Phoenix (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Franck Holland (talk | contribs) at 04:58, 31 May 2012 (→‎Untitled Fifth Studio Album (2012)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the band. For other uses, see Phoenix (disambiguation).
Phoenix
Background information
OriginVersailles, France
GenresAlternative rock[1]
New Wave
Synthpop
Years active1999–present
LabelsV2
Glassnote
Ghettoblaster
Loyauté
Source
Astralwerks
Arts & Crafts
EMI
MembersThomas Mars (vocals)
Deck d'Arcy (bass)
Laurent Brancowitz (guitar)
Christian Mazzalai (guitar)
Websitewearephoenix.com

Phoenix is a Grammy Award winning alternative rock band from Versailles,[2] founded by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.

History

Formation and early years

Vocalist Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d'Arcy, and guitarist Chris Mazzalai started as a garage band based out of Mars' house in the suburbs of Paris. In 1995, Laurent Brancowitz, Mazzalai's older brother, permanently joined the band on guitar after the end of the short-lived band Darlin' he formed with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (who together became Daft Punk). Two years later the band took on the name Phoenix and pressed 500 copies of a single on their own label, Ghettoblaster. Shortly after, they were signed to the Paris-based Source Records. Phoenix became well acquainted with labelmates Air when they acted as their backing band on several U.K. TV appearances.[3] They were the backing band for a remix of Air's "Kelly Watch the Stars" single.

United (2000)

Following their two singles "If I Ever Feel Better" and "Too Young", United was released in 2000. Their track "Too Young" was in the soundtrack for the movie Lost in Translation (which was directed by Thomas's later wife, Sofia Coppola), and was also played in the movie Shallow Hal. The single "If I Ever Feel Better" was played over the ending credits of Entourage Season 5, Episode 2.

Alphabetical (2004)

The band's second album, Alphabetical, was released in 2004 and saw the band reach more mainstream success, with the singles "Everything Is Everything" and "Run Run Run" reaching some alternative rock airplay charts.[which?] Hedi Slimane commissioned a special mix of their song "Victim of the Crime" as the soundtrack to one of his runway shows for Dior Homme.

Live! Thirty Days Ago (2005)

Following Alphabetical, the band toured three continents, playing 150 dates. This tour was followed up with a live album, Live! Thirty Days Ago, released only 30 days after the end of the tour.

It's Never Been Like That (2006)

Phoenix then spent time in Berlin during the summer of 2005, making use of Planet Roc studios to produce their third album, It's Never Been Like That. To promote the release of It's Never Been Like That, Phoenix toured the United States and Europe in 2006. American band Paramore performed a cover of the song "Long Distance Call" live on Taratata, a French TV show.

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)

In early 2009, it was announced that the band was returning with a new album titled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which was released on May 25, 2009.[4] The album was recorded in Paris, and was co-produced and mixed by Philippe Zdar of Cassius.[5] The track "1901", a tribute to early Paris, was released on February 23, 2009, as a free download prior to the release of the first single, and aired for the first time on Australian radio station Triple J.

"1901" was used for the theatrical trailer of the film New York, I Love You and has been featured in commercials for the 2010 Cadillac SRX. "1901" was also featured during Super Bowl XLV in a Packers montage. "Lisztomania" was used in trailers for Alice in Wonderland and Valentine's Day. It was also used in the season premiere of Cougar Town, an episode from the first season of USA Network's Royal Pains, in Gossip Girl (episode 5 of the 3rd season) and was also featured in the season six finale of HBO's Entourage. It was also used in Season 1 Episode 18 of The Vampire Diaries during the Founders' Day Celebration. It was also used in the Bolloween episode from the NBC series Outsourced. An excerpt from "Love Like a Sunset" can be heard in the episode "Ghost Town" of the tenth CSI: Crime Scene Investigation season and the season 7 premiere of One Tree Hill. The instrumental of this song is also used in the 606 football podcast on BBC 5 live. "Love Like a Sunset" was also adapted for the score of Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere.[6]

Phoenix performed "Lisztomania", "1901", and "Too Young" on Saturday Night Live on April 4.[7] They also performed "Lisztomania" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, "Girlfriend" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and "1901" on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.[8]

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix won Best Alternative Music Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010. Shortly afterwards, "1901" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart.[9]

Following the album's release, Phoenix appeared at various music festivals, including the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2009, Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California in 2010, the 2010 Bonnaroo Music Festival, the Southside festival in Neuhausen Germany, the 2010 Lollapalooza Music Festival, the Mile High Music Festival, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in San Francisco, California, and the 2010 Reading and Leeds Festivals. On October 20, 2010, Daft Punk made a special appearance for their show in Madison Square Garden.

Allmusic.com, a review website, commented favourably on the release of the album. "Beyond containing the band's best, most efficient songwriting, the album also stands apart from the first three studio albums by projecting a cool punch that is unforced," a reviewer commented.[10] Vocalist Thomas Mars, described as "more bright-eyed and youthful than ever," is more prominent in these songs, harmonising well with the instruments. "Maybe they've just hit their stride," the reviewer says.

Untitled Fifth Studio Album (2012)

On April 5, 2011, the band posted a blog update on their website entitled "Songwriting..." revealing CCTV stills of a studio in which the band is currently working.[11] The band has stated in interviews that the album is going to be a departure from the pop sounds of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, and they are trying to create something more experimental. The band has also said that their work on Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere has inspired the album.[12]

On January 16, 2012, the band revealed that the band has completed 4 songs on the album and it is scheduled for a late summer 2012 release with a fall tour. Daniel Glass, Glassnote Records founder, says of the new material, "It's very hard to beat Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, but this could be revolutionary,"[13]

The band recently updated their webpage to only display the cryptic words Pluviôse (until the end of March 2012) and Thermidor (since April 2012) instead of the previous CCTV still from October 2011. Pluviôse and Thermidor are months of the French Republican Calendar.

