Flat Beat

Album: Analog Worms Attack (1999)
Charted: 1
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Songfacts®:

  • Mr. Oizo is the brainchild of French music and video director Quentin Dupieux. The series of TV ads that he directed for Levi's Sta-Prest featuring yellow fuzz-puppet Flat Eric and his accomplice Angel driving furtively around LA were inescapable in 1999. Not only did Dupieux direct the commercials, they were also a showcase for his music and this heavily distorted instrumental tune zoomed to #1 in a number of European countries including Belgium, Germany, Italy and the UK. It proved to be his only hit.
  • Dupieux explained his recording name in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "Oiseau means 'bird' in French. A long time ago I was with a bunch of friends, we were all high and one of my friends saw me as a bird, so it became my nickname."
  • Flat Eric was designed by Quentin Dupieux and made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. He was called Flat Eric because of his flat head.

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