French Letter Music Blog
French Letter
Author:aidanCreated:Monday, November 27, 2006
La vie en rock - the best French music, how Irish acts are getting on in France, and other Parisian pop/rock reports from CLUAS.com's lad in Seine.

New French Music: Tender Forever

By aidan onWednesday, October 31, 2007
Dancing at the crossroads: From Bordeaux, here's the charming electro-folk-pop of a comely maiden whose surname will sound familiar to Irish people. Check out le video de (Mélanie) Valera for 'How Many'.
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Nick Kent on Gainsbourg

By aidan onTuesday, October 30, 2007
Je t'aime (moi non plus): The legendary rock writer has released a new edition of his collected articles, now including the story of his sole encounter with France's greatest pop star. Brimming with le stuff noir, check out the video for Serge's 'Requiem Pour Un Con' (with apologies to any offended French readers).
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Dublin Marathon 2007

By aidan onFriday, October 26, 2007
The long and winding road: Good luck to those of you running in this year's Dublin Marathon - we have a few tips to help you get round the course with a smile on your face (okay, at least with less of a pained grimace).
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The Answer: Irish rockers hit Paris

By aidan onTuesday, October 23, 2007
RSVP*:The Downpatrick hard rockers who are currently in the French capital, playing an acoustic show at - where else? - the Hard Rock Café. Check out the video for their single 'Under The Sky'. (*rock, s'il vous plaît)
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France's music prize: nominees

By aidan onFriday, October 19, 2007
The shortlist for this year's Prix Constantin includes Justice and Keren Ann; the prize will be presented on 15 November. Check out a video from the 2005 winner, Camille.
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Au revoir, French Friday

By aidan onThursday, October 18, 2007
Paris is gripped by a transport strike today. Dublin's French club night also seems to be stopping activity - but only temporarily, we hope.
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Malajube on fire in France

By aidan onWednesday, October 17, 2007
Hell for leather: The excellent Quebec band eventually stood the heat in one of the best live venues in Paris. Watch them in cooler times, playing 'Montreal -40°C' by the river at Rouen the day before.
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Jailed French singer wins early release

By aidan onMonday, October 15, 2007
France's biggest rock star, currently serving a jail sentence for having killed his girlfriend, has been given conditional early release from prison.
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"Je ne veux pas travailler..."

By aidan onSunday, October 14, 2007
Strike up the band: This week's French transport stoppage recalls for us a French-language radio hit from recent years. But what's all this got to do with RTE's football commentator?
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U2: Joshua Tree new edition, live Paris DVD?

By aidan onMonday, October 08, 2007
Unconfirmed reports of U2 Ltd's annual Christmas stocking-filler, 2007 version: a 20th anniversary edition of the album that made them superstars, along with a DVD of their 1987 Paris concert. You can sample the merchandise here.
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Take Away Show: Elvis Perkins

By aidan onThursday, October 04, 2007
Elvis is live: The American singer-songer, maker of one of 2007's finest albums, is the latest star in the excellent series of live sessions from the streets of Paris. Watch him performing 'While You Were Sleeping' in the swanky Place Vendome.
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New French Music: Fancy

By aidan onWednesday, October 03, 2007
Parisian feather-boa'd helium-voiced glam rock/hard rock: life is good. Here's the Gossip-esque Fancy and the video for their single '17'.
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Paris Fashion Week

By aidan onMonday, October 01, 2007
We know our readers. They shrug at rugby, say 'ça m'est égal' to new Radiohead albums. What they really want is Paris fashion - and acoustic pop ballads by former supermodels.
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Manu Chao: Dublin gig

By aidan onFriday, September 28, 2007
The globetrotting world music maverick will be in the tent in the park on Sunday 4 November.
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Les Ritas Mitsouko: Dublin gig

By aidan onThursday, September 27, 2007
The legendary '80s French pop pair are visiting Dublin: 17 October at Whelan's. The venue will probably be too small for all the French and Francophiles in Ireland, but when did that ever stop gigs in Eire? Watch the colourful duo's video for 'Andy'.
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Video: Beirut busking in Paris

By aidan onWednesday, September 26, 2007
More Take Away Show goodness, this time featuring the splendid indie-folk-pop of Beirut. Watch the band perform two tracks from their new album, live on the streets of Paris.
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Divine Comedy in Marseille

By aidan onTuesday, September 25, 2007
The worst of times: Honorary Parisian Neil Hannon ventures bravely to Marseille for this weekend's Marsatac festival. Meanwhile, back in Paris, the Irish are under the repressive gloating of French rugby fans. Time to stand up and fight, then: here's the video for 'The Frog Princess'.
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Video: Arcade Fire (and others) busk in Paris

By aidan onMonday, September 24, 2007
Song-set boulevard: French music blog La Blogotheque features the Take Away Shows, where the hippest alternative acts play in unusual Paris locations. For instance, watch Arcade Fire playing in a freight elevator.
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Justice: December Dublin show

By aidan onFriday, September 21, 2007
This year's best French dance duo will be in the famous tent in the Phoenix Park on 1 December.
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'French Friday': rugby special

By aidan onWednesday, September 19, 2007
Turn on, tune in, 22 drop-out: Dublin's regular French club night this Friday coincides with the France-Ireland match in the Rugby World Cup. By 10pm on Friday, Thomas House will probably be the only singing pub in Ireland.
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French radio in Dublin

By aidan onTuesday, September 18, 2007
Every morning, Dubliners can tune into a community station, NEAR FM, to listen to the news in French. Croissants are optional. Meanwhile, on Thursday evenings you can hear the best new local indie acts on The NEAR FM Sessions.
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France's pop Lolita

By aidan onMonday, September 17, 2007
Sells like teen spirit: The awful ironic cover version topping the French charts at the moment reminds us of the original song, 'Moi Lolita' by Alizée - a glittering jewel of sophisticated disco-pop. Even seedy lyrics and a pretentious video can't ruin it.
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Music on the metro

By aidan onSunday, September 16, 2007
Going underground: The Paris metro has a vibrant community of buskers and musicians.
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French gods: Dionysos and Cantona

By aidan onSaturday, September 15, 2007
The King and I: A classic French indie album from a band currently making a record with a certain iconic French footballer...
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Dublin's French community on RTE tonight

By aidan onThursday, September 13, 2007
Tonight (Thursday 13 September) at 7:00, RTE 1's 'Capital D' features the French people who've made Dublin their home.
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