The French Connection

by Jimmy Johnson



“Where do you get your ideas?” I came to international travel later in life. In 1998, I ventured to Paris. I distinctly remember my first impression: the radio in the taxi from the airport was playing classic American rock music. Quelle surprise! I soon discovered it was the same in the bars and cafes, everywhere. It was as if the soundtrack of Paris was the soundtrack of my youth. I could not, however, understand a word the announcers were saying, nor a word of the commercial messages, but that just added to the charm somehow. I wondered if Parisians immersed in American music could understand the lyrics. When I returned home, I searched the internet and actually found some of those very French stations I’d heard, and I learned I could stream their broadcasts. In fact, I believe that was the first time I encountered the word “stream” in that context. So, for a period, I would listen to rock and roll interspersed with indecipherable (for me) French commentary. It was tres cool!

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22 responses to “The French Connection”

  1. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    And now streaming music has become part of our lives. I’m on two paid services and one free one and don’t listen to any commercials. Although the free one does insert visual ads in the background, they don’t bother me.

    Good strip Jimmy. And you were ahead of the curve when you did it.

  2. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    Streaming is a great way to connect with corners of our planet. About the time you started to stream Paris, I found CBC on Prince Edward Isle. My current fling is Ocean FM, a station on the Irish west coast.

  3. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    One quick search and lots of results: https://www.internet-radio.com/

  4. ATSF616 Avatar
    ATSF616

    Despite the annoyance of streaming interruptions, it really does seem miraculous to be able to drive around listening to obscure little FM stations hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away.

    This cartoon was drawn in 2003, when speeds were not what they are now. Still, my initial experience with streaming was positive! — JJ

  5. Mark Jackson Avatar

    French TV and radio commentary is *hard*. I was reasonably adept at conversational French at the end of a 15-month stint living and working just outside of Paris, and I was still unable to follow broadcasts.

  6. TruckerRon Avatar

    If you remember the Ronco ads, you have a vague idea of 95% of the ads on Japanese TV. I once was able to handle conversational Japanese, but their ads were insanely fast.

    Here’s one Ronco ad that I remember… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN2ttNu3F_M

  7. emb Avatar
    emb

    An old story to many of us, but a gratifying one. No URL, just search it.

    Composer’s Datebook for Tuesday, December 12, 2017

    Peace,

  8. emb Avatar
    emb

    Not as easy as I thought. Try clicking on this:

    https://www.npr.org/podcasts/381443926/composer-s-datebook

    Peace,

  9. emb Avatar
    emb

    And then scroll down to:

    Most Recent Episodes

    December 12, 2017

    Brahms and the clarinet

  10. Ginger Vedder Avatar
    Ginger Vedder

    Je suis très envieux!

  11. Nancy in Bucks County Avatar
    Nancy in Bucks County

    When cooking I often turn on my French Classic Pandora station and pretend Julia Childs is nearby encouraging me along. Loved the episode when she dropped the chicken on the floor, picked it up and kept on cooking. None of your guests need to know, she said.

  12. JACKQULINE MONIES Avatar
    JACKQULINE MONIES

    I once cut off side of cake the dog licked icing from and re’iced it inspired by Julia and her fix it attitude.

    I could not nothing for the molded pate that finally popped out of mold, slid off counter and into litter box.

    I miss Julia.

  13. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    So that’s why my birthday cake was so oddly shaped.

  14. David in Austin Avatar
    David in Austin

    Ghost, I sure wish the comments had a “like” button! 😀

  15. emb Avatar
    emb

    Baboons. It’s almost 0700 there. No comment on AL election results.

    https://explore.org/livecams/african-wildlife/african-animal-lookout-camera

    Peace,

  16. Laura from AR Avatar
    Laura from AR

    I just heard on the news that the results for the AL race are official . The Democrat won.

  17. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    I stayed in the Sheraton at Waikiki Beach one weekend while stationed in Hawaii. I left the sliding door open all night and went to sleep and woke up to this sound and view. I miss it.

    https://explore.org/livecams/meditation/waikiki-beach-meditation

  18. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    This was my favorite beach there. Far from the main tourist area.

    https://explore.org/livecams/meditation/waimea-falls-and-beach-meditation

  19. Old Bear Avatar
    Old Bear

    Many tears ago the local radio station in NE Conn. would broadcast
    several hr. a day in French because of the large French Canadian population
    in the area. It was funny to hear the ads in French but the telephone numbers
    in English.

  20. JACKQULINE MONIES Avatar
    JACKQULINE MONIES

    Anyone ever listen to s Cajun station in the 1960s besides me?

  21. skudvr Avatar
    skudvr

    When I was in the service, we would fly around the Med and listen to the “local” am radio stations on one of our aircraft’s radio. That’s where I heard “Midnight Train to Georgia”…in Greek, and a absolutely bizarre rendition of “Disco Duck” with the announcer talking over parts of the song in Italian. All in all, hearing the melodies made home feel a little closer at the time…but gives me a chuckle now.

  22. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Or Hispanic before they became hip? We called it Spanglish when I was young about 60 years ago.