Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

A French Love Song

Amour collage

Collage and text by, Corey Amaro

"If you didn't exist I would have to invent you…."

There are songs that stick with us, you might say like a country's national anthem. You know when you hear a song and it takes you back to an high school dance…. Crimson and Clover, Stairway to Heaven… or you hear a song on the radio which instantly puts you back in time (Jeremy was a Bullfrog, Come on Baby Light my Fire, One, Two, Three O'Clock…)

When I first came to France I realized that the songs I grew up with where not the songs French Husband grew up with. Songs that made me want to pull the car over to the side of the road, jump out and dance, were not the songs that set his heart on fire.

Many moons later, and many dinner parties, summer dances in the village later… I am feeling  old French songs as my own… songs gather memories for us.

A French classic that I enjoy is "Paroles, Paroles" by Dalida (who every French person knows) and Alain Delon (Who ever French woman smiles when they hear his name.)

Just thought you might to listen to a French classic…

Who are you listening to today?

Comments

27 responses to “A French Love Song”

  1. Merisi

    Corey, that is one of “my songs” – it’s originally Italian, sung by Mina with Alberto Lupo! Piccolo mondo. 😉
    °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
    Hi M.
    I know. Though in France, it is mainly known and loved by, because of Dalida.

    Reply
  2. lihabiboun

    One of the most beautiful phrases in a love song I ever came across is in Jacque Brel’s “Ne me quitte pas” where he says he would offer raindrops to his beloved one, raindrops coming from a country where there is no rain – is there a way to express the impossible in a more poetic way? (Moi, je t’offrirai des perles de pluie venues d’un pays où il ne pleut pas)….

    Reply
  3. Natalie Thiele

    I am hooked on tap dancing and just saw “42nd Street.” I cannot get one of the songs out of my head, “About a Quarter to Nine.” If I were clever I would link to Al Jolson singing it with Ruby Keeler tapping her head off. (It’s on youtube.)
    Usually, though, I have other songs going through my head. My husband and I grew up in SF Bay Area in the sixties, so we have the same references, musically. He is a musician, so he can play and sing any song I want to hear. He is my jukebox.

    Reply
  4. Marie Noelle

    I am listening to Yannick Noah’s “Angela”, a tribute to American Angela Davis :
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHRaKaeDIWM
    Y. Noah was elected N°1 beloved French star by the French for the 6th time this year.
    After retiring from his tennis career, he is now a successful singer.
    I was presented tickets for his concert “au Stade de France” by JC for Xmas. Looking
    forward to it… within 3 weeks now !!!! It’s been a LOONNG wait !!!
    (Le Stade de France is not my favourite concert place, too big … I prefer smaller ones,
    they’re more convivial to me… No choice, though…)

    Reply
  5. Chris Wittmann

    Corey if you’ve never heard Paolo Conte do give a listen..he is an incredibly talented Italian composer, musician who also sings in French. I have alot of his music, and one of my favorites is “Hemmingway”…an absolutely beautiful haunting piece. He combines many different styles of music and instruments. As a musician myself, and one who performs Classic Rock for a living (I was performing in the 1960’s so that will give you a clue as to the kind of music I love) Conte’s music is something altogehter different and I just love it.

    Reply
  6. Everton Terrace

    I’ve been listening to Melody Gardot and Madeline Peyroux, mellow mood I guess. I love the folksy stuff from 70’s – even though I was in grade school. I always thought it was Jeremiah was a bullfrog – I’ve been singing it wrong all these years.

    Reply
  7. Brenda L from TN

    Ooooo…beautiful…although I didn’t understand a word of it it was still beautiful…wish I understood French. I think it’s the most beautiful and sexiest language there is….I am an old rock ‘n roll gal plus country. Like Carrie Underwood,Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney.

    Reply
  8. Rhonda P.

    I always listen to my favorite radio station that I’ve listened to since I was 16 years old, WXRT Chicago. You can stream it online now. They play old – new – and everything in between.
    When I hear “Under the Milky Way” by the Church – it takes me away. Australian Band.

    Reply
  9. marlis

    ooh love those songs.. and Alain Delon, well a smile is the least one can do for such an exemplary specimen! Listening too.. at work 🙁 but usually Eric Clapton or Jason Mraz… or Jewel..

    Reply
  10. kelleyn

    I have been listening to Italien favorites to get me in the mood for my trip on Friday. Have a fantastic week!

    Reply
  11. Barbara

    So true!!! Many songs will instantly trigger a memory for me. Today I am listening to the amazing Coldplay.

    Reply
  12. Kristin

    Since moving to San fran, I now can listen to pop music again! I love lady gaga!!!! I’m getting back in touch with music!!! It makes me happy! I lost touch for awhile because there was nothing to choose from but annoying stations… My most favorite right now is say hey! It gets me moving every time!!!!

