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New French "DISCO" Movie!
Yep, Ze French are going Disco. Judge for yourself! Ehmmm, I said the French so the clips are in...FRENCH! :icon_eek:
Music is by Cerrone, Donna Summer, Tina Charles, Christophe Willem (SFBeary will like this one), Gloria Gaynor, The Jacksons and others.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
I know someone who was asked to work as a musical pr for the film but who turned the offer down because the whole enterprise seemed to be less than the very lowest common denominator.
I really liked "Podium" but even with Emmanuelle Béart this one looks...cheap. On the other hand, one should not judge a film by it's trailer. Even if it turns out to be a disaster the whole thing can end up doing good as it may bring attention to the real thing.
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The trailer reminds me of "The Full Monty". I think we can expect such a kind of movie. But let's wait til' it hits the screens.
Originally Written by JussiK
I didn't. I'm not that keen on the actor Benoît Poelvoorde, who is a Belgian BTW and I really don't like tv-shows like "Idol", "Star Academy", "X-Factor" and so on and I do dislike people dressing up like the real star and make a living out of it. Sorry, there was only 1 real Elvis, Sinatra and there was only 1 REAL > Claude François who has made 2 awesome Eurodisco classics:
"Magnolias For Ever"
"Alexandrie, Alexandra"
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
At least it looks fun. It can't be any worse than 'Last Days Of Disco' & '54' - they were dismal.:icon_confused:
...ya gotta beat the street......
Chart Hit [Level 6]
MMMM.....Not got time right now to check out the trailers, but it LOOKS Tacky,I think I have to agree with Jussik at this stage !!
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
Gerard Depardieu is in this???? Yikes!!!
Isn't 'that like De Niro appearing in "High School Musical"???
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Re: New French "DISCO" Movie!
.. this is a new French comedy film about a disco dancing competition .. apparently the winning prize being a free holiday in Australia .. and the competition hots up when one of the contestants hires a professional disco dancing instructor from New York .. it's receiving saturated media promotion in France right now .. maybe there will be a DVD with english subtitles?
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Huh?!?!? Of course it can!! I actually thought 54 was a good movie by today's standards.
Judging by the current production of French "comedies", and the actors involved, this is bound to be very tacky & stereotypical, delving in the most commonplace clichés. I wouldn't expect historically true situations, clothing, or even music, apart from disco tracks everyone mainstream is likely to recognize: this is made to cash in on the widest possible mall & multiplex audiences, NOT anyone with the slightest knowledge or respect for disco music. So tacky, glittery, clown, er... disco attire, fuzzy wigs and music-I-can't-stand-'cuz-I've-heard-it-in-every-elevator-supermarket-mall-gas-station-compilation-wedding-barmitzvah-for-the-past-30-years are all I'd expect.
Totally!! But Depardieu's been known to participate in some really crappy movies (for the masses), presumably to take care of income taxes... It seems only the OK movies make it across the Atlantic, though, so his reputation is still pretty good, stateside.Gerard Depardieu is in this???? Yikes!!!
Isn't 'that like De Niro appearing in "High School Musical"???
...Boogie Boogie Boogie Boogaaaaaay.....
Indie Release [Level 4]
yes! the same here! Depardieu only participates in good films (apart from Asterix & Obelix... but don't forget this is a film for kids).
And also remember this is not a film about disco culture or whatever....this is above all a COMEDY so you have to watch it like that.... and i'm gonna do it and will laugh hard too (if the jokes aren't too bad), cause this has NOTHING to do with disco (to me!).... apart from all the references, you know how this will be , JussiK and KoolChris describe it very well..... but i prefer not to feel angry with them......don't take it too serious (then it will be me the first to be pissed off hahahahah while watching it).
Think that any kind of disco reference will be only good to make it a little bit more popular and help to bring more of it.... The real thing is that i can't wait to see all those dancing scenes!!!!! :icon_biggrin: (even if it looks very poor in the trailer hahaha).
Chart Hit [Level 6]
yes ANOTHER comedy LAUGHING AT Disco ....STAY AWAY !!!:icon_mad::icon_mad:
.............Can't producers think of making a true representation rather than making COMEDIES !!
It's not as if the True Disco era was without Scandal, Decadence, depravity, fun, exploration, sex, awakenings, community, friendship .....and GREAT MUSIC :icon_surprised:
Chart Hit [Level 6]
This movie is a very bad one. The main character named Didier Travolta lives in Paris in 2008; he is a ridiculous has-been with a James Dean look-alike hairdo who thinks he's very cool when he's pathetic. The problem is that French people generally despise disco music, a genre basically unknown by the majority, reduced to some big Eurodisco hits. Linda Clifford, France Joli, Jean Carn, First Choice or the O'Jays are virtually unknown, and Diana Ross is just the woman who sang «Upside Down» when Donna Summer hasn't done anything except «Hot Stuff» and «Bad Girls». The reason may be that in the seventies, radio weren't playing orchestrated soulful disco music but just the worst cheaply produced Eurodisco.
Nothing good could come out from this picture made by a bad movie specialist (Fabien Onteniente). The picture just laughs at disco music reducing it to the usual clichés. Don't think you lose something by not seeing it.
