Tag Archives: Music

australia, lifestyle

All we hear is Radio Italia, Radio Uno, Radio gaga

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There was a time, once, I remember, when internet did not exist, when radio rocked me through my teenage nights. I remember waking up to songs with a smile on my face, getting ready for school with Nirvana when Kurt was still there, practising my English singing along with the Beatles in the background, dancing on Alanis Morissette joyful sounds, feeling emotional listening to “runaway train” in the school bus, getting a rebellious vibe with “cannonball”, losing my religion with R.E.M, wishing I had someone to hold a candle in the cold November rain, thinking it don’t matter if you are black or white, wishing I was special and not a creep or a wierdo, feeling sad cuz everybody hurts sometimes, wondering finally are you gonna going my way and that sometimes a little  bitter sweet symphony just says it all.

I remember laughing so hard listening to my favourite radio shows when auditors would call and share their stories, when anything could happen and you could never know what the day would bring. I had some kind of admiration for those people running radio shows… the way they manage to capture the audience attention with their voices and their personnality… I like the mystery not knowing what they looked like, they were “just” a voice in the night,  and I enjoyed how they would bring a topic to life and interact with the auditors and go along with what the story would bring. I guess deep down I have always been curious about what it looks like on the other side of the radio. So of course when I got the opportunity to appear as a guest on the Tuesday show VIBRAZIONI hosted by the famous and talented Michela on Radio Italia Uno, I took my chance! And as I always say, living abroad is the best opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and experience new things because anyway that’s a total new life so better embrace it and seize the day ❤

ON AIR: Viva Radio Italia Uno 87.6 FM !

I must say  it was absolutely fantastic! I laughed so much and I did not see the time flying by. It was one of those magic moments when everything just flows. Michela was interviewing me in English and she would translate some parts in Italian to the audience. So the idea was basically to talk about italian songs that are connected with a special memory or a moment in my life in France. And because on a radio show, it is improvisations also and you never know what can happen, I ended up singing in karaoke which was hilarious because let’s be honest my Italian is limited to a few words only and my singing is … let’s put it in a nice way not my strongest asset!

Some memories of the show Vibrazioni hosted by Michela on Tuesdays at 4.30pm on Radio Italia Uno

So the first italian song I remember hearing, I was about 8 and it was the first time I went to the movies to watch a film and not a cartoon! I went with my mother and my sister and I must say I was pretty excited and quite frankly the movie was really good, it was called “L’effrontée”  and there was this joyful song in italian “Sara perche ti amo” that was played during the movie and somehow I could understand a few words as they are a bit similar to French (Que confusione / quelle confusion – que emotione / quelle emotion).  This song has always been somewhere in the corner of my mind ever since and I really enjoyed sharing this story on the radio with the auditors who kept phoning and reacting on social media as they were intrigued and amused by the topic of the day. The second song, that comes to my mind, is called “la solitudine” with the beautiful Laura Pausini. I was 16 when it was played in France and it was pretty popular especially among teenagers, first love, first kisses, first heartbreaks…. Italian songs are often played in France during parties such as weddings, probably because we associate “italian” to “romance”, it has this beautiful sound and melody, this joy and sometimes melancholy that just works perfectly.  The third italian song I really like, is a classic, it is called “Il mondo”  and I discovered it while watching this  2013 very sweet romantic comedy called “About the time” with the beautiful Rachel McAdams as this song is played at a wedding as the bride is walking down the aisle. Such a good movie and obviously with a good music selection 😉 and to quote the dad character in the movie  “Jimmy Fontana, Il Mondo: Greatest record ever recorded by an Italian who looks like he’s got a dead badger on his head.” lol Please whatch this movie, I promise you won’t regret it!

I hope you will enjoy this article, those beautiful Italian songs and those movies as much as I do to brighten your day. Sadly as I m writing these words, the world is experiencing a human tragedy. Many countries have been tragically impacted. Health Organization called the COVID-19 viral disease a pandemic. Italy is going through a major health crisis and my heart goes to this nation who is fighting everyday, every minute, every second for its people. Plenty of acts of solidarity and messages of hope are sent to Italy to stay safe and soon  ‘andrà tutto bene’ (everything will be all right). I know that Adelaide is lucky to have a very active and caring Italian community and I take the opportunity of this article to send them and their family words of support  xxx

Radio Italia Uno Adelaide 87.6 FM

Program: Vibrazioni by Michela on Tuesdays at 4.30pm

Website: https://www.italiauno.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadioItaliaUno/

Telephone: 8212 3177

 

 

australia, food

In the search of the perfect cuban sandwich

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It was one of these Sundays in Adelaide, when the  cold wind of winter bites your face and the rain just won’t stop . Latin music playing on the car radio, the crispy air seeping through the windows. It was the perfect day to enjoy some comforting and joyful food and it does not get better than a legendary tasty cuban sandwich.

