Do You Want To

"Do You Want To"
Song
B-side	"Get Away", "Your Diary", "Fabulously Lazy"

"Do You Want To" is the lead single for Franz Ferdinand's second album, You Could Have It So Much Better. It was released 19 September 2005 and charted at #4 in the UK Singles Chart (see 2005 in British music). The video, directed by Diane Martel, was released on August 23, and was played every hour on MTV2 the day it debuted.

History

The song was written as somewhat of a joke after Alex Kapranos came home from a party one night where people were yelling the most ridiculous and profane things to each other. The lyrics are basically some things that he heard different women shouting at him over the noise of the party. The song is addressed to a person the band met at the party (apparently at an art gallery or some other artistic or highbrow venue), and essentially invites the addressee to hook up.

Video

The music video takes place in a rather madcap art gallery "transmission party"; the band's instruments appear out of nowhere, and Alex Kapranos dances in a Elvis-esquely suggestive manner around his microphone stand. According to Spin magazine, the song is apparently based on an actual party in Glasgow art gallery attended by the members of the band. The band wanted the video to set the scene on the actual party.

The video, edited by Paul Martínez and directed by Diane Martel, was filmed in a large studio in Lower Manhattan. Aside from a few paid actors in the front row, most of the extras for the last dance sequence in the video are Franz Ferdinand fans recruited from the band's web page.

The syndicated version of the video removes a sequence where a flaming man shakes hands with a mannequin, reminiscent of the famous album cover from Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. This may have been because Alex Kapranos was also on screen singing the censored lyric "I blew him before ya". However, it may also may because of the flaming man in general. (The video for Wax's California was notably banned for having a flaming man.)

Usage in the Media

The song has appeared in many commercials and trailers, such as Fun With Dick and Jane, Daddy Day Camp, and Good Luck Chuck. The song was featured as the ending theme song to the anime series Paradise Kiss. It was also used on childrens tv channel, cbeebies. it featured in the program "Doodle Do"

Honours

It was named the Sound Opinions single of 2005. It also came 10th in Triple J's hottest 100 for 2005. On Q's top 100 Indie Anthems Ever it was placed on #43, Q also named it the greatest single of 2005.

Track listings

7"

RUG211

1. "Do You Want To" (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos
2. "Get Away" (Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Nick McCarthy

CD

RUG211CD

1. "Do You Want To" (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos
2. "Your Diary" (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos

Maxi-CD

RUG211CDX

1. "Do You Want To" (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos
2. "Fabulously Lazy" (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Nick McCarthy
3. "What You Meant" (Acoustic Version) (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos

12"

RUG211T

1. "Do You Want To" (Erol Alkan Glam Racket Remix) (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Instrumental
2. "Do You Want To" (Original Version) (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos

Cardsleeve CD

1. "Do You Want To" (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos
2. "Your Diary" (Alex Kapranos/Nick McCarthy)
   • Lead vocals: Alex Kapranos