Indie Release [Level 4]
is weird to hear that because even in a place like my country producers were seduced by that orchestrated soulful disco and almost anything done in that time in any place sounded DISCO. So in France i think that you were more used to it than in Spain (apart from Barrabas how many more spanish disco artists can you tell? nothin compared to Cerrone! for example).
but i can understand what you mean.
ok!!! now, what do you think about this other one???????? :icon_mrgreen:
YouTube - Semi-Pro: "Love Me Sexy" Music Video
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Eva, it's weird but the French hated Cerrone BITD. His tracks were never popular over there. Cerrone only got the recognition after he became an organiser of mass-events and his Opera "The Collector". But in the glamorous 70's: no Cerrone :icon_eek:
Gold Record [Level 7]
I just discovered Claude Francois, this past year. I bought the "Disco" LP because it had arrangements by Raymond Donnez, Ray Jimenez, Slim Pezin and Jean Claude Petit. Even Yves Dessca (Don't Stop The Train) was involved. This appears to have been a French all-star production. Yet, did not have the trademark Euro-Disco sound.
Either way... I started to seek out music and information about Claude Francois and have become a late-bloomer fan.
Once again (as with the amazing 'Dalida') my obsession for all things 'Costandinos', has led me to an artist I never would've known about. And now, am fascinated with.
Then again, I'm fascinated with any French-related Disco materials. If a song's recorded in English and French... Guaranteed I'll play the French version. For example: Love & Kisses' "You're The Most Precious Thing...", in English, is ba... baaa... baa... Okay, it's "not good"! But the French version??? I'm in twirlessence heaven! The literal translation could be "Die you American pig, while I run-over you with my Renault"...I don't care. It just sounds better in French.
"MUSIC IS AN EMOTION, SEARCHING FOR IT'S VOICE"
...come with me, "BACK TO MUSIC", on DISCOTERIA
http://www.live365.com/stations/cdnbob2
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All Costandinos stuff, but not all are Disco of course! BTW, Stephen, did you ever worked with him?
Platinum Record [Level 8]
I got one word to describe what the movie looks like: 'fromage!!!' :) Depardieu probably needs the money, just like DeNiro doing something out of left field like Rocky & Bullwinkle. Sometimes they just gotta pay the bills. I'm not a big fan of these kind of comedy movies (underdogs out of their element rising to the occasion and becoming 'stars' or 'heroes') because they are full of cliches. Occasionally there are nice films, like Full Monty, and Shall We Dance (the Japanese one, not the Hollywood one), but overall, it's stuff I tend to avoid. I got suckered into watching Last Days of Disco and 54, and being totally disappointed with both flicks. Then again, a movie like Thank God Its Friday is pretty cheesy and cliched anyway, but I guess its endearing because it does capture a particular moment in time, whereas these latest attempts are trying to recapture that, without much success. Disco Funk
Gold Record [Level 7]
Thank you for all of those!:icon_biggrin: I honestly feel that "Americana" was intended for Dalida, first. And that Alec decided to record it in English, afterwards. Hers has an almost identical arrangement, was released the same year, and lyrically, flows better.
As for my ever working with Alec? <deeeep sigh> In my version of a perfect world, I might've. But alas, in reality, no.
Although, when the remixes were being done on my 1992 production for Vicki Shepard... A certain Canadian producer called me to play some of his ideas over the phone for me. After we talked for hours about the song, Disco music in general, and (of course!) Alec... He said: "You want his number? I have the one for the house in Paris. Hold on, I'll get it...:"
Now... Here's where you all get to line-up and kick me... I never made the call. I was just too intimidated. I feared I'd end-up a blabbering mess. Stuttering and stammering my way through an idolistic gush-fest.:icon_eek: And, since I grew-up in a show-business household (my Parents & Grand-Parents had a few famous friends around), I knew how much a person-of-fame would dread answering their home phone, to find that on the other end of the line. (Though, my best friend thinks I was afraid to make Alec human. And take him off that Throne I've got him on, in my head. Equally as plausible. Alec's a very private person. And maybe the mystery keeps me so devoted.)
These days I regret that decision more than ever. I'd started compiling info for a book about French Disco. But without Alec's input, I could never consider it properly completed.
"MUSIC IS AN EMOTION, SEARCHING FOR IT'S VOICE"
...come with me, "BACK TO MUSIC", on DISCOTERIA
http://www.live365.com/stations/cdnbob2
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Give it a try, he's still in the (movie) business. And then I'm always thinking...does he want to speak about this period? Maybe, that's a closed chapter for him?
Reminds me when Alphonse Mouzon replied to a thread about him, not so long ago. Somebody pointed out that in his bio, his awesome Disco works weren't mentioned and he replied that he still has a warm hart for those tracks and will be putting 'em out again under the form of updated remixes. So was Ray Martinez who participated for a while here and talked about his upcoming new material.
Stephen, "Come on and do it, come on and do it...." :icon_mrgreen:
Chart Hit [Level 6]
The «Americana» vinyls :
80s-records.Net, le BloG en PLUS.: Alec R. Costandinos/(Dalida) “AMERICANA” IN EXTENDED !
