Charlie Hebdo anniversary

Last year I wrote about the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo killings, one of the far too many acts on infamy that have taken place in France in recent times.

At the time it was hard to imagine a worse series of events, with workers killed for upholding the right to speak without restraint, and that others fell protecting them.

Since then we have had other, darker, days and the Charlie Hebdo killings now seem to have been the opening act of a long-running tragedy that still has not ended.

But we remember that Charlie Hebdo has continued, and how those who wished it snuffed out failed utterly.

Presidents, politicians and worthies from around the world paid tribute to names that were perhaps only well known in the French counter culture, and an act that was intended to silence us resulted in voices raised like never before.

If we are not out of the darkness yet, the strange victory of Charlie Hebdo reminds us that we can show that darkness that it is us who hold the lights.

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.

Johnny Hallyday at Charlie Hebdo commemoration

A sombre event in Paris at the weekend, with Place de la République hosting a commemoration of the
January 2015 terrorist attacks, that saw Charlie Hebdo staff assassinated as well as others in a kosher supermarket.

Attending the event alongside the French president was Johnny Hallyday, who performed the track  Un Dimanche de Janvier, a song written in commemoration  of the attack.

The song featured on Hallyday's most recent album, De l'amour, released at the tail end of last year.

Ther was of course some controversy, Hallyday having been several times at the receiving end of Chalie Hebdo's criticism. It was reported this week that Charb, one of the big names at the magazine who died last year, particularly hated Hallyday.

The performance at the weekend was a low key one for Johnny, but despite the controversy and the politics, it was appropriate that he was there, differences set aside.




Johnny Hallyday chante "un dimanche de janvier"

Charlie Hebdo anniversary

Hard to believe a year has passed since the horror of what happened in Paris last January.

The deaths at Charlie Hebdo and at Hyper Cacher were a dark moment, and tragically one that was to be repeated before the end of the year.

But the attempt to sow terror into the hearts of French people and Europe in general was a failure, as the massive worldwide displays of solidarity following the deaths clearly showed. Rather that generating fear, the cowards behind the attacks only galvanised support for key values of European culture, and made it clear that those who attempt to overthrow it by terrorism are bound to fail.

And despite another atrocity later in 2015, the terrorists failed again. As they will if they try again.

But there's a time to remember the victims, and recall those who fell last year with respect.

The president unveiled plaques in tribute at the scenes yesterday, albeit with an almost appropriately perfect black satire, the name of one of the Charlie Hebdo artists was spelled wrongly.

A year on, Charlie Hebdo is very much alive and kicking, and the provocation and ridicule that is its currency now getting a wider audience than ever.

France is commemorating the tragic events over a period of several days around the actual Januay 7 anniversary.

An event will be held at place de la République in Paris at the weekend.

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.

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.