With a few exceptions, I find that she tends to do better with other people’s material than with her own.

She’s a marvellous singer. But she isn’t such a good songwriter. Her lyrics often fail to match the strength of her execution.

When it came to picking a song to exemplify this point, I was torn. She’s produced ambitious, brilliant covers of everyone from her mother to Leonard Cohen, and from Judy Garland to Edith Piaf.

But I’ve chosen the latter’s L’Accordéoniste for this post. It shows her off at her most subtle and at her most animated. And it shows that she’s just as strong singing in French as she is in English.

More, please.

There’s no teaching some people. Former US Vice-President Cheney stands by the Iraq war, torture and other things. Herald of War hopes he’s enjoying his retirement, and that he stays there.

Edith Piaf sings it here

The fifth installment of my monthly mix-tape for the good people over at Proud-Robinson.

Bob Marley and The Wailers – Try Me (Remix) (Original Mix)
Shakatak – Physical Attraction (Lazercat ReFilter)
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Onur Engin Sly Robbie Edit)
Sloppy Seconds – Marvin
78EDITS – You Know How
Situation – Lovin’ Me
Joe Cocker – I Put A Spell On You (Stevie R & Dj Freespirit Mix)
Jackson 5 – Forever Came Today (F2F Full Anthem)
Rocco Raimundo - Give Me Your Love
Mark E - Freaking Shreaking

Bonum musicam bonus populus,

dj ShmeeJay

(Photo Peggy Curran)

If Montreal had a theme song, what would it be?

Frank Sinatra crooning “Regrets, I’ve had a few,” or Edith Piaf belting “Moi, je regrette rien”?

Barbra Streisand singing “The Way We Were?”

Beau Dommage with “En soixante-sept tout était beau?”

Or Little Orphan Annie  with “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow, you’re only a day away!”

I guess it all comes down to whether we see Montreal as a city of the future, or of the past.

Is Montreal a city where politicians, but mostly the people, look ahead with spirit, enthusiasm and gusto? Or is it an older, tired sort-of-place, steeped in history, where people look back with nostalgia for glories past (Expo 67, 1976 Olympics, two dozen Stanley Cups) or worse, with anger and shame  (corruption, falling viaducts, decaying roads).

The next question is harder.

What do we plan to do about it?

Yes, us. You, me, everybody.

In the Gazette’s Extra section on Saturday, my colleague, city hall reporter René Bruemmer spoke with Avi Friedman, a McGill University architecture professor who has experimented with designs for smaller and more efficient urban housing.

Friedman mused about what Montreal will be like in 20 years, as baby boomers get older and demands on aging infrastructure put more pressure on our roads, sewers and tax dollars. It makes for interesting reading.

One of Friedman’s remarks struck a particular chord here at Civic Lessons, where we’re looking at ways to re-imagine the city — its governance, yes, but also the way citizens behave — on the heels of the corruption crisis.

Friedman told Bruemmer that successful cities are cities where citizens “are willing to enforce change, as opposed to hoping city councillors will do it for them.

“Do-it-yourself cities are the successful cities,” Friedman said. “We have to ask ourselves: ‘Are we a forward city, or a backward one?’ “

So what do we think and want from Montreal – in 20 years or 10?

In eight months when voters go to the polls, and in the hard years ahead?

And what are we prepared to do to make it happen?

Send along your thoughts, theories, plots.

pcurran@montrealgazette.com

twitter: peggylcurran

Facebook: Peggy Curran

Her concert kicked off with a Sting song “An Englishman in New York”, with fragments of “America” (from West Side Story) interpolated, to which she quipped afterwards that it was her only opportunity to sing that particular song. She went on to point out the confusion she experienced in the verbal differences between British and American English [French fries instead of chips, chips instead of crisps, eggplant instead of aubergine] when she was last in New York during Follies. This segued into her acknowledging that there were a few of her Follies co-stars in attendance (indeed, I spotted Jayne Houdyshell in the audience, and another concert goer had remarked he also spotted Mary Beth Piel), which followed with her spectacular rendition of “Broadway Baby” during which she briefly outlined her early theatre credits in between verses. Next she related a colorful story about her time in the Hair tribe, and her trepidation of having to be naked on stage, which led into “Easy to be Hard”. Next up was “Hello, Young Lovers” from The King and I, which she had played on the West End, and which she humorously had re-titled The Kings and Me, due to the seemly revolving door of actors playing the King.

