Tag Archives: 1948–1980

01/3/25

Zachary Richard (1950–)

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Suggested Sources:

“Zachary Richard (24 min)” on Louisiana Legends, September 15, 2000.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI-4jtrIuCc (Accessed January 3, 2025)

Synopsis from YouTube: This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from September 15, 2000, features an interview with Zachary Richard conducted by Gus Weill. Richard, a native of Scott, is a Cajun musician and poet. He discusses: his parents nurturing his artistic tendencies; receiving a legislative scholarship to attend Tulane University; his studies at Tulane; his decision to pursue music; his move to New York; his first record deal; the French element to his music; his first time in Canada; his life in Canada now; his time on the road; and his poetry. He also performs two songs on the guitar.

Related Contents:

“L’arbre est dans ses feuilles (1978)”

“Pagayez (2000)”

01/16/25

Suzie LeBlanc (1961–)

Introduction

Suzie LeBlanc is a soprano, a teacher, an actress, and a harpsichordist. She was born in Edmunston in 1961. She has an Acadian heritage (an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in North America) but grew up listening to and practicing classical music.

Early life and education

LeBlanc studied harpsichord, with singing as a second subject at CEGEP St-Laurent, Montreal. Later, she joined the women’s trio Musica Secreta on their tour of Western Canada. She moved to Europe to study voice a few years later and was eventually offered a singing part with The Consort Musicke. 

Career

LeBlanc specialized in baroque and classical repertoire. However, her career is also inextricably linked to her Acadian heritage. As a recording artist, she has contributed to numerous Acadian recordings. She has recorded many unpublished works, including Chants d’Acadie: Tout Passé, a collection of mainly Acadian songs. Her album La Mer Jolie, Chants d’Acadie celebrates the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the French settlers. 

As a performer, she has appeared in recitals with many leading early music ensembles and performers, performing pieces like L’Incoronazione di Poppea in L’Opera de Montreal and Grand Messe by Gilles Vigneault (a Quebec singer-songwriter) during Quebec City’s 400th anniversary year.

As a teacher, she has taught at the University of Montréal (2000-9), McGill University (2008-9), and the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal (2009). In 2005 she became the artistic director of Le Nouvel Opéra.

LeBlanc has been a great musician, she inherited her heritage and dedicated herself to Acadian music. 

 

Suggested Sources:

  • Ellis, Andrea , and Jennifer Gillis. “Suzie LeBlanc.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published March 10, 2013; Last Edited December 14, 2013.
01/15/25

Si les bateaux (1963)

Si les bateaux que nous avons bâtis
If the ships that we builtPrennent la mer avant que je revienne
Take to the sea before I should returnCargue ta voile, aussi la mienne
Furl your sail, and mine tooFais comme si, fais comme si
Act as if, act as ifNous en étions toujours les capitaines
We were always its captainsNous en étions toujours les capitaines
We were always its captains

Profond comme au large de l'île
Deep as the waters off the coast of the islandDoux comme une aile d'istorlet
Soft as the wing of a tern
Loin comme l'Angleterre
As far as EnglandJe t'aimerai
I’ll love youJe t'aimerai
I’ll love you

Si les trésors dont nous avions la clef
If the treasures to which we hold the keyLe plan, la carte et la belle aventure
The chart, the map, and the great adventureN'étaient que rêve et qu'imposture
Were all but dreams and deceptionÉvoque-les, évoque-les
Recall them, recall themPar des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures
Through flags added on the mastsPar des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures
Through flags added on the masts

Profond comme au large de l'île
Deep as the waters off the coast of the islandDoux comme une aile d'istorlet
Soft as the wing of a tern
Loin comme l'Angleterre
As far as EnglandJe t'aimerai
I’ll love youJe t'aimerai
I’ll love you

Si je me fais facteur ou jardinier
If I become a postman or gardenerNe me viens plus parler de contrebande
Never speak to me again of smugglingMais si tu veux que je me pende
But, if you would like me to hang myselfAu grand hunier, au grand hunier
From the topsail, from the topsailRaconte-moi que tu as vu l'Irlande
Tell me that you’ve seen IrelandRaconte-moi que tu as vu l'Irlande
Tell me that you’ve seen Ireland

Profond comme au large de l'île
Deep as the waters off the coast of the islandDoux comme une aile d'istorlet
Soft as the wing of a tern
Loin comme l'Angleterre
As far as EnglandJe t'aimerai
I’ll love youJe t'aimerai
I’ll love you

Translated by: Jason, Isaac, and Simon

Interpretation based on translation:

An ode to the sea, to love, and to travel. Expresses love, nostalgia, and melancholic memories. Maybe the “ships” are metaphors for dreams and aspirations.

