I have posted once beforehere about French TV. If you check out that post you will even get to see The Dukes of Hazzard theme song being sung in French. Really...it's a must see. I'll be here when you get back, go ahead, click and listen.
So, if you are thinking "I would love a little more French singing" then you have come to the right blog my friends!! Here we have the theme song to Dallas. Now you might being saying to yourself "but there are no words to the Dallas theme song Susan!" Oh contraire mon frere. (Or soeur.) I really like this clip because it has some dialog in French with subtitles in Flemish. I think it's Flemish. My favorite part; "DAA-las!!"
Awesome. Right?
So here is a Name that Tune for you. I have found that I am a complete dork like 70s French music. Specifically Claude Francois. :-) He is a French singer who I think Cyr showed me because he thought he was funny. Turns out I totally dig this guy. I have a 3 CD set that I luuuuuuv. I think Cyr might regret introducing me to Claude. He does a lot of songs you might know in English. Such as "Mandy", remember Barry Manilow? Claude actually was the first to do "My Way". I love that song in Spanish, and it's not bad in French either. So anyone out there recognize this gem? The French title is "Dimanche Apres-midi" translated it means "Sunday Afternoon".
I'll leave you with that bit o'trivia. I'm going to listen to Claude.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I was flipping through French tv trying to find something to watch. Yes, it's true, watching tv in another language does help you learn it. Television is where I learned the word "flic" meaning "cop" as in a policeman. :-)
I have posted once before about French TV, it's crazy, I love it. This evening my channel surfing was rewarded with "Starsky and Hutch". I don't mean the movie my friends, I mean the two "flics" in tight polyester pants. Did I mention they speak French over here?! Yeah! Both Starsky and Hutch speak French. They dub everything on television, no subtitles. Cyr told me that they even have the same people dub the same characters, so Brad Pitt has the same guy dub all his films. The dubber (if there is such a word) will also do other parts though, so you might hear "Brad" on "New York District" which in the US we call "Law and Order". Why oh why do they feel the need to change the title of everything? Especially when they change it to an English title?!
Prior to my arriving on my couch I worked at my Big School today. I actually really like that job. ::gasp:: I look forward to them now. It's funny, they seem to actually listen to me when I give them tips on negotiation or a sales cycle. Anyway...I was walking home in the light rain with my Ugly Hat. Thusly named for obvious reasons (see below). It seems to have the proper affect and keep people at a distance. This hat PLUS my iPod is typically 90% effective in warding off unwanted conversations by drunk men in the metro.
Check out Duncan, he's raising one eyebrow at the camera. He's cute though eh? Don't know if you can see it, but he has one white whisker. Awe.... I promise he is a happy cat. Even if he doesn't look like it here. Maybe he is camera shy.
So...as I was walking along with the Ugly Hat in light rain (which by the way I very much enjoy for some reason) I was listening to a little Gary P. Nunn. Translate: Texas Music. Yes, it is it's own genre. Gary P. always makes me a little homesick for Texas. The music, the dancing, the food, the hill country, just the whole atmosphere really. The song that really gets me is "You Ask Me What I Like About Texas". Really Gary, did you read my diary or something? I tried to go to utube and copy one of the videos...but I couldn't get it to load. I'm taking a chance here and just cutting and pasting the embeded link to see if maybe it works. I hope it's a good version. I'll have to give it a look-see tomorrow. Man...I even sound Texan in my typing right now. Better go watch some more French TV...
So last night Cyr and I did the picnic thing, which turned out to be pretty cool. We showed up bringing fruit and others brought quiches, cheeses and other assorted goodies. We ate our fill then rode our bikes along with the group to the movie theater. We saw a British film called "Be Happy". I really liked it. Not much of a story, just the theme that one chooses to be happy or not. I completely agree with this. When life happens and things occur, you choose how you react. You can be angry, aloof or slightly entertained all by the same happening. Read on...
