Ou Est Le Swimming Pool
Encyclopedia
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool were an English synthpop
group from Camden
, London
, made up of Charles Haddon, Joe Hutchinson and Caan Capan. The band name is an amalgamation of French
(Où Est Le: where is the) and English
(Swimming Pool), and is inspired by a line from French teacher Mrs Crabbe (played by Pam Ferris
) in the television series Hardwicke House
. They released four singles.
In 2009 the band released and re-released their debut single, "Dance the Way I Feel
", before supporting La Roux
on their UK tour. In 2010 the band released the singles "These New Knights
", "Jackson's Last Stand
" and "The Key" along with their debut album The Golden Year
.
The band played at Glastonbury Festival
and Bestival
in 2009, and supported La Roux on their tour in early 2010. In May they played at Evolution Festival and in July at Global Gathering
, along with a series of festivals all over Europe throughout the summer of 2010.
On 20 August 2010, Charles Haddon, the lead singer of the band, died after a performance at Pukkelpop
, Belgium. He committed suicide
in the backstage artists' parking area. Haddon was reported to have been distressed after he feared he had seriously injured a young girl earlier after a stagedive.
On 3 October 2010 the remaining Ou Est Le Swimming Pool members arranged a festival, billed as Chazzstock, in honour of Haddon at Koko in Camden, London. The Kooks
, Mr Hudson, Tony Hadley
of Spandau Ballet
, Man Like Me
, Daisy Dares You
, Kissy Sell Out
, Tribes
, Ollie Wride and The Horrors
performed at the event. The event raised more than £8,000 for charities Mind and CALM. Faris Badwan
of The Horrors also dedicated his side-project Cat's Eyes' debut album Cat's Eyes
to Haddon's memory.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group from Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, made up of Charles Haddon, Joe Hutchinson and Caan Capan. The band name is an amalgamation of French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
(Où Est Le: where is the) and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(Swimming Pool), and is inspired by a line from French teacher Mrs Crabbe (played by Pam Ferris
Pam Ferris
Pamela Ann "Pam" Ferris is a German-born Welsh actress. She is best known for her starring roles on television as Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, as Laura Thyme in Rosemary & Thyme, and for playing Miss Trunchbull in the movie Matilda...
) in the television series Hardwicke House
Hardwicke House
Hardwicke House was a 1987 seven-episode sitcom produced by Central Independent Television for the ITV network. It was so negatively received that only the first two episodes were transmitted.-Plot and episode titles :...
. They released four singles.
In 2009 the band released and re-released their debut single, "Dance the Way I Feel
Dance The Way I Feel
"Dance the Way I Feel" is the debut single from British Synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. It was first released on 7 September 2009 as a limited edition 7" vinyl and on 9 November it received a wider release across 3 formats....
", before supporting La Roux
La Roux
La Roux are an English electropop duo made up of singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Jackson describes their relationship as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also...
on their UK tour. In 2010 the band released the singles "These New Knights
These New Knights
"These New Knights" is the second single by British synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. It was a download only single with several remixes by established DJ artists.-Track listing:#"These New Knights"#"These New Knights"...
", "Jackson's Last Stand
Jackson's Last Stand
"Jackson's Last Stand" is the third single by synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. It was released on 12 July 2010.-Music video:The music video features the band playing somewhere in a darkened room. Elsewhere in the room a man and a woman are running towards each other through CGI effects...
" and "The Key" along with their debut album The Golden Year
The Golden Year
The Golden Year is the debut album by Camden synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool.-Release:The album was originally intended for release in August 2010, but was delayed. The suicide of frontman Charles Haddon led to uncertainties about the status of the album; however the band's management issued...
.
The band played at Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
and Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
in 2009, and supported La Roux on their tour in early 2010. In May they played at Evolution Festival and in July at Global Gathering
Global Gathering
GlobalGathering is an annual dance music festival by Angel Music Group. Festivals are held in countries such as the UK, Poland, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and feature leading electronica artists from across the globe...
, along with a series of festivals all over Europe throughout the summer of 2010.
