This Week's Playlist #79 - The Paris is burning edition
5 songs from Parisian bands
Hello everyone!
This Week's Playlist - Season 2, episode 26.
Another easy (and sadly on the top of the news this week) topic for this week's newsletter, with the riots in Paris. I won't go into details about the events of last week (also because this newsletter is about the music). Still, it would be an excellent opportunity to dig into my records of some Parisian bands.
Enjoy, and see you next week.
TL;DR: I'm running a musical newsletter with a new guest sharing 5 songs each week.
There is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:
Tidal (coming soon)
Deezer (coming soon)
1. Suprême NTM - Laisse pas traîner ton fils
That was an obvious first pick.
Suprême NTM is a French hip-hop band formed in 1989 in Saint-Denis. They were one of the first French hip-hop groups to achieve mainstream success. Their music was raw and unapologetic, and they often tackled controversial topics such as racism, poverty, and social injustice.
This song is from their most successful album. It describes the harsh realities of living in Seine St Denis, one of Paris's poorest suburbs.
2. Lofofora - Comme à la Guerre
Lofofora was one of the first crossover French bands I listened to as a teenager. Also one of the first bands I ever listened to with a social purpose. "Rooted in the punk subculture, their sound blends rap metal, hardcore punk, and heavy metal."
This song is about the never-ending cycle of violence and war. The lyrics describe war's horror and destructive effects on individuals and societies.
3. La Mano Negra - Le Bruit du Frigo
Besides their Basque roots, la Mano Negra started to play in Paris, so I thought I could include them this week.
4. F.F.F. - Barbès
F.F.F. for Federation Francaise de Funk. Another late 90s fusion band from North of Paris (18e arrondissement), with their classic about Barbès, one of the iconic districts of the area.
5. Les Rita Mitsouko - Andy (unplugged)
I am finishing this week's selection with a classic with the cult duo Les Rita Mitsouko.
They were a UFO amongst the rest of the music scene with their explosive mix of styles, including punk, rock, synthpop, and jazz. They made dance so many generations of Parisians.
Andy is one of their classic songs, and this unplugged version magnifies it to another level.
Until the next time, Godspeed!
Thomas
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