Favourite Song Trilogy

Despite the trilogy, Endless Enigma, on my featured blog recently, Trilogy by ELP, which itself is very good, my favourite musical trilogy, by far, has to be 10cc's Une Nuit À Paris. They tried, but failed to, eclipse it with Feel the Benefit on Deceptive Bends a few years later. I have reposted the 'Wikipedia' summary, which as always is thorough and precise and copied the track lyrics from the 10cc website (Minestrone.org) and pasted the YouTube track copy at the bottom too. I was privvy to the Original Soundtrack live concert tour and saw this performed live at The Birmingham Odeon in 1975 (twice).

Une Nuit À Paris is a mini Rock Opera by the British Rock band 10cc originally taken from their 1975 album The Original Soundtrack. Despite never been released as a single the song appears on several "best of" compilations from the band including The Very Best Of 10cc (1997) Greatest Hits ... And More (2006). The song was written by the members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme.

Musically the song can be described as Art or Progressive rock due to its multiple time changes and length. It has often drawn comparisons to the 10cc song Feel The Benefit from their 1977 Deceptive Bends album, which is in a similar style.

In English the title translates as One Night In Paris and the suite is divided into three separate parts;

• Part 1 - One Night In Paris
• Part 2 - The Same Night In Paris
• Part 3 - Later That Same Night In Paris

Unlike some epic Rock songs the parts are easily distinguishable as to when they begin and end.

Lyrically the song tells a tale of a British tourist in Paris France. The locals attempt to con the man into buying items such as a Swiss watch and photographs. Eventually the man ends up in the Red Light District and although he feels ripped off sleeps with a prostitute. Due to a series of complications a policeman arrives on the scene and is shot dead.

The song is thought to have been an influence on the famous "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen originally from their A Night At The Opera released in late 1975. The melody can also be heard in the overture to Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera.

10cc - The Original Soundtrack
1975

lyrics

Une Nuit À Paris
(Creme/Godley)

Part One: One Night in Paris Mme. Bezier: Bonjour monsieur Paris really welcomes you It's the best room in the house It's forty francs a night, alright. Touriste: It's crazy, it isn't worth a centime I'll take it! Mme. Bezier: Merci Monsieur Offstage Chorus: Rouged lips in the gaslight A great view of the hall That's the way the croissant crumbles after all Narrator: Paris is only one step away Les girls are out on bail Tres bien there's love for sale Coquette: Oh my cheri, wish you were mine And I'll show you a wonderful time For the price of a cheap champagne I'll show it you once again Voice of the Streets: One night in Paris Is like a year in any other place One night in Paris Will wipe the smile off your pretty face One girl in Paris Is like loving every woman One night in Paris One night in Paris One night in Paris May be your last!!! Part Two: The Same Night in Paris Hustlers (1 to 5): Is he gonna buy? 1. Offstage: You wanna little culture? Hustlers: Is he gonna pay? 2. Offstage: Maybe Monsieur is into photographs, Non? Hustlers: Or is he gonna fall in love The all American way? 3. Offstage: I got a watch wiz a beautiful Swiss movement Hustlers: Is he gonna buy? 4. Offstage: Oh forget ze watch, I'll show you a good time! Hustlers: Is he gonna pay? 5. Offstage: Le connoisseur, want something different? Hustlers: Or is he gonna fall in love The all American way? Everyone: Oh you know you ain't no Casanova You can't even do the Bossa Nova Or the Tango or the Samba! Chinese Tarts: Though you are so very charming No you ain't no Casanova Hustlers: Is he gonna buy? Is he gonna pay? Or is he gonna fall in love The all American way? Sometimes I think he will But then again........................ Voice of the Streets: One night in Paris Is like a year in any other place! One night in Paris Will wipe the smile off your pretty face! Try a girl in Paris But try one of mine Each night in Paris Each night in Paris Each night in Paris Each night in Paris May be your last!!!

Part Three: Later the same night in Paris Coquette's Girls: Forty-Two, Quarante-Deux Rue de Saint Jacques All our girls are how you say Good in the sack Coquette: I was a stripper On the Champs Elysees He was a gendarme In the gendarmerie Girls: Going Oh La La La Oh La La La La Coquette: He was a pimp In a black beret But he was an artiste In his own way Girls: Going Oh La La La Oh La La La La Coquette: When they raided my club that night They ruined my act with the leather umbrella the Chief de Police got a fright He was up in my boudoir with some other fella Club Clientelle: It's only routine But I got this feeling It ain't good for business Narrator: Then the floor cleared A woman screamed to herself Henri's Lover: Henri...Though you're not the toast of Paris I love you, although you bed and beat me Henri, leave it alone, For the gendarme's just doing his job Narrator: Paris is only one step away Chorus: Murder is only one step away Everyone: Notre Dame is ringing her bells Another gendarme has gone to Hell Notre Dame is ringing her bells Another gendarme has gone to Hell gone to Hell gone to Hell gone to Hell Whole Cast: One night in Paris Is like a year in any other place One night in Paris Will wipe the smile off your pretty face One girl in Paris Is like loving every woman This night in Paris This night in Paris This night in Paris This night in Paris May be your last!!! © 1975.