Alizée Central

Institubes: 2003-2011

In a press release issued just hours ago, saying that the label is closing it’s doors. Institubes is the the independent label that helped release “Une enfant du siècle” and was the home base for acts like Teki Latex, Rob, Chateau Marmont, Para One, Tacteel, and numerous other French acts. 

According to the press release the current business model was no longer working out…

“We’re closing shop because the operation is losing too much money, this much is clear. Most of what we could have done to prevent or delay this outcome reside in two words: lifestyle and branding. Investing in t-shirts and co-branding, scoring “collaborations” or sponsorship deals with deep-pocketed companies. I have but a regret: we actually did it sometimes. We should have said no more often….. The fact that ours is a struggling industry, where 90% of your time is spent “staying afloat”, obscures an important fact: we are still playing by the rules that got us fucked in the first place. The way we do business is defective: our values are defective, our contracts are defective, our post-Napster economy itself is defective. I just read an article by a label owner who states that “anything we can do to stay afloat should be condoned”. I don’t think so, no. Staying afloat by any means necessary is a meaningless pursuit.”

The message goes on to say that many of the artists have started their own independent labels, and will be moving forward.

You can read the entire release at the Institubes Tumblr blog: http://institubes.tumblr.com/

Good luck to all involved, and we all hope for your success in the future!

There has been a rumour floating around the internet for a couple of weeks now, of a new EP release from Alizée. I hadn’t posted about this before because the information has been very sparse, but I didn’t want to be totally out in the cold if and when something pops up… So I’m here with a heads up.

What I’m hearing is that there should be an EP release in the next few weeks. There is no info on whether or not these are unreleased tracks from Une enfant du siècle, unreleased songs from the Psych era, or if they are totally new songs she has written and recorded in the last year. One would assume though, the EP is being released to create new buzz, and I would guess, to attempt to make a more mainstream impact after the lack-lustre sales of Une enfant du siècle.

The word is that it will be released at http://alizeestore.com , and could possibly be an independent release under the banner of Wisteria Song, without any help from Jive.

That’s all I have for now, but I will post any updates as soon as I get them.

Here are some new alizee store photos to hold you over until next time!

It’s 6:30am here in Paris, it’s foggy and cold. I hope the weather improves for 2011! I’m just going to bed now after a fun New Year’s Eve night, and just wanted to make some small changes.

As you can see, part 2 of the site change has happened. “Alizée 2010” is now simply “Alizée Central”. It’s 2011, and there’s no need to live in the past. I would have changed the name at midnight, but there was a club in Paris that was too much to pass up!

I hope you all had a great 2010, and here’s to a prosperous and happy 2011!

Oh, and for those who missed it, Alizée also sent out her best New Year Wishes yesterday evening…

I’m off to sleep. See you soon!

We’re anxiously awaiting the re-opening of the Alizée store. It was supposed to happen over a week ago, but Alizée herself stopped by with an explanation:

We’re late, sorry!

We’re putting together a new Alizée Store and it’s taking a little longer than we thought. We’ll be back soon with new stuff designed by Alizée for the first time…

Petit contretemps, désolés…

Nous préparons le nouvel Alizée Store, mais nous avons besoin d’un peu plus de temps que prévu. Rendez-vous très bientôt. Et cette fois-ci Alizée a pris les choses en main…

So there you have it. As you can see in the picture, Alizée is working hard, typing away at her computer trying to bring the store back on line with new items ;)

It’s Christmas eve here in Paris, and the way the weather has been lately, it even looks like it! It’s snowing lightly right this very minute, and the feeling of Christmas is certainly in the air!

I hope all of you have a happy holiday season, and that you were able to get where you were going! (Especially if you are living in or going to Western Europe).

2010 has been a fun year for Alizée fans, and now we are looking to see what 2011 holds for us. Remember, Les Enfoirés 2011 is coming up shortly! Only a monthe away.

So, Merry Christmas Alizée, and Merry Christmas to Alizée fans worldwide. I hope you all have a great holiday, and a safe and prosperous 2011!

The new Christmas single, “Such a special time (It’s Xmas tonight)”, has been released. Just for the record, Alizée has more input into the song this year, than last.

