Franz Ferdinand — 40 Feet
Album: Franz FerdinandAvg rating:
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Length: 3:20
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As i glance once upon the foam
40 feet beneath my feet
The coldest calm falls
Through the molten veins
Cooling all the blood to slush
That congeals around the brain
La la la
40 feet remain
Salt scales upon my drying arms
Burn my back beneath the burning rays
Lookingdown, looking down
Down, down again
La la la
40 feet remain
40 feet beneath my feet
The coldest calm falls
Through the molten veins
Cooling all the blood to slush
That congeals around the brain
La la la
40 feet remain
Salt scales upon my drying arms
Burn my back beneath the burning rays
Lookingdown, looking down
Down, down again
La la la
40 feet remain
Comments (143)add comment
Apparently the band previously used names such as: The Karelia, Yummy Fur, 10p Invaders, and Embryo. Comparatively, I think they did well and Franz Ferdinand is a much better name than those names. And I'm sure the band will rest easy knowing their name now has my approval, lol!
Snipey wrote:
Ordinary? I think it sounds quite unusual - I can't think of many songs hereabouts which sound like this (as opposed, say, to the reams of "ordinary" blues-based 12-bar stuff).
Not bad but very ordinary. Not what I come to RP to hear.
Ordinary? I think it sounds quite unusual - I can't think of many songs hereabouts which sound like this (as opposed, say, to the reams of "ordinary" blues-based 12-bar stuff).
Snipey wrote:
and yet here you are and people seem to love this…
Not bad but very ordinary. Not what I come to RP to hear.
and yet here you are and people seem to love this…
Not bad but very ordinary. Not what I come to RP to hear.
unclehud wrote:
"Play Something Different." The fact that you've seen one makes you a long-time RP fan.
omg… been here since early days and have always wondered wtf…
"Play Something Different." The fact that you've seen one makes you a long-time RP fan.
omg… been here since early days and have always wondered wtf…
bpemby wrote:
Finally figured out what the "psd" stands for. always just referred to it as the "next button.
"Play Something Different." The fact that you've seen one makes you a long-time RP fan.
Finally figured out what the "psd" stands for. always just referred to it as the "next button.
"Play Something Different." The fact that you've seen one makes you a long-time RP fan.
Sobient wrote:
18 years after you posted this ... and I'd respond, "No, RP is not influenced by 'hit lists', but influenced by good music that will last the test of 18-years' time."
I wonder if rp is becoming more "hitlisted". Seems like there's alot of new flavours from the different hitlists around. Franz Ferdinand is good though.
Overrated Band
I thought the singing was Paul McCartney at first. Good song!
tinypriest wrote:
Wki article gives the band's reasoning for the name (started with a racehorse with the name)
Why aren't these f*ckers actually German? Any German bands with names like Tartan Shirt Prancers?
Wki article gives the band's reasoning for the name (started with a racehorse with the name)
The band's members played in various bands during the 1990s, including The Karelia, Yummy Fur, 10p Invaders, and Embryo. Alex Kapranos and Paul Thomson met at a party and began a close friendship and played together in Yummy Fur, and subsequently teamed up to write songs. Around the same time, Kapranos taught his friend Bob Hardy how to play bass after being given a bass guitar by Mick Cooke of Belle & Sebastian. Kapranos met co-guitarist Nick McCarthy, who had returned to Scotland after studying jazz bass in Germany, in 2001.[2]
Once the members came together, they settled on the name Franz Ferdinand for their band. The name was originally inspired by a racehorse called Archduke Ferdinand.[3] After seeing the horse win the Northumberland Plate in 2001, the band began to discuss Archduke Franz Ferdinand and thought it would be a good band name because of the alliteration of the name and the implications of the Archduke's death; his assassination was a significant factor in the lead-up to World War I.[4] In an interview, Hardy recollected that "mainly we just liked the way it sounded. We liked the alliteration." Kapranos continued, saying "he was an incredible figure as well. His life, or at least the ending of it, was the catalyst for the complete transformation of the world and that is what we want our music to be. But I don't want to over-intellectualize the name thing. Basically a name should just sound good . . . like music." Thomson concluded, saying "I like the idea that, if we become popular, maybe the words Franz Ferdinand will make people think of the band instead of the historical figure."[5]
LLRP!! whatsupdude wrote:
Even tiny priests are huge failures.