Basically, a Cuban sandwich (also called a cubano) is a variation of ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and baguette. Biting in a cubano, it s not just like biting in any regular ham cheese sandwich…  it’s taking a slice of vacations because once the flavours melt on your palate you can feel the sun, the warm atsmosphere, the music, the colours, the people…

This is how on a rainy and cold Sunday, I ended at Henley Beach in a little restaurant called Hermanos Cubanos. Don’t be fool by the size of the place, it may look tiny but wow oh wow the food is absolutely amazing. I must say I experienced one of the most amazing sandwiches I had in a long time. Imagine the delectable savory roasted pork marinated in garlic, orange and lime juice, the dill pickles tingling your tongue and the mustard magnifying all the flavours. All in all a good hearty sandwich with punchy  flavours where every bite is absolutely pure bliss.

One bite and you’re hooked! 😉

But maybe the best way to fully enjoy this moment is to start by watching this feel good movie called CHEF, if you want to know,  a culinary masterpiece for the eyes where foodtrucks and savoury cubanos are legends! After this, there is no way you can resist going to Hermanos Cubanos for the real deal or if you are feeling adventurous and want to awaken the chef vibes in you,  challenge yourself by cooking your very own cuban sandwich for the perfect tasty Sunday afternoon treat! And why not, if you feel like it, come and share with me your experience by commenting!

 

Hermanos Cubanos
257 Seaview Road
Henley Beach SA
08 8235 9990

australia, france

Here come the blues brothers…

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When you think of the blues music, you often think about dark moments, misfortune, pain, betrayal and regrets.  And while it is true that Blues lyrics often deal with personal adversity, the music itself goes far beyond self-pity. Jimi Hendrix used to say “Blues is easy to play but hard to feel” because precisely self pity is the easy way that anybody can choose but if you really feel the blues, the music, the beat, the notes, the intensity, you will understand that it is about overcoming bad luck, opening up,  freeing yourself of frustration, letting your hair down, owning your feelings and simply having fun. From intense joy to deep sadness, no form of music communicates more genuine emotions than the blues.

Robert Lee Johnson, an itinerant performer, a master of the blues, a legend and its song 32-20

And one of the most beautiful way to connect and really feel the blues is to listen to a Blues Band playing live. Thirty Two Twenty, will take you on an amazing and very unique musical journey. Because with the blues it all comes first with its deepest roots and history as the blues grew up in the Mississippi Delta just upriver from New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. Blues and jazz have always influenced each other, and they still interact in countless ways today. Some even says that Jazz is like the big brother of the blues… And let’s not forget that the blues gave birth to rock ‘n roll so it is like a big musical family.  And it is exactly what the band Thirty Two Twenty is all about : Blues but not only, it has also this jazzy vibe and defintely this rock’n roll touch and the best part is that it also has this funky family spirit since the band is leaded by two brothers: Lee (bass and composer), Russ (vocal and guitar). So definitely a must see if you are willing to experience something a bit different that will blow your mind away!

The gig you don’t want to miss 😉

Call it faith or happily coincidence, but their next show is on Friday 21th June which happens also to be the Fête de la musique in France (Music day). A very special celebration in my country as it is summer time and the longest day of the year, when we honour the diversity and spirit of music with thousands of free events around the country including choirs, DJ sets, classic music, rock and pop… Every single person, professional or not, is welcome to go on that day in the street, balcony, rooftop and play an instrument or sing. As for me, I will be celebrating my own fête de la musique enjoying the Thirty Two Twenty’s gig at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, with a bunch of friends, on that very same day ❤

Great music, great atmosphere in the room, on the stage and on the dancefloor!
australia, lifestyle

When a Frenchie is sent into a Frenzy with one song

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“The moment of impact. The moment of impact proves potential for change. Has ripples effects far beyond what we can predict. Sending some particles crashing together. Making them closer than before. While sending others spinning off into great ventures. Landing them where you’ve never thought you’ve found them. That’s the thing about moments like these. You can’t, no matter how hard you try, controlling how it’s gonna affect you. You just gotta let the colliding part goes where they may. And wait. For the next collision.”- The Vow