Author: Gilles Vigneault

Lyrics Source: Musxmatch

 

Suggested Sources:

Recording by Gilles Vigneault: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti4JEaLX4WU

04/2/25

Québec Love (1969)

Paranoid, complains and fartsParanoïaque, rouspète pis pèteAnd fart of hash, that is rubbishPis pet de hasch, ça, c'est d'la mardeChalice pis pet don't smokeDes Calisse pis pet fume pasWell, I don't care, smoke or don't smokePis moé, j'm'en crisse, fume ou fume pasIt's the same problem, me, I don't have oneC'est l'même problème, moé, j'en ai pasDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu ça
To me it's crystal clearPour moi, c'est clair comme de l'eau d'rocheRocher Percé, do you rememberRocher Percé, t'en souviens-tuIt's still there and it doesn't moveY est toujours là pis y bouge pasThere's only one eye, but it's looking at youY a rien qu'un oeil, mais y te r'gardeThat's me, you, you don't see meÇa, c'est moé, toé, tu m'vois pasDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu ça
It's like your shadow, you look, thinking it's youC'est comme ton ombre, tu regardes, pensant qu'c'est toéBut it's not you, your shadow follows you, so don't follow itMais c'est pas toé, ton ombre te suit, suis-la donc pasIt's my toy, it's our toyC'est ma bébelle, c'est not' bébelleMoé, I'll take care of it, don't worryMoé, j'm'en occupe, occupe-toé pasDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu ça
It's sunny even if it rainsY fait soleil même si ça pleutEven if it blows, even if it thundersMême si ça pète, même si ça tonneThat doesn't surprise me, me, I have peaceÇa m'étonne pas, moé, j'ai la paixYou, you don't have it, but it will comeToé, tu l'as pas, mais ça viendraMoé, I feel myself coming and I'm going to come backMoé, j'me sens v'nir pis j'vas rev'nirDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu çaI'm cleared, not defrockedJ'suis défriché, pas défroquéBesides my hair, I have my headEn d's'our de mes ch'veux, j'ai ma têteA Quebec love, that’s my bagUn Québec love, ça, c'est mon bagWe have to do something, let's go, it's urgentFaut faire quelqu'chose, aweille, ça presseDon't give up man, it'll be your partyLâche pas bonhomme, ça sera ta fêteDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu çaAnd the States, it's nobody'sPis les États, c'est à personneIt belongs to Babel, it's not our toyC'est à Babel, c'pas not' bébelleLet them fight for it as for me I don't give a damn (I don't give a damn)Qu'ils se l'arrachent pis moé, j'm'en sacre (j'm'en sacre)I have my ark, Noah's arkMoi, j'ai mon arche, arche de NoéMerry Christmas Tremblay, that’s oursJoyeux Noël Tremblay (?), ça, c't à nous autresDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu çaThere's no more Christ, there's no more ChristmasY en a pu d'Christ, y a pu d'ChristmasLet them fight for it, their Santa ClausQu'ils se l'arrachent, leur Santa ClausFrom Simpson and from EatonDe chez Simpson pis d'chez EatonMoé, I'm happy with Dupuis FrèresMoé, j'me contente de Dupuis FrèresMoé, I'm happy with Omer DesserresMoé, j'me contente d'Omer DesserresDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu çaPacific Plant crunch the EnglishPacifique Plante crounche les AnglaisPeacefully, if possiblePacifiquement, si c'est possibleIf it is possible peacefullySi c'est possible pacifiquementIf it's not, give me a gunSi ça l'est pas, donne-moé un gunGive me a gun, me I'll take care of itDonne-moé un gun, moé, j'm'en occupeDo you understand that, do you understand thatComprends-tu ça, comprends-tu ça 

Author: Robert Charlebois
Lyrics source: Musixmatch
Edited lyrics: Ève Poudrier
01/3/25

Quand les hommes vivront d’amour (1956)

Quand les hommes vivront d’amourIl n’y aura plus de misèreEt commenceront les beaux joursMais nous nous serons morts, mon frère
Quand les hommes vivront d’amourCe sera la paix sur la terreLes soldats seront troubadoursMais nous nous serons morts, mon frère
Dans la grande chaîne de la vieOù il fallait que nous passionsOù il fallait que nous soyonsNous aurons eu la mauvaise partie
Quand les hommes vivront d’amourIl n’y aura plus de misèreEt commenceront les beaux joursMais nous nous serons morts, mon frère
Mais quand les hommes vivront d’amourQu’il n’y aura plus de misèrePeut-être songeront-ils un jourÀ nous qui serons morts, mon frère
Nous qui aurons aux mauvais joursDans la haine et puis dans la guerreCherché la paix, cherché l’amourQu’ils connaîtront alors mon frère
Dans la grande chaîne de la viePour qu’il y ait un meilleur tempsIl faut toujours quelques perdantsDe la sagesse ici-bas c’est le prix
Quand les hommes vivront d’amourIl n’y aura plus de misèreEt commenceront les beaux joursMais nous serons morts, mon frère
Source: Musixmatch.