Phoenix, Band on SNL, Not from Brooklyn

Phoenix, this amazing, uplifting French band on SNL last night, was unrecognizable to my French friend watching the show. He knew electronic Phoenix--the guys who sounded like a much better, far superior version of Jamiroquai. But these guys looked like they could have been out of Brooklyn, sharing practice space with Vampire Weekend. The following three things gave away the fact that Phoenix, in fact, is from France:

*The adorable lead singer's shirt was slightly pressed like he'd picked it up from the cleaners and yet he still wore it in a laid-back, pass me the carafe, way--a clean, casual, style belonging to the French. They do casual like we dress up here.

*Phoenix looked like they were really relishing being on the SNL stage. This exuberance and gratitude didn't fit the aloof, no-big-deal-ness of a posturing band out of Brooklyn. It was refreshing and got you even more excited. The French love NYC. For them, being on SNL is what going back in time and being on Ed Sullivan would be for a Brooklyn band on the rise, now that would be cool...SNL? No big deal. Americans like to up the stakes. The French appreciate simplicity.

*Again, the smiles and the brotherly love in the band's performance wasn't from here, where friendships, work relationships come and go. French people tend to stay friends for life and are hard-pressed to let anyone new in unless they're a friend of a close friend. These guys looked at each other when they were rocking out like, "Can you believe this? This is awesome. We did it." They probably hugged each other backstage afterward, or at least I hope they did.

So Phoenix, perfect band for spring/summer/driving through the country with the window rolled down:

Comments

[Friggles]

Generic pop. What's the big deal?

[Khirad]

Indeed. Though, my francophone listening is largely restricted to the likes of AIR à la 'Virgin Suicides', Die Form, Lords of Acid, Front 242, et al. Sounds like every other anodyne band out there right now to me. What's with all the lame bands on SNL the last few years? Or is it just me getting old and unhip? When did SNL's musical guests become about as edgy as oatmeal?

[c-lupa]

Ok! Your generation was way cooler, quit rubbing it in!

[exlibriscat]

Well that's unfortunate, since (although credited in the album liner as Gordon Tracks) vocals on Air's "Playground Love" from the Virgin Suicides soundtrack were by Phoenix singer Thomas Mars.

Also (from allmusic.com), "Phoenix became well acquainted with labelmates Air when they acted as their backing band on several U.K. TV appearances."

I thought they were way better than a lot of the crap they've had on SNL lately, and I was expecting them to be as lame as those bands. I was pleasantly surprised.

[Sirenissima]

Thomas, the singer, is Sofia Coppola's boyfriend and father of her baby. Which explains why they ended up on SNL.

[Dilz]

You don't have any idea what you are talking about.

[thewhitewitch]

Um, no, Dilz, YOU have no idea what you're talking about. Sorry, but Sirenissima is quite right.

[superjules]

Gee, I knew they were a French band when my DVR said "French band, Phoenix on SNL". I didn't realize it was a given that all good alt bands came out of Brooklyn. Some come out of Oakland I've heard. Regardless where they are from, they were incredible and I went and bought their new EP immediately.
: )

[buddhistMonkey]

((( "He knew electronic Phoenix--the guys who sounded like a much better, far superior version of Jamiroquai." )))

Two things: First, "much better, far superior" is redundant. Second, while I enjoyed watching Phoenix on SNL, they are NOT "much better" than (or "far superior" to) Jamiroquai. Jamiroquai is a great band, so I don't understand the need to bash them.

[Andrea Chalupa - Huffpost Blogger]

Jamiroquai is a prolific band, but I love Phoenix, really into them, hence overstating that with some good ol' redundancy.