French Culture – Retro Pubs 2 Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jul 16, 2019 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
This week we enjoy another vintage commercial from the 1980’s. This one features (amazingly) the chanteur français (French singer) Patrick Bruel (même un très jeune Patrick Bruel / and a very young Patric Bruel, at that).
| Français | English |
| Moi j’ai le plan pour les vacances* | I’ve got the plan for vacation |
| Je prends le train à tarif réduit | I’m taking the train for a discount (reduced rate) |
| Et je voyage partout dans la France | And I travel everywhere in France |
| Même en Première et même la nuit | Even in First (class) and even at night |
| J’ai plus de problème pour mes finances | No more problems for my finances |
| J’économise pour mes sorties | I save for my outings |
| Carte Jeune, Carte Jeune | Card Youth, Card Young |
| Ça facilite la vie | Makes life easier |
| Carte Jeune, Carte Jeune | Card Young, Card Youth |
| C’est le train puis les filles | It’s the train then the girls |
| Carte Jeune | Card Young |
| Renseignez-vous dans les gares et agences de voyage | Learn more in the train stations or travel agencies |
| [Carte valable de juin à septembre / Billets a ½ (demi) tarif en période bleue] | [Card valid from June to September / Half-price tickets during Blue Periods] |
* Note that in French the term vacances is always plural. En vacance (singular) refers to a vacancy.
A few weeks ago, I said that cookies weren’t found in les boulangeries. Well it seems I was wrong! But if this post from Topito (a sort of French Buzzfeed or Ranker, see number 20 on their list) is to be believed, only « Les cookies ultra sec sur lesquels tu te pètes les dents. (On les aime nos boulangers, mais ils ne savent pas faire les cookies, c’est tout.) » / “Super dry cookies that you break your teeth on. (We love our bakers, but they don’t know how to make cookies, that’s all.)”
And before we go this week, here’s a new(ish) video from a new(ish) French singer that I find supremely evocative of vacations in France from a certain time. I hope it puts you in a French summer mood.
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About the Author: Tim Hildreth
Since my first trip to France at 16, I have been a passionate francophile. I love the language, food, music, art, people, and more that make France and la Francophonie in general such an amazing part of our global community. Having lived in France and studied the language and culture for over 35 years, it is my great pleasure to be able to share a little bit of my deep love with you through this blog.