Fifty-three years ago, the iconic '70s rock and roll band Faces released "Ooh La La," a song that, despite being despised by its lead singer, became a classic that would persevere for decades.
Released in March 1973 as the title track for their fourth and final studio album, "Ooh La La" was initially a slow-burn success. Even though the track is currently recognized as a major folk rock anthem, it never entered the charts during its original release. In 1998, lead singer Rod Stewart released a solo cover of the song as a tribute to his late bandmate Ronnie Lane, which charted on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart and served as the catalyst for the track's resurgence.
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Nearly two decades after its release, "Ooh La La" began seeing exponential growth in popularity. It was featured in the emotional closing credits for Wes Anderson's 1998 film Rushmore, which introduced it to fresh audiences and attracted other Hollywood projects. The song's nostalgic lyricism, which highlighted the fleeting nature of youth, and wistful acoustic instrumentation made it a staple in coming-of-age stories and commercials.
Since its big break in Rushmore, "Ooh La La" has been featured in countless massive cinema projects, including the 2000s films Without a Paddle and Blow. The song has also been spotlighted as recently as the 2020s, appearing in Amazon Prime's original series Daisy Jones & The Six and Academy Award-winning film Sentimental Value.
Even with the track's delayed mainstream recognition, Stewart has been open about his disdain toward the song in the past, going on record to call the parent record a "stinking rotten album" to British magazine Melody Maker. Despite being the frontman of Faces, Stewart did not record vocals for the song. Guitarist and "Ooh La La" co-writer Ronnie Wood had to step in to sing on the track due to Stewart's inability to hit the right notes.
Today, "Ooh La La" continues to thrive in popular culture. Since the late '90s, it has become a major staple on rock and roll radio stations, often considered as a legendary deep cut for classic rock fans. Its critical acclaim is also irrefutable, with Rolling Stone ranking it among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Its presence in major pictures and consistent playtime on airwaves has contributed to its undeniable streaming success in the digital era. On Spotify alone, the song has accumulated over 368 million streams—a testament to its unique, enduring momentum despite its initial obstacles.
Related: 1976 Power Ballad Became a Soft Rock Classic and Breakthrough Radio Anthem, Despite Never Reaching No. 1
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