Next, she related a story of meeting Dustin Hoffman early on in her career when she had doubts on pursuing her musical theatre career – she had related that he had given up pursuing a career as a concert pianist in favor of becoming an actor, and she credits Hoffman for giving her advice to keep at singing. This lead to her auditioning for a role coveted by every actress – the role of Eva Peron in Evita – and she proceeded to sing her audition song – the Beatles song “Yesterday”, which was sung much more dramatically than the original version; this naturally segued into the first of her signature songs, “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” from Evita. I should note that the accompaniment was a four member band playing the piano, string bass, guitar and various woodwinds (flute and alto saxophone). While not on a Broadway stage, it was thrilling to finally hear Ms. Paige sing this song live in New York, to which she quipped “it only took 35 years” for her to do so, which was rewarded with a rousing standing ovation. This was followed by “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard, which was the show in which she made her Broadway debut. I was fortunate to have seen her as Norma Desmond, and she was amazing in the role (I’ve discussed in a previous blog that I had cheered so much during her performance that I literally lost my voice and therefore physically unable to speak with her at the stage door). The song was also greeted with thunderous applause and a few people giving a standing ovation (myself included – Sunset Boulevard is one of my all time favorite musical scores).

Next up was a tongue in cheek song “Small Packages” written especially for her – as she is four-foot eleven in height, her dreams of being a “tall, leggy blonde” were out of the question, lamenting that she was too short for most of the leading roles but as the song reveals, thankfully for her, “Eva Peron was short”. Following this was another humorous story of her meeting the Queen Mother after a performance of Anything Goes, which led to a fantastic rendition of “I Get A Kick Out Of You” followed by the Noel Coward song “Mad About The Boy” (which she had recorded on her “Romance and the Stage” album), which she sang with the stylistic mannerisms of a socialite, a maid and a chanteuse singing of their fixation on a silent movie star.  This led to her discussion of her involvement in the development of Chess, singing “I Know Him So Well” as a solo song instead of as a duet as the song was originally sung. She then remarked on how she has played two roles that share the same initials as her own – Eva Peron and Edith Piaf, leading into a staccato-laden, declarative arrangement of “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” (which was originally arranged more lyrically and softer on her Piaf recording). Her final song was “If You Love Me” also from Piaf, which was a powerhouse of a rendition – I wish I had been able to have seen her in Piaf – this was greeted with much applause and another rousing standing ovation.

For her first encore, she related the story of how she had become involved in Cats, which (as she told the story) was unexpected and perhaps by fate – she told of how she had heard the radio DJ stating that the theme to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s [then] new musical would be played after the midnight news. Rushing home to tape the music off the radio, she relates how a bedraggled black cat found its way into her home and how that was a sign of good fortune (unlike how it is in the US). The next day she was contacted by Lloyd Webber to replace Judi Dench, who had suffered an injury and had to withdraw from the production. This led into a powerful rendition of her “other” signature song “Memory”, once again greeted with a huge standing ovation, and induced a second encore, which was an amazingly powerful rendition of “With One “Look”, from Sunset Boulevard.

Elaine Paige looking stunning in red.

 The stage door area was a bit crowded, with no visible barricades (though as it was a concert and not a stage performance, that wasn’t to surprising); when Ms. Paige came out (after waiting about twenty minutes or so) she was quickly ushered into her car, as her next concert was the next day. I don’t recall if she was able to sign anything, but those waiting out in the brisk evening were miffed that she was rushed off into her car. In fairness, her next venue was in New Jersey, and taking into account the fact that the clocks were to be set an hour ahead due to Daylight Savings, it made sense for her to rest up for her next concert – and at least she did exit out the stage door, so at least those waiting at the stage door were able to thank her for her wonderful concert.

This is the only photo I was able to take outside the stage door

I thoroughly enjoyed this concert, which touched upon the majority of her musical theatre career, and many of the stories she told during the concert I had heard several years ago when there was a book signing for her memoirs, Memories at Barnes & Noble. Her voice was as powerful and emotional as always, sustaining long notes with ease, and her banter was easygoing and witty (with the cultural word differences between England and America as a running theme).  I would have loved to have heard some of the pop and standards songs she has sung on her many solo recordings – perhaps she will be able to if she were to embark on another US concert tour.

