“Excuse moi? Quoi? Excuse moi? Quoi?”
February 6, 2023 3:04 AM Subscribe
The French lyric version of Chaise Longue. As posted previously, Chaise Longue is a song by Isle of Wight band Wet Leg. Live performances: Green Man, Copenhagen, Glastonbury, and Live on the Porch. Also by Wet Leg: Wet Dream, Ur Mum, Angelica, Oh No.
Well, that buttered my muffin.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:37 AM on February 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 4:37 AM on February 6, 2023 [8 favorites]
Apparently they won a Grammy last night for best alternative album. I first heard of them when the "posted previously" link appeared and subsequently bought the album. I hope they're having as much fun as it looks like they're having, cause they're great.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:38 AM on February 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:38 AM on February 6, 2023 [6 favorites]
Scratch that. Two Grammies: one for for Best Alternative Music Performance for "Chaise Longue" and one for Best Alternative Music Album.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 6:06 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 6:06 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
good for these young folk, blaze on!
I heard Chaise Lounge a while back and it's super catchy so allons-y!
posted by djseafood at 7:33 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I heard Chaise Lounge a while back and it's super catchy so allons-y!
posted by djseafood at 7:33 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
I was lucky enough to see them live them twice last year - once opening for Florence and the Machine in San Diego where they were good, but a little lost in the size of the amphitheater. I saw them again in a much smaller club in Kansas City, and they were absolutely fantastic. Perfect venue, great crowd. The whole album is terrific - I'm happy to see them do well.
posted by phong3d at 7:39 AM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by phong3d at 7:39 AM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
Well, that buttered my muffin.
Strangely, it worried my mother.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:47 AM on February 6, 2023 [7 favorites]
Strangely, it worried my mother.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:47 AM on February 6, 2023 [7 favorites]
Loudest, longest scream.
posted by aiq at 7:55 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by aiq at 7:55 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
A friend of mine and I both speak Classical Arabic, and we made each other fall over laughing by ad-lib rendering this song into that language while my wife played the bass line. She was less amused, but a good sport.
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 8:17 AM on February 6, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by outgrown_hobnail at 8:17 AM on February 6, 2023 [7 favorites]
In The New Yorker: The Women of Wet Leg -
When they began making music together, Teasdale spent six weeks sleeping on a chaise longue at Chambers’s flat. It was uncomfortable, “but I spent so much time sleeping on it I became at one with the lumps,” she said. When they weren’t trying to write songs, they took pleasure in pronouncing the syllables “shays lawnja” to each other. Goofing around at home late one night, Teasdale picked up a mike and sang, “On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue, all day long on the chaise longue,” the first of the band’s memorable hooks.
posted by Wordshore at 8:21 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
When they began making music together, Teasdale spent six weeks sleeping on a chaise longue at Chambers’s flat. It was uncomfortable, “but I spent so much time sleeping on it I became at one with the lumps,” she said. When they weren’t trying to write songs, they took pleasure in pronouncing the syllables “shays lawnja” to each other. Goofing around at home late one night, Teasdale picked up a mike and sang, “On the chaise longue, on the chaise longue, all day long on the chaise longue,” the first of the band’s memorable hooks.
posted by Wordshore at 8:21 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
I drew some amusement from the unbridled, naked fury many espoused on social media last night over Wet Leg's Grammy wins. WHO THE HELL ARE WET LEG? many raged. How can these nobodies beat out the Arctic Monkeys or Big Thief or BJORK? This was supposed to be Bjork's year at last, her long-overdue coronation and these impertinent imps got shoved in by record labels and stole it from her.
And this is not to crap on Bjork, mind. I'm a huge Zappahead, for instance -- in all phases and styles of his lengthy career. One of my favorite bands of all time earned Rolling Stone's Debut Album of the Year... then fragmented after the lead singer decided that their next album should be a rock opera about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I'm no stranger to artists who create complicated, idiosyncratic music and follow the beat of a distinctly unique drum, and I'm glad that they do what they do.
But this wasn't a Lifetime Achievement Award last night.
