Odorez comme des alcools adolescents (Plenitude)
October 13, 2015 1:47 AM   Subscribe

Pardon My French: 561 covers of English-language hit songs, sung in French (by native French speakers of varying musical abilities) in the most literal word-for-word translations over chiptune instrumentals. Includes classics such as L'éclair de Jacques Qui Saute (Les Pierres qui roulent), Sexuelle Guérison (Marvain La-Joie) or Le Paradis des Bandits (Yo Sympa). Includes MP3s, lyrics and links to the original songs for earbleach. BAISE OUAIS !

The site pokes fun both to the French rockers and yé-yés of the 1950-1960s, whose hits were often covers of English language songs, and to official attempts at purging the French language of US/UK influence: the man on the B&W photo on the front page is Jacques Toubon, a French politician known for the much-derided Toubon law, aka the AllGood law, that mandates the use of the French language in various contexts.
posted by elgilito (11 comments total) 39 users marked this as a favorite
 
Autoplay, hit the rightmost button of the first line to shut it up.
posted by epo at 2:32 AM on October 13, 2015


Worth for the literal translation of band names alone:

Radiotête, Clignement 182, Division de la joie, Les clés noires, etc. etc. :)
posted by bigendian at 3:18 AM on October 13, 2015 [3 favorites]


Current Favorite: “Soixante Quatorze Soixante Quinze” (Les Connels)
Runners-up: “Ne regardes pas en arrière dans la colère” (Boisson aromatisée)
“J'suis allé haut” (L'homme affreux)
“Prends dessus moi” (U-Hu)
“L'amour Moderne” (David Beau-Oui)
posted by ob1quixote at 5:52 AM on October 13, 2015 [2 favorites]


A suitable cultural reposte to this would perhaps be a list of all those songs where the French original is little known. For example:
Cerisier Rose et Pommier Blanc
Les Feuilles Mortes
Dis Lui
Comme d'habitude
Le Moribond
Les Moulins de mon Coeur
posted by rongorongo at 6:46 AM on October 13, 2015 [2 favorites]


I love the a cappella take on this: Papa etait une pierre qui roule (Les Tentations)
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 6:50 AM on October 13, 2015 [5 favorites]


I was hoping to see L'intouchable by MC Marteau.
posted by beau jackson at 8:11 AM on October 13, 2015 [2 favorites]


This is an awesome project. Hilarious and strangely listenable. Thanks for posting!
posted by threeants at 1:46 PM on October 13, 2015


My favorite "translation" is Carly Rae Jepsen's first name as voiturement.
posted by threeants at 1:47 PM on October 13, 2015 [8 favorites]


You'd have enjoyed hanging out with my friends for the few weeks when we'd sprinkle the adverb "cow-ly" in our conversations.
posted by benito.strauss at 1:56 PM on October 13, 2015 [2 favorites]


How do you play the Chiptune .sid files?
posted by Sangermaine at 2:01 PM on October 13, 2015


Also, to add to rongorongo's French originals list:

Charles Trenet - La Mer
posted by Sangermaine at 2:07 PM on October 13, 2015


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