Three years after his Christmas album and a year after his four-handed record with Platiskman, the Stakhanovist Canadian announces “French Kiss” for the start of the school year, of which he unveils the eponymous hit single and a funny clip.
We have known for almost twenty-five years that Chilly Gonzales is never where we expect him to be. It is therefore yet another artistic shift that the Canadian announces today with the single and the album French Kiss which, as its title in a nod to Lil’ Louis’ tube indicates, will go around the question of his francophilia. “French Kiss is the first piece that I wrote in French on my ownconfesses Gonzo in the press release. The track sums up all the reasons why this album was born. I am writing and composing for the first time in this difficult language to tame, and therefore, in this eponymous piece, I wanted to express myself with ‘my’ French language. That is to say: by giving my vision of French culture, literature and music. This is my love letter to France, without cliches or gratuitous praise.”
Once again, Gonzales hits the bullseye, with a song punctuated by his (solo) piano and his priceless sense of the formula: “I French Kiss you, with the French language / I French Kiss you, singing the Marseillaise / Well in my slippers, in a dressing gown, like Robespierre / I am too proud to speak the language of Voltaire, Flaubert, Baudelaire and Bangalter.” Before adding: “Songwriter, lyricist/But I’m not Benjamin Biolay/I rap in triplets/Your language is intimidating, ok?” For the clip, he called on the director Jonathan Barre (Palmashow, The Crazy Story of Max and Leon, The stars) to put fake images of French personalities as varied as Emmanuel Macron, Virginie Despentes, Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Benjamin Biolay, Yves Montand, Bernard-Henry Lévy, Thomas Bangalter or Molière… The album, whose cover is illustrated by Fabcaro, will appear on September 15, followed by a French tour including three concerts already almost sold out at the Olympia. Never-ending Gonzo…
French Kiss (Gentle Threat/PIAS). Released September 15.
Concert May 21 in Lyon (Nuits Sonores), July 15 in Nîmes (Nîmes Festival), July 21 in Marseille (Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents), September 13 and 24, November 10 in Paris (Olympia).
