Interview with Els Pynoo from Vive la Fête, Betong, Oslo, 4th of December 2004.

9:30. Backstage at Betong and OvaryAction are sharing a cigarette and a little chat with the Els ViveLaFete Diva. She is tired of the 10 days of performing and partying, but relaxed and friendly. Here is what our little informal interview sounded like...

BiB/Oa: Have you been on tour for a long time now?
Els: It's the ninth concert, and tonight we go home….it will be 22 hours driving.

Oa/Bib: Where I s home exactly?
Els: In Belgium, it's Ghent. Its half an hour from Brussels. Belgium is small, so nothing is really far.

Oa/Bib: But you manage to have two languages, though.
Els: Yes! Jiue

Oa/Bib: Your language is Dutch, isn't it?
Els: Yes.

Oa/Bib: And you never sing in Dutch?
Els: No.

Oa/Bib: Why is that exactly?
El : Well, it doesn't sound as erotic as French, I guess. It's like a serious language. It's beautiful to talk, but it's….serious. When you hear it, I mean it's so…..No!

Oa/Bib: Don't you think it's just because everybody's singing in other languages rather than their own so that you get away with not so precise lyrics?
Els: Well, most Belgium bands sing in English and then they have the typical English accent or American accent even, and then even the text in between the songs are in English. That's what I hate. I mean, you have to stay Belgian, or I mean, I think it's so stupid, cause we don't speak English at all in Belgium…..but French is very….I think it has something very sexual to it. That's why.

Oa/Bib: More than English?
Els: Yeah, I think English is more, it would be...if Vive la Fête sang in English it would be very popy. It would be like Britney Spears! (Long laughs) No, I don't think we should do it in English.

Oa/Bib: Where did you come up with this name? We would love to have some details! Was it over a bottle of whiskey, in the bathroom, in your sleep, at a party...
Els: No, no. You see Daniel and I met at a party, at my sister's birthday and so it was a la fête of course, and I had the idea that every day can be a party if you enjoy life everyday as a party. To give the people a good time!

Oa/Bib: Do you manage to have a party every day?
Els: A lot...not everyday, no.

Oa/Bib: And were you a fan of Deus at that time?
Els: No, not really. I knew Deus of course, because it was one of the biggest bands when I met Danny eight year ago, but I haven't seen a concert and I wasn't really a fan, but I liked it anyway, yes. But I didn't take Danny because he was from that group. No, no.

Oa/Bib: Cause it is very different music you are making now.
Els : Yes, in the beginning people said, on the affiche (poster), they told like a side group of Deus, but that is bullshit, it's not because of he was a guitar player of Deus, I mean it didn't have anything to do with Deus, it is completely different. But I think that's good, because otherwise people think that you get....(%&##£@%$ = some Dutch swearing)...that you get more famous because of Deus, and I shouldn't like that, so now people know it's completely different.

Oa/Bib: You made a name of your own now, you played on fashion shows and things like that.
Els: Sure, yes. Sometimes the singer of Deus is jealous..ssshhhh..don't tell

Oa/Bib: To go back to the French language. Don't you think a lot of people find it sexy, but they don't understand the lyrics. I know a lot of the people in Norway is frustrated cus they don't understand.
Els: I know!

Oa/Bib: Do you write translations on the record?
Els: No, I don't want to. I think it was like two years ago in England they didn't want to promote our cd there because it was in French and they asked us to translate everything especially for England, but I think that is bullshit.
You can't do that, it's crazy. So no, fuck it, I don't wanna do it! But it's strange, you know, when you do concerts or you make cds, people listen to the text of course, but it is also the sphere and the atmosphere and the vibes that are very important. A few months ago, last summer, we were in Brazil. They don't understand anything of French, but people are still singing along some words and they were dancing and it was a compliment. I mean, then I feel really good, cause you give something. They don't understand, but they don't mind. I think it's great! Yeah, it happens a lot.
Even in the Netherlands, people don't understand French, some people do, but I mean it's a neighbour...you come from Russia? (pointing on Val's wonderful fake fur Russian hat)

Oa/Bib: No, I come from France.
Els:..cause he (referring to the keyboardist in Vive la Fête) bought one in Russia.!

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