Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity

[Acajack]

She also has incredible vocal range, going from the highest to the lowest notes or vice versa in a fraction of a second.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

She also has incredible vocal range, going from the highest to the lowest notes or vice versa in a fraction of a second.

To be fair, Edith Piaf's rendition was superior. But then no one can equal Edith Piaf. She was unique.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

To be fair, Edith Piaf's rendition was superior. But then no one can equal Edith Piaf. She was unique.

Celine Dion has the "better" (or at least stronger) voice. Piaf had the humanity. If one were comparing singers across cultures, I might see Piaf as more comparable to Judy Garland.

[New Brisavoine]

Piaf had a super strong voice (too strong even I find).

I'm reading British, German, and Spanish press now, and it's just funny how negative the British press can be regarding this opening ceremony compared to Spanish and German press, who call it "world wonder" etc.

The comments on the Financial Times were one long series of criticism of the ceremony (too woke, abysmal, dull, totally inferior to London 2012). The strength of Francophobia in England never ceases to surprise...

I agree it was too woke though. Watching now the beginning that I hadn't watched earlier, some of the tableaux were frankly inappropriate (an ode to homosexual love (with guys themselves very clichés and not representative of the wider homosexual population), heavy metal and beheaded aristocrats, seriously??). This is the left-wing crew in charge of the ceremony that I mentioned yesterday.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Celine Dion has the "better" (or at least stronger) voice. Piaf had the humanity. If one were comparing singers across cultures, I might see Piaf as more comparable to Judy Garland.

Piaf's voice came from deep deep inside her soul. Something that is extremely uncommon.

Elle chantait avec ses tripes.

[Acajack]

There was definitely some woke stuff in there, though not intolerably so.

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Piaf had a super strong voice (too strong even I find).

I'm reading British, German, and Spanish press now, and it's just funny how negative the British press can be regarding this opening ceremony compared to Spanish and German press, who call it "world wonder" etc.

The comments on the Financial Times were one long series of criticism of the ceremony (too woke, abysmal, dull, totally inferior to London 2012). The strength of Francophobia in England never ceases to surprise...

I agree it was too woke though. Watching now the beginning that I hadn't watched earlier, some of the tableaux were frankly inappropriate (an ode to homosexual love (with guys themselves very clichés and not representative of the wider homosexual population), heavy metal and beheaded aristocrats, seriously??). This is the left-wing crew in charge of the ceremony that I mentioned yesterday.

[niwell]

I knew our French interloper would be furious that Gojira played. One of the better modern metal bands and you know, actually French. That portion was great. And IMO it was a very good ceremony overall - one of the better ones.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

I agree it was too woke though. Watching now the beginning that I hadn't watched earlier, some of the tableaux were frankly inappropriate (an ode to homosexual love (with guys themselves very clichés and not representative of the wider homosexual population), heavy metal and beheaded aristocrats, seriously??). This is the left-wing crew in charge of the ceremony that I mentioned yesterday.

At some point, there was threesome (a woman with 2 men).
I instantly told myself - foreigners are going to bash and make fun of us again...
That was even more embarrassing than the nasty British weather.

I found Dion's performance very decent, if not impressive, especially when she's been sick. Definitely one of the main highlights of the ceremony.
I'm not a fan at all; her music ain't funky enough for my taste.
But yeah, she did great on that one. It was even kinda moving in the damn rain.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by mousquet

At some point, there was threesome (a woman with 2 men).
I instantly told myself - foreigners are going to bash and make fun of us again...
That was even more embarrassing than the nasty British weather.

I found Dion's performance very decent, if not impressive, especially when she's been sick. Definitely one of the main highlights of the ceremony.
I'm not a fan at all; her music ain't funky enough for my taste.
But yeah, she did great on that one. It was even kinda moving in the damn rain.

It was noticed by the American right, but what really outraged them (and others) was the drag tableau that was reminiscent of da Vinci's The Last Supper. At least that's how it's being described, I didn't see it live.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by Acajack

There was definitely some woke stuff in there, though not intolerably so.

