February 9, 2003

  • Ma chanson : " Les marchés de Provence ".

      Un Xangan demandait un jour "quelle est votre chanson ? " . Je répondis " les marchés de Provence " . Mon grand - père avait sa chanson , mon père aussi , une chanson qu 'ils chantaient lors de réunions familiales. J ' ai donc aussi la mienne . Cette chanson a été créée en 1957 , j ' avais 24 ans . Son rythme est très varié et le refrain rappelle la farandole ( danse provençale ) de " l ' Arlésienne " opéra de Georges Bizet qui a aussi écrit la musique de " Carmen ". . Ses paroles sont pleines de fraîcheur et de gaieté .

    Et elle parle de la Provence , une des plus belle régions du monde au sud - est de la France avec ses montagnes , ses garrigues et leur odeur ,ses champs de fleurs , son ciel bleu , son air pur , sa lumière et la mer Méditerranée . Il y a aussi ses petits villages anciens , , leurs anciennes maisons aux tuiles romaines comme St Rémy de Provence ou encore Les Baux de Provence .. Que dire des villes , Marseille , Cannes , Aix - en - Provence , Avignon , Arles , Nîmes . Les ruines romaines sont nombreuses . La Provence est l ' ancienne " provicia romana " en Gaulle de l ' Empire Romain . Beaucoup d ' écrivains ont chanté la Provence , Mistral , Daudet , Giono , Pagnol Etc …Et je ne parle pas des peintres comme Van Gogh et Cézanne . J ' aime la Provence .

    Et j ' aime aussi les marchés en plein air où les fermiers viennent vendre leurs produits frais . Tout cela réuni explique que j ' aime cette chanson . La voici :

    Il y a tout au long des marchés de Provence
    Qui sentent le matin la mer et le midi
    Des parfums de fenouil , melons et céleri
    Avec dans leur milieu quelques gosses qui dansent .
    Voyageur de la nuit , moi qui en ribambelle
    Ai franchi des pays que je ne voyais pas
    J ' ai hâte au point du jour de trouver sur mes pas
    Ce monde émerveillé qui rit et m ' appelle
    Le matin au marché .

                          Refrain

     Voici pour cent francs du thym de la garrigue
    Un peu de safran et un kilo de figues
    Voulez - vous , pas vrai , un beau plateau de pêches on bien d ' abricots ?
    Voici l ' estragon et la belle échalote
    Le joli poisson de la Marie - Charlotte ,
    Voulez - vous , pas vrai , un bouquet de lavande ou bien quelques œillets
    Et par dessus tout ça , on vous donne en étrenne
    L ' accent qui se promène et qui n ' en finit pas .

    Il y a tout au long des marchés de Provence
    Tant de filles jolies , tant de filles jolies
    Qu ' au milieu des fenouils , melons et céleris
    J ' ai bien de temps en temps quelques idées qui dansent .
    Voyageur de la nuit , moi qui en ribambelle
    Ai croisé des regards que je ne voyais pas
    J ' ai hâte au point du jour de croiser sur mes pas
    Ces filles du soleil qui rient et qui m ' appellent
    Le matin au marché

    poème de Louis Amade et musique de Gilbert Bécaud malheureusement décédé en décembre 2001   editions Raoul Breton 3 , rue Rossini Paris1957 .

    Cette chronique peut aussi être considérée comme un hommage à Gilbert Bécaud que j' appréciais beaucoup .

    My song : " The markets of Provence ."

      Once a Xangan asked " what is your song ? " . I answered " the markets of Provence " . My grand father had his song , so my father , which they sang at the familial gatherings . So , I have also the mine . This song has been created in 1957 . I was 24 years old . Its rhythm is diversified and the chorus recalls the farandole ( provencal dance ) of " the Arlesienne " , opera of Georges Bizet who also wrote the music of " Carmen " . The words of this song are filled with freshness and joy .

      And it speaks of the Provence , one of the most beautiful region in the world situated in the South - East of France offering its mountains , its garrigues and theirs smells , its flower fields , its blue sky , its pure air and its brightness and also the mediterranean sea . There also are ancient villages , old houses covered with roman tiles like Sr Remy de Provence or Les Baux de Provence etc …. What to say about the towns , Marseilles , Cannes , Aix - en - provence , Avignon ( Popes city ) , Arles , Nîmes that have many roman monuments . The Provence is the ancient " provincia romana " in Gaul of the Roman Empire .

