zaterdag 30 mei 2009

Winner (1): Georges & Youssou


Thanks for all your contributions to the Gentils Garçons giveaway. I picked three winners. This is from Brazilian correspondent Luciane:

I'm very much a beginner when it comes to french music. So, to me, listening to a new song is like tasting a new and unimaginable flavor of macaron. It always surprises me and the macaron jar is colorful and never-ending. Sometimes, a little rush of the heart can be heard through and through. That's when I know I've found a unique flavor. And such was the case when I first heard (and saw) Georges Brassens
singing Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux.

Now, as an absolute beginner, you might be wondering how I found him. Easy: the same way you can find Jobim. I first heard "Il n'y a pas..." in the voice of Youssou N'Dour. Something about his accent, I love to hear him in french. And when he sang "mon bel amour, mon cher amour, ma déchirure," I had to know who had written such a thing. Et voilà, there he was waiting for me, Georges Brassens.

Hearing him, watching him, the clear purity of his emotion, it was all so honest and bare that my heart skipped a beat. If you had asked my name, I would have said "déchirure." I was hypnotized by his voice, his guitar, his eyes... There is no happiness in love, is there?...

You can play several different scenarios in your head and this song still fits. Is it a garden on a clear day? Is it a hopeless full moon night? Is it you, pulling her by the arm as she walks out on you? Or is it the garçon you spot in the same coffee shop, always carrying three books at a time, impeccable suit?... By the way, the very visual beauty of the lyrics were inspired in a poem by Louis Aragon.

If there is a balm for a love injury, or even the anticipation that it will end and it will hurt, this song is it. Classic, timeless, Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux.

Georges Brassens - Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux
Youssou N'Dour - Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux

3 opmerkingen:

  1. Françoise Hardy sings is as well. Of course, Georges rules. What a nice guest post!

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  2. And let's not forget Danielle Darrieux in "8 femmes" (nice cello)!

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  3. Elodie Frégé too, and Feist, ofcourse. A great song, sung by great people, that's what it is

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