Before I get to my theory of Conscious Optimism (as I have just named it) I would like to post an observation about French movies and movie theaters. The first is the need for the French to retitle something in French, even if it isn't necessary. It's as if they have to change the title to sort of make it their own by saying; "We do not sink zat ewe can make a good title, so wee do zis for you. D'accord?" Take for instance a few titles they have changed;
"Knight Rider" - "K2000" Please don't Hassel the Hoff... "Happy-Go-Lucky" - "Be Happy" notice the new title is in English? "The Departed" - "Les Infiltres" Translated: "The Infiltrators" "The Dukes of Hazzard" - "Sherif fait moi peur!" Translated: "Sherif, I dare you to scare me!" This one is my personal favorite as "The Dukes" are the people, their last name being "Duke" and "Hazzard" is the county where they live...so it should be the same no?
Another thing I find interesting is that at the end of the movie they don't turn the lights on. The whole audience sits there and watches the credits. This I don't actually mind and sometimes it's fun to see if my favorite gaffer or grip was on the shoot, but sometimes I need to run to the ladies room and it's all dark. Maybe this is a good thing though, this way all those folks who worked their butts off for George Clooney and other celebs can be recognized. Just an observation...something different.
So at the end of the evening, after we have given everyone kisses goodnight, I hear Cyr say; "Hey, I don't see your bike." Yes...you are correct...someone stole my BRAND NEW BICYCLE!! It was only the third time I had ridden it! I didn't even get to take a picture of it! It was locked up and someone just came along with some clippers and snapped the lock in two. I have to say though, I was super duper glad it was just my city bike and not my road or mountain bike. I would be all kinds of torn up if Blue Bell or Lana went missing. An APB would have been put out to all points! And since APB probably doesn't translate it would have been a rough evening.
Since it was 11:00pm when we made the discovery we were able to walk to the tram station and take the tram home. The sad thing was that they cut the lock, took my bike, but left Cyr's there. Poor guy, he has such a battered bike the thieves didn't even want it. I was a little offended for him. Funny thing was, I was never really upset or mad about it. I'm following the example of Poppy in the movie (who by the way, gets her bike stolen too) and not going to let it tarnish my optimism. I can choose to be pissed off and angry, but instead I am choosing to believe that the person that stole my Black Beauty really needed it. I think that this thief, who is a good person forced to do a bad thing, will ride Beauty to pick up medicine from a pharmacy far-far away, that he could never have gotten to on foot, to pick up a cure for his extremely sick child who would parish without it. So in fact, it is a good thing my bike is gone. It is serving a higher purpose.
Of course I would be hunting the bastard down if he had stolen one of my other bikes. One can only be so optimistic you know...
Well...I walked all over town again today looking at potential sites for a wedding reception. I found some great places, the problem is they don't allow music at all or you have to stop it at 11pm. Uhh...really?
I'm guessing that is because although all the buildings here are old and beautiful, because of this same fact they are not at all soundproof. They kept telling me that because there were hotel rooms they could not play music. Seriously? You mean you have hotel rooms in this hotel? Why that's outrageous. So I have great ideas for the rehearsal dinner, but I'm at nada for the reception. I think we are going to have to go a little out of Lille, which means we will also need shuttles. Maybe places can supply those things...who knows. I'm going to conquer this thing as much as possible this week.
Right now I'm going to visit my only friend here in Lille. She owns a jewelry shop and I am going to swing by for coffee. I'll call her Friend A. So I'm going to hit Friend A up for some advice on this. Maybe she knows of a place. I'm also excited just to go to coffee with someone. I feel like I'm on a date, I think I'm nervous! Seriously, anyone who has been (or is in) my expat-in-France shoes knows it's hard to make female friends here. Friend A is French but speaks good English. Even if she doesn't have advise I think I have an advert that one of my other friends sent me of a place her cousin got married at that is just outside of Lille. Uh - I hope I can find it...
