This article was first published on CLUAS in Jan 2006

French Letter: Rock in France

Voulez-Vous Rocker Avec Moi? Aidan casts his eye on French rock scene...

Aidan Curran, a CLUAS writer since 2004, is now based in Paris from where he files the 'French Letter' column

As I sit on a terrasse sipping my caf?allong?/i> and watching Parisian commuters scowl at tourists, I reflect on the many wonderful things about life in France ? excellent food; streets alive with history and art; Juliette Binoche.

Unfortunately, being the CLUAS correspondent in Paris involves listening to a lot of French alternative music ? and French alternative music is quite dire. Jacques le Frenchman can effortlessly turn leftovers into haute cuisine, clothes into couture, movies into nouvelle vague. Give him a guitar, though, and suddenly he loses all sense of style, sophistication or self-consciousness. Three minutes of squirming embarrassment and nostalgia for roadworks is usually the reaction of Anglophones forced to listen to Noir Desir (whose lead singer is currently in jail for manslaughter), M (a glam rocker who wears his hair in the shape of an M. Seriously!), Louise Attaque (a strangely-named an all-male band) and the like.

Of course, French people love good guitar music too. Arcade Fire, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Interpol ? French music fans love all the acts that are popular in Britain and Ireland, and the NME-front-cover barometer of hot new acts is watched closely by the Paris music press. Yet French acts that would be idolised by indie-kids in other countries (I can recommend The Married Monk, a Breton band who sometimes play with Yann 'Amelie-soundtrack' Tiersen) merely scrape a living on the college circuit. Meanwhile, more and more bland rockers roll off the production line to almost instant and unopposed deification (my own pet hate is a completely tuneless group called Mickey 3-D who seem to be worshipped on French indie radio). Why does a country of otherwise sophisticated people make such awful music?

Compared to the reserved nature of people from the northern pop-producing countries ? Britain, Sweden, Canada and the north-eastern United States ? the French tend to be more demonstrative and vocal in public, like Mediterranean cultures. People here love debating and discussing, whether at the dinner table or on television, and their music shows a similar love for storytelling and expressing strong opinions or emotions. Rap, for instance, has really taken off in France ? especially given the current social climate of disaffected ghettoised youth. It's a form that naturally appeals to the French love of public debate.

To French audiences across all musical genres, interesting lyrics are more important than catchy melodies ? and it shows. The songs of Georges Brassens, a hugely popular folk singer from the 60s, sound more like recited poems to any Anglophone brought up with The Beatles or U2 in their subconsciousness. His modern-day equivalent, a nauseatingly bad singer-songer called Raphael, makes James Blunt sound like Joni Mitchell.

The sense of style and fashion we associate with France also explains why its electronica (a good beginner's guide is the excellent 'My House In Montmartre' compilation) is so influential ? what else sounds like the natural soundtrack to the catwalks of Paris or the exclusive nightclubs on the Cote d'Azur? But rock is reactionary - and French rockers seem to react against the cooler-than-thee national stereotype by glorifying passion, authenticity and ordinariness. However, sang froid, panache and je ne sais quoi are French qualities celebrated by the rest of the world in our rock icons, from Elvis through Bowie and up to the art-school arrogance of today's new guitar bands. To rebel against these ideas is to miss the whole point of being in a band in the first place.

Maybe France is just not good at rock music (Ireland can't claim to be much better, by the way ? The Cranberries are still remembered fondly here?). However, given that they tend to excel at everything else ? with the Six Nations and World Cup in mind ? their response would probably be a typically Gallic shrug and a ? m'est ?al ('I couldn't care less').

Aidan Curran

Other French Letter columns (from 2006 through to March 2007)

St. Patrick's day 2007 & Irish music in France...
Dateline: March 2007

March and Saint Patrick's Day, when the expat's thoughts turn home. But don't fear that the lavish CLUAS Foreign Correspondent Expense Account is being wasted on homesick yearning for Tayto Crisps, Barry's Tea and TG4 weathergirls. Not at all! Instead, we're taking the opportunity to see how Irish acts are getting on in France these days. And hurrah! They're getting on very well! Read the full article...

Best French Music of 2006...
Dateline: December 2006

In China apparently they curse you with "may you live in interesting times". Here in France in 2006, times are very interesting - and you wouldn't miss it for the world. The country has been shaken by protests, adrenalised and then traumatised by the World Cup, smitten by S?ol?e... and the soundtrack has been fantastic. Read the full article...

