Virtual visit to the Père Lachaise cemetery…

If you want to go and medidate at artists-who-developed-once-humanity’s graves (classic music, opera, theatre, painting) click here - Molière, Alfred de Musset, Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Guillaume Apollinaire, Paul Eluard, Jean de La Fontaine, Beaumarchais (writers, theaters, poems), Gioacchino Rossini, Georges Bizet, François-Felix Fauré, Frédéric Chopin, Michel Petrucciani, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Maria Callas (composers, musicians, singers), Georges Seurat, Camille Pissarro, Eugène Delacroix, Amadeo Modigliani, Dominique Ingres (painters)…

Who said that popularity/genious equaled to richness/love ? By the condition of the graves, you can tell who had a comfortable death, and the ones who got “forgotten”…

Posted on by tanguy
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home made guitar

when there is no money, there is imagination, creativity & dream, when there is no imagination & no more dreams, there is a problem…
I personally don’t need money. I hope I will never have problems.

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Posted on by tanguy
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甜蜜蜜, Sweet honey honey (learn chinese culture through song-2)

Another great Chinese Love song (the romance side of china),… a classic from Teresa Teng who died 10 years ago. You’d better learn this one by heart - after having listened at it, it will buzz several days long in your head… no matter what.
Chose first your version on either Youtube, Metacafé, and then follow the lyrics. The translation is like for the previous one (yuèliang dàibiǎo wǒ de xīn - 月 亮 代 表 我 的 心) more an interpretation (and not a transliteration (title). Enjoy…

汉语
甜蜜蜜你笑得甜蜜蜜
好像花儿开在春风里
开春风里
在哪里在哪里见过你
你的笑容这样熟悉
我一时想不起
啊,在梦里
梦里梦里见过你
甜蜜笑得多甜蜜
是你,是你,梦见的就是你
在哪里在哪里见过你
你的笑容这样熟悉
我一时想不起
啊在梦里
HAN YU (PINYIN)
tián mì mì nǐ xiào de tián mì mì
hǎo xiàng huā r kāi zài chūn fēng lǐ
kāi zài chūn fēng lǐ
zài nǎ li zài nǎ li jiàn guo nǐ
nǐ de xiào róng zhè yàng shú xī
wǒ yī shí xiǎng bù qǐ
ā zài mèng lǐ
mèng lǐ mèng lǐ jiàn guo nǐ
tián mì xiào de duō tián mì
shì nǐ, shì nǐ, mèng jiàn de jiù shì nǐ
zài nǎ li zài nǎ li jiàn guo nǐ
nǐ de xiào róng zhè yàng shú xī
wǒ yī shí xiǎng bù qǐ
ā,zài mèng lǐ

ENGLISH
Very sweet; your smile is very sweet.
It seems like flowers blooming in the spring wind
blooming in the spring wind
Where was it? Where was it I saw you before?
Your smile seems familiar to me
For I moment I couldn’t remember
Ah, In my dreams!!
In my dreams, it’s in my dreams I saw you before
Sweet like honey. Your smile is so very sweet
It’s you, it’s you… The one in my dreams is exactly you!!
Where was it? Where did I see you before?
Your smile seems well known to me
For I moment I couldn’t remember
Ah, In my dreams!!
FRANCAIS
Très sucré (doux); ton sourire est très sucré
il ressemble aux fleurs s’ouvrant dans cette brise printanière
qui s’ouvrent dans cette brise du printemps
Où est-ce ? Où t’avais-je vu auparavant ?
Ton sourire me semble bien familier
Pour une instant je n’ai pu me rappeller
aaah, dans mes rêves !!
Dans mes rêves, c’est dans mes rêves que je t’ai vu avant
Doux comme le miel. Ton sourire est tellement doux
C’est toi, c’est toi… celui dans mes rêves c’est toi!!
Où est-ce ? Où t’avais-je vu auparavant ?
Ton sourire me semble bien familier
Pour un instant je n’ai pu me rappeller
aaah, dans mes rêves !!
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Posted on by tanguy
Filed under: Asia, ENGLISH, Languages, culture, literature, architecture, photography, art | 2 Comments »

月亮代表我的心, Moon represents my heart (Chinese culture through song-1)

romance moonSo we started with a series of Russian songs, we should now carry on with Chinese ones.
If you plan to start making business in China, there are 2 things you’ll absolutely need to master :
- being able to drink lots of whisky (alcohol in general), and still talk about serious business at the end of the night
- sing, or master a few local karaoke songs.

Hereunder is a (cheezy) classic, known by just a few hundred millions of Chinese… like for the Russian series, chose the version you would enjoy first, and then good luck… Youtube, metacafe and that’s it (Frenchy platforms do not seem interested in Chinese music…).

Unlike Russian, Mandarin Chinese doesn’t have any alphabet (it is a bit more complex, more pictograms/ ideograms…) - it will be pretty user unfriendly to list more than 300000…different words.
Instead, we will put a transliteration in pinyin. If you find the characters hereunder too small, just increase the size of the text with your favorite browser..

汉语
你 问 我 爱 你 有 多 深
我 爱 你 有 几 分.
我 的 情 也 真,我 的 爱 也 真
月 亮 代 表 我 的 心

你 问 我 爱 你 有 多 深
我 爱 你 有 几 分.
我 的 情 不 移,我 的 爱 不 变
月 亮 代 表 我 的 心

轻 轻 的 一 个 问,
一 经 打 动 我 的 心
深 深 的 一 段 情,
教 我 思 念 到 如 今

你 问 我 爱 你 有 多 深
我 爱 你 有 几 分.
你 去 想 一 想, 你 去 看 一 看
月 亮 代 表 我 的 心
HAN YU (PINYIN)
nǐ wèn wǒ ài nǐ yǒu duō shēn
wǒ ài nǐ yǒu jǐ fēn
wǒ de qíng yě zhēn, wǒ de ài yě zhēn
yuèliang dàibiǎo wǒ de xīn

nǐ wèn wǒ ài nǐ yǒu duō shēn
wǒ ài nǐ yǒu jǐ fēn
wǒ de qíng bùyí, wǒ de ài bùbiàn
yuèliang dàibiǎo wǒ de xīn

qīngqīng de yīgè wěn
yǐjīng dǎdòng wǒ de xīn
shēnshēn de yīduàn qíng
jiào wǒ sīniàn dào rújīn

nǐ wèn wǒ ài nǐ yǒu duō shēn
wǒ ài nǐ yǒu jǐ fēn
nǐ qù xiǎng yī xiǎng, nǐ qù kàn yī kàn
yuèliang dàibiǎo wǒ de xīn

ENGLISH
You ask how deep I have love for you,
How much I have love for you…
My affection is real.
My love is real.
The moon represents my heart.

You ask how deep I have love for you,
How much I have love for you…
My affection does not waver,
My love will not change.
The moon represents my heart.

Just one soft kiss
is enough to move my heart.
such deep feeling,
makes me miss you now.

You ask how deep I have love for you,
How much I have love for you…
Go and think.
Go and see,
The moon represents my heart.
FRANCAIS
Tu me demandes comment profond est mon amour,
combien j’ai d’amour pour toi.
Mon affection est réelle
Mon amour est réel.
La lune représente mon coeur.

Tu me demandes comment profond est mon amour,
combien j’ai d’amour pour toi.
Mon affection ne vacille pas,
mon amour ne changera pas.
La lune représente mon coeur.

Juste un doux baiser
est assez pour bouger mon coear.
une tel sentiment profond,
me fait penser à toi.

Tu me demandes comment profond est mon amour,
combien j’ai d’amour pour toi.
vas et pense,
vas et regarde
la lune représente mon amour.
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Posted on by tanguy
Filed under: Asia, ENGLISH, Languages, culture, literature, architecture, photography, art, travel | 1 Comment »

Катюша, Katyusha (Russian culture through songs-2)

Pretty much a “soviet” song (1938)… that entered the local Russian culture.

