We are (still) Charlie

Today we remember the Charlie Hebdo killings, an event that while profoundly shocking was to be only the first act of a tragedy that seems not to have concluded yet.

We remember the 12 victims, those who were doing their jobs when they fell, whether journalist, cartoonist, building worker or police officer.

We also remember that this act of terrorism was intended to snuff out the diversity of our culture, to silence forever voices that disagree with a minority of extremists.

And we remember how they failed.

We remember how the names of the victims were championed, how until then obscure counter-culture heroes like Cabu, Tignus and Wolinski became household names. We remember how the killing of a Muslim police officer brought communities together in mutual respect.

And we remember how communities across the world stood side by side.

It was a dark day in 2015, and there have been dark times since. But we remember that an act that was intended to bring us to our knees brought us to our feet, standing together like never before.

Frédéric Boisseau, Franck Brinsolaro, Cabu, Elsa Cayat, Charb,Philippe Honoré, Bernard Maris, Ahmed Merabet, Moustapha Ourrad, Michel Renaud, Tignous, Wolinski.

Skip The Use: Être heureux

A new video by French rockers Skip The Use, the song Être heureux accompanied by images of the  worldwide solidarity demonstrations that took place following the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris.

The band have just relaesed a live album and DVD, Little Armageddon Tour coming out earlier in February as a 2CD and DVD pack, or as a 2CD set or DVD.

The tour followed the release of the Little Armageddon album, a top 20 album in France, which saw them play arenas and festivals around France.

The band are currently working on a new album, a follow up to Little Armageddon , the collection that featured this song.

Bon Entendeur: Charlie, Winter 2015

Extraordinary circumstances  call for an extraordinary mixtape, says Bon Entendeur. There can be no
doubt whatsoever about the events over the past week .

Artists responded to the terrible events in the best possible way, cartoonists with art, others with words, others with songs. Bon Entendeur puts together mixtapes, and has repsonded in the way they know how.

"We were just speechless. That's why we preferred to seek refuge in what we do best: Making mixtapes."

Voices of Cabu, Charb, Wolinski and Philippe Val feature.

The Charlie, Winter 2015 mixtape is  by no means a mournful experience, there's plenty of upbeat house and funk there. It acknowledges what happened and It also makes it clear that artists will not be dissuaded from creating their art.

Given the magnitude of what happened, artists will be reflecting on events over the past seven days for years to come.

Grand Corps Malade - #JeSuisCharlie

Another expression of solidarity following this week's outrage in Paris.

Grand Corps Malade is one of France's most distinctive voices, and his take on the events makes essential listening.

As with others, it is a dignified and appropriate reflection on an act of barbarism, an artist reacting to events with clarity.

The consequences of what unfolded in Paris will be played out for a long time, the dust has not settled yet.

But France's response to one of its darkest hours has been little short of inspirational.

JB Bullet: #jesuischarlie

Following the tragic events earlier this week, France's artists have been outspoken in their
condemnation of the Charlie Hebdo killings.

Elsewhere the spontaneous demonstrations of solidarity across France and elsewhere showed the best of the French people, replying to an act of barbarism not with a spirit of vengeance but with a spirit of solidarity with the victims and with defiance rather than fear.

Meanwhile a song by JB Bullet has caught the mood perfectly, with over 6 million views  for the track #jesuischarlie

JB Bullet says that he's not in the habit of writing political songs, his material  is normally much lighter in tone, but the event hit him in the guts and he wrote the song that evening in front of the shocking images on the television.

The song is based on Renaud's song Hexagone  which appeared originally on his 1975 album Amoureux de Paname.

It could not be more appropriate, Renaud himself having written for Charlie Hebdo in the 90s. Renaud, who according to his daughter, spoke of the killings in tears, saying he had lost all his friends.