The Genesis of a Minimalist Masterpiece
In a revealing retrospective, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory have shared the fascinating story behind their iconic 2005 track Ooh La La. The song, which has become a cultural touchstone, was born from a surprising place of creative limitation and artistic instinct. Both members of the celebrated electronic duo have opened up about the track's unusual composition process, its glam rock inspirations, and its enduring legacy in popular culture.
Alison Goldfrapp's Creative Process
Alison Goldfrapp describes the song as an ode to glam rock, heavily influenced by her older sister's passion for Marc Bolan and T. Rex. "I love the vocal effects and drum sounds on those old records," she explains, highlighting how these vintage sounds shaped the track's distinctive character. However, the creative process hit an unexpected hurdle when she found herself unable to devise lyrics for the chorus.
"I couldn't think of a lyric for the chorus, though, and I thought to myself: 'What do I need?'" Goldfrapp recalls. The solution emerged from recent travels: "We'd just been to France, hence the 'Ooh la la'." Despite initial doubts about whether this simple phrase was sufficient, the duo decided to embrace its simplicity, layering vocals and adding vocoder effects to create what she describes as "the synthetic robo feel alongside the natural voice."
The lyrics themselves were deeply personal, exploring relationship dynamics through visual metaphors. Goldfrapp reveals how the memorable breakdown section about breaking a heel originated from a 1950s film image that had stayed with her. In a characteristically literary touch, she also managed to incorporate references to French poet Charles Baudelaire into the lyrics.
Collaborative Elements and Production
The recording process featured significant collaborations, most notably with Portishead's Adrian Utley on guitar. "He's so instinctive the way he plays, incredibly lean with the notes," Goldfrapp notes, acknowledging that incorporating guitar represented a notable departure for the duo who had previously avoided the instrument.
For the music video, Goldfrapp envisioned an imaginary glam rock band, working with director Dawn Shadforth and stylist Cathy Edwards. She reflects on the more generous production budgets of that era, which allowed for careful, detailed work without rushing.
Will Gregory's Perspective on Simplicity
Will Gregory offers a complementary perspective, recently rediscovering the track and being "surprised at how little is actually in there." He breaks down the minimalist composition: "The whole thing hinges on the claps – it's just claps, bass line, vocal, and a few little stabs from synths and guitars."
The duo's unconventional recording approach involved renting "slightly chintzy holiday homes" for extended periods during winter months. Gregory emphasizes the creative benefits of this isolation from London's music scene, suggesting that great music often emerges from such retreats.
Remarkably, the song became what Gregory describes as "a one-note piece" by design. "Every time we tried to change the chords, we thought: 'Why don't we just stay as we are?'" he explains. This intentional simplicity allowed them to sidestep the usual complications of songwriting.
Unplanned Elements and Lasting Impact
One of the track's distinctive features emerged accidentally when Gregory left a microphone on while playing the riff. "I got the sound of the bassline but also the clatter of the keys," he recalls. Unable to separate the sounds as they were recorded on a single track, this unintended texture became part of the final recording.
The mixing process brought them to Mark "Spike" Stent, a renowned mixer with numerous hits to his name. Gregory describes camping in Stent's studio during mixing while still writing, creating what he calls "a real whirlwind" of creative energy.
Cultural Reception and Legacy
The song has enjoyed remarkable longevity and diverse usage since its release. Goldfrapp notes with amusement that they receive "a lot of requests for it to be used in sex scenes," though they maintain selective approval. She also shares a memorable encounter with Simon Cowell during a US television performance, where his presence and comments left her "freezing with fright" backstage.
Gregory attributes the track's enduring relevance to its timeless simplicity and genre-blending qualities. "It doesn't bed itself into an era particularly," he observes, "because it's got this mixture of things boiled down to something without putting a foot too far into any identifiable genre."
Two decades after its creation, Ooh La La stands as testament to the power of minimalist composition and creative intuition. The track's anniversary deluxe edition release invites both longtime fans and new listeners to rediscover this unique piece of musical history that continues to resonate across generations and cultural contexts.
