Album Spotlight: Paris Kills (The 69 Eyes, 2002)
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Following in the steps of their previous album, the sixth studio album of the self-proclaimed "Helsinki Vampires" keeps its distance from their original glammy/punkish sound and sleazy lyrics, focusing instead on darker themes. The second collaboration between the 69 Eyes and Johnny Lee Michaels, although not as heavy and dark as their previous release, retains its gothic charm, this time enhanced by keyboards and choral refrains.
This time The 69 Eyes take the daring decision to incormporate keyboards as the key element to their songs, adding a darkwave flavour to their gothic metal sound. A dangerous thought by all accounts, that turned out to work way better than expected. Riding on the wave of success generated by their previous album two years ago, the band had no trouble climbing on top of the charts again in Finland and Germany. "Paris Kills" went gold within a month of its release and has since gone platinum, and the band toured Europe and Finland extensively in support of the album, with the sold-out show in legendary Tavastia club in Helsinki being filmed and released on DVD.
Perhaps one of the most recognisable songs of the 00s that literally anyone that has been around at the time has heard on the radio at some point or another would come from this album. "Still Waters Run Deep" and its unforgettable melodic keyboard riff attracted even more fans to the already growing numbers of loyal vampires worshiping the band. Ville Valo of HIM also contributed backing vocals in this album, not only on "Still Waters Run Deep", but also on "Betty Blue" and "Stigmata".
The first single off the album would be "Dance d'Amour", an atmospheric song with a cool feel to it, and Jyrki's deep and lustful voice makes something flutter in your abdomen as he sings in French. The second single, "Betty Blue", a romantic and hooking song on its own, was also given its own sexy music video, featuring ice skaters, roses, and face-of-the-band Jyrki69 in a see-through, cross embelished mesh top and long leather skirt in all his sexy, vampiric glory. The third single, the album opening track "Crashing High" never got it own video but it stands as a great and powerful introduction to this magnificent album, perhaps closer in sound to the previous album than the rest of the songs (and a little foresight into the direction in which the band would be moving towards for their next album).
Two songs that deserve special attention in this album but are overshadowed would be "Grey" and "Radical". Coming right after replay-inducing "Betty Blue" and with a slightly off-putting intro (compared to the previous addictive song, that is), "Grey" is most often overlooked as you go through the album looking for your next favourite song to listen to till you get physically sick of it. However once you get past the first twenty five seconds and the song kicks full in with powerful guitars and a sound harsher than the rest so far, broken by the cystallic keyboards in the background, you can no longer change the song. The lyrics and the heart-throbbing rendition of Jyrki captivate you and immerse you in a blue, foggy world, where walking around the deserted city after nightfal is to invite a dangerous and deadly romance your way. You know, the kind of romance that comes with fangs and the promise of eternity.
"Radical" comes right after, when you are too numb and mesmerized to press the replay button. A melancholic, atmospheric song, soft and yet invigorating at the start, it suddenly gets throbbing halfway through, not very much unlike having sex with your lover. Once more, Jyrki sings his lyrics with such perfection, capturing all the yearning and heart-wrenching emotions of his poetry, leaving you with tears streaming down your now-pale cheeks.
A favourite among fans, this album has proved a timeless classic among the scene. Fans of the band as well as of HIM will appreciate its beauty and romance. Perhaps it's hard to narrow it down for specific audiences, so the best thing to do is to give it a listen and find your next late night delight, when it's cold and dark and you find yourself wishing for a short-lived vampire romance in Berlin.
Following in the steps of their previous album, the sixth studio album of the self-proclaimed "Helsinki Vampires" keeps its distance from their original glammy/punkish sound and sleazy lyrics, focusing instead on darker themes. The second collaboration between the 69 Eyes and Johnny Lee Michaels, although not as heavy and dark as their previous release, retains its gothic charm, this time enhanced by keyboards and choral refrains.
This time The 69 Eyes take the daring decision to incormporate keyboards as the key element to their songs, adding a darkwave flavour to their gothic metal sound. A dangerous thought by all accounts, that turned out to work way better than expected. Riding on the wave of success generated by their previous album two years ago, the band had no trouble climbing on top of the charts again in Finland and Germany. "Paris Kills" went gold within a month of its release and has since gone platinum, and the band toured Europe and Finland extensively in support of the album, with the sold-out show in legendary Tavastia club in Helsinki being filmed and released on DVD.
Perhaps one of the most recognisable songs of the 00s that literally anyone that has been around at the time has heard on the radio at some point or another would come from this album. "Still Waters Run Deep" and its unforgettable melodic keyboard riff attracted even more fans to the already growing numbers of loyal vampires worshiping the band. Ville Valo of HIM also contributed backing vocals in this album, not only on "Still Waters Run Deep", but also on "Betty Blue" and "Stigmata".
The first single off the album would be "Dance d'Amour", an atmospheric song with a cool feel to it, and Jyrki's deep and lustful voice makes something flutter in your abdomen as he sings in French. The second single, "Betty Blue", a romantic and hooking song on its own, was also given its own sexy music video, featuring ice skaters, roses, and face-of-the-band Jyrki69 in a see-through, cross embelished mesh top and long leather skirt in all his sexy, vampiric glory. The third single, the album opening track "Crashing High" never got it own video but it stands as a great and powerful introduction to this magnificent album, perhaps closer in sound to the previous album than the rest of the songs (and a little foresight into the direction in which the band would be moving towards for their next album).
Two songs that deserve special attention in this album but are overshadowed would be "Grey" and "Radical". Coming right after replay-inducing "Betty Blue" and with a slightly off-putting intro (compared to the previous addictive song, that is), "Grey" is most often overlooked as you go through the album looking for your next favourite song to listen to till you get physically sick of it. However once you get past the first twenty five seconds and the song kicks full in with powerful guitars and a sound harsher than the rest so far, broken by the cystallic keyboards in the background, you can no longer change the song. The lyrics and the heart-throbbing rendition of Jyrki captivate you and immerse you in a blue, foggy world, where walking around the deserted city after nightfal is to invite a dangerous and deadly romance your way. You know, the kind of romance that comes with fangs and the promise of eternity.
"Radical" comes right after, when you are too numb and mesmerized to press the replay button. A melancholic, atmospheric song, soft and yet invigorating at the start, it suddenly gets throbbing halfway through, not very much unlike having sex with your lover. Once more, Jyrki sings his lyrics with such perfection, capturing all the yearning and heart-wrenching emotions of his poetry, leaving you with tears streaming down your now-pale cheeks.
A favourite among fans, this album has proved a timeless classic among the scene. Fans of the band as well as of HIM will appreciate its beauty and romance. Perhaps it's hard to narrow it down for specific audiences, so the best thing to do is to give it a listen and find your next late night delight, when it's cold and dark and you find yourself wishing for a short-lived vampire romance in Berlin.
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