Video of the Week: Odezenne “Je Veux Te Baiser”

In high school, I took French but I spent most of my classtime reworking Kids in the Hall sketches to perform for oral assignments rather than, well, actually learning anything useful. I did, however, figure out a handful of useful vulgar phrases that have only ever come in handy for insulting Quebecois and deciphering the titles of French pop lyrics, like Odezenne’s “Je Veux Te Baiser.”

Despite its seemingly innocent beat, Odezenne’s Sofia Coppola by way of the CW video gives away the true meaning behind “Je Veux Te Baiser,” which is, of course, “I Want to Fuck You.” I don’t know too much about Odezenne, so I don’t know if the two dudes who look like they’re on the hornier side of 16 are actually in the group or if this is a French pop video that keeps its actual musicians away from the visuals so that they don’t distract the hormonal kids watching at home with their leering, hairy gazes. Just kidding, I do know and it’s definitely the latter. Still, even with the inherent sleaziness of some balding, moustachioed dudes making some sexed up party music that cribs its chorus melody from LL Cool J’s “Going Back to Cali,” (which in turn kind of stole its melody from “Cars That Go Boom“) this is a fun track and the video appears to be fully aware of the sleaze.

There are kids doing blow amidst day-glo phallic pool floats and tons of Millenial butts but despite all that, no one looks all that happy to be there. It’s almost like the message of the video is “I want to fuck you, but I’m too sad and full of French ennui to do so.” Or maybe they’re sad because the guys in Odezenne keep taking off all of their clothes, like some way past their prime dudes who keep crashing high school parties.
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Nick Hanover got his degree from Disneyland, but he’s the last of the secret agents and he’s your man. Which is to say you can find his particular style of espionage here at Loser City as well as Ovrld, where he contributes music reviews and writes a column on undiscovered Austin bands.  You can also flip through his archives at  Comics Bulletin, which he is formerly the Co-Managing Editor of, and Spectrum Culture, where he contributed literally hundreds of pieces for a few years. Or if you feel particularly adventurous, you can always witness his odd .gif battles with Dylan Garsee on twitter: @Nick_Hanover