Archive for 'Music'
Le Paradis blanc (White Paradise) Posted by Hichem on Nov 21, 2013
When it comes to traveling, the expression of paradis terrestre (earthly paradise) evokes for most people a warm, exotic, and quite far destination on the planet. Think along the lines of Hawai, the Caribbeans, or even Bora Bora in French Polynesia! Not everyone would agree on that, however. For the late French singer Michel Berger, for example, a…
Stromae’s “Papaoutai” (Read: “Where Are You, Dad?”) Posted by Hichem on Oct 19, 2013
A very good friend of mine just told me that he enjoyed a lot listening to this French song by Stromae. Its titre (title)? “Papaoutai” What? You’re not sure if it sounds French? Well, true, it at least sounds like une onomatopée (an onomatopoeia), like a French frog (a real one, please) that would go “coac coac” (Americans…
À chacun son rêve (To Each Their Own Dream) Posted by Hichem on Aug 31, 2013
Vous souvenez-vous des amis que vous avez eus ? (Do you remember the friends you had?) Question: Vous souvenez-vous de ceux que vous avez perdus ? (Question: Do you remember the ones you lost?) Dites-leur que: Chacun sa route (Tell them that: To each their own road), chacun son chemin (to each their own path), chacun son rêve (to each…
Les bâtisseurs de France (The Builders of France) Posted by Hichem on Aug 25, 2013
Today’s song is called “les Bâtisseurs de France” (the Builders of France.) It is performed by a young singer who in many ways can be seen as a “French Johnny Cash.” Look at it as un hommage to the workers from all over the world who contributed to building the edifice of the French nation, since quite…
Zidane’s “Headbutt Dance” is Back Posted by Hichem on Jul 9, 2013
Now that we look back, it’s hard to believe: The 9th of July, 2006, the day Zidane replied to Materazzi‘s cheap provocation with a surprising coup de boule (headbutt), was already seven years ago! Love it or hate it, to commemorate what was then the most mediatized sports event of the year around the planet, the…
What Does “BOLOS” Mean in French Slang? Posted by Hichem on Jun 9, 2013
“Bolos“, sometimes spelled “boloss“, is a brand new word on the French Slang scene. It was virtually unknown just a decade ago! What does it mean? Everyone seems to agree that it designates a person who’s way too gullible. Call it in English a “boob“, a “patsy“, a “pigeon“, a “stooge“, etc. In short, it’s…
Simply French Rock Posted by Hichem on May 18, 2013
Everyone agrees, Noir Désir is a household name on the French Rock scene. Their song “Un Jour en France” (“A Day in France”) has perhaps not reached the standing of a “classic” yet, but it does offer a pretty good idea about the message this band conveys through its music. Noir Désir’s “Un Jour en France” (“A Day…