Phoenix (band)
Phoenix | |
---|---|
Ile-de-France , France | |
Genres | |
Years active | 1995 | –present
Labels | |
Spinoff of | Darlin' |
Members |
|
Website | www |
Phoenix is a French
The band's sound has been primarily described as
The band's Italo disco-influenced sixth studio album, Ti Amo, was released in 2017 and featured songs that celebrated the band's "European, Latin roots".[14] The band's seventh studio album, Alpha Zulu (2022), was recorded within the Louvre Palace during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was inspired by the death of the band's longtime producer, friend and mentor Philippe Zdar.
History
Formation and early years
Phoenix was conceived in the 1990s when vocalist
United, Alphabetical, and Live! Thirty Days Ago (2000–2004)
Phoenix began releasing singles in 1999, the first of these being "Heatwave" and "Party Time", the latter of which would eventually appear on their debut album, United. The single "Too Young" was released on 22 May 2000, along with remixes of the track by
Shortly after the release of United, Phoenix began work on a second album, recording in 2003 and 2004 and releasing the singles "Run Run Run" and "
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 thirty days after the end of the tour.[citation needed]
It's Never Been Like That and Kitsuné Tabloid (2005–2009)
After their Alphabetical tour, Phoenix spent time in Berlin during the summer of 2005, making use of Planet Roc studios to produce their third album. On 8 May 2006, the band released the lead single from the album, titled "Long Distance Call". American band Paramore would go on to perform a cover of the song live on Taratata, a French TV show. Phoenix's third studio album, titled It's Never Been Like That, was released on 15 May 2006. It was the first to feature Thomas Hedlund on drums.[18]
To promote the release of the album, Phoenix toured the United States and Europe in 2006. The album charted in several countries, reaching even greater success than Alphabetical, although it still did not chart in much of North America. It's Never Been Like That was re-released in Mexico later that year, with the so-called "tour edition" featuring four bonus tracks recorded live in Oslo from the tour. On 11 September 2006, the track "Consolation Prizes" was announced to be the second single from It's Never Been Like That.[citation needed]
Phoenix curated a compilation album for French electronic music record and fashion label
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009–2011)
In early 2009, around the time of the release of the Phoenix's compilation album for
As it became apparent that "1901" was Phoenix's biggest success yet, the song was performed live on several TV shows and began to appear everywhere. "1901" was featured in the US during Super Bowl XLV in a Green Bay Packers montage, and was also performed on Saturday Night Live along with "Too Young" and "Lisztomania" on 4 April.[22] Phoenix also performed "Lisztomania" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,[23] "Girlfriend" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,[24] and "1901" on the Late Show with David Letterman,[25] Jimmy Kimmel Live![26] and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.[27]
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix won
Following the album's release, Phoenix appeared at various major music festivals, including the
AllMusic, 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.[30] Vocalist Thomas Mars, described as "more bright-eyed and youthful than ever", is more prominent in these songs, harmonising with the instruments. "Maybe they've just hit their stride," the reviewer said.[citation needed]
Phoenix are the subject of a documentary From a Mess to the Masses that documents their 2009–10 tour in support of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The film was directed by Antoine Wagner and Francisco Soriano—Wagner was also responsible for directing the "Lisztomania" music video. The title of the documentary is a lyrical excerpt from "Lisztomania" and the total running time is 52 minutes. From a Mess to the Masses premiered in Germany and France on the Arte television network on 13 October 2011.[31][32]
Bankrupt! (2011–2015)
On 5 April 2011, the band posted a blog update on their website entitled "Songwriting..." with CCTV stills of the band working in a studio.[33] The band said that the album would be a departure from the pop sounds of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, and they were trying to create something more experimental. The same year, vocalist Thomas Mars married American screenwriter and director Sofia Coppola, whom he had met while producing the soundtrack to The Virgin Suicides in 1999.[citation needed]
On 16 January 2012, the band had completed four songs for the fifth album and it was scheduled for a late summer 2012 release, with an autumn tour. Daniel Glass, the founder of
On 16 January 2013 Bankrupt! was announced as the title of the fifth album.[36] The cover depicts a color drawing of a peach next to a peach slice, with a pink flower and two green leaves; the track listing included song titles such as the title track, "S.O.S. in Bel Air", "Bourgeois", and "Oblique City".[37]
A schedule of the music festivals that Phoenix performed at in support of the new album was announced and headline positions were confirmed for Germany's
On 18 February 2013, the band released "Entertainment", the first single from the album.
