French Country Life Music Party
The French Country Life Music Party goes down every June 21st. And, why not? After all it IS the first day of Summer. (Regardless of whether the weather agrees)
It’s offical name is : “Le Fete de la Musique.” Which translates to “Music Party” in any language, n’est ce pas? “Le Fete” was the brainchild of a Jack Lang. A former Minister of Culture, so “pro-USA” that he insisted on the American spelling of his name.
Atypically, a great idea from someone “in government.” One that could not possibly raise objections, threaten political careers, or infringe on the right to libertie, egalitie, and the pursuit of stronger cheese.
The French Country Life Music Party however, is not , as you may have anticipated, just for country folk. While it’s celebrated Nationally, the Country celebrations for me(pun intended) “ring most true” with Mr. Lang’s intentions.
Why? Because in the country, although the town/village/hameau(that’s “am -oh” – a collection of houses with no bakery, post office or 7-11) may mount an “offical” celebration, it’s the grass-roots groove of locals spilling out into the street that is really the essence of “Le Fete de la Musique.”
It does what music does best, and is supposed to do. Bring people together. In a positive participatory, and, at it’s best, informal and spontaneous way.
That said – there is a “middle-ground” between the grass roots pickin’ n’ grinnin’ and the big city blowout – the BIG French Country Life Music BLOWOUT –
staged in a huge historic chateau(and aren’t those the best kind?) or a huge historic city. Preferably one with walls to enclose all the exuberant celebrants.
Carcassone,in the SouthWest covers all the bases. First of all, it’s huge. Not to mention Historic. It was here, as my scholarly devotees will recall from THIS POST, that several thousand Men, Women and Children with the “wrong” religious ideas were “terminated with extreme prejudice” by God’s representative on earth. (uh…that would be…Pope Innocent 2?) Thus saving them from a life of sin.
And so it is within these same walls on each June 21st that thousands of (happily) LIVE men, Women and Children writhe and jive to a Houston Astrodome Rock Concert style version of the French Country Life Music Party.
THROW ME A BONE HERE, PEOPLE!
What are ya thinkin’?
sounds like a great idea!
very classy opening image….DA BG strikes again!
what else would you expect from the French? PARTY TIME!!!
great food, great wine…and a great idea…..no wonder you like it there!
wish i was there!
as your other commentors have said…the french really know how to put on a great party!
what a fantastic idea! a day just to celebrate MUSIC! – think it could catch on here?
right on andrea! – the french know how to focus on the really importnat things in life!
wish i ws there…maybe next year?
i would go just for carcassoone! – never mind the music….ok…you get what i mean right?
have been to carcassonne..fabulous!…but never for the fete…..as one of your other commentors said…carcassone alone is worth the trip
got this on my list…if i can get to france next year!
the wikipedia article you link to credits an AMERICAN with first proposing this idea……thought your other readers might like to know.
great location!…but then…what place in france isn’t?
cary….wake up and smell the coffee! -renault, peugoet..these guys make cars….in factories……which send WHAT into the air?
hey winters..lighten up!…the real solution is not reality….
it’s to look at reality through the sunny skies:fresh air:beautiful countryside glasses that cary is wearing!
right on paul!…i’ll drink to that!
hey cary….where can i get me those glasses??? (lol!)
as someone else commented – great opening photo!
yet another great reason to visit France!
to paraphrase the famous soft drink catch phrase :”things go better with music!”
thanks for another great slice of french country life!
this is, of course, another great post from yoiu…but what i really appreciated was the link to your earlier post and the history of the cathars. gory stuff. but then, most massacres are.
if only we had some progressive thinking politicans like mr lang here!
aston…..”progressive politicans” is an oxymoron. like “military intelligence.”
carlton – you got that right!
good to know that the french aren’t threatned in their pursuit of strong cheese!
this is too cool!..obviously…..but what i’m wondering is how many thiongs like this go down in france throughout the summer?