Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity - Page 640

New Brisavoine · #**12781** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

This was something that was often said about the Beatles when they first crossed the Atlantic. That they basically sounded like plain Americans when they sang. Of course they were among the first British bands to cross over in what eventually became the British Rock n Roll Invasion of American.

They never struck me as American. British music is still very different from US music, even the way they sing.

I mean this could never be assumed to be Americans singing:

• Video Link

I'm posting this one because I heard it on the radio last week running in the wood and I hadn't heard it in ages!

They used to do so much better music in the 2000s, didn't they? British music is essentially dead nowadays (and so is French music unfortunately, for the most part).

New Brisavoine · #**12782** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 8:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by big T

I’ve pretty much come to the exact same conclusion.

I still think if Canada implodes under Trump’s repeated assaults, it will be with Alberta and maybe Saskatchewan breaking off first, presumably to join as State(s). This would only be made possible following an extended period of economic hardships brought on by a combination of Trump sanctions and Canadian federal measures working directly against their local economic interest. It’s thankfully not looking too likely for now, but as beatings continue who knows what could happen.

Following this, Canada may not immediately cease to exist as a viable entity bordering the US, but it would be gravely diminished. If the US comes forward with a tailored deal for Quebec to "join" as an associated territory with significant home rule, there is a chance a referendum might pass. This would require way more finesse and understanding of Quebec’s internal dynamics and aspirations than the Trump administration seems capable of, however, so I fully expect them to make an offer more along the lines of what OldDartmouthMark laid out, and Quebec deciding to break off entirely and go it alone. Whether the US would tolerate that, and what happens beyond that point, I have no clue.

TL,DR: if the first domino falls, we’re all fucked.

It's odd that you guys never think of the reverse situation, Washington State, Oregon, California seceding and joining Canada. My American friends talk about it often (well not like every day, but it's certainly not unheard of).

New Brisavoine · #**12783** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 8:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

British music is essentially dead nowadays (and so is French music unfortunately, for the most part).

Although there's this song that they played on the radio last Autumn which made me feel that maybe not all was lost yet for French music (don't know if they play it already in Québec).

• Video Link

I've tried to listen to his other songs and I don't like them though. It's the problem with French singers. It's always "artisanal" stuff, never 'big band' 'world concert' stuff, and usually they have one good hit, but the rest is pretty uneven.

big T · #**12784** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's odd that you guys never think of the reverse situation, Washington State, Oregon, California seceding and joining Canada. My American friends talk about it often (well not like every day, but it's certainly not unheard of).

That's something people say aspirationally, in the abstract.

The reality is that this would mean first and foremost a new US civil war, for those States to break away in the first place. There is no non-violent pathway to a US breakup. And if that were to eventually succeed, break-away Yankeeland would still be the senior partner in any remotely plausible scenario of association with Canada, in part or in whole.

The chances of any of that happening are orders of magnitude slimmer than the already remote scenario I laid out earlier.

harls · #**12785** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by le calmar

Speaking from experience here, but whenever I spoke French with as little Quebec accent as possible, and someone would nevertheless notice an accent, they would always almost always assume it was belgian or sometimes c’hti. Only in rare cases people would correctly guess it was a Quebec accent.

When I first moved to Quebec and spoke French, everyone thought I was Russian or Australian.

Acajack · #**12786** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Although there's this song that they played on the radio last Autumn which made me feel that maybe not all was lost yet for French music (don't know if they play it already in Québec).

• Video Link

I've tried to listen to his other songs and I don't like them though. It's the problem with French singers. It's always "artisanal" stuff, never 'big band' 'world concert' stuff, and usually they have one good hit, but the rest is pretty uneven.

Aliocha Schneider was born in France but actually grew up and has lived almost his entire life in Quebec!

He is the boyfriend of well-known Quebec singer Charlotte Cardin.

New Brisavoine · #**12787** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Aliocha Schneider was born in France but actually grew up and has lived almost his entire life in Quebec!

First time I hear that. I think I've heard him speaking only once, and he doesn't have a Québécois accent. He's also an actor in local productions in France from what I've seen.

