Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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If you hated Phoenix, it was probably because you hated hearing Phoenix everywhere.
The writing process was a lot like group therapy.
It was way more work than I thought, says Mars, laughing over the phone.
I felt like now that the book is done, we can move on.
But I dont know when that will come out.
Best Phoenix album
Thats hard because we dont really think [that way].
We think about albums more in terms of photo books.
Theyre all reactions to each other.
But I dont look at it like, This is a better album.
SoTi Amoneeds a little bit of insight.
That record is a little bit of a leap of faith.
Its definitely not the first record you should hear from us as an introduction to the band.
I would go into a store, in a restaurant, and hear it multiple times during that day.
Then I remember crossing Broadway and Prince Street; there was this guy jogging.
He saw me, and he showed me his iPod.
It was playing 1901.
I kept walking, and I was close to the Apple Store.
There was a guy playing guitar.
He was playing 1901.
But I have a better answer.
I was on a flight to go to Austin, Texas.
She loved that song, she told me on the plane.
She was so excited that she played 1901 for the entire flight … through the speakers of the flight.
I was really embarrassed, because almost the whole flight was just like, What is going on?
This was as we were descending.
She blasted 1901 through the Southwest Airlines speakers.
It was a good soundtrack, and we were testing that the mix was right.
Then Id like them to be free for everybody to do whatever they want with them.
Im done with them.
The frustration of growing up in Versailles was really strong because nothing great could be done.
To bring those two worlds together was satisfying.
I dont like your lyrics.
To me, it is very boring.
Why put lyrics on music saying what is sung, and usually what is too stupid to be said?
Things like [Napoleon Says].
I realized theres some truth in [what he was saying].
Theres a repetitive pattern that can be very frustrating and annoying.
Best place to play in America
Americas made for touring on a tour bus.
And you have the best shows there.
Its really random, and its never what youd expect.
Chicagos always a great crowd.
But usually, its not what youd expect.
Phoenix, thats going to be great.
But usually, its not what youd expect.
We end up playing in Scottsdale.
Most memorable live moment
Weve played a lot of shows.
That would be my answer [laughs]: a lot of memories.
We played in a monsoon in Jakarta.
So, we played with an inch of water onstage.
I could feel the electricity.
I could feel it was not safe.
I was getting shocks and stuff.
When youre onstage, for some reason youre aware of whats dangerous for others, but not for yourself.
Best use of a Phoenix song in a film
Bill Murray inLost in Translationdancing to Too Young.
You cant really top Bill Murray.
We were not ready.
The songs were not out.
The record was not out.
We didnt rehearse for touring.
We were not really ready to use all these complicated machines that well.
The fact that everything went okay was a big achievement.
It was the peak of EDM.
We were the only band with instruments.
We were the only band at a DJ festival.
It was like ten days traveling with all the DJs.
It didnt make any sense.
I couldnt really relate.
It felt like it was not going anywhere.
We didnt really want to go back to the studio after feeling uninspired.
This was in 2000 [and it was for our debut album,United].
We had zero out of ten.
That one was so bad that it was really good, you know?
To me, the worst reviews are the ones that are in the middle.
This one was so violent.
There was also a review in a French magazine that compared our music to chemotherapy.
The French didnt like us at first.
Therell always be the Versailles factor.
When you come from Versailles, in France, its seen as very posh.
Its definitely not on your resume if youre in a band.
Its not a plus.
Maybe now it is.
Best story that didnt makeLiberte, Egalite, Phoenix!
We arrive at the Gold Coast in Australia, which is just beautiful.
I mean, its not beautiful.
Its like Reno on the beach.
You have incredible water, but then its a giant mall on the beach.
The only thing you’re able to do there is go to the ocean.
We were trying to go there, but the oceans being still.
Were like, No, no, we want to swim.
A few of us go into the ocean.
I stay on the beach like a good Catholic from Versailles.
And there are cameras filming, waiting for the tsunami to come.
Then we go to bed.
The next morning, someone tells me, Okay, the tsunami came, but it was nothing.
It was just an inch of a wave.
It totally collapsed overnight.
So it was nothing.
But my friend said, Did you sleep okay?
Because our parents rang us at night.
We were the only people in the water waiting for the tsunami, and they freaked out.
And they called us at night in Australia saying, What are you guys doing on the beach?
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
