Normally I try to choose songs for Danette's birthday based on songs that make me think of her, not necessarily favorite songs of hers. This year, it's both: "Ça plane pour moi", a song that she really enjoys -- to the point where it would be impossible for me to hear it and not think of her.
The song is by Belgian artist Roger François Jouret, aka Plastic Bertrand, and was released in 1977 on the LP "An 1". I wish I could say that either of us were cool enough to know about French language punk songs in 1977, but it's only through us recently watching "Killing Eve" that we first heard it. Killing Eve had a great soundtrack (check out this Spotify list), with many selections coming from the band Unloved (of which David Holmes is a member) but "Ça plane pour moi" was used only once (I think) and in that brief moment it managed to make quite an impression on Danette. She ordered the CD shortly thereafter and has played it a ton since then.
What does the song mean? Well, it's mostly nonsense, but the chorus does translate as:
It's all working out for me, it's all working out for me
It's all working out for me, me, me, me, me
It's all working out for me
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
It's all working out for me
But after a long period of life complications, things both personal and professional are actually working out for her, so I guess the song is applicable.
Happy Birthday Danette -- "You are the King [Queen] of the Divan!"
Fun facts about the song:
- It's not actually sung by Plastic Bertand, it's actually sung by producer Lou Deprijck.
- It has the same music as "Jet Boy, Jet Girl" by Elton Motello (vid).
- Although arguably a novelty song, it was good enough for Joe Strummer: "Plastic Bertrand compressed into that three minutes a bloody good record that will get any comatose person toe-tapping, you know what I mean? By purist rules, it's not allowed to even mention Plastic Bertrand. Yet, this record was probably a lot better than a lot of so-called punk records."
Plastic Bertrand - "Ça plane pour moi"
Previous birthday songs:
2021: Adam and the Ants - "Christian D'or"
2020: Walk Off The Earth - "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"
2019: Nicki Minaj - "Monster"
2018: Bear Hands - "Giants"
2017: Alvvays - "Archie, Marry Me"
2016: Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' With Disaster"
2015: Avett Brothers - "Kick Drum Heart"
2014: Ani DiFranco - "32 Flavors"
2013: The Green Pajamas - "Kim the Waitress"
2012: The Cure - "High"
2011: Blink 182 - "Josie"
2010: Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl"