From the Vimeo release page:

“Thanks to Alice Lewis, Alizée, Bobmo, Da Brasilians, Tahiti Boy, Chab, Cocosuma, Hugh Coltman, Romain Corvez, Chicken Cottage, Fred Deces, DVNO, Sylvain Fetis, Flairs, Bertrand Fresel, Das Glow, Annabelle Hettmann, Hollysiz, Stephane Ichaï, Jackson, Antoine Jamaica, Guillaume Jaoul, Mike Ladd, Jerome Laperruque, Teki Latex, Loane, Raphael et Julien de Marmont, Mellow, Microbes Studios, Paul Morisot, Johane Myran, Para One, Ornette, Samy Osta, Fred Pallem, Adrien Pallot, Juliette Paquereau, Didier Perrin, DJ Pone, Thomas de Pourquery, Santa, Johanna Seban, Raphaël Seguinier, Surkin, Tacteel, Jean Thevenin, Mina Tindle, Remito Valdes, Thibault Vinçon, Saul Williams”

It’s a great upbeat song to get the Christmas holiday into swing, and it’s nice to see them do it for a second year in a row. I hope this becomes an annual tradition!

Also, they have released the mp3 for free again this year. You can download it from their official link at soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/3rd-side-records/such-a-special-time-its-xmas-tonight

Here is the video.

Yesterday was 14 décembre. Alizée reminded us by making a post on her Facebook linking us to a fan-made video of her song, 14 décembre. I found it odd that she linked to the fan video, which was the song with the Polaroids she shot for the the release of Une Enfant du siècle streaming by. I guess it just goes to show that Alizée searches youtube for fan vids. It goes to show that she is seeing your work if you have uploaded something. It makes you wonder… What does she think of the less tasteful videos? Has she ever had anything, or tried to have anything taken down? At the very least it shows that she is a good sport about it!

Ok, ok… so I’m an idiot. I just reported a few minutes ago about the new photo, and wondering if there will be a new Christmas song this year…

Well, I have to learn to keep reading when I find something interesting. I saw the post with the photo of her and Tahiti Boy and wondered aloud if there would be a new Christmas song this year. WELL… If I would have read a little further… there IS indeed going to be a new Christmas song this year, as confirmed by Alizée herself! Be easy on me. It’s getting late and I’m going to bed soon. (23:30h… that’s late, right? Ok, maybe getting old!)

So, now that were all in the loop, we know we have the new Christmas single to look forward to!

Alizée popped up on Facebook and said hi to us with a new photo of her and Tahiti Boy (David Sztanke). As you recall Tahiti Boy is a member of the Palmtree Family, and it was around this time last year that she worked with that group on their release of “It’s Christmas, and it won’t be the last”. I wonder if there’s something in the works this year, or was this just a meeting of friends? Christmas is coming…. But I’m probably looking too much into it.

On a side note, Alizée seems to have a slightly new hairstyle. A little shorter maybe? Bangs swept a little more to the side? I think I like it.

Here’s the photo posted on Facebook today. A little gift for the holidays.

click photo for full size…

I was going to post this yesterday, but Tumblr decided to have a day off…

Alizée has made a couple of posts in the last few days reminding us that her store is going off line for 2 weeks. Dec. 7 is closing day. What will come back in it’s place? It has me wondering. I’m attempting to find the logic in closing during the Christmas buying season, only to come back 4 or 5 days before Christmas. Maybe she’s just out of stock? Maybe she’s changing web hosts? Or, maybe there will be a Christmas present for us in the form of new merchandise? Who knows.

Anyhow, if you’re looking for that last minute Alizée gift hit up her website:

http://www.alizeestore.com/

It closes later today. You have literally hours left!

And just a side note, maybe they should update the Alizée-Officiel website too? The front splash page still has a link to pre-order Une Enfant du Siécle…

Welcome to December!

I will make a post later on this month and give my views on 2010, and Alizée.

For now I want to look back one year. Well, almost one year. 

A look back, and a little history for those new to Alizée:

It was around the middle of December 2009 that we heard from The Palmtree Family and Tahiti Boy that they were making a Christmas song. What was exciting to us (Alizée fans) was that she was going to be part of the song! This would be our first look at Alizée in quite a while, as she had been keeping quite a low profile.

Then on Dec.23 the single and video were released Simultaneously… and gratis, as a bonus! What we got was a small part from Alizée, in quite a nice song that would basically be the beginning of the whirlwind that was the appearances at Les Enfoires, and the album release. December 2009 was a milestone mark when you think about it.
So, looking back, here is the video for “Chistmas, and it won’t be the last” by Tahiti Boy and the Palmtree Family, featuring Alizée, Alice Lewis, Juliette Paquereau, and many others.