      Many writters sang the Provence , Mistral , Daudet , Giono , Pagnol etc… And I don't speak of the painters such Van Gogh , Cézanne . I like the Provence .

      And I like also the open air markets where the farmers come for selling their fresh produces . All of that gathered explains why I love this song . Here is :

     

    All along the markets of Provence
    That are a sweet smell of the morning , of the sea and the South ,
    There are fennel , melons , celeris scents
    With at the middle some kids who dance .
    Traveller in the night crossing a lot of countries that I didn' t
    see
    I hasten to meet early in the morning
     these people who laugh and call me
    In the morning , at the market .

    Chorus

    Here are for one hundred francs garrigue thyme ,
    A little of saffron and a kilo of figs .
    Do you want , isn't it true , a beautiful tray of peaches or apricots ?
    Here are tarragon and fine schallot
    The lovely Marie - Charlotte ' s fish ,
    Do you want , is not it true , a bunch of lavender or some pinks ?
    And above all that one gives you like a gift
     the southern accent that strolls and strolls again for ever .

    All along the markets of Provence
    There are so many nice girls , so much nice girls
    That at the middle of fennel , melons and celeris
    I have from time to time some ideas dancing in my head !
    Traveller in the night , crossing gazes that I didn' t see
    I hasten to meet early in the morning
    these girls of sun who laugh and call me
    In the morning at the market .

    (..Rugh translation of the Louis Amade ' s poem . Music of Gilbert Bécaud , unfortunatly dead in december 2001 ) editions Raoul Breton 3 , rue Rossini Paris1957

     For more .( pictures ,   American book about the markets of Provence ) click here .

    This blog may be shown like a tribute to Gilbert Bécaud I appreciated very much .

Comments (104)

  • thats a lovely song

  • I love those words!! I can picture it all

  • That was lovely Michel, my cuddly bear, shows when you were 25 how you liked to see the sunny girls. It also describes the food of France in their markets so well, and to think I am 3rd for comments, wonders will never cease. Wish I could read French as I am sure it loses some in translation. Love Marjie

  • Ahh, Michel, you are wetting my already eager appetite for France - I am getting so impatient for May to arrive now  Reading in my itinerary now...one day on the tour, we arrive in Avignon via Montelimar - on through the countryside of Van Gogh and Cezanne, to Nice on the French Riveria. Is that the area this song is about? I need to go find a map and look for myself. Seeing the sheet music I wondered - Do you play the piano???

    Enjoy your day there ~hugs to you both~ ..Libby

  • A beautiful song..... Would love to hear it's music and sung in French.

  • wow, that's beautiful. it really paints the scene in my mind, of nights and young people waiting to fall in love...

  • Les mots sont interessants.  Merci pour tes mots sur mon 'blog'. 

  • maintenant j'ai envie d'entendre la mélodie de votre chanson.   Ma chanson maintenant, c'est un du groupe Nickel Creek - "Reasons Why."  Un chanson magnifique.   Si vous voulez, je vous enverrai les paroles... (demandez-moi simplement. )

    Merci de vos commentaires sur mon site... l'amité entre moi et Chris va toujours bien, et nous le cultivons très soigneusement...  je suis pleine d'espoir, mais pas l'espoir amoureux... 

  • I have heard a lot of people talk about how beautiful Provence is.  I hope that I will get to visit one day.

  • Awwww Yes, very beautifull... I can actually smell the tarragon, and thyme... and the lavender, ohh, such smells!!

    Hugs and Tc!!

  • J'ai vu moi-même la beauté de Provence en autonne de 1999.  J'ai passé quelques jours en Arles, et j'ai passé une journée en Avignon.  J'ai beaucoup aimé les plats et les goutes provençales, et les choses laissés par les romains.

    mike

  • I´m looking forward to listening to it, Michel Nice post!

  • what a fine song, Michel!

    Provence .. a very special place indeed ..
    I love soap made in that region..very hard milled and wonderfully fragrant!!

    also..there are many stories of Mary Magdalene and her living in Provence after the death of her master..

