Eet Eez Nut Beecuz Yoo Ah(r)
One of my favorite things about coming to France has been the increase in my exposure to well-crafted franglais, particularly of the French variety (meaning it's "in English", but with a heavy French accent and French vocabulary thrown in for the more complicated stuff, making it more fun for the Francophone than the Anglophone). Many of the hard laughs I’ve had this year have been from films in which there are some choice franglais excerpts. What can I say? It gets me!In my opinion, to appreciate franglais, you need only a basic understanding of the other language, although the more you know, the more you tend to catch and enjoy. To succeed in speaking franglais, you really don’t need anything save a good/bad ear and a student's understanding of the other language. “Good or bad?”, you ask. Well, if you’re good in the other language you need a really good ear (so you can choose to revert back to bad pronunciation), and if you’re bad in the other language you’re set! (Because the whole point is to speak the other language as a foreigner does, to comedic effect.) The hardest, in my opinion, is crafting comedic franglais. It helps to have a really good ear and a good knowledge of your own language and of the other, though it more from a student’s perspective. Mediocre franglais is easy to create, but quality, comedic franglais is an art. Says me. :o)
Recently, I’ve been to several BBQs at my German friend’s apartment. She, an American guy, and three French brothers sit around with guitars and sing together frequently. One of their staple songs made me laugh pretty hard the first time I heard them all perform it. It still makes me grin every time. The guys do a great job with it -- even the American, who’s got a pretty good ear for the French accent. The song is...
It is Not Because You Are
(Words and music by RENAUD)
When I have rencontred you,
you was a jeune fille au pair,
and I put a spell on you,
and you roule a pelle to me,
Together we go partout,
on my mob it was super,
it was Friday on my mind,
it was a story d'amou-our.
Refrain:
It is not because you are,
I love you because I do
c'est pas parc'que you are me,
qu'I am you, qu'I am you
“fin of the refrain”
[click here, then click "clique pour écouter un extrait" in the middle of the page to listen to the next verse]
You was really beautiful
in the middle of the foule
Don't let me misunderstood
Don't let me sinon I boude
My loving, my marshmallow,
you are belle and I are beau
you give me all what you have
I said thank you, you are bien brave
(refrain)
[click here, then choose #14's "preview", third from the bottom, to hear the next little bit of the song]
“this is the musical bridge”
I wanted marry with you
and make love very beaucoup
to have a max of children
just like Stone and Charden
But one day that must arrive
together we disputed
For a stupid story of fric
we decide to divorced
(refrain)
You chialed comme une madeleine
not me, I have my digniti
you tell me: you are sale mec!
I tell you: poil to the bec!
That's comme ça that you thank me
to have learning you English?
Eh! that's not you qui m'a appris,
my grand-father was rosbeef.
(refrain)
(Words and music by RENAUD)
When I have rencontred you,
you was a jeune fille au pair,
and I put a spell on you,
and you roule a pelle to me,
Together we go partout,
on my mob it was super,
it was Friday on my mind,
it was a story d'amou-our.
Refrain:
It is not because you are,
I love you because I do
c'est pas parc'que you are me,
qu'I am you, qu'I am you
“fin of the refrain”
[click here, then click "clique pour écouter un extrait" in the middle of the page to listen to the next verse]
You was really beautiful
in the middle of the foule
Don't let me misunderstood
Don't let me sinon I boude
My loving, my marshmallow,
you are belle and I are beau
you give me all what you have
I said thank you, you are bien brave
(refrain)
[click here, then choose #14's "preview", third from the bottom, to hear the next little bit of the song]
“this is the musical bridge”
I wanted marry with you
and make love very beaucoup
to have a max of children
just like Stone and Charden
But one day that must arrive
together we disputed
For a stupid story of fric
we decide to divorced
(refrain)
You chialed comme une madeleine
not me, I have my digniti
you tell me: you are sale mec!
I tell you: poil to the bec!
That's comme ça that you thank me
to have learning you English?
Eh! that's not you qui m'a appris,
my grand-father was rosbeef.
(refrain)
Anyway, I laughed.
That said, it's lamentable that nothing wipes the smile off my face faster than inferior franglais. If your accent stinks, I'll have to force a laugh, and I hate to do that. Quelle snob, I know. I myself rarely attempt it, and don't make a big deal of it when I do. It just doesn't flow for me. Darn! :o)
That said, it's lamentable that nothing wipes the smile off my face faster than inferior franglais. If your accent stinks, I'll have to force a laugh, and I hate to do that. Quelle snob, I know. I myself rarely attempt it, and don't make a big deal of it when I do. It just doesn't flow for me. Darn! :o)
posted by Kate @ 8:07 AM
1 Comments:
Wow, that is quite the song! Good thing you once taught me the proper French pronounciation so I could read it with the proper accent =)! I love hearing these insights into life in France! Thank you!
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