How is it that music can, in such a powerful way, evoke our laughters, our dreams, our sorrows, our secret aspirations?  I believe that songs are memories….. memories of moments, memories of people, memories of feelings. The moment of impact…when memories are crashing together. We all have our list of special songs…. that sometimes we don’t even think about and when we hear them, it just hits us bringing back all those feelings and images and for a few minutes it takes us on a journey. Such a powerful and magic feeling allowing us to experience past moments again and again. And this is exactly what happened to me during the Easter weekend as I was attending a gig with this amazing band called FRENZY and they started to play “Don’t YOU forget about ME” by simple Minds… Suddenly it took me back to a year ago at the Moonlight cinema in the botanical garden with my Italian friend Mimi when we enjoyed the movie “The Breakfast club” and its mythical soundtrack and its inspiring message…. and funnily here I am now dancing with her at the sound of this song and looking at each other smiling, knowing exactly without speaking a word that we were both traveling to a year ago and all those memories brought back to life! This is because “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything” and this how you get all Frenzy with just one song!

But who is FRENZY?! Probably the next band you are going to follow in Adelaide 😉 Born in 2008, these guys know how to rock a venue performing hits from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s,00‘s as well as recent hits. They are lively, talented, passionate and they know how to read a crowd to entertain the audience with their best songs.  They know how to put a show and it’s an unbelievably fun experience. I can assure you that the dance floor was packed and everybody was really enjoying the moment. Their repertoire is pretty diversified, their style is catchy and their energy is contagious! But you know what, the best way to find out is to go and see them performing on stage: George on Vocals, Lee on Bass, Russ on Guitars and Paul on Drums

We definitely had a great time and we enjoyed it to the fullest dancing, singing and listening to those mythical songs! Definitely a must see! We know we will be back for sure!

Daniel, Mimi and I enjoying the show
australia, lifestyle

Fringe don’t go!

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“I like the night. Without the dark, we’d never see the stars.”

Love those Fringe magical nights…

Sometimes you wish you could stop the time so you can enjoy a little bit more : The Fringe festival is one of my favourite moment of the year! There are so many things to do and see and not enough time to do it all, it feels like I have not slept in a month but it was all worth it! Adelaide is so vibrant, so lively and on top of that I have a sweet spot for outdoor events especially with this beautiful weather !

This party at sunset was pretty magic, almost unreal ❤ We danced until the sun disappeared behind the horizon.

Did you know that Adelaide Fringe is the world’s second-largest annual  arts festival?! For 31 days and nights during February and March, it features more than 5,000 artists from around Australia and the world. Over 1100 events are staged in pop-up venues in parks, warehouses, lane ways, theatres, hotels, bars, pubs, art galleries and cafes. Aren’t we lucky to have it all here?!  There is a little bit for every tastes from comedy, to circus, cabaret, musical, drama etc….name it, the Fringe has it all, just pick and go with the flow! And if you are pretty smart about it, you can enjoy many shows for half price and maybe even for free if you have some good connections 😉

That’s what is called a “forced” smile… I was a bit scared but at the end I enjoyed it 😉

I personally declare that this year was the best 😀 Maybe because I really embraced it… I would not say I went everyday but almost. There were actually really good shows to enjoy and so many beautiful nights to just hang out with friends, chatting in the park, trying all sorts of foods and cocktails. And this year, I even ventured myself in one of those crazy fun fairs games, you know the scary ones where people scream like crazy ! I particularly enjoyed the stand up comedies and I saw a few ones like “The walk of Shame” (pretty hilarious with a bunch of girlfriends so we could relate to some of the girls stories), “The fourth floor” (I was with my mexican friends there and there were some reference to Mexico during the show so that made the whole experience pretty memorable), “Confessions of an aerobic instructor” (I went there with a colleague of mine and it was funny since our job is related to the fitness industry), “Anastasia” (it is a musical and the artist writes her own songs/music and it’s reallyyyyy good), “Ebony” (African circus). Something I really encourage you to try next year is to go to the Fringe with no plans and end up in one of those 6 dollars shows that last like 30 minutes, they are good fun and I like the idea of the spontaneous last minute “let’s try this show”, they are good fun too!

