CHRIS WALKER VS. SUPERMODELS WITH ACOUSTIC GUITARS

Reason #52 Why I Love France: while America gets cokehead-
actresses-turned-musicians like Lindsay Lohan and twattastically-
famous-for-nothings-turned-musicians like Paris Hilton, France gets Italian-supermodels-turned-musicians like Carla Bruni.

Trading in the catwalk for an acoustic guitar, Bruni released her French debut, Quelqu’un M’a Dit, to huge success in 2003. I only stumbled upon the album this week and would describe it as sublimely simple, essential. While Emilie Simon’s (who you should be madly in love with by now) music is layered and experimental, Bruni’s sound is stripped-down, carried primarily by the power of Bruni’s smoky, almost whispered, wordplay. Granted, I have no clue what she’s saying (the whole album is in French) but goddamn is it captivating.

I’m glad I found Quelqu’un M’a Dit when I did; it couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s springtime compiled into twelve songs; a lazy afternoon with the windows wide open and a bottle of red wine; a companion for cooking; a soundtrack for sexing. The album, much like Bruni herself, is honestly just the most sincere, purest, form of pretty you could ever come into contact with.

[MP3] Carla Bruni: Quelqu’un M’a Dit

[MP3] Carla Bruni: Le Ciel Dans Une Chambre

Luckily for us Americans, Bruni actually released an album in English this past January entitled, No Promises, and it’s absolutely fascinating. For No Promises Bruni essentially took a collection of timeless poems by some of her favorite poets and turned them into songs. I won’t get all crazy into it but – for a guy who spent half his college career studying, reading, and writing poetry – it’s pretty awesome. The only bad thing is it hasn’t been released stateside yet. I’m trying to get a copy of No Promises and it looks hopeful (without spending $30) so, fingers crossed. I’ll let you know how it sounds – unless this shit is making you want to jam croissants into your eyes.

Visit the links below for more on your latest favorite French singer/songwriter.

[Official] Carla Bruni

[MySpace] Carla Bruni

CHRIS WALKER VS. FRENCH CULTURE

I’m horrible about watching movies. I make it to the theater once every three or four months; I buy DVDs and never watch them. Don’t get me wrong, I like movies (Out Cold and Beer Fest, specifically) but for the past few years I’ve been somewhat incapable of sitting down for the one-and-a-half/two hours it takes to view a film. I did sprint out to see 300, of course, but what about, oh, I don’t know, Inside Man? Inside Man looked so cool I couldn’t wait to see it in theaters. Did I? Of course not. It took an eleven hour plane ride to get me to watch it. Then I watched it like five times. I’m ridiculous.

Casino Royale – the rebirth of the James Bond franchise – is another movie I was super excited about and never saw. I finally got around to watching it last Sunday and let me tell you: so mind-rockingly awesome I had to watch it twice. It was brutal and stylish – everything Bond should be. More importantly, it turned my ever-increasing infatuation with all things French into borderline obsession.

That may come as a surprise for some. Walker? France? No way. But it’s true. Sure, their attitudes might suck (or so I’ve heard) and they don’t have a single military victory but the French have won me over with their food, wine, and most importantly: their women.

Pictured above is Eva Green, the female lead in Casino Royale and quite possibly the most attractive woman on the planet. Eva is French. If she’s from France, what could possibly be wrong with the place? I know you’ll probably call me gay for liking French culture but, whatever. I’m no longer ashamed.