Musique Francaise

In college I saw a production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. I had no idea who he was. The show was presented as a cabaret, featuring Brel's songs translated into English. Later, I heard Brel himself when a friend played one of his records over brunch, and I heard the same songs rendered in their native tongue. It was the second time I heard "Ne Me Quitte Pas," and that album became the first French language album I purchased. I later heard a disappointing rendition of the song by Sting. In high school I had heard of Edith Piaf (the little sparrow), and was familiar with Fére Jacques, but Brel opened up a new world of popular music. I found my first Edith Piaf record on a sidewalk in New York, stuck in a box of classical records being thrown out by someone moving from one place to another. (On the same sidewalk, I later found a copy of Eric B. and Rakim's Paid in Full, the cover ripped, but the vinyl in good condition). Lately I've discovered Françoise Hardy, and find myself gravitating back towards Serge Gainsbourg. The first Gainsbourg album I owned was given to me. A friend's parents were visiting from France and she asked them to bring me a copy of the two CD compilation À Gainsbarre. I have never before or since heard anyone render the word "black" with such a dark guttural thickness. You can almost hold it like tar in your hand. Posted by eku at January 26, 2004 11:36 PM