Saint Etienne - Hobart Paving

[Destin65]

Such a cool song. Must admit, first learned of it through the same/similar song from the film Bandits. Love both versions. Interesting seeing the dark haired girl in the video. She appears to be the same girl from the "Metal Mickey" video by Suede. She a model?

[Gh3ttoman]

anyone want to chat

ANYONE UP? I NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO Sq

[xXXShinXtremXXx]

That video is reaaaaaaaaaaly good.

[pappachang]

Sorry, i prefer ther cover version "Don´t forget to catch me" made by bandits.

[pigyob]

This song is perfection

[mjdbruyn]

Incidentally, the name Hobart Paving was taken from a construction company in Bob and Pete's hometown of Croydon.

[nevadaborealis]

Ah yes, Croydon - that is also Captain Sensible's hometown. I went there once, visited a haunted pub and reflected on what it must have been like growing up there. To hear that Bob and Pete are from there too - Wow - they must have something in the water (or in the pints!) Thanks for that info

[LavaLampBlob]

I almost got my first car in silver because of this song. Brilliant and timeless!

[luckydogiam]

They're all angels. Ever since 92, and I still want to marry Sarah!!!

[BASSER81]

Love this tune shoulda been a massive hit, such versatile pop from this group! I always fancied the lead singer, she has something different about her!

[littlejonnyfrost]

Always turns me into an emotional wreck... so many memories. Young love eh? Thanks to Stanley, Wiggs and Sarah. I miss this kind of pop music, sublime. Thanks for posting all this Etienne!

[nickghosthunter]

One of the best bands ever and so underrated.

[pigyob]

Saint Etienne rock,I've loved them from the beginning

[tadge72]

i really is like a beautiful poem. I want to get married to a st etienne song..not this one maybe!

[tadge72]

this is one of their best its soooooooo good. they never really had major success, too quirky.

[liselotto23]

this song is great

[BLUEHIPPO47]

This song should have been number one for a year,it is beautiful and captures a forlorn Englishness.Dusty Springfield meets the Pet Shop Boys,and The Smiths.So much better than that dreadful national anthem.

[cantforgetyou]

Are all saint etienne songs as strong as this one and their singles? How are the album tracks? Cause I really like their stuff I find here on youtube.

[joolsandpaula]

St Etienne are a great band. Some of their later albums are a bit chillier/patchier, but there's always something fab. Try a compilation, or 'Good Humor' or 'Tiger Bay'

[cantforgetyou]

Thanks. Some time ago I have bought 'Good Humor' and 'Tiger Bay'. I'm not so into compilations. And I like both albums. What do you mean with chillier/patchier? Do you mean more ambient style without real lyrics and beats? I have also bought Sarah's solo album on ebay. I hope that's good too.

[barritts]

The girl with the dark hair in this video is so pretty, great tune too

[FoxbaseTiger]

The new fan letter announced 2 new singles this fall! Woot

[alexjamesdf]

"I never take off my hat, except when I'm out of doors!", "Cup of tea, a bun, a cigarette", "well Hello Mark, you must come and meet the other tennents who live here!" "chicken soup!"

[mihytre]

'Hobart Paving' was a company based in Croydon where 2 of the band members grew up

[emberglance]

That is an awesome piece of information. One day the internet will have answered every question I've ever asked myself.

[taip3n]

Saint Etienne are the best. Fox Base Alpha, is my personal favourate :) Such sweet memories, still have such times when I listen to them, everytime.

[TranceXXL]

great, great song! really art!

[aladash]

Arguably Saint Etienne's finest moment - a great pop band who should have been so much bigger but like so many others went by vitually unnoticed while commercial dross saturated the charts....such is life!

[amyparking]

most Etienne fans would agree that "Avenue" is THE shit - the album version, not that dreadful single mix

[blamekojo]

I love this song. Saint Etienne were so underrated!!

[telecastro2]

This was all shot right where I lived when I was at college. The same time I got into St Etienne. My old flat is (just) in view a couple of times. Such memories. Wonderful song.

