Dinner Music 77: The weekly lineup
classic french pop, saint-tropez sounds, francophone disco
This week the sound is exploring French music, à la Dinner Music. That means disco deep cuts, global francophone bops, synth-laden eighties sounds, french country-rock (yes, this exists and it’s so good!) and, of course, a few classics. If you’re in Austin, I’ll be pairing this week’s newsletter with an in-person (!!) event at First Light Books, spinning tunes for their “French Edition” wine night. Come say hi!
We begin with Brigitte Bardot — queen of the french magic trick of being sexy, smart and talented, at once. Brigitte Bardot Show is a collection of the remnants of her long forgotten television show and is a romp through lighthearted french bops, sultry and dreamy ballads and groovy go-go tracks. For an instant good mood, start here. We move into chanteur Laurent Voulzy and his album Le coeur grenadine, a smooth journey through good-times synth and polyphonic melodies of different genre, from rock to bossa nova to folk-country. We take it up a notch with Caroline Loeb’s C’est la ouate, whose title track was a massive hit across Europe in the late eighties. This synth-ladden, post-disco album has it all — new age melodies, ethereal vocals, percussion that hits like the training montage in Rocky. We move into something darker and deeper with Triangle, an early psych rock band with that recorded-in-a-garage sound grain and big, open guitar chords garbling over digressing piano riffs and wah-wahs. This album sounds like a magic mushroom trip through the french countryside, riding in a bright blue Beetle with the top down. We end with a trip over the ocean to Montreal to hear Rachel Leblanc’s project Vanille, a sound inspired by 1960’s French folk-pop. The album sounds like a sunshine dream — sun in your hair, cool glass of wine in your hands. Her dreamy vocals float over retro-tinged, sweeping melodies and hazy guitar builds. If you’re already looking for an album to soundtrack your summer, this is a good one.
Enjoy.
The playlist
Monday
Brigitte Bardot Show - Brigitte Bardot (1968)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Tuesday
Le coeur grenadine - Laurent Voulzy (1979)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Wednesday
C’est la ouate - Caroline Loeb (1986)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Thursday
Viens Avec Nous - Triangle (1972)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Friday
Soleil ‘96 - Vanille (2021)
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Pair with
Steak frites. I’m not afraid to admit that steak frites is my favorite french meal. Is there anything more joyous than seeing it on a menu? Pair this with some madelines and you’ve got the perfect little meal. A little bit savory, a little bit fun. While you’re at it, you can read Roland Barthe’s little essay on the mythology of steak frites.
Herve Villemade, Cheverny Blanc. You can get this white, but you can really pick up any wine from Villemade and you’ll be good. He’s one of my favorite winemakers and all of his Loire Valley made juice is perfect.
À Table by Rebekah Peppler. “Recipes for cooking and eating the french way.” This is easily one of the best gifts you can give yourself if you like hosting — it has so many great, simple recipes that are elegant, sexy and delicious.
This interview with French writer Edouard Louis. “The thing is, I don’t see writing as therapy at all, because most of the time, it makes me feel more bad. I see writing more as a political process; that’s what makes me feel better.”
The Elegance of the Hedgehog. A favorite of modern French books.
Thank you, thank you. Have a great week.