Pop music is a strange beast. One day you're listening to a complex indie ballad, and the next, you can't get a three-syllable phrase out of your head. It's usually "Oh La La." Seriously, think about how many times those specific words have topped the charts.
When Britney Spears released her track for The Smurfs 2 soundtrack back in 2013, the world was a different place. We were just getting used to the "post-Blackout" era of Britney's career, and frankly, people didn't know what to expect from a movie tie-in. Was it going to be a sugary kid's song? Or was it going to be the synth-pop powerhouse we actually got? Honestly, it was a bit of both. Produced by Dr. Luke, Ammo, and Cirkut, the track leaned heavily into a "boomy" synth-pop sound that felt surprisingly mature for a movie about little blue people living in mushrooms.
But wait. If you're a fan of electronic music, you probably did a double-take.
The song "Ooh La La" by Goldfrapp, released nearly a decade earlier in 2005, is often what people are actually looking for when they type "song oh la la" into a search bar. It’s a masterpiece of glam rock and electro-clash. While Britney's version is bright and bouncy, Goldfrapp’s track—led by the ethereal Alison Goldfrapp—is gritty, sexual, and heavily inspired by T. Rex. It’s fascinating how the same phonetic phrase can anchor two songs that occupy completely different ends of the emotional spectrum. One is for a Saturday morning with the kids; the other is for a neon-lit basement club in East London at 3:00 AM.
The Science of the "Oh La La" Hook
Why does it work? It’s basically the "path of least resistance" for the human brain.
Linguistically, "Oh" and "La" are open vowel sounds. They require almost zero effort to pronounce. When you're writing a pop song intended for global distribution, you want a hook that a person in Tokyo, Paris, and New York can all sing with equal ease. That's the secret sauce. Musicologist Dr. Victoria Williamson has often discussed how "earworms" (involuntary musical imagery) tend to have simple, repetitive intervals. "Oh La La" fits the bill perfectly. It’s a melodic circle.
Britney’s version uses a "synth-growl" that was very popular in early 2010s production. It creates a sense of tension. Then, the chorus hits, and it releases that tension with the simple repetition of the title. It’s textbook pop construction. If you look at the credits, you'll see Bonnie McKee’s name. She’s the powerhouse behind Katy Perry’s biggest hits like "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream." She knows how to manufacture a hook that sticks to your ribs like burnt sugar.
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Goldfrapp vs. Spears: A Tale of Two Synths
Let's get into the weeds of the production because that's where the real magic happens.
Goldfrapp’s "Ooh La La" is built on a distorted, chugging bassline. It’s dirty. Will Gregory, the other half of Goldfrapp, used vintage synthesizers to get that specific 1970s glam feel. It’s got that "Stomp-stomp-clap" energy. On the other hand, Britney’s "Ooh La La" (the spelling varies depending on the regional release, but we all know the one) is much "cleaner." It’s highly compressed. It’s designed to sound loud and clear on a car radio or through a pair of cheap earbuds.
- Goldfrapp (2005): Focused on texture, mood, and a "cool" detachment.
- Britney (2013): Focused on energy, clarity, and mass appeal.
It’s also worth noting the "The Faces" connection. We can't talk about this phrase without mentioning the 1971 classic "Ooh La La" by the band The Faces (featuring Ronnie Lane and Rod Stewart). "I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger." That song is folk-rock perfection. It uses the phrase not as a dance hook, but as a nostalgic sigh. It’s a reminder that pop music is a giant recycling bin, and "Oh La La" is the most recycled plastic of all.
Why We Can't Stop Singing It
There’s a psychological phenomenon called the "mere exposure effect." Basically, we like things more simply because we’re familiar with them. Because "Oh La La" is such a common phrase in the pop lexicon, our brains give it a "pass" the moment we hear it. We don't have to work to understand it. We don't have to decode complex metaphors.
Critics at the time were actually surprisingly kind to Britney’s contribution. Rolling Stone mentioned it had a certain "bubblegum charm." It wasn't trying to be In the Zone. It was trying to be fun. And honestly? In an era where pop music can sometimes feel overly curated and serious, there’s something refreshing about a song that just wants to make you jump around.
