Another track from Stromae's Racine carrée getting released with a striking new clip.
The track Carmen features a video directed by Sylvain Chomet.
Chomet's a serious director, whose work is amongst the best known French animation in recet years, including the films the Illusionist and The Triplets of Belleville (also titled Belleville Rendez-vous), a film that was nominated for two Oscars.
I'm sure the video could be used to educate folk about social media use.
The song was co-written with rapper Orelsan.
Since Racine Carrée was release in 2013, its success has been almost unprecedented for a French language act. It has spawned three number one singles in France so far, and a number one album in most coutries in Europe as well as sales of close to two million in France.
It's sometimes hard to believe it is only Stromae's second album.
Friday, 3 April 2015
Booba: LVMH
A new video from Rapper Booba
the track LVMH comes from the rappers forthcoming album. The new collection, to be entitled D.U.C. is his seventh.
The video's an extravagent affir, with perhaps a nod to Kubrik's Eyes Wide Shut.
It follows his 2012 Future , a top five album in France. He's twice topped the French album charts, with Ouest Side in 2006 and Lunatic in 2012, a double platinum selling collection.
There's no denying the popularity of rap in France, and while there are no doubt many who look on French rap as an imitation of US style, there's little doubt that artists like Booba are as capable of delivering the goods as any of their transatlantic competition.
the track LVMH comes from the rappers forthcoming album. The new collection, to be entitled D.U.C. is his seventh.
The video's an extravagent affir, with perhaps a nod to Kubrik's Eyes Wide Shut.
It follows his 2012 Future , a top five album in France. He's twice topped the French album charts, with Ouest Side in 2006 and Lunatic in 2012, a double platinum selling collection.
There's no denying the popularity of rap in France, and while there are no doubt many who look on French rap as an imitation of US style, there's little doubt that artists like Booba are as capable of delivering the goods as any of their transatlantic competition.
Thursday, 2 April 2015
New Acts: Flavien Berger - Rue de la Victoire
A video for the track Rue de la Victoire by Flavien Berger, an artist doing some very strange and interesting things with electronic music.
A very chilled start to the track soon gives way to something more substantial, and there are echoes of Sébastien Tellier here.
Berger's first release was his Mars balnéaire EP, relased in June last year. January 2015 saw the release of the three track Glitter Glaze EP and the following month the single La Fête Noire emerged
Rue de la Victoire comes ahead of the release of Berger's debut album, due later this month.
Rue de la Victoire is available on Pan European Recordings.
A very chilled start to the track soon gives way to something more substantial, and there are echoes of Sébastien Tellier here.
Berger's first release was his Mars balnéaire EP, relased in June last year. January 2015 saw the release of the three track Glitter Glaze EP and the following month the single La Fête Noire emerged
Rue de la Victoire comes ahead of the release of Berger's debut album, due later this month.
Rue de la Victoire is available on Pan European Recordings.
Rone: Live in London
An appearance at Rough Trade East in London tonight by Rone, one of the country's highest regarded new electronic artists.His 2012 album Tohu Bohu saw him win the Best French Artist, Best French Album and Best Music Video titles from Trax magazine, and he's recently followed up that release with a new album entitled Creatures.
The album includes appearances by François Marry of Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains and legendary French pop star Etienne Daho.
The London appearance is part of a tour that sees him play extensively in the USA, before returning to Europe in the summer, whern he plays several French festivals including Solidays, Les Francofolies de La Rochelle and the Mainsquare Festival in Arras.
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Festival: Les Francofolies de La Rochelle
A fuller release of details of the acts playing the Francofolies de La Rochelle this year, with more big name acts added to the event showcasing French musical talent.
With Johnny Hallyday, Etienne Daho and Christine and the Queens already confirmed, others have been added to the bill.
Last year the event marked its 30th anniversary, with the seaside town attracting over 150,00 people to see shows including Jacques Higelin, Alain Souchon, , Yannick Noah, Benebar, Catherine Ringer, Zaz, Nolwenn Leroy at a special look back at the event's history, as well as shows by Stromae, Tal, Cats on Trees, Detroit and Shaka Ponk amongst others.