Father. Eric respectfully disagrees
Even tiny priests are huge failures.
Father. Eric respectfully disagrees
was a decent album
whatsupdude wrote:
Even tiny priests are huge failures.
Not all of them, thankfully.
Even tiny priests are huge failures.
Not all of them, thankfully.
tinypriest wrote:
Even tiny priests are huge failures.
Why aren't these f*ckers actually German? Any German bands with names like Tartan Shirt Prancers?
Even tiny priests are huge failures.
Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Just because you don't listen to them anymore doesn't mean the same goes for everyone.
They still have about 4 times more monthly listeners on Spotify (and that's not counting the records, and Youtube) than Cliff Richard and 3 times more than Jethro Tull.
They were not too hip, you were too old :p
FF definitely had a predictably short 'shelf life' and similar to the fate of the Kaiser Chiels - too 'hip' and relying on popular culture to love them - or leave them which they surely did.
Just because you don't listen to them anymore doesn't mean the same goes for everyone.
They still have about 4 times more monthly listeners on Spotify (and that's not counting the records, and Youtube) than Cliff Richard and 3 times more than Jethro Tull.
They were not too hip, you were too old :p
tinypriest wrote:
by the way, FF was Austrian:)
Why aren't these f*ckers actually German? Any German bands with names like Tartan Shirt Prancers?
If you believe or not, there are educated Britons who know who was FF,by the way, FF was Austrian:)
Why aren't these f*ckers actually German? Any German bands with names like Tartan Shirt Prancers?
The great album track that new folk need introducing to, and fans need reminding of - Classic Radio Paradise. Thanks guys.
aspicer wrote:
Finally figured out what the "psd" stands for. always just referred to it as the "next button.
I remember first hearing this band/album and thought they were interesting and had potential; however, it really has not held up for me. I tend to just PSD it now. Novel at the time....
Finally figured out what the "psd" stands for. always just referred to it as the "next button.
I remember first hearing this band/album and thought they were interesting and had potential; however, it really has not held up for me. I tend to just PSD it now. Novel at the time....
Did Bill just show me 40 feet?
kazoo wrote:
Fosse feet remain
Farty feet remain?
Fosse feet remain
Farty feet remain?
FF definitely had a predictably short 'shelf life' and similar to the fate of the Kaiser Chiels - too 'hip' and relying on popular culture to love them - or leave them which they surely did.
Mugro wrote:
So far, there is not much to remember about "00s music", so good luck in building that retrospective. I guess it will be a short retrospective. 20 years from now, when bands/culture is trying to imitate the music/culture of 2000s, what will they do? Try real hard to be as boring as possible?
if you are referring to (pop)rock music of 00's than you are correct, nothing much has happened on the commercial side. but there are a lot of inventive bands that are still worth re-visiting.
rock music is loosing the battle currently. other styles are ruling the commercial charts and among average listeners playlists, and that's totally fine if you look at music as a whole
meatbee wrote:
Definitely a flash in the pan, 10 years from now they won't receive play in a "remember the OO's" retrospective. I can barely tell the difference between them and other rockers like Interpol or The Killers.
One more comment; does anyone else hear a trace of disco in their songs? :-&
So far, there is not much to remember about "00s music", so good luck in building that retrospective. I guess it will be a short retrospective. 20 years from now, when bands/culture is trying to imitate the music/culture of 2000s, what will they do? Try real hard to be as boring as possible?
if you are referring to (pop)rock music of 00's than you are correct, nothing much has happened on the commercial side. but there are a lot of inventive bands that are still worth re-visiting.
rock music is loosing the battle currently. other styles are ruling the commercial charts and among average listeners playlists, and that's totally fine if you look at music as a whole
MassivRuss wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Ferdinand_(band)
WRONG wiki page! 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Ferdinand_(band)
WRONG wiki page!
