Can't Speak French

"Can't Speak French" is a mid-tempo pop song with a number of influences. It juxtaposes jazz guitar and a swing beat against a 1980s-inspired synthesiser. The lyrics "find[s] the girls at their glummest, desperately trying to impress a guy who turns their "dust to gold" but doesn't realise it."{{ cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a90316/girls-aloud-cant-speak-french.html | title=Girls Aloud: 'Can't Speak French | author=Nick Levine | work=Digital Spy | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | date=17 March 2008 | accessdate=31 August 2010 }} Producer Brian Higgins said it was "perhaps the easiest Girls Aloud single they made."{{cite AV media notes |title=The Singles Boxset |others=Girls Aloud |year=2009 |chapter=Can't Speak French |first=Peter |last=Robinson |authorlink=Peter Robinson (journalist) |page=41 |type=Booklet |publisher=Fascination Records |location=London, England }} The song begins with a verse (sung by Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh), a bridge (sung by Coyle, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts), and a chorus. It then leads to a middle 8 sung by Cheryl Cole and an instrumental section before repeating the chorus. "Can't Speak French" was slightly remixed by Jeremy Wheatley for single release.

"Can't Speak French" was one of many options for a third single; others included "Close to Love", "Girl Overboard", and "Control of the Knife". The single was confirmed on 15 January 2008 on the official site.{{ cite web | url=http://www.girlsaloud.com/ | title=News on the Girls' next single | publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk| date=15 January 2008 | accessdate=15 January 2008 }}

Promotion for "Can't Speak French" was initially put on hold, so that Cheryl could sort through her marital problems with Chelsea and England player Ashley Cole,{{ cite web | url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/showbiz/showbiznews/2008/02/03/nadine-coyle-makes-most-of-band-crisis-98487-20308413/ | title=Nadine Coyle makes most of band crisis | publisher=Sunday Mirror | date=3 February 2008 | accessdate=3 February 2008 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206064903/http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/showbiz/showbiznews/2008/02/03/nadine-coyle-makes-most-of-band-crisis-98487-20308413/ | archivedate=6 February 2008 | df=dmy-all }} but later resumed. Their new ITV2 television series, Passions of Girls Aloud, also premiered on 14 March, with the Passions Mix of "Can't Speak French" being used as the programme's theme.{{ cite web | url=http://www.girlsaloud.com/ | title=The Passions are coming! | publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk| date=5 March 2008 | accessdate=11 March 2008 }}

The single was released as a digital download on 14 March 2008 and on two CD single formats on 17 March 2008. The first disc included a previously unreleased track entitled "Hoxton Heroes", which was co-written by Girls Aloud{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-Cant-Speak-French/release/1631827 | title=Girls Aloud – Can't Speak French (CD, Single) | work=Discogs | publisher=Zink Media Inc. | accessdate=31 August 2010 }} and the majority of the vocals being provided by Cheryl Cole. The second disc included the French version of the track, "Je Ne Parle Pas Français", as well as an acoustic cover of Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat" from the BBC Radio 1 programme Live Lounge and the Tony Lamezma Passions Mix.{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-Cant-Speak-French/release/1363832 | title=Girls Aloud – Can't Speak French (CD, Maxi, Enh) | work=Discogs | publisher=Zink Media Inc. | accessdate=31 August 2010 }} A shortened radio edit of the Tony Lamezma remix was released as a digital exclusive.

Three cover arts were made available on its release. The UKCD1 Cover Art is the one shown up on the infobox for this page, while the other two, the UKCD2 and the Digital EP covers feature different shots from the single's photoshoot

Girls Aloud also held a competition on their official website for a signed poster. Fans submitted their own original verse for "Can't Speak French", with five winners being announced throughout the week of the single's release.{{ cite web | url=http://www.girlsaloud.com/ | title=Signed posters | publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk| date=4 March 2008 | accessdate=11 March 2008 }}

The single's B-side "Hoxton Heroes" was first mentioned in a November interview with The Guardian. Miranda Cooper, a songwriter and member of the Xenomania production house, said "We've written a song called Hoxton Hero[es]. Me and the girls got on an amazing rant, taking the piss out of the whole indie scene." Kimberley Walsh stated, "They say we're a manufactured band, but they're just as manufactured." The song was considered too controversial to go on the album.{{ cite news | url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2206702,00.html | title=Smashed hits | work=The Guardian | date=11 November 2007 | accessdate=31 January 2008 | location=London | first=Craig | last=McLean}} However, Nicola Roberts said the song "wasn't aggressive enough."

