Category Archives: Music

Hors du commun

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Patricia Gilbert

Have you ever heard of Dalida? She was a larger-than-life beauty queen, turned singer, originally from Egypt. I use “Laissez-moi danser” and “Je suis malade” in class and my students are usually rather overwhelmed by all that she was.  Recently, … Continue reading →

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Le béguin

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Patricia Gilbert

If you want to say that you have a crush on someone, you can say “J’ai le béguin pour toi” (zjay luh bay-gahn poor twah). This slang term has really old roots that date back to the Middles Ages. Béguines … Continue reading →

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Marquer le coup

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Patricia Gilbert

In the summer program I work at, it’s important to do something to mark their birthdays. Sometimes parents will contact us with a list of requests, other times, it’s up to us to highlight the importance of the day with banners, … Continue reading →

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Mistral Gagnant

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Patricia Gilbert

In a recent phone survey of over 1,000 French adults, “Mistral gagnant” (me-stral gan-yahn), by Renaud was selected as their favorite song. How could I have never heard of France’s favorite song? Of course, I looked it up right away on … Continue reading →

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Aller plus vite que la musique

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Patricia Gilbert

If you’ve taken the Paris métro, you’ve no doubt heard some of the talented musicians in its tiled halls and alcoves. And if you’ve stopped to listen for a few minutes on your way to a museum or monument, you’ve … Continue reading →

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Il sait tout, mais il manque d’inexpérience

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Patricia Gilbert

French composer Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was born in Paris on October 9, 1835. His father died while he was a tiny infant, leaving him to be raised by his mother and a great-aunt. It was this aunt who introduced him to the … Continue reading →

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Tout le monde a ses raisons

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Patricia Gilbert

French director Jean Renoir was born on September 15, 1894. His baby pictures were a little better than average, since his father was Pierre-Auguste Renoir (although he does look like a little girl in several!). He was born in the … Continue reading →

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Racine Carrée

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Patricia Gilbert

The new album of Belgian singer Stromae, Racine Carrée, has just been released. Stromae was born Paul Van Haver on March 12, 1985. Stromae is an inversion of the syllables in the word “maestro,” a type of slang known as … Continue reading →

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À la folie

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Patricia Gilbert

Les Francofolies, the annual music and performance festival, is coming to New York with a tribute to Édith Piaf at the Beacon Theater on September 19. Two more shows will take place at “The Standard” hotel in the East Village … Continue reading →

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Un Piano à queue

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Patricia Gilbert

I played the piano for many years, until I finally acknowledged that I was never going to be a particularly good pianist. Still, piano music and pianos themselves retain a fond place in my heart. France has produced some of the best … Continue reading →

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