This week’s Videos is on honor of my recent trip to Paris. Not that York isn’t lovely, of course, but it would be hard to say that it’s just as good as sharing an apartment in Paris with my girlfriend. As you can imagine, therefore, I’m feeling just a bit of nostalgia for all things French. The bread, the frites, the crêpes… all those wonderful, edible things. And let’s not forget the long, lazy walks through a city that drips with history and, yes, light…
Now, I have long mocked French Pop Music – that much is true. As a student, in college, I was first introduced to MC Solaar, and it sort of went downhill from there. (Honestly, is there anything easier than rapping in French?) I’ve provided a taste, however, in my inclusion of Alizée. For you geeks out there, you will find in her dancing the origin of the “night-elf female” dance in World of Warcraft. You’re welcome. For the rest of you, I hope the rest of the list will encourage you, as it did me, by suggesting the idea that “big in Europe” might one day become a genuine phrase of praise.
So, today’s list is a mix of francophone artists (Canadian and French), as well as a few tracks by others that have a direct, or implicit, connection to the French. (I’m looking at you, “Killing an Arab.”) I’ve substituted some official videos with some homemade ones, in those places where embedding rules have proven too tedious, and I hope you’ll find it entertaining.
So, grab some bread and cheese, perhaps a bit of the vin rouge, and enjoy!
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As ever, one video was unable to embed. You can see it here, or visit the list to play it from there.
