-
Rugby vocabulary to know if watching the Six Nations in France
From un tampon to une cathédrale, understand the meaning of key French rugby terms
-
How joining a choir in rural France helped me build a new life after retirement
Connexion reader Abigail Gammie explains how singing offered a fun way to make friends – and learn the language
-
Duck Cold! Four French phrases to use when it is freezing outside
We remind you of French expressions to use to describe the drop in temperature
French Music review: summer memories
Various artists Souvenirs d’été, Volumes 1 and 2
The first CD volume of streaming service Deezer’s ‘Memories of summer’ covers compilation came out a couple of years back (left, price €9.99 in Fnac).
Among the artists included were Feu! Chatterton having fun with Patrick Coutin’s 1981 hit J’aime regarder les filles and Thérapie Taxi’s cool take on Christophe’s 1965 hit Aline.
The compilation offered a great combination of modern pop artists giving their take on big hits as well as (often kitsch) chanson française classics – and thereby opening up both elements to a potential new audience.
Now the second volume has been released, and it provides an equally eclectic and enjoyable bunch of songs by 13 contemporary French artists.
Among the stand-outs is Julien Granel’s Partir un jour, originally a hi-tempo 1997 hit by 2Be3 but brought down a notch into moody, cool ambience by Granel.
At least one song is an improvement on the original offering: Marie Flore provides a sophisticated reworking of Au Soleil – a sunny smash for young singer Jenifer in 2007 – lending some emotional heft lacking in the too-jolly original about a breakup.