Dear Paris

I could tell you that you make me feel on top of the world and that life has never been better, yet even so my friend, I would tell you but a fraction of what my thoughts are, convey to your discerning ears a mere shudder of the quake that trembles within me. The spring colours sing softly to my thoughts; the dainty kiss of the departing winter, the gentle thud of spring landing.

You have received me well, as you always do and we have wined, dined, defined and redefined as indeed we always do. I find you in pleasant health, bursting at the seams with energy and sophistication. Yet your sultry and cynical nature doth manifest themselves every now and again, but not for long enough for me to forget the love we share. As grass green and gentle to the scorching southern sun, I need you by day and I love you by night, I dance in the heat of our romance and shudder in your absence.

I am home again amongst the shadows that lay claim to me. They embrace me with plush sincerity, content to see me in their own special way as indeed I am to see them. Invariably, my heart is heavy and aloof, for Paris grand and gorgeous I miss you so. Till the next time we meet mon cherie, a teary adieu to you I bid.

Merci beaucoup Paris, I am yours forever.

C’est sûr que j’en mourrais,Que j’en mourrais d’amour, Mon amour, mon amour…

Ever since Lord Brougham was turned away at the France/Italy border-crossing in 1834 (due to an unfortunate case of “foot & mouth disease”) and by lucky chance  discovered the charm of the bay of Cannes with its unique microclimate – the French Riviera, or “the Côte”, has been a legendary destination.

Not only the azure blue color of the sea but, as many artist-residents explained, “it’s the light” which inspired the brilliantly coloured paintings by Matisse (in Nice), Renoir (in Cagnes), Picasso (in Vallauris), and particularly Chagall at St Paul de Vence, the old town which in itself may be the most interesting objective for any traveller, both for its physical presence and its various memories and meanings.

It is worth leaving the cities and dramatic coastline of the Riviera to drive into the valley of St Paul de Vence. This once frontier-town, situated between France and the former state of Savoy, sits comfortably around the upper contours of the hill slope, rising to a high point at the ancient chapel tower and still surrounded by the ramparts of the defensive wall.For many moments of the day, it looks from a distance like a floating mirage, a ghost from the past. In fact, although lovingly preserved and only accessible on foot, the town could not be more alive and is much used both by permanent residents and transient visitors.

Before reaching the approach to the main gateway, the huge letter “M” of welded steel beams by Alexander Calder points away from the town towards the celebrated Maeght Foundation, one of the most valuable contemporary collections of European 20th Century art.

Founded by Aimé Maeght in 1964, it contains, amongst many others, works by Chagall and a whole courtyard of 60 Giacometti bronze sculptures, including two of his famed “Walking Men”.Asked to describe Giacometti, Chagall once explained “he feels profound forces of nature.!”In 2010, a Giacometti “Walking Man” ,“l’homme qui marche”, was sold by Sotheby’s in London for a then record breaking £62M – cheered on by the late Aimé’s granddaughter Yoyo  who later said that her feeling at the time was “Bravo Papi!…. and after that, of course, I was furious because I thought of the insurance!” (Referring to how much she’d have to insure the two remaining ones in the courtyard, never mind the rest of the sculptures there!).

If instead of taking the turn towards Maeght, one continues towards the historic town, the outstanding landmarks on its approach are the Colombe d’Or and the Café de la Place – each an unforgettable destination in itself.

The Colombe d’Or, a comfortable but rustic hotel/restaurant, came into its own when the Côte became the center of bohemian artistic France.Matisse, Chagall and Picasso were regulars at the inn and the Roux family owners built up a now fabled personal collection  by accepting paintings and sculptures, from the then unknown artists, in lieu of payment for hospitality.  The collection is still displayed in the dining room walls.

There, it is rumored, Chagall exchanged words with Picasso. The latter had suggested “when Matisse dies, Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what color really is” – to which Chagall countered saying “what a genius that Picasso, it is a pity he doesn’t paint”.

Amongst the many famous guests were Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, Greta Garbo, Jean Paul Sartres and Simone de Beauvoir, Sophia Loren, Catherine Deneuve, Peter Ustinov, and many more.The actor Yves Montand and later Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones liked the unique ambience so much that they even had their wedding receptions there.

