FlinterFile: Resonance- O.K. Chicago

Resonance was a band which was formed by Pierre Bachelet, a French musician, and Mat Camison.

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FlinterFile: Michel Sardou- Les Lacs Du Connemara

In 1981, Michel Sardou released quite a strange ‘chanson’. The whole idea for the song started with the synthesizer of Sardou giving a sound which was like a bagpipe.

Song of the day: Patsy Gallant- From New York To LA

In 1977, the Canadian singer Patsy Gallant scored her only hit outside Canada. By that time, she had already recorded several records, in both French and English. This song originally was a French song from 1964, called Mon Pays C’est L’Hiver. The text was changed and it managed to get on the UK chart on number 6. Enjoy

Patsy Gallant- From New York To L.A.

Song of the day: Gilbert Becaud- Nathalie

In 1964, Gilbert Bécaud recorded Nathalie. This was a French song about a guide who lead Gilbert through Moskow. The song was especially a hit in France. Bécaud did more than just singing, he for example also co-wrote Love On The Rocks (sung by Neil Diamond in the Jazz Singer). Enjoy

Gilbert Bécaud- Nathalie

Song of the day: Ottawan- D.I.S.C.O.

You can guess it already: it’s Saturday, so we’re going to dance with a nice disco hit! This song was made by a French group named Ottawan, and it was recorded and released in 1979. The song would make it to number 2 in the UK in the following year. The original song, first recorded, was made in French! So why name your song D.I.S.C.O.? Since the woman in the song is Delerious.Irresistable.Superficial.Complicated.Oh-oh-oh. Enjoy

Ottawan- D.I.S.C.O.

Song of the day: Nomads- Yakalelo

This was a summer hit in 1998, made by a French group, who never again had such a big hit. In France it reached number 2, in Belgium number 4 and in the Netherlands number 10. The song does mean nothing, according to one of the members. “It is the same as saying tralala.” And therefore I would say: enjoy

The Nomads- Yakalelo

Song of the day: Michel Depech- Pour Un Flirt

An old French song today. And yes, it has been used in a commercial, which actually was the first time I heard it. That was a few years ago. The song, however, is much, much older. It was released in 1971, and was his only big success in Europe. He is still active, especially since 1997, when he started writing lots of songs again. After 1971, he had a sort of silent period, writing a lot, but not performing. That’s over, and he’s back. Well, not in the charts, but in the music industry. For today, we have this oldie:

Michel Delpech- Pour Un Flirt

Song of the day: France Gall- Ella Elle L’a

Again a French song which was later covered by Kate Ryan. Though both versions are completely different, you can hear they are identical in some parts. In 1987, the original, made by France Gall, was released. It was meant as a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, a great jazz singer by the way, who will be featured later. In quite some charts it ended in the top 5. Kate Ryan made her version in 2008. However, today we go for the original. Enjoy

France Gall- Ella Elle L’a

Song of the day: Desireless- Voyage Voyage

A French song today, released in December (!) 1986. The song went to number one in Germany and Spain, but stayed on number 2 in France. A bit strange, since French song mostly do not have worldwide success… In 2008 the song again appears in the charts, now in the version of Kate Ryan. For today, we enjoy the original from the eighties. Enjoy

Desireless- Voyage, Voyage

Song of the day: Paco- Amor De Mis Amores

When moving with the music to other countries like Italy or France, it proves to be difficult to find information. However, I had to look for another song to find information about this song. It’s a cover of a song, which was written in 1936. It was then known as Que nadie sepa mi sufrir, though it was no big success. Edith Piaf recorded it in French and not much later another version, called Amor de Mis Amores appeared. This version was recorded and released in 1988 by an artist called Paco, who had a small hit with the song. Enjoy

Paco- Amor De Mis Amores

Song of the day: Manu Chao- Me Gustas Tu

A more recent summer song today. The song was made in 2001 and is the second single of the second album Manu Chao made. It’s a Spanish song, of which I do not understand a word, and in the chorus French is spoken. The music used in the song is the same in two other tracks of the album, which makes one fade into the other. This really brings up the summer feelings! Enjoy

Manu Chao- Me Gustas Tu

Song of the day: Stardust- Music Sounds Better With You

Last week, I heard this song on the radio. It’s sort of a forgotten classic, because you (almost) never hear the record on the radio. Not strange, because they were a one hit wonder, but still… It was a number two song in the UK, which is quite good for a French house record. Maybe it’s good to put it forward as song of the day, to bring it back a bit. A nineties house hit, enjoy

Stardust- Music Sounds Better With You

Song of the day: Sash!- Ecuador

Oh, how this band fooled me! They are a great band, made lots of great dance music, and I always thought: they are French. I mostly made this up, because of the single Encore Une Fois. How French can it be? But nothing like French is in there. They are German, like lots of great dance artists are. And they made a great song in my birth year, 1997. Enjoy

Sash!- Ecuador

Song of the day: Alizee- Moi Lolita

More French which sounds good, but for me: I don’t understand! The title is quite easy, but the rest… However, for me it’s about the music and that it sounds good, because there were more songs with no important text (think about the Scatman, for example…) And I have a sad message: since August is nearly finished, I will be stopping with the summer hits for this summer… But they will return next year! And I have a lot of good music waiting in September. For the time…

Enjoy:

Alizee- Moi Lolita

Song of the day: In-Grid- Tu Es Foutu

There are songs which I don’t understand. Mostly those songs are in other languages than Dutch, English or German. This is one of the examples. It’s French, and I never really understand the spoken language. Written French is okay, but spoken… NO!

This doesn’t mean that the songs in French are bad. Actually, they have some very interesting songs… I will feature some in the coming weeks. And let’s start with this one. It’s from the early zeroes (2003) and it’s made by an artist of who we have not heard anything since this hit… or at least: I haven’t.

So let’s enjoy this song:

In-Grid – Tu Es Foutu

Summer Song of the Day #11: Kate Ryan- Désenchantée

Okay, I must confess: I am no big fan of the French language. Not that I had bad notes for French, no. And also not because of the sound of the language. Just because it was so difficult to learn. I never could remember words, or understand what they ment if it was spoken. Reading went a lot more easy.
But I love the sound of the language, because it sounds fantastic! And therefore, I love Kate Ryan’s French period, with songs like Voyage Voyagen and Ella Elle L’A.

And Désenchantée of course! Summer sounds are coming your way on number 11!

Number 11: Kate Ryan- Désenchantée

And no, I don’t know where the song is about.

Song of the day: Miranda- Vamos A La Playa

Hi there,

Some summer feelings today! The song of today is made by a French singer, and it was released in June 1999.
It has the same name as another summer song, which was a hit made by Righeira…

It’s Miranda with Vamos A La Playa!

That brings up the summer, doesn’t it?