French touch

[Curly Curls]

No, not talking about any techno-thing, but I just thought I can post from time some links to french music, or at least music by French.

So here we go, with the band considered by many as the first french group ever, or at least the most influencial: Mano Negra.
You may have heard about Manu Chao, former leader of the group, since he his now one very big seller, in Europe, South America and a little in Asia.
Mano Negra started in the late 80's three albums, one other live, and one last released after the band's split in 1994 (which may sound more as a pre-Chao record), and still now almost most of our groups claim to have been influenced at one time or another by Mano Negra.
What kind of music is it? Good questions, heavily influenced by the Clash attitude and style mixing, Mano Negra is made of rockabilly, punk, latino, french music, and everything that might pass close to their ears. They sing in French, English, Spanish, sometimes Arabic (sometimes in the same song), and were well known for their live performances (they used to tour on a ship or a train in South America)

So first, what is maybe their biggest hits: Mala Vida. One of their first songs, I suppose no french hasn't heard it. Here is the low-budget Do-it-yourself video clip (hey, we're french, we have no money for videoclips)
www.youtube.com/v/BE8oq0_vxsk

Now, something heavier (not heavy metal though): King of Bongo (from their 3rd album) may not have deep lyrics, but who cares? Just turn it loud and bang your head
www.youtube.com/v/HUb7-a6sS-c

Now, one that we could call "punk-algerian rai" Speaks for itself isn't it? One of their few songs in arabic (Chao is not the singer on this one).
www.youtube.com/v/t0jy1Qg27-8

One last, a more quiet one: Out of Time Man
www.youtube.com/v/QDIbvJ9PG-I

[soccer2010]

Holy crap Frenchie! I haven't thought about those guys in years. I have a CD some where in a box from them. It was pretty cool stuff! Mixed english, french, and other stuff. I bought the CD in Paris circa 1993.

[Curly Curls]

And no for something completely different : Camille. She is the 'revelation' of 2005-2006. Usually kind of weird, but has a great feeling in her voice (and great singing capacity), the least one can say is that she is unique and that her last album (or maybe she just released a new one, have to check) has a very personal tone, unlike many many others.
Here is her single from this album: Ta Douleur (your pain). Her album is called Le Fil (the thread), and I suppose that's why we have this video clip (which has nothing to do with the lyrics actually ). For those of you who know a little about music, you can here a single continuous note in the background (a B, exactly), and actually, all the songs are backed with this continuous B note (actually the note is continuous throughout the whole album). It adds to the symbolism of the thread (and a rumor says it is also a way of making illegal ripped copies sound bad, because you have to cut this note).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgXUctWDF34

Another one, live on TV. Maybe weirder, but that's original, for sure.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=07JWEarU7Bk

For those with p2p, you can also check for her covers of Guns of Brixton by The Clash (she made it a super quiet acoustic song), and Too drunk to f*ck by the Dead Kennedys (more like a house version this time).

[soccer2010]

"Too drunk to f*ck by the Dead Kennedys "


Went to a party, danced all night, drank 16 beers and started up a fight.....

[Curly Curls]

I see you have good basics ;D

[soccer2010]

Merci! I do like my music.

[Jack]

Only caught a couple of words ... and my dad spoke fluid french

Cool vid though ...

[Curly Curls]

I'm not sure she is easy to understand, since she has a special way of singing.

Another time, I'll try one of our own bluesmen, for you, Jack Yeah a few do not suck too much.

[soccer2010]

jack said:

Only caught a couple of words ... and my dad spoke fluid french

Cool vid though ...

Mon Francais c'est tres mal. J'etudier Francais pour trois ans mais....

[Jack]

soccer2010 said:

jack said:

Only caught a couple of words ... and my dad spoke fluid french

Cool vid though ...

Mon Francais c'est tres mal. J'etudier Francais pour trois ans mais....

Let see ... I get ... french/3/years ;D

Howd I do?

[soccer2010]

jack said:

soccer2010 said:

Mon Francais c'est tres mal. J'etudier Francais pour trois ans mais....

Let see ... I get ... french/3/years ;D

Howd I do?

Bingo! But that was 18 years ago!

[Curly Curls]

soccer2010 said:

Bingo! But that was 18 years ago!

That's no excuse! 18 years ago I was learning French too.