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/210_0_2_0_C/
A book; excellent with lot of pictures (some I've never seen); in French :
Some pictures here : Photo "photo" de fandisco (People > Musique) - wat.tv
LIVRE : Disco
Amazon.fr: Disco: Florent Mazzoleni, Cerrone: Livres
Le Figaro - Culture : La fièvre du disco
Gold Record [Level 7]
Pardon my manners... An overdue "thank you, Pierre", for those links.
"MUSIC IS AN EMOTION, SEARCHING FOR IT'S VOICE"
...come with me, "BACK TO MUSIC", on DISCOTERIA
http://www.live365.com/stations/cdnbob2
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
I agree, I always play the French version of 'Moskow Diskow' by Telex.It just sounds more glamorous somehow.:icon_confused:
...ya gotta beat the street......
Platinum Record [Level 8]
[quote=STEPHEN L FREEMAN;139374]I just discovered Claude Francois, this past year. ... And now, am fascinated with. quote]
There are several Claude Francois dvds available. Don't get fooled by "The Cloclo Dance Party" though, this is a sorry mishmash of bits and pieces , ok actual footage mixed with boring contemporary ( 2yrs old or so) stuff featuring bad dancers prancing about during a "dance party". The dvd has a few excellent if very short disco-tinged segments so if you feel you've become a diehard, or like me must get to see as many leggy showgirls in turquoise wonderwoman-style outfits as you can, then go ahead. But really, what you should definitely order is Yann Moix's 2004 film "Podium", a clever and affectionate story of a C.F impersonator (the brilliant Benoit Poelvoorde) for whom boundaries of reality and fantasy begin to blur. The musical sequences are amazingly well done and not played for laughs. There's real Claude footage in there as well.
From IMDB; "Poelvoorde may be the funniest man on earth, 26 January 2006
Author: jeansebastienproulx from montréal,canada
I first saw "C'est arrivé près de chez-vous"(Man bites dog) about ten years ago and I was amazed by the whole thing.The darkest humor ever,sick violent scenes,and of course,the Man himself.Poelvoorde plays a violent maniac but he's funny and charismatic at the same time.Fast forward to 2005:I realised there was a new movie with that guy that I've never seen in another film.I didn't know that much about Claude Francois,but I had to see Poelvoorde in another role.Here he plays Bernard Frédéric,an ex-imitator of Cloclo.He stopped his "career" in show-business when his wife,Véro, gave an ultimatum.So now he has a boring job,9 to 5, a son, a "normal" life. But when he learns that there is an imitator contest on prime time TV,his passion takes over.So many funny scenes in this movie! The auditions of his "Clodettes"(he's so rude with them ,can't watch it without laughing)the psycho-therapist,the introduction of his partner Couscous,the sex scene in which he changes his love tempo depending what Claude song he has in mind,...Add to this a great soundtrack, dancing, beautiful women in there Clodettes suit, a happy ending and you have 90 minutes of pure joy.I can't wait to see the long version. "
- By the way, the "Dalida Eternelle" dvd is to die for, you simply cannot do without it.
Gold Record [Level 7]
Of course, DISCO must be a trash movie but I will look for it anyway. And the other one with the Belgian too... I saw MAN BITES DOG some time ago and it's excellent satire.
I have no problem with Depardieu doing this because I really like him, even when he's doing crap. Plus he likes to sing and play the piano. Pity he doesn't play the lead here.
Johan, why the Demis Roussos clips? (BTW that last one is in Spanish! I remember those ridiculous translations in 70s singles!). Was Demis produced by Alec? Certainly this fat Greek guy merits his own post, even if he did not do straight disco. He was a megastar back then, was sued for doing playback in concerts, was supposed to eat dog meat for his voice (?)... Had a rock band with Vangelis, Aprhrodite's Child... And we all remember him. Quite a story it seems :icon_razz:
It don't mean a thing (if ain't got that swing)
*** Forum Leader / Moderator ***
Yes, Nano, Costandinos and Demis Roussos have worked together many times.
We all know Sir Alec from his Disco works but he started as a composer of French chansons.
and for instance:
Gold Record [Level 7]
Born Alexandre Kouyoumdjian, Alec R. Costandinos wrote many, many songs for Demis Roussos.
He did so using all of his pseudonyms:
A. Kouyoumdjian
R. Costandinos
R. Rupens
His writing partner on these projects was, almost always, Stelios Vlavianos.
His early solo works, recorded under the name ALEC, were almost exclusively arranged by Jean Claude Petit (Love & Kisses, Santa Esmeralda), and had a very Burt Bacharach-esque sound to them.
Demis Roussos' most successful Disco outing, though, was produced by Dino Ferakis & Freddie Perren (Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive')
Demis Roussos L.O.V.E. got a hold of me ( 12" Canada) Disco Music.com
"MUSIC IS AN EMOTION, SEARCHING FOR IT'S VOICE"
...come with me, "BACK TO MUSIC", on DISCOTERIA
http://www.live365.com/stations/cdnbob2
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