Lykke Li's hiccuping voice sounds like a four-year old singing along to the radio. Yet, on debut single Little Bit, the Swede tells a dark and disturbing tale. This is one pop record that's strictly not for the kiddies.
Little Bit is very film noir. It touches on obsessive love, sex, and murder.
The leading lady is “too proud for love” but has fallen hard despite herself. As she rather earthily puts it: "For you I keep my legs apart/and forget about my tainted heart".
In noir movies, playful irony often masks a bottomless pit of desire. Little Bit follows suit with a teasing, pleading chorus hook, “I think I’m a little bit in love with you/ but only if you’re a little bit in love with me.” More alarmingly, the narrator admits loving her man so "little" that she would “pull a trigger” in his name.
Little Bit packs a bigger emotional punch than your average common-or-garden electro pop -- or, indeed, indie rock. This has much to do with uber-producer Kleerup, who provides the off-kilter beats and incongruous ukulele that lay the foundation for the song's queasy atmosphere.
By fade out you want to warn this girl off her crazy love. Not that you'd succeed, of course. Noir is not known for its happy endings.
http://www.myspace.com/lykkeli
_Check out the fantastic video for Little Bit over the jump..._
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Lykke Li also delivers an utterly compelling performance in the video for Little Bit despite looking like a dead ringer for Lady Sovereign. The promo also features producer Kleerup in the part of "long-haired piano-basher". Not many videos make you want to jump into the screen and join in with the fun - this had me longing to play a bit part.
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Colin...she is very erotic to me after reading your write up...her voice is delicious for a minute, but I could see mimmicking her at the dinner table while she's nagging about my day....but what would happen in the bed would be righteous...Not trying to be rude mind you, but she is hot!
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I believe it is DURTY...but thanks ballyhoo, and I meant it in the most uplifting way possible, I was talking about AAAHHHH nevermind....good post Colin.
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Thanks, you dirty pervert!
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Tyler, you dirty dog!
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This is why they fed Christians to the lions!
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A fascinating comparison you lay out here and a mesmerizing song. I was drifting away "a little bit".
; )
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H, you're a breath of fresh air to this strip-club of a thread... ;) Yes, mesmerizing is a good description. It's got a lovely hypnotic quality, all right. Ta!
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I like how at 2:04 all she can muster is a shortened 'ah mm.' A baby-voiced vixen indeed; does Roisin Murphy need to move over? ;)
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Yeah, I love those "ah ums", very self-assured to throw them in. Replace Roisin? There's room for more vixens...many more....!
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Part of your ongoing series on The Beautiful People! (Them White Rabbits wuz cute too)
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Um, dare I say...me likey Lykke? OK. There! I said it!
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Lykke Li @ The Hype Machine
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@ Darla - Glad to be of, uh, service... :()
@ Mike - Hah, that would have made a puntastic heading...
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So, I love it! There's only one problem. It says buy music on Amazon or iTunes and neither have it. Do you know where to hear more by her or where I can possibly buy this? Or is it crazy underground or something?
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Thanks, quell. It's a crazy Swedish thing. Only available on 10" single from Europe. However the song and several others are available to download from MP3 blogs featured on Hype Machine, see link 2 comments above. (Meant to include this link in the post.) Lykke is recording an album in NY, as I type. On the strength of this song and the others I've heard, imho she will be huge. Hope this helps.
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Ha..."a strip club of a thread" I think I've seen worse. Oh and if you were to jump in and play a part...which role would you take? The piano basher, or the guy in the suspenders and black socks up to his knees, climbing the door? Haha!
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In the immortal words of Mae West: "Is that a gun in your pocket, or you're just happy to see Lykke?3
The trouble with film noir is that the men get trapped and killed because of girls like Ms Li whose acidic voice makes a sweet candy musical lollipop with this song.
Thanks for the aural introduction, FluxC.
(Innuendos intended.)
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Another gem, Colin! I love it! Great lines in there, for sure. I think I belong in Scandinavia more and more each day.
My lyrics are coming along just fine, by and by. We tried out a 2nd vocalist/guitarist last practice, and when he inquired about what I had been singing I emailed him the lyrics the next day and he said:
"Raunchy! I like it. Your actually less prudish then members of xxxxxxxxxx and we sang "When she fucks, she fucks just like a fuckin Angel".", etc. etc. Haha, I thought you would like that. ;)
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@ H - I've climbed a few walls in my time, all right. But I love the intense guy in the white shorts. Can I be him?! Just looked at the vid again for the 100th time. Man, they really lose themselves dancing... great to see.
@ Michael - Cheers, mate. "The trouble with film noir is that the men get trapped and killed because of girls like Ms Li" Good enough for 'em! Oh, and keep your pecker up, old son!
@ Kristiana - "She fucks like a fucking angel", eh? Who'd he work with, Joanna Newsom? Anyway, if your lyrics are even less prudish, then I'm really looking forward to hearing your next demos. . . on a purely musical level, of course. And, yeah, Swedish is incredible at the mo'. What is going on over there? I'll be in Stockholm later in the year, so I'll be trying to investigate (ok, I'll be trying to stalk Lykee Li). Ta for listening, your eclectic ear will undoubtedly serve your songwriting well.
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feeding christians to lions...I am a bit late on the reply...wouldn't I then be a durty cat...and who says christians can't 'inuendo' like the rest of society??? HMMM??? it always have to end up with Colin and Adam callin gme the purv...unrelenting abuse from those two!!!!! AAARRRRRHHHH!!!!
all in good cheer I suppose, you are probably getting on me because I had the cojones to say what you two were thinking...
Colin, U still tha MAN
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this song is dangerously close to getting stuck in my head... thanks for the intro...
...and CONGRATS on being MOGGER OF THE WEEK! Cheers and well deserved!
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Aw, shucks. Thanks v much. And beware the song - If it gets stuck in your head, you could start acting it out!
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After reading about her on the web i found out a few more facts about Lykke Li. I think Her name is Pronounced like "Luke-ee Loo" (it is Swedish), as far as I know. her connections with "Peter, Bjorn and John" (Bjorn Yttling produced the "Little Bit" track and she opened for them on a tour), it's only inevitable that you will be hearing about Lykke Li a lot more this year. She'll be releasing her debut album "Youth Novels" on January 30th in Sweden, but no word yet on the rest of the world. I Definitely watching out for her. Thanks For The Turn on. It Truly Is a addictive & mesmerizing song as was mentioned above.
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By The Way i Thought You Might Enjoy This shot. of Lykke Li'
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Her album is out today over here? Brilliant. Thanks for all that info - and it' s a lovely shot!