[soccer2010]

cloclo said:

soccer2010 said:

Bingo! But that was 18 years ago!

That's no excuse! 18 years ago I was learning French too.

Well, I do speak fluent German, do you?

[Curly Curls]

Learnt for 7 seven years, not fluent, but quite good, Didn't have many opportunities to speak it seriously since 9 years, but the few times I went there, I managed to understand some things. With a little work, I could be back to the days of glory

[soccer2010]

They don't force you French people to learn German?

[Curly Curls]

Well, no, actually a few French learn German, and fewer learn it as their first foreign language (like me). English is highly recommended (though not mandatory), and as second foreign language spanish is mostly preferred by students.

[soccer2010]

cloclo said:

Well, no

Where I come from, we say you're welcome. ;D

[Qatarcat]

cloclo said:

Well, no, actually a few French learn German, and fewer learn it as their first foreign language (like me). English is highly recommended (though not mandatory), and as second foreign language spanish is mostly preferred by students.

Then how come Froggies make such a show of not understanding ANY language other than French, when in France? Address them in English, and they look right through you!

[Curly Curls]

Because:
1)Only one foreign language is mandatory, and the length of study will vary depending on your studies
2)Having to learn one language does not mean that you understand it
So these two are for those who actually do not understand anything other than French (not sure if they really understand French either ;D)
3)We usually have some kind of complex, unless we are perfectly fluent in a given language. Many won't dare saying anything, fearing to make mistakes.
4)For the vast majority, they're just a bunch of -insert a Ballz word here- who pretend they don't speak anything else than French, just because they don't want to make an effort. Especially true in usual touristic places. Luckily for them, the place is attractive enough to make people come back. I personnaly saw one of them, who had a photo shop, right on the Atlantic seashore. His shop is busy all summer with tourists mainly from Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain: I saw one, one day, who was just asking for the day the photographs will be available, and the stupid photographer just showed a sign on the wall with the days of the week (in French!), pointing the following day. He didn't say a word (neither 'hello' but he never said 'bonjour anyway). If he really didn't know how to say something like 'tomorrow', he is much more stupid that I thought he was, and I can tell you I thought that very hard ;D The probleme is: he is not the only one.

[Qatarcat]

Well Frenchie, you restore my faith in Frogs anyway, since your English is very good!

;D

[Curly Curls]

Today's band is Noir Desir.
Probably the most successful band since Mano Negra, in a completely different way. Their music is not a mix of cultures anymore, it is some kind of direct translation of 80's american indie rock, like Gun Club, at least at the beginning.
The lead singer Bertrand Cantat, is in jail since 2004 for having beaten to death his girlfriend (Marie Trintignant, french actress), they both were drunk, and... ugly story anyway.

I won't put their first hit single which is not representative at all, it sounds like a sailor song, you can go youtube for "Aux sombres heros de l'amer" (a pun on a famous line from a Victor Hugo poem).

The first one I put here is "En route pour la joie" a 1991 song, which marks the real beginning of their quite dark tone. The lyrics as usual have hardly an explicit meaning. Fans say it is some kind of poetry in a very personnal writing, others just call it teenage dark rock lyrics ;D
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeNRaXoLYzo

In 1992, they released Tostaky, which was a huge success. Here is the self-titled song, in a 1993 live version. For those with sensitive ears, it may not please you, you're warned.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrOUPHGcpqY

After years of heavy touring, Cantat's voice began to have serious problems, so the 1996 record 666.667 Club is somewhat less angry, and has various tones (the intro tune is a speechless jam with a free-jazz sax... quite weird for those who thought they had bought an heavy rock record).
I chose "Comme elle vient", still has obscure lyrics, and still quite angry (less than Tostaky). I had never seen the video clip, and it's a nice one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOZFeiHsldw

New record (ans last studio one) "Des visages des figures" is much more quiet, at least musically, with more experiments. It is a really really nice one, which may have disappointed the early fans, but I like it, it has some maturity in it.
I chose "A l'envers, a l'endroit", one of my most preferred ones. The lyrics still do not apparently mean much, but this time, they really work for me, they just had to the mood of the song.
Those with sensitive ears, you can watch this one
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcJ6QQ9zNnE

For thos who would want more, youtube has plenty of live songs, and p2p all of them