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[frenchdoctor]

I feel like a fraud. I thought the lyrics were "fait naufrager les pavillons" (is wrecking the flags), while they are in fact "fait naufrager les papillons" (is wrecking the butterflies). I will never forgive myself such mistake.

[dellaroux]

American singers' pronunciations are hard to follow as well, so you're in good company.

I never did figure out the lyrics to half the songs people listened to in jr. high school Home Ec sewing classes (when the teacher let people play a radio while we sewed), and I grew to hate "Abbey Lane," because they played it so often.

So, has the rain turned to snow yet?

[frenchdoctor]

The accuracy of words is so important with Claude François. After reading Hegel, he became convinced that disco phenomenology required the mastery of a classical, yet non-dogmatic language to express the fact that being and truth are the same. Hence the barracuda. On the other hand, the Alexandria sirens are a clear reminiscence of the fourth dynasty pharaohs. Most probably Khufu in my opinion, though some Claude François experts believe it refers to the specific use Shepsekaf made of lower-Nile religious land registries. Quite obviously, the fact that the sirens are singing the same melody strengthens the second interpretation, and mine may be too far-fetched.

I'm now working on a Foucaultian reading of "Magnolia". "If you go away in the storm, you'll see her" is, simply said, the most beautiful poetical expression of human anguish when overhelmed by the capitalist society.

Of course, we will dismiss altogether the philistine view that the lyrics may be an mere excuse for showing girls in skimpy outfits.

And oh, yes, snow everywhere. Some regions are even stuck.

[dellaroux]

Hmm, glad I'm coming in through Rome, but since it's via Heathrow, not so sure I am glad the airline booking agent talked me out of the Iberian connection instead...or does Madrid have snow as well? (I can look it up, of course, just being rhetorical).

And yes, the excuses for costuming for C. Francois' "singing assistants" (or rather, mostly lack thereof) would be great at the Trocadero, but the Rockettes would have been sent home to change...

   http://www.radiocitychristmas.com/nationaltour/index.html

I don't think Francois' singers were trying to kick so high, though....

[wegie]

Hmm, glad I'm coming in through Rome, but since it's via Heathrow, not so sure I am glad the airline booking agent talked me out of the Iberian connection instead...or does Madrid have snow as well? (I can look it up, of course, just being rhetorical).

It may not have snow, but it does have striking air traffic controllers, so say thank you to the booking agent with precognition ;-)

[dellaroux]

Oops, missed that little fact, OK, I'll amend my attitude, then!

Shall I wave to the UK on landing?

Or will the snow obliterate it?

[wegie]

Oops, missed that little fact, OK, I'll amend my attitude, then!

Shall I wave to the UK on landing?

Or will the snow obliterate it?

Just be nice and quiet is all I ask. Your final approach to Heathrow goes almost directly over my house and I'm planning a lie in ;-)

Um. you are just transiting through LHR aren't you? You're not, um, contemplating the Eurostars that are frozen into their sidings?

[dellaroux]

Thankfully, no, I'm not doing the Eurostar frozen-snowball trek this time.

I'm...(sorry, very sorry--I realize this is not kind)...going to Rome, where I'm hoping that, whether there is still any flooding or not, the weather will be just a bit warmer.

Just a bit.

But I am coming north after that, so I will get my comeuppance, if there's any left to be had by then...

[frenchdoctor]

I don't know if it counts as spam, but the Budé Library now has a brand new internet site :

http://www.librairieguillaumebude.com/

For all the classics geeks out there.

[frenchdoctor]

Some videos with lyrics. Well, it's easy to find lyrics, by without typos is another matter.

Dr. Joseph Ira Dassin again, les Champs Elysées :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOvVKppccWc

you find also this cute version by what seems to be a polish children choir :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLt4YZkyrPw&feature=related

Michèle again :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDkFi8-vCFE&feature=related

Another Michel Berger famous song, sung by his wife France Gall. Well, everyone can recognize Berger's sound anyway :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEQrAqPL1TY

And now, Jacques Brel probably would not have recognized his own song. Great songs never die :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDLhuS5wiP0

[frenchdoctor]

Since I haven't talked about Berger since, errr, last post, here is a version of "la déclaration" by some anonymous webartist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcBkMeW36ro&feature=related

And to think Berger was butchered by Hallyday, while the first amateur on the net can do better with a webcam in his bedroom... Of course, the fact that Berger wrote great songs to begin with does help.

[parispundit]

Listen, if you want to start a bad French music thread.... Can't we stick to the weather? It has been awful of late, almost as bad as a classic chanson.

[frenchdoctor]

Listen, if you want to start a bad French music thread.... Can't we stick to the weather? It has been awful of late, almost as bad as a classic chanson.

Look at the bright side of it : after Paris-Plage, you have Paris-Patinoire.

[parispundit]

I was doing figure eights in Reims the other day...