Some hilights this year during the Fringe were, for me (in chronological order):

Massaoke…. I know I know, to quote a friend, to really enjoy it you have to be wasted, cuz it s like a gigantic karaoke where everybody is drunk singing and dancing basically. I only had a few drinks but I promise I enjoyed it a LOT. Music was good and it was exactly what I needed to start the Fringe season. Actually I think it was the first Saturday night  of the Fringe and I came back home at like 2am after sharing a gigantic pizza with my girlfriends… late food cravings moments are my fav and the perfect way to end a fun night ! I like the idea that I can have access to food at anytime of the day!

Red Hot Chili peppers concert as part of the Clipsal, pretty awesome! It was in the park and it was of of those magical summer nights. We sang, we danced and it was like the time had stopped and we were just free and wild kids. “Californication” was the biggest sing-along of the night, and it was incredible to hear ten’s of thousands of voices singing out into the warm Adelaide evening. But my favourite moment and song was “Give it away” and I was happily, crazily dancing, jumping on this one,  I definitely gave it all ❤

St Patrick’s day which marked the very last day of the Fringe. My friends took me to a quite charming street party with a live band and good vibes all around with people all dressed in green and happily drinking beers. I met a really nice French couple there and we chatted and had some cocktails while sharing our experience about life in Australia as foreigners. Funnily all my friends left around 8pm because it was on a Sunday (and there is work on Monday) but again it was such a beautiful night that after a few seconds of hesitation (should I stay or should I go) I ended up staying by myself until 11pm!!! Actually I had a really good time, the band was pretty good and for the last part of the night they invited people on the stage to sing and they would perform whatever we wanted to hear.  I met some really nice and fun people : my point being that, even if it feels comfortable to hang out with your usual crowd, sometimes it can be also good fun to step out your comfort zone, drop the shy attitude and mix with new people!

And now what’s next? Well…. once the Fringe and MAD MARCH is over,

it is said that Adelaide becomes quite dull and boring because the weather gets colder and there is not much to do. I guess it depends on how you keep yourself busy.  For me cold weather means maybe more cooking, more writing, more reading and more time spent in cafés doing the latter… but it also means that far far away in another part of the world, in a country who’s got my heart ❤ , it is spring time and soon summer to be and with it the sweet promise and hope that I’ll be enjoying it too 😉

“Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes it own magic!”

australia, lifestyle

2018: a year full of music, concerts and festivals!

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Whether music is your religion or not, we should all, at least once, go to a concert to experience the real thing! Going to a concert or a music festival with friends, hearing your favorite band performing in front of a live audience, singing and dancing with the artists and the crowd, is a totally different world! This year, the odds were with me and it was meant to be my musical year because so far I won a ticket to the laneway festival via my work, one of my colleagues sold me last minute a ticket to the Robbie Williams ‘concert and more recently my friend Sybilla (German) took me to the Lionel Richie concert!!! Here are some thoughts on why I believe this is worth the money you will spend on your tickets!

  1. It is about the atmosphere


As soon as you  enter the venue, you can feel the energy. It is in the air, it is all around. It is not just about you but also the people surrounding you.  I was lucky enough to attend outdoor concerts so far and this is so beautiful to feel music spreading in the souls, in the trees, in the earth, in the sky and in the stars. If feels almost magic.

when the night has come and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we see… no I won’t be afraid… no I won’t be afraid… just as long, as you stand, stand by me…

2. It is about the people you meet

You can meet really cool people, from different horizons and backgrounds, sharing the same interests as you and spend a good time altogether! Sybilla and I had the opportunity to meet Jake at the Laneway festival, a very nice guy in his early 20s as many people there! He was supposed to come with his friend who bailed on him last minute and we were looking for infos regarding the bands playing and that’s how we ended all chatting together. A couple of hours and beers after, we were all friends and Jake even carried me on his  shoulder so I could see the stage and dance in the air with the band and it was really something cool! Later in the night, we met Cameron and we had an interesting discussion about spirituality and fashion since he liked my French little hat! That’s the beauty about festivals, everybody is everybody’s friend!

