I first discovered Serruriers Noirs early this summer, when they submitted a song to Start the Track: Vol. XI, a ska compilation that we released on October 16. Out of Toulouse, France, the band has been around since at least 2013, and while I’ve only heard a few of their songs, they’ve all been terrific. This newest song is definitely no different.
“No Ser Normal” or “Don’t be normal” is absolutely fantastic. Sadly, I don’t speak French and my comprehension is definitely lacking, so my appreciation for the song is limited to the music and the vocal execution and not the lyrics. However, the song still manages to be catchy enough to make me want to sing along with words I can’t understand.
The song begins deceivingly slow, with mostly guitars for about ten seconds, before the drums and guitar simultaneously change tempo and the horns come in, setting the rhythm for the song. The verses are catchy, with a series of short lines separated by horn melodies, before the last line in the verses picks up pace and the drums build up, ending with “No ser normal” as the horns introduce the chorus. The song has some changes through the first half, but then in the second half, the song builds up a sing-along rhythm and everyone shouts “Heyyyy-o, ller tous vouz faire!” which – from my failed French class 30 years ago – translates roughly to “Go fuck yourself”. Before the drums pick up the tempo, we get another change and they switch into the classic “One Step Beyond” by Madness for a few moments, before transitioning one more time and singing about Rudie.
The song is well executed and the music is great; I love the changes and the execution. Serruriers Noirs has a fun version of ska punk that is their own, but also, it’s always fun when they throw in references to great ska classics. Take a look at the music video for “No ser normal” below.
Written by Gimp Leg
