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This article was originally published on May 19, 2021.
On April 12, 2024,Shrek 2returned to movie theatersfor its 20th anniversary.
Frou Frou was never intended to be a long-term band.
When record sales didnt materialize, they left it at that.
Just like that, thanks to the power of a box-office-topping big green ogre, Frou Frou was back.
Theyre basically licensing these different works and compositions a lot of it comes down to licensing terms.
Its not like radio or record retailers where its whatever gets played gets up there.
It really comes down to licensing the rights.
(Hey, it was 2004.
We were all listening to Dashboard Confessional.)
1 spot at more than 41 million streams.
He doesnt rule it out in the future, though.
You value your own stuff in a different kind of way, he says over Zoom.
I still love [Holding Out for a Hero].
Its just probably that it doesnt occupy as much bandwidth as the stuff that I remember fretting over.
), and the possibility of Frou Frou reuniting for the upcoming 20th anniversary.
BetweenGarden StateandShrek 2, 2004 was a pivotal year for Frou Frou.
Do you remember how you were approached to work on the Holding Out for a Hero cover?
He was on KCRW, and hed been one of the first people playing Frou Frou demos.
I was asked by Chris to do a version of the song Holding Out for a Hero.
And it was one of these funny things where he didnt ask for it as a Frou Frou thing.
And I said, Could I have a go?
I can just do it with Immi.
Chris said, Oh, okay.
I was actually waiting for you to say that.
I did it really quickly.
Id just got this new piece of software that was completely impenetrable.
And I was determined to use it, come what may, and was driving my engineer crazy.
It was one of these things where you kind of had to create sounds almost in theory.
You say, Imagine theres a force of newtons hitting the drum.
Then you press a button, and youd wait five minutes, and it would render this sound.
Yeah, Bonnie Tylers original issucha signpost of 1980s excess.
You knowTeam America, the famous song America, Fuck Yeah?
Listen to that track and take out the vocals.
Its more or less like a carbon copy of his backing track of the original.
Its like theyve taken that as the model.
Holding Out for a Hero is actually the model of the song.
Oh my God,youre right.
I mean, no disrespect to the original, because the original is what it is.
And thats why its so brilliant for aShrekmovie.
What was the reception like when you submitted your version?
I think it came after wed done most of the Frou Frou record.
Wed already done loads of stuff.
And then suddenly everybodys saying, Oh, theres this movie, and youve got to see it.
And we didnt even know what the meaning was because of the changing title.
It does it so well.
And I just love that about her its kind of uninhibited, for the sake of the joke.
Theres no indignity shes frightened of.
What do you think Imogen as a singer brought to the cover?
We just have this real understanding of each other as musicians.
We can always be honest with each other.
And then, also, she has a striking rhythmic quality that I really love in her delivery.
Its like she breathes in the rhythm of the song.
[With Holding Out for a Hero,] I just thought,Lets do more of that.
Youd just be like a bad karaoke you have to do something completely different.
Do you recall what the feedback was like at the time from your fans?
I didnt obsess over it.
Its different when its a Jim Steinman song.
I mean, I love him, but youre always going to love your own more, arent you?
Whyisntthe song on streaming?
We cant directly control it …
I think its … Is it Universal?
Its DreamWorks, which is probably Universal, isnt it?
We can encourage them to get it sorted, but we can just complain.
I dont think we have the power to force that.
Actually, I think it has been interesting to see how people mention it.
Im sorry, I dont mean any disrespect or offense!
It was a 1930s Hollywood singer.
[Its Oh So Quiet!
was originally performed by Betty Hutton in 1951.]
But then I noticed that Bjork just stopped performing it.
I mean, the first time, I was doing it on tour with her.
You value your own stuff in a different kind of way.
What are the chances you and Imogen might properly reunite Frou Frou perhaps for aDetails20th anniversary set next year?
Im up for it.
I think its just a matter of working out schedules and what were both up to.
Id love to do something to mark it.
There was no problem between the two of us; we still get on great.
Its just that Immi is always discovering the future.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
