L'AMITIÉ & FRANCOISE HARDY

I first heard this song at the end of a film "Les invasions barbares", a really touching and moving story about dying with dignity, surrounded by friends. I strongly recommend it.
The video, an early playback, does not really do justice to the song, but Francoise Hardy's voice is so pure! I can listen to her all day.

Beaucoup de mes amis sont venus des nuages Avec soleil et pluie comme simple bagage

Ils ont fait la saison des amitiés sincères La plus belle saison des quatre de la terre

Ils ont cette douceur des plus beaux paysages Et la fidélité des oiseaux de passage.

Dans leur cœur est gravée une infinie tendresse Mais parfois dans leurs yeux se glisse la tristesse!!

Alors ils viennent se chauffer chez moi Et toi aussi tu viendras

Tu pourras repartir au fin fond des nuages Et de nouveau sourire à bien d'autres visages

Donner autour de toi un peu de ta tendresse Lorsqu'un autre voudra te cacher sa tristesse. Comme l'on ne sait pas ce que la vie nous donne Qu'il se peut qu'à mon tour je ne sois plus personne.

S'il me reste un ami qui vraiment me comprenne J'oublierai à la fois mes larmes et mes peines Alors peut-être je viendrai chez toi Chauffer mon cœur à ton bois.

A HAPPY SONG

A few days ago, I found myself humming a catchy tune. It was a while before I realised what song it was and it took me back to my teens, and my first girlfriend, Rosemary (Rosy). I wonder what’s become of her? Anyway, here’s the song, “Love grows” by Edison Lighthouse (singer Tony Burrows – who left them only a year later) -a lovely, happy tune from the late sixties. Believe it or not, this group is still in demand as a live act, a testimony of their ability to entertain audiences.
Hope you enjoy it; Lyrics below the video.


Words and music by Tony Macauley & Barry Mason
She ain't got no money, her clothes are kinda funny, her hair is kinda wild and free.
Oh, but Love grows where my Rosemary goes and nobody knows like me.
She talks kinda lazy and people say she's crazy and her life's a mystery.
Oh, but Love grows where my Rosemary goes and nobody knows like me.

There's something about her hand holding mine, it's a feeling that's fine. and I just gotta say:
She's really got a magical spell and it's working so well that I can't get away.

I'm a lucky fella and I've just got to tell her that I love her endlessly,
because Love grows where my Rosemary goes and nobody knows like me.

AMY WINEHOUSE

What can I say about this remarkable English singer (London) that hasn't been said before? 25 years old, jazz/soul, MTV award, Grammy Award, Best Song Award for "Rehab", Best female singer, best..., best... & best... I could go on.

Just listen to this tremendous voice singing a really powerful song: Rehab by Amy Winehouse - from the album "Back from Black". The video is from the Glastonbury Concert.
Lyrics below. Enjoy

(official page - worth a visit: http://www.amywinehouse.co.uk/)


They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no. Yes I been black, but when I come back, you won't know, know, know. I ain’t got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine. He’s tried to make me go to rehab, I wont go, go, go.
I’d rather be at home with Ray. I ain’t got 70 days, 'Cos there’s nothing, there's nothing you can teach me that I can’t learn from Mister Hathaway. I didn’t get a lot in class, but I know it don’t come in a shot glass. They’re trying to make me go to rehab, etc..
The man said, why you think you're here? I said, I got no idea. I'm gonna, I'm gonna loose my baby, so I always keep a bottle near. Said, I just think you’re depressed, kiss me, yeah baby, and the rest. They're trying to make me go to rehab, etc.
I don’t ever wanna drink again I just, ooo, need a friend. I'm not gonna spend 10 weeks, have everyone think I'm on the mend. It’s not just my pride. It’s just till these tears have dried
They’re trying to make me go to rehab, etc..

BYE BYE BLACKBIRD

There are so many versions of this old favourite that it wasn't easy to decide on one in particular. It really is a sad song, but so many singers give it a happy treatment. I'm not sure about its origins though it would appear that it was composed by Ray henderson (music) and Mort Dixon (lyrics) in 1926. I chose this very pretty, slow version sung by Olivia newton-John in the opening of the film "The Wilde girls" where she stars with her daughter.

Peggy Lee's version is also an interesting one, though a little older, as it includes a spoken part. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYHeiSz425A&feature=related)

Here's the song. Lyrics below. Enjoy.


Pack up all my cares and woes, here I go, singing low. Bye, bye, blackbird.

Where somebody waits for me, sugar's sweet, so is he. Bye, bye, blackbird.

No one here can love or understand me,

Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me.

Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight. Blackbird, bye, bye.

ELTON JOHN

Which song? There are so many. Daniel? Nikita? Candle in the wind? The man's a genius and his music has rocked us and knocked us during the last four decades. Crocodile Rock? Need I go on? Anyway, one of my favourites is this one: "Something about the way you look tonight". Great lyrics, beautiful music, and Elton sounds at his very best. The model, of course, is Kate moss... at HER best. Lyrics below. Enjoy.

Something about the way you look tonight.
Music by Elton John - Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Available on the album The Big Picture

There was a time, I was everything and nothing all in one. / When you found me, I was feeling like a cloud across the sun. / I need to tell you, how you light up every second of the day. / But in the moonlight, you just shine like a beacon on the bay. /And I can't explain, but it's something about the way you look tonight, takes my breath away. / It's that feeling I get about you, deep inside. /And I can't describe, but it's something about the way you look tonight, takes my breath away. / The way you look tonight. / With a smile, you pull the deepest secrets from my heart. / In all honesty, I'm speechless and I don't know where to start. etc..

TOKYO HOTEL

Here's something a little more up to date. Tokyo Hotel's "Scream", the English version of their 2005 German hit "Schrei". I detect a certain similarity in style between parts of this song and the Oasis hit "Don't look back in anger" - which I particularly like - (Watch out. Stay awake /And so, Sally can wait). Anyway, here's their video. Lyrics, as usual, on the left. Enjoy.
By the way, the singer's pronounciation in English is really good, don't you think?