    "I have from time to time some ideas dancing in my head !
    Traveller in the night , crossing gazes that I didn' t see
    I hasten to meet early in the morning these girls of sun who laugh and call me "
    ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~

    how much fun!!

    love``Jude(*

  • Très beau les images que je vois dans l'oeil de mon esprit. J'entends la chanson à mon coeur. Je n'ai pas une chanson préférée. J'aime simplement la musique. Je veux visiter l'endroit dont vous parlez!

  • La premiere chose que les romains ont fait  en Provence c'est du planter les vignobles.

    I have read the triology of Giono about the provence. " Regain". I wonder if that provence can be still be found. The sun and the lumieres are just wonderful and they remind me of my country,Sardinia,where we have a lot of things in common with the provence, including the Romain domination.

    Bon semaine ,Michel et merci pour le jolie "Blog"

    Carlo.

  • Very romantic.  Thank you.  zera

  • Would love to hear you sing the song...and yes I believe I want to become European.

  • ...lovely Michel! Even the lighting is different in Provence. How far if Provence from you? MuSe

  • I love the idea of even being there...the way I love to cook and eat it would be paradise! Ah, with Michel and his lovely wife as my guests I would have a wonderful time, indeed!

  • Bon Jour Michel.  As you know, Provence is the region I visited in 2001.  I stayed in Aix-en-Provence and worked in Vitrolles.  It was a fantastic time.  I may have to do a blog on my visit there.  Fantastic song!  Wonderful blog!  Cheers, Neil

  • C'est une chanson magnifique!  Est-ce que l'on parle une autre langue dans la Provence?

  • Thank you Michel, for reminding me of the beauty of life.    ~Paloma

  • that's beautiful

  • Oh my friend that is soo beautiful ! ! ! !  It really does remind us to appreciate the simple things in life, does it not?   Perfecto ! ! !  Thank you Michel !  Also thank you for your kind comments and emails, so very much appreciated.   You have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow ! ! ! !  Much love and many hugs ! ! ! ! !   I sort of snuck online lol so don't tell on me ok. lol  Family at work and school. lol                                                     

                                     

  • That was a beautiful song. Thank you for sharing it.

  • Lots of english people now go there to live as its suppose to be a great place to go too . Its nice that you have told us about " your song" . A interesting blog and Provence makes think of summer

  • Are you part of the Provence tourist board ? After reading your blog there will be a lot of Xangans rushing to visit the area as you have made it seem so lovely. Thanks Marie

  • What a lively happy song!!! It put me in a good mood. It takes me away form all this cold ,snowy weather!!

  • toutes les personnes en france ont un chanson individualle? je n'ai pas sue. mais votre chanson est tres bel.  :)

  • Très jolie, Michel! J´ai essayé de chercher cette chanson avec Kazaa, mais encore rien.

    J´ai vu le beaux film "Le chateau de mon père", que - se je ne me trompe pas - a été enregistré en Provence. C´est une region vraiment charmante.

  • Excellent tribute, Michel! Thank you for your kind words, and prayers!

  • i like the sound your song has,

    very much like what i often played in the pit orchestra.

  • wow i found ur site through ronni, u wrote in french all the time soo i got curious and came to see ur site!!.... je parle un peu francais!! my dream is too go to france one day and really get to speak the language with fluent people!!

  • that is lovely!  it makes me think of what my own song would be...

  • So lovely, Michel... I can't say I really have a favorite song. I have never really thought about it. Hope you are having a good week.

  • I have never heard of Gilbert Bécaud , so I read about him. He knew Jean Cocteau, genius A lovely song for a lovely area. From the high class of Cannes to the yachts at St Tropez and Port Grimaud to Avignon and Nimes. The South of France was the first place I had ever been, quite a start don’t you think? I love the whole of France, but yes Provence is special..My cousin has a house in Finistère, a world away and colder. Thank you for sharing the song, and the name of a great man.

    From Angela, who has walked from the cafe to the market, waving at Michel

  • What a great song!  But how you described it was SO poetic!!! Very beautiful.

    I am trying to think if I have a song.  One song I really love is "Montagues and Capulets" from Romeo and Juliet.  I also like "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Grieg.

    I would choose one of those rather than a trendy pop song as my theme!!

    Another great blog!!!!

  • Visiting your site is so neat. To be versed in two languages that is great. You have a great day..