The music video for Britney’s version featured her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. It was a rare, vulnerable glimpse into her life as a mom, even if it was wrapped in a high-budget commercial for a movie. It gave the song a "wholesome" context that countered her previous "femme fatale" image.
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The Evolution of the "Oh La La" Trope in Music
If we trace the history, we see this phrase popping up everywhere.
- Lady Gaga: "Bad Romance" used "Ra-ra-ah-ah-ah" which is a cousin to the "Oh la la" structure.
- Run The Jewels: Their track "Oh La La" (2020) flipped the script entirely, using a Greg Nice sample to create a hard-hitting hip-hop anthem.
- The Wise Guys: Remember "Ooh La La" from the Budweiser commercials? That big beat 90s sound?
It shows the versatility of the phonetics. You can make it sexy, you can make it funny, or you can make it aggressive. Britney chose "bubbly." Goldfrapp chose "chic." Run The Jewels chose "rebellious."
The Impact on Britney's Career
At the time of "Ooh La La," Britney was in the middle of her "X Factor" stint and preparing for her Vegas residency, Piece of Me. The song served as a bridge. It kept her on the radio without requiring the massive promotional cycle of a full studio album. It was a "safe" hit. It peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100, which might sound low for a star of her stature, but for a soundtrack single, it performed remarkably well.
The song also marked one of the last times she worked closely with the Dr. Luke production camp before the massive industry shifts and her own personal legal battles took center stage. Looking back, the song feels like a time capsule of a specific moment in pop production—the "EDM-lite" phase where every song had to have a stuttering synth bridge.
How to Find the "Right" Version
If you're searching for this song today, you're likely hitting a wall because there are so many versions. Here is how to navigate the "Oh La La" landscape:
If you want something dancey and family-friendly, look for the Smurfs 2 soundtrack.
If you want something artistic and moody, go for Goldfrapp’s Supernature album.
If you want a classic rock singalong, find The Faces.
If you want modern hip-hop, it's Run The Jewels.
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Practical Steps for the Curious Listener
If you’re trying to build a playlist or just want to understand the lineage of this specific pop trope, start by listening to the songs in chronological order.
First, play The Faces. Notice the acoustic guitars and the rasp in the vocals. It’s grounded.
Next, jump to Goldfrapp. Feel the shift into electronic grit. Notice how the "Oh La La" becomes a rhythmic tool rather than a lyrical one.
Finally, hit the Britney track. Listen to the "polish." Notice how the vocals are layered—sometimes five or six tracks of Britney’s voice stacked on top of each other to create that "wall of sound" effect.
Understanding these layers makes you a better listener. You start to hear the "math" behind the music. You see why a producer chose a specific snare sound or why a songwriter opted for a repetitive hook instead of a complex bridge.
Pop music isn't accidental. Even a song as seemingly "simple" as a soundtrack tie-in has hours of engineering behind it. Whether you love the "Oh La La" or find it incredibly annoying, you have to respect the craftsmanship required to get a song stuck in the heads of millions of people for over a decade. It’s not just a song; it’s a psychological trigger.
Next Steps for You:
- Check the Credits: Go to a site like Discogs or Genius and look at the songwriters for these tracks. You'll see the same names (Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke) popping up. Following the songwriters is often more interesting than following the singers if you want to understand the "sound" of an era.
- Compare the BPM: If you’re a DJ or just a hobbyist, try beat-matching the Goldfrapp and Britney versions. You'll find they are surprisingly compatible in a mix, despite being years apart.
- Explore the "Smurfs" Soundtrack: Strangely enough, movie soundtracks are often where producers experiment with "weirder" sounds because the stakes are lower than a lead studio album. You might find some hidden gems.
Ultimately, the song "Oh La La" represents the enduring power of simplicity. We don't always need poetry. Sometimes, we just need a few syllables and a beat that makes us feel like we're ten years old again, watching blue cartoons on a Saturday morning.