Wednesday, February 13, 2013

À la claire fontaine

In anticipation of Valentine's Day, we here at Radio Infomaniac offer you a song of love and loss. Because you've all been there, haven't you?



Enjoy the simple beauty of this traditional French/French-Canadian ballad as sung by France's Grégoire Boissenot.

Dozens of versions exist but Grégoire's is my favourite.



Il y’a longtemps que je t’aime,
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.

(“Long have I loved you,
Never will I forget you.”)


Background about this song, which dates back centuries and was sung by the Voyageurs, can be found here. And for those who wish to sing along or see a translation, click here.



29 comments:

  1. everything sounds better in French.
    sigh

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    Replies
    1. JASON: Even the names of diseases sound sexier in French.

      Delete
    2. even the french word for discharge?

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    3. NORMA: A lady such as yourself must tell the doctor you have “les pertes blanches” … “white losses.”

      Tell the doctor that your man friend has a case of “la chaude-pisse”… “hot piss” i.e. the clap.

      Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics accordingly.

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    4. mj darling, i'll surely tell him of my
      "les pertes blanches" if they are in fact white.

      mine, alas cannot be described using the color wheel.

      Delete
    5. This is so typical.

      I post a beautiful song and you Bitches turn it into a discussion on sexually transmitted diseases.

      By the way, I have some miracle ointment, Norma.

      Delete
  2. Kabuki does not do sad songs. Melancholy looks awful in a kimono.

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    Replies
    1. kabuki-san: And yet it's so much easier to accessorize with a black kimono.

      Delete
  3. I have to longingly wonder if he will be my Valentine... I'm all moist now ... Thank you MJ
    Happy VD!

    He seems to be quite flexible in a pixilated kind of a way...

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    Replies
    1. PRINNY: Regarding that bit with the pixels…my face once melted in a similar fashion during an acid trip.

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  4. I, like Kabuki, do not listen to music that would make the very marrow of my soul weep. Fucking aye, Molly Hatchet forever.

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  5. Can I take him skiing at an overbooked lodge?

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    Replies
    1. MARGARET: Does Grégoire REALLY have any say in the matter?

      And what about Wally?

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    2. Sometimes when Wally and I touch, the honesty's too much.

      I'd actually prefer Alan May, but he never stops by my gift shop.

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    3. MARGARET: Alan May of hockey fame?

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    4. Yes, and no, you can't have him, or even look at him, or remember having him, or even think about trying to "take him to the crease."

      Delete
    5. MARGARET: First Wally, now Alan May.

      Fickle.

      That's what you are.

      Delete
    6. Fickle is putting it mildly.

      Delete
  6. I have just applied lashings of mascara... I will leave the weeping until after I've taken it off.
    Sx

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  7. That's amazing: this song portrays just how I feel about the Ikea Monkey.

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  8. Replies
    1. LX: Stop it.

      Stop it RIGHT NOW.

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    2. LX, surely you have listened to her 1982 career revival disco synthesizer version?

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    3. I wonder why they never paired her up with Sally Field!

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  9. I don't do Valentine's Day. I do, however, do horny Frenchmen! Preferably with “les pertes blanches” of the "pearl necklace" kind... Jx

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  10. This is certainly one of the first songs every little French(/Canadian) kids learn in kindergarten. Never thought it could be so poignant! I think one more verse and Grégoire would have had a break down!

    Hugs
    -Jon

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