Yelle in Hell
The French pop band played the Masquerade on Monday, April 25
Yelle, the French pop band fronted by Julie Budet, first came into the American pop consciousness around the end of 2007. It was a simpler time: Madonna was trying to be a 50-something hip-hop superstar, Lady Gaga barely registered on the radar with "Just Dance," and M.I.A. was the weirdest thing out there. Wearing a yellow sack dress with a giant smiley face and rap-singing in French, Yelle seemed totally out-there by comparison. But times have changed, and to shock pop audiences, you've got to wear a meat dress and pour (fake?) blood on your face. Leave it to a Frenchie to remind everyone that it's not about the antics but about the excellently produced dance songs.
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Yelle took the smaller Hell stage in the Masquerade last night despite being internationally popular for over five years. Why are they still performing in small basements, you ask? Because they only sing in French. As long as they don't sing English songs, they're forever relegated to Hell.
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Yelle opened the show in a hooded costume that looked like it was made from hot-glued Spanish moss taken from Savannah. The outfit covered her whole face for the entire first song before she revealed a chic giraffe print asymmetrical dress. The stage consisted of an upside-down peace sign "Y" that looked like it was made of aluminum foil. The petite Yelle has a snaggletooth and a strong nose, the kind of features that only a French woman can pull off. For her last costume change, she donned a red leopard print bodysuit with a hood. The two male band members wore safari guide outfits referencing their latest album Safari Disco Club.