Village Groove

Album: The Roosevelt Sessions (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The "village" is Greenwich Village, a musically fertile section of New York City. Fun Lovin' Criminals formed in New York and many of their songs call out to the city, often in tales of nightclubs or the seedy underworld. "Village Groove" paints a different picture, with the vibrant area a getaway from the politics and hate that have become all too common.
  • This was the first song Fun Lovin' Criminals recorded after losing their frontman Huey Morgan, a founding member. The band has a rich history and distinct persona, so they couldn't just find another singer to replace him. The only viable solution was to have the other remaining founder, multi-instrumentalist Brian "Fast" Leiser, take on vocals. Leiser sang it quietly up close to the microphone, keeping the focus on the groove.
  • In a Songfacts interview with "Fast" Leiser, he talked about the song meaning. "The song is about making ends meet, making bones," he said. "It was great to write lyrics about New York. We're talking about the experiences when we were growing up. Now we're in our 40s and 50s looking back on half our lives and the nostalgia takes us back to the '80s and '90s. What a great two decades it was for us living in New York City."
  • Leiser and FLC drummer Frank Benbini wrote this song with James Maddock, a New York City resident originally from Leicester, England, who records as a solo artist.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.