When this first came out I was working in a warehouse, unloading (40-foot-long) shipping containers. For me, it'll always be an upbeat work-song, regardless of what the lyrics were intended to be about.
I still think that this is an amazing song from a truly fantastic debut record. There was nothing like it at the time, and nothing like it today...
afrixluvguy wrote:
reminds me of the Kinks
Always remind me of Talking Heads. Down to the thin David Byrne looking guy. Pardon my ignorance. 
reminds me of the Kinks
Whatever happened to this band?
Proclivities wrote:
On average, over 4.3 million people ride the NYC subway system per day (over 5 million on weekdays) - that is more than the combined populations of Houston and Philadelphia.
I believe that figure is rides, and not people (as it's almost impossible to track people), so considering lots of us ride both to and from work, plus any other excursions our unlimited monthly passes allow, the total number of people is likely less than half of that.
Still, I'll chip in from experience, a LOT of people ride the subway in NYC.
On average, over 4.3 million people ride the NYC subway system per day (over 5 million on weekdays) - that is more than the combined populations of Houston and Philadelphia.
I believe that figure is rides, and not people (as it's almost impossible to track people), so considering lots of us ride both to and from work, plus any other excursions our unlimited monthly passes allow, the total number of people is likely less than half of that.
Still, I'll chip in from experience, a LOT of people ride the subway in NYC.
Originally thought these guys were interesting and going to be special and innovative. I was very optimistic, but now find their music kind of annoying and lost all interest. 
Farting feet remain?
40 feet "La la la"
Always remind me of Talking Heads. Down to the thin David Byrne looking guy. Pardon my ignorance.
Very nice! I like FF very much! PLease more!
The "la la la la" is a little annoying, but it's a catchy tune.
ElSupreme wrote:
...Also our subways wont get bombed, mostly because we have a handful of them and nobody rides them...
On average, over 4.3 million people ride the NYC subway system per day (over 5 million on weekdays) - that is more than the combined populations of Houston and Philadelphia.
...Also our subways wont get bombed, mostly because we have a handful of them and nobody rides them...
On average, over 4.3 million people ride the NYC subway system per day (over 5 million on weekdays) - that is more than the combined populations of Houston and Philadelphia.
garycha wrote:
Right there with you.
Overrated but OK'ish.
Right there with you.
Overrated but OK'ish.
Stingray wrote:
DISCOOOOO...?
Either you never been in a disco,
or, more likely,
you have never seen FF
Well said. Nothing to add except my applause.
DISCOOOOO...?
Either you never been in a disco,
or, more likely,
you have never seen FF
Well said. Nothing to add except my applause.
Exene wrote:
DISCOOOOO...?
Either you never been in a disco,
or, more likely,
you have never seen FF
Disco is back...and it sounds...fantastic.
DISCOOOOO...?
Either you never been in a disco,
or, more likely,
you have never seen FF
In 2007, meloman wrote:
The housing market hasn't collapsed yet, but that sub-prime pee stain is about to spread to the whole bed sheet (if you'll pardon the unpleasant imagery).
So, did you get any nice prizes for accurately predicting the future?
The housing market hasn't collapsed yet, but that sub-prime pee stain is about to spread to the whole bed sheet (if you'll pardon the unpleasant imagery).
So, did you get any nice prizes for accurately predicting the future?
Disco is back...and it sounds...fantastic.
Massive fun!
More Franz on RP please!
More Franz on RP please!
These guys are a total blast. Bring it on!
Is it rolling, Bill?
Havalina - Losing You
Franz Ferdinand - 40 Feet
Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
Porcupine Tree - Sentimental
Havalina - Losing You
Franz Ferdinand - 40 Feet
Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
Porcupine Tree - Sentimental
Funny name and makes me standing 40 feet under the ocean riding a whale.
Ooooh, I love these guys and I missed it, damn!
9 9 so sublime
rconway wrote:
insta-8
Just five seconds into hearing this song for the first time, and my toe was tapping and the thought "How cool an intro is that?!?!" ran through my head.
Instant 6.
