Rétro: Blur and Francoise Hardy

A great archive piece here, and much more recent that the 1960s videos I've featured in the past.

The song originally featured on the band's 1994 album Parklife, their third, which was very much the band's breakthrough album.

For a band so associated with the Britpop scene, and with London in particular, Blur were always a cleverer band than their contemporaries, a fact that has been borne out with band members' subsequent careers.

The original version featured some French lyrics sung by Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier, and a full French version featuring Blur vocalist Damon Albarn singing in French was featured as one of the extra tracks on the Park Life single release.

This version featuring Francoise Hardy was recorded the following year, and was released as a single in France and appeared on French editions of the band's 1995 album The Great Escape. The album went gold in France and had a far higher chart placing than Park Life.

I much prefer this version to the version that just featured Albarn on vocals, which was to these ears at least lacking in a certain je ne sais quoi.

The French connection for the song goes further, with the video based on the French film Last Year in Marienbad, the enigmatic 1961 film that is for many the archetypal vintage French art house film. While some see it as a byword for arthouse pretension and wilful obscurity, it's worth remembering that screenwriter Alain Robbe-Grillet was nominated for an Oscar for his work, not something that you might expect for such a highbrow film from the pen of one of France's most celebrated experimental authors.

New: Martin Solveig - Ready 2 Go

A quick mention of Martin Solveig again, on account of his playing on Glasgow at the weekend as part of Coloursfest, a dance and music event that has been held in the city for the last ten years.

Coloursfest has been Scotland's longest-running dance event, with 10,000 people attending the event over five arenas at Braehead and Clyde waterfront, Solveig playing as a special guest.

Solveig's latest single Ready 2 Go has not long been released in the UK, and it's already getting airplay on the music TV channels, probably because it makes a more than decent job of following up the remarkable video for Hello.

Over 7 million people watched that video, which was filmed live at the Roland Garros tennis stadium in Paris, on YouTube. The new video takes things quite a bit further, with the quirky DJ and producer backed with a team of majorettes taking to the field of France's national stadium.

The song features vocal contribution by Kele, vocalist with the UK indie band Bloc Party.

This video was shot live at Stade de France, and while stadium rock is nothing new, the idea of filming a house music video live in front of a football crowd is a bold one, and a move that certainly works well here.

Solveig's album Smash - his fifth - is due to be released later this month.

Charts: René La Taupe

An update on the top end of the French charts, and a new one in the top five for France's David Guetta, who seems to be contining his programme of collaborating with all the biggest international names.

Meanwhile, M Pokora and Magic System continue to remain in the top five, and an appearance by Anglo act Jessie J.

However, there's a significant new French entry from René La Taupe, who continues to raise the artistic standard of the French music charts.

It follows the classic that was Mignon Mignon which went to number one, and the under-rated Tu Parles Trop, which went to number three.

OK, I can't keep it up. It's rubbish. Utter rubbish. Like Crazy Frog but more rubbish.

It does however seem a long time since there was a novelty record in the top five in the UK. Maybe cynical X Factor marketing and the torrent of US product has killed them off forever in the UK.

Also worth noticing how the French charts still give a good showing for domestic acts, while in the UK the number of home-grown acts seems to be falling drastically.

This has led to some media in Britain reporting calls for a "French-like quota system", (read article here > )

as the only way to keep up the profile of British music in the face of European dance music and American hip hop and R'n'B.

Changed times indeed.

This week's top five in France:

1) M Pokora: A Nos Actes Manques
2) Snoop Dogg: Sweat (Snoop Dogg Vs. David Guetta remix)
3) Magic System: Chérie Coco
4) Jessie J: Price Tag
5) René La Taupe: Ou la la

New: Justice - Civilisation

The new single from Justice finally gets its full release and video treatment.

The song got a preview when it was used for the soundtrack of an advert for Adidas earlier this year >

The video was directed by Edouard Salier and it's a change from the band's previous video work with Romain Gavras, who directed the band's Stress video. Civilisation is more poetic and subtle, and less confrontational.

It bodes well for their long-awaited second album, their previous Cross album which came out in 2007 setting a new standard for innovative French music.

The song has a grandeur and an epic feel, as well as being a stomping tune. There will certainly be some fiery remixes of this to look forward to.

As yet there are no details of the second album. The image the band posted may or may not be the cover, but whatever comes out, and whenever it arrives, it looks like it's going to be great.

New: Mylène Farmer - Lonely Lisa video

A new video from Mylène Farmer, with Lonely Lisa becoming the third song from 2010's Bleu Noir to be released as a single.

The album seems to have surpassed even Farmer's standards of success. Despite being released in December it was one of the top ten biggest sellers of the year, and the formula of Mylène Farmer collaborating with big hitters Moby and RedOne seems to be a winning combination.

Lonely Lisa is one of the album's two RedOne collaborations, the other, Oui mais...non, coming out ahead of the album's release and setting the tone the album in both success and style.

The video - directed by Roy Raz - will no doubt spark the Lady Gaga comparisons. While the debate will rage, some no doubt saying Gaga was influenced by Farmer and borrowed her ideas, or that Farmer is borrowing some of Gaga's style to boost her career, what's certain is that Gaga's international success has probably made it easier for female artists to be heard, and ones with ideas like Mylène Farmer can certainly make the most of the opportunity.

The video certainly keeps up Farmer's reputation for making videos that are an essential element of her art.

A batch of remixes of the track has already emerged.

With a record 11 number one singles in France so far, and the two previous songs from Bleu Noir - Oui mais...non and the title track - both reaching the top spot, it will be interesting to see if this makes it 12.

Personally I'd be surprised if it doesn't.

New: IMG - Dans les prisons de Nantes

A great version of the Breton song Dans Les prisons de Nantes by ska punk band IMG.

The song, originally writted in the 17th Century, has been sung previously by Edith Piaf, Nana Mouskouri and Breton folk band Tri Yann.

It also recently featured on the number one album by Nolwenn Leroy. Needless to say this version is a little different.

With a punk rock attitude and a ska swing, and a taste of rock, rap and ragga, IMG brew up a strong chouchenn of sound.

The band cemented their reputation by playing at Fest Noz events in Brittany where, despite their different take on tradition, they were met with acceptance by those who enjoy Breton music. They say that this is down to those who enjoy Breton music have open minds, and know that the Fest Noz tradition still has many years to run.

The band have also made available a free download of a couple of their demos. Listen to them here >

Their new album is due out in September 2011 on Rennes-based punk rock label Mass Productions and I'm certainly keen to hear more by them.

They are playing some dates over the summer, and are set to play more across Brittany following the release of the album.

Editorial: June 2011

A quick monthly editorial to again thank folks for visiting the website over the past month. It's been another great month which sees the upward trend in visitor numbers continue.

I've also heard some great French music over the last few weeks, with events like the Eurovision Song Contest putting the international focus on French music, and some great new releases coming out that I've had the chance to feature.

More reviews to come this month, time permitting, and I'm pleased that I've been able to keep the blog updates regular throughout the month.

I'll keep a regular eye on the French charts, and continue to feature some of the best new releases, so be sure to visit regularly throughout the month.

As always, I can be contacted by email at the address johnkilbride AT hotmail DOT com , with the spaces and the appropriate @ and . in the address.

Merci et à bientôt

jk