On 31 January 2008, it was confirmed on Girls Aloud's official website that "Hoxton Heroes" would appear as a B-side, alongside a French version of the single.{{ cite web|url=http://www.girlsaloud.co.uk/site.php |title=More details on Can't Speak French |publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk |date=31 January 2008 |accessdate=31 January 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028182353/http://www.girlsaloud.co.uk/site.php |archivedate=28 October 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }} A 30-second clip of "Hoxton Heroes" was posted on Girls Aloud's official Myspace on 6 February.{{ cite web|url=http://www.girlsaloud.co.uk/site.php |title=EXCLUSIVE: Hear Hoxton Heroes! |publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk |date=6 February 2008 |accessdate=12 February 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028182353/http://www.girlsaloud.co.uk/site.php |archivedate=28 October 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }} Some indie music fans have attacked Girls Aloud for the song.{{ cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/girls-aloud/34202| title=Music fans react to Girls Aloud criticising indie bands | publisher=NME |date=8 February 2008 | accessdate=12 February 2008 }} Heatworld.com exclusively streamed a clip of "Je Ne Parle Pas Français" on 26 February.{{ cite web | url=http://www.heatworld.com/Article/4554/Girls+Aloud/Hear+Girls+Aloud+sing+Can%e2%80%99t+Speak+French+%e2%80%93+IN+FRENCH! | title=Hear Girls Aloud sing Can't Speak French – IN FRENCH! | publisher=Heatworld.com | date=26 February 2008 | accessdate=11 March 2008 }}

In 2012, Girls Aloud fans selected "Hoxton Heroes" to be one of ten songs included on the deluxe edition bonus disc of their greatest hits collection Ten.{{ cite web | url=http://www.girlsaloud.com/news/2148 | title=Ten Disc 2 Tracklisting Revealed! | work=GirlsAloud.co.uk | publisher=Polydor Records | date=25 November 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109203543/http://www.girlsaloud.com/news/2148|archivedate=9 November 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=13 March 2016}}{{ cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a432742/girls-aloud-ten-fan-voted-cd-two-tracklisting-confirmed.html | title=Girls Aloud 'Ten' fan-voted CD Two tracklisting confirmed | author=Mayer Nissim | work=Digital Spy | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | date=23 October 2012 | accessdate=25 November 2012 }}

The song received mostly positive reviews from critics. On a positive note, The Guardian called the song "a prime example of Xenomania's ability to throw wildly disparate musical elements together."{{ cite news |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/reviews/story/0,,2207509,00.html/ |title=Girls Aloud, Tangled Up |work=The Guardian |date=9 November 2007 |accessdate=13 February 2008 |location=London |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113195452/http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/reviews/story/0%2C%2C2207509%2C00.html/ |archivedate=13 January 2008 |df=dmy }} According to AllMusic, the song "achieves the kind of effortlessly sultry cool which the Sugababes have spent a career striving for."{{ cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1263699|pure_url=yes}} | title=Tangled Up | author=John Lucas | work=AllMusic | publisher=All Media Guide | accessdate=1 February 2009 }} Talia Kraines of BBC Music also called the song "sultry" and described it as "mid-tempo fun."{{ cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/59rg/ | title=Tangled Up | author=Talia Kraines | work=BBC Music | publisher=BBC | date=17 November 2008 | accessdate=1 February 2009 }} John Murphy of musicOMH relentlessly praised the song: "The tempo is taken down a slight notch, a swing beat kicks in backed by some squelchy synths, and there's yet another chorus that stays in your head forever, aided by the gloriously silly lyric of "I can't speak French, so I'll let the funky music do the talking". It's possibly the best thing they've ever done."{{cite web | url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/girls-aloud-4_1107.htm | title=Girls Aloud – Tangled Up (Polydor/Fascination) | publisher=musicOMH | date=19 November 2007 | accessdate=21 August 2010 | first=John | last=Murphy }} Another reviewer for musicOMH felt that the "mid-paced groove isn't all that funky," but "creeps up when you're not looking, lodging itself in your head."{{ cite web | url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/girls-aloud-12_0308.htm | title=Girls Aloud – Can't Speak French (Polydor) | publisher=MusicOMH.com | author=Ben Hogwood | date=12 March 2008 | accessdate=7 April 2008 }} Less impressed was Sarah Walters of the Manchester Evening News, who stated that she was "undecided whether this is a bad joke or a stroke of genius" and described the chorus as "pure idiocy."{{ cite web | url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/single_reviews/s/1040744_girls_aloud__cant_speak_french_fascination | title=Girls Aloud – Can't Speak French (Fascination) | publisher=Manchester Evening News | author=Sarah Walters | date=13 March 2008 | accessdate=7 April 2008 }} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

