Peter Foldy Looks Back on A Long-Lost Love on Sunny “Fun, Fun, Fun”
Sometimes the worst – and best – part of a breakup can be that golden, sun-kissed “highlight reel” playing over and over in your mind as you remember the good times. Canadian singer-songwriter Peter Foldy understands this deeply, and his new single “Fun, Fun, Fun” gives us easy, breezy, mellow beats over the sunny sadness.
Summery and island-y with smooth vocals and an infectious singalong chorus, “Fun, Fun, Fun” tells the story of spontaneous getaways, exotic vacations, and languid meals with lots of wine and laughter:
We used to have fun, fun, fun
Doing the things we do
Used to be all for one
Baby, just me and you
And yet because it’s in the past tense, we know where this is going to go, no? Sadly, yes. Soon, the protagonist is picking up the pieces, and trying to find a way to begin again. And so he tries bargaining: “Get us back together/ Girl, come on let’s start again.” But that doesn’t work – and it rarely ever does – and so in the end, the narrator is alone, whispering his lover’s name. And yet, ultimately, “Fun, Fun, Fun” is a happy tune, finding contentment in having loved, rather than never having loved at all.
The corresponding lyric video reflects this, depicting two lovers at the height of their romance, frolicking on beaches, in quaint hotel rooms, and at a carnival.
“With all that’s going on in the world I wanted to put out something happy,” Foldy said. “A track to make people tap their feet and smile.”
Watch the lyric video for “Fun, Fun, Fun” below, and learn more about Peter Foldy via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello, Readers. I’m Peter Foldy. I’ve been interested in music since I was a little kid growing up in Budapest, Hungary, and even more so after my family and I immigrated to Sydney, Australia, where at the age of 12, I somehow found the nerve to audition for a kid’s talent show called “Opportunity Knocks.” It didn’t exactly knock for me, but they did give me a prize for being on the show, which was scary as hell to be on but also exhilarating and a bit of a confidence booster.
I was further encouraged toward a career in music when I made friends in Sydney with three brothers who would soon find worldwide fame as the Bee Gees.
After another move, this time to Toronto, I formed a band with my best friend there, and we played some clubs and were also the house band at a topless bar called “The Famous Door” on Yonge Street. Working there convinced my friend to quit music and go to medical school, and I too soon took the straight and narrow and enrolled in a film program at Toronto’s York University.
Though I loved film I didn’t give up on music and started writing what I thought were decent pop songs. To make a long story short, one of my demos, “Bondi Junction.” landed me a record deal with a small indie label called Kanata Records. The record got nationwide Canadian airplay, got a US release and charted on a ton of Top 40 radio stations, and hit #1 on RPM Magazine’s Adult Contemporary Chart, earning me two Juno Award nominations. It was a crazy, heady first year as a recording artist. I didn’t have a clue and made some bad choices in terms of management.
After a 10-year ride in the music business, enjoying several more Top 10 singles and signing with Capitol/EMI Canada and later Polydor and RCA Records in the US, as well as doing a bunch of live gigs, my music career ground to a halt.
What took ya so long to release this? Making movies?
Basically, yes. When my deal with RCA Records in the US came to an end, I turned back to film and began writing scripts. I was able to sell a teen comedy called “Hot Moves,” which made a bunch of money for the company that produced it and was something of a pioneer in the teen comedy genre. This led to other writing and producing gigs and eventually to directing. That became my day job and still is, but when Facebook came along, people reached out and said nice things about my past recordings. A label also approached me about doing a “best of Peter Foldy” CD. That kinda nudged me back into music. In 2015 I put out a 10-track CD called “Nine Lives” and followed that with a single in 2019 called “Toxic World” as well as “Friend-Zone” in 2021. This year I released “Fun, Fun, Fun.” I’ve had a blast recording these tracks. Going to the studio is kinda like my happy place, and I have some more singles in the works.
Tell us about discovering Paul Rudd, how did it happen, and what’s he like?
Before I directed a feature, I got the chance to direct some short films for the educational marketplace. They were “conversation starters” dealing with subjects like teen suicide, cheating in high school, and not keeping sexual abuse a secret. Paul came in and read for a supporting role in a film called “Jamie’s Secret,” and it was easy to see that he was super talented as well as a cool, confident kid with a strong personality. “Jamie’s Secret” was his first acting role in a film. Prior to that, he had only been in TV commercials, and he did a great job and signed on to do a second film with us. He and I became friends and hung out every now and then – till he landed “Clueless,” and his career begin to go to a different stratosphere. He moved to New York, and the rest is history. I have run into him a couple of times since, and he is still as sweet and funny as he was back when I first worked with him.
Who was the first artist to knock you sideways?
There were two. The Beatles and the Bee Gees. Being in a room with the Gibbs and seeing them break out in three-part harmony was mind-blowing. They were so talented, even as kids and their success came as no surprise. I never told them I had an interest in music till much later. I was happy basking in their shadow and enjoying their wicked sense of humor.
What’s the one album by a Canadian artist that everyone should have in their collection?
Neil Young’s “Harvest.”