Alfa Rococo - Météore

I have not posted in a while. Let's begin to make up for that with something fun from Alfa Rococo. I have no idea what this means, and at this hour (what am I doing up?) I don't care. It looks and sounds like good clean fun from a duo in the Montreal area. Very Quebec pop. Météore.

Ingrid St-Pierre - Desjardins

 

As it says on Ingrid St-Pierre's website, this video (and this song) is IRRÉSISTIBLE! A clever, sweet, and relaxing new tune from the album "Ma petite mam’zelle de chemin," which came out in May. The song that really strikes me is "Desjardins" -- minimalist yet there's so much there.

Here's a bit from her official bio (love the humor) and a Gtranslation, followed by a link to a song that might just put you at ease.

Enfant illégitime des Desjardins, Fersen, Hardy et autres monuments de la chanson française et québécoise, Ingrid grandit au Bas-St-Laurent en s'imprégnant de leur poésie. Elle développe très jeune une passion pour les mots, qu'elle tricote petit à petit, une maille à la fois, sur les lignes bleutées des cahiers Canada initialement destinées aux matières académiques. Elle couchera ses textes sur le noir et blanc du piano familial et y composera ses toutes premières chansons, vers l'âge de 17 ans. À maintenant 26 ans, armée de son seul piano ou entourée d'un quatuor à cordes, Ingrid captive son auditoire et marche sur les pas de ses idoles, affichant un style bien à elle, maniant une poésie imagée, tantôt subtilement humoristique, tantôt simple et épurée.

Illegitimate child of Desjardins, Fersen, Hardy and other monuments of the French song and Quebec, Ingrid grew up in Lower St Lawrence immersing herself in poetry. She developed very young a passion for words, knitting them little by little, one stitch at a time, on the lines of blue books Canada originally intended to be used for academic subjects. She set her texts in black and white, using the piano to compose her first song at the age of 17. Now 26 years old, armed with her piano alone or surrounded by string quartet, Ingrid has captivated audiences and the footsteps of her idols, displaying a style all her own, wielding a pictorial poetry, sometimes subtly humorous, sometimes simple and purified.
http://www.ingridstpierre.com/

Ariane Moffatt - Réverbère

Do these lyrics mean anything to you? I can pick up some of it on my own, and recommend it to any French class out there. Besides, the song has a great beat. It's nouveau Motown with a soft bridge thrown in for good measure. The words, if only for my own benefit:

l'avenue me fait marcher, c'est comme ça
cette nuit, le ciel est mon plancher, trouvez-moi
je m'y perds, je me gèle à l'eau, à l'eau de là
ma tête est un bouclier, mais ça m'va

les ruelles sont mes alliées, je n'ai pas froid
je n'ai rien à déclarer, je file tout droit
je fonce vers ma solitude au bout là-bas
j'suis ok, j'ai l'habitude, tu vois

y a un Réverbère
tout au fond de moi
qui éclaire chacun de mes pas
je suis ici bas, dans tous mes états
et c'est très bien comme ça

l'avenue me fait marcher, c'est comme ça
cette nuit, le ciel est mon plancher, trouvez-moi
je m'y perds, je me gèle à l'eau, à l'eau de là
ma vie est une série B, mais ça m’vA

y a un Réverbère
tout au fond de moi
qui éclaire chacun de mes pas
je suis ici bas, dans tous mes états
et c'est très bien comme ça


l'avenue me fait marcher, c'est comme ça
cette nuit, le ciel est mon plancher, trouvez-moi
je vis dans une bande dessinée, un manga
l’histoire n’est pas terminée, croyez moi
ma vie est une série B, mais ça m’vA

Parce qu'il est Octobre

I know, he's not from Québec. But it is October, and we must celebrate a little with an all-time classic from France. 

Le vent fera craquer les branches / The wind will rustle in the branches
La brume viendra dans sa robe blanche / The mist will come in its white dress
Y’aura des feuilles partout / There will be leaves everywhere
Couchées sur les cailloux /Lying on the pebbles
Octobre tiendra sa revanche / October will have its revenge
Le soleil sortira à peine / The sun will be just gone
Nos corps se cacheront / Our bodies will hide themselves
Sous des bouts de laine / Beneath bits of wool
Perdue dans tes foulards / Lost in your scarves
Tu croiseras le soir / You will pass October
Octobre endormi aux fontaines /October asleep at the fontains
Il y aura certainement, / There will be certainly
Sur les tables en fer blanc /On the tables of tin
Quelques vases vides qui traînent / Some empty vases lying around
Et des nuages pris aux antennes / And some clouds hanging onto antennas
Je t’offrirai des fleurs / I will offer you flowers
Et des nappes en couleurs / And colored tablecloths
Pour ne pas qu’Octobre nous prenne / So October won’t capture us
On ira tout en haut des collines / We will run to the top of the hills
Regarder tout ce qu’Octobre illumine / And see everything that October is illuminating
Mes mains sur tes cheveux / My hand on your hair
Des écharpes pour deux / Scarves for the both of us
Devant le monde qui s’incline /The world will give into us
Certainement appuyés sur des bancs / Certainly resting on a bench
Il y aura quelques hommes qui se souviennent / There will be some men who remember
Et des nuages pris sur les antennes / And some clouds hanging on antennas
Je t’offrirai des fleurs / I will offer you flowers
Et des nappes en couleurs / And colorful tablecloths
Pour ne pas qu’Octobre nous prenne / So October won’t capture us
Et sans doute on verra apparaître / And without a doubt, we will
Quelques dessins sur la buée des fenêtres / See some paintings of condensation on the windows
Vous, vous jouerez dehors / You, you will be playing outside
Comme les enfants du nord / Like the children from the north
Octobre restera peut-être. / October will stay, maybe

Gotta give credit and thanks to Nicole at Cute Culture Chick for the translation. I salute you!