Looking at the town from the valley below, is the 17^th century farmhouse of Bill Wyman, whilst Roger Moore, after his James Bond appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, purchased a home nearby and was a regular at the Colombe d’Or with his actor friend and restaurateur Michael Caine, until forced to relocate to Monte Carlo when his 3^rd marriage broke down.

On many occasions the Café de la Place across the road from the Colombe d’Or saw a cheerful crowd on the terrace cheering Yves Montand on to victory, in the boules/pétanques game played on the Grande Place in front of it – and roaring with laughter when the losers had to kiss a ceramic lady’s bottom, known as “Fanny”, hidden behind red velvet curtains near the bar.

It is this atmosphere that attracts visitors to St Paul from around the world, making it possibly the single most visited town along the whole French Riviera with something to offer to everyone in its antique shows, art galleries, original souvenirs,panoramic views and a living record of the past.

Food trucks arrive. Channel District. Tampa, Florida. By Paul Goldfinger, 2012

CAMILLE. A French singer of Parisian street songs recorded Le Festin (tr: the feast) for the Disney film “Ratatouille”

Here is a partial translation:

“Dreams are to lovers as wine is to friends

Carried through lifetimes, (and) spilled now and then

I am driven by hunger, so saddened to be

Thieving in darkness; I know you’re not pleased

But nothing worth eating is free”

style.com

Two out of five stars.  This collection was not a RTW but an intimates collection.  The Louis Vuitton collection showed robes and silk undergarments with a touch of 50′s Edith Piaf.  Models wore black wigs with short bangs, dark eye shadow, and dark red lips.  Small flowers (usually seen on old fashioned bed sheets) were printed on silk undergarments with lace added on edges.  The collection had a vintage feel to it with off-white, grey, brown, and other toned down colors.

Marc Jacobs slacked off for both his main collection and also for the Louis Vuitton collection for the Autumn ’13.

To view the whole collection visit here.

On Wednesday 13 March, Southbank Centre will be hosting a very special concert to celebrate the life and music of the legendary French singer Edith Piaf.

The evening will be narrated by the Eastenders star June Brown and will feature performances of Piaf’s most famous songs including La Vie En Rose and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. Lead singer Eva Stanley-Jones will be accompanied by The Matthew Jones Orchestra, as well as a choir made up of local singers. We caught with Eva ahead of the show

What are you looking forward to about your forthcoming appearance at Southbank Centre?
The little black dress, the stillness, La croix, the brass section, the timpani, the DRAMA! I could go on . . .

Can you tell us a bit about your background and the music that you will be performing?
My musical background lies primarily in soul and easy-listening ballads; having performed the works of Dusty Springfield, Karen Carpenter and all the greats from the 60′s/70′s. Needless to say, when cast for acting roles, I was always given the more ‘complex’ characters.

Piaf’s music tells a story. Each piece is filled with the raw truths of love & loss. With lyrics that are profound, yet shocking and melodies that literally make you laugh, and then cry; I would say the music of Piaf is an art-form in itself.

What is it about the music of Edith Piaf that inspires you?
L’amour – the unwavering love that she carries through her repertoire; even in the darkest pieces of music.

And is there a work that is for you, emotionally, especially important?
Hymn to Love (If you love me, really love me). The song demonstrates an immense sacrifice in life, in order to retain ones love. The simplicity of the lyrics is perhaps what makes this piece so powerful.

Is there another talent or skill that you would like to possess?
Perhaps to sing in Russian and Chinese.

If you could programme your ideal Southbank Centre show, which artists (living or dead) would you bring together?
Edith Piaf (First and foremost) accompanied by Dusty Springfield, Andy Williams, Robin Gibb, Karen Carpenter & Amy Winehouse; is there a limit?

Do you have any strange rituals you carry out before or after you perform?
Well, I’ve started gargling strong, black coffee before I step into character as Piaf. Some might call this method-acting, but it actually helps. (Perhaps that’s the key to those rolling RRRRR’s)

What are your 3 most listened to pieces of music at the moment?
La Mome Piaf, Edith Piaf & The Little Sparrow!

