"La Femme Accident" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released as the third and final single from their sixth studio album Crush (1985). Like two of their previous singles, it references Joan of Arc. Unlike those two singles, it was not a substantial hit, peaking at No. 42 in the UK.
The single was released in both 7" and 12" formats. Although the 7" single version does not differ in any way from the album version, the 12" version is a radically different remix. The 12" release features both versions as well as the new track "Firegun". Initial releases of the 12" came with a bonus 12" disc in a gatefold sleeve featuring a live recording of the 1984 hit "Locomotion" and the 1980 hit single "Enola Gay". The 12" version of "La Femme Accident" was released as a bonus track on the group's first compilation album The Best of OMD in 1988. The 7" version was excluded from this release and subsequent OMD compilation albums until its inclusion on the definitive Souvenir singles compilation, released in 2019 to mark the band's 40th anniversary.
"La Femme Accident" was not released as a standalone single in the US and Canada but coupled with the successful North American single "If You Leave". The Canadian 12" release of "If You Leave" (1985) also features the 12" mix of "La Femme Accident" although it is an edit of the UK 12" with a timing of 5:38.[2]
"La Femme Accident" features as the B-side of some US versions of the "If You Leave" single. Some issues state a running time of 3:56, whereas the record actually features the standard 2:50 7" version.[3] Other issues state a duration of 2:42 but record actually plays the 5:39 version.[4]
A music video was made for the song and is included on the CD/DVD compilation Messages: Greatest Hits (2008). The video features the two main band members Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey with Humphreys in the role of a professional photographer in difficulty with a blonde model (the "femme accident") with whom he also seems to be in a relationship. McCluskey on the other hand is in the role of a sharp-suited businessman who, singing the song straight into camera in close-up, manages to convince a board of members that the model is good material and towards the end of the video is taken away by McCluskey in a chauffeur driven car leaving a forlorn Humphreys behind.
Anna Martin of Number One described "La Femme Accident" as "splendid" and "possibly the best single to have been lifted from the pristine Crush."[5] In Smash Hits, Vici MacDonald observed a "pleasant, wistful, plinkety-plunk ballad".[6] Both journalists noted a similarity to the song "Can't Get Used to Losing You" as sung by Andy Williams.[5][6]
Live performancesedit
"La Femme Accident" was included in the setlist of the band's live performances in 1985 promoting the Crush studio album. The band also appeared on the BBC programme The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985 (then known as Whistle Test) to perform the song live.
"La Femme Accident" has been included in the setlist of each of the concerts OMD have performed live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO), in both 2009 and 2018. The first of these concerts was on 20 June 2009 and a recording is available on the DVD release, Electricity: OMD with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.[7] "La Femme Accident" was also included in the setlist when OMD performed with the RLPO for a second time over consecutive nights on 6 and 7 October 2018, as part of a series of special events by the band to commemorate their 40th anniversary. Recordings were made across both nights and feature on the CD, vinyl and digital release Live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Track listingedit
7": Virgin / VS 811 (UK/Europe)
"La Femme Accident" – 2:50
"Firegun"
Some 7" releases printed and manufactured in Germany have side A as the mirrored image of the original side B cover whereas side B is the mirrored image of the original side A cover. The text is on the correct sides and not mirrored. Although the time on the label states 3:43 the singles play the 2:48 album version of "La Femme Accident".[8]
femme, accident, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources La Femme Accident news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message La Femme Accident is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark OMD released as the third and final single from their sixth studio album Crush 1985 Like two of their previous singles it references Joan of Arc Unlike those two singles it was not a substantial hit peaking at No 42 in the UK La Femme Accident Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Darkfrom the album CrushB side Firegun Released14 October 1985 1985 10 14 1 Recorded1984StudioThe Manor Shipton on Cherwell England Length2 50LabelVirginSongwriter s Andy McCluskey Paul HumphreysProducer s Stephen Hague Orchestral Manoeuvres in the DarkOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology Secret 1985 La Femme Accident 1985 If You Leave 1986 Music video La Femme Accident on YouTube Contents 1 Release history 2 Critical reception 