Moi Aussi!! insta-8
slartibart_O wrote:
Agreed. Their videos are awesome bauhausian madness and they play the hound out of their guitars live. Alas; they may be too cool for the general ADS masses to embrace beyond the initial Take Me Out. I think they are wrongly lumped with Interpol and Modest Mouse both which chilled me rather quickly after seeing them attempt to play live. Franz can pull it off.
definitely agree. I would really like to hear more of them on RP.
This song is one of my faves though. Man, I wish "The Fallen" didn't have such cryptic and debatable/controversial lyrics or I would upload. Incredible tune I think.
"...play the hound out of their guitars live." Is pretty accurate. So is "...awesome bauhausian madness..." I think. lol 2X
lathyris wrote:
These guys are cool and fun. Sure'd be nice if we could hear more of 'em!
Agreed. Their videos are awesome bauhausian madness and they play the hound out of their guitars live. Alas; they may be too cool for the general ADS masses to embrace beyond the initial Take Me Out. I think they are wrongly lumped with Interpol and Modest Mouse both which chilled me rather quickly after seeing them attempt to play live. Franz can pull it off.
These guys are cool and fun. Sure'd be nice if we could hear more of 'em!
Just five seconds into hearing this song for the first time, and my toe was tapping and the thought "How cool an intro is that?!?!" ran through my head.
Instant 6.
jpfueler wrote:
Methinks you've nailed it
How goes the Holistic Investigations?
...and what about the electric monk?
DirkGently wrote:
I think I know what you are referring to cause I did the same thing.
How bout...Gorillaz.
That little noodly synth sound.
Methinks you've nailed it
How goes the Holistic Investigations?
Hannio wrote:
Misery loves company, eh melo?
I don't understand. What do you mean?
ElSupreme wrote:
Maybe, I can see most of that but our housing market wont collapse, it will rather go into a prolonged recession. Also our subways wont get bombed, mostly because we have a handful of them and nobody rides them. Now interstate overpasses are another thing.
Oh and the greenback tanking, I really see that one coming but not for another few years, when our deficit is even larger, due to Iran et al., and Japan, China, and Europe start calling in debts.
The housing market hasn't collapsed yet, but that sub-prime pee stain is about to spread to the whole bed sheet (if you'll pardon the unpleasant imagery).
Haven\'t heard this in a while!
jpfueler wrote:
there is a bit of this song that is from something else. a high organ note or something that caught my ear as I was in the other room...
I recognized it and the song name left my brain as soon as I realized this was not that song.
This will drive me crazy for the rest of the day.
I think I know what you are referring to cause I did the same thing.
How bout...Gorillaz.
That little noodly synth sound.
meloman wrote:
Could be a long shot. My humble prediction: 2007, the year the real estate bubble in the US finally bursts and the middle class implodes, the greenback tanks, the US attacks Iran and bites the big one, and subways and shopping malls in the US start blowing up "inexplicably." Sorry for the New Year downer. Oh, and for those who are hoping for salvation from the Dems...dream on.
Misery loves company, eh melo?
there is a bit of this song that is from something else. a high organ note or something that caught my ear as I was in the other room...
I recognized it and the song name left my brain as soon as I realized this was not that song.
This will drive me crazy for the rest of the day.
My opinion is on a rise about this song 1 
3.
They are less annoying this time.
3.
They are less annoying this time.This is an amazing bunch of musicians IMHO.
Great music.
Maybe too European for some listeners here? 
everybody is on the ff bandwagon.... almost everybody. i just don?t see what the big deal is. if this were playing live in a club, it would still be a good time to escape for another drink. sorta bland.... sorry.
gizmo wrote:
Flavour of the moment perhaps - but just doesn't do it for me. Sounds mechanical.4/10.
And now this Bill?
Most outstanding.
As in OUTFNSTNDING,
I'm keeping that one.
OUTFNSTNDNG
the kind IMO. More FF please Bill. (trying to upload.......these guys are too cool for school.)
Matts wrote:
I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT
ditto. twice. More FF please
I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT
My goodness, what a wicked transition (Elastica - 2:1 to Franz Ferdinand - 40 feet). Wow. I'm home sick with a cold, but I think that transition instantaneously healed me. ;)
Love these guys! One of my current faves. Music "girls can dance to". I think they jams hard.