On 22 April 2013, Phoenix played a London show at Shepherd's Bush Empire on the day that Bankrupt! was released. In a review of the performance, music writer Josh Holliday declared: "And along with peace, love and understanding, what the world needs now is a band we can all believe in as one. That band is Phoenix."[39] On 6 May 2013, Phoenix were taped for the thirty-ninth season of live music television series Austin City Limits (ACL) at Moody Theatre in Austin, Texas.[50] Terry Likona, executive producer of the show, announced that Phoenix would co-headline the two-weekend Austin City Limits Music Festival in October 2013, alongside other big acts such as Kings of Leon, Wilco, and Depeche Mode.[51][52]
In media articles on Bankrupt! after the album's release, Mars provided insight into the circumstances that influenced the creation of the band's fifth album: "At that time, we started talking about success and not music. I guess it was time to protect ourselves and focus on music again." Mars made reference to the period of intensive public attention that occurred in the wake of the Grammy Award-winning Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix's first record to achieve gold certification.[29]
Mars also reflected on the benefits of the band's belated success: "We're lucky that we didn't have a hit single for a while, so when we play live, people are not expecting just one song, and we don't tour as a greatest hits band, which can be sad, I'm sure." In a more general sense, Mars also emphasized the importance of the live setting for Phoenix and its relationship to studio work: "I guess we're perfectionists in the way that when we make an album, we know it's going to last. It's important that it's exactly how we want it to be. But when the record is done, it's all about imperfection. It's all about playing live."[29]
Phoenix also used the Harrison 4032 solid-state recording console, the same console used on
Phoenix appeared in the 2015 Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas, directed by Mars' wife Sofia Coppola. The group performed a cover of The Beach Boys' "Alone on Christmas Day", with Bill Murray providing backing vocals.[citation needed]
Ti Amo (2016–2019)
In November 2016, Phoenix changed their social media themes to a television holding screen image. They also announced a series of festival appearances in Spain and France. On 4 January 2017, it was announced that they would be in a headlining spot at Governors Ball in New York City the first weekend of June, which would be their first show since 2014. In March they announced two warm-up shows on 22 and 23 April in Antwerp, Belgium.[citation needed]
On 1 March 2017, Phoenix again updated social media, teasing new music with a 30-second clip, and announcing multiple tour dates. By 24 April 2017, the band had announced that their sixth album, Ti Amo, would be released on 9 June 2017.[53] Three days later, on 27 April 2017, the band released the album's first single, "J-Boy" (an acronym for "Just Because of You").[54] This was followed by the release of the title track, "Ti Amo", on 18 May 2017[55] and the single "Goodbye Soleil" on 2 June 2017, a week before the album's release.[56] Phoenix toured worldwide to promote the release of Ti Amo.[citation needed]
The band performed residency shows in Paris, New York City, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Mexico City titled, "A Very Speciale Night with Phoenix". It featured exclusive merchandise, Phoenix vending machine, gelato (food selection varied at shows), discoteca after party, live music, special guests, and Phoenix sake.[57]
In 2017, Phoenix collaborated with Tatenokawa, Inc., a brewery from Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, as a tribute for their late friend Toshiro Kuroda, a Japanese restaurateur who ran a store in Paris called Workshop Isse which offered food and sake from Japan. This store was on the ground floor of Christian Mazzalai's apartment building, which is how he became friends with Kuroda. During the band's Japan tour while promoting Bankrupt!, Kuroda took the band to visit sake breweries in Japan, one of which was Tatenokawa, Inc.[58]
Phoenix and Tatenokawa, Inc. created Phoenix Sake Collection, which features Tatenokawa Phoenix (also referred to as Rainbow Label) and Sparkling sake. The Sparking sake was created to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary.[59] The collection also featured limited-edition brews: Tatenokawa Junmai Daiginjo, Kaze no Mori Junmai Daiginjo (from Nara Prefecture), and Sohomare Junmai Ginjo (from Tochigi Prefecture). The bottles were wrapped in a hand-dyed washcloth featuring illustrations of the band and sake logo. A portion of the sales were donated to the Japanese Red Cross.[58][60]
In 2019, Phoenix released the biography Liberté, Egalité, Phoenix!, written by Laura Snapes.[61]
Alpha Zulu (2020–present)
On 19 August 2020, the band released "Identical" for Sofia Coppola's film On the Rocks.[62] It topped the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart in November 2020.[63]
Phoenix began recording their seventh album
On 27 May 2022, the band announced the lead single "Alpha Zulu", which was released on 1 June.
Phoenix toured with Beck on the Summer Odyssey tour throughout August and September 2023, featuring stops such as the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and Madison Square Garden in New York City.[70]
On 17 November 2023, Phoenix released a remix of "Artefact" that featured Mexican singer León Larregui.
Members
- Thomas Mars – lead vocals, drums, percussion
- Deck d'Arcy – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
- Laurent Brancowitz – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Christian Mazzalai – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
-
Thomas Mars
Vocals -
Deck d'Arcy
Bass, keyboards -
Laurent Brancowitz
Guitar, keyboards -
Christian Mazzalai
Guitar
Touring musicians
- Robin Coudert – keyboards, percussion
- Thomas Hedlund – drums, percussion (session studio drummer since 2005)
Discography
- United (2000)
- Alphabetical (2004)
- It's Never Been Like That (2006)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
- Bankrupt! (2013)
- Ti Amo (2017)
- Alpha Zulu (2022)
Awards and nominations
Phoenix has won:
- The 2010 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album for Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix[71]
- The 2014 Victoires de la Musique Rock Album of the Year for Bankrupt![72]
References
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- ^ Hyden, Steven (3 November 2022). "Phoenix Reviews All of Their Albums, Including The New 'Alpha Zulu'". Uproxx. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ BadGones3169 (22 June 2009). "Phoenix - 1901 (Live on Letterman) 18 Juin 2009". YouTube. Google. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ MrRendezvous101 (10 February 2011). "Phoenix 1901 Jimmy Kimmel (TV Version) HD". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[dead YouTube link] - ^ Boni, Andrew (16 September 2009). "Phoenix Performs "1901" on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien". Jetcomx. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
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- ^ ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
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