12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.12

We have reached the end of "12 Days of A Selective Retaliation"! The final print, V1.12, is aptly titled W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G. 1.1
Of course most know that this stands for "What You Hear Is What You Get" which itself is a play on the WYSIWYG acronym (here is a wiki article if you are curious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WYSIWYG

W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G. is the first track on the "Official Version" album. On the actual liner notes/album artwork it is listed as W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G. Extended 7:22

This is one of those Front 242 songs that was often played live, with much more dramatic differences that what is on the actual album. The live versions often feature lyrics that are not sung on the album cut itself (technically if you listen closely to the track you do start to hear J-L sing some of the lyrics as the song fades out)...which is very curious to me. I have always enjoyed live cuts of W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G. since J-L sings these lyrics, which also appear on this print. (The same thing also happened when Front 242 would close with the song "Work" , as the live version has lyrics not on the released track.)

If you can't quite make it out, here are the lyrics... (from the print and from the song as appears on the Switzerland 86 and Hadafi Commando bootlegs). Later W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G. would often be combined with U-Men and the lyrics were not sung...

"One hour ago...
there were only three...
But look at them now...
They must be more...
Much more than twenty...
They act too shy...
They act too shy...
So they prefer...
to fly in the sky...
They're coming down...
They're coming down...
They're coming down for you...
You're one of them...
(None) dares to be the first...   (Print: none of them dare to be the first)
You're one of them...
(None) wants to be late...  (Print: none of them wants to be late)
One hour ago...
There were only three...
But look....(repeat)
They're coming down...
They're coming down for you...
You're one them...
(repeats)

BTW, does anyone know where the samples "Are You Crazy" and "You're making (a big mistake?)" and others from this song come from? I have tried to find them for years...!

The print itself features yet another "Quite Unusual" video image with the title above and the lyrics below...

V1.12

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V1.12 Detail (lyrics!)

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So ends "12 Days of A Selective Retaliation"... See The Future?

12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.11

We return again to the video sessions of "Quite Unusual" for the penultimate print V1.11 in "A Selective Retaliation." If you have not seen the video, here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urd8tG0xvoM

Watching it now, it all seems a bit dated. Despite their more serious demeanor and approach to music, when it came to videos, Front 242 often did not take themselves too seriously. (Egghunter!)
 In reading interviews regarding this video, they were not exactly pleased by the final result. In an interview from "Alternative Press" November 1988 (Someday I will eventually post a Press/Interview section!):

"The video tries to display a story of three men on the run from a midget in a toy-sized helicopter before finally evading him and jumping onto a real helicopter and escaping at the end. Richard describes how the band wasn't really happy with that entire idea. 'The video was directed by this Belgian guy who we knew that was working on a rock show for Belgian t.v. Belgian t.v. produced the entire show. We hate all the part with the midget, we aren't happy with the way it was filmed and all that. What we wanted for the video, we didn't want any stories right, just atmospheres. We told the director that and he agreed with us but then he said that if the Belgian t.v. is going to pay for it, that he had to give them a story board cause otherwise they would say no. They weren't going to give us thousands of francs to do something they didn't like. He told us it would have to look like a regular video on the story board but that after we got the money, we could do whatever we want. But when we look at the final product, the story board is still there now. We didn't agree about the bit with the midget and all that." -Richard, from Alternative Press, Vol.3 No. 13, November 1988

Midgets and toy helicopters aside, these images are much more atmospheric. We return to the guys on the run, this time the print images are more manipulated and pixeled...

V1.11

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.10

Departing a bit from the images of "Quite Unusual", Print V1.10 is another one of those images that Front 242 so effectively created by melding form and function: effective use of imagery, with sound bytes and slogans...their comment has always been "No Comment" and "It's Up To You To Decide..."

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.9

Print V1.9 continues the "Quite Unusual"/"Official Version" video sessions and is almost a mirror image of the previous print, this time, Patrick C. seems to be leading the charge...

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.8

Print V1.8 continues still images from the "Quite Unusual" video sessions. This (and the next print) are dynamic pictures of Front 242 "in action." This continues the military look which was characteristic of Front at the time. One wonders...are they chasing or being chased?

