"Take Me Out" (Franz Ferdinand)

The historical figure Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne but was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914 by a young revolutionary before he was able to realize that legacy--an event that sparked the beginning of World War I.
The Glasgow band isn’t named after him, though.  At least not directly.  
Rather, the band is named for the racehorse, Archduke Ferdinand, which is itself named for Franz Ferdinand of Austria.  Story is, the band members had watched the horse win the 2001 Northumberland Plate race on TV and decided they liked the alliteration of the name “Franz Ferdinand.”  
So, there ya go. 
Anyway, while I can’t say that I’m crazy about everything these skinny-tied, skinny-pantsed post-punk revivalists have released in the past decade, I do love the song “Take Me Out” from the band's 2004 self-titled debut album.  In cases where the band's other songs have sounded a little too derivative of Talking Heads, Orange Juice, or Roxy Music, “Take Me Out” is refreshingly original, even though it contains some clear influences from Blondie to The Beatles.  (It’s the subtle difference between mimicking your idols and being inspired by them.)
The song opens with a driving, four-on-the-floor rhythm and a sturdy melody that easily could be the foundation of the entire song.  But then it unexpectedly makes a left turn: the pace slows to a slinky, disco-fied grind with the jangle of scratchy guitars, half-sung/half-shouted lyrics, and one of the most memorable riffs of the past decade, slicing like a switchblade through your speakers.  
It's quite simply a perfectly crafted pop-rock song.