THURSDAY I'M IN LOVE - St Germain - 'Rose Rouge'

Thursday I'm in love....a chance to share some of my favourite songs...."fuhgedaboudit!"

St Germain - 'Rose Rouge' (2000)

I love New York! 

From the very moment The Eagles appropriately welcomed us with 'Lying Eyes' (with that immortal 'city girls' line) over the airport mini bus radio whilst gazing out at the approaching Manhattan skyline. To the moment, turning the corner after leaving our hotel off 5th Ave, to be confronted by the towering Empire State Building, (Holy shit! King Kong climbed that!) I knew I was smitten. 

There's this sense that somehow you've been here before. Of course, I've lived it all in the movies growing up, the yellow taxis, the cop car sirens, the steam billowing up from the manhole covers, all bringing this peculiar familiarity. Not to mention the music, eclectic, from Swing to Punk to the birth of Hip Hop, it was so easy to fall in love with New York. 

That was certainly how I felt when I visited Manhattan for the first time with my girlfriend (now wife) on a cold February in 2001. We hadn't been going out long but taking in the sights and sounds over the few days of our sejour also made her realise that I was quite the catch, eventually deciding to marry me. 

In those days, I'd take a separate hand bag with my Discman, Cd's and speakers, which would be handcuffed to my wrist. I had to make sure I had my music with me! Pretty ridiculous, considering now I'd have my iPod in my pocket instead. But as a result, I'd taken in a visit of the leviathan sized Tower records where I bought the excellent St Germain album, 'The Tourist'. Full of Blues, Jazz and Soul, 'Rose Rouge' was the stand out track that reminded me of that trip. It's a fantastic hypnotic groove, which uses a subtle voice sample from New York Jazz/Soul singer, Marlena Shaw. Wholly appropriate considering New York's Jazz heritage, it was the perfect atmospheric track to get you started before and evening out in Manhattan. 

Check out some more of my favourite tracks buddy...click here!