at the end? haha.
"Yeh Yeh", I think. I love all of April March's work, but if only you guys could hear the unreleased stuff she did with Andy Paley! It's some of the best damn music I've ever heard.
I just wrote to Eleanor (aka April March) and she wrote back and told me you were amazing and that she was real honored. She'll check out this site soon.
Check out the original by France Gall on Youtube; it's much brighter, although April March's version is also interesting.
The British took fifties rock and roll, mixed it with dance hall music and came up with skiffle, which turned into the Beatles; the Germans mixed rock with oom-pa and got schlagers music which turned into ABBA, but the French mixed it with varietie and got the ye ye movement, of which France Gall has the most resonance today. She's literally like an unknown Beatles or ABBA, only you can't understand her unless you speak French, which is too bad because she has some incredible Serge Gainsbourgh tunes.
Wow Eddie! She's a looker!
ReplyDeleteI've been a big fan of April March for years. Her newer album "Triggers" is fantastic. Also her song "Cet Air La" makes me cry every damn time I hear it.
ReplyDelete-Jordan
Her MySpace:
ReplyDeletehttp://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=173100078
I've listened to her stuff for a while now, and when looking on a Wikipedia page I saw that she had worked on Ren and Stimpy, which I thought was pretty cool/unbelievable.
Katie Rice will flip when she sees this, she's a fan of French pop!
ReplyDeleteDrawing on Ren and Stimpy AND mastering the retro French pop style is just too cool for one person!
HOLY!!!! HOMINA HOMINA HOMINA!!!! She's talented, draws, has rhythm and a voice to match (speaks French too MEOOOOWWWW) and on top of that is quite a looker!
ReplyDeleteDamn John can sure pick his talents quite well in just about ever area! I love being a cartoonist :).
Damn Damn Damn!!! I wish I lived around more talent like this!!! I live in a wasteland.
ReplyDeleteI'm depressed Eddie, but happy at the same time for showing me April March (Her name even ROCKS!!!)
I remember April March! We knew her when she was still an animator named Eleanor Blake.
ReplyDeleteMulti-talented, funny, sweet - and even cuter in person than she is in that music video.
BTW Eddie - there are much better, more representative clips of Sylvie Vartan than the one you posted.
I tried to find her greatest Scopitone performance on YouTube, ("Est-ce Que tu Le Sais") but it wasn't listed, cuss the luck.
However, I did find THIS one! (You won't be disappointed!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04pfSefNdYQ
so the rumors are true, she did work for Spumco! That's so cool! I like her album Triggers a lot! It's really great, buy it, everyone!
ReplyDeleteI think "Un Mignonette" means "A Cutie," which suits her perfectly.
ReplyDeleteEddie, BTW, are you sure the last video is in the same "style" as the first two? I can't find any musical commonalities between them at all. Plus the last one is about 35 years older than the others! What are the defining features of this "Yay Yay" style, anyway? Does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteWow! Her French is very good. I thought she was French or French Canadian because of how well she spoke it. I was suprised to learn that she is American.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of April March before, but I didn't know that she worked in animation. I always learn something from you.
Good for her Eddie. I applaud anyone who has a life outside this crummy business.
ReplyDeleteMike: LOL!
ReplyDeletelester: Thanks for the definition! Sylvie was a big Yay Yay star but you're right, the song isn't typical. I couldn't resist putting it in because the dancing was so funny. I found myself laughing out loud at it.
I'm the wrong person to ask to define Yay Yay. I'm not even sure if I'm spelling it right!
Jordan: I just listened to "Cet Air La." It's great!
ReplyDeleteDid you cry?
ReplyDelete-Jordan
April March. I love her.
ReplyDeleteCHICK HABIT is a perfect song and a perfect cap to DEATH PROOF.
ReplyDeleteThe original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC-3v58ZFco
Apparently it's spelled "yeye" and I'm gonna guess it's derived from the staple phrase of 60's pop, "yeah, yeah".
In the 90's I DJ'd a radio show at Concordia Radio in Montreal (CRSG), and one of the records I played was Voodoo Doll by April March. I had no clue it was Elanor Blake of Ren & Stimpy fame at the time.
ReplyDeleteThe chorus still rings in my head.
Y'know, I can say a good thing or two about that Mignonette song but damn, that Sylvie clip and song rock in so many ways. I can't stop playing it.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of music is amazing. The orchestra, the organ, the basslines, that psychotic drumming and there's something about European French that just works for these singers. Plus the cheese factor makes it 1000 times cooler. Screw the Beatles!
Congratulations on my behalf, and I wish her career in music will flourish towards a very bright future. Why is it, that all the female cartoonists are total babes, while men in the same profession are complete dorks?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have recently posted part 1 of my Terrytoons posts, Eddie, in case if have the time to read it.
Later, from an inspiring cartoonist/ artist
Bruce
yeah, i got in on this type of music from katie rice. sylvie vartan, francoise hardy...i dig it all.
ReplyDeletedid you mention it already? but: what did you think of grindhouse? everyone hates it, leaves early, & never end up watching 'deathproof'. wonder that extended cut has to offer.
Bruce: A very interesting piece on Terry! Maybe we're lucky that he valued speed above all things, otherwise we might never have seen what Jim Tyre was capable of!
ReplyDeleteJose: I liked "Grindhouse." I saw it on rental discs and the special features really helped. I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I'd seen it in a theater.
I liked the Kurt Russell parts of Tarantino's film but girls were terrible. The wife in Rodriguez's part wasn't bad...I wish her part had been bigger.
i was lucky to be around when they were playing it at, i think it was, the regent in hollywood. tickets to grindhouse for 3 BUCKS!
ReplyDeleteyeah, kurt russell was great. great introduction to his character in that bar too. he's so charming, and likeable, almost pitied slightly. then he changes to psycho killer. then to wimpy victim. great major turns for that character.
and how about that heel kick to that face right at the end? haha.
Hey, that last music clip you have was updated for Dance Dance Revolution I think. It even looks like her back up dancers are doing DDR.
ReplyDelete"Yeh Yeh", I think. I love all of April March's work, but if only you guys could hear the unreleased stuff she did with Andy Paley! It's some of the best damn music I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteHey Eddie,
ReplyDeleteI just wrote to Eleanor (aka April March) and she wrote back and told me you were amazing and that she was real honored. She'll check out this site soon.
I only recently learned that they were the same person- great songs!
ReplyDeleteSean: Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJordan: You were the fan I had in mind when I said fan favorites!
Anon: What's "Dance Dance revolution?"
Check out the original by France Gall on Youtube; it's much brighter, although April March's version is also interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe British took fifties rock and roll, mixed it with dance hall music and came up with skiffle, which turned into the Beatles; the Germans mixed rock with oom-pa and got schlagers music which turned into ABBA, but the French mixed it with varietie and got the ye ye movement, of which France Gall has the most resonance today. She's literally like an unknown Beatles or ABBA, only you can't understand her unless you speak French, which is too bad because she has some incredible Serge Gainsbourgh tunes.
Also she's much better looking than April.