Oh - I also studied last night for first time since 1993 (sophomore/junior year at UH, Algebra). Thank goodness for Jennie!! I went over her tutorials and I think I might be able to squeak by so that I'm not too, too beginner. I wish it was a conversational placement exam. Actually...I bet part of it is conversation. That would be good for me. Last night I watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy in French and understood a fairly good amount. Of course I don't get ANY medical terms, but I don't get those in English. :-) Plus it helps that they are two seasons behind so I know what is going on. I mean, Dr. Burke is still on the show here! It's like I'm in Back to the Future but instead of having an old sports book from the future it's tv shows. I should make some bets with the locals about the characters and what their futures hold...
"Sherif, Fais-Moi Peur!" Translation: "Sheriff, Scare Me!" (sort of "I dare you to scare me Sheriff!') Reality: The French title of "The Dukes of Hazzard"
I can see the big green monster that goes by the name "Jealousy" rearing it's head as you read this. Yes my friends, it is true. I do have the ability, dare I say opportunity, to watch the Duke boys in all their tight jeaned glory race around in the General Lee while speaking French. Please, I ask again, please...if you are feeling a little down right now. Just click and listen to the intro of "Sherif, Fais-Moi Peur!" You can't help but smile. Really, the French have some great music, but country really isn't one of their strengths. It is so hard to sound tough while singing in French.
Feel free to bookmark this video and watch it often. One of the things you should know about French TV is that they are typically a few seasons behind the US in popular shows. I think this is mainly due to the fact that they do not subtitle. Everything is dubbed. They show "Cold Case" and a few newer shows at night but I have yet to see them. I typically turn the TV on during the day. As is true in the US and must be so in all countries; daytime TV is special. Special meaning not really special but more like "My cousin Jimmy is marrying my other cousin Brenda. Isn't that special?" Not only do they have super cool shows on during the day. They realize, as surly is the case, that just one show really isn't enough. They show 2-4 episodes in a row every day and work through all the seasons. Then they replace the show with whatever is next in the stack. When I first moved here they had 4 episodes of "The Nanny" back to back every day. Did you know they ended the series with Fran having a baby and then the family moved to LA? Yeah...I know. Crazy. I mean, how can she live in LA with that accent and not be laughed at all the time?
So you can imagine my fascination at watching Kelly from Beverly Hills 90210 whine in French. What is even cooler (if that in fact is a word) is that they try to match the voice of the dubber to the actual actor. Thus allowing Kelly to be just as whiny in French as she is in English. This fact in itself will cause you to completely understand why now Sylvester Stallone is a channel stopper. I can't pass him up. The French Sly is hypnotic. Like watching a 4 year old child carry a full glass of red wine to Mommy while walking across a white carpeted room and singing "Y-M-C-A!". Come on...everyone has to dance just a little when you hear it.
I read somewhere that listening to French TV or music can help you get used to the rhythm of the language and can subconsciously help you learn the language quicker. I'm a little leery about what I am going to "subconsciously" learn, but hey, maybe being able to say "Je suis Rosco P Coletrain" will someday help me. Here are a few other daytime shows of note:
Le Prince de Bel Air - go Will Smith! Magnum - stop...it's Magnum PI you dirty minded folks! "PI" doesn't translate well. (side note - Tom Selleck is for me the only man I can find sexy with a mustache. All others should refrain from even giving this a try.) Buffy Contre les Vampires - Sarah Michelle Geller at her best Les Simpsons - yeah, that guy still does the rude "Ha-hAAA" laugh in French VIP - Pamela Anderson's boobs are still HUGE in France (so many ways to read that) Fame - This is the 1982-1987 series that was on TV. This is a new one they started last week with a 4 show back to back viewing a day. I totally forgot that "Aeriel" (Lori Singer) from Footloose was in that show. Gilmore Girls - oh my gosh...these people talk fast in English. I just sit there with my mouth open and try to catch something they say. Les Super-Flics de Miami - Miami Supercops. Ha...this is actually a 1985 Italian movie but the title is so funny I had to share. Have not seen it, but it is on tonight so I might have to check it out. I saw a few Ally McBeal episodes too. Oh that dancing baby...
Well, I'm off to work my subconscious into speaking French! A'bientot dawgs! (In the words of the French Will Smith)