"They're not even a SERIOUS BAND!" many yelped. Well, no, they don't have a decades-long pedigree yet. They started the band on a whim while at the top of a Ferris wheel. They have lyrics about buttering muffins and licking windscreens and floating shit and shaving rats. They're singing about what it's like to be young and uncomfortable and cynical in this world, and it resonates, and it's got nasty little guitar licks and clever turns of phrase and catchy rhythms running all through it.
They're having fun up there. During their first trip on stage last night, Teasdale bubbled about how funny it was and "what are we doing here?", with their typical self-deprecation evident. Well, they're there because they captured the current zeitgeist with a couple of guitars, musical hooks and an attitude. And if that's not rock and roll, I don't know what is.
The Pitchfork review of their album noted that "you can hear their recumbent anthem as a jab against the idea that music, especially music made by women, should be introspective and tortured to be taken seriously." Evidently, the Grammy voters agreed.
posted by delfin at 9:34 AM on February 6, 2023 [12 favorites]
And this is not to crap on Bjork, mind. I'm a huge Zappahead, for instance -- in all phases and styles of his lengthy career. One of my favorite bands of all time earned Rolling Stone's Debut Album of the Year... then fragmented after the lead singer decided that their next album should be a rock opera about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I'm no stranger to artists who create complicated, idiosyncratic music and follow the beat of a distinctly unique drum, and I'm glad that they do what they do.
But this wasn't a Lifetime Achievement Award last night.
"They're not even a SERIOUS BAND!" many yelped. Well, no, they don't have a decades-long pedigree yet. They started the band on a whim while at the top of a Ferris wheel. They have lyrics about buttering muffins and licking windscreens and floating shit and shaving rats. They're singing about what it's like to be young and uncomfortable and cynical in this world, and it resonates, and it's got nasty little guitar licks and clever turns of phrase and catchy rhythms running all through it.
They're having fun up there. During their first trip on stage last night, Teasdale bubbled about how funny it was and "what are we doing here?", with their typical self-deprecation evident. Well, they're there because they captured the current zeitgeist with a couple of guitars, musical hooks and an attitude. And if that's not rock and roll, I don't know what is.
The Pitchfork review of their album noted that "you can hear their recumbent anthem as a jab against the idea that music, especially music made by women, should be introspective and tortured to be taken seriously." Evidently, the Grammy voters agreed.
posted by delfin at 9:34 AM on February 6, 2023 [12 favorites]
I mean, say what you will about Arctic Monkeys or Bjork, but Wet Leg is fun and damn there needs to be more fun music. I described them once as "cheekily obscene" and I stand by that. They've been a big ole ray of buzzy fun in the last couple years of "ugh"
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:41 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:41 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
As someone who grew up with Plastic Bertrand’s Ca Plane Pour Moi, i have to say that Chaise Longue sounds like the sort of song that should have been French in origin - everyone would love a song full of phrases which very much weren’t going to feature in the school exam
And, we can’t mention women, French culture and decadent deployment of this particular item of furniture - without a shout out to .Juliette Récamier - famous beauty and socialite who turned down a proposal from a prince and gave her name to a particular type of chaise longue.
posted by rongorongo at 10:00 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
And, we can’t mention women, French culture and decadent deployment of this particular item of furniture - without a shout out to .Juliette Récamier - famous beauty and socialite who turned down a proposal from a prince and gave her name to a particular type of chaise longue.
posted by rongorongo at 10:00 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]
I love the French version of Chaise Longue as much as the English version, which is a lot.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:42 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:42 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
They teased the French version on TikTok probably around the time this video was posted and I wanted to hear it so badly. I kept checking their Spotify to find it, not realizing that it had been posted on YouTube, so this post answers my extreme yen for this version.
When Obama posted his summer reading and music lists, which included Wet Leg's Angelica, a friend on Twitter commented that his list made them think of Obama listening to Chaise Longue and Wet Dream and how he couldn't possibly pick either of those for his list so decided to choose Angelica. Now I think about him every time I hear either song. THANKS OBAMA.