This is the second performance of Piaf – The Concert, the first of which took place on 10th February at the Birmingham Town Hall. For a special preview of what you can expect to see at the show take a look at the itv website.

Visit our website to book tickets for Piaf -The Concert

If you have been to an Andrea Bocelli concert you will previously know some of his most popular songs and addresses. The forthcoming album will also element some classics included by Bocelli in addition to new tracks that the lovers will adore. It will also contain a digital duet of “La Vie en rose” with the late French singer Edith Piaf. Passione is in essence the next volume of the album Amore, so if you cherished it you will appreciate this. Amore showcased timeless Mediterranean operates just like Passione with music these as “Love Me Tender”.

Andrea Bocelli is an legendary determine in tunes with a profitable job due to the fact he was found in 1992 and his d??but album Il Mare Calmo della Sera in 1994. He has numerous achievements and is nevertheless breaking records to this day. An Andrea Bocelli concert is certain to be marketed out in a subject of hrs as they are in high need and he frequently performs lesser personal live shows throughout Italy. The Italian tenor is the most productive classical solo artist as he is one particular of the finest-providing artists in all audio not just classical tunes, with much more than 80 million albums bought around the globe. He has also effectively crossed in excess of classical music into mainstream tunes charts and produced several classical music enthusiasts by way of his tracks and international attractiveness.

There are many concert events over the next few months for the release of Bocelli’s new album and it would be a disgrace to pass up out on an Andrea Bocelli concert as they are an unforgettable experience and certainly a Best ten Oscar – Best Actress Predictions night time to bear in mind. There are concerts throughout Europe, generally in Italy. While he will also be performing a handful of exhibits throughout the US in Colorado and California.

(refrain) Allez, venez, Milord
Vous asseoir à ma table
Il fait si froid dehors,
Ici c’est confortable
Laissez-vous faire, Milord
Et prenez bien vos aises
Vos peines sur mon coeur
Et vos pieds sur une chaise
Je vous connais, Milord
Vous n’m'avez jamais vue
Je ne suis qu’une fille du port
Qu’une ombre de la rue…

Pourtant j’vous ai frôlé
Quand vous passiez hier
Vous n’étiez pas peu fier
Dame! Le ciel vous comblait

Votre foulard de soie
Flottant sur vos épaules
Vous aviez le beau rôle
On aurait dit le roi…

Vous marchiez en vainqueur
Au bras d’une demoiselle
Mon Dieu, qu’elle était belle !
J’en ai froid dans le coeur

(refrain)

Dire qu’il suffit parfois
Qu’il y ait un navire
Pour que tout se déchire
Quand le navire s’en va

Il emmenait avec lui
La douce aux yeux si tendres
Qui n’a pas su comprendre
Qu’elle brisait votre vie

L’amour, ça fait pleurer
Comme quoi l’existence
Ça vous donne toutes les chances
Pour les reprendre après

Allez, venez, Milord !
Vous avez l’air d’un môme
Laissez-vous faire, Milord
Venez dans mon royaume

Je soigne les remords
Je chante la romance
Je chante les milords
Qui n’ont pas eu de chance !

Regardez-moi, Milord
Vous n’m'avez jamais vue…
Mais vous pleurez, Milord ?
Ça, je l’aurai jamais cru

Eh ben, voyons, Milord !
Souriez-moi, Milord !
Mieux qu’ça! Un petit effort…
Voilà, c’est ça !
Allez, riez, Milord !
Allez, chantez, Milord !
La-la-la… Mais oui, dansez, Milord !
La-la-la… Bravo, Milord !
La-la-la… Encore, Milord!… La-la-la…

(chorus)
Come along, Milord!
Sit at my table;
It is so cold, outside,
Here it’s comfortable.
Relax, Milord
And make yourself at ease,
Your troubles on my heart
And your feet on a chair
I know you, Milord,
You’ve never seen me,
I’m just a girl from the docks,
Just a shadow of the street…

Yet, I crossed you,
While you were passing yesterday,
You were so proud,
God! The sky made you perfect:

Your silk scarf
Floating on your shoulders,
You were so beautiful
You could have been mistaken for the king…
You were walking victoriously

A woman on your arm,
My God! … How beautiful she was…
It makes my blood run cold…

(chorus)

Sometimes it’s just enough
For there to be a boat
To make everything fall apart
When the boat leaves…
It brought away with it
The sweet girl with the tender eyes
Who didn’t understand
She was ruining your life
Love, makes one cry
And life
Gives you all your chances
To take them back afterwards…

Come along, Milord!
You look like a kid!
Relax, Milord,
Come into my kingdom:
I heal remorse,
I sing romance,
I sing about milords,
who are unlucky!
Look at me, Milord,
You’ve never seen me before…
…But…You’re crying, Milord?
That…I would never have believed it!…

Ah, well, there there, Milord!
Smile at me, Milord!
…Better than that! A bit of effort…
There we are!
Come along, laugh, Milord!
Come along, sing, Milord!
La-la-la…
Yes, dance, Milord!
La-la-la… Bravo Milord!
La-la-la… Encore Milord! … La-la-la…

In addition, our listening capabilities are not what they need to be. When someone else is talking, as an alternative of listening thoroughly, we are frequently contemplating about what we are likely to say when it is really our switch. We utter a reply that perhaps entirely irrelevant just so we can get to our very own likelihood to talk. Moreover, our interpretation of the words utilized may well be different so we each hear what was mentioned in dissimilar techniques.

I have not stated nearly anything here that you do not by now know, but it really is some thing we all require to consider about. How can we comprehend what other people are expressing when there are so quite a few restrictions on conversation and how can we anticipate them to understand us?

In my view it has to do with listening and caring. Staying knowledgeable is crucial. What are they saying with terms, body language, intention, inflection, and so on.? Provide your entire self to the discussion and truly hear. If it really is an important discussion, give responses these as, “If I recognize you effectively, you are stating…” Give them a likelihood to respond.

Robert McCloskey expressed it succinctly when he mentioned, “I know that you believe that you realize what you believe I claimed, but I’m not absolutely sure you recognize that what you read is not what I meant.”

Looking for french appreciate phrases and special concepts for expressing romance?

I enjoy you in french (je t’aime) are words and phrases you are in all probability currently acquainted with. So what other french really like phrases could you use (that are a bit much more authentic?)

For anything limited and sweet, you could test:

• amour de ma vie (enjoy of my life)
• je t’aime de tout mon coeur (I really like you with all my heart) or
• a toi, pour toujours (yours endlessly).

Mon cher (referring to dude), ma ch&egravere (referring to lady) means my expensive there are some quite sweet kinds also, like ma cocotte (which basically indicates my hen, but approximately translated is darling, honey, or babe .

Other charming strategies to speak to your sweetie is by calling them mon chou (my pastry) or ma puce (my flea).

But probably you’re hunting for some thing that goes significantly deeper than this (right after all…enjoy can be challenging!) French love prices and french love poems are good sources of inspiration.

Enjoy more!
When love is gone, hope escapes us.
Love is the cry of the dawn
Really like is the hymn of edith piaf charles dumont the night

The most coronary heart-rending minute of the motion picture is for the duration of her closing effectiveness at the Olympia, when she sings a tune which she believes most sums up her existence, “Non je ne regrette rien” which is similar to Frank Sinatra singing “My Way.” “No, I 50 ans edith piaf regret absolutely nothing,” the sparrow warbles, for via almost everything, she has tasted enjoy.

Uneori, in viata asta, se aliniaza planetele intr-un asa fel, incat ai parte de niste momente de n-ai sa le uiti niciodata. Intr-un weekend, acum multi ani, am mers la mare cu Andrei si Andreea. A fost un weekend de pomina sau, in termeni moderni, pentru astia mai mici, EPIC! Daca n-ar citi si mama, as scrie mai multe. Eh, pe drum, Andrei facea si pe soferul si pe DJ-ul, ajutat de Andreea. Eu stateam in spate, asa ca nu aveam prea multe de spus cu privire la muzica, in schimb imi turuia gura, cum imi turuie si acum. Pe vremea aia, autostrada mergea numai pana la Cernavoda si apoi se facea o mare curba si un sens giratoriu si intrai pe drumul cu o singura banda pe sensul de mers. Inainte sa iesim de pe autostrada, incepe sa se auda Edith Piaf – Je ne regrette rien:

A fost un super moment in care muzica era la maxim, trompetele tineau ritmul atat de frumos si masina mergea pe soseaua aia curba. De cate ori trec pe acolo, imi amintesc de asta. Si cred ca e valabil si pentru Andrei si Andreea.

