Franz Ferdinand shrine

i've been listening to their music for nearly a decade now, but i've only really gotten into them earlier this year thanks to my twin. their music is really great! they've been effortlessly blending alternative rock with pop influences for 20 years now without making it old, which is commendable. i made this shrine because i love their music, music videos, and band photos!
circa 2004. those were the days!

history

franz ferdinand are a scottish rock band, perhaps most well-known for their undeniably catchy earworm "take me out" from 2004. saying they launched into fame from one song would basically sum up exactly what happened.

the original lineup consisted of alex kapranos (lead vocals, guitar), nick mccarthy (rhythm guitar), bob hardy (bass), and paul thomson (drums). nick left in 2016 to focus on his family while paul left in 2022 due to personal circumstances (paul i miss you ToT). the gaps were filled by julian corrie aka miaoux miaoux (keyboards, guitar), dino bardot (guitar), and audrey tait (drums). they are still experiencing great success after all these years, and released a greatest hits album in march! it contains their finest bangers, so i highly recommend listening to it to the unfamiliar and the seasoned fans alike.

music videos

the music videos for franz ferdinand have a joyously uncanny quality to them that is so unique to them. if you're looking for a deep cut, perhaps consider watching this...

some of my personal favorite videos (though once i watch one, i gotta watch 'em all...) are to the right! evil eye is an homage to old b horror movies, with extra emphasis on the grotesque, albeit clearly fake. this fire is inspired by soviet constructivism and propaganda, which makes it aesthetically pleasing to the eye. and that isn't saying anything about how alex kapranos looks *eyes emoji*. glimpse of love and darts of pleasure are prime examples of what franz ferdinand's videos vibes are: abnormal, slightly off-kilter and disjointed, but a lot of fun!

photos

the photos of franz ferdinand are... so different from most bands. strange. interesting. the opposite of what you would expect from a band of guys who make music for people to dance to. the chaotic energy of their photos is just something else entirely. below are some photos that i particularly enjoy (including alex kapranos wearing eyeliner because WOW that sure was something).
take me out
it's difficult to talk about franz ferdinand without mentioning "take me out" in some capacity. the song was inspired by a sniper duel from enemy at the gates, though it carries a double meaning for a relationship, which is genius. though the lyrics aren't really anything special, the concept of the song is what makes it worth mentioning.
outsiders
this is easily one of their greatest songs, not only because of its unprecedented sound in their catalogue, but also because of its lyrics. the second verse and how it leads into the bridge is particularly haunting. i'm not sure how to describe it, but the lyrics fit this song sonically. it's transcendental and hypnotic.
fade together
poetic in the most tragic way. a song about a dying love and wanting it so desperately to last forever, even if it means death (hence "fading together"). the acoustic guitar and distortion makes it feel eerie and... lost. i remember reading somewhere, alex kapranos said this song makes him cry. it definitely has that effect on people.
the universe expanded
an interesting take on the big crunch, which is theorized to happen as a result of the universe's expansion, causing the universe to revert, and possibly, reform. this song tells a tale of a former love gone sour, but being able to experience it once again, albeit backwards, once "time contracts" and they meet "coming backwards"

lyrics

alex kapranos and nick mccarthy are masters of the english language. the ultimate songwriting duo. absolute maestros of poetry. some songs they really flex their brains and songwriting skills more than others. obviously the lyrics are up to interpretation and their meanings vary person to person, i just wanted to talk about my personal feelings on some tracks...
their first photo taken as a band :-)

the end

uhh i think that's all i have for now... i'll probably expand on this more at some point and add a section with pictures of my collection. thank you for checking this page out! ^^

addendum 5/19/22: i've been listening to hits to the head almost every day since it came out. it's really the greatest compilation album of all time!