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(Is there a bit remix / cover (whatever it is) in the world than the Aeroplane remix of Friendly Fires ‘Paris’?)

I’ve been to Paris a couple of times most noticeably once to interview Daft Punk and then once to see them. The first of these was an 8 hour trip spent running round the capital trying to find the hotel basement we were meeting them and eating somewhere particularly gross. The second involved much more sight seeing but a disappointment in the hotel which I’d spent about 400 hours on trip advisor trying to choose.

The best part of that trip though was our night out in The Marais, Paris’ gay village. We discovered that clubs in Paris have volume monitors with the maximum volume being extremely quiet, danced to Sophie Ellis Bextor’s ‘Catch Me’ for the first time in a very odd house club, and went into the tiniest club we’ve ever found whereupon a gorgeous French boy called Guilleme became very attached to me because I was wearing a star of David and tried to get me to join some kind of French, jewish society.

I do think that I’ve never quite got Paris though. When I went last year with Tom & James it was better probably because we found nice food, but I think I’d pick everywhere over Paris. Maybe I just need to do the right things.

Anyway I’m writing this because last week I was asked to ponder what I would do with 1,000€ on a weekend in Paris thanks to a competition from Le Nouveau Paris. I do often think about just jumping on a train from Kings Cross as it’s so handy but the £££ element of it is off-putting. I know if I was given money for free though I’d spend the first £10 on a Chicken Caesar Salad on the Eurostar. I know that sounds utterly ridiculous but it was amazing when I had one on the way out last time and when told they didn’t have any on the return journey I actually nearly cried.

If I went again though, I’d make sure I took more time to explore and see things I’d like. I’ve never been up the Eiffel Tower or The Louvre. I’d return to the awesome Pompedieu Centre and drop into trendy cafe L’Autre that I clocked but didn’t have time to drop into and then head over to the other side of the city to the Dalston-like vibes of the fun, but cramped Pop Inn. If I had the confidence I’d hire a Vespa on the Left Bank and whizz through the city on a bike, making like VV Brown with less good hair.

As far as accommodation goes, I’ve always got lots of amazing, weird hotels bookmarked on delicious. I’m not sure I will ever stay in any of them though, but one of the most fun sounding is Hotel Everland which was a art installation style pod hanging on the edge of the River Seine. It’s been de-commissioned now though so instead I’d love to rock up to the ridiculously high end Angelina’s in Paris is a famous tea salon, and my new love of afternoon tea (acquired at the Dorchester with Golda) can be compared to the Parisian style. Alain Ducasse’s school of food has long been bookmarked on my computer and can you imagine how much fun it would be to be taught French cuisine. I’d feel like I was in Julie & Julia! Steak though has to be the big find and I’m yet to figure out the best steak in Paris. Le Relais de Venise didn’t impress me much with their London branch, but there are lots more to try.

(written in an attempt to win a holiday to Paris)

From her website

10/10

Despite having turned them musically into 2 Many DJs, how ace is this?

Gives me another chance to plug my documentary about Daft Punk if you’ve not already heard it – it’s here (will trade on this forever)

Seriously, what’s going on? After Mr Kadim comes Mr Abdul. Is this some strange kind of Stokey scam?

PAY AFTER POSITIVE RESULTS
WHY ARE YOU SUFFERING IN SILENCE WHEN YOU
CAN SEE MR ABDUL TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS

MR ABDUL

I am a Marabout with 37 years experience, born with this knowledge from God.
you suffering from problems that seem abnomal? Does everything in your life
always seem to go wrong? If so don’t hesitate to call Mr. Abdul I will destroy all
your problems and make your life a success in all areas. I will protect you from
jealous enemies, break the effects of black magic/curses/evil spirits make
your business more Successful & prosperous.
I will reunited you with lived ones and create fidelity, cure sexual problems &
guarantee success in court cases and exams.
Pay after positive results

Over the last couple of years, Xenomania have been touring the country looking for new talent to work with and develop into pop stars. Mini Viva are the first to give it a go, having signed to Geffen (Polydor) and now putting out their first single ‘Left My Heart in Tokyo’. It’s a brilliant buzz of disco pop which couples the best Xenomania rapping since ’strippers in the vicars in the back’ with a gloriously funky bassline and some cheesy oriental sounds. Plus hold out there for the middle 8 and it’s pummeling strings. Live they are a bundle of fun, and have a real instinctive quality to their performance – they know exactly what the other one is getting up to. I have no idea which is which, but the video is slightly odd because it sounds like only brown hair MV (Britt?) is singing for most of it. Maybe it’s just been mixed oddly. Anyway because I always hate the Shaznay/Nadine of the band, I am instinctively drawn to curly MV who I am wildly guessing is Frankie as my favourite.

I always talk in some kind of idiot manner about how it’s really important your favourite pop star is either really aspirational (La Roux, Atomic Kitten) or stark raving bonkers (Gaga) and these pair really fit into the aspirational quality. I’m not entirely sure about their look (they are styled by the same person who does GA FYI)  – in places Britt (?!) looks a bit harsh and overdone, but Frankie just oozes your mad little sister who’s jumped up on stage and is having a bit of a dance. They’re just two regular girls from Newcastle & Liverpool who’ve been plucked out from obscurity and I know were I a teenager back home in Blackpool I’d be loving them.

I have a new obsession. Years ago I used to play the Cicada remix of Editors’ Munich at Popstarz. It made the track epic and euphoric while still remaining dark. Then in November I was plugged a record by a band called Cicada. As I get so much music to listen to it didn’t prick my interest and I ignored it, not associating the two. I think I thought why are they called such a stupid name when there is Cascada and for some mad reason that they sounded like a heavy metal band (?!?).

Finally I’ve got round to listening to them just ahead of the release of their second album and I’ve been entirely missing out on something that is so up my street that it could be made just to please me. Electronic music? Check. Scandinavian vocalist? Check. Robots? Check. It’s a winner all round. The band are made up of Alex Payne, Aaron Gilbert and former Gus Gus singer Heidrun Bjornsdottir with Editors’ frontman popping up on the somber ‘Executive’. I’ve interviewed them for Londonist here if you want to know more…

Heidrun often sounds like one of Ladytron, particularly on new single ‘Metropolis’, but has the confident self-assured look of Nina Persson (not physically, just how she holds herself).

Explosive and busting out with fun (just try and not waggle to ‘Psycho Thrills’, it’s fast becoming one of my favourite albums of the year.

Download Cicada – Metropolis (The Twelves’ B-LIVE Rio Mix)

Do you think the Pussycat Dolls thought they’d lost touch with their gay audience?

(watch it ALL the way through)

A genius bit of marketing by the Visit Blackpool tourist board. It’s so ludicrous that you just have to pass it on.

Here’s what I played last night:

Tiga – Luxury
Client – Zerox Machine
Northern State – Better Already
CSS – Move
Black Kids – Look At You
Tilly & The Wall – Beat Control
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