Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Art and music

Susan and I share an appreciation for art.

We only end up buying the works that speak to both of us.

Our tastes are not identical, but we do agree on general aspects that allow us to coalesce on a purchase now and them. For instance, we tend to prefer abstract to figurative art, and we lean towards abstract art with a figurative element. Imagine an abstract rendering of flowers. Looking at the work, you see the flowers, but the element of abstraction means that the rendering is far from what you might call photographic.

In Amsterdam we wandered into a little gallery called CarrĂ© d'artistes. It only took twenty minutes or so for us to settle on a work by Christian Raffin entitled Bien ĂȘtre, depicting a couple cycling, but in the abstract style that we love.


When we are in a gallery looking at art, we are often asked about where we plan to hang the painting in our home. Invariably we each say that considerations like that never play into our purchases. We buy a work that we like, that speaks to us. Finding where to hang it can take time, and trial and error.

This work is no exception. We tried two or three spots until it found its way to its new home.


When it first settled into that spot, I sat opposite the wall where the painting sits, and I had a silent conversation with the work. I see our relationship in the colours, the movement, and the artistic language the painting speaks. It speaks of the love Susan and I share for each other, of our love of our travel adventures, and of our fledgling love affair with our Brompton bicycles.

The imaginary conversation was drifting along assisted by the melodies and lyrics of one my favourite playlists that I call French by English

I feel that if you are to have a little bit of a chance of coming to a fair understanding of the conversation I was having, of the relationship of that little painting to its new home and to our shared love of each other, and our art, I had to find a way to share that playlist. 

I can't actually play it for you, but, with quite a bit of fiddling between Apple Music, Microsoft Excel, and Blogger, I have managed to share the content of the playlist with you.
  
Song title Artist     Album name
C'Est Si Bon Abbey Lincoln     Paris For Lovers
Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Petit matin Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Chez moi Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Des croissants de soleil Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
C'est si bon Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
La plus belle pour aller danser Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
La belle dame sans regret Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
T'es pas un autre Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Jardin d'hiver Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Seule ce soir Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Les yeux ouverts Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Comme je crie comme je chante Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
C'est merveilleux Emilie-Claire Barlow     Seule ce soir
Le Premier Bonheur du Jour Halie Loren     Simply Love
Dream a Little Dream of Me (Les Yeux Ouverts) Halie Loren     Simply Love
Les Eaux De Mars Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
Raconte-Moi. Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
L'Ă©tang Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
Mi Amor Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
T'es Pas Un Autre Emilie-Claire Barlow     The Beat Goes On
Petite fleur Jill Barber     Chansons
J'attendrai Jill Barber     Chansons
MĂ©lancolie Jill Barber     Chansons
La javanaise Jill Barber     Chansons
Sous le ciel de paris Jill Barber     Chansons
En septembre sous la pluie Jill Barber     Chansons
Je cherche un homme Jill Barber     Chansons
N'oublie jamais Jill Barber     Chansons
Quand les hommes vivront d'amour Jill Barber     Chansons
Les feuilles mortes Jill Barber     Chansons
Plus bleu que tes yeux Jill Barber     Chansons
Adieu foulards Jill Barber     Chansons
Ces Petits Riens Stacey Kent     Breakfast On The Morning Tram
La Saison Des Pluies Stacey Kent     Breakfast On The Morning Tram
Jardin D'hiver Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
La VĂ©nus Du MĂ©lo Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
Au Coin Du Monde Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
C'est Le Printemps Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
Sait-On Jamais? Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi
Les Vacances Au Bord De La Mer Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
Le Mal De Vivre Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
DĂ©suets Stacey Kent     Raconte-Moi.
Give Him The Ooh-La-La: Plus Je T’Embrasse Blossom Dearie     Four Classic Albums Plus
La Mer Avalon Jazz Band     Avalon Jazz Group
I Wanna Be Like You The Hot Sardines     Jazz Loves Disney
Medley: Comes Love (L'amour S'en Fout) The Hot Sardines     French Fries & Champagne
La Fille Aux Cheveux Roux (Weed Smoker’s Dream) The Hot Sardines     French Fries & Champagne
Petite Fleur The Hot Sardines     Wake Up In Paris - EP
C'est Si Bon Eartha Kitt     The Very Best of Jazz 50 Unforgettable Tracks
Chez Moi (feat. Kim Richardson) Fuat Tuaç     Chez Moi

I love these songs so much, each and every one of them. If there is one thing that this collection evokes in me, it's my love of Paris.

I can only offer you one among the many to actually listen to, and it has to be C'est Is Bon performed by Eartha Kitt. It never fails to make me smile. Make sure you listen until the very end when Eartha ad libs musing about what she thinks is tellement bon... that's when she makes me smile. 

 

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The copyright in all text and photographs, except as noted, belongs to David Masse.