Saturday, June 26, 2010

France, old and new

My girlfriend just sent me a little reminder of a French rap song that we went crazy for a couple summers ago at the beach: Travailler by TTC. I still love the song, but the video is so silly. Writhing bikini-clad girls on a conference room table; dorky white guys trying to act badass; cheap fashion, cliché scenarios, poor production values… but, oui, great song.

Meanwhile, I’ve been listening to Francoise Hardy all week. Ah, Tous les Garcons et les Filles…. so sweet and innocent. Life’s just an amusement park ride, n'est ce pas? When the girls’ skirts flutter in the wind, they titter like demure, precious creatures. Everything is so plain and simple.

My question is, what happened in the four decades between these two songs? Surely, the French produced other music than Serge Gainsbourg, Johnny Hallyday and Phoenix?

5 comments:

  1. French music is really really strange !

    There were very good things in 40's-50's (with Edith Piaf, first songs of Charles Aznavour ...), then 60's thanks to the TV show "Salut les Copains" (with Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Françoise Hardy, Jacques Dutronc ...) and then nothing ... ...
    I think that 90's was the worst period for French music with all our creepy boys bands !! Fortunately, now we have a new wave of French artists (mostly electronic music : Daft Punk, Air, ...) with bands like Phoenix ... ...

    But it's hard to find a very good band/artist in France (except our "old" singers, those who began to sing during the 60's/70's ...)

    xx

    (yes I'm French)

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  2. Flore, you're right: I think I need to dig a little deeper in French music from yesteryears (40s & 50s, not 90s!).

    And I need to treat myself to the new Air CD, me thinks... :)

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  3. I realize that I didn't find a minute to listen to the last album of Air ! SHAME ON ME !! We're from the same city !! My brother could have been in high school with them, but they're older than him !

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  4. well, just a few names:

    Ben l'oncle soul
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4XKNNl31Gc
    ----------
    Wax taylor
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv44r3q6zgo
    ----------
    Hocus Pocus
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-ikTHVEbE
    ----------
    -M-
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuBy3UUMVXo
    ----------
    Tété
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZx4XzRZ7wM
    ----------
    Tryo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrVrZjigMew
    ----------
    La rue kétanou
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVhzXTbyVSk
    ----------
    BB Brunes
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaS8RrrgwLg
    ----------
    Luke
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf83cOWnV2Q&feature=PlayList&p=CCFAE5EA0105F8CE&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=19
    ----------
    Birdy nam nam
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMYMC6atRoE
    ----------
    Mister Gang
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiaXQIoWFqo&feature=related
    ----------
    Anis
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuvqY-Uy4cA&feature=related
    ----------
    General Elektriks
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQuBmdjFtBc


    Alexandre

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  5. If I may, I recommend Birdy Nam Nam ! They're so gOOd !!! (in fact, I worked with them, so I developed a special love for them !)

    Their first album "Birdy Nam Nam" was excellent (the one with Abesses - the YouTube link) ! A lot of different sounds !
    The second "Manual for successful Rioting" is very good too, even if it's totally different !

    But all those bands are actual ... late 90's and 2000's ..

    Enjoy !

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