Chromeo-oh-oh-oh
Michelle da Silva
Oh man. Chromeo is dirty, sexy ’80s funk personified. And who doesn’t like the ’80s? The Montreal-based electro-funk duo consists of David Macklovitch (or Dave 1) on guitar and vocals, and Patrick Gemayel (P-Thugg) on keyboards, synthesizers, and talk box. Together, they claim to be “the only successful Arab -Jew partnership since the dawn of human culture.”
Friends since childhood, Chromeo released its first album, She’s in Control , in 2004 under Vice Records. The album was an immediate success, with catchy hit singles like “Needy Girl,” “You’re So Gangsta,” and “Destination Overdrive.” “Needy Girl” is perhaps the duo’s most well-known single. It begins with Macklovitch playing a dirty guitar riff, which transfers on to Gemayel on synthesizer, topp ed with ’80s-esque pop beats. Macklovitch’s voice is a clash of White-boy-pseudo-Brooklyner- come-gangster wannabe. Quite charming, really. And it’s perfect against his clean-cut, nerdy professor image, which may be, in part, due to the fact that he is currently earning his Ph.D. in French Literature from New York’s Columbia University ( no joke!). Gemayel weaves a different kind of charm. If you’re into do-rags, stylized facial hair, and ridiculous bling, then you’ll be putty in this man’s hands. The catch? Gemayel’s image is hyper-stylized and fabricated, and he knows it. With songs like “You’re So Gangsta,” you just know that this dude is playing up the part to poke fun at himself.
This past May, Chromeo released a sophomore effort, Fancy Footwork , and it’s filled with more of what the duo’s fans love. The sound is still pure ’ 80s-inspired pop-funk, just with more electro-goodness and fun on the synthesizer. The single “Fancy Footwork” spawns from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” crossed with a Paula Abdul-like voice whispering, “two-step, two-step, two-step.” Another single, “Tenderoni,” takes hip hop sounds and reworks them into dirty disco-era music. The album overall takes a step closer toward more electronic experimentation and disco inspiration , all the while keeping the mood light and the lyrics about love, sex, and getting into your pants.
Chromeo began touring as soon as Fancy Footwork was released, but some visa issues at the border forced the duo to cancel a few Canadian stops. (Yes, fans are still slightly baffled by how the U S border could not let two fine-lookin’ Canadian guys back into Canada.) But, never to let fans down, Chromeo has added more dates onto its current tour, which begins on Canada’s West Coast before heading over to New York and the United Kingdom. This duo is not to be missed live, especially if you’re in the mood for breaking it down on the dance floor, and then some. |
