A Tipsy Grandfather’s Wisdom, Served with a Wink: When Faces Offered a Slurred but Sagacious Commentary on Life and Love.
“Ooh La La,” a track that perfectly encapsulated the Faces’ endearing blend of boozy camaraderie and loose-limbed rock and roll, became a memorable, if not chart-dominating, moment from their final studio album of the same name, “Ooh La La,” released in 1973. While the album itself reached number one in the UK and number 21 in the US, the single “Ooh La La” itself enjoyed modest success, hinting at its enduring charm rather than immediate chart dominance. The song, penned by Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood, features Wood on lead vocals in a wonderfully off-kilter performance. Its meaning, delivered through a conversation between a young man and his grandfather, revolves around the older, wiser man’s slightly world-weary advice on the ways of women, tinged with the regret of lessons learned too late. It transforms a simple, almost pub singalong into a surprisingly poignant commentary on life, love, and the wisdom that comes with age – even if it’s delivered with a bit of a slur.
Imagine a smoky pub, the air thick with laughter and the clinking of glasses, as the band strikes up a tune that feels both familiar and slightly out of tune. Ronnie Wood’s voice, endearingly rough around the edges, delivers the grandfather’s advice with a charmingly tipsy cadence, a sense that these are truths hard-earned and perhaps slightly slurred after a night of good company. The simple acoustic guitar and piano accompaniment create a warm, intimate atmosphere, like a fireside chat with a slightly inebriated but ultimately well-meaning elder. Nestled amongst the more raucous rock and roll of the “Ooh La La” album, this track offered a moment of gentle reflection, a pause for a bit of homespun philosophy amidst the revelry. The singalong chorus, the slightly off-key charm, and the relatable, if somewhat cynical, advice created a sense of timelessness, a feeling that these kinds of tipsy pronouncements had been shared across generations in similar hazy settings.
The story behind “Ooh La La” is as charmingly chaotic as the band itself. Reportedly, Rod Stewart, the band’s more prominent vocalist, wasn’t particularly fond of the song and declined to sing lead, leading to Ronnie Wood’s memorable, if unconventional, performance. This slightly haphazard approach perfectly suited the song’s loose, conversational feel, adding to its endearing charm. The track became a favorite among fans for its unpretentious honesty and its warm, slightly shambolic delivery, perfectly embodying the spirit of the Faces as a band who were as much about enjoying themselves as they were about making music.
For those of us who have gleaned wisdom, often imperfectly, from the older generations, “Ooh La La” evokes a sense of warm nostalgia. It reminds us of those late-night conversations, the slightly slurred but often surprisingly insightful advice passed down with a wink and a knowing nod. The Faces’ rendition captures this perfectly, with its slightly off-kilter charm and its ultimately heartfelt message about the complexities of life and love. It’s a song that feels like a comforting, slightly tipsy arm around the shoulder, a reminder that we all stumble and learn along the way, and that sometimes the best wisdom is shared in the most unexpected and endearingly imperfect of ways.