Acajack · #**12788** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

First time I hear that. I think I've heard him speaking only once, and he doesn't have a Québécois accent. He's also an actor in local productions in France from what I've seen.

I at least do pick up some very subtle Québécois inflections where he is singing. I also find that that song has what I might refer to as a contemporary "Montreal" sound. For that style of music, anyway.

Acajack · #**12789** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:22 PM**

And then there is this guy who comes from Gatineau of all places. He actually grew up very close to where I live.

To my ear, he could be almost be from France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhvdCRu0qws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GiHs9l4-o

(Second clip is not actually "starring" Pierre Lapointe. Some kid did his own video for the song.)

New Brisavoine · #**12790** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

I also find that that song has what I might refer to as a contemporary "Montreal" sound. For that style of music, anyway.

Eiffel Tower in the background though.

Acajack · #**12791** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Eiffel Tower in the background though.

Although it doesn't produce any sound.

If you squeezed it a bit it could be a gigantic tuning fork (diapason).

P'tit Renard · #**12792** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's odd that you guys never think of the reverse situation, Washington State, Oregon, California seceding and joining Canada. My American friends talk about it often (well not like every day, but it's certainly not unheard of).

Given how hostile the Canadian government's tax policies have been in the last decade against entrepreneurship and general lack of interest in supporting innovation, I don't see why these tech powerhouse states would want to join Canada.

New Brisavoine · #**12793** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:33 PM**

PS: No trace of a Québécois accent in this interview by the very French Le Figaro Madame. I've seen another interview where he says he's been living in France again for some years now. So I would say he's French!

• Video Link

New Brisavoine · #**12794** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by P'tit Renard

Given how hostile the Canadian government's tax policies have been in the last decade against entrepreneurship and general lack of interest in supporting innovation, I don't see why these tech powerhouse states would want to join Canada.

Justement! They could add a fresh air of entrepreneurianism (or however it's called in English... let's say "entreprenariat" in French) in Canada. But come to think of it, the Québécois would probably oppose the entry of 50 million Anglophones in Canada.

dreambrother808 · #**12795** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

And then there is this guy who comes from Gatineau of all places. He actually grew up very close to where I live.

To my ear, he could be almost be from France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhvdCRu0qws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GiHs9l4-o

(Second clip is not actually "starring" Pierre Lapointe. Some kid did his own video for the song.)

One of my faves. “Le retour d’un amour”… “La plus belle des maisons”… I’ve listened to those songs and many more a million times. I had tix to see him in Rouen in May 2020 but alas, COVID. To my obviously less experienced ears, he still sounds Québécois but with a lot of French inspiration/influence.

P'tit Renard · #**12796** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

But come to think of it, the Québécois would probably oppose the entry of 50 million Anglophones in Canada.

Even worse.. would Californian Spanish become the second official language, and French relegated to 3rd place? There's more Latinos in California than francophones in Canada.

Acajack · #**12797** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

One of my faves. “Le retour d’un amour”… “La plus belle des maisons”… I’ve listened to those songs and many more a million times. I had tix to see him in Rouen in May 2020 but alas, COVID. To my obviously less experienced ears, he still sounds Québécois but with a lot of French inspiration/influence.

Dreambrother, you are a surprising individual!

harls · #**12798** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 9:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

To my obviously less experienced ears, he still sounds Québécois but with a lot of French inspiration/influence.

He's a lot like Coeur de Pirate in that sense. I initially thought both of them were from France when I first heard them.

kwoldtimer · #**12799** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 10:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harls

When I first moved to Quebec and spoke French, everyone thought I was Russian or Australian.

When I speak Spanish, I'm often asked if I am German or Swedish. Once I was asked if I was Irish.

New Brisavoine · #**12800** Posted **Feb 4, 2025, 10:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

And then there is this guy who comes from Gatineau of all places. He actually grew up very close to where I live.

To my ear, he could be almost be from France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhvdCRu0qws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GiHs9l4-o

(Second clip is not actually "starring" Pierre Lapointe. Some kid did his own video for the song.)

He has a Québécois accent when he speaks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDMIYj_48UQ

Lighter than many Québécois, but he definitely has an accent. Aliocha Schneider doesn't have a Québécois accent when he speaks.