Prix Constantine: France's most prestigious contemporary music honour...
Dateline: November 2006

France's most prestigious contemporary music honour, the Prix Constantin, was presented at a ceremony in the Olympia theatre in Paris on 15 November last. The prize, named in memory of a late French music industry talent-spotter, is awarded annually to an artist or group who has come to prominence during the year. The ceremony consisted of a concert featuring ten short-listed acts, before the announcement of the winner and successor to Camille, last year's laureate. Read the full article...

La Rentr? 2006: what's stirring in the French music scene...
Dateline: September 2006

'september in France means ?la rentr?? (literally, ?the return?), when everybody goes back to school, work and normal life after the whole country was practically shut down for the month of August. France's pop stars are also packing away their beach towels and getting back to the studio and stage. Autumn 2006 will see a flurry of activity on the French music scene. Read the full article...

The latest Parisian bands angling for indie stardom...
Dateline: August 2006

?Paris Calling? is the name of a 2006 compilation album and a subsequent showcase gig in the French capital. As the Clash-alluding title suggests, the half-dozen or so bands involved see themselves as parishioners in the broad church of punk and new wave ? and mass is in English. Photos are black-and-white, blurry and taken either in a crowded venue or against a blank wall. Read the full article...

Phoenix ready to make it big?
Dateline: July 2006

It's hard to concentrate on music at the moment when football, wonderful football, is demanding all your love and attention. The French rock scene, however, could soon have its own international champions before the end of the summer. Phoenix, from Versailles, have just released their third album "It's Never Been Like That" and big things are expected of them. Read the full article...

Rap and its constructive role in French society.
Dateline: May 2006

So far this year there have been high-profile clashes on the streets of Paris lately between police and students protesting at the centre-right government's controversial labour laws aimed at the 18-25 age bracket. Following weeks of strikes, protests, student sit-ins, streetfighting, burning cars and omnipresent riot-police, the proposed laws were eventually scrapped. Read the full article...

The French success of Irishman Perry Blake.
Dateline: April 2006

I braved the paddywagons around the Sorbonne last week to head to my favourite Parisian book- and record-store, Gibert Joseph halfway up the boulevard Saint Michel. There, I found a display for the new release by an Irish singer described on his album's promo sticker as 'le dernier dandy romantique' ('the last romantic dandy'). This wasn't the new Van Morrison record, then. Read the full article...

Irish music, as understood by the French...
Dateline: March 2006

So it's March again, the month when a certain green-tinted festival will be celebrated around the world by ex-pats and non-Pats alike. France too will join in the fun. Last year, posters plastered across every metro station in Paris were promoting a huge St Patrick's night concert at Bercy, the equivalent of The Point. The advertising featured a young red-haired dancer, Book-of-Kells typeface and a list of Celtic regions - Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Man... but not Ireland! Surely some mistake? Read the full article...

Hallyday & Gainsbourg back in the news?
Dateline: January 2006

Not to be confused with the Dublin-based cabaret singer of the same name, Camille and her album 'Le Fil' won the prestigious Prix Constantine for the most promising new act to emerge onto the French scene in 2005. Sounding both petulant and warm at once, this single is idiosyncratic and likeable. An approximate transcription of the backing vocal is 'splutter-groan-squeal-belch-fart'. Read the full article...

Voulez-Vous Rocker Avec Moi? The French rock scene.
Dateline: January 2006

As I sit on a terrasse sipping my caf?allong?and watching Parisian commuters scowl at tourists, I reflect on the many wonderful things about life in France ? excellent food; streets alive with history and art; Juliette Binoche. Unfortunately, being the CLUAS correspondent in Paris involves listening to a lot of French alternative music ? and French alternative music is quite dire. Read the full article...

