Dagny, the Norwegian singer known for her hard-hitting electronic pop anthems, released a great pop album this year. ‘Dancefloor Erotica’ is the Album of the Week and shows that she can play with the language of pop divas without falling into the most obvious pandering to her fans.
Among his freshest and most intelligent constructions is ‘C’est la vie’, our song of the day. It’s a deliciously improbable hybrid of ABBA, Boney M. and future disco in the manner of Kylie, Pet Shop Boys or Alison Goldfrapp, with a danceable production that seems simple but is full of small melodic decisions.
The lyrics speak of a break from a position of absolute independence. Dagny admits that she has had broken hearts, but she is not willing to stay trapped in them: “No, there won’t be no tears while I dance off the rest of you.” She’s not going to cry: she’s going to dance to get him off her back. “You thought I was yours / But really, I’m mine” perfectly summarizes the philosophy of the song. C’est la vie: something else is over.
Rather than just crafting another instantly recognizable pop diva anthem, Dagny plays with formulas and takes them into more unexpected terrain. ‘C’est la vie’ sounds familiar from the first second, but has enough melodic twists and playful arrangements to beg for another listen.