    Reply
  13. Tamra / The Gilded Barn

    Ok Corey, it was “Jeremiah was a bullfrog” not Jeremy, but “Jeremy was a bullfrog” cracked me up so thanks.
    I’m addicted to anything by Pink Martini right now. Love their stuff.

    Reply
  14. Star

    I’ve got tunes from “South Pacific” rolling around in my brain. They had a live-from-Broadway performance on PBS a week or so ago and the music is still pinging around in my head.

    Reply
  15. Elizabeth Mackey

    Hi Corey,
    I found your blog a while back, and forgot to bookmark it or add it to my must reads. I somehow ended up back on here through a link on another site. So glad I found you again, and I added you this time to my list!
    I had so much fun going through some of your old posts and getting to know you better.
    I live in the San Francisco bay area, but grew up in Red Bluff. So I know where Willows is.
    I love your stories on how you met French Husband too, those were especially fun to read.
    I had the good fortune to live in France for two years, and had a blast! My oldest daughter met a French man while we were living there, and when we moved back to the States, she flew back and eloped! She was 19 at the time! They are still happily married and just celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary. His parents live near Toulouse, and we go down there a lot. Love the south, but I also love the north.
    Anyway, thought I’d leave you a comment to say Hi, and I really enjoy your blog. It will be on my must reads for the day!

    Reply
  16. Kathie

    The others are right, it’s “Jeremiah was a bullfrog,” the first line to Three Dog Night’s mega-hit “Joy to the World.” Country-pop composer Hoyt Axton — whose mama Mae co-wrote Elvis’ hit “Heartbreak Hotel,” so maybe the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! — wanted to demonstrate the melody to “Joy to the World” before he ever wrote the lyrics, so employed a time-honored tradition in the pop-music biz of using nonsense words that fit the tune, just so folks possibly interested in recording the song could get an idea of how it went — hence “Jeremiah was a bullfrog,” but the words stuck!
    Everton Terrace, I share your admiration for the singing of both Melody Gardot and Madeline Peyroux. Their recordings are on the extensive playlist of our local jazz radio station (which doubles as our local NPR station several hours a day). This is the constant soundtrack to my translating — as well as reading, just goofing around on the computer, falling asleep at nap-time, or…

    Reply
  17. Kathie

    BTW, “earworm” is the slang term for a song one simply CANNOT get out of one’s head (until it’s replaced by another tune, or some other major distraction)!
    Thankfully, my radio is now playing Kenia’s rendition in the original Portuguese of “Par, Impar” — literally, “Even, Odd” — by Brazil’s bossa nova king Antônio Carlos “Tom” Jobim, so Jeremiah has been temporarily banished from my ear.

    Reply
  18. Karen

    Thanks for introducing me to this song, Corey – I love it, but oh dear, the words tell a sad story!!

    Reply
  19. Helene

    Corey, I admire your versatility. The darling Jeremiah grows into the sophisticated Paroles in half a life time. I can only begin to imagine the changes you have wrapped your Self around in these last 22 years.
    That is one of the things that makes your story (whether in blog or book-to-be) so interesting.

    Reply
  20. Franca Bollo

    Just watched Dalida singing Sonny and Cher’s “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” in Italian. Très bizzare. But she is gorge, in her white mini dress.
    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgplf_dalida-bang-bang_music

    Reply
  21. Marilyn

    Today it is James Taylor and Moonlight Lady.

    Reply
  22. carol

    James Taylor, Regina Spektor (Samson), Joni Mitchell,(Judgement of the Moon and Stars – about Beethoven), and (Touch My Heart) by Beth Nielsen Chapman [but it makes me cry 🙁
    I enjoyed the music, but then I am the person that made a French cd and pretended I was sitting in some bohemian haunt on the Left Bank (while I knitted)! I am a musician, so I could list many, many more, but today these came to mind. Thank you for the music, Corey!

    Reply
  23. Jo

    I’ve been listening to Swedish blues singer Natalie Gardiner and can’t get her song “Slowly Softly” out of my mind. A very cool, mellow, and sexy song.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IePaSseZV00

    Reply
  24. Amy

    I’m listening to “Shed Your Love” by Helio Sequence, “This is the Thing” by Fink, “Paperweight” by Joshua Radin & Schuyler Fisk, and “Remains of You” by Mads Langer. Thanks for the song suggestions — I always appreciate when people share their favorites — love the diversity in my playlists.

    Reply
  25. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic at Serendipity Antiques

    I’m listening to old jazz music these days in honor of New Orleans and 5 years since the devastation from Katrina.

    Reply
  26. Charlotte Le Den

    I’m listening to this non stop at the moment, I think you’ll like it!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep_6QitSMLc
    By the way, I know I’ve been away from home for too long when I start listening to Dalida and Claude Francois, etc and get emotional! I know it’s time to go home then!

    Reply
  27. Julie Ann

    Love songs, broccanting a deux…. this empty nest syndrome seems to be going better than your wildest dreams Coco ! My love, Jx

    Reply

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