Today I see LOTS of criticism of the woke stuff on the French Twitter (and the French far-left, such as Mediapart online media, are openly rejoicing of the "fuck off" sent to the far-right by the ceremony). One journalist commented that a show should unite people, not divide and be a cause of gleeful taunting of your neighbor.

Personally after I watched part of the beginning of the show late at night, I also found it tacky and too woke here and there (threesome at the National Library of France, seriously???).

Anyway, about the artists, this today. You can't make that up! The sort of thing you would imagine in China or North Korea.

Cérémonie d'ouverture des JO de Paris : la performance de Lady Gaga avait été enregistrée à l'avance

La star américaine ne s'est pas produite en direct. Pendant le show télévisé, sous la pluie, l'escalier rose sur lequel les téléspectateurs l'ont admirée était vide.

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/les-jeux...e_6689568.html

I still don't know whether Céline Dion sang live, or whether she was lip synch as some had said before the ceremony. It was hard to tell watching her. But she and the elevation of the flame with the balloon were the two best and most moving parts of the ceremony by far, redeeming somewhat the rest. I'm glad I arrived just for the finale and skipped the rest.

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by mousquet

At some point, there was threesome (a woman with 2 men).
I instantly told myself - foreigners are going to bash and make fun of us again...

They just don't realize that it's being watched by the entire planet and not just by Eurovision-loving Continental Europeans. I don't even get their point. Promoting gay rights, ok (even if out of place at an Olympic opening ceremony), but promoting threesome sex??

And the gay guys they used as actors were ugly, and not a good representation of gay men.

Someone posted an extract from the Athens opening ceremony in 2004. Much more more pleasing to the eye if you're a gay man:

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

It was noticed by the American right, but what really outraged them (and others) was the drag tableau that was reminiscent of da Vinci's The Last Supper. At least that's how it's being described, I didn't see it live.

It's also being criticized here. One cheeky right-wing Black French commentator (of Comorran ancestry I believe) who regularly denounces Islam and wokism, said that it was quite telling that they chose to stage the ceremony in the heart of Paris and not in some ugly ethnic suburb, or that the death metal band played on the façade of the historical Conciergerie and not on the ugly concrete façade of the prefecture of Bobigny in Seine-Saint-Denis (heart of the ethnic banlieues), or that they chose to mock the Last Supper by Da Vinci and not some modern art artist. His point was that in fact those left-wing woke committees themselves value ancien art much more than tacky modern art. We still remember Da Vinci's Last Supper after 500 years, to the point of trying to mock it, but who will remember Jeff Koons & Co. 500 years from now? That's what he said.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

I still don't know whether Céline Dion sang live, or whether she was lip synch as some had said before the ceremony. It was hard to tell watching her.

Pretty sure she was live, because 1. she was in the rain and 2. there were some laser show and light effects to the Eiffel tower while she sang, that hadn't been tried in real situation to my knowledge. Otherwise, locals would have noticed. I guess this whole thing to the Eiffel tower had been kept as a secret, like most of the show.
So she certainly was on stage live! Again, mad respect to her for what she did last night.
She would love the city and frankly, we'd be unfair not to give her much appreciation in return.

[New Brisavoine]

Yes, she was physically there, but whether she was actually singing, or just chantait en playback, as we say in franglais, is the question...

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Nashe

Definitely see this in rural Nouveau Brunswick as well. Vegetables, flowers, bundles of firewood. All on the honour system.

I see this in NS as well.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Some of these provinces are very backward... I'm in Normandy today, in a town of 40,000 people, capital of its own administrative district, very good food stores in the Medieval city center, I wanted to buy some excellent Roquefort cheese in one of the stores there, the lady at the cheese store has forced me to go to an ATM because she wouldn't accept credit/debit card below... 15 euros!!! In 2024!

So forget about e-payment!

Anyway, I DID go to the ATM (under the rain, cliché Normandy). Qu'est-ce qu'on ferait pas pour du roquefort de qualité supérieure... It'd better be good!

