Crystal Fighters are an English/Spanish electronic band who formed in Londo… Read Full Bio ↴Crystal Fighters are an English/Spanish electronic band who formed in London, United Kingdom in 2007. They are Sebastian (lead vocals, guitar), Gilbert (electronics, guitars, txalaparta, percussion) and Graham (guitar/ txalaparta), plus Laure and Mimi (vocals).

Sebastian and Gilbert were old friends, while Gilbert and Graham met through various parties. The three then began making music under various guises before being joined by Laure and Mimi. The band now play with a live drummer.

The group took their name ‘Crystal Fighters’ from an unfinished opera which Laure’s grandfather had penned during his final months of insanity. Laure came across the manuscript while clearing out the reclusive old man’s remote home in the Basque countryside. She quickly became obsessed by the intriguing scrawls within it and shared it with the others. Captivated by its seemingly prophetic contents, the band took on the name and formed in an attempt to expand upon the wild and deranged spirit of the old man’s writings.

Crystal Fighters’ style is a fusion of genres – fast progressive dance music joined by the melodies and dances of traditional Basque folk, alongside synthesisers, bass-driven wonk-funk, with beats fuelled by early 80s Spanish punk and experimental electronica from bands such as Aviador Dro, Las Vulpes and Dulce Venganza. Basque music informs much of their songwriting: the riff on ‘Champion Sound’ is lifted from the Basque folk piece ‘Sagar Dantza’ and ‘In The Summer’ draws upon music heard at the Carnival of Lantz in Navarroa.

In 2008, popular music-website Palms Out Sounds picked up the track ‘I Love London’ and news of the band's unique sound began to spread. This led to two single releases through record label Kitsuné in 2009. The band had released “Xtatic Truth” via Kitsuné in May 2009. It captured the attention of BBC Radio 1’s Nick Grimshaw who made it Single of the Week, a monumental feat for a band’s first single. The group’s second single 'I Love London' was released on Kitsuné in December 2009. The buzz resulted in the band being one of the Top 5 most blogged artists in the world

'Star of Love' is the name of the first album by Crystal Fighters. It was released to critical acclaim in the UK on 4 October 2010 via the band’s own label Zirkulo. The collection of songs explores the themes in singer Laure's grandfather's writings. Themes include the unfathomable mystery of the universe, the turbulent journey towards being at peace with death, the triumph of love, and the omnipotence of the sun. "Star Of Love" is actually an acronym for SOL, the Spanish word for “sun”.

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"Single most exciting live show in dance music" Mixmag
“Crystal Fighters stand out as one of the most interesting prospects by a mile– something genuinely new sounding” NME
"Klaxons move over, this band are brilliant, fantastic live performances infused with the unique instruments creates a brilliant sound" Its All Indie
"Raved-up folktronica and minimal electro pop and veering from Fischerspooner-style euphoria to Animal Collective-toned delicacy” Time Out
“Crystal Fighters’ create carnage at every performance. ” Loud & Quiet
“Forget what you think you know about London’s party scene” FACT
"If these tracks don’t make you want to rip your shirt off and dive into a sweaty sea of beautiful people and glistening gems, I don’t know what will." The Tripwire

London
Crystal Fighters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hola. Me llamo Mimi.
I love London.
Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-oh, ah-oh
Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-ah-ahah-oh. Oh.

I wanna go to the carpa
I wanna go to the carpa.
I wanna go to the carpa

I wanna go to carpa.

In Willesden!
Harlesden!
Waterford!
Junction! Junction! Junction!
I love London.

I love London.
I wanna go to the friends party, the friends party.
I wanna go to the friends party
I wanna go to the friends party, the friends party.
I wanna go to the friends party

In Willesden!
Harlesden!
Waterford!
Junction! Junction! Junction!
I love London.

I love London.

I love London.
I wanna talk about it.
Tell my freinds bout' it.
Take me to a party in the city, imma sing about it.
I wanna talk about it.
Tell my freinds bout' it.
Take me to a party in the city, imma sing about it.
I wanna go to the friends party, the friends party.
I wanna go to the friends party
I wanna go to the friends party, the friends party.
I wanna go to the friends party
In Willesden!
Harlesden!
Waterford!
Junction! Junction! Junction!
I love London.

I love London.
Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-oh, ah-oh
Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-oh, ah-oh.

Ah-ah-ahah-oh. Oh.
I love London.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Love London" by Crystal Fighters are simple and repetitive, but they capture the excitement and enthusiasm that the singer feels for the city. The chorus of "Ah-oh, ah-oh" serves as a catchy backdrop to the specific locations that the singer wants to visit, such as the Carpa (which may refer to a specific theater or performance space) and various neighborhoods like Willesden, Harlesden, Waterford, and Junction.

The singer also expresses a desire to attend a friends' party and sing about their experiences in the city. There's a sense of belonging and community conveyed in the repetition of "the friends party," which suggests that the singer has a group of people in London they feel connected to. Overall, the song celebrates London as a vibrant and exciting place that the singer feels drawn to and wants to explore further.

Line by Line Meaning

Hola. Me llamo Mimi.
Hi. My name is Mimi.

I love London.
I have a strong affinity towards London and all that the city has to offer.

Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-oh, ah-oh
Vocals to the instrumental music.

Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-oh, ah-oh. Ah-ah-ahah-oh. Oh.
Vocals to the instrumental break.

I wanna go to the carpa
I desire to attend a unique location or venue known as the Carpa.

I wanna go to carpa.
I desire to attend the Carpa event or location.

In Willesden! Harlesden! Waterford! Junction! Junction! Junction!
Mentions specific locations in or near London which Mimi wants to visit.

I love London.
Mimi reiterates her love for the city of London.

I wanna go to the friends party, the friends party.
I desire to attend a party hosted by friends or acquaintances.

I wanna go to the friends party
I desire to attend a friends/acquaintances party.

I wanna go to the friends party, the friends party.
I desire to attend a party hosted by friends or acquaintances.

I wanna go to the friends party
I desire to attend a party hosted by friends or acquaintances.

In Willesden! Harlesden! Waterford! Junction! Junction! Junction!
Mentions specific locations in or near London which Mimi wants to visit.

I love London.
Mimi reiterates her love for the city of London.

I wanna talk about it.
I want to express and discuss my love for London with others.

Tell my freinds bout' it.
I want to inform my friends about my love for London.

Take me to a party in the city, imma sing about it.
Mimi asks to be taken to a party in the city so that she can express her love for London in song.