Darts of Pleasure
Encyclopedia
Darts of Pleasure is the debut single by the post-punk revival band Franz Ferdinand
, released in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2003 and in North America on 18 November 2003, both through Domino Records.
Alex Kapranos
explained to Q
magazine that "the song is about seduction and the Darts Of Pleasure that hit you are actually words."
The song ends with several lyrics in German
, most famously the line "Ich heiße Super Fantastisch!" ("My name is Super-Fantastic!", whereas "Super-Fantastic" is the name, not an adjective. Although variations in the German
language occur, creating the true meaning to be "I am called Super-Fantastic!").
and Interpol
. NME editor Connor McNicholas said, "My first contact with Franz Ferdinand was when someone was playing the Darts of Pleasure demos, in the NME office, and it was genuinely one of those moments when a track goes on and I come bundling out of my office saying 'what the hell is this because this is amazing'". It was therefore no surprise the band won the "Phillip Hall Radar Award" at the NME Awards
of 2004 (announced in late 2003). Furthermore, the NME described the band as "The Next Big Thing" and featured the band on the front cover describing them as "The Band That Will Change Your Life".
The single was received well with Pitchfork Media
giving it a rating of 8.3. Allmusic gave it 3.5 stars and the NME
gave a very enthusiastic response. "Darts of Pleasure" was released on 8 September 2003. With the release Franz were acclaimed as "the saviours of rock and roll" by John Peel
who gave them airtime.
It entered the UK Singles Chart
at number 44 on 15 September 2003, where it stayed for one week before dropping out of the chart all together. Nonetheless, the band were happy with its chart performance, commenting "we couldn't believe we were in the UK top 50."
CD
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, released in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2003 and in North America on 18 November 2003, both through Domino Records.
Alex Kapranos
Alex Kapranos
Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
explained to Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
magazine that "the song is about seduction and the Darts Of Pleasure that hit you are actually words."
The song ends with several lyrics in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, most famously the line "Ich heiße Super Fantastisch!" ("My name is Super-Fantastic!", whereas "Super-Fantastic" is the name, not an adjective. Although variations in the German
language occur, creating the true meaning to be "I am called Super-Fantastic!").
History
The band developed its reputation by supporting Hot Hot HeatHot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...
and Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
. NME editor Connor McNicholas said, "My first contact with Franz Ferdinand was when someone was playing the Darts of Pleasure demos, in the NME office, and it was genuinely one of those moments when a track goes on and I come bundling out of my office saying 'what the hell is this because this is amazing'". It was therefore no surprise the band won the "Phillip Hall Radar Award" at the NME Awards
NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine....
of 2004 (announced in late 2003). Furthermore, the NME described the band as "The Next Big Thing" and featured the band on the front cover describing them as "The Band That Will Change Your Life".
The single was received well with Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
giving it a rating of 8.3. Allmusic gave it 3.5 stars and the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
gave a very enthusiastic response. "Darts of Pleasure" was released on 8 September 2003. With the release Franz were acclaimed as "the saviours of rock and roll" by John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
who gave them airtime.
It entered the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at number 44 on 15 September 2003, where it stayed for one week before dropping out of the chart all together. Nonetheless, the band were happy with its chart performance, commenting "we couldn't believe we were in the UK top 50."
In the UK
7"- "Darts Of Pleasure" (Alex KapranosAlex KapranosAlexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
, Nick McCarthy) - "Shopping for Blood" (Alex KapranosAlex KapranosAlexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
, Nick McCarthy, Paul ThomsonPaul ThomsonPaul Thomson is the drummer for the Glasgow based band, Franz Ferdinand....
)
CD
- "Darts Of Pleasure" (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy)
- "Van Tango" (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy)
- Lead vocals performed by Nick McCarthy.
- "Shopping for Blood" (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, Paul ThomsonPaul ThomsonPaul Thomson is the drummer for the Glasgow based band, Franz Ferdinand....
)
In the US and Canada
CD- "Darts of Pleasure" (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy) – 3:01
- "Van Tango" (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy) – 3:25
- Lead vocals performed by Nick McCarthy.
- "Shopping for Blood" (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, Paul Thomson) – 3:36
- "Tell Her Tonight" (home demo) (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy) – 2:20
- Lead vocals performed by Nick McCarthy.
- "Darts of Pleasure" (home demo) (Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy) – 3:25
Personnel
- Alex Kapranos – vocals, guitar
- Bob Hardy – bass guitar
- Nick McCarthy – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Paul Thomson – drums, percussion and backing vocals
- Adrian Breakspear Assistant Engineer
- Tore Johansson Producer
- Alex Kapranos Producer