Wet Leg - Wet Leg was probably my second-favourite album of 2023 (after The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field).
posted by urbanlenny at 10:49 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
When Obama posted his summer reading and music lists, which included Wet Leg's Angelica, a friend on Twitter commented that his list made them think of Obama listening to Chaise Longue and Wet Dream and how he couldn't possibly pick either of those for his list so decided to choose Angelica. Now I think about him every time I hear either song. THANKS OBAMA.
Wet Leg - Wet Leg was probably my second-favourite album of 2023 (after The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field).
posted by urbanlenny at 10:49 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]
I feel like they should have just said Long Chair in the French version.
posted by srboisvert at 11:44 AM on February 6, 2023 [15 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 11:44 AM on February 6, 2023 [15 favorites]
Astounding.
posted by storybored at 1:47 PM on February 6, 2023
posted by storybored at 1:47 PM on February 6, 2023
Being in Love, a nice straightforward pop love song that’s still a Wet Leg song.
posted by chrchr at 4:16 PM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 4:16 PM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
The whole album is great and Hester has a lovely singing voice too. I’m an old white hippie dude and I think they’re the bee’s knees.
posted by aquanaut at 4:23 PM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by aquanaut at 4:23 PM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]
The Green Man show is worth watching.
posted by aramaic at 8:19 PM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by aramaic at 8:19 PM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Archive link for the New Yorker article. I like them because I’m from southern England too and their songs are fun and they seem like they’re having fun!
posted by ellieBOA at 12:45 AM on February 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by ellieBOA at 12:45 AM on February 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
I feel like they should have just said Long Chair in the French version.
Or pronounced it the way lots of anglophones do (and maybe this is a common way to do it? WEIRD) where they transpose longue into lounge. Chaise Lounge.
posted by urbanlenny at 6:57 AM on February 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Or pronounced it the way lots of anglophones do (and maybe this is a common way to do it? WEIRD) where they transpose longue into lounge. Chaise Lounge.
posted by urbanlenny at 6:57 AM on February 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Delightful bit on longue vs. lounge
"Another coincidence is that lounge sort of looks like a French word, but it probably isn’t. In fact, we’re not certain of the word’s origin, though we know that it was first used as a verb."
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 8:37 AM on February 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Another coincidence is that lounge sort of looks like a French word, but it probably isn’t. In fact, we’re not certain of the word’s origin, though we know that it was first used as a verb."
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 8:37 AM on February 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Good record, recommended for fans of the Breeders and more. And fun! Go to 6:20 in this video of a live show. That’s the fun/silly side of rock and roll done right.
Also, I recommend legislation that all documentary films, audiobooks, etc etc must offer Hester Chambers right of first refusal to do the VO.
posted by zoinks at 7:04 PM on February 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also, I recommend legislation that all documentary films, audiobooks, etc etc must offer Hester Chambers right of first refusal to do the VO.
posted by zoinks at 7:04 PM on February 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Wet Leg won some more awards at The Brits a few hours ago, and performed live, including an all-female Morris Dancing routine and various giant animals.
posted by Wordshore at 9:54 PM on February 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Wordshore at 9:54 PM on February 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Wet Leg won some more awards at The Brits a few hours ago, and performed live,
Wet Leg: Excuse me!
Brit Awards industry big-wig audience (seated and 2 hours into free drinks): ...
Wet Leg; [Goat head man holds up a large sign, Gothic font, reading "What?"]...
Brit Awards audience: ...
Person dressed as large owl, person dressed as Minoan aurochs , person dressed as ram, person dressed as goat: ...
Brit Awards audience (very gradually): ...what?
[Song continues]
posted by rongorongo at 8:03 AM on February 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
Wet Leg: Excuse me!
Brit Awards industry big-wig audience (seated and 2 hours into free drinks): ...
Wet Leg; [Goat head man holds up a large sign, Gothic font, reading "What?"]...
Brit Awards audience: ...
Person dressed as large owl, person dressed as Minoan aurochs , person dressed as ram, person dressed as goat: ...
Brit Awards audience (very gradually): ...what?
[Song continues]
posted by rongorongo at 8:03 AM on February 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
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