(This video will run all month in replacement of “video of the week” in the sidebar. Merry Christmas!)

Les Enfoirés 2011 is just around the corner!

This year, as usual, there is no advance list of artists who will be performing. Also as usual, it is very much assumed that Alizée will be a part of it.

Les Enfoirés will be in Montpellier, France this year at Arena Montpellier. (By the way, Shakira is playing there in 2 days on the 27th… if anyone goes tell me how the show was!)

Tickets went on sale on Tuesday the 23rd. Prices for opening night (Rehearsals) is 50€ for seats, and 40€ for standing room. All other nights (TV tapings, etc. are 60€ for seats, and 50€ for standing room.

IF you missed out on the first block of tickets, be aware they will go on sale again at the very beginning of January in limited supply.

Go to http://www.enfoires.com/fr/mise-en-vente to watch for a new release of tickets.

Les Enfoirés is running from January 26 - January 31.

photo:  Alizée et Amel Bent à Les Enfoirés 2010

One of the features I incorporated into the new design is the “Ask Me Anything” link. If you look in the sidebar to the right, directly below the search field,  there is a clickable link that will take you to a page where you can ask questions. Please feel free to use it, and I will do my best to answer any questions you may have. I will then publish the questions and answers on the blog. However… if you would like them to be published, please leave out any personal information such as e-mail addresses or anything else you may not want made public. I have had a couple of people use the feature already, and both have left their e-mail addresses in the text, so I chose not to publish them.

Random Alizée photo:

Hey Alizée Fans!

There’s still not much to talk about. 2010 is quickly coming to a close, and looking back one year, remember how excited we were that the new album was coming out any day? It’s too bad we don’t have that excitement again this year. Let’s recap;

February 2010: Alizée performs at Les Enfoirés, and this is the first we’ve really seen of her in a year.

March 29, 2010: Une Enfant du Siecle is released. We are teased in the preceding weeks by the release of Limelight, and the release of the first official single from the album, Les Collines.

April-June 2010: There are many interviews on French and Belgian television with our own Alizée to keep us entertained.

July / August 2010: Alizée does a couple of one-off live performances, but none that really promote the new album.

Now: Nothing. No second single has been released, and the anticipated tour has not materialized. There are rumblings in the community now that it will take place in 2011, but this is rumour. We are used to that with Alizée. We never know what she is doing until the time for it to actually happen is upon us. Also, a 2011 tour strikes me as odd. The buzz about the album has died down, and it will be a full year since the release in just 3 short months. Maybe the album will have a second wind? I don’t know.

It’s no secret that sales of Une Enfant du Siecle were less than stellar. Maybe she has decided to cut her losses and start fresh. Could there be a new album on the horizon for 2011? She has not said publicly what her plans are. I personally thought it was a good album, but I can also see where it had no mainstream appeal. This is just my opinion, but a good idea would be to make a whole new album, more along the vein of Psychédélices, pump out 2 or 3 really strong mainstream songs, and have 6 or 7 more “experimental” songs on the album. She could surprise us with this offering, and have a strong tour based on the new album. Then we could all sit back and enjoy the resurgence of Alizée-mania!

Anyhow, these are just one blog writers opinions. Whatever she decides to do will be alright in my books, and as dedicated Alizée fans, we will always look forward to the next new song, or appearance. We love Alizée in the good times, and bad. That’s what makes us die-hard fans!

Also, on a slightly unrelated note, I have had to re-think the name of my blog. I was a bit short sighted naming it Alizée2010… being as there are only 365 days that it makes sense. Very soon I will be revamping the site, and it will be refreshed, with a new name. You will still be able to access it at the same address, but the title header will change. Look for the update in coming weeks.

Also, one last thank you to the blog readers and subscribers! Thanks for coming by and checking this space out for news and info. It’s not an internet top site by any stretch of the imagination, but I receive anywhere between 50 and 100 unique hits per day, and that shows there are a lot of fans craving any news that comes our way. Thank you all, and see you in the future! (Hopefully with more good Alizée news :P)

 Here’s a quick look back at Alizée in 2010… in pictures.

Alizee stopped by Facebook yesterday to wish us all a happy Halloween, and show us a picture of her costume.

It was nice to see something from her, all has been too quiet lately.

So, happy Halloween from Alizee, and from the Alizee 2010 blog also. Hope you all had fun!