Is it me? or does it remind of you this scene in Titanic: I am the king of the world lol

3. It is about this feeling you get

Robbie Williams concert in Adelaide parks as part of the Clipsal

You are getting all excited, nearly like butterflies at the simple idea that you are going to a CONCERT!!!! You talk with your best friend who is coming with you, and also to your other friends  (who don’t really have a clue because they don’t like this artist lol), you sing the songs when they are played on the radio letting everybody know (hint hint to your colleagues) that yes you are going to see Robbie Willians! You post on Facebook, Insta, you talk to your family about it and your mother says “Robbie who? I don’t know who he is, I only know this guy with the guitar and red hair!” (She meant Ed Sheran by the way). But it does not matter at the end of the day, because the most important is that you YOU know and you are soooo excited about it!

4. It is about being happy

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you!

When my friend Sybilla decided to take me to the Lionel Richie concert, I can’t say I was super thrilled. First, I thought I don’t know many of his songs (wrong wrong wrong….. what about : All night long, Hello, easy like a sunday morning, we are the world etc) and come on this is Lionel Richie and he still got it! On top of that the concert took place in Adelaide botanical garden at night. It was such a beautiful evening and yes I admit I was super happy. I love outdoor concerts, it is really something to experience, some people brought their picnic blankets and chairs, we had wine, we were dancing and having a good time. I even ended buying a little souvenir, the Lionel Richie pullover (I am not telling you the price) let’s say that was part of the concert experience, buying silly stuffs that feel great on the moment and then not so great once the concert is over, but definitely something to do at least once just for the beauty of it!

5. It is about the memories

‘Cause I got too much life Running through my veins”

Concert experiences are unique and definitely the ones you cherish to look back on. It’s always cool to see pictures of that night and remember how fun or emotional it was depending on the artists vibes or the song which was played at that moment. I must say Robbie Williams was so much fun, what a show man and I remember that my friend Sybilla and I were in each other’s arms singing “she is the one” and it was a beautiful moment!

5. It is about dressing up

Dressing up really emphasizes the excitement factor and let’s be honest it is quite fun especially if you are into fashion! Whether it is dressing as something related to the artist or just dressing a little different than your usual style to fit the event, it is a way of being part of the show and honour it!

So to conclude, YES I believe that concerts belong to these special events that create unique moments in life! Seeing your favourite artist LIVE, interacting with him, dancing with the crowd, and feeling like ONE is a magic feeling! So now what is next?! Well I believe for Adelaide, it will be: PINK concert in July 😉 and will I be part of it haha?! To pink or not to pink that is the question…

australia, lifestyle

Let’s get crazy: it is mad March!

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There is a lot going on at the moment in our city! Adelaide is a hive of activity: streets and parks are lively, full of music and new faces. The iconic Fringe Festival is in town!

Every year, Adelaide becomes the capital of Arts by hosting many quality events featuring: Opera, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cabaret, Literature and Visual Art. The festival is considered to be one of the world’s major celebrations of the arts and cultural events in Australia. Have a look at the program, it is quite impressive:  http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au

The city has so much to offer! No wonder there are so many tourists at the moment visiting Adelaide to enjoy the entertaining shows. This year the festival’s theme is: Experience something new! Since it is my first year in Australia, I can totally relate to that. I mean everything is a new experience for me here and I love it ❤

I personally took part to the Writers’ week and I am planning to go to the French films festival too! Some friends invited me to the garden of unearthly delights in Elder park with a bunch of colleagues. First time they mentioned it I thought I heard “the garden of unhealthy delights” haha. It was really nice: good food (Aussies barbies = Australians’barbecues) and music in a very casual and friendly atmosphere! The perfect place to relax after work:  http://www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au

We have a long weekend coming since Monday is a bank holiday in Australia and everybody is talking about: WOMAD (World of Music Art and Dance)! It is a very popular festival with 400 artists from all other the globe making Adelaide dance in the glorious Botanical Garden. I have heard that artists such as: Buena Vista Social Club, Sinead O’Connor, Youssou N’Dour, Neneh Cherry… will be here 😉 It is still time to buy a ticket as I heard that there might be discounts on Monday:  https://www.womadelaide.com.au

Speaking of  Youssou N’Dour and Neneh Cherry, do you remember their beautiful song “7 seconds”?  It was a hit in France in 1994 and I was a teenager…  If you pay attention, you will notice that a part of the lyrics are in French https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqCpjFMvz-k

So it seems, in March in Adelaide, there is no time to rest! The more you are outside enjoying the variety of events in the CBD, in the parks and by the Torrens river… the better!

DSC_0221 This is why  I believe it is called “Mad March” because each day is a party that you have to join in!