Yelle
Interviews aren't always as simple as picking up the phone, dialling Spain and talking with a beautiful - and evidently not single - French pop star just after she has woken up. After five minutes of technology making me perspire from every one of my very Australian pores, I finally had the chance to talk with Julie Budet, otherwise known as Yelle. She is beautiful, funny and charming. In February we are going jogging together and most likely having a freestyle battle. Enjoy take #12 of my interview with the ever patient, Yelle. Signed, Robert F.
Julie, we're back. Now talk to me. Have you been missing your dog, Ubu?
It's been a long time without my little man. You know, it's a real French bulldog, with a nose completely scratched from its face. It's funny because it's with my father living for one month and a half... I can live without my dog during one month, but you know...
I know.
Who do you like better, Serge or Charlotte Gainsbourg?
(Giggles)
I am a big fan of Serge Gainsbourg, but I prefer his daughter because Ilike the actress, and the singer... she is really charismatic. We are close by generation, you know. I don't know her personally but I am a big fan of her.
Now, what was it like having your song on the Need for Speed computer game?
It's fun, you know, because I like to play video games, and it's funny to have a song on the video game because when you are playing, you are really into the moves and it is fun to have a kind of powerful song on the game.
So, if you could have any pair of shoes in the world what would they be? And trust me, Reebok is not going to read this, so you can be honest...
(Giggles)
I don't know, maybe a pair of freestyles (Reeboks), because it's really comfortable for jumping on the stairs or for walking or...
Can you skateboard in them...?
Umm I am not sure. But you can wear it for a night with friends or jogging the day after.
Ohhh. Are you a jogger?
I try, but I am a lazy girl so it is hard for me. On tour it is hard, I need to have a kind of coach to do that, ‘cos when I am in France and at home I have some friends who are kind of a coach for me, but I don't have it on the tour so I am totally lazy.
Well, I tell you what, when you come to Melbourne we can go for a run...
Yes you can help me! Haha.
I've heard the same sort of question come up in heaps of interviews with you: will you ever sing in English? Why is singing in French so important to you?
It's important for me to sing in French because it's easy for me to express me. No albums for me in English to be had, because sometimes I don't understand and I don't find my words. I prefer to sing in French.
Ok, Do you do drink a lot of coffee?
No, I hate coffee!
(Robbie gasps!)
I drink tea, like a good English girl.
Right... do you smoke cigarettes then?
I don't smoke cigarettes
(gasps again)
Oh dear, Julie, we're going to have to...
No I stopped smoking
Too beautiful a voice...?
(I can tell she is blushing).
So, existentialism... what do you think Jean Paul Sartre would say about your fluoro clothing...?
Umm, I'm not sure I understand
Ok, we'll move on then.
A personal question, what's going on with you and Grand Marnier... are you dating now?
Yeh, we are a couple...
Oh no, I have to ditch the rest of my questions...that's thrown me right off.
Oh, haha.
I once heard you describe your perfect man as having a lot of humour and being a little romantic...is Grand Marnier both of those things?
Yeh, he's full of humour... he's not really romantic. I don't know what happened between us, but it's nice you know. He's a really fun guy.
Oh good (audibly jealous). He can come jogging with us then.
You're sometimes described as a bit of a ‘rapper'... Do you ever freestyle?
Not really, you know. I try but it's not easy. If we are writing lyrics, it's sometimes a long time. I need to think about everything.
I was going to ask if you wanted to freestyle battle...
We can try, but it will be very bad I think.
(laughs)
Do you have anything to say to people who find your lyrics offensive?
No, it's just about fun and love and about real life, in fact. I just want to have fun in my songs like in my life, and I hope that people can understand that.
I agree, I love your song about TTC - Cuizier - what was the inspiration for that song?
It was a bit (of) fun of TTC. It was a kind of tribute. It's not a joke, but it's a kind of funny diss between me and TTC. Ok, after that, I can understand he was a little bit upset, but it wasn't a real diss. It was just for fun.
Last question for you Julie, ‘cos you probably want some breakfast or something. Have you ever killed a man?
No, I have not killed a man.
Right, perfect answer, just the one I was looking for.
Genre: Electronic
Release: Interview
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