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Songwriter Forum => The Bar => Topic started by: Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra on December 07, 2017, 07:10:24 AM

Title: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra on December 07, 2017, 07:10:24 AM
So France's biggest rock star died yesterday. His music probably doesn't mean a lot to most of you, if you've ever heard of him, and doesn't mean a lot to me either quite frankly, but the French are nuts about him. Sold 110m albums apparently.

I expected the flags to be at half mast yesterday. He is/was a national icon here.

I popped into the super market on the way home from work and two people at the checkout were buying Johnny cds so this suggests there were a lot of Johnny memorial evenings going on last night here. They 're crazy about him. Nuts.

If you ever wonder about a cultural divide here you are. I don't mind a bit of George Brassens or Edith Piaf and other things in small doses but in general find it difficult to appreciate a Frenchman singing blues or something.

Johnny Hallyday....can't listen to those histrionics I'm afraid. The French Elvis...I'll stick to the real one or our English one.

The French love him. They are not the same as us!

Made me wonder if we (Brits) have anybody of the same iconic status....can't think of anyone....Macca?...Elton?...Cliff?.....Mick'n'Keef....maybe we just don't have the same idea about things or maybe we've just got too many superstars where they only really had one.

Apologies to non-Brits (don't mean to not include you) but I can only look at this from my perspective.
Title: Re: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: PaulAds on December 07, 2017, 07:58:49 AM
RIP.

He was certainly more popular than his brother...Busmans  :P

Title: Re: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra on December 07, 2017, 08:09:10 AM
But not as good a singer as his sister Billie or as well-known in popular culture as his estranged great grandfather Doc.
Title: Re: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: PaulAds on December 07, 2017, 09:03:50 AM
 :D
Title: Re: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: Ramshackles on December 07, 2017, 12:15:47 PM
I find the reaction here a little weird.
He made his name basically doing cover versions of American/British rock n roll songs as well as some fairly naff ones of his own.

Naff is a good word...in the UK he thats probably how he would've been described..naff/cheap/derivative.
Reminds me a little bit of shakin stevens.

Its' weird. There seems to be a huge market in Europe for these kinds of acts. And its not just 'singing english music with french/german/whatever lyrics'. Tribute bands like the bootleg beatles have a much wider audience here than in the UK or US.
Its odd.
Title: Re: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: S.T.C on December 07, 2017, 12:59:03 PM
I find the reaction here a little weird.
He made his name basically doing cover versions of American/British rock n roll songs as well as some fairly naff ones of his own.

Naff is a good word...in the UK he thats probably how he would've been described..naff/cheap/derivative.
Reminds me a little bit of shakin stevens.

Its' weird. There seems to be a huge market in Europe for these kinds of acts. And its not just 'singing english music with french/german/whatever lyrics'. Tribute bands like the bootleg beatles have a much wider audience here than in the UK or US.
Its odd.

Continental Europeans are a strange lot anyway. :) I think in the UK/USA were more cynical because , lets face it  ,we've made proper music for decades.
'Over ' there ,they're more innocent and i mean that in a nice way!
Title: Re: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: shadowfax on December 07, 2017, 04:34:18 PM
interesting :) I live in the Czech Republic and they have been nicking English and American songs since the 50's...they nick the tune and sing Czech lyrics, lot's of em here think that the songs were written by the Czech singer that nicked it..I really enjoy telling them where it came from, the look of surprise on their faces is priceless... :D :D
Title: Re: Johnny Hallyday
Post by: Oldbutyet on December 07, 2017, 10:46:53 PM
So France's biggest rock star died yesterday. His music probably doesn't mean a lot to most of you, if you've ever heard of him, and doesn't mean a lot to me either quite frankly, but the French are nuts about him. Sold 110m albums apparently.

I expected the flags to be at half mast yesterday. He is/was a national icon here.

I popped into the super market on the way home from work and two people at the checkout were buying Johnny cds so this suggests there were a lot of Johnny memorial evenings going on last night here. They 're crazy about him. Nuts.

If you ever wonder about a cultural divide here you are. I don't mind a bit of George Brassens or Edith Piaf and other things in small doses but in general find it difficult to appreciate a Frenchman singing blues or something.

Johnny Hallyday....can't listen to those histrionics I'm afraid. The French Elvis...I'll stick to the real one or our English one.

The French love him. They are not the same as us!

Made me wonder if we (Brits) have anybody of the same iconic status....can't think of anyone....Macca?...Elton?...Cliff?.....Mick'n'Keef....maybe we just don't have the same idea about things or maybe we've just got too many superstars where they only really had one.

Apologies to non-Brits (don't mean to not include you) but I can only look at this from my perspective.

Hey Ian any recording any videos that you like   8)