No idea how to pronounce 'Hiripsimé' properly (with or without the 'H'?). It's her real name, and to me it sounds like something you shout whilst singing a Happy Birthday-kind of song - it does sound like 'hip hip hooray', no? Amazingly, Hiripsimé (of Armenian descent) is 40 years old, and Les Portes is her first album. She's a trained violinist, can play guitar as well and was brought up listening to Azanavour (ofcourse, he's Armenian too) and Paco de Lucia. In some review I read the term 'arabo-andalouse', which is a very fitting description of her music. It captures the flamenco-strumming, and the mysterious Arabic melodies. At times these influences are watered down for popconsumption (or Western ears), alas. Next time less compromise, more roots please!
Hiripsimé - Tu Me Manques
Hiripsimé - Si Je Te Dis D'Où Je Viens
In other news: if you can read Dutch, here is my explanation of my obsession for French singing girls, in a piece for new cultural magazine Zuiderlucht.
De Franse manier zou volgens mij zijn: ieriepsieMEE (de klemtoon altijd aan het einde) (sorry for the dutch post, but otherwise I didn't know how to explain)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenyes, I thougth about that (in english: ee-rip-see-máy), but because of her Armenian roots, it could also be something like 'Rips'may'. Oh well.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIf Guuzbourg can bring a new great artist into your life, then the day was sweetly worth it <3
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThanks! ^_^
Heel mooi, dat stukje uit "Zuiderlucht"! Spread the word, hallelujah!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenNice article! What a surprise to find such a cool article in Zuiderlucht! Is it just me or is french music slowly getting more popular in Holland?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBeen an avid reader of this blog for a year or so. For some strange reason Hiripsimé is the first artist featured here that I will go and hunt down a CD with.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThanks! :)