Les Soeurs Boulay with Isabelle Boulay

Mark writes:

The Boulay sisters, Stéphanie and Mélanie, are, in their words, «de vraies sœurs, mais ni filles, nièces ou cousines d’Isabelle Boulay». But when Isabelle was made one of the ‘coaches’ for the competitors in the 2014 ‘La Voix’, the producers asked the sisters in as guest stars to sing with her their popular hit ‘Mappemonde’ during the final programme:

This unique live performance has the feel of a handover from the old-style 20th century Quebec chanteuses, represented by Isabelle (now 42) to a new and very creative 21st century style represented by Stéphanie and Mélanie.

I have posted the lyric of ‘Mappemonde’ below the Youtube film of the three Boulays, along with an English translation. As we all know now, thanks to Coeur de Pirate’s explanation of her second album title, in Quebec French ‘blonde’ means ‘girlfriend’.

Other recent live performances by the sisters:
* An instant street performance of ‘Cul-de-sac’ in a Montreal alley at Francofolies in June 2013 here
* High up on a Montreal roof overlooking the city this spring here
* And making a parachute jump in matching jumpsuits in May
followed by ‘T’es pas game’ live on landing:

Alfa Rococo

  • Posted on 06/08/2014
  • /Under Musique

David and Justine (they are Alfa Rococo) prove with this new single that a) Canadians do it better and b) they haven’t lost their touch to write cool pop tunes. New album’s out in September.

Adrien Gallo

  • Posted on 01/08/2014
  • /Under Video

BB-Brunes singer Adrien Gallo recorded a solo-album, with heavy 80s influences. And Gainsbourg, as you can see from the clip of his first single:

Josianne Paradis

  • Posted on 31/07/2014
  • /Under Musique

Apparently it’s been a while since this Blog heard from Josianne Paradis (I had to dig deep into the vaults as far back as 2008!), but the talented Quebec singer-songwriter is back with a brand new EP “De Lorimier.”

Comprising four slices of perfect contemporary adult-pop of distinctly varying styles and moods, the EP opens with the bitter-sweet “Je cherche les mots” – a sad, heart-breaking song that’s all about trying to break-up, yet failing to find the right words – the clarity of Josianne’s always tender, warming vocal delivery adds further poignancy. In a similar vein, “Janvier” is another sombre, plaintive number; The bitterly cold wind of the song whistling down the Avenue De Lorimier (after which the EP is named), acting as a metaphor for a rapidly chilling romance, is arguably the strongest track here.

But as hinted, it’s not all heartbreak and sorrow. “Monsieur Stock” and “Au coeur de toi” offer a complete change of emotions and momentum. The former is everything you want from a memorable stuck-in your head pop tune; all bouncy and up-tempo, punchy lyrics, all wrapped by – shall we just say quelle voix. The latter is light, frothy, an unashamed love song – sweet yet never sickly.

It’d been a long while since Josianne’s last record (2010’s “Nouveautés”), but on the evidence of this EP, well worth the wait…

Feu! Chatterton

  • Posted on 30/07/2014
  • /Under Musique

A Parisian band namechecking a suicidal English poet who was honoured by Gainsbourg sure grabs my attention. Fierce French rock with classic chanson vibes. Bashung backed by Arcade Fire. Tindersticks on crystal meth, anyone? They count Television, Suicide and Serge G. as influences, when I watch this clip I feel the same excitement way back when I first heard dEUS. Feu! Chatterton are fans of poets like Baudelaire and Aragon, and they dress like dandy’s, with suits and thin moustaches. Suave. More on Soundcloud. Nice French article here. Live radio session here.

Mannekijn vs Stromae

  • Posted on 28/07/2014
  • /Under Musique

Great discovery by Tess from Het Chanson Offensief: Dutch trio Mannekijn.
Two of the girls, Oukje and Camilla got to know each other via The Kyteman Orchestra (a big group of musicians led by producer Colin ‘Kyteman’ Benders, playing music bordering on jazz, impro, hip hop and even classical), pianist Vera joined later. Oukje sang in various langauges during her classical training, French strikes her as a very poetic language and one that bridges the gap between the days of yore and the modern age.
Mannekijn (Old Dutch word for ‘Little man’) entered the Concours the la Chanson competition in Holland, and sang a version of La Chanson de Vieux Amants (Brel) and a great rework of Stromae’s Papaoutai, shown below. Love those sweeping strings, it’s just as rousing as the original version.
As I understand it from the little interview, Mannekijn wants to sing in Dutch, not in French, but this version will stay on the setlist for a while.

Forêt

  • Posted on 24/07/2014
  • /Under Musique

It’s probably safe to say that Montreal duo Forêt’s 2013 eponymous debut album was incredibly (well reviewed) and garnering award nominations from Quebec industry associations ADISQ and GAMIC.

And now Émilie Laforest and partner Joseph Marchand are back with “Un secret”, available as a free download via bandcamp and which serves as a teaser for the band’s second album that the pair are busily working on in the studio.

Once again, the song paints a dark and disturbing aural landscape, yet one that is at the same time unnervingly reassuring and comforting – walking as does the tightrope between our subconscious dreams and nightmares.

Renowned poet Kim Doré again provides the ethereal lyrics, while Émilie’s haunting vocals adds the texture to which Joseph Marchand weaves an evocative soundtrack – all Staccato drums and high-hat over which are laid rich swirling synthesisers and guitar…

Monogrenade featuring Marie-Pierre Arthur

  • Posted on 21/07/2014
  • /Under Musique

Yes, Marie-Pierre Arthur, star of many appreciative posts on this blog, teams up with one of Canada’s most prolific rock bands, Monogrenade. The result is here, and downloadable for free!

Magdalen

  • Posted on 21/07/2014
  • /Under Musique

201407xx Magdalen Portrait 1

According to Wikipedia, the defining characteristic of Chanson is that it focuses on the French language as both vehicle and instrument. In which case it is fair to say that young Strasbourg-based singer-songwriter, Magdalen, is most definitely a Chanteuse.

“En vers et contre tout” is her crowd-funded debut album. It’s an intriguing and multi-faceted work, weaving together as it does electro-pop and electronica, alongside indie, acoustic pop and hip-hop beats.

The album’s title “En vers et contre tout” is a play on the phrase “envers et contre tout” (“against all odds”) – translated into English it becomes “In verse and against all,” which is very apt as this is a challenging, confrontational – and quite adult – an album. Even iTunes here in the States has managed to plaster a ‘Parental Advisory Explicit Content’ sticker on the front.

Magdalen manages to expertly craft rhythms with challenging and forthright lyricism, tackling sexism head-on; “Demi-molle” and “Pas dans ma bouche” need no explanation.

But it’s not all about confrontation; “Faveur d’exception” is simply a beautiful love song. The chorus could quite easily segue in and out of “Ouvre ton cœur!” from Catherine Leduc’s outstanding “Rookie”, while the haunting acoustic number; “Supplique à larmes” explores the futility and all-consuming nature of desire.

En vers et contre tout” is a very personal album and one that has been crafted without compromise… It’s also an album of Chansons in the truest sense. The lyrics – paroles – and Magdalen’s distinctive and transfixing vocals are the focal point throughout this impressive collection of songs.

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