  • I can hear it now. You sing it to your wife also? You sweet man!!

  • Someday, if I have the money, I would like very much to visit France.  Before I come, I would also wish to improve my French.  It has been many years since I studied it in school, and I have little opportunity to practice it.  I do have one French speaking client, so when she comes into the office I get to practice a little.

  • Beautiful song Michel! I'll print it out for Alexa to read

  • Ahhh.. I needed that .. a trip to far away... Wondering if it is warmer there than here!!! LOL!!!  Thank you Michel for you sweet comments and wonderful blogs!!! Hugs and love.. Rose 

  • Lovely song :) ..

    Thanks for the comment..may I ask what do you mean my voice is interesting..is that good or bad LOL... Have a great day! 

  • Thank you for your kind birthday wishes

  • I wish you a fine day
    and love.

  • Beautiful, beautiful words Michel . Thanks for sharing!

  • Your song evokes a warm and happy feeling.  I can smell the sunshine

  • What a beautiful song! I think if I had to pick one for myself, it would be "Happy Girl" by Martina McBride - totally suits how this newlywed feels!! Thanks for always posting wonderful blogs for us, Michel!

    God Bless!

    (Not)Singlemom!

  • once again, beautiful, michel! i love the picture.
    i especially love the last line of the chorus!
    "L ' accent qui se promène et qui n ' en finit pas"
    beautiful

  • now, i wonder: what is my song?

  • I would love to hear this song. The words are lovely. The song about Georgia that I posted in a previous blog is actually the official state song of Georgia, where I live. It's most famous version is by Ray Charles.

    I would sya my song is "Sunshine Girl" as that is the nickname my mom always called me.

    Take care!

  • Wonderful song!    Hope everything is well with you!

  • "girls of sun' ... just the thought warms my heart. 

    I truly love the wafting, sometimes sweet, sometimes strange, odors of an open market!

  • What a beautiful song.  It makes you want to be there!  Thanks for sharing!  Karen

  • Provence sound like a really nice place. I wish I can visit France one day, I think that it is such a lovely country. So many wonderful things to see there.

    Thank you for the comment on the Lord Byron Poem.

    have a wonderful day today... 

  • Thank you for your comment on mine.  I am not trying to think of "my" song.  There are too many at the moment!  Tom

  • Je peux presque goûter, sentir et sentir la splendeur de la France.

  • Hmm..How very interesting!

  • What a great song! Thank-you for sharing. :)

  • The song makes the place sound like a little piece of heaven that I am sure it must be. What a lovely song.

    Brenda

  • beautiful song...

    wish i was living in Provence right now..Maybe i would be in a better state of mind...

    take care,

    rubymoon

  • Son manteau de pluie
    Parce qu'il pleuvait
    Et il est parti  
    Sous la pluie  
    Sans une parole 
    Et moi j'ai pris  
    Ma tete dans ma main
    Et j'ai pleure
     
    Jacques Prevert is my favorite poet and I hope to visit France someday.

  • I so enjoyed clicking on Van Gogh. His style is so awesome. I can just see you taking in all the joys of the markets. Thanks for being on xanga, Friend.

  • You make me think of singing, my friend!

  • HI MICHEL , THANK YOU FOR YOUR   COMMENTS. GBU, HUGS FANCY

  • My youngest found this song!!  I got to listen to it too.  It's a very nice song to listen to.

  • What a wonderful song.  I wish I could hear the tune of it.  You could sing it and put that on the web.

  • J'espere qu'un jour, je peux visiter Provence. 

  • Michel
    Happy Saint Valentine's Day
    and I love you .. for your beautiful Self
    ~Jude

  • I looked at the book on Amazon and it is presented beautifully.  I have recently grown to like a French singer - Alizee, have you heard of her?  One of our radio stations plays her CDs regularly.  It is "pop music" which is not my usual choice of music, but I like her voice.  Tom

  • beautiful

    I didn't know Gilbert Bécaud was dead... sorry to hear about it!

    Happy Valentine's Day

  • Thank-you for your kind words. The song sounds very beautiful I would love to hear it some day. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. God Bless You my friend.

  • Pardonne-moi Michel! Je croyais avoir déjà laisser un commentaire, mais, bon, voilà, il semblerait que non... Je me reprend...