When I first heard this, I just about freaked. Or, no, I DID FREAK. And they freaked me out for a good while. Then they faded. Then I started listening to this one again. And
40 FEET REMAINs a fave!
Franz.... U Da Man!!!
These guys are so much fun live. If you get a chance to see them, I highly recommend it!! 
lixy wrote:
Elastica - 2:1
Franz Ferdinand - 40 Feet
God, that was smooth! BillG deserves a 
Same segue today and it was just as smooth.
Elastica - 2:1
Franz Ferdinand - 40 Feet
God, that was smooth! BillG deserves a
meloman wrote:
Could be a long shot. My humble prediction: 2007, the year the real estate bubble in the US finally bursts and the middle class implodes, the greenback tanks, the US attacks Iran and bites the big one, and subways and shopping malls in the US start blowing up "inexplicably." Sorry for the New Year downer. Oh, and for those who are hoping for salvation from the Dems...dream on.
Maybe, I can see most of that but our housing market wont collapse, it will rather go into a prolonged recession. Also our subways wont get bombed, mostly because we have a handful of them and nobody rides them. Now interstate overpasses are another thing.
Oh and the greenback tanking, I really see that one coming but not for another few years, when our deficit is even larger, due to Iran et al., and Japan, China, and Europe start calling in debts.
Zweiblumen wrote:
I hope that we and RP are here 10 years from now to evaluate this empirically.
Could be a long shot. My humble prediction: 2007, the year the real estate bubble in the US finally bursts and the middle class implodes, the greenback tanks, the US attacks Iran and bites the big one, and subways and shopping malls in the US start blowing up "inexplicably." Sorry for the New Year downer. Oh, and for those who are hoping for salvation from the Dems...dream on.
This was one of those instant investigation-warrantying songs. Next thing I knew, I had the album. And still love it. Excellent ripping Gang of Four-type telecaster cutting through all the tunes on this record, and quirky vocals and lyrics made it a masterpiece to me.
Thanks Bill, for turning me on to them when this broke on the scene!
I registered simply to say how much I love this song. Not everything has to be great art -- sometimes it just needs to be fun to listen to. And this song certainly is.
Love these guys! They put on a great concert as well.
Bet these dudes cook in a small smokey club gig.
Sounds a lot like "Matinee" from the same album, but still a good song on its own.
meatbee wrote:
Definitely a flash in the pan, 10 years from now they won't receive play in a "remember the OO's" retrospective. I can barely tell the difference between them and other rockers like Interpol or The Killers.
One more comment; does anyone else hear a trace of disco in their songs? :-&
I hope that we and RP are here 10 years from now to evaluate this empirically.
I have both their cd's and enjoy listening to them. You guys are all too serious! Nothing wrong with a little sassy music once in a while.
meatbee wrote:
One more comment; does anyone else hear a trace of disco in their songs? :-&
More than a trace....
Nice of them to reuse the same drum beats for the 18th time. Must make their drummer happy. Pretty good for the toe-tapping aspect, but that's about it.
Flavour of the moment perhaps - but just doesn't do it for me. Sounds mechanical.4/10.
I don't feel creeped out by this song as I do by other FF songs.
Perhaps because I'm likening it to the Stranglers.
winter wrote:
Please?
Appears to be related to big emotional decisions and such as your thoughts when looking over a cliff (not necessarily suicide) - see (click here)
winter wrote:
Please?
it sounds like he is deabting about whether or not to hurl himself off a cliff into the ocean....
Great Scottish band, so much energy.
porcupinemeat wrote:
What does "40 feet remain" refer to anyway?
Can anyone explain the lyrics to this one?
Please?
sean wrote:
I'm sorry, the Clash followed this song, perhaps it was a comparison thing, I was there in the seventies when punk happened. This is just cheap velour.
I don't think it's supposed to be punk. FF borrow a lot from the New Romantic scene as well, which was very coiffed and stylised and artificial, and they mix it with a lot of punk(ish) influences.
