Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity - Page 318

New Brisavoine · #**6341** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Canadian cities are extremely rarely mentioned in songs in English, even by Canadians. There are probably more songs in French than in English that mention Toronto, not always nicely!

It's also funny how the most famous Canadian singer of all times is a Francophone, isn't it? Although she was never my cup of tea.

Acajack · #**6342** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's also funny how the most famous Canadian singer of all times is a Francophone, isn't it? Although she was never my cup of tea.

That's a matter of opinion. Some people say Drake is our number one of all time. Ever heard of him?

New Brisavoine · #**6343** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

The music is by Diane Tell, but the lyrics are actually written by legendary French singer Françoise Hardy, whom I assume you know for these songs at least:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPkBMqehr5k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1cuQF8sEGA

Of course I know these songs. But she's never been a singer I particularly liked. Her songs tend to be a bit dated nowadays. She was more a singer from my parents' days. She was also never considered a "high" signer (as in high culture) like Véronique Sansom, or Charlebois chez vous. She was considered a light singer, with not much of a voice.

I'm surprised she wrote the song by Diane Tell.

Her husband Jacques Dutronc is more appreciated as a "serious singer". Some of his tunes are still popular and timeless.

I like that one:
https://youtu.be/L_ADZYCUkDA?si=lHuY5Hjrjfl6KmvO

A Québécois singer could never sing that. It's too cynical and ironic for the Québécois. It's very French.

That one is also quite ironical and pretty popular even today:
https://youtu.be/mTj8rizW9Bg?si=XYYkK35VixzkG99u

50 years from now, people will still play this last song, whereas Françoise Hardy's songs will have become forgotten I'm afraid.

PS: Only 700 million Chinese people back then!

PPS: "50 millions de gens imparfaits", that's us (he alludes to). The French.

thebasketballgeek · #**6344** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

That's a matter of opinion. Some people say Drake is our number one of all time. Ever heard of him?

Not just Drake but I’d also say Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and hell maybe even Shawn Mendes are more popular as well. Sometimes I forget how much younger I am than everyone else on the forum but then I get nice little reminders like this

New Brisavoine · #**6345** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

That's a matter of opinion. Some people say Drake is our number one of all time. Ever heard of him?

Nope. Who da?

Acajack · #**6346** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

Not just Drake but I’d also say Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and hell maybe even Shawn Mendes are more popular as well. Sometimes I forget how much younger I am than everyone else on the forum but then I get nice little reminders like this

Right now at this very moment? Sure. Historically? Surely not. Not yet anyway.

That's like saying Coldplay are bigger than the Beatles or the Rolling Stones.

New Brisavoine · #**6347** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

Not just Drake but I’d also say Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and hell maybe even Shawn Mendes are more popular as well. Sometimes I forget how much younger I am than everyone else on the forum but then I get nice little reminders like this

I always mix up Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake for some reason...

Never heard of the other guys.

Acajack · #**6348** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Of course I know these songs. But she's never been a singer I particularly liked. Her songs tend to be a bit dated nowadays. She was more a singer from my parents' days. She was also never considered a "high" signer (as in high culture) like Véronique Sansom, or Charlebois chez vous. She was considered a light singer, with not much of a voice.

I'm surprised she wrote the song by Diane Tell.

Her husband Jacques Dutronc is more appreciated as a "serious singer". Some of his tunes are still popular and timeless.

I like that one:
https://youtu.be/L_ADZYCUkDA?si=lHuY5Hjrjfl6KmvO

A Québécois singer could never sing that. It's too cynical and ironic for the Québécois. It's very French.

That one is also quite ironical and pretty popular even today:
https://youtu.be/mTj8rizW9Bg?si=XYYkK35VixzkG99u

50 years from now, people will still play this last song, whereas Françoise Hardy's songs will have become forgotten I'm afraid.

PS: Only 700 million Chinese people back then!

PPS: "50 millions de gens imparfaits", that's us (he alludes to). The French.

But of course!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1c-opoJFDI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvmVyKSSGMo

New Brisavoine · #**6349** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Right now at this very moment? Sure. Historically? Surely not. Not yet anyway.

Yeah, all these other guys are minnows compared to Céline Dion (I've never understood the Céline Dion mania, I don't like her voice personally, but there it is). If she comes to Europe, millions of fans will turn up. How the human brain works...

For me Diane Tell is far better than Céline Dion.

New Brisavoine · #**6350** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 9:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

But of course!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1c-opoJFDI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvmVyKSSGMo

I prefer the younger version of him.

What's crazy is despite the fact he is the quintessential French lover, he and Françoise Hardy have remained a close couple to this day. It's rare in show business.

Their son is also quite good as a singer (although not as charismatic as the father).

https://youtu.be/0w8wa_n1wd4?si=1DLk5o-WI0X0NNgJ

PS: Can you EVER imagine a Québécois singing "J'aime plus Montréal" ? The French are an odd species really.

MonctonRad · #**6351** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's also funny how the most famous Canadian singer of all times is a Francophone, isn't it? Although she was never my cup of tea.

Ginette Reno???

New Brisavoine · #**6352** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Ginette Reno???

No, la mère Bolduc of course.

Acajack · #**6353** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

No, la mère Bolduc of course.

Ça va v'nir puis ça va v'nir mais décourageons-nous pas
Moi, j'ai toujours le coeur gai pis je continue à turluter

(Yes, I know.)

kwoldtimer · #**6354** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

Not just Drake but I’d also say Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and hell maybe even Shawn Mendes are more popular as well. Sometimes I forget how much younger I am than everyone else on the forum but then I get nice little reminders like this

The other end of the age spectrum submits Joni Mitchell...

MonctonRad · #**6355** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:13 PM**

I submit Michael Buble

New Brisavoine · #**6356** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I submit Michael Buble

Michael Bublé is surprisingly unknown in Europe. I discovered him in the US, and he's quite good! I had an American friend who liked Michael Bublé a lot.

begratto · #**6357** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lio45

"ouifi" is very French-From-France though. Here most people will say "ouaille-faille" (the Anglo way).

In Montreal, my 3 teens and their friends use “wee-fee”, the French way.

When they meet teens from other regions, they notice that Montrealers use much, much more French-from-France (and sometimes Paris’ suburbs) expressions and prononciations. But then there are so many French and people from the Maghreb in their schools that it’s not so surprising.

kwoldtimer · #**6358** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I submit Michael Buble

Best crooner, perhaps.

begratto · #**6359** Posted **Jan 17, 2024, 10:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

We've been neighbours and rivals of Boston for around 400 years, so maybe that explains it.

I was going to say something along those lines. Boston is foreign to you Europeans, but it is “local” to us.

Like Barcelone, I guess, which you don’t call Barcelona…

Truenorth00 · #**6360** Posted **Jan 18, 2024, 2:57 AM**