[mrbulletdodger]

"So tough", is thier best album!

[uber1and]

true. the cover makes me laugh too.

[maurrod]

This is so beautiful

[ebenezergoode]

It's hard to decide which Saint Etienne song is best, but this one is right up there.

Gorgeous video. They should have been huge... but weren't.

Still, I wouldn't shed any tears for them, since they still tour and record regularly and are still pretty popular, although their work rate appears to have slowed somewhat due to Sarah Cracknell's motherhood commitments.

Good luck to 'em! :-)

[joebakka]

not so good like bandits.

i get sleepy

[NoBlood4Oil2007]

google "acquired taste"

[turbo1964]

Man, am I embarassed. Thanks for correcting me. I obtained an "Under the Covers" compilation which has St. Etienne and other artist's versions. I was confused and thought St. Etienne would not have given permission to have another band issue such an inferior cover of their melody. My bad, and I think Hobart Paving by St. Etienne is a very beautiful and moving song. Thanks again to the posters who corrected me. - Turbo1964 a.k.a. "Neil in Philly" @ etienneheaven.

[Jonah005]

@bushmustdie: love your commment.

[Jonah005]

Other way round. This song is way older than the poor Bandits cover. What a great song.

[turbo1964]

The melody is a cover of "Catch Me" by The Bandits. Hobart Paving was just that, a paving company named Hobart. The band saw the truck and took the name. I love St. Etienne.

[MBBonn]

@turbo1964 :

Sorry, but I´m a little bit shocked.

Did you really think St. Etienne would cover the Bandits -who actually only have been created for a movie- ?

As Jonah005 already indicated it is vice versa.

[ishm1969]

The girl in the video is the most beautiful girl ever. Saint Etienne? Football club. Great first album. I carn't sleep. Not as good as Only Love Can Break Your Heart. Well, better song writer, innit?

[Militaryspud]

e gan amar kub bhalobashi

[SlushPile]

They should of been bigger, Great group

[saintetienne21]

durka durka

[bushmustdie2]

The fact that this song didn't top the British charts when it first came out is proof that there is no god.

[cloptea]

and what makes it even worse is that at roughly the same time rubbish like mr blobby was number 1!

seeing them perform this live was one of the best gig experiences i've ever had.love them forever.

[corridorsofpower]

this one's not on my double CD with the hit dance song cover "only love can break your heart". kind of captures the bands sound nicely in this vid.

[asshy69]

I think biggerstuart you've read too much into it. Just take it as it is, a heartbreaking song of loss, regardless of where it comes from, or under which circumstances. Especially when its done this understated. Makes it all the more poignant.

[humanmaraca]

great song, i love Saint Etienne... What is hobart paving??

[biggerstuart]

str8 from wikipedia:The song describes an unhappy woman, using characteristically surreal images such as "Rain falls like Elvis tears" and "Just like a harpsichordist she moves". The apparently meaningless title appears in the song's chorus: "Hobart paving, don't you think that's it's time, / On this platform with the drizzle in my eyes?" The title may derive from a construction firm called Hobart Paving in the town of Croydon, where two of the band members grew up

[pooka1harvey]

who wrote the song bob stanly or chirs wigons?

[Eastpaw22]

Saint Etienne is just...nice

[KSRONEMCR]

oh my god sarah cracknell is a fookin godesss

[Maybeeee]

I liked the cover better, actually. But it's still cool...

[Stan1273]

Thanks so much for putting this on! Hardly anyone KNOWS Saint Etienne and I haven't seen anything by them here and I'm glad to see this song! One of their best!

[08oct72]

sounds better and better after all those years of playing ... looking back in 1992/3 when i first hear this tune ... now i can say: that's my generation! thank you!

[toecutter1971]

daisuki!

[napoleon390]

First ever song and video I saw of them on MTV many many years ago, after that I got hooked. Sadly they wont get any better then they were here.

[pottsy1970]

brilliant song

[beastbot]

this was a really nice tune so thanks

[dublin75]

Thanks so much for posting these Saint Et videos eradno! I've been hoping to see them for some time.