Grand Corps Malade

A friend in Paris recently turned me on to this amazing talent known as Grand Corps Malade.  Also known as  Fabien Marsaud, the poet performs both a capella, and occasionally accompanied by a small jazz ensemble.

I love this video “Pocahontas,” which features family members and friends recreating photographs from their past.

In 1997, a diving accident left Marsaud unable to walk for a period of two years. Marsaud claimed the name “Grand Corps Malade” (meaning “Tall Sick Body” in French) in reference to his condition as well as his height (nearly 6’4″). The former basketball star regained the ability to walk in 1999, and started his career as “slam poet” in 2003.

2013’s Funambule is the fourth studio album, with the musical direction of musician and trumpet player Ibrahim Maalouf. The album Continue reading “Grand Corps Malade” →

Performer of the Year: Isabelle Huppert

With two powerhouse performances and some serious Oscar buzz brewing, 2016 is officially the Year of Huppert.

Isabelle Huppert is without a doubt one of the finest actresses of all time, an immense talent we’ve been fortunate enough to witness for decades. She is the most nominated actress for France’s César Award, with thirteen nominations; she has had more films in competition at the Cannes Film Festival than any other actress; she is a BAFTA winner, Silver Berlin Bear Winner and she unanimously won Best Actress at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival for her role as Erika Kohut in Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher. In short, Huppert is who Meryl Streep likely wakes up wanting to be [ . . .  ]

Read Full Story: Performer of the Year: Isabelle Huppert

Rat attack: Paris declares war on city’s exploding rodent population

Already faced with continued fears of terror attacks and record-high pollution levels, Paris is in the midst of yet another battle to reassure tourists of its attractiveness ahead of the holidays: the city’s new war on rats.

Since the end of November, the City of Light has suffered a rat invasion so immense it has had to temporarily shut down at least nine central parks and gardens to tackle the problem. According to French daily Le Parisien, the French capital now houses nearly 4 million rodents, or 1.75 rats per Parisian.

Many of the parks and gardens are currently riddled with holes due to the rodent infestation, and rats are frequently seen raiding the city’s open-ribbed rubbish bins.
Already faced with continued fears of terror attacks and record-high pollution levels, Paris is in the midst of yet another battle to reassure tourists of its attractiveness ahead of the holidays: the city’s new war on rats.

Read Full Story at France 24: Rat attack: Paris declares war on city’s exploding rodent population – France 24

Just say no to Beaujolais Nouveau

Adam Teeter / Vinepair.com
Every year, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, one of the strongest wine-marketing behemoths takes over: Beaujolais Nouveau season. Wine shops are overtaken with Beaujolais Nouveau displays, restaurants start pouring Beaujolais Nouveau, and people start buying the wine like crazy.

All the hype would lead one, especially a novice, to believe that Beaujolais Nouveau must be worthy of all this attention, and the price tag that goes along with it, but guess what? Beaujolais Nouveau actually isn’t very good.

The annual “night before” party at La Robe et Le Palais on November 18, 2015. “Throw a stone and you’d hit one the pirates of the wine community.” Photo and quote by Michaël Dandrieux

Beaujolais Nouveau is a wine that has literally been bottled only six to eight weeks after the Gamay grapes that were used to make it have been picked. This gives no time for the wine to mature, no time for delicious flavors to develop, nothing. What you have is just thin, alcoholic grape juice. In fact, the wine is so Continue reading “Just say no to Beaujolais Nouveau” →

Caps anthem singer Bob McDonald sang ‘O Canada’ in French and it’s stunning

Before most Caps home games, Sergeant Major Bob McDonald delivers a stirring, up-tempo rendition of the national anthem. With Montreal in town Saturday, McDonald also had to perform O Canada. He did it in French.

Perfectly.

“I used to do it whenever Montreal came to town, way back in the day,” McDonald said to me after the game. “Then I was asked to do it just in English and it stayed that way until tonight. I had asked Continue reading “Caps anthem singer Bob McDonald sang ‘O Canada’ in French and it’s stunning” →