The band first experienced chart success when their second single "Take Me Out" reached #3 in the UK Charts, followed by their debut album Franz Ferdinand which entered the UK album chart at #3. The band went on to win the 2004 Mercury Music Prize and two BRIT Awards in 2005 for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act. NME named Franz Ferdinand as their Album of the Year. From the album, three top-ten singles were released, "Take Me Out", "The Dark of the Matinée" and "This Fire". The band has also received several Grammy Award nominations.
The band is named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria whose assassination was one of the main reasons for the start of the First World War. The band decided on the name after seeing a racehorse named Archduke Ferdinand win the Northumberland Plate in 2001, eventually coming to the decision as the alliteration and sound of the name appealed to them.
- Discography
Franz Ferdinand (2004)
You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
Blood; Franz Ferdinand (2009)
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009)
Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013)
FFS (2015) (Collaborative album with the band Sparks)
Always Ascending (2018)
Hits to the Head (2022)
Matinee*
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
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Slide the nail under the top and bottom
Buttons of my blazer
Relax the fraying wool, slacken ties
And I'm not to look at you in the shoe
But the eyes, find the eyes
Find me and follow me
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You'll find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee, it's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine, yes it's mine
I time every journey to bump into you, accidentally
I charm you and tell you of the boys I hate
All the girls I hate, all the words I hate
All the clothes I hate, how I'll never be anything I hate
You smile, mention something that you like
Or how you'd have a happy life if you did the things you like
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You'll find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee, it's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine, yes it's mine
So I'm on BBC2 now
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it
And what I made is unclear now
But his deference is and his laughter is
My words and smile are so easy now
Yes, it's easy now, yes, it's easy now
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You'll find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee, it's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
Well, find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You'll find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee, it's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine, yes, it's mine
The lyrics to Franz Ferdinand’s Matinee offer a vivid portrayal of a chance encounter between two people amidst the mundane routine of academic life. The song’s opening lines describe a sexual flirtation, as one person runs their nail down the top and bottom buttons of the other’s blazer. The language used is tactile and sensory, emphasizing the physical nature of the encounter, particularly in the line “relax the fraying wool, slacken ties.” The singer of the story is drawn to the other person’s eyes, suggesting a deep connection beyond the surface-level attraction.
As the song progresses, the singer describes deliberately timing their movements to cross paths with the object of their affection, subtly wooing them with stories of their dislikes and aspirations. The chorus implores the other person to “find me and follow me... through corridors, refectories, and files,” urging them to break free from the monotony of institutional life and seek out a more exciting experience. The dark of the matinee is the metaphorical space in which the singer exists, representing a secret, hidden world where they can be themselves and indulge in the thrill of new connections.
Overall, Matinee is a song about infatuation and the thrill of exploring new experiences with another person. It captures the feeling of longing and desire that can arise in even the most mundane of settings, suggesting that there is always potential for excitement and adventure if one is willing to seek it out.
Line by Line Meaning
You take your white finger
You touch me gently with your finger
Slide the nail under the top and bottom
You run your nail under the buttons of my blazer
Buttons of my blazer
Referring to the buttons on the jacket he is wearing
Relax the fraying wool, slacken ties
You are fixing my clothes for me
And I'm not to look at you in the shoe
I'm not allowed to stare at your feet
But the eyes, find the eyes
I should look in your eyes instead
Find me and follow me
Come and find me, and follow me around
Through corridors, refectories and files
Referring to various locations he can be found in
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You have to come with me and leave your academic work behind
You'll find me in the matinee
You'll find me in the afternoon movie screening
The dark of the matinee, it's better in the matinee
The darkness during the afternoon movie screening is better
The dark of the matinee is mine, yes it's mine
The darkness during the afternoon movie screening belongs to me
I time every journey to bump into you, accidentally
I purposely plan to run into you by accident
I charm you and tell you of the boys I hate
I am trying to impress you by talking about the boys I dislike
All the girls I hate, all the words I hate
I talk about everything that I dislike
All the clothes I hate, how I'll never be anything I hate
I even express my dislike for clothing and my fears for the future
You smile, mention something that you like
You smile and talk about something that you enjoy
Or how you'd have a happy life if you did the things you like
You say that you would have a better life if you were able to do things that you enjoy
So I'm on BBC2 now
I am now on a popular television show
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it
I am telling Terry Wogan about my success story
And what I made is unclear now
It is now unclear what my success actually is
But his deference is and his laughter is
However, Terry Wogan is showing me respect and laughing at my jokes
My words and smile are so easy now
I feel confident and relaxed in my words and expression
Well, find me and follow me
Once again, come and find me and follow me around
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Helena Oliveira
The Dark Of The Matinée
You take your white finger
Slide the nail under
The top and bottom buttons of my blazer
Relax the fraying wool
Slacken ties and I'm
Not to look at you in the shoe
But the eyes find the eyes
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine
Yes, it's mine
I time every journey
To bump into you accidentally
I charm you and tell you
Of the boys I hate, all the girls I hate
All the words I hate, all the clothes I hate
How I'll never be anything I hate
You smile, mention something that you like
Or how you'd have a happy life
If you did the things you like
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine
Yes, it's mine
So I'm on BBC2 now
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it and
What I made is unclear now
But his deference is
And his laughter is
My words and smile are so easy now
Yes, it's easy now
Yes, it's easy now
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
Well, find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine
Yes, it's mine
A Escuridão Da Matinê
Você pega o seu dedo branco
Desliza a unha debaixo
Do primeiro e do último botões do meu blazer
Para ajeitar a lã puída
Afrouxa a gravata e eu
Não devo olhar para você no sapato
Mas os olhos encontram os olhos
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê é minha
Sim, é minha
Eu cronometro todos os turnos
Para topar com você acidentalmente
Eu a enfeitiço e lhe conto
Sobre os caras que odeio, as garotas que odeio
As palavras que odeio, as roupas que odeio
Sobre como nunca serei nada do que odeio
Você sorri e menciona algo de que gosta
Ou como seria feliz
Se fizesse as coisas de que gosta
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê é minha
Sim, é minha
E agora eu estou na BBC 2
Contando a Terry Wogan como cheguei lá e
Onde cheguei não está claro
Mas o respeito dele está
E a gargalhada dele também
Minhas palavras e meu sorriso são tão fáceis agora
Sim, é fácil agora
Sim, é fácil agora
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê é minha
Sim, é minha
Dimitris Sakaridis
Damn... That first Franz Ferdinand album is such a flawless masterpiece...
Samuel Powell
for real, timeless classic, btw if you like franz ferdinand you should check out Lonely Gimmick - Grumpy Days, it gives me FF vibes and is a great new indie track
Dimitris Sakaridis
@Samuel Powell Very nice! Thanks!
FlamingBanana
@Samuel Powell paramores this is why also gives me FF vibes
Will
Obviously
Blue M. Hart
This is just an absolutely perfect song. Everything about it, I can’t imagine it getting better.
Cowboy Dan
Nice PFP
Blue M. Hart
@Cowboy Dan Thanks! Looks a bit like yours I think haha
Shanjan Usman
@Blue M. Hart The Line about Wogan is Legendary
Kiana S
Better than Take Me Out?