When I first heard Lio’s ‘Housewife of the Year’ I thought about a future where robots would do all of our menial chores and decided this would be the listening of choice for your AI-enhanced Domestibot XR4. It’s a rushing piece of 1980s electro-pop, with truly deluded vocals from a cute, but unreliable narrator. And it’s so good! I love finding these random, random things on eMusic.
In the real world Lio is a Belgian singer and actress who was popular throughout Francophone Europe in the 80s. She collaborated with Sparks to make the partly-English language album ‘Suite Sixteen’ in 1982. The rest of the album is a bit of mixed bag. But on ‘Housewife of the Year’ the contrast between the never-admitted-to sadness and the bouncy music, which ignores the vocal in the same way the husband ignores the titular housewife, makes it a true stand out.
With thanks to hip domestic goddess Marianna Longmire for both the photograph and the afternoon tea.
Anna, you’re my favorite emusic editor. You’re always talking about artists/bands I like. I’m a big fan of Lio, and I’ve never paid attention to her english-spoken albums. What a surprise when after reading your post, I sampled the song Marie Antoinette and it was an english version of Banana Split with completely different lyrics. Check her other albums there are other great tracks too like Amoureux Solitaires or Les brunes comptent pas pour des prunes.
Thanks Lemoneyes! And I’ll check those tracks out.