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.7

Print V1.7 depicts the Front 242 representation of "Red Team." Here the imagery is very militant, with night-vision goggles and aviator gear. I am uncertain whether these are the actual members of 242 in gear or just a computer-manipulated image.

The song "Red Team" is from the album "Official Version." The term itself is fascinating and is yet another way Front 242 uses semantics, logos, and concepts to achieve its own ends. Here is a wiki link to the military term: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_team

"Are You Able To Follow The Red Team?"

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.6

Print V1.6 is one of the most iconic images of Front 242. This image is seen on a bootleg album (which will be spotlighted in the near future) and also on one of the early Front 242 T-Shirts offered by Transmission 242 and Wax Trax! Records. The Russian font only adds to the mystery and complements the images of the Official Warfare helicopter...

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.5

Print V1.5 continues the still images from the video sessions of "Quite Unusual". This time we see Patrick and Richard together, quite menacing. The early presentation of Front 242 was quite formidable, with combat (or sports) gear, combat boots, mohawk haircuts and aviator sunglasses. Front was often mistakenly called "fascists" but they always professed that their "ideology" was simply that of Front 242.
"We believe in the future of the human race..."  -"Rhythm of Time"

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.4

Richard 23 has always been a big part of the energy that is Front 242. From his dynamic hi-energy dance on stage, the way he works a crowd, to his vocal performances that so effectively complement Jean-Luc De Meyer's voice, especially on stand-out tracks like "Headhunter" "Tragedy For You" "Melt" and "Aggressiva" ...R23 has come such a long way from his early days as a "roadie" to his solo and side projects like Revolting Cocks, Holy Gang, and La Tchak among others....
Richard always seems to be the "life of the party" and never the one to turn down a good time. But he never lets that stand in his way, even at one time running for political office! He of course has my vote!
Today his energy and enthusiasm continues to astound and apparently has no limits!

Print V1.4 presents the mohawked Richard 23 aka Richard JK aka Richard Jonckheere, complete with his trademarked "snarl"...

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.3

Despite being a "Front"man for 242, Jean-Luc DeMeyer has always seemed "the quiet one." The few times I have met and interacted with him personally, he has always been very nice and personable, but also a little shy.

However, when he sings it seems to be a different story! To many, Jean-Luc IS 242. It is hard to mistake his voice as it is so evocative and representative of the entire Electronic Body Music sound. When he appears as a guest-vocalist, for example on BiGod 20's "The Bog" or on the C-Tec track "Let Your Body Die" it is unmistakable, and these tracks could just as well have been  Front 242 tracks. That is not in any way to take away from the other 3 members. For me, it takes all 4 to be the complete Front 242...one can argue the pros and cons or the merits of the J-L and Richard 23-less "OFF" or "Angels Vs. Animals" all day!

Print V1.3 features the still image of Jean-Luc DeMeyer...

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.2

If I am not mistaken, print V1.2 features an image of Patrick C. from the Quite Unusual video/still. Additional images from that video will be seen later.

One of the more unique and mysterious aspects of Front 242 were that there were 4 members, and yet only three were often depicted or seen in the "foreFront." In the early introductory video, Member Zero,  the mysterious Daniel B., was only a blur and only a tiny glimpse of him was seen in a still from No Comment. It would be much much later before Daniel B. would come out from behind the mixing desk and be seen prominently in the "Religion/UPEVIL/OFF" era.

Patrick Codenys (along with Jean-Luc and Richard) was often the inspiration, or at least the subject/participant, in the image.
Once again, if I am not mistaken, we see him again as the "swimmer" in Never Stop! and Tyranny...

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12 Days of A Selective Retaliation: V1.1

Print number one of "A Selective Retaliation" features a graphic of (I assume) an American Football Team, with the words "242 Propaganda" in computerized font.

From early on, Front has often used sport as symbol. During the No Comment and Official Warfare tours they would often wear sporting gear, such as baseball chest protectors and face masks, which, from an image stand point, effectively blended with their military garb. Philosophically, one might try to make an argument as to how the combatants in the sporting arena mirror the combatants on the battlefield.

From the start,  Front 242 pionered the effective use of graphic imagery, product branding and logos, and "propaganda" in concert with their rhythmic electronic body music. Stand by the Innovators!

V1.1

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