2015 will see acts including The Avener, Selah Sue, Raphaël, The Do as well as Véronique Sanson, Julien Doré, Coeur de Pirate, Hubert-Félix Thiefaine, Brigitte, Florent Pagny and Yaël Naïm, as well as Johnny Hallyday and Yannick Noah play over five nights, with 100 concerts at eight venues.
More acts will be announced closer to the time of the event.
Les Francofolies de La Rochelle takes place on July 10 - July 14.
With Johnny Hallyday, Etienne Daho and Christine and the Queens already confirmed, others have been added to the bill.
Last year the event marked its 30th anniversary, with the seaside town attracting over 150,00 people to see shows including Jacques Higelin, Alain Souchon, , Yannick Noah, Benebar, Catherine Ringer, Zaz, Nolwenn Leroy at a special look back at the event's history, as well as shows by Stromae, Tal, Cats on Trees, Detroit and Shaka Ponk amongst others.
2015 will see acts including The Avener, Selah Sue, Raphaël, The Do as well as Véronique Sanson, Julien Doré, Coeur de Pirate, Hubert-Félix Thiefaine, Brigitte, Florent Pagny and Yaël Naïm, as well as Johnny Hallyday and Yannick Noah play over five nights, with 100 concerts at eight venues.
More acts will be announced closer to the time of the event.
Les Francofolies de La Rochelle takes place on July 10 - July 14.
Chilly Gonzalez: Le Grand Journal
An appearance on Le Grand Journal by Chilly Gonzalez, on the back of the release of his album Chambers, which features his piano playing alongside a string quartet.
It's a unique take on classical music, which takes chamber music and reinterprets it as modern 21st century pop music.
Gonzalez established himself as an electronic artist, having trained as a classical pianist and enjoyed some success in his native Canada in a rock band. He would from 2004 both perform as a solo piano artist, and produce other artists including Feist and Jane Birkin.
Amongst his achievements, Gonzalez holds the record for the world's longest solo piano performance, after he played for over 27 hours in 2009 in Paris.
It's a unique take on classical music, which takes chamber music and reinterprets it as modern 21st century pop music.
Gonzalez established himself as an electronic artist, having trained as a classical pianist and enjoyed some success in his native Canada in a rock band. He would from 2004 both perform as a solo piano artist, and produce other artists including Feist and Jane Birkin.
Amongst his achievements, Gonzalez holds the record for the world's longest solo piano performance, after he played for over 27 hours in 2009 in Paris.
Editorial: April 2015
First of all, last month saw a record number of posts on the site. Maybe I've got better at organising my time , maybe there's just more material that merits attention coming across my desk. Whatever. I still can't cover all I'd like to, but we're certainly getting there.
Meanwhile, we had a record number of visitors to the site. We've been on an upwards direction every month this year, but not touched our record that we achieved in February last year. We've been close a couple of times, our closest was last month, but it was well and truly smashed in March.
I can't think of a better way for us to have marked our fifth anniversary.
Of course, that means we now have higher figures to beat this month. Lets get to it!
April is of course the month of Record Store Day, an event being marked in France with special releases and events in shops.
There are some key French acts playing in the UK this month, including Plaza Francia in London and Rone making an appaerance at Rough Trade in London.
The Plaza Francia album A New Tango Song Book also gets a UK release as well this month.
More details of France's summer music festivals will no doubt be confirmed over the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, at the end of the Month, Paris hosts the International Jazz Day.
If you're looking for more French music in your day, find the French Music Podcast page on Facebook and give it a like. You'll get plenty of listening suggestions from the team in your timeline.
As always, I can be contacted on johnkilbrideAThotmailDOTcom, with the appropriate punctuation where you'd expect it to be.
I'm always pleased to hear from record companies, PR companies and promoters, so do get in touch.
We're also on Twitter as @viveleroq or you can find me at @karnag
Thanks as always to the good people at the French Music Office in London and to the Institut francais in London for their help and encouragement.
Merci et à bientôt
John K
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