Frou Frou created an impressive brand of vocal-driven, electronic pop. After the British duo had been collaborating for years without a record deal, the group's debut, Details, was completed for American release on MCA Records in 2002.
Heap and Sigsworth first worked together on Getting Scared from Heap's 1998 solo record, I Megaphone. After completing the promotion for that splendid debut, Heap was ready to begin work on a new project and the two hooked up again as Sigsworth had privately been compiling music specifically for Heap while producing other projects. The first track, conceived by the new, more formal (but as yet unnamed) pairing, eventually turned into Flicks from Details, which is perhaps Frou Frou's most Björk-reminiscent number.
Sigsworth grew up listening to eclectic female artists like Kate Bush, and along with Heap, developed an appreciation for classical music. He has specifically worked with Björk (Homogenic, Vespertine) and Madonna (What It Feels Like For A Girl) among many other significant '90s pop and electronic artists. Far from being the kind of campy moniker one might expect from a more sugary pop outfit, the name Frou Frou was decided upon when Francophile Sigsworth noticed the phrase in a Baudelaire poem. Apparently, when uttered in French, the phrase is meant to approximate the swishing of skirts as they swirl about the legs of comely dancing women, as in a burlesque performance.
Born composers, multi-instrumentalist Heap and studio/sound/producer/musician Sigsworth are credited with many side appearances in support of other artists, especially Sigsworth, who was often used as a bit of a song-fixer. While those aren't bad jobs to have, artists of Frou Frou's caliber need to step out on their own, and while Heap worked as a solo artist for a majority of her career, Sigsworth had never been so strongly identified with any previous project. Instead of relegating the male producer/writer to a barely credited back seat, as often happens with a female-fronted team effort, Frou Frou was conceived and honestly portrayed as a true collaboration, making it significant for its marketing truthfulness if nothing else.
Details has some relatively conventional pop moments like "It's Good to Be in Love", but more experimental cuts like "Only Got One" display a more definitive quality. The true accomplishment of Frou Frou (which is in evidence on just about every track the "band" created) is their uncanny ability to infuse highly manipulated, digitally crafted music with a warmth quite rare in pop and almost unheard of in music so technologically progressive. In the studio, Frou Frou achieved unique sounding beats for Heap's luscious voice via more-than-would-be-expected acoustic and natural instruments. These actual instrumental performances were recorded first, then heavily manipulated in an editing stage, giving the duo their own process and thus, their own sound. This approach made their music lush, dynamic, and more earthy when compared to typical electronic/dance and canned pop.
In November 2017, it was announced that Heap and Sigsworth would be reuniting to tour as Frou Frou in conjunction with an Imogen Heap solo tour in 2018. The duo released a live recording of "Guitar Song" on April 19, 2019. "Guitar Song" is one of two singles not released at the time of the band's initial break-up.
Euphoria
Frou Frou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't listen to me from now
George'll be flying this one
And it's anyone's guess how he does
This is the right turn, wrong universe
And taking me in full bloom
Fireball careful with that there
See what you made me do?
I must be dreaming or
We're on to something
I must be dreaming for
I don't fall in love lawlessly
I must be dreaming or
Pinch me to waking
So undeniably yours
As long as I'm losing it so completely
Incendiary glance
Become and collide in me
Zoom in enhance
Hold while I go helplessly
Sky high, magic eye
Sugar rushing don't stop
I must be dreaming or
We're onto something
And just what you make me for?
I don't fall in love lawlessly
I must be dreaming or
Pinch me to waking
So undeniably yours
As long as I'm losing it so completely
Euphoria, I can't take, any more of it
Euphoria, I can't take, any more of it
I'm losing it
I must be dreaming or
We're onto something
And just what you make me for?