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*St. Patrick's day 2007 & Irish music in France...*	Dateline: March 2007
March and Saint Patrick's Day, when the expat's thoughts turn home. But don't fear that the lavish CLUAS Foreign Correspondent Expense Account is being wasted on homesick yearning for Tayto Crisps, Barry's Tea and TG4 weathergirls. Not at all! Instead, we're taking the opportunity to see how Irish acts are getting on in France these days. And hurrah! They're getting on very well! Read the full article...
*Best French Music of 2006...*	Dateline: December 2006
In China apparently they curse you with "may you live in interesting times". Here in France in 2006, times are very interesting - and you wouldn't miss it for the world. The country has been shaken by protests, adrenalised and then traumatised by the World Cup, smitten by S?ol?e... and the soundtrack has been fantastic. Read the full article...
*Prix Constantine: France's most prestigious contemporary music honour...*	Dateline: November 2006
France's most prestigious contemporary music honour, the Prix Constantin, was presented at a ceremony in the Olympia theatre in Paris on 15 November last. The prize, named in memory of a late French music industry talent-spotter, is awarded annually to an artist or group who has come to prominence during the year. The ceremony consisted of a concert featuring ten short-listed acts, before the announcement of the winner and successor to Camille, last year's laureate. Read the full article...
*La Rentr? 2006: what's stirring in the French music scene...*	Dateline: September 2006
'september in France means ?la rentr?? (literally, ?the return?), when everybody goes back to school, work and normal life after the whole country was practically shut down for the month of August. France's pop stars are also packing away their beach towels and getting back to the studio and stage. Autumn 2006 will see a flurry of activity on the French music scene. Read the full article...
*The latest Parisian bands angling for indie stardom...*	Dateline: August 2006
?Paris Calling? is the name of a 2006 compilation album and a subsequent showcase gig in the French capital. As the Clash-alluding title suggests, the half-dozen or so bands involved see themselves as parishioners in the broad church of punk and new wave ? and mass is in English. Photos are black-and-white, blurry and taken either in a crowded venue or against a blank wall. Read the full article...
*Phoenix ready to make it big?*	Dateline: July 2006
It's hard to concentrate on music at the moment when football, wonderful football, is demanding all your love and attention. The French rock scene, however, could soon have its own international champions before the end of the summer. Phoenix, from Versailles, have just released their third album "It's Never Been Like That" and big things are expected of them. Read the full article...
*Rap and its constructive role in French society.*	Dateline: May 2006
So far this year there have been high-profile clashes on the streets of Paris lately between police and students protesting at the centre-right government's controversial labour laws aimed at the 18-25 age bracket. Following weeks of strikes, protests, student sit-ins, streetfighting, burning cars and omnipresent riot-police, the proposed laws were eventually scrapped. Read the full article...
*The French success of Irishman Perry Blake.*	Dateline: April 2006
I braved the paddywagons around the Sorbonne last week to head to my favourite Parisian book- and record-store, Gibert Joseph halfway up the boulevard Saint Michel. There, I found a display for the new release by an Irish singer described on his album's promo sticker as 'le dernier dandy romantique' ('the last romantic dandy'). This wasn't the new Van Morrison record, then. Read the full article...
*Irish music, as understood by the French...*	Dateline: March 2006
So it's March again, the month when a certain green-tinted festival will be celebrated around the world by ex-pats and non-Pats alike. France too will join in the fun. Last year, posters plastered across every metro station in Paris were promoting a huge St Patrick's night concert at Bercy, the equivalent of The Point. The advertising featured a young red-haired dancer, Book-of-Kells typeface and a list of Celtic regions - Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, the Isle of Man... but not Ireland! Surely some mistake? Read the full article...
*Hallyday & Gainsbourg back in the news?*	Dateline: January 2006
Not to be confused with the Dublin-based cabaret singer of the same name, Camille and her album 'Le Fil' won the prestigious Prix Constantine for the most promising new act to emerge onto the French scene in 2005. Sounding both petulant and warm at once, this single is idiosyncratic and likeable. An approximate transcription of the backing vocal is 'splutter-groan-squeal-belch-fart'. Read the full article...
*Voulez-Vous Rocker Avec Moi? The French rock scene.*	Dateline: January 2006
As I sit on a terrasse sipping my caf?allong?and watching Parisian commuters scowl at tourists, I reflect on the many wonderful things about life in France ? excellent food; streets alive with history and art; Juliette Binoche. Unfortunately, being the CLUAS correspondent in Paris involves listening to a lot of French alternative music ? and French alternative music is quite dire. Read the full article...

French Letter: Rock in France

Voulez-Vous Rocker Avec Moi? Aidan casts his eye on French rock scene...

Other French Letter columns (from 2006 through to March 2007)

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