Alec Eiffel
Encyclopedia
"Alec Eiffel" is a song by the American
alternative rock
band Pixies, and is the third track on their 1991 album Trompe le Monde
. The song was written and sung by frontman Black Francis, produced by Gil Norton
and recorded during the album's recording sessions. "Alec Eiffel" was released as a single
in France, the United Kingdom and the United States, and was their third single from the album.
, who designed the Eiffel Tower
; Francis thought it was a "fascinating subject" to compose a song about. Francis also mentioned another meaning of the song: "Because of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, but also because it's funny: in Australia, you often say 'It's a smart Alec' for [sic] a guy who's nice but not very bright.", although in Britain and the United States, a "smart Alec" is the exact opposite--someone who is intelligent, but mean or sarcastic.
engineer
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
, designer of the Eiffel Tower
in Paris
. The song's video features the band playing in a wind-tunnel, a reference to the "pioneer of aerodynamics," with physics formulas in the background.
later commented on Francis' songwriting technique and the song itself: "According to Charles, the song started with Eiffel, then he started to [sic] singing the words Eiffel, rifle, trifle, and suddenly 'everything fell into place'. It's not certain whether lines like 'little Eiffel stands in the archway, even though it doesn't make no sense' are an observation of the lunacy of the architecture or the song itself, which features a Sixties' -style zither!" (Francis is actually singing "keeping low, it don't make no sense", rather than "even though" which answers Melody Maker's question.)
French CD single and UK 12"/CD single
UK 7" single
US CD Single (1992)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Pixies, and is the third track on their 1991 album Trompe le Monde
Trompe le Monde
Trompe le Monde is the fourth and final album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in 1991 on the English independent record label 4AD in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States...
. The song was written and sung by frontman Black Francis, produced by Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
and recorded during the album's recording sessions. "Alec Eiffel" was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in France, the United Kingdom and the United States, and was their third single from the album.
Melody and lyrics
The song references the French engineer Alexandre Gustave EiffelGustave Eiffel
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer from the École Centrale Paris, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures...
, who designed the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
; Francis thought it was a "fascinating subject" to compose a song about. Francis also mentioned another meaning of the song: "Because of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, but also because it's funny: in Australia, you often say 'It's a smart Alec' for [sic] a guy who's nice but not very bright.", although in Britain and the United States, a "smart Alec" is the exact opposite--someone who is intelligent, but mean or sarcastic.
Video
"Alec Eiffel" is a tribute to the famous FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer from the École Centrale Paris, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures...
, designer of the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The song's video features the band playing in a wind-tunnel, a reference to the "pioneer of aerodynamics," with physics formulas in the background.
Critical reaction
The British magazine Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
later commented on Francis' songwriting technique and the song itself: "According to Charles, the song started with Eiffel, then he started to [sic] singing the words Eiffel, rifle, trifle, and suddenly 'everything fell into place'. It's not certain whether lines like 'little Eiffel stands in the archway, even though it doesn't make no sense' are an observation of the lunacy of the architecture or the song itself, which features a Sixties' -style zither!" (Francis is actually singing "keeping low, it don't make no sense", rather than "even though" which answers Melody Maker's question.)
Formats and track listing
All songs written by Black Francis, unless otherwise noted.French CD single and UK 12"/CD single
- "Alec Eiffel" – 2:50
- "Motorway to Roswell" – 4:43
- "Planet of SoundPlanet of Sound"Planet of Sound" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies; the second track on their 1991 album Trompe le Monde. It was written and sung by frontman Black Francis and produced by Gil Norton during the album's recording sessions...
" (Live at Brixton Academy, July 26, 1991) – 2:26 - "Tame" (Live at Brixton Academy, July 26, 1991) – 2:27
UK 7" single
- "Alec Eiffel" – 2:50
- "Motorway to Roswell" – 4:43
US CD Single (1992)
- "Alec Eiffel" – 2:50
- "Letter to Memphis" (Instrumental) – 2:42
- "Build High" – 1:43
- "Evil Hearted You" (Graham GouldmanGraham GouldmanGraham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
) – 2:37
- On the French CD single, tracks one and two are switched.