Feb 2022 guitar chanson 1to100
Mike:
@leepat sent me this charming guitar piece early in the month. Unfortunately, I'd just been whacked in the head by a car boot and my creative process was basically 'Ow, my neck!' I put it on the backburner. Two seconds later and it's somehow nearly March, so today I dusted it off, poured on every French cliché available, et voilà. Thanks, Iliya, and sorry for the wait.
Iliya:
Mike has stamped his irresistible charm on this just as I hoped he would. Not an easy task, mind you, given the self-contained nature of the source material. Merci Mike!
there's a bench on the banks of the seine
where two lovers have carved out their names
that's where i'll be
maybe stroll across town to montmartre
a wisp of accordion warming my heart
that's where i'll be
will some friendly garcon or garcette
wink at me as i eat my baguette?
hum 'la vie en rose'
and i just have to close my eyes
that's where i'll be
when my dear little gran passed away
she left me her maps and an old blue beret
and they set me free
so each day i repeat to myself
as i'm standing here stacking this shelf
they can't conquer me
there are maps in my mind, you see
that's where i'll be
@berni1954 Mar 2022
Delightful, full of just enough French ambience. The change in direction from the line about Granny revealing that this is all the narrator's dream is perfect.
@kendrakinsey Mar 2022
All so charming. Love the progression and picking transitions. The story is so sweet and sad
@audrey Mar 2022
Wow! This is beautiful. It feels so relaxed, as a song about French scenes should be ;) and a little sad with longing. What a great pairing of lyric with melody and that gorgeous guitar playing. Beautiful song you two. Well done!
@headfirstonly Mar 2022
Oh, how I miss Paris. Listening to this, I'm back there too. The lyrics are *perfect* for the arrangement. This is gentle, wistful, characterful, and properly romantic. Well played, both of you!
@hanley Mar 2022
Oh so sweet!
Paints a beautiful picture, an escape we can all enjoy.
The guitar is a real treat - nice how the melody sits with the vocals, but not always following. And cool how there's an odd number of bars per verse, but it doesn't feel out of place because Mike weaves the lyrics around it neatly.
Definitely fit for film, this one!
@owl Mar 2022
Lovely warm guitar work and vocals, and somehow you manage to pull off the Frenchy McFrench imagery in the lyrics without seeming ridiculous, with that little sad twist at the end. Great collab!
@lowhum Feb 2022
more maps! viva la revolucion! no use keep on whining with melodicas on both banks of the seine! lovers need to learn how to swim! throw them into the river! give them accordions! make them work and sing! Oui, cest une catastrophe total, monsieur le generale!
@miltz Feb 2022
Makes me think of a gentler William Trevor story (not a particular one, and I haven't read any in years so maybe my thinking's misplaced, but something about the last two verses, the mood or tone). Lovely guitar and accordion.
@tinear Feb 2022
Oh man this is just so beautiful and full of charm - it's magic how much story there is here in just 19 lines and the guitar is lovely and the accordion
@timfatchen Feb 2022
voilà indeed. As someone told me, cliches work.! Though in my case, it would be the wheelbarrow-piano busker near the Sorbonne. (Cripes, 13 years ago. COngratulations. You've transported me back!)
@susyblue Feb 2022
Awwwwwww. Not enough heart emojis out there for my love of this. Just lovely. Ticks every box, wistful, dreamy, pretty, evocative... you get my drift
@tukayandryan Feb 2022
Nostalgic and beautiful. Takes me to a cafe in France. Wonderful images created. Love the sentiment. And a lovely vocal delivery alongside the beautiful guitar. Great collab.
@dock Feb 2022
Wow! this song is so charming. The plucky guitar and bits of musette are perfect. There is something French sounding about the ending musical phrase, "that's where I'll be". Very well sung. Your gentle voice is perfect for the mood of the lyrics. This is going on my "FAWM favorites" list.