Sunday, July 28, 2013

Into French music... and cartoons

Recently I've been reading Chanson. A sung history of France (Dutch language) by author Bart Van Loo. I had seen the author a few times on television talking passionately about  French chansons, a music genre that hung until a few weeks ago somewhere in a far corner of my memory.
 I've read the book entirely with a headphone on my head and with the streaming music app Deezer playing  the songs mentioned in the book. I've made a playlist and I counted about 400 chansons. Some popular French songs I knew before, but I've discovered some real beautiful songs which I think I would never have discovered without this book.  As a cartoon passionate, I like humorous songs. An example is a parody of Je t'aime moi non plus (Serge Gainsbourg) by the famous Bourvil and Jacqueline Maillan.

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

I intend to forget for a few weeks Status Quo, Suzy Quatro, Joan Jet, ZZ Top, The Real McKenzies and many more English music makers I like to be... into French music.

Of course, there is a cartoon book related to this article  that I can present to you: it is Musiques by the French cartoonist Claude Serre. Some cartoons make me think at certain chansonniers...



this man makes me think at Jacques Brel

The man with the guitar makes me think at Georges Brassens...
(and myself reading Chanson with a headphone on...)

Makes me think at Johnny Hallyday...

Makes me think at the orchestra of Charles Trenet  (Boum)

 Here are some more cartoons... I'm still searching a chanson that fits the image...

"La Mélodie du bonheur" (The Sound of Music) ? Do Re Mi...




Learn more:
Claude Serre 
Francophile Bart Van Loo presents his France books
Bart Van Loo website (Dutch, with many links to YouTube French chanson videos)


Johnny Halliday:


Georges Brassens:

Charles Trenet:
Jacques Brel:


Do Re Mi - La Mélodie du bonheur - The Sound of Mucic, French:



No comments: