samedi 28 juillet 2012

Jolies mélodies




A catching melody isn't it? But have you noticed how it is built on a sequence of just three notes repeated on and on at different levels with the usual few notes that permit the transition from one scale to another? So it works wonder but basically the melodic line is at its simplest. Of course it had to be found though.

Like everybody, I am very sensitive to melodies but I mean real melodies, not just some sort of gimmick that certainly is efficient and powerful but yet somehow unsatisfying musically wise.

Now consider the difference between the stuff Macca used to come out with and that of Mick and Keith. One is a brilliant melody maker whereas the others are brilliant musicians. 

Think of that masterpiece whose first melody spans over 8 bars! And the second melody also spans over 8 bars!!! Two extraordinary melodies in one single song. Certainly Paul had received a visit by the Gods of music when he composed that piece.

Now listen to that one by Keith. Of course it's a wonderful song but note how it's nonetheless based on repetitions and the different parts have to be piled up in order to make ends meet, so to say.

To each his own of course and everyone has a special place in one's heart for such and such tune but globally speaking, consider the respective titles of the two groups and the melodies that come to your mind. It's not a matter of who's the best but just comparing the lenght of the melodies.

The name of Gérard Lenormand is totally unheard of in America of course but I give the link to that song which was an enormous hit in France 40 years ago and whose melody I've always found a long and sophisticated line worth the ones that are met in operas.

And compare with this one which also was a huge, huge hit in 1970. Lovely but the melody is rather simple, yet efficient and catchy.

Anyway, as is the case with books and films and songs that are recommended by the friend of the friend etc. our reception is usually tepid to say the least, the usual fear-of-the-unknown reaction. Also there's no accounting for taste as we all know.

There are thousands of such examples here but I admit I've lost contact with the modern production in the French songs department.





21 commentaires:

Flocon a dit…

A lighter subject for the week-end

Anonyme a dit…

Il n'y a plus de chansons aussi romantiques comme dans ces jours-là

Flocon a dit…

You're probably right Anijo but now, has it to do because we've added a certain number of years to the taximeter since july 1966?

Or maybe has romanticism disappeared from the radar screen of contemporary generations.

Anonyme a dit…

C'est certain que le romanticism a disparu.

Anonyme a dit…

We all remember where we were when the song was aired ten times a day on all radios in the summer of 1966, don't we? Well I do anyway...

hmmmm.. well, i was 9 years old in the summer of 1966.. so, no, I don't remember where I was at said time.

And shame on you, Flocon, for bringing up the 'where were you when 'meme'.

Anonyme a dit…

The name of Gérard Lenormand is totally unheard of in America

Oh, I have an old LP of Gérard Lenormand..

La Ballade des gens heureux... mon dieu comme il es mignon!

Anonyme a dit…

Oh, another song by Gerard Lenormand that I find irresistible.

Anonyme a dit…

And Gerard's little song about the bunnies in love brings us back to songs of love and romance. ☺

Anonyme a dit…

And yet, he contrasts love with war... oh what a lovely tune.

Sorry for being so talkative this evening... too many Anchor Steams, alas!

Anonyme a dit…

Ah, Georges Brassens.... I know for sure how old that I am, as i have a weakness for him.

Ned Ludd a dit…

Paul is so cute in this recording and Ringo always seems to be enjoying himself. Furthermore, they had respect for their audience.

Michel Depech reminds too much of CloClo.

Fréhel as I have mentioned before is my favorite. Here is one about Paris.

Another one by her that I put up not only because I like it, but be sure to read the first and most popular comment on it. Too funny.

Flocon a dit…

Anijo: "mon dieu comme il es mignon!"

Ned: "Paul is so cute".

Just when I had integrated the idea that women prefer machos.

Oh well, I'll never understand girls anyway

Flocon a dit…

Anijo,

* Anchor Steams... err... like Anchor Steams?

* "And shame on you, Flocon, for bringing up the 'where were you when 'meme'"

Pictures and titles of posts most often come instantly to my mind which is often not the case with the sentence of introduction. On est encore souvent hésitant as how to start a piece and lead into the core of the issue (it also goes the same with essays at school).

