Ces Soirees La- Jersey Boys

[TLKfan]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 10:55pm

Hey everyone. Well this question is a bit different then the other subjects that I searched for..

Anyway, just wondering...in the show, does the first scene with this song trying to be in real life or...are they kind of going crazy with the whole French thing...

What I mean is, when I listened to the CD, I thought oo French...and then....oh, bad French. Is it just that they can't do great French accents? I thought it was bad at first, but I am getting use to it...cause I know not everyone can do good accents.

Sorry for the random post, but I just thought I'd ask. Thanks.

[suzycat]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 11:17pm

try this thread:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=905782

[TLKfan]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:03am

Yeah I read it, but it didn't completely answer my question, but oh well.

[eve harrington2]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:09am

What is your question?

[TLKfan]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:12am

Basically, bad french accents or bad accents intentionally...or?

[eve harrington2]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:15am

Hmmm, I dunno...I don't know French.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:23am

I think it's just bad accents because they don't really need to perfect it. It's only thirty seconds of a song, and most audience members don't speak French, or really care if the accents are bad or not.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:33am

OT, but, I personally think its a really random start to the show.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:38am

I just got the cd yesterday and was shocked when french came out of my stereo. I don't quite get it either.

[mikem]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:52am

I believe that the real Ces soirees-la single was recorded in France, so I think that the rappers/singers are supposed to be native French speakers in the show. IMO, the Jersey Boys version does a pretty good job of capturing the sound of the real record. I personally don't think that the JB accents are horrible.

And I agree that it's a random start, but I like that it's a random start -- it's really unexpected, and it kind of signals that this isn't your typical jukebox musical or musical biography.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:55am

OT, but, I personally think its a really random start to the show.

Exactly. It's made to make you feel like you're in the wrong show. I think it works really well with the last "La" turning into the doo-wop singing.

If you have time, you should try searching for the real music video. It's hilarious, and really odd. The song is by Yannick.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:17am

Hah, I just watched that video. It's...interesting...

[TLKfan]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:20am

Yeah it does sound like an interesting start to the show. I will be seeing it either in NYC or on tour...

Well if they are suppose to be showing it as a place in France then their accents are really bad. lol But it's okay, it's only for a minute or so, but I do love my French!

Thanks for the posts everyone and sorry for my stupidity.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:26am

TLKfan, it's just supposed to be like a concert, not a place in France :). It works well for the way the stage is set up, with the gates and everything.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 3:12am

Ok. But it is suppose to be a 'French singer' right? It's not a big deal, I'll hopefully be seeing it soon. :)

Updated On: 8/11/06 at 03:12 AM

[Solstrom]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 6:47am

Well, you want french, so I give it to you !! :p lol

La chanson de Yannick est sorti en plein été 2000. A cette époque-ci de l'année, les gens veulent entendre des choses légères (et pas forcément du meilleur goût, je vous l'accorde).

MAIS, si vous voulez entendre la première version de cette chanson en Français, regardez un peu du côté de Claude François.

TLKFan, je suis très étonné de voir que tu connais "Allée Rimbaud"

Tadaaaaam !!

[jerseyboyslover]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 6:51am

Here is what it says on the other thread about it

Jersey Boys opens with this number. It supposed to be set in a night club in France in the year 2000. A French pop star and rapper come out to perform the song. Then Tommy DeVito (played by Christian Hoff) comes out and says "That's our song. Oh What a Night, Ces Soirees La, French Number 1 in Paris 2000. How'd that happen. You ask 4 guys you get 4 different versions."

We are then transported back to the beginning of the story