Charles Dubé - Distrait mais bien

From his website, CharlesDube.com, where you can preview this song, among others from the forthcoming album Charles Dubé III: 

Charles Dubé fabrique des chansons comme des morceaux d’humanité. Idéaliste serein, son optimisme est fondé sur sa connaissance de l’âme, de ses défaillances et de ses forces. Il ne cède pas au cynisme, il choisit de voir en face les dangers, les tristesses et d’y répondre avec des douceurs, le regard allumé, habité du désir de faire mieux. Ou, simplement, d’être bien.

Let me translate, if only for my own sake ... but the translation does sound almost too good to be true (not that I mind in this case):

Charles Dubé makes songs like pieces of humanity. Idealist serene, his optimism is based on his knowledge of the soul, its failures and its forces. It does not give in to cynicism, he chose to see across the dangers, the sorrows and respond with sweetness, looking on, occupied by the desire to do better. Or simply to be good.

 As of this moment, "Distrait Mais Bien" has a mere 364 views on YouTube. I want you to see that number increase by at least a hundred times before the new album comes out on 1 November.

Paul Piché - L'enfant Prodige

I'm just beginning to learn about Paul Piché, who has had a long, illustrious career in Quebec and beyond. He's a Québécois singer-songwriter, environmentalist, political activist, and renowned Quebec sovereigntist. Here's one of his newer songs -- and one which I hardly understand a word of -- but from the video you get the sense it's about the potential and unbridled joy of youth -- which from listening to Piché rocking through "L'enfant Prodige, I get the feeling he still has quite a bit remaining.

Pomerlo - Chanteur en Tournée

This guy's playing some terrific music. Pomerlo - MySpace ... Do check out his song "Chanteur en Tournée," which has a great instrumentation mix and infectious rhythm. It deserves far more than the 549 plays currently shown. (I think I've heard it a couple of dozen times on SiriusXM Radio. Video clip follows ...

 




Vidéoclip Chanteur en tournée

Pomerlo | Myspace Music Videos

Étienne Drapeau - "Femme libérée"

Étienne Drapeau recently made the transition from pro hockey to pro singer. Here he is performing "Femme libérée" before an enthusiastic TV studio audience.

Salomé Leclerc - Un Volcan/Partir Ensemble

Okay, I need to make up for that last post. First, Salomé Leclerc, a young singer-guitarist who I just heard for the first time. This chanteuse québécoise has a simple, elegant storytelling style. She has a way of painting pictures with her words and gently flowing melodies. First, here's "Partir Ensemble," which sent me into a near-trance as I was driving down the road today.

 

Next up, it's Ms. Leclerc in concert, performing "Un Volcan."

Mario Pelchat - Le Sourire au Coeur

Mario Pelchat. Wikipedia is nice enough to tell me was born in Feb. 1964 in Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec. He's been performing since 1973 and recording since 1981. According to Answers.com, Pelchat's popularity peaked in 1993, but he's certainly been busy since then. He even has some jazz and theatrical chops to go along with the rock/pop background. "While he is one of Quebec's most popular singers, his popularity doesn't extend overseas to France, where his following is insubstantial in comparison."

Thanks to the miracle of SiriusXM Radio, I became acquainted with some of Pelchat's songs via the Sur la Route channel. Here's an upbeat number, "Le Sourire au Coeur" (the smile in the heart -- my rough translation there).

Pour autant, que c'est l'amour
Notre guide sur la terre
Pour autant, que chaque jour
On ait pas tout à refaire


De ce qu'on a bâti déjà
Dans notre maison de pierre
Qui ne s'envolera pas
Dès le premier vent contraire


D'un bonheur à l'autre
Le coeur à la fête
Trinquons à la nôtre,
À la vie et peut-être
Qu'on pourra, en suivant notre quête,
Apprendre à s'aimer
Le sourire au coeur

... which Google translates as:

However, it is love
Our guide on earth
However, every day
It has not quite repeated

Of what has already built
In our house stone
That does not fly
From the first headwind

On the happiness to another
The heart at the party
Toast to ours,
In life and perhaps
We can, following our quest,
Learning to love
The smile in the heart

Ariane Brunet - Aime-moi (acoustique)

from Ariane Brunet's MySpace page:

Ariane a une voix remarquable, douce et solide, touchante et lumineuse.

or for those of us who need a little help with the translation (thanks, Google translate):

Ariane has a remarkable voice, soft and strong, touching and light.

