2012 studio album by Madness
Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da is the tenth studio album by the British band Madness, released on their own Lucky 7 Records label through Cooking Vinyl in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2012 and in the United States on 13 November 2012. The album does not feature founding member and bassist Mark Bedford, who was on hiatus from the band at the time. The album cover is by Peter Blake and features rejected titles for the album crossed out. The album was preceded by a 'teaser' song, "Death of a Rude Boy", available as a digital download from 12 August 2012 (along with a remix by Andrew Weatherall).
"Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da" debuted at number No. 10 on the UK Albums Chart on 4 November 2012, becoming Madness' seventh studio album out of ten to reach the top 10 in the UK. It received favourable reviews in "Q", "Mojo", "The Arts Desk" and London evening newspaper "Evening Standard" amongst others, the notable exception being a poor review in the "NME".
Critical reception.
The review aggregating website Metacritic gave "Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da" a "generally favorable" rating of 71% based on eight reviews. Among the most positive reviews were those from AllMusic and "Metro", giving the album 4 stars out of 5. AllMusic called the album a "mini latter-day gem," while "Metro" wrote, "If you wondered if this could be a classic Madness album, the answer's in the affirmative." AllMusic described the album as a "clever and confident collection of savvy pop and ska, tunes that are effervescently melodic, lyrically nimble, and giddy with their dexterity."
Rating it 3 stars out of 5, the "Daily Express" called it a "rather good new album" that "may lack a little of the energy of the early albums." The Punknews.org website gave it 3½ stars out of 5, writing that it is "a perfect example of the band's ability to mix a wide array of styles held together by ska and reggae rhythms." They added, ""Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da" isn't a perfect Madness album, but it is indeed a solid and fun listen." In a 1-star review in the "NME", the reviewer felt that Madness is "half-arseing" their way through "a thick slurry of clod-hopping ska-by-numbers", and that it is "time to hang it up for good".
Singles.
The first single from the album – "My Girl 2" – was released in September 2012.
"Never Knew Your Name" was the second single off the album, released in January 2013. It became their biggest airplay hit since 1999's Top 10 hit "Lovestruck", reaching the UK Airplay Chart Top 25 and No. 88 in the UK Singles Chart. After the song was performed on "The Jonathan Ross Show" on 19 January, the album re-entered the UK Album Top 75 at No. 16 on 27 January.
On 22 February 2013, radio DJ Chris Evans played "How Can I Tell You", the third single from the album, during his "Breakfast Show" on which lead singer Suggs was his guest. The single was released on Monday 8 April on iTunes with an extra live version and a demo version by second singer Cathal Smyth.
The fourth single off the album – "Misery" – was released in July 2013.
Deluxe 3-CD version.
Guitar player Chris Foreman mentioned a planned box set version of the album, expected to be released in May 2013. On 28 February 2013, it was revealed that the album would be re-released in a deluxe version, with an extra CD containing 20 songs, including various original tracks not included on the album, a series of band demos and remixes and a John Lennon cover. This second CD's demo versions do not all feature Suggs on vocals, with "Black and Blue", "My Girl 2" and "Never Knew Your Name" having Mike Barson on vocals, "Death of a Rude Boy", "Misery" and "So Alive" featuring Cathal Smyth, and "Rules of Deolali" and "Check Mate La Luna" being instrumentals. The final demo, "I Got You (Kitchen Floor)" features Daniel Woodgate's brother Nick on vocals and a variety of instruments instead of regular band members. A DVD of the band's performance of the album at the Butlins "House of Fun" Weekender from 2011, along with a live CD of the following year's gig is also included. The latter CD also features Foreman's karaoke version of the Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" and Ian Dury's "Sex &amp; Drugs &amp; Rock &amp; Roll".
The deluxe version features new artwork, featuring the band in various fancy dress costumes representing the different rejected titles for the album, in a similar vein to the cover of their "The Rise &amp; Fall" album from 1982.
BMG version.
On 10 May 2024, BMG reissued "Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da" as an expanded edition over 2 CDs, which features the original album along with the bonus tracks and "Misfit Mixes" from the 2013 deluxe edition. BMG reissued the album along with another expanded version of an album originally issued on their Lucky 7 Records label, "Can't Touch Us Now".
Track listing.
2013 deluxe edition.
Disc 1 – "Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da"
Disc 2 – Bonus tracks +
Disc 3 – Live from the House of Fun Weekender November 23rd 2012
DVD disc 4 – Live from the House of Fun Weekender November 25th 2011
Personnel.
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
Madness
Additional personnel
Technical personnel
Deluxe edition
References.
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