Archive for 'Culture'
From Panamá To “Paname”: L’Histoire d’un Amour (A Love Story) Posted by Hichem on Jun 28, 2011
It’s just l’histoire d’un amour (a love story), banal yet eternal, that was first born in Panamá, then traveled the world through an Egyptian-born French Diva of Italian origins, to finally become a widely known French song From Panamá to “Paname” (as Paris is still nicknamed to this day, after the famous “Panama hat” in…
French Books to Read in the Summer Posted by Hichem on Jun 24, 2011
C’est l’été, enfin! (It’s the Summer, finally!) Many friends of mine have been telling me as of late how they’re excited to seize the opportunity of the sudden extra free time in their hands to catch up with la lecture de loisir (leisure reading)—As opposed to the force-fed textbook “reading assignments” of the school year- and they especially asked…
Champs-Élysées Posted by Hichem on Jun 22, 2011
Here’s a classic hit by Joe Dassin called “Les Champs-Élysées.“ Et maintenat avec les paroles traduites en anglais (and now with the lyrics translated in English): “AUX CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES“, par JOE DASSIN: Je me baladais sur l’Avenue, le cœur ouvert à l’inconnuJ’avais envie de dire bonjour à n’importe quiN’importe qui et ce fut toi, je t’ai dit…
Celebrating 30 Years of La Fête de la musique Posted by Hichem on Jun 21, 2011
Bon solstice d’été à tous ! (Happy summer solstice to all!) “Even as I write this, on fait la fête à Paris (they’re partying in Paris). Aujourd’hui, le 21 juin, c’est la Fête de la musique! (It’s the Festival of Music!)” Thus spoke Jennie, exactly a year ago, evoking her own experience of la la Fête de la musique…
L’Homme Providentiel (The Providential Man) Posted by Hichem on Jun 18, 2011
“L’Homme Providentiel“, the “Providential Man”, the “Savior of the Masses”, is one of those “dynamite figures”, so to speak, that have for long jalonné (punctuated) the History of France: From Louis XIV, “le Roi Soleil” (The Sun King), to his Supreme Highness, le Grand Empreur Napoléon Bonaparte—To, finally, the much less sophisticated “parodical figureheads” of later pedigree… Much…
Drowning Deep Within “L’Encre de tes Yeux” Posted by Hichem on Jun 15, 2011
His name may ring a familiar bell to you. In today’s post, Francis Cabrel, the by-now iconic French singer, borrows une plume to pen a few poignant words that may very well leave some of you, faithful fans of The French Blog, quasi-speechless… Drawn from within l’encre des yeux (the ink of the eyes) of his beloved, his carefully-wrought…
Who’s the Best: Yves Montand Or Édith Piaf? Posted by Hichem on Jun 11, 2011
Today everyone is invited to vote, even though le départage, the “decide between” two towering giants of French song such as Yves Montand and Édith Piaf is by no means an easy task! Yves Montand’s “Sous le ciel de Paris” Édith Piaf’s “Sous le ciel de Paris” * “SOUS LE SOLEIL DE PARIS” (“Under the Paris Sky”)…