Yelle - "Tu Es Beau" (2007)

In which GrandMarnier and Tepr establish an unassailable Chic-style groove within the song’s first four seconds, then step back and let Yelle have her way with the vocals. She coos with a laid-back flow that recalls young LL Cool J at his most risin’ surprisin’ on his behind-the-beat return trip to Cali, and in a similar honeyed way, Yelle delivers one of the sweetest kiss-off songs I’ve ever heard.

“You’re beautiful,” purrs Yelle. “BUT…” And it’s that “but” that turns on its poor, tender head the hip-hop convention of female objectification. Yelle infuses her comprehensive put-down to her male companion with a combustive mixture of derision and desire: you’re no good at all, better get out of my bedroom, you’re just not my type of fella, by the way you sure are easy on the eyes.

The song’s beautifully loooong coda adds almost nothing instrumentally. Literally nothing. Ok, a three-note sax line turns up after Yelle stops singing. But that’s it. It’s gorgeous electro-pop minimalism at its most relaxed.

This is an exciting time for Yelle (the person) and Yelle (the groop, to which GrandMarnier and Tepr rightfully belong). The band’s 2007 debut “Pop-up” yielded two uptempo singles (“À cause des garcons” and “Je veux te voir”) that burned up international charts and even landed Yelle on Coachella’s second stage in 2008. Check out “Pop-up” and you won’t be disappointed. And stay tuned to pop de trop for any upcoming information on their highly-anticipated follow-up.

Happy 2010 everyone!

click the image below to listen to song previews or buy the album: