I went to a concert last month — the artist is Coeur de Pirate, a wonderfully talented Quebecoise who an amazing live performer. Everyone was taking pictures, so I did too!
She is well known for her song “Comme des Enfants“, which is light and adorable. Listen to it a few times, and then try to get it out of your head for the rest of the day. She debuted a few of her new songs – Place de la Republique, and it blew me away — it is phenomenal live.
I obviously don’t understand it all, but there is a line where she talks about “je dois traverser l’ocean demain matin” or something like that — tomorrow morning I cross over the ocean. That line and the whole song reminds me of the time (2 years!) that Pedram and I were struggling with our long long distance relationship — trying to build a committment over short periods of time on two different continents, and how saying goodbye and taking that trip back over the ocean always left a hollow, sinking feeling in my stomach. Many times we would be walking along the Seine, like in the song, finding precious and capricious moments in Paris, occasionally in the Place de la Republique. Long distance relationship — both so incredibly glamorous, romantic and tender, in such a way it makes you blind to how silly it is.
Speaking of frenchie french, last month I was invited to hone my artistic abilities in a collage-making gathering with some lovely French women who now live in Montreal. I was very honored to be invited, and although my lack of french skills made me the most shy person ever, the frenchies were incredibly hospitable and patient with me. It is really hard for me to 1 – be creative and artistic and 2 – speak french. Doing both is too much for me to handle.
I snapped a few pictures of the gathering, and my creation from my phone.
Finally, take a look at this. I am ice skating outside. OUTSIDE people! On a canal that has frozen up. A canal! A moving body of water that is frozen so thick that hundreds of people can skate on it. I know it is March, but I am still coming to terms with winter in Montreal (this picture was actually taken in Ottawa)
It is about a flirt happening in Paris, and she is sad because she cannot find him any more in Paris and she has to take the plane back to Canada the next day.
But I’m sure your French and your creativity are much better than average, Mahsa. You should be confidante with yourself!
Coeur de pirate won the “song of the year” award for francophone songs for “comme des enfants” at the French Victoire de la musique 2010 awards this weekend.
There is a two centimetre film of ice over the pond in the park in Brussels – I was tempted to try skating too, but was talked out of it by someone much more sensible than me