I’ve been told by business owners locally that some service charges from CC companies are high enough that they make no profit from smaller purchases by CC. Some just eat the cost for the convenience of customers, while others don’t want to.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

I was on the road during most of the ceremony. Some rainpour! Although I hate the mayor and sort of wished these games would be a catastrophe to force a change in city government, I felt a bit sad for them seeing all that rain. They deserved better after 2 years of work and preparation. It's exceptional to see so much rain and gray weather in late July. Today felt more like October, just warmer than October, but otherwise much like October.

So anyway, how was it? I arrived home just when they started raising the Olympic flag. It looked a bit dull to me. Few people, few athletes. Where were the athletes?? Usually in opening ceremonies you see so many athletes in the end, but there around the flag there were so few.

The finale was spectacular though, with the balloon rising, and Céline Dion frankly quite moving (and I say this as really not a fan). They also chose the right song from Edith Piaf (I was afraid they would choose the overly cliché "Non je ne regrette rien", but in the end they chose the more beautiful and fitting Hymne à l'amour.

You could see the emotion on her face, singing in public after all these years. Like many people, I suppose, I was afraid something would happen before she could finish the song, but she managed it. Frankly very moving.

I was checking British newspapers online, as predictable, they found the ceremony subpar, a bit dull, no match for London 2012, but suddenly in the end they couldn't help feeling wowed with the balloon and Céline Dion singing.

I still think there would have been more energy (and more of a crowd of athletes) if they had done it in a stadium. Making it over miles of a city of course thins crowds and makes it feel a bit "empty".

For me it was one of the best I’ve ever seen, far superior to being confined to a stadium. The rain was surely a bit of an impediment, but IMHO it also created a mood that enhanced the ceremonies. The light beams at night came alive in the rain, making them quite spectacular. I can only imagine that it would have been that much better to see it live.

Was also super impressed with Céline. She did amazingly well considering the health issues she has been dealing with.

One of my favourite parts was actually the robotic horse on the river. There was something almost hypnotic about it, but also very impressive from an engineering point of view.

I say “well done, Paris!”. I now want to visit more than ever!

[P'tit Renard]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

It was noticed by the American right, but what really outraged them (and others) was the drag tableau that was reminiscent of da Vinci's The Last Supper. At least that's how it's being described, I didn't see it live.

Apparently NBC censured it..luckily SRC wasn't so prudish. It was well received on the Plateau.

Tony Estanguet défend le Cojo face à la censure de certaines chaînes de télévision étrangères
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CawcipT3NAw

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I’ve been told by business owners locally that some service charges from CC companies are high enough that they make no profit from smaller purchases by CC. Some just eat the cost for the convenience of customers, while others don’t want to.

That was true before, but nowadays banks don't charge much (or anything) anymore. In the same city, most stores in town accept credit/debit car payments starting from €1 (in Paris they even accept credit/debit card payments from just 1 cent in most stores now). To not accept payments below €15 feels like we're back 20 years ago! This lady owning the cheese store doesn't want to adapt to the times. And then they complain people are fleeing city centers and shopping only in large malls/hypermarkets in the suburbs, leading to stores closing in city centers!

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

For me it was one of the best I’ve ever seen, far superior to being confined to a stadium. The rain was surely a bit of an impediment, but IMHO it also created a mood that enhanced the ceremonies. The light beams at night came alive in the rain, making them quite spectacular. I can only imagine that it would have been that much better to see it live.

Some British comments from readers on the Financial Times' website complained (or mocked rather) the fact the cameramen did not wipe the water away from the camera lenses. I tend to agree, that was not very professional.

The spokesman of the Russian ministry of foreign affairs said that the opening ceremony in Paris was a disaster because of the TGV train line arson (the gall of that criticism!!) and because the organizers did not use cloud scattering technique/chemicals (does that even exist? serious question), and because they hadn't prepared some sort of awning to protect spectators from the rain. I agree with the last point. That was typical French nonchalance, assuming confidently that it couldn't rain in late July. Not very professional!