I don't fall in love lawlessly
I must be dreaming or
Pinch me to waking
So undeniably yours
As long as I'm losing
I'm losing it (I'm losing it)
I'm losing it (I'm losing it)
I must be dreaming (I'm losing it)
I must be dreaming (I'm losing it)
I must be dreaming
The lyrics of Frou Frou's song Euphoria are full of enchanting and bewildering imagery that takes listeners on a spontaneous journey of love and self-discovery. The song starts with a vague reference to someone called George, who will be flying something, and it is anyone's guess how he will do it. The lyrics then proceed to describe a feeling of being in the wrong universe, taking in everything in full bloom, and being careful with the fireball. The artist then implores us to pay attention and not listen to them from now on, indicating a shift in perspective and a desire to be taken seriously.
The lyricist then goes on to express the feeling of being lost in love and being in a state of euphoria. The words "I must be dreaming" are repeated throughout the song as if to suggest that this feeling is too good to be true. The artist describes the feeling of losing control and surrendering completely to this euphoria. The words "pinch me to waking" suggest that the artist is aware that this feeling might not be sustainable, and they are not sure if they want to wake up from this dreamlike state of mind. The reference to "incendiary glance" and "sugar rushing" suggests that the artist is completely under the spell of the other person and can't resist the temptation.
The song seems to be about falling in love and allowing oneself to be fully consumed by it, to the point of losing control entirely. The artist seems to be describing the sensation of being swept away by love and not being able to resist it. The words "we're onto something" and "undeniably yours" suggest that the artist has found something special and wants to hang on to it. The song is a beautiful portrayal of the intensity of love and the euphoria that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Pay close attention
Listen carefully to what is happening
Don't listen to me from now
Stop paying attention to what I say
George'll be flying this one
Someone named George will be in charge
And it's anyone's guess how he does
It's unknown how he will manage
This is the right turn, wrong universe
We're in the right direction but the wrong reality
And taking me in full bloom
Embracing me completely and passionately
Fireball careful with that there
Be cautious of the intense emotions
See what you made me do?
These intense emotions are a result of your actions
I must be dreaming or
It's hard to believe this is real
We're on to something
We've discovered something special
I don't fall in love lawlessly
I don't want to fall in love recklessly
Pinch me to waking
I need to know this is not a dream
So undeniably yours
I belong to you without a doubt
As long as I'm losing it so completely
I'm willing to let go of myself completely for you
Incendiary glance
A fiery, passionate look
Become and collide in me
These intense feelings merge and clash within me
Zoom in enhance
Get a closer look and intensify these emotions
Hold while I go helplessly
I'm losing control while you hold me
Sky high, magic eye
My emotions are soaring and everything feels magical
Sugar rushing, don't stop
These intense emotions are sweet like sugar and I don't want them to end
Euphoria, I can't take, any more of it
I'm overwhelmed by the intense feeling of euphoria
I'm losing it
I'm losing control of my emotions
I must be dreaming (I'm losing it)
This feels unreal and I'm losing control
Contributed by Lucy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SerPinkKnight
Back in 2003 this level of video editing was basically sorcery
@MrChromaticx
First AMV i ever saw. and have yet to see anything better. As SerPinkKnight wrote. It was Sorcery. Still Totaly Awsome.
@cpt1silencer441
SerPinkKnight Yeah i remember seeing this in amv hell 3. i miss the early 2000's. dnd was on paper and the internet was a club
@ericofire
+MrChromaticx one of my first AMV's as well. ^_^ i still get chills when i watch it lol. you should check out "Gorz" channel if you want something on par with this. when it comes to amv's, he's a wizard. all i can say about it lol
@MrChromaticx
Thanks!
@NikanDragosysSerpenDra
+Shotgun Parley this smv is sorcery, pure white magick <3
@TonyBarrios_24
2022: You will not believe this. NINETEEN YEARS LATER: Still The Masterpiece: Best AMV of ALL TIME.
@RockLou
YES
@Pryszczoskor
It's 2023 and it's still the best!
@denisblyakherov6497
Absolutely, true!