Un alt moment de fericire din asta spontana s-a petrecut tot intr-o vara, acum cativa ani, tot la mare, pe plaja langa o cherhana. Mancarea delicioasa, dar prea multa, m-a facut sa nu-mi mai vina sa conduc, ci sa zac intr-un sezlong pana imi trece lenea. Sa-mi fac siesta, ca sa zic asa. Era noapte deja, si miiiilioane de stele pe cer, si ditamai luna, si un yacht tocmai acosta langa plaja si o familie tare draguta de straini, cu copii blonzi si parinti simpatici, a venit la mal cu o barca si mi-au zambit.

Un alt moment de neuitat, desi nu cred ca am avut vreo fericire spontana atunci, a fost intr-o noapte, cand nu puteam dormi, desi imi era super somn si, pe undeva, un iPad avea un playlist de chill sau somn usor sau nu stiu exact, si, pe cand ma enervam ca poate din cauza muzicii nu pot dormi, am auzit Bebe-Siempre me quedara:

Apoi m-am chinuit sa inteleg si sa retin versuri ca sa stiu ce sa caut a doua zi. Dupa care am adormit liiiin ca un bebe, cu melodia in minte si in suflet.

Si mai am: that one time cand a plouat de-a rupt afara si eu am stat cu Pufi in brate si ne-am uitat la fulgere, that one time cand Tiffy a dormit pe pieptul meu ca eram broken hearted, that one time cand, dupa ce am pierdut snowboardul, niste oameni de treaba mi l-au recuperat si eu m-am ridicat singura pe el, fara sa cad in rapa si fara ajutor(o sa scriu maine despre asta, ca a fost ieri), that EVERY time cand spune cineva o gluma si rad tare si colorat pentru ca ma simt bine, that one weekend in care am ras cu Andreea de am facut febra musculara(am posturile inca), that other time cand Andreea m-a inveselit langa bradul de Craciun cu “MăRyan”(era unu’ pe care il chema Marian si s-a recomandat Ryan), that one time cand eu si Alexandra ne doream niste tunsori si coafeza ne-a tuns invers, that one time cand Adi de la 3 m-a sarutat pe botic la el in scara, that one time cand m-a luat profa de romana in brate pentru ca am impartit corect fraza in propozitii, that one time cand f a zis “pun pariu ca e prietenul lui imaginar” si eu eram “I was gonna say that”, that one time cand am luat 11 pe lucrarea de istorie, that one night I received my iPhone and then that other day that it was a white one, that one time cand Ioana a ras de BradPitt de la scara 3 and we became friends, that one time cand m-am aruncat cu talent in apa de pe o stanca, that one time cand cineva mi-a zis “te pup fara niciun motiv, se poate?”, that one time cand l-am impresionat pe tata cu skillurile mele de sofer, that one time eu si vara-miu am crezut ca vedem o nava extraterestra intr-o noapte, pe cand eram la tara, cocotati pe acoperis, that one time cand, pe plaja la Durankulak, Andi m-a ajutat sa stau in cap pe nisip, that one time cand niste catei se jucau pe un petic de iarba verde…

Fericirea sta in popcorn…

This is the third time I’ve seen this play with music and it varies little by production; whether that’s faithfulness to the script or no room for directorial concept, I don’t know. Paul Kerryson’s seemed a touch faster paced and a bit cruder (but that might have been a reaction to the lady in front of us who was clearly horrified by its rudeness). The design and staging are simple but effective, as they need to be given the number of scenes, and that puts the story centre stage.

We move c.30 years from the young street singer to the international star’s untimely death. In between, her neediness is manifested in drink, drugs and men; her addictive personality means she can’t get enough of any of them and is herself abused in the process. Somehow she manages to, or maybe because of this she does, produce a catalogue of songs with an emotional depth most songwriters would envy, and perform them with a conviction like each was for one time only.

The success of the play does of course depend on the leading lady and Frances Ruffelle is outstanding as Piaf, both dramatically and musically. In this production, the roles of friend Madelein and colleague Marlene seem further to the fore, and this may well be because Tiffany Graves is simply superb as both. The supporting cast of six men and just one woman play all the other people in her life and do so uniformly well; no weak links here.