"Can't Speak French" debuted at number 49 on the UK Singles Chart on 24 February 2008, four weeks before the single's physical release.{{ cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Save%20The%20Lies | title=Girls Aloud – Can't Speak French | work=Official Charts Company | accessdate=31 August 2010 }} It rose to number 35 the following week, before entering the top twenty in its third week and climbing to number sixteen in its fourth week on the chart.{{ cite web | url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/entertainment/Duffy-holds-out-against-Leona.3885078.jp | title=Duffy holds out against Leona | work=The News Letter | publisher=Johnston Publishing (NI) | date=17 March 2003 | accessdate=7 April 2008 }} After the CD formats and digital bundles were released, the song peaked at number nine,{{ cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a92127/estelle-knocks-duffy-from-top-spot.html | title=Estelle knocks Duffy from top spot | work=Digital Spy | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | author=Neil Wilkes | date=23 March 2008 | accessdate=7 April 2008 }} becoming the band's eighteenth consecutive top ten single. Overall, the single spent ten weeks in the UK's top forty and a total of twenty-five weeks in the UK's top 75.{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/girls%20aloud/ | title=Girls Aloud | work=The Official UK Charts Company | publisher=British Phonographic Industry | accessdate=28 February 2008 }} Digital sales also helped the song debut on the Irish Singles Chart at number thirty-five.{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=8 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 21 February 2008 | work=Irish Singles Chart | publisher=GfK | accessdate=31 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516115752/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=8 | archive-date=16 May 2012 | url-status=dead }} It rose two spots the following week, and three more to number thirty the week after.{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=9 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 28 February 2008 | work=Irish Singles Chart | publisher=GfK | accessdate=31 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516115800/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=9 | archive-date=16 May 2012 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=10 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 6 March 2008 | work=Irish Singles Chart | publisher=GfK | accessdate=31 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314033211/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=10 | archive-date=14 March 2012 | url-status=dead }} Two weeks later, it climbed to number thirteen.{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=12 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 20 March 2008 | work=Irish Singles Chart | publisher=GfK | accessdate=31 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504021412/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=12 | archive-date=4 May 2012 | url-status=dead }} Despite falling to number fifteen,{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=13 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 27 March 2008 | work=Irish Singles Chart | publisher=GfK | accessdate=31 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516115811/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=13 | archive-date=16 May 2012 | url-status=dead }} it rebounded and achieved a new peak of number twelve.{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=14 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 3 April 2008 | work=Irish Singles Chart | publisher=GfK | accessdate=31 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516115742/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2008&year=2008&week=14 | archive-date=16 May 2012 | url-status=dead }}

Image:Cant Speak French Girls Aloud.png and 18th century French fashions.]]

The official music video for "Can't Speak French" was shot towards the end of January 2008 in London. American director Petro directed the music video for the production company Draw Pictures.{{ cite web |url=http://www.drawpictures.co.uk/promo-directors/petro.go |title=Petro |publisher=DrawPictures.co.uk |date=13 February 2008 |accessdate=14 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218033242/http://www.drawpictures.co.uk/promo-directors/petro.go |archivedate=18 February 2008 |df=dmy }} It premièred on Yahoo! Music on 14 February, with the TV premiere on Channel 4's "Freshly Squeezed" on 16 February.{{ cite web|url=http://www.girlsaloud.com/site.php/ |title=Can't Speak French – THE VIDEO! |publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk |date=4 February 2008 |accessdate=4 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117021537/http://www.girlsaloud.com/site.php/ |archivedate=17 November 2007 |df=dmy }} However, the music video appeared on some music channels such as The Box on 13 February.

The music video features Girls Aloud in elaborate costumes inspired by Marie Antoinette and 18th century French fashions. They crash a sophisticated dinner party and seduce the male guests. They dance provocatively and flirt with the men. Throughout the video, individual shots of each girl in front of a coloured wall are interpolated. The "Can't Speak French" music video is available on iTunes as well as Girls Aloud's live DVD Tangled Up: Live from The O2 2008.

