| | By aidan onTuesday, January 29, 2008 | | | Franco-Israeli folk-pop singer-songer Yael Naim is the star of the annual music industry conference in Cannes. She now seems certain for world domination - or at least lots of expensive promotion and some carefully-chosen jingle-work. Here's 'New Soul', soundtrack to Apple's new MacBook. |  | | Comments (2) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onMonday, January 28, 2008 | | | Bon sang! Ireland's mysterious, cult, reformed, etc etc, live in Paris on 9 July! | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onFriday, January 25, 2008 | | | Kind of bleu: If you're going to feel down in Paris, do it like Jeanne Moreau and Miles Davis. Here's some classic jazz and French cinema. | | | Comments (2) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onFriday, January 18, 2008 | | | A new album from the celebrated French electro-soundscapist, who has previously recorded with a range of female Irish singers. Watch a sample of his work with Bjork from his most famous album. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onThursday, January 17, 2008 | | | Joie de vivre: Energetic teenage punk-pop from Toulouse by a band with their sights on the UK. They're certainly not extinct, but perhaps the male of the species may become endangered: watch them performing their brilliant 'Do You Like Boys?' - the first great French single of 2008. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onMonday, January 14, 2008 | | | Marion Cotillard's prize-winning portrayal of Edith Piaf should ensure yet another (much-deserved) revival of interest in France's greatest female singer. Here's our choice as Piaf's greatest performance. | | | Comments (1) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onThursday, January 10, 2008 | | | The annual pan-European music showcase happens this weekend in the Lowlands. France will have a strong contingent of its electronica sector, but indie duo The Dø look most likely to be the biggest Gallic hit of the festival. Familiarise yourself with their hit-to-be, the whiny 'On My Shoulders'. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onTuesday, January 08, 2008 | | | Hardcore rap producer Mosey turns out to be none other than the son of the President of France, target of the rappers that he produces. In France there are laws against this sort of thing, you know... | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onThursday, January 03, 2008 | | | ...in the Dublin meaning, that is. Topically-named if you're a Dutch-speaking French resident, terribly-named in every other sense, check out this Lille group's fine acoustic indie-pop (in English, not Dutch or French), starting with the video for 'Good Enough'. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onTuesday, January 01, 2008 | | | Gitane (moi non plus): Paris’s live music venues and Left Bank cafés become smoke-free zones from today, as France’s smoking ban takes effect in restaurants and bars. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onMonday, December 31, 2007 | | | A look back over the Franco-Irish year: lots of music, a little bit of rugby... and a superpower summit on the streets of Paris. Plus, an Irish homage to classic French cinema, by Dark Room Notes. | | | Comments (2) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onSunday, December 30, 2007 | | | A Paris exhibition shows how the art community can't comprehend the value of music videos. Still, there was food for thought and plenty of clips to enjoy. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onThursday, December 27, 2007 | | | More prix than kicks: Here's our annual league table of the top Gallic tunes of the year. Will Justice sweep the boards? Could an unknown French act steal the honours? And what about that Johnny Hallyday album with the Bono/Simon Carmody song on it? The winners are... | | | Comments (2) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onSaturday, December 22, 2007 | | | Records aimed at the pre-school market make up a huge part of record sales and charts in France. For the French music industry, it’s Christmas every day. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onMonday, December 17, 2007 | | | France's President is going out with model and singer Carla Bruni - now the latest French star to associate herself with the ruling conservative class. Sigh. | | | Comments (2) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onThursday, December 13, 2007 | | | "Future butterfly...": Infused with the lovelorn melodies of Elliott Smith, an acoustic pop duo with their gorgeous single 'On My Way'. | | | Comments (4) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onSunday, December 09, 2007 | | | Bleedin' rapid: From 1991 and the days when they were releasing records, watch Kevin Shields being interviewed by Anglo-French music show 'Rapido'. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onFriday, December 07, 2007 | | | The Paris dance style that's painfully hip - and slightly controversial due to its two symbols: an eagle and a trademark logo. | | | Comments (2) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onSunday, December 02, 2007 | | | John Carney's busker-meets-flowerseller musical is doing very well on its low-key release in France. But what impressions of Dublin is it giving the French? | | | Comments (4) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onSaturday, December 01, 2007 | | | The Irish pop invasion of Paris continues: first there's the Blackrock Beach Boys tonight, followed by two helpings of idiosyncratic Cork-popping. We'll be at the latter; here's the video for the topical 'Happy Busman'. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onFriday, November 30, 2007 | | | Lust in translation: The randy French three-piece electro-poppers who are supporting Justice in the Phoenix Park on 1 December. Here's the video for their brilliant single 'Starlett Johansson'. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onThursday, November 29, 2007 | | | One half of cult pop duo Les Rita Mitsouko, Fred Chichin died of cancer yesterday at the age of 53. He is survived by his partner in music and life, Catherine Ringer, and by an outstanding body of eclectic and joyous music. | | | Comments (2) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onSunday, November 25, 2007 | | | Talking to the taxman about poetry: France's greatest (i.e. longest-surviving) rock n'roller sings a song by Bono (and Simon Carmody!). Unsurprisingly, they share a concern for having to pay tax. Listen to 'I Am The Blues' while looking at the cover of Johnny's new album. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onFriday, November 23, 2007 | | | La Return-elle: The very hairy and slightly troubled Parisian has finally finished the follow-up to 2004's 'Politics': 'Sexuality (with production by half of Daft Punk) comes out next spring. First single 'Sexual Sportswear' is a bit dull, though. Never mind; here's the video for the marvellous 'La Ritournelle'. | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|
| | By aidan onTuesday, November 20, 2007 | | | Today's super-size transport + civil service strikes are disrupting French radio stations, as well as some TV and press. Out of solidarity with our comrades, here's some fab (and topical) French pop from Superbus, whose single 'Travel The World' reflects their global-domination potential: | | | Comments (0) | More... |
|