You're quite right though. They can write some great tunes, these chaps, but The Clash they are not.
joempie wrote:
It's pretty nice, but what I always miss in FF is passion. There are no feelings in their music, no matter how nice the songs may be. It just feels so technical and empty....
:(
I was underimpressed, maybe it was too hyped up, maybe because The Hives' Tyrannosaurus Hives managed to be fun and passionate, whatever this doesn't totally suck but I keep forgetting I have it.
I'm sorry, the Clash followed this song, perhaps it was a comparison thing, I was there in the seventies when punk happened. This is just cheap velour.
That new radio paradise logo is like a big eye watching me. "Ah, an eye, an eye!" ..Coneheads.. I digress.
This is my favourite track from a CD that I might regret buying if I hadn't gotten it dirt cheap.
Perhaps the band isn't deserving of the hype it's received, and it almost certainly won't reach any sort of classic level, but some of the songs are quite nice in a shallow, guilty-pleasure sort of way. This is one of them.
This song sure is catchy.
Another tune I love. And Tux hates. :)
meatbee wrote:
Definitely a flash in the pan, 10 years from now they won't receive play in a "remember the OO's" retrospective. I can barely tell the difference between them and other rockers like Interpol or The Killers.
One more comment; does anyone else hear a trace of disco in their songs? :-&
So far, there is not much to remember about "00s music", so good luck in building that retrospective. I guess it will be a short retrospective. 20 years from now, when bands/culture is trying to imitate the music/culture of 2000s, what will they do? Try real hard to be as boring as possible?
Had to bump this up to a 10. This is my favourite FF track.
meatbee wrote:
One more comment; does anyone else hear a trace of disco in their songs? :-&
Most definitely yes, in the drums. You would think that after 25+ years I would be ready to hear a four-beat bass drum with open-closed hi-hats without wincing, but, alas, no. FF are probably being ironic, but the beat is still "I Will Survive."
Love this. The whole album is very good and this is one of my fav's. Take me out is good but I am disapointed to hear it in the new PSP commercial. I guess they have to make a living though.
Sounds like there's a bit of The Doors' Peace Frog in this.
Franz Ferdinand are very clever.
Pardon my cynicism, it comes with age, having said that, why not?
8)
someone in the comments to this or another Franz Ferdinand song said they were a flash in the pan and won't be remembered in 10 years.
I disagree, they got some good stuff happening, melody, voice, hooks, energy, wit, intellegence, hit making, pop sensibilities. #1 with a bullet ;-)
what an original sound. i personally believe there needs to be more fun bands like franz! a toast to many more albums as good as this one! 
meatbee wrote:
Definitely a flash in the pan, 10 years from now they won't receive play in a "remember the OO's" retrospective. I can barely tell the difference between them and other rockers like Interpol or The Killers.
One more comment; does anyone else hear a trace of disco in their songs? :-&
see now, i feel like i could listen to this a lot longer than anything by either of the two above-mentioned groups (esp interpol... lord, i can't stand them...). definitely some late-seventies disco creeping in here and there.
rah wrote:
still trying to decide if these blokes are for the ages, or just a particularly bright flash in today's pan. what do y'all think?
Definitely a flash in the pan, 10 years from now they won't receive play in a "remember the OO's" retrospective. I can barely tell the difference between them and other rockers like Interpol or The Killers.
One more comment; does anyone else hear a trace of disco in their songs? :-&
Just read this recently about Franz Ferdinand, very interesting!
https://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0428/sheffield.php
blech!
27 jan 2005
I thought I was low already with a 2, but I just dropped it to a 1.
this is soooo terribly annoying disgusting wining shit.
ninidanger wrote:
this is without a doubt my favorite ff song.
I'm not that familiar with this band, yet, so at first I thought you meant it's your favorite "fast forward" song! Well, maybe too, who knows.
this is without a doubt my favorite ff song.
It's pretty nice, but what I always miss in FF is passion. There are no feelings in their music, no matter how nice the songs may be. It just feels so technical and empty....
:(
LA LA LA LA!