"Can't Speak French" was performed live for the first time at BRMB's Live at the Local event on 31 October 2007. The song's first television performance was on The Friday Night Project Christmas special on 21 December 2007, which was co-hosted by Girls Aloud. During promotion for the single, Girls Aloud appeared on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway,{{ cite web | url=http://www.girlsaloud.com/ | title=GA TV | publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk| date=19 February 2008 | accessdate=19 February 2008 }} BBC Switch's Sound, The Paul O'Grady Show, and T4.{{ cite web | url=http://www.girlsaloud.com/ | title=Tune in... | publisher=GirlsAloud.co.uk| date=13 March 2008 | accessdate=15 March 2008}} The song was performed at a number of live concerts such as a set at London gay nightclub G-A-Y and the 2008 V Festival.{{ cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/girls-aloud/38960 | title=Girls Aloud cover Robyn at V Festival | work=NME | publisher=IPC Media | date=16 August 2008 | accessdate=31 August 2010 }}

The song was showcased on 2008's Tangled Up Tour, featured in a cabaret-inspired section alongside "Biology" and "Love Machine" while black-and-white video footage of Paris at night was shown on the video screens. For 2009's Out of Control Tour, the song was only included as part of a greatest hits medley.

• Florence and the Machine recorded a cover of the song in 2008.{{YouTube|GCtR8OJOyxQ|Florence + the Machine – Can't Speak French}}

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Can't Speak French".

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UK CD1 (Fascination / 1762720)

1. "Can't Speak French" (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit) – 3:19
2. "Hoxton Heroes" (Girls Aloud, Cooper, Higgins, Powell, Owen Parker) – 3:00

UK CD2 (Fascination / 1764167)

1. "Can't Speak French" (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit) – 3:19
2. "Je Ne Parle Pas Français" (translation by Jérôme Attal) – 3:41
3. "Can't Speak French" (Tony Lamezma's Passions Remix) – 6:11
4. "With Every Heartbeat" (Live Lounge cover) (Robyn, Kleerup) – 3:58
5. "Can't Speak French" (video) – 3:19

iTunes Exclusive digital download

1. "Can't Speak French" (Tony Lamezma Mix Radio Edit) – 4:00
2. "Can't Speak French" (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit) – 3:19

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The Singles Boxset (CD18)

1. "Can't Speak French" (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit) – 3:19
2. "Hoxton Heroes" – 3:00
3. "Je Ne Parle Pas Français" – 3:41
4. "Can't Speak French" (Tony Lamezma's Passions Remix) – 6:11
5. "With Every Heartbeat" (Live Lounge cover) – 3:58
6. "Can't Speak French" (Tony Lamezma Mix Radio Edit) – 4:00
7. "Can't Speak French" (video) – 3:19

Digital EP{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1yOzaZI4jEl7Uy8pPzVbuo?si=k0ErNbWIQ5GssB0oRzpyCQ|title=Girls ALoud - Can't Speak French EP|website=Spotify|date=17 May 2024}}

1. "Can't Speak French" (radio edit) – 3:19
2. "Hoxton Heroes" – 3:00
3. "Je Ne Parle Pas Français" – 3:40
4. "Can't Speak French" (Passions remix) – 6:06
5. "With Every Heartbeat" (Radio One Live Lounge) – 3:59
6. "Can't Speak French" (Tony Lamezma Mix radio edit) – 4:00

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• Guitar: Nick Coler
• Keyboards: Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Nick Coler
• Mastering: Dick Beetham for 360 Mastering
• Mixing: Jeremy Wheatley, Richard Edgeler (assistant)
• Production: Brian Higgins, Xenomania, Jeremy Wheatley (additional)
• Programming: Brio Taliaferro
• Songwriting: Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Jody Lei, Carla Marie Williams
• Vocals: Girls Aloud
• Published by Warner/Chappell Music and Xenomania Music

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080317222355/http://www.girlsaloud.co.uk/// Girls Aloud's official website]

{{Girls Aloud songs}}

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Category:Songs about language

Category:2007 songs

Category:2008 singles

Category:Fascination Records singles

Category:Girls Aloud songs

Category:Music television series theme songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Xenomania

Category:Songs written by Brian Higgins (producer)

Category:Songs written by Carla Marie Williams

Category:Songs written by Miranda Cooper

Category:Songs written by Nick Coler

Category:Songs written by Tim Powell (producer)