The Fratellis: 'Mistress Mabel'

Released on Monday, May 26 2008

Published Wednesday, May 14 2008, 18:08 BST | By Alex Fletcher | 6 comments

When The Fratellis gave the world 'Chelsea Dagger' back in 2006, they couldn't have realised they had such a super-sized hit on their hands. The track's infamous "duh-der-de-duh" chant proved as popular at football grounds as it did at festivals, earning the group a reputation as laddish, knuckle-dragging retro rockers. The group's brash and energetic approach to music-making endeared them to the masses, but brought the usual cries of derision from snooty critics.

New single 'Mistress Mabel', taken from album number two Here We Stand, finds the group treading similar ground, with Carry On-style lyrics about a naughty older lady ("Takes a liberty if you let her, yes she's old but she should know better") and some cracking tub-thumping from Mince Fratelli on drums. Meanwhile, the crashing piano keys, bounding 90mph verses and fist-pumping chorus will ensure this track's firmly lodged in your brain come festival season. It may not be very clever, but there's no denying that it works.

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Nathaniel, on August 2nd, 2008
This tune is awful. When I heard The Fratellis were bringing out a new album I expected a brilliant array of slightly pop-ish indie anthems.... But they took it about a mile too far. Terrible song. It shall be loved by 13 year old girls throughout the land though.

G, Kent, on June 9th, 2008
Agreed with the Busted / McFly comment. In fact, I'm sure I remember one of those bands wrote a song about being into their friends mum or something thematically similar to this track. The Fratellis should know better...

Ken, on June 6th, 2008
i effing love this song! it's uber cool and the fratellis just did it again. Love them so much!

Jo, Uk, on May 30th, 2008
A great tune, and a nice summery feel. Definetely my favourite Fratellis tune.

David Grimwade, Essex, on May 27th, 2008
Every now and again, you hear a song on the radio that makes you instantly change the station, and this is a good contender for 2008. Cheesy and incredibly poor lyrics, set to 'busted/mcfly' style music that does absolutely nothing to make me want to listen. I reckon most of the music at this years EuroVison song contest was better than this.

juan over living in reality, on May 17th, 2008
funny how these lyrics are considerred carry on whereas "you used to get in your fishnets,now you only get it in your nightdress" are seen as poetic.Build a bridge and get over it.This band ain't bothered with"cool",are far more clever lyrically than given credit for because the so call music intelligencia are too short sighted with perceived cool.release yourselves and believe xx