February 19, 2006
When it was okay to sing "I love America" in France
Regularly, French TV channels broadcast a nostalgic night when we have to hear over and over again the same old songs from the 60's, 70's or 80's. Not that it is not nice to hear some old, good songs again, but the exercise is quite artificial.
Anyway, recently I came across such an old song, that was a hit at the time. Such a song would be unthinkable in today's France though. The opposite is what we actually hear everyday on the radio stations.
The song title is: I Love America. The singer's name: Patrick Juvet. The song was realeased in 1978 (when yours truly was a very little girl) and was #1 in 15 countries including the United States.
At the bottom of this post is the video of the song (remember it was released in 1978 ;), that is available here. The lyrics can be found here.
The desperate state of today's opinion of America in France almost makes the song incongruous to hear.
At the top of the sidebar, on the right, you will find a gif of the "I Love America" animation of Juvet's video (Thanks a hundred times to Hervé for the idea and for making the gif), a gif that should be here to stay.
For in case some here would not have realized yet: I love America, too.
America loves you right back Carine.
And now, thanks to you and Patrick I will have
another old tune going through my head for the rest of the day! Curse that ear worm!!
When you read Juvet's lyrics you know immediately which one it would HAVE to be...
Dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down that boogie and play that funky music till you die
Till you die, oh till you die
Wild Cherry
Some of us weren't wee little tots in the '70s.
Time for my nap now.
"
Posted by: Valerie, Texas at February 19, 2006 07:07 PMWow, that was just...wow. I nearly had a pulsating-neon-sign-induced seizure there for the last 30 seconds of the video. Major props to Juvet -- any caucasian man who can dance in place for five minutes while wearing white overalls clearly has The Inner Strength.
This song should be played 24/7 at Guantanamo Bay.
(On a slightly related note, if you haven't watched Tommy Seebach's seminal Apache music video, well...you should.)
Posted by: Jon S. at February 22, 2006 03:05 PMJon S.,
I completely support your idea about finding some distraction to prisoners at Gitmo: let's have them see this video over and over and over again ;-)
Posted by: Carine at February 25, 2006 12:27 AMBtw, I've just watched the other video. LOL Juvet is definitely beaten.
The girls aren't halal at all. It should be added to the Gitmo video library ;-)
Thanks for the link.
Posted by: Carine at February 25, 2006 12:54 AMNice website. Lot's of interesting stuff here.
"For in case some here would not have realized yet: I love America, too."
And you're French? When a French person says something like that I know they are someone who thinks for themself and has a strong character and a good heart.
Cheers to you and God bless. :)
Posted by: ibigmang at February 25, 2006 07:13 PMWhat's with the l;ink for the video? Is it supposed to be "ed2k: blah blah" something? I get an error.
Posted by: Jay at February 27, 2006 03:09 AMHi Jay -- I had the same problem with the link. However, you can simply click the picture of Juvet to play the video.
Posted by: Jon S. at February 27, 2006 02:05 PMThanks.
Posted by: Jay at February 27, 2006 06:39 PMJay,
It's a e-donkey link. It opens automatically if the software is installed on your computer. Should I've put a warning, my mistake.
Posted by: Carine at February 27, 2006 11:09 PMActually we're doing America a favor by NOT airing this shit.
Not to mention that Juvet did a lot more popular song than "I love America": "Où sont les femmes".
Last, what about Joe Dassin and his "L'Amérique" - is this one not aired enough to your taste or is it just not pro-american enough?
e-tribesman,
Actually, I planned to post Dassin's song. As I said, I just happened to "run into" Juvet's song at that time. And I don't really see what's the problem with this song not being Juvet's most popular. L'Amérique wasn't Dassin's most popular either.
Last but not least, I post whatever I want here. That you don't like it isn't my problem, nor was it the point of the post to mention a good song. I don't really understand the aggresivity (sounds very French though). L'Amérique is actually closer to what I feel about America.
Posted by: Carine at April 17, 2006 08:36 PMWell, I felt like that tiny frog in front of two menacing women. Aggressivity is a common defence, non?
Posted by: e-tribesman at April 17, 2006 08:52 PMOh, I see, you identified yourself with the frog and croaking was the only thing you could do? No real, rational thinking here?
Posted by: Carine at April 17, 2006 11:21 PMTalk about rationalism when you nearly cry anti-americanism over an old and silly song not being played anymore but neglecting to mention that another song about America is still very popular and aired in the shows you described...
You ought to think positive my dear. But don't take it personally, it's a very distinctive French character to criticize and be pessimistic beyond reason. And I don't mean you to take it as an insult either. ;-)
I didn't forget to mention Dassin. Actually, if I'd want to be as dishonest as you were about Juvet (I'm not a fan of Juvet, all right? The subject of the post was a song arguing that America was "lovable") I'd say that Dassin made another, more popular song -- which is played much more than L'Amérique --, L'Eté indien.
I'm not criticizing, I'm stating the truth. A song titled "I love America" would simply not make it to radios these days. And I know what I'm talking about.
And I'm not pessimistic. Actually, I believe most Americans don't really care about what the French think about them. And rightly so. I used to care because I am French. But soon enough it won't matter anymore.
You know what lyrics come to my mind right now?
Elle m'attend depuis que je suis né[e]...
There's something that you "neglected" to mention though: Dassin was born in New York.
Posted by: Carine at April 18, 2006 10:42 PMWhatever, I don't think all this fuss was justified.
L'Amerique IS played on many radios and it IS pro-american. Case closed.
If I wanted to follow your reasoning, I'd say that a lot more old songs are not to be heard these days either. What about the "Lac du Connemara" from Michel Sardou? Must be anti-irish and pro-brit feelings if we don't hear it anymore huh?!
And it's just one example.
I believe this has more to do with the music now sounding weird or even unpleasant than having a particular message.
But you're entitled to your opinion of course, I'm just giving mine.
This song is just a great popular song I used to hear when I was 10 or sg...
Posted by: izzie at April 25, 2006 09:52 PMYour wrong a bout it not being -played on radio.i heard it on starpoint radio.com...(u.k.) a few weeks ago.I went to ebay and got the 12" blue vinyl asap for 99P !!!.i reckon its a great disco record with great arrangements...(even if his voice is not all that.)I WAS only 8 when it came out...Its better than a lot of Dance music today....one mans passion is anothers poison...
Posted by: THINK at June 8, 2006 02:16 PM"Think",
You should apply to yourself what you advise others to do, in this case: think.
1) I was talking about French radio stations
2) I wrote that such a song would get no airplay today.
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