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Music Notes: April March, Chick Habit

January 17th, 2007

Not sure how exactly this happened, but I sort of got on a French pop kick a while back, starting with Isabelle Adjani’s Pull Marine, moving through Stereolab and ending with Keren Ann. One of the odd offshoots of this genre is April March, a kooky American surf bird, who earnestly sings in French. From what I’ve gathered online, she was an animator on the Ren And Stimpy show and recorded with a band named the Shitbirds. Gotta love this stuff.

Each April March album is worth savoring, but I’ll start with Chick Habit. April’s voice is tweety-high, and definitely grates after a while. But there are thankfully few songs to keep this journey into loony tunes bearable. My faves: Deux Garcons Pour Une Fille – a 60s blast with a neat Disneyland type center melody, Cet Air-La is perfection. I have a strange feeling the lyrics are about chopping a hamster into bits.

The stand out track is the truly daffy Chick Habit. I guess this surf-guitar, Bond theme tune with some horsey-horns was featured in the film But I’m A Cheerleader. In it, April scolds some Casanova to hang up the chick habit, or he’ll be cut in two and meet a nurse in a hearse. What a hoot.

The album art is straight up this cat’s alley, featuring a seductive yet dog-eared creepy – thrift store LP vibe. Imagine finding one of those topless girl ink pens among your uncle’s swizzle sticks. The cover is girls and guitars, while within is a photograph of April toying with a troll doll, and another where she’s in an Avengers pose. I think after she surprises 009 with flowers, she’s planning to shoot him in the knees.

A bit more research is always a good thing. Turns out April’s “Chick Habit” is an English version of an old France Gall song from the 60s.


April March - Chick Habit

Wikipedia: April March

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  • You always seemed like a french pop guy to me (all sophistimacated) ;-P

    Anyway, funny you should mention this topic. Pam's cousin who lives in Paris keeps sending me cool French mp3s periodically. By far my fave is Keren Ann. I love La Disparition (sp?). I play it all the time. I don't like her English recordings as much. I also really dig that Edit Piaf chick (older school).

    For some reason hearing the French words makes me feel all tingly inside. Long live Keren Ann!
  • Yeah there's some appeal there beyond just the music. There's another Keren Ann album called "Not Going Anywhere" that has several of the tracks on "La Disparition" with english lyrics. I like hearing the same song in two languages. April March has English and French versions of the same song on her albums.

    In my case, since I don't understand french (unlike you :) ) I can concentrate on the melodies and imagine the meanings in my head, which are usually wrong... that's part of the fun I find.

    But hey... this is not a Keren Ann thread... I guess I should review some of her albums...
  • Sorry to go off topic...I will also give Isabelle a spin
  • I mean April March lol
  • One item on my "to do" list is to add iTunes links to all these album reviews. Stay tuned (no pun intended). Oh... and I guess one could always check out the Amazon link and listen to some tracks there.

    Side note: I think you would get a kick out of the Matthew Sweet / Susanna Hoffs album. Although that dude does need to lay off the sweets...
  • Great pick! I bought Chick Habit when it was first released and it's been one of my favorite CDs ever since. If you like April March, be sure to check out the French pop singer she's heavily inspired by, France Gall. Gall's 1960's recordings are très fun.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_Gall
  • Yes, I saw that other review. you did. I can't believe they teamed up.

    And another sidenote: According to Wikipedia Hoffs was born in 1956? You mean to tell me she's 50+ now? Holy hell we're getting old.
  • If I look half as good as Susanna when I'm in my late forties, I'll treat myself to some sweets.

    Hey Podophile, I haven't heard of France Gall... I'll have to check it out!
  • I saw Grindhouse last night and was reminded of this post... April's English version of Chick Habit is on the soundtrack.
  • Wow, one more reason to check out Grindhouse. I've been eyeing it with some fascination, although from the reviews I might need to steele myself for the violence.
  • gluhar
    France Gall - Laisse tomber les filles
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