Ode to French Music and TV

I have posted once before here 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.

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...

3rd Race at the Honeymoon-Is-Over Downs

Ok, this is a bit crude...but I cracked up when I watched it! Now Cyr and I are not running in this race of course. Being from Texas I like to compare our relationship to team roping rather than racing. ;-)

Anyway, I am feeling much better about life today. I am truly excited about the people that are coming in and am thrilled that I am going to have time to spend with each one of them. Enjoy this little video, I am off to buy my bouquet and the boutonnieres!!

Destress with Mika

So after a week of trying to learn 5 tenses, pronouns and negation in 5 days of French class, I needed a break. On Saturday Cyr and I went to a music festival in Arras. It was so fun! It was held in their Grand Place. The whole square was blocked off and you had to show your ticket to get in. I read in the paper today that 22,000 people were there! It was amazing...the buildings, the music, all the people, even the weather. Here is a shot of Cyr and I during one of the breaks.

Check out the buildings in the back, doesn't it look fake it's so pretty? Here is one during the same break at what was behind us.
It was just so, so...European! Cobble stone and buildings surrounding us that were probably over 200 years old. The music was great too. The Kooks, The Hoosiers, BB Brune, a band I can't remember the name of and Mika all played. I know a lot of you out there probably think Mika is a dork, but it was SO MUCH FUN. I mean this guy had all 22,000 people in the square dancing and singing and having a damn good time! He also spoke what I thought was perfect French between songs. What a cool dude...he even sang one of his songs and changed a verse to a French version. He went on at 9:45 as the headliner, here is a pic:

So yeah, he's a bit bubbly, but it was a blast. My friend O was there with a group, but I was able to see here and at least say hello. How cool eh? I knew someone there, I had a friend. Damn, life is good! The other bands were really good too, it was weird though, they were all cool and hip, then Mika comes out and performs on what looks to be a stolen set from Willy Wonka. I mean, there was giant candy on the stage people. It was hilarious. I didn't stress out about not knowing the Future Simple or L'imparfait tenses in French once the entire night. So I think I would like to end this post with a little Mika video for your enjoyment. Wait for the music, it comes in after a bit..I'm going to go study now.

Asian Female Self-Defense Video (??)

Ran across this and just had to share. I wonder if they show this in classrooms to young girls about traveling to the US...


So very strange!! Catchy tune though...

Not much going on here. Cyr leaves Sunday to go to Houston for a two week training course. The super cool thing is that I'm going to be there next weekend for a long visit so we will be there for a week together. Yeah!!

I am going to have to, I mean get to navigate the train to Brussels to get to the airport on my own. I'm sure it will be no problem. Well enjoy the video. I'm going to go practice those moves about "I've been robbed by two men!" just in case my train to Brussels is difficult.