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==Background==
==Background==
Fat Les created the [[England]] national [[football (soccer)|football]] anthem "[[Vindaloo (song)|Vindaloo]]" as an unofficial theme song for the [[Football World Cup 1998|1998 FIFA World Cup]]. The song reached number two in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> In the music video, the three band members featured alongside [[Paul Kaye]], [[Rowland Rivron]], [[Ed Tudor-Pole]], [[Matt Lucas (comedian)|Matt Lucas]] and [[David Walliams]]. Fat Les also provided a song for the England football team at [[Euro 2000]], held in [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]], with a rendition of the [[hymn]] "Jerusalem". It was again fronted by Allen, alongside Barrymore. The track was credited to Fat Les 2000.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
Fat Les created the [[England]] national [[football (soccer)|football]] anthem "[[Vindaloo (song)|Vindaloo]]" as an unofficial theme song for the [[Football World Cup 1998|1998 FIFA World Cup]]. The song reached number two in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> In the music video, the three band members featured alongside [[Paul Kaye]], [[Rowland Rivron]], [[Ed Tudor-Pole]], [[Matt Lucas (comedian)|Matt Lucas]] and [[David Walliams]].
In 2000, Fat Les recorded a song for the England football team at [[Euro 2000]], held in [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]], with a rendition of the [[hymn]] "Jerusalem". It was again fronted by Allen, alongside Barrymore. The track was credited to Fat Les 2000.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| last= Roberts
Line 29: Line 31:
| location= London
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 196}}</ref> The recording was partly a reaction to the appropriation of the hymn by [[far right]] political groups{{cn|date=January 2022}}. The song was recorded at [[George Martin]]'s [[Associated Independent Recording|AIR studio]] at a cost of £50,000 with a full orchestra and four choirs,<ref name="observer magazine">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/may/21/life1.lifemagazine11 |title=Three lions |first=Andrew|last= Smith|date= 21 May 2000 |work=The Observer}}</ref> including the [[London Community Gospel Choir]] and [[London Gay Men's Chorus]] to feature on the track.
| page= 196}}</ref> According to Allen, the reasons the hymn was chosen was to help "crystalise some kind of English culture" and to reclaim it from [[Right-wing politics|the Right]].<ref name="observer magazine" /> The song was recorded at [[George Martin]]'s [[Associated Independent Recording|AIR studio]] at a cost of £50,000 with a full orchestra and four choirs:<ref name="observer magazine">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/may/21/life1.lifemagazine11 |title=Three lions |first=Andrew|last= Smith|date= 21 May 2000 |work=The Observer}}</ref> the [[London Community Gospel Choir]], [[New London Children's Choir]], Syncopeters and [[London Gay Men's Chorus]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tHGIDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92 |title=Radical Blake: Influence and Afterlife from 1827|first1= Shirley |last1= Dent|first2= Jason|last2= Whittaker |isbn=9780230287402|page=92}}</ref>


In 2012, Fat Les changed their name to "Fit Les" and recorded "The Official Fit Les Olympic Anthem". Alex James left the group while [[Rowetta]] of [[Happy Mondays]] fame joined the lineup along with producer [[Matt Eaton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fat-les-1276028 |title= Keith Allen's Fat Les to release Olympics track as 'Fit Les' |first=Leonie |last=Cooper|date=19 June 2012 |work=NME}}</ref>
In 2012, Fat Les changed their name to "Fit Les" and recorded "The Official Fit Les Olympic Anthem". Alex James left the group while [[Rowetta]] of [[Happy Mondays]] fame joined the lineup along with producer [[Matt Eaton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fat-les-1276028 |title= Keith Allen's Fat Les to release Olympics track as 'Fit Les' |first=Leonie |last=Cooper|date=19 June 2012 |work=NME}}</ref>

Revision as of 09:48, 28 January 2022

Fat Les
GenresPop, football chant
Years active1998 (1998)–2002, 2012
LabelsTelstar, Turtleneck, Parlophone
Past membersAlex James
Keith Allen
Damien Hirst

Fat Les was a British band consisting of Blur bassist Alex James, actor Keith Allen, and artist Damien Hirst. Vocals on their singles were provided by Keith Allen (all), Alex James ("Vindaloo"), Lily Allen ("Who Invented Fish & Chips?"), Andy Kane ("Who Invented Fish & Chips?"), Lisa Moorish ("Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office)") and Michael Barrymore ("Jerusalem").

Background

Fat Les created the England national football anthem "Vindaloo" as an unofficial theme song for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart.[1] In the music video, the three band members featured alongside Paul Kaye, Rowland Rivron, Ed Tudor-Pole, Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

In 2000, Fat Les recorded a song for the England football team at Euro 2000, held in Belgium and the Netherlands, with a rendition of the hymn "Jerusalem". It was again fronted by Allen, alongside Barrymore. The track was credited to Fat Les 2000.[1] According to Allen, the reasons the hymn was chosen was to help "crystalise some kind of English culture" and to reclaim it from the Right.[2] The song was recorded at George Martin's AIR studio at a cost of £50,000 with a full orchestra and four choirs:[2] the London Community Gospel Choir, New London Children's Choir, Syncopeters and London Gay Men's Chorus.[3]

In 2012, Fat Les changed their name to "Fit Les" and recorded "The Official Fit Les Olympic Anthem". Alex James left the group while Rowetta of Happy Mondays fame joined the lineup along with producer Matt Eaton.[4]

Discography

Singles

Title Year Peak Position
UK[5][6]
Vindaloo (Carnival de Paris sample) 1998 2
Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office) 1998 21
Jerusalem 2000 10
Who Invented Fish and Chips 2002 86
The Official Fit Les Olympic Anthem 2012 —

References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 196. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Andrew (21 May 2000). "Three lions". The Observer.
  3. ^ Dent, Shirley; Whittaker, Jason. Radical Blake: Influence and Afterlife from 1827. p. 92. ISBN 9780230287402.
  4. ^ Cooper, Leonie (19 June 2012). "Keith Allen's Fat Les to release Olympics track as 'Fit Les'". NME.
  5. ^ "Fat Les". The Official Charts Company.
  6. ^ "Fat Les 2000". The Official Charts Company.


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