    Quand j'étais jeune fille, je rêvais de Provence... Malheureusement, lors de mon (trop) bref séjour en France en 1977, la Provence n'était pas à l'itinéraire... Je rêve encore d'y aller un jour... et je sais que Jackie aussi en rêve...

  • What a beautiful song!!

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    HAPPY VALENTINES DAY MICHEL

    Love,

    Brenda 

  •   happy valentine's day!! 

  • Happy Valentine Day

  • Happy Valentine´s, Michel

  • Michel, thank you for your beautiful comment. My translation is a little rough but I got what you were saying. It'd be nice if you could translate, but I still love to read what you write in French. Either way, I look forward to hearing from you again :)

    Happy Valentines Day and God bless.

  • Happy Mentos Day! :)

  • La Provence est tres belle.  J'ai visite' Avignon pendant l'ete derniere- il faisait chaud!

    Merci bien pour le "Valentine"  Aujourd'hui mon amie et moi, nous nous sommes demande's comment les Francais disent "Happy Valentine's Day" Mais maintenant, je le sais   Nous avons pense' que on dit "Joyeux Jour de St Valentine"

  • Happy Valentine's Day!

  • Aww...thank you for the Valentines Day wishes.

    I hope you had a lovely day.

  • Just dropping in again to wish you Love and Happiness on Valentines Day   Libby

  • Thank you! Happy Valentine's Day!

  • Great post Michel...& great lines...Looking forward to listen to that one soon

  • Great song!  And great card!  We got it yesterday!!

  • Que puis-je dire, que quatre-vingt treize gens n'ont pas deja dit?

    Mais, Michel,  Votre mots sont eveilles un desir dans mon coeur- pour vivre la vie que vous decrire. Un vie qui est si loin de ma vie ici, une vie de la souffrance, de la tension, une vie que  ne nous permet pas la paix de l'espirit et le temps de apprecier la nature. Mais c'est mon reve, et je veux que je donne cette vie a ma mere qui l'aime beaucoup. Elle est une femme simple et extraordinaire qui vive pour les petites choses. Elle voit les lecons dans la peine et la bonte dans tout. Elle a vu votre site et elle l'aime beaucoup. Merci. Aujourd'hui, vous avez emmene une sourire a ma mere aussi.

  • Joyeuse Saint Valentin michel!

  • Très jolie raconte, Michel. Bravo! Je suis allée en Provence en 1999 et c'est là où j'ai rencontré mon mari. Ô les belles memoires! La jeunesse! Je comprends pourquoi tu aimes la Provence!

  • Votre inspirer ainsi, je signifie avant que j'aie visité votre xanga j'étais joli percé et ai déçu avec moi-même.comme je n'obtiens pas tout d'un coup tout fait, comme je ne peux rien faire droit. En revanche j'ai lu votre chanson et je suis inspiré ainsi, merci si beaucoup.. Vos mots et images sont belles.

  • I love to visit Open Air Markets. Have a great day..

  • Thanks for the Valentine's Day greeting!

  • Fantastic blog Michel.... you have reminded me that Lou and I must get over there, that song paints such a great picture

  • Words are so powerful and beautiful because of itz ability to make the mind stir and wonder...next to athens...i wanna visit france someday and witness the beauty you've described. *winkz*

    I took 5years of french in highschool..but i must say i've forgotten almost everything. Never had a chance to practice speaking or writing...such a pity!=PPPPPPP

  • Wonderful!!  I would love to hear you sing it.  I know that some day I'll have to go to France.  Then maybe I can experience the marketplace in Provence.

    I went to the Van Gogh site that you linked...I love the blossom paintings so much now because all of our trees are blooming here. 

  • beautiful lyrics.....one day i hope to visit the southeast of france....it always sounds so beautiful...and i've read so many things about it in books, which have just filled my imagination with the romance of it all!

  • Bonjour!  That is a nice photo of the pond in your last post and the song is delightful!  I know a song, unfortunately I only know one verse "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais, je ne t'oublerai."  Do you know it and if so can you email me the verses?

    Merci!

    Merci also for your Vday wishes!  I hope you had a great Valentine's as well!
    Clementine

  • I love this...En Francais..Provance..I love France...Happiness I found your site* ((Wings))

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