Drownout France

French...rock

French...rock

Grace de Amazon.fr

A sensitive reader suggested I look into French pop.

Methodology: went to Amazon.fr, picked the top two albums, downloaded them using Kazaa, listened to them while doing some other stuff, wrote comments on a few songs.

#2 Album: Renaud, Boucan d'enfer
"Petit Pede"
Literally a cross between Serge Gainsbourg's pop melodies and light instrumental backgrounds (without the overtly cribbed ethnicities) and Bob Dylan (post-accident, 1970's vocal whining nonsense). Not bad, actually.

"Manhattan - Kaboul (avec Axell ...)"
There's a John Cougar Melloncamp vibe on this track, a duet with someone who sounds like a young, beautiful, naive chanteuse with eyes like sunglasses. But without the whiff of tired old rocker you get from JCM (i.e. JCM - Jon Bon Jovi + Twiggy = this track).

"Tout arreter"
Country and western whine in the instrumentation, layers of criss-crossing provincial banjo sounds. Which is to say, Bob Dylan cover. I'm thinking _Desire_, like Jack of Hearts but about 10 minutes shorter. Except, replace the kickin' harmonica solos with....accordion.

"Mon nqain de Jardin"
ON the subway you'll see these cute gypsy guys playing the accordion. No more monkeys these days, and they aren't nice guys--aggressive for their dough--but it's France. This track is more straightforwardly the sort of french country/traditional music you might see if you went with your parents on one of those Seinne river dinner boat and a show things.

"Mal Barres"
Translator having difficulty with this one.

"Elle A Vu Le Loup"
This one's a live track. You can hear the cabaret audience laughing at his jokes. I'm guessing you're going to have to speak french to like this song. It's

Okay I'm bored of this one now. On to the next.

Patrick Bruel, Entre Deux (double album)

"Mon amant de Saint-Jean"
Soaring, winding and classically french syncopated accordion, piano, and strings. To me, it's 1925, I'm drinking absinthe, the grainy black and white color of the heroine abandoning me breaks my heart.

"Le premier rendez-vous"
Pianos ouverture. It's a 50s Hollywood lightsdown introduction. Then here he is. Handsome, mysterious, crooning, deeply gazing...then come the fancifully constructed layers of banjo. The provincial western quarters of France. The troubadors.

Concluding remarks.
I'm not listening to anymore. Bottom line: French popular music is stuck in an introverted, backward looking timewarp of "chanson" fascination from two generations ago. The way indian Hindi film songs are essentially interchangeable with those of 25 years ago and appeal across age groups to mom and teenage punk. Though I don't think the kids are listening to this schlock. It must be that demographic trends in the slowing french population have made Moms and Dads the top music consumers, as opposed to the US where demonic pre-teens are drinking blood and having abortions vicariously through their rappers and barbie-pop-princesses.

Failsafe methodology check: the #3 album, By The Way by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Uh oh!

Posted by amol at July 2, 2002 10:48 AM