Alec Eiffel

Infobox Single
Name = Alec Eiffel

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Artist = Pixies
from Album = Trompe le Monde
Released = 1991, 1992
Format = vinyl record (7", 12"), CD
Recorded = 1991
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 2:50
Label = 4AD (UK, France)
Elektra (US)
Producer = Gil Norton
Last single = "Planet of Sound"
(1991)
This single = "Alec Eiffel"
(1991)
Next single = "Head On"
(1992)
"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.

Melody and lyrics

The song references the French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, 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 the USA and in Australia, you often say 'It's a smart Alec' for ["sic"] a guy who's nice but not very bright."cite web | url=http://aleceiffel.free.fr/titles.html | title=Pixies Titles/Names | accessdate=2007-02-06 | publisher=Alec Eiffel] However, the correct usage of the term "Smart Alec" is to denote someone who makes wisecracks or a know-it-all.

Video

"Alec Eiffel" is a tribute to the famous French 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.

Critical reaction

The British magazine "Melody Maker" 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, riffle, 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!" (It should be noted that Francis is actually singing "keeping low, it don't make no sense", rather than "even though" which answers Melody Maker's question.)

Covers

"Alec Eiffel" has featured on several Pixies tribute albums. It was covered by The Get Up Kids on "Eudora (album)" and April March on "Pixies Fuckin' Die!". "Tribute to The Pixies" also features a cover by Drumkan. The band Compulsion have performed the song in concerts. [cite book | author=Frank, Josh; Ganz, Caryn | title=Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies | publisher=Virgin Books | date=2005 | pages=p. 233 | isbn=0753510235]

The Get Up Kids version also appeared on Where Is My Mind - A Tribute To The Pixies.

A version by Bunnies appears on the tribute compilation "Dig for Fire" (released 2007, American Laundromat records).

Formats and track listing

The following tracks appeared on the single: [cite web | url=http://aleceiffel.free.fr/eps.html#alec | title=Pixies Discography - EPs and singles | accessdate=2007-02-06 | publisher=Alec Eiffel] ;French CD single
# Motorway To Roswell - 4:43
# Alec Eiffel - 2:50
# Planet of Sound (live)
# Tame (live)

;UK 7" single
# Alec Eiffel - 2:50
# Motorway To Roswell - 4:43

;UK 12"/CD single
# Alec Eiffel - 2:50
# Motorway To Roswell - 4:43
# Planet of Sound (live)
# Tame (live)

;US CD Single (1992)
# Alec Eiffel - 2:50
# Letter to Memphis [Instrumental] - 2:42
# Build High - 1:43
# Evil Hearted You (Gouldman) - 2:37

All songs are written by Black Francis, unless otherwise denoted. The live songs were recorded at the Brixton Academy on 26 July, 1991.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://dag.wieers.com/debaser/lyrics/aleceiff.php "Alec Eiffel" lyrics]
* [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4465 "Alec Eiffel" at Songfacts.com]