France's presidential hit parade - Les Guignols style

It's the final stretch as far as campaigning in the French presidential elections is concerned.

And before voters go to the polls in the first round of voting, those kind folk over at the daily satirical puppet show Les Guignols de l'info on Canal + have provided us with some much-needed and surely heartily welcome relief.

(screenshot from Les Guignols)

On Friday (the 13th) they served up their recipe, if you will, for a French presidential hit parade.

Les Guignols de l'Info du 13/04/12 - Les Clips de campagne

Hosted by (the puppet of) Nikos Aliagas (of Star Academy and now The Voice fame) it was a collection of sketches in which four political parties and their candidates were portrayed bemoaning their fate, offering their apologies and airing their fears.

The Top 10 countdown was simple, highly amusing and very affective.

In each case a well-known song was used, the lyrics changed and the scene set to explore themes central, as far as Les Guignols were concerned, to the campaigns of Eva Joly, François Bayrou, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande.

First up were the Greens in a reworked version of "Le temps des cathédrales" from Notre-Dame de Paris, the 1998 French musical somewhat cruelly described by the Independent when it opened in London a couple of years later as a "load of old bells".



Had the party chosen the wrong candidate in Eva Joly rather the potentially more popular TV documentary maker and environmentalist Nicolas Hulot?

In a version of French singer Bénabar's 2011 song "Politiquement correct", François Bayrou appeared alongside his sidekick Philippe Douste-Blazy proclaiming his centrist values but admitting that he (polite interpretation) "annoyed voters".



To the strains of the 2010 hit "Désolé" by French rappers Sexion d'Assaut, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the rest of his UMP party, apologised to the French and blamed any/all of the country's ills on the international financial crisis.

There's a wonderful moment at the end when a seemingly hyperactive Nadine Morano cannot resist having the last word.



And finally, topping the lot, was François Hollande and the rest of the Socialist party in their version of Belgian singer-songwriter Stromae's monster hit "Alors on danse" in which Hollande fears his campaign could go belly-up in much the same way as his former partner Ségolène Royal's did in 2007 and even worse Lionel Jospin's in 2002.



Just to add to the fun, it's all done karaoké-style so, if you know the tune and feel like joining in, you can.

Roll on Sunday.

Friday's French music break - Sexion d'Assaut, "Avant qu'elle parte"

Friday's French music break this week is from a group, collective, ensemble - call them what you will - that hasn't shied away from making the headlines over the years.

And not always for the right reasons.

It's Sexion d'Assaut with their most recent single the chart-topping "Avant qu'elle parte".

(screenshot from YouTube video)

A group, that from its formation in 2002 had "around" 20 members (you can see how difficult it is to categorise exactly what they are), Sexion d'Assaut now numbers (just) eight.

They were all either born or brought up in Paris or the surrounding suburbs and each, except for Adams Diallo carries a suitably "street" moniker; Black M, JR O Crom, Maître Gims, Doomams, Lefa, L.I.O., Maska.

Already the name of the group is a controversial one - you can do the Googling to find out why.

And some of the band's members have had run-ins with the country's legal system over the years.

Add to that accusations in 2010 of homophobia and a whole (to use a word the French love so much) polemic that ensued with a national music radio station refusing to promote the album "L'École des points vitaux" at the time and some towns and cities across the country cancelling the group's scheduled appearances and it would be all to easy to dismiss the group as having little or no real worth.

(screenshot from YouTube video)

But, even if tempted, don't be so quick to dismiss them as just another say-anything-to-grab-the-headlines group.

Controversy hasn't dented their success. Far from it - of course.

"L'École des points vitaux" sold more than 400,000 copies and their most recent album, "L'Apogée" released at the beginning of March has already topped the charts.

The reason is simple.

For all the bluster and invective surrounding Sexion d'Assaut, there is also some truly excellent music and outstanding lyrics: none more so perhaps than in "Avant qu'elle parte".

It might not be to everybody's taste, but the combination of rap, rhythm, strings, and...get this..."proper" singing, together with those lyrics make it well worth a listen.

Purists might say it's too commercial. Those who raise their eyes at the very mention of rap may simply snort into their coffee rather than take a proper listen.

So here are two versions to help you make up (change?) your mind.

First up the official clip and then one with the lyrics, which might help you follow more closely exactly what the song is about.






If you're tempted and want to see Sexion d'Assaut live, you can catch them at Paris Bercy on May 22.

Enjoy - et bon week-end.