Here is a live version -- well, not concert live, but outside of the studio nonetheless -- of a really lovely tune.

 

Vincent Vallières - Entre partout et nulle part

My wife just called Vincent Vallières "a French Beatle." She could be on to something there. Well, French-language, anyway, as he's a Québécois singer from the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec. I checked a top 20 pop chart from Montreal recently, and it looked like Mr. Vallières was the only non-English speaker on that particular list. We caught just a little bit of his performance before what I'd say was about 60,000 people at Francofolies 2011 -- wish I could have seen more and a little closer at that. From what I've seen and heard, he's a pop-rock treasure in the province.

Ever have a bus trip like this? It brings back a few memories...

Does Quebec radio play too much English music?

From the Montreal Gazette (June 7, 2011)

Quebec radio plays too much English music: ADISQ
French stations skirting CRTC rules, association says

By Brendan Kelly, The Gazette

Do Quebec’s francophone Top 40 radio stations play enough French-language music? Are listeners here getting their proper daily diet of Coeur de pirate, Marie-Mai and Éric Lapointe?


This is the question du jour in the local music biz. The stations have to follow Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission rules that require them to play 65 per cent French-language musical content over the course of the week and 55 per cent in prime time, which is defined as between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.


At first glance, that sounds like plenty of French tunes. But the association that represents the province’s record labels is on a campaign to try to make stations like CKOI and NRJ spin more franco discs. The Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo (ADISQ) is convinced these stations are trying to get around the CRTC rules and are actually playing a lot more Lady Gaga and Katy Perry than they should be.


That’s why ADISQ recently filed a formal complaint with the broadcast regulator, alleging these Top 40 outlets are using medleys – or as they call them, “montages” – of English songs to skirt the rules. The short version of the ADISQ argument is that stations like NRJ and CKOI will air a montage of English songs that could run as long as 55 minutes and count it as only one song for the purposes of the CRTC rules (which measure the francophone content by songs rather than minutes of music).

Read more here.

Marie-Pierre Arthur - Droit Devant

The incredible voice of Marie-Pierre Arthur. Plus, she plays a Hofner bass (aka Beatle Bass).

My wife and I had the pleasure of seeing her at Franofolies Montreal this year. Marie-Pierre certainly didn't disappoint.

Annie Caron - Un monde idéal

Good Saturday! Let's keep this simple today. An idealized world as envisioned through the eyes -- or the bubbles -- of a young girl. A French Canadian song from the folksy and fun Annie Caron.

Bonne samedi! Gardons cela aujourd'hui simple. Un monde idéalisé comme envisagé à travers les yeux - ou les bulles - d'une jeune fille. Une chanson canadienne-française de l'Caron folklorique et amusant Annie.

Coeur de Pirate - Comme des Enfants

She turned 23 on Thursday, and already she's cranked out more hits than most of us ever will. That's Béatrice Martin, who goes by the stage name of Coeur de Pirate (heart of pirate). "Comme des enfants," the song featured here was a hit across most of the French-speaking world in 2009, and deservedly so. A fetching song. 

It begins:

The second half of the second verse:

Et on se prend la main, comme des enfants
Le bonheur aux lèvres, un peu naïvement
Et on marche ensemble, d'un pas décidé
Alors que nos têtes nous crient de tout arrêter

It translates something like this:

we hold hands, like children

Happiness on the lips, a bit naïvely

And we walk together, with determined steps

So that our heads scream we should stop everything undefined

So happy birthday ... joyeux anniversaire, Béatrice! Here’s wishing you many more years of creative success.

Daniel Boucher - Le tel quel à vie

According to Wikipedia, Daniel Boucher is currently portraying Renfield in the Québec production of  Dracula - Entre l'amour et la mort.  In 2008, he bought the first guitar which Jimi Hendrix burned on stage.

Anyway, here's a bit of slow-mo silliness mais quelque musique genial ...

Francis d'Octobre - Âme soeur

I haven't heard a song from this gentleman that I dislike. And I know I've heard at least three or four. It's one more example of French-language music from Quebec putting popular American music to shame. I guess that's not hard to do these days. (I'll try not to knock music from my own country too much. I know there's a lot of good stuff out there -- just not what the biggest marketers shove our way.)

According to the biography on Francis d'Octobre's website:

Inspiré, sensible et capteur d’émotion, Francis d’Octobre compose des chansons sur des sujets inépuisables en les rendant touchantes et accessibles. 

Or as Google translate (with a bit of help) puts it:

Inspired, sensitive and emotional sensor, Francis d'Octobre composes songs about endless subjects by making them accessible and touching.

Brigitte Boisjoli - Fruits defendus

You're going to enjoy this one. Really. I assure you. Fruit defendus (forbidden fruit) is a fun and creative video. Catchy tune -- and you don't have to know French to appreciate the melody. You can hear more at their website:

Brigitte Boisjoli

Isabelle Boulay - Jamais assez loin

I enjoy music from Quebec, though my French skills are minimal at the moment. We'll work on that.

Isabelle Boulay has an extraordinary voice.