3 Live performances 4 Track listing 5 Chart positions 6 References 7 External linksRelease history editThe single was released in both 7 and 12 formats Although the 7 single version does not differ in any way from the album version the 12 version is a radically different remix The 12 release features both versions as well as the new track Firegun Initial releases of the 12 came with a bonus 12 disc in a gatefold sleeve featuring a live recording of the 1984 hit Locomotion and the 1980 hit single Enola Gay The 12 version of La Femme Accident was released as a bonus track on the group s first compilation album The Best of OMD in 1988 The 7 version was excluded from this release and subsequent OMD compilation albums until its inclusion on the definitive Souvenir singles compilation released in 2019 to mark the band s 40th anniversary La Femme Accident was not released as a standalone single in the US and Canada but coupled with the successful North American single If You Leave The Canadian 12 release of If You Leave 1985 also features the 12 mix of La Femme Accident although it is an edit of the UK 12 with a timing of 5 38 2 La Femme Accident features as the B side of some US versions of the If You Leave single Some issues state a running time of 3 56 whereas the record actually features the standard 2 50 7 version 3 Other issues state a duration of 2 42 but record actually plays the 5 39 version 4 A music video was made for the song and is included on the CD DVD compilation Messages Greatest Hits 2008 The video features the two main band members Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey with Humphreys in the role of a professional photographer in difficulty with a blonde model the femme accident with whom he also seems to be in a relationship McCluskey on the other hand is in the role of a sharp suited businessman who singing the song straight into camera in close up manages to convince a board of members that the model is good material and towards the end of the video is taken away by McCluskey in a chauffeur driven car leaving a forlorn Humphreys behind The single s B side Firegun is available on the OMD B side compilation album Navigation The OMD B Sides 2001 Critical reception editAnna Martin of Number One described La Femme Accident as splendid and possibly the best single to have been lifted from the pristine Crush 5 In Smash Hits Vici MacDonald observed a pleasant wistful plinkety plunk ballad 6 Both journalists noted a similarity to the song Can t Get Used to Losing You as sung by Andy Williams 5 6 Live performances edit La Femme Accident was included in the setlist of the band s live performances in 1985 promoting the Crush studio album The band also appeared on the BBC programme The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985 then known as Whistle Test to perform the song live La Femme Accident has been included in the setlist of each of the concerts OMD have performed live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra RLPO in both 2009 and 2018 The first of these concerts was on 20 June 2009 and a recording is available on the DVD release Electricity OMD with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 7 La Femme Accident was also included in the setlist when OMD performed with the RLPO for a second time over consecutive nights on 6 and 7 October 2018 as part of a series of special events by the band to commemorate their 40th anniversary Recordings were made across both nights and feature on the CD vinyl and digital release Live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Track listing edit7 Virgin VS 811 UK Europe La Femme Accident 2 50 Firegun Some 7 releases printed and manufactured in Germany have side A as the mirrored image of the original side B cover whereas side B is the mirrored image of the original side A cover The text is on the correct sides and not mirrored Although the time on the label states 3 43 the singles play the 2 48 album version of La Femme Accident 8 12 Virgin VSD 811 12 UK La Femme Accident 7 version 2 50 Firegun La Femme Accident 12 version 6 15 Locomotion live Enola Gay Chart positions editChart 1985 PeakpositionUK Singles Chart 42References edit Smith Robin 12 October 1985 News Accidents will happen Record Mirror p 26 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark If You Leave vinyl 12 Canada VSD 1307 discogs com Retrieved 29 August 2016 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark If You Leave La Femme Accident vinyl 7 USA AM 2811 1 discogs com Retrieved 29 August 2016 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark If You Leave La Femme Accident vinyl 7 USA AM 2811 2 discogs com Retrieved 29 August 2016 a b Martin Anna 26 October 1985 Singles Number One No 123 p 44 a b MacDonald Vici 9 October 1985 Review Singles Smash Hits Vol 7 no 20 p 58 Release Electricity DVD musicbrainz com Retrieved 29 August 2016 La Femme Accident vinyl 7 Europe discogs com Retrieved 29 August 2016 External links edit La Femme Accident at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La Femme Accident amp oldid 1187509689, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