But it was a "meme", no doubt about it and I've suppressed it, all the more so since the post didn't need that useless line.

God! are some of the regulars sharp customers here ;-)

Ned Ludd a dit…

Here are the lyrics to the second song I linked, for Anijo, there may still be some problems with the slang.

J'avais rêvé d'avoir un homme,
un vrai de vrai, bien balancé,
mais je suis chipée pour la pomme,
d'un avorton, complet'ment j'té.
Ce n'est pas un Apollon mon Jules,
il n'est pas taillé comme un Hercule.
Malgré qu'il ait bien des défauts,
C'est lui que j'ai dans la peau.

Tel qu'il est, il me plaît,
Il me fait de l'effet,
Et je l'aime.
C'est un vrai gringalet,
aussi laid qu'un basset,
mais je l'aime.
Il est bancal,
du coté cérébral
mais ça m'est bien égal,
qu'il ait l'air anormal.

C'est complet, il est muet
ses quinquets sont en biais
C'est un fait que tel qu'il est,
il me plaît.

{instrumental}

Il est carré mais ses épaules
par du carton, sont rembourrées.
Quand il est tout nu ça fait drôle,
On n'en voit plus que la moitié.
Il n'a pas un seul poil sur la tête,
mais il en a plein sur les gambettes.
Et celui qu'il a dans la main,
c'est pas du poil c'est du crin.

Tel qu'il est, il me plaît,
Il me fait de l'effet,
Et je l'aime.
C'est un vrai gringalet,
aussi laid qu'un basset,
mais je l'aime.
Il est bancal,
du coté cérébral
mais ça m'est bien t égal,
qu'il ait l'air anormal.

C'est complet, il est muet
ses quinquets sont en biais
C'est un fait que tel qu'il est,
il me plaît.

Le travail pour lui c'est la chose
la plus sacrée, il y touche pas.
Pour tenir le coup il se dose,
de quintonine, à tous les r'pas.
Ce qui n'est pas marrant c'est qu'il ronfle,
on dirait un pneu qui se dégonfle.
Et quand il faut se bagarrer,
il est encore dégonflé.

Tel qu'il est, il me plaît,
Il me fait de l'effet,
Et je l'aime.
C'est un vrai gringalet,
aussi laid qu'un basset,
mais je l'aime.
Il est bancal,
du coté cérébral
mais ça m'est bien z égal,
qu'il ait l'air anormal.

C'est complet, il est muet
ses quinquets sont en biais
C'est un fait que tel qu'il est,
il me plaît.

There is even a cover by a duo of Annie Cordy and Renaud!

Tel Qu'il Est

Anijo a dit…

I'm having computer problems, so I can't use my Google acct to post and after tomorrow I'll be without a computer for a few days.

Yes, Flocon, that was the Anchor Steam I had in mind.

Thanks for the words to the lyrics Ned.

Flocon a dit…

Ned,

J'espère que tu ne t'es jamais chipée la pomme pour un bancal du côté cérébral, un vrai gringalet qui aurait été aussi laid qu'un basset, un avorton complètement j'té etc.

Tell us Ned...

Anonyme a dit…

>>To each his own
« Y a mille chansons qui viennent et s'en vont »
http://tinyurl.com/3jxwtlf

-Jan
CDN

Ned Ludd a dit…

Pas chipée la pomme, mais j'ai connu des un peu bancals du côte cérébral.

J'ai evité des gringalets comme le suivant:

Gringalet

Ned Ludd a dit…

Jan, don't forget the TeleTubbies and the xian extremist Jerry Falwall who created a controversy that lasted years in saying that the purple one Tinky Winky was gay.

Flocon a dit…

The Tele Tubies issue was discussed here with Ned informing us all how she'd spent her time during her Lutheran confirmation classes... Oh well...

Ned Ludd a dit…

Goddamn, I've been around so long that not only do I repeat what I said, but I repeat what you said.

Jeez, memories are short.