On 20 August 2010, Charles Haddon, the lead singer of the band, died after a performance at Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop
Pukkelpop is an annual music festival which takes place near the city of Hasselt, Belgium in mid-to-late August. It is held within a large enclosure of fields and woodland—between a dual carriageway called Kempische Steenweg—in the village of Kiewit, approximately 7 km north of Hasselt...
, Belgium. He committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in the backstage artists' parking area. Haddon was reported to have been distressed after he feared he had seriously injured a young girl earlier after a stagedive.
On 3 October 2010 the remaining Ou Est Le Swimming Pool members arranged a festival, billed as Chazzstock, in honour of Haddon at Koko in Camden, London. The Kooks
The Kooks
The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2001. Formed by Luke Pritchard , Hugh Harris , Paul Garred , and Max Rafferty , the lineup of the band remained constant until 2008 and the departure of Rafferty...
, Mr Hudson, Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley is an English pop singer-songwriter, occasional stage actor and radio presenter who gained celebrity as the lead vocalist for the 1980s band Spandau Ballet.-Early life:...
of Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
, Man Like Me
Man Like Me
Man Like Me is the debut album by American country music artist Bobby Pinson. It was released in 2005 by RCA Nashville and peaked at #23 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart...
, Daisy Dares You
Daisy Dares You
Daisy May Keeley Coburn , better known by her stage name Daisy Dares You, is a British singer and songwriter. The stage name is a direct reference to the character of the same name from the 1990s British television show ZZZap!.-Early life:...
, Kissy Sell Out
Kissy Sell Out
Kissy Sell Out an English DJ, producer and graphic designer. Kissy Sell Out quickly gained notability in 2006 for his eccentric electro productions and energetic DJ style. In 2009 Mixmag described him as "one of the most exciting, charismatic and entertaining DJs of the decade"...
, Tribes
Tribes (band)
Tribes are a British four-piece rock band from Camden, London. Formed in 2010, the band consists of Johnny Lloyd , Dan White, Miguel Demelo and Jim Cratchley.-History:...
, Ollie Wride and The Horrors
The Horrors
The Horrors are an English band from Southend on Sea, formed in 2005. Their debut Strange House, was released in 2007 and reached number thirty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and peaked at number 25 in the UK...
performed at the event. The event raised more than £8,000 for charities Mind and CALM. Faris Badwan
Faris Badwan
Faris Badwan is a British musician, best known for being the lead vocalist for the English Alternative Rock band The Horrors, and more recently one half of his side project Cat's Eyes with Rachel Zeffira.-Early life:...
of The Horrors also dedicated his side-project Cat's Eyes' debut album Cat's Eyes
Cat's Eyes (album)
Cat's Eyes is the self-titled debut album by London-based alternative pop duo Cat's Eyes, released on April 11, 2011 on the Polydor record label....
to Haddon's memory.
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 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 ... |
UK IND UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... |
AUS |
BEL (FL) Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
|||
| 2009 | "Dance the Way I Feel Dance The Way I Feel "Dance the Way I Feel" is the debut single from British Synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. It was first released on 7 September 2009 as a limited edition 7" vinyl and on 9 November it received a wider release across 3 formats.... " |
110 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 20 | The Golden Year The Golden Year The Golden Year is the debut album by Camden synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool.-Release:The album was originally intended for release in August 2010, but was delayed. The suicide of frontman Charles Haddon led to uncertainties about the status of the album; however the band's management issued... |
| 2010 | "These New Knights These New Knights "These New Knights" is the second single by British synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. It was a download only single with several remixes by established DJ artists.-Track listing:#"These New Knights"#"These New Knights"... " |
— | — | — | — | — | |
| "Jackson's Last Stand Jackson's Last Stand "Jackson's Last Stand" is the third single by synthpop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. It was released on 12 July 2010.-Music video:The music video features the band playing somewhere in a darkened room. Elsewhere in the room a man and a woman are running towards each other through CGI effects... " |
— | — | 79 | — | — | ||
| "The Key" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart or has not been released | |||||||