We booked tickets for Benjamin Biolay during a night of listening to French music. I heard some of his work and thought he sounded good. It isn’t really my usual style of music choice but very French, almost Serge Gainsbourg like (who’s music and character I do actually adore), but not quite! After going to see Lescop (a fabulous French singer) I did gain new admiration for French gig goers of English singing bands. It isn’t easy hearing/understanding the words to music in another language. I listened to much French music in the days leading up to the gig in preparation to get in the zone.
The gig was at the Casino de Paris, a magnificent venue, very beautiful, historic and an excellent place, I thought to hear a French crooner. Very cool.
Benjamin entered stage to an enthusiastic crowd and began. I enjoyed the gig, however, as I mentioned before, his music isn’t all to my taste so there were elements of the night where I thought he went on a bit. Sorry, Biolay fans (if anyone is reading this). His well-known tracks where truly wonderful. His lyrics are so poetic, tortured, full of emotion, he is excellent. I thought there could have been a little more interaction with his band. To me they didn’t seem an ensemble, there were a little disjointed but that might have been just me. The crowd seemed to love him and the show, but where we were stood, it was more perfume than sweat. There were a number of pop / almost danceable tracks but the audience did just stand there. There was rapturous applause though, don’t get me wrong, I think it was an appreciative audience. It was just a different experience for me. It may have been different further towards to the stage.
My favourites of the night were ‘Profite’ (unfortunately without Vanessa Paradis, she did appear on one night) and ‘Rendez-vous Que Sait’, he sings excerpts of ‘Heaven knows I’m miserable now’ – (the Smiths) during this song, it works, it was superb.
Benjamin Biolay seems to be a character, he is not without charisma and is obviously adored by French women and men. He did smoke on stage, but with his back to the crowd. Come on, if you are going to be a bad boy, be a bad boy properly and just smoke. That’s all I’d say about that behaviour. It’s trying to be rock n’ roll but not quite pulling it off?
Overall this gig was very enjoyable, a great experience, Benjamin Biolay is an excellent singer songwriter. Très bien!
I did well with the French during the gig – one mistake, during ‘La Superbe’ he talks a lot about ‘Quelle aventure’ – me: *turns round to husband – “why is he saying ‘what a car’?”* I heard ‘Quelle Voiture’! Still a long way to go with this French language business!
A few shots:
The bar before the gig.
Casino de Paris
Benjamin Biolay
Benjamin Biolay
Benjamin Biolay
Now, it’s Friday again. I’m off to a dinner party tomorrow evening, I’m sure there will be some tales of French experiences to tell afterwards, there always is.
Bon weekend à tous!
Suze en France 