Archive for 'Music'
Et Si…? (What If…?) Posted by Hichem on May 15, 2013
Ever wonder what if things went differently? Le monde serait-il devenu si différent? (Would the world have turned out to be so different?) The French musical featured today sings, tongue-in-cheek, about the so-called Effet papillon (Butterfly Effect): Every little detail could transform the world as we know it. Or is there more to that? Ray Ventura’s “Le…
J’me Tire (I’m Outta Here)! Posted by Hichem on May 3, 2013
In proper French, if you want to announce that you are leaving, that you’re about to be gone, then you can say: “je pars“, “je m’en vais“, “je quitte les lieux“, etc. If you feel like saying it informally, however, or rather in French slang, then you have the choice between expressions (not to be used…
Salut! Comment vas-tu? Posted by Hichem on Apr 22, 2013
Hello there, c’est encore moi (it’s me again.) We haven’t spoken since a long time. By now, we may only be a vague souvenir (memory) to each other. That’s why I just wanted to say “salut” (“hello”), and ask you: “Comment vas-tu?” (“How are you?”) Joe Dassin “Salut” (“Hello”) – 1975 His son Julien Dassin sings…
La Plume Française (The French Quill Pen) Posted by Hichem on Apr 11, 2013
Unlike what their name may suggest to some at first, the French group “Louise Attack” is no Heavy Metal band à-la-Rammstein. In fact, their songs are for the most part relaxées (chill) and rather mellow. One of such songs is “la Plume“, meaning “The Quill Pen“, which we feature today, together with an exclusive translation of its…
Vous n’aurez jamais notre cœur (You Will Never Have Our Heart) Posted by Hichem on Apr 3, 2013
Last week, while evoking l’Alsace et la Lorraine, and raising the question of whether they were originally French or German, we characterized the temporary loss of these two territories as provoking to many a French person a corresponding “temporary loss of sanity.” For nearly half a century, a heavy wind of revanchisme (from the word…
A Very Happy French Accordion Posted by Hichem on Feb 9, 2013
Out of the Côtes-d’Armor in the Brittany Peninsula, bordering the shores of Saint-Malo, from whence hailed and sailed the seafaring ancestors of the legendary Surcouf, “le roi des corsaires“ (“the King of Corsairs”), came up a cheerful tune. A highly melodic theme, it revolved around a local demoiselle whom everybody called “Marie la dondaine.” So far, so good. But what’s a “dondaine“, anyway? Is it…
Under the Wing of the French Phoenix Posted by Hichem on Feb 1, 2013
In France, the word “Eiffel” used to only bring to mind Paris‘s most celebrated monument: la Tour Eiffel (the Eiffel Tower.) Today, however, it also refers to a young and dynamic music band which has successfully reinvigorated the French Rock scene, after years of torpor and somnolence (the same as in English: sleepiness!) * * *…