When people think of French music, images such as Edith Piaf in her miniskirt or Jacques Brel’s classic Par Amour, Par Pitie may come to mind. Modern French pop music also sometimes gets unfair criticism – yet its makers assure us it is far more sophisticated and sophisticated than its image implies.
Differentiating it from traditional English pop canon is its use of spoken rhythms and dense, more classically poetic lyrics.
Jazz Manouche
Jazz Manouche is an underground musical subgenre which blends American jazz influences with Romani (Gypsy) musical styles. The subgenre was pioneered by legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grapelli’s group Quintette du Hot Club de France.
Manouche music’s history is deeply intertwined with ideologies around ethnoracial identity in France, so this article adopts a semiotic approach to explore how Manouche participants express themselves through particular sonic aesthetics and reveal how their sense of self can be formed through various cultural discourses.
Gonzalo Bergara and George Cole continue the legacy of jazz manouche today, mixing traditional jazz manouche with rock, classical music, or other styles such as flamenco. Meanwhile Tim Kliphuis combines it with folk, Latin music, and flamenco music for an entirely unique sound experience.
Les Feuilles Mortes
Les Feuilles Mortes was composed in 1945 by Hungarian composer Joseph Kosma to music composed by French poet and screenwriter Jacques Prevert for use in Marcel Carne’s postwar Paris film of the same name.
Johnny Mercer recognized this melody, wrote English lyrics for it and changed its original title to Autumn Leaves; which most of us know and love today. Jo Stafford first recorded it under contract to Capitol records owned and co-owned by Johnny Mercer.
From Iggy Pop’s new album “Les Feuilles Mortes”, which blends hotel lounge music with faux bossa nova sounds, to his Tom Waits-influenced “King of the Dogs”, his musical skills can easily adapt to any genre or style imaginable.
C’est si bon
Seoul’s C’est si bon music club was an incubator of talented acoustic folk singers during the late 1960s. Yoon Hyung Joo and Song Chang Shik, two such performers, formed one of its best duos known as Twin Folio.
Henri Betti wrote this popular French song in 1947 and its lyricist Andre Hornez gave it the name C’est si bon (it’s so good). This catchy catch phrase made it ideal for music hall styles that made male singers such as Yves Montand beloved national icons.
This brief clip from 1948 by Yves Montand provides a sense of his distinctive vocals and how well this song worked for many other performers, including Louis Armstrong’s Dixieland version.
Les Champs-Elysees
The Champs-Elysees is an iconic avenue in Paris, known for its high-end shops, restaurants, cinemas and large department stores. Additionally it is popular as an event location, including hosting Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris events as well as being home to the Tour de France finish line and offering light shows on New Year’s Eve.
The term Champs-Elysees comes from Greek mythology, where it translates to “Elysian Fields.” According to legend, this field served as an entryway to Earth for godly heroes that traveled down from Heaven.
The Champs-Elysees is perhaps Paris’s best-known street, appearing in movies and songs alike. As its name implies, this European boulevard honors Greek mythology’s Elysian Fields as its inspiration.
La Java Bleue
La Java Bleue offers the perfect balance of comfort and convenience, offering free Wi-Fi and concierge service as well as taxi and car rental services so that guests can explore Kampot at their leisure.
After 1945, under the influence of American culture, new instruments began appearing on the dance scene: banjo, piano and double bass… Waltz became the “emblem” dance of musette genre and galvanised liberated French joy of living. Notable accordionists became Princes, Kings and Stars during this time. Additionally, Java became polluted with Gypsies and Manouche music: guitars began accompanying accordions.