| un autre monde vingt ans sous l'influence de la musique française |
| playlist 62 |
What is it about birthdays that bring back waves of nostalgia, with not just a little soul searching? You are old, Father
William, and my descent from Tom Cruise to Kevin Kostner to (hopefully still) Bruce Willis is painfully visible in the
photos...
Although I grew up in the English-speaking world and increasingly inhabit a Dutch-speaking one, French was my
first linguistic love, and the context of my transition to adulthood. A year at the University of Paris, nine more as a
working adult in the City of Light. I may have moved on to Flanders in my late 30s, but those all-important formative
years of my 20s were shaped with a French accent.
Since I moved to Paris (and thus Europe) in 1987, new musical styles both past and present started to serve as the
soundtrack to my life. More poetic than the pop hits of the English-speaking world, often more romantic as well - but
from startlingly different and sexier view point than what I was used to.
2007 marks my 20th year of living in Europe, and for my birthday I assembled a new playlist of influential French
songs. Not necessarily the most popular nor necessarily the best, but all associated with a very different time and
place. Now that I am catching up with technology, the playlist page provides links so that is possible to listen to
these songs (and see their videos if available). No downloads though. Hopefully this will inspire you to go to
iTunes and buy those you may enjoy. Vive la langue française!
William, and my descent from Tom Cruise to Kevin Kostner to (hopefully still) Bruce Willis is painfully visible in the
photos...
Although I grew up in the English-speaking world and increasingly inhabit a Dutch-speaking one, French was my
first linguistic love, and the context of my transition to adulthood. A year at the University of Paris, nine more as a
working adult in the City of Light. I may have moved on to Flanders in my late 30s, but those all-important formative
years of my 20s were shaped with a French accent.
Since I moved to Paris (and thus Europe) in 1987, new musical styles both past and present started to serve as the
soundtrack to my life. More poetic than the pop hits of the English-speaking world, often more romantic as well - but
from startlingly different and sexier view point than what I was used to.
2007 marks my 20th year of living in Europe, and for my birthday I assembled a new playlist of influential French
songs. Not necessarily the most popular nor necessarily the best, but all associated with a very different time and
place. Now that I am catching up with technology, the playlist page provides links so that is possible to listen to
these songs (and see their videos if available). No downloads though. Hopefully this will inspire you to go to
iTunes and buy those you may enjoy. Vive la langue française!