Paris

Album: Friendly Fires (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song refers to Le Club Showcase as a place where the clubber can "live it up." However frontman Ed Macfarlane admitted to the NME March 21, 2009 that the cabaret club is not all it's cracked up to be. He explained: "I thought it was this glamorous place but apparently it's just a tacky, yuppie club full of young girls and old rich men. Then again, the sentiment of the song is meant to be naïve. It's not really about Paris-it's about dreaming of being somewhere better than where you are."
  • The lyrics point longingly at life in the French capital: "One day we're gonna live in Paris. I promise." and "Every night. The city lights. They'll be out for us."
  • The song features vocals by Erika Forster of Brooklyn indie trio Au Revoir Simone. Forster told The Hollywood Reporter that she saw it as hopeful, even forward-looking. "It's a really universal song because it has longing bit to it, but also this innocence," she said. "It's really sweet -- the message of, 'Let's run away together.'"

    The singer added that she that connected with the spirit of the song because of how it tied into the group's name (the Simone in the band's name pays homage to the character in Pee-wee's Big Adventure who dreams of a life in Paris). "The story of our name went along with the song, and again as a symbol of love and running away together…"
  • The late Glee star Cory Monteith tweeted less than a week before his death that he had this song on repeat.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.