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Year Details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
FRA
[14] 		AUS
[15] 		AUT
[16] 		CAN
 CHE
[17] 		BEL FLA
[18] 		BEL WAL
[19] 		GER
[20] 		IRE
[21] 		NOR
[22] 		SWE
[23] 		UK
[24] 		US
[25]
2000 United 90 — — — — — — — — 37 — — — —
2004 Alphabetical
  • Released: 29 March 2004
  • Label: EMI, Source, Astralwerks
 41 — — — — 46 41 68 — 4 11 — — —
2006 It's Never Been Like That
  • Released: 15 May 2006
  • Label: EMI, Source, Astralwerks
 34 81 74 — 66 86 89 41 — 14 18 108 — —
2009 Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix 14 13 66 19 23 27 22 18 64 39 34 54 37

Live albums

Year Details
2004 Live! Thirty Days Ago
  • Released: 8 November 2004
  • Label: EMI, Source, Astralwerks
2010 iTunes Live from Soho[29]

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album Certifications
(sales thresholds)
FRA
[31] 		CHE
[32] 		ITA
[33] 		NED
[34] 		UK
[24] 		US
[35] 		US
Rock
[36] 		US
Alt.
[36] 		WAL
[37]
1999 "Party Time" — — — — — — — — — United
"Heatwave" — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
2000 "Too Young" 97 — — — 148 — — — — United
2001 "If I Ever Feel Better" 12 23 4 67 65 — — — 8
2004 "Everything Is Everything" — — — 91 74 — — — — Alphabetical
"Run Run Run" — — — — 66 — — — —
2006 "Long Distance Call" — — — — — — — — — It's Never Been Like That
"Consolation Prizes" — — — — — — — — —
2009 "1901" — — — — — 84 3 1 — Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix US: Gold [38]
"Lisztomania" — — — — — 111 5 4 56
2010 "Lasso" — — — — — — — 31 —

Music videos

  • "Too Young" directed by Steven Hanftdong
  • "Everything is Everything" directed by Roman Coppola
  • "If I Ever Feel Better" directed by Alex & Martin
  • "Rally" directed by Daniel Askill and Lorin Askill
  • "Funky Squaredance" directed by Roman Coppola
  • "Run Run Run" directed by Mathieu Tonetti
  • "(You Can't Blame It On) Anybody"
  • "Long Distance Call" directed by Roman Coppola
  • "Consolation Prizes" directed by Daniel Askill
  • "Lisztomania" directed by Antoine Wagner
  • "1901" directed by Dylan Byrne, Ben Strebel, Bogstandard

References

  1. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/phoenix--2/49504
  2. ^ Ambrose, Anthony. "inTuneMusic Online: Phoenix / Passion Pit / Jack's Mannequin / Manchester Orchestra @ NYC 12/2". Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  3. ^ Phoenix Biography - AOL Music
  4. ^ Cooper, Tim (2009-05-24). "Homemade Lisztomania YouTube video brings Phoenix fans". The Times. London. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  5. ^ "Phoenix Rises With New Album, Label". idiomag. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  6. ^ "Interview with Phoenix". Lifelounge. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  7. ^ Phoenix Live performing Saturday Night in New York video
  8. ^ [1][dead link]
  9. ^ Chart Beat Wednesday: Phoenix, Black Eyed Peas, Kutless | Billboard.com
  10. ^ Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix | AllMusic
  11. ^ "Songwriting..." Phoenix. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  12. ^ Posted 12/13/10 (2011-02-16). "Phoenix Begin Work On 'Experimental' New Album - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Up for Discussion (2009-09-14). "Phoenix: 2012 Album Preview". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  14. ^ "French album positions". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  15. ^ "Australian album positions". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  16. ^ "Austrian album positions". austriancharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  17. ^ "Swiss album positions". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  18. ^ "Flemish album positions". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2009-07-15.[dead link]
  19. ^ "Wallonian album positions". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2009-07-15.[dead link]
  20. ^ "German album positions". musicline.de. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  21. ^ "Irish Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix position". chart-track.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  22. ^ "Norwegian album positions". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  23. ^ "Swedish album positions". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  24. ^ a b "UK Chartlog: Rodney P. – The Pussycat Dolls". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  25. ^ "The Billboard 200 Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix". Billboard. 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2009-06-11. [dead link]
  26. ^ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2010Albums.htm
  27. ^ "CRIA Certifications (July 2010)". Canadian Recording Industry Association. 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  28. ^ RIAA - Gold & Platinum - November 16, 2010
  29. ^ iTunes Live from SoHo - EP by Phoenix - Download iTunes Live from SoHo - EP on iTunes
  30. ^ Independent Albums | Billboard.com
  31. ^ "French single positions". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  32. ^ "Swiss single positions". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  33. ^ "Italian single positions". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  34. ^ "Dutch single positions". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  35. ^ "Billboard Chart positions". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  36. ^ a b "Billboard Chart positions". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  37. ^ "Wallonian single positions". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  38. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Database". Retrieved 2010-05-13.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phoenix (band).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phoenix_(band)&oldid=495244503"