It was good to see it again, and good to visit Leicester Curve’s studio space for the first time. I hope the lucky people of Leicester know just how lucky they are – West End quality for half the price.

Francoise Hardy – Ton Meilleur Ami 

Isabelle Pierre – Le Temps Est Bon 

Jacques Brel – Le Cheval

Edith Piaf – La Foule 

Ben L’Oncle Soul – Petite Soeur 

Jacques Brel – Les Bourgeois 

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg – Je T’aime,… Moi Non Plus

Today , I want to share with you all my top  5 favorite french songs  

1. Prendre L’air – Shym
2. Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore – Celine Dion 
   
3. Tous Les Garcons et Les Filles - Francoise Hardy 
4. Je Suis Moi- Shym 
5. Hymne à L’Amour - Édith Piaf

The songs listed above are more or less in the order that I like them. Click the name of the song to hear the song. 

Share your favorite songs with me ! I love discovering new songs !

Also , these songs are helpful for listening and vocabulary . Listening to french songs even helps to understand different sentence structures or dialects

What are  your favorite songs?

★★★★

by Chris Bridges | 2nd March 2013

I don’t know about you, but I like my torch singers’ lives to be at least a little bit touched by tragedy. It makes their impassioned performances so much more compelling if, like Garland, Piaf or Cass, they lived fast and died young. ‘Piaf’ demonstrates this classic motif by depicting the extraordinary life of a great icon of music. From growing up in a brothel, to singing on street corners through to a glittering career with more than a whiff of scandal, a string of doomed romances and all followed by addiction and subsequent early death: Edith Piaf certainly lived up to the role of tragic heroine.

Award-winning actress Frances Ruffelle, one of the original stars of Les Miserables, plays the title role with panache. Her performance is compelling and powerful, giving us a glimpse of the vulnerability beneath Piaf’s bawdy and raucous exterior. Ruffelle has a hypnotic stage presence and her singing is enough to mesmerize even the most restless audience member. At times, I felt I was almost watching Piaf herself as Ruffelle belted out a portion of her repertoire.

The play itself is cunningly staged with a versatile and rapidly changing set and a small ensemble managing to pull off playing a vast array of characters. My only criticism is with the play itself, which is fast paced and wide ranging in the ground it covers and as such, loses a little in terms of atmosphere and emotion.

I’d definitely recommend a trip to Leicester’s Curve to see this play and catch the rare opportunity to see a truly amazing performance by a stellar name in musical theatre.

The show runs until the 16th of March

Book here: http://www.curveonline.co.uk/curve.php?view=showinfo.php&showid=404

via Blog http://www.thegayuk.com/lifestyle/4560090578/THEATRE-REVIEW-PIAF/5051031

Related articles

• Photo Flash: Sneak Peek at Frances Ruffelle and More in Rehearsals for PIAF (westend.broadwayworld.com)
• Patricia Kaas announces special London show – Kaas Chante Piaf Finale (hangout.altsounds.com)
• Graves Joins Ruffelle In PIAF, At The Curve, Leicester? (westend.broadwayworld.com)

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=982

Sophia Coppola has directed another film for Dior’s Miss Dior eau de toilette perfume series. This one, titled Le Vie En Rose features Natalie Portman frolicking in a fountain, swimming while accessorised, riding around the suburbs in a classic convertible and descending staircases to embrace her awaiting tuxedo’d man-love like a true-blue Pasadena debutante. Of course, literal translation of both fragrance name and the accompanying music (a pop cover of the Edith Piaf original)  demands a plethora of roses.

Coppola and Dior once again prove to be a match made in fragrance advertisement heaven, and Dior can count another tally in the success box.  Watch the campaign for yourself.

I also love that a series of behind the scene images were posted on the Dior Website allowing a glimpse into the reality behind the fantasy. What we see on screen…

And the reality… Just one big happy road trip. Natalie and man love up front, and Director, rig and Camera Operator crammed into the back seat. Are we there yet?

On a side note, Dior sure managed to back the winning horse! 3 months ago, who could have predicted that Jennifer Lawrence (an initially odd choice for the face of Dior) was going to make a clean sweep of the Hollywood trophies and catapult herself onto the global stage? Naturally, she wore Dior on the red carpets.