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Australians generally use the word to describe someone who is speaking out of turn, often in a way that makes them appear more intelligent than the person or group they are addressing. In
Britain and the United States, a "smart Alec" is the exact opposite of Francis' description: someone who is
473:
later commented on
Francis' songwriting technique and the song itself: "According to Charles, the song started with Eiffel, then he started to singing the words "Eiffel, rifle, trifle", and suddenly 'everything fell into place'. It's not certain whether lines like 'little Eiffel stands in the
441:; Francis thought it was a "fascinating subject" to compose a song about. Francis also mentioned another meaning of the song: "Because of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, but also because it's funny: in Australia, you often say 'It's a smart Alec' for [
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archway, even though it doesn't make no sense' are an observation of the lunacy of the architecture or the song itself, which features a
Sixties' -style zither!" (Francis is actually singing "
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The song's video features the band playing in a wind-tunnel, a reference to the "pioneer of aerodynamics", with physics formulae in the background.
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in France, the United
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and recorded during the album's recording sessions. "Alec Eiffel" was released as a
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738:'s cover was released on the 2003 tribute album
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561:"Tame" (Live at Brixton Academy, July 26, 1991)
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447:] a guy who's nice but not very bright."
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723:Where Is My Mind? a tribute to The Pixies
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
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478:, it don't make no sense", rather than "
429:The song references the French engineer
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720:was included on the 1999 tribute album
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787:"Pixies Discography - EPs and singles"
1191:In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)
793:from the original on 23 February 2007
499:French CD single and UK 12"/CD single
7:
451:intelligent, but mean or sarcastic.
44:adding citations to reliable sources
1050:Wave of Mutilation: Best of Pixies
655:"Letter to Memphis" (Instrumental)
193:"Letter to Memphis" (Instrumental)
14:
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710:Pixies Fuckin' Die! (a tribute)
31:needs additional citations for
1314:Songs written by Black Francis
726:, and later released on their
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431:Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
403:, from their 1991 album
210:"Planet of Sound" (Live)
120:Alexandre Gustave Eiffel
118:Not to be confused with
1319:Elektra Records singles
1294:Songs about occupations
263:Studio des dames, Paris
203:International version:
1082:Monkey Gone to Heaven
766:"Pixies Titles/Names"
741:hey: A Pixies Tribute
605:"Motorway to Roswell"
531:"Motorway to Roswell"
467:The British magazine
207:"Motorway to Roswell"
125:1991 single by Pixies
40:improve this article
1309:Pixies (band) songs
1224:Frank Black Francis
1089:Here Comes Your Man
1029:Death to the Pixies
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617:US CD single (1992)
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433:, who designed the
392:" is a song by the
1177:Wave of Mutilation
1043:Complete 'B' Sides
683:"Evil Hearted You"
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463:Critical reception
345:singles chronology
199:"Evil Hearted You"
1299:Songs about Paris
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1170:Where Is My Mind?
1124:Letter to Memphis
1036:Pixies at the BBC
947:Beneath the Eyrie
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789:. Alec Eiffel.
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897:Studio albums
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768:. Alec Eiffel
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641:"Alec Eiffel"
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594:"Alec Eiffel"
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486:Track listing
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213:"Tame" (Live)
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173:"Alec Eiffel"
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131:"Alec Eiffel"
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57: –
56:
55:"Alec Eiffel"
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1304:1991 singles
1245:The Martinis
1230:The Breeders
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1116:
1103:Dig for Fire
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1021:Compilations
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940:Head Carrier
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883:Kim Shattuck
870:
863:
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849:
795:. Retrieved
781:
770:. Retrieved
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708:
669:"Build High"
573:UK 7" single
490:
479:
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470:Melody Maker
468:
466:
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449:
442:
435:Eiffel Tower
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389:
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202:
196:"Build High"
188:
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83:
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69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1255:Zoo TV Tour
1250:Grand Duchy
1208:Discography
1155:Other songs
1117:Alec Eiffel
964:Mini-albums
933:Indie Cindy
905:Surfer Rosa
716:A cover by
546:" (Live at
480:even though
476:keeping low
425:Composition
390:Alec Eiffel
365:Alec Eiffel
330:Producer(s)
1324:1991 songs
1288:Categories
797:2007-02-06
772:2007-02-06
749:References
415:Gil Norton
336:Gil Norton
66:newspapers
1145:Bam Thwok
919:Bossanova
912:Doolittle
630:Writer(s)
267:Blackwing
260:, Burbank
258:Pacifique
96:July 2021
1273:Category
1240:The Amps
1218:Tributes
1096:Velouria
1075:Gigantic
1057:Minotaur
954:Doggerel
878:Kim Deal
791:Archived
437:and the
394:American
269:, London
236:Recorded
221:Released
1138:Debaser
1131:Head On
1067:Singles
378:(1991)
369:(1991)
360:(1991)
308:Elektra
253:Burbank
226: (
80:scholar
1163:Cactus
990:Pixies
839:Pixies
729:Eudora
672:
658:
644:
633:Length
586:Length
512:Length
419:single
401:Pixies
343:Pixies
286:Length
245:Studio
180:B-side
168:A-side
150:Pixies
146:Single
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1213:Songs
627:Title
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509:Title
455:Video
399:band
303:Label
275:Genre
87:JSTOR
73:books
691:2:37
675:1:43
661:2:42
647:2:50
608:4:43
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564:2:27
553:2:26
534:4:43
523:2:50
239:1991
228:1991
224:1991
59:news
1011:EP3
1004:EP2
997:EP1
623:No.
579:No.
505:No.
444:sic
148:by
42:by
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84:·
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