Pop Up is the debut studio album by French electropop band Yelle. It was released on 3 September 2007 by the EMI-owned label Source Etc. The album peaked at number 61 in France, where it was certified silver by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). As of June 2008, the album had sold 45,000 copies in France and 11,000 copies in the United States.[2]
Pop Up received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release. Most reviewers praised its energetic and fun electro-pop sound with influences from 80s and 90s dance music, comparing the band and its lead singer Julie Budet to artists like Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. They highlighted the catchy melodies, playful lyrics, and overall joyful feeling of the album. However, a few reviewers were more critical of the album, describing its sound as derivative. Pop Up remains Yelle's most successful album internationally.
In August 2006, Yelle posted the song "Je veux te voir" on MySpace under the title "Short Dick Cuizi"; the group wrote it as an answer to certain rap groups and in particular the rapper Cuizinier of the group TTC, who included a misogynistic punchline in one of his group's albums, aimed at the lead singer of the group, Julie Budet. In turn, the track mocks his perceived lack of sexual prowess relentlessly, though Yelle has stated in interviews that it's "not a diss track, but a funny track with lots of references". The song, with its "booty-pop", electro-punk sound (courtesy of DJ Grand Marnier, who co-wrote and produced the track), quickly rose to popularity, rapidly earning more than 2,500,000 listens on MySpace and 10,000,000 views on YouTube.
On 26 February 2008, Yelle performed the track "A cause des garçons" on the BBC Three talk show Lily Allen and Friends.[3] They were featured as MTV's Artist of the Week for the week of 24–30 March 2008, appearing during adverts.[4] The group also appeared twice on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, performing "A cause des garçons" on 12 November 2008 and "Ce jeu" on 4 February 2009.[5][6]
"A cause des garçons" was used as the opening song for the Moschino spring/summer 2008 runway show. In 2008, it was also featured in an advert being broadcast in Quebec for Telus. Their single "Je veux te voir" was featured on the season four finale of HBO's Entourage on 2 September 2007, in the opening scene when the gang arrives in Cannes.[7] "A cause des garçons" was also used in one of the Les Jeunes de Paris sketches on the 12 November 2011 episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Emma Stone.[8]