by RAF KATIGBAK

If you’re from Montreal, have an angular haircut and own at least one piece of mesh clothing, you probably already know all about Vive la Fête. For the last six years, the super-hot Belgian couple of Danny Mommens and Els Pynoo has been pumping out irreverent, catchy-as-all-get-out, synth- and guitar-driven pop while other electroclash acts have spiralled down the drain like last month’s Purple Plum Passion hair dye. It’s a longevity due in no small part to their free-spirited, connect-the-dots sound of no-nonsense ’80s club music and the smart, sexy, silly sleaze of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. The Mirror recently caught up with vivacious and very giggly singer Pynoo to talk about their latest album, cars, breasts and her gay pig.

Mirror: Where are you right now?

Els Pynoo: I’m walking on my farm in Belgium. I’ve got horses and a pig, he’s very tame, very nice, and dogs and goose and a swan, yes, everything!

M: Do you ever have an achin’ for bacon?

EP: (giggles) I don’t, but Danny does. We don’t eat our own pig, of course—everybody has a name, so we can’t eat them. Our pig is called Mimi (giggles). Yes, it’s a boy, but he’s gay, I think.

M: How do you know? Have you seen him makin’ bacon with other male piggies?

EP: Well, he fools around with the horse, he’s also male, so… (giggles)

M: So is this gay animal sex farm where you recorded your latest album, Grand Prix?

EP: Yes, we’ve lived here since one year. It’s a lot of work, we have a big garden and we don’t have a lot of time since we’re very busy doing concerts, which I like also. I need a balance—a concert and a farm. It’s different, that’s what I like about it, yes. (giggles)

Tit parader

M: Serge Gainsbourg is a big influence for you. He didn’t really give a shit what people thought of him.

EP: Yes, there is a similarity. I don’t give a damn what people think about me, I really don’t. I’m living the life that I want to live so that’s great, and it’s going well, so what the fuck! Everybody always has critics—first you have to look at yourself and then give criticism to other people.

M: You’re also obsessed with muscle cars, which isn’t very girlish and romantic.

EP: (giggles) I’m not really girlish. I look girlish, and I’m elegant, but my character is more like a boy, I think.

M: Which brings me to the song “Litanie des seins.” It’s nice to know girls like to sing about boobies as much as guys.

EP: (giggles) Yeah, I made that songs because of the programs I saw on television, I think they’re American, like The Swan or Extreme Makeover. I think that’s dangerous. So many young girls want change and want to be perfect. They think when you look perfect, you are perfect, a good person. That’s stupid. That’s why I made “Litanie des seins,” because all kinds of breasts are beautiful. If you love them, if you have respect for them, all things are beautiful.

With Tiga and Sean Kosa at 32 Ste-Catherine W.
on Sunday, Sept. 4, 10 p.m., $25

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