First, chose your music version, through either Youtube, Dailymotion or Metacafé.
Then, help yourself with the alphabet below, or go straight to the transliteration - try to learn this song with the real alphabet (anyway you’ll need to master it before your journey)… if you want to carry on your immersion, have a look as well to Калинка, Kalinka


А Б В Г Д Е Ё Ж З И Й К Л М Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ Ы Ь Э Ю Я
а б в г д е ё ж з и й к л м н о п р с т у ф х ц ч ш щ ъ ы ь э ю я
a b v g d e ë ž z i j k l m n o p r s t u f x c č š šč y è ju ja

РУССКИЙ
Расцветали яблони и груши,
Поплыли туманы над рекой;
Выходила на берег Катюша,
На высокий берег, на крутой.

Выходила, песню заводила
Про степного, сизого орла,
Про того, которого любила,
Про того, чьи письма берегла.

Ой, ты песня, песенка девичья,
Ты лети за ясным солнцем вслед,
И бойцу на дальнем пограничье
От Катюши передай привет.

Пусть он вспомнит девушку простую,
Пусть услышить, как она поет,
Пусть он землю бережет родную,
А любовь Катюша сбережет.

Расщветали яблони и груши,
Поплыли туманы над рекой;
Выходила на берег Катюша,
На высокий берег, на крутой

RUSKII
Rastsvetali yabloni i grushi,
Poplyli tumany nad rekoy;
Vykhodila na bereg Katyusha,
Na vysokiy bereg, na krutoy.

Vykhodila, pesnyu zavodila
Pro stepnogo, sizogo orla,
Pro togo, kotorogo lyubila,
Pro togo, ch’i pis’ma beregla.

Oy, ty pesnya, pesenka devich’ya,
Ty leti za yasnym solntsem vsled,
I boytsu na dal’nem pogranich’e
Ot Katyushi pereday privet.

Pust’ on vspomnit devushku prostuyu,
Pust’ uslyshit’, kak ona poet,
Pust’ on zemlyu berezhet rodnuyu,
A lyubov’ Katyusha sberezhet.

Rasshchvetali yabloni i grushi,
Poplyli tumany nad rekoy;
Vykhodila na bereg Katyusha,
Na vysokiy bereg, na krutoy

ENGLISH
Apple and pear trees were blooming,
Mist (was) creeping on the river.
Katyusha stepped out of the banks,
On the steep and lofty bank.

She was walking, singing a song
About a grey steppe eagle,
About her true love,
Whose letters she was keeping.

Oh you song! Little song of a maiden,
Head for the bright sun.
And reach for the soldier on the far-away border
Along with greetings from Katyusha.

Let him remember an ordinary girl,
And hear how she sings,
Let him preserve the Motherland,
Same as Katyusha preserves their love.

FRANCAIS
Pommiers et poiriers en floraison,
brouillard enveloppant les berges,
Katyusha apparut sur les berges,
pentue et hautes berges.

Elle se promenait, chantant une chanson
à propos d’un aigle gris des steppes,
à propos de son vrai amour,
dont elle gardait les lettres.

Oh ta chason ! petite chanson de jeune fille,
se dirige vers le soleil brillant.
et atteint le soldat sur la frontière lointaine
avec les salutations de Katyusha.

Laisse lui se souvenir d’une fille ordinaire,
et entendre comment elle chante,
laisse lui protéger la mère patrie,
comme Katyusha lui garde son amour.

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Posted on by tanguy
Filed under: ENGLISH, Europe, Languages, cross-cultural, ethnic, "race", multicultural, mixity, culture, literature, architecture, photography, art, travel | 3 Comments »

Калинка, Kalinka (Russian culture through songs-1)

Russian church
Before traveling abroad (and especially Russia - a country where people sing and dance), you have to know about the local popular music (besides a basic knowledge of the language). Hereunder is a very famous Russian song you should definitely know by heart, in order to fully enjoy your (many) vodka shots, and (heavy) hangover the day after.

First, chose your music version, through either Youtube, Dailymotion or Metacafé.
Then, help yourself with the alphabet below, or go straight to the transliteration - try to learn this song with the real alphabet (anyway you’ll need to master it before your journey)…I you want to carry on your absorption of Russian culture, have a look to Катюша, Katyusha


А Б В Г Д Е Ё Ж З И Й К Л М Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ Ы Ь Э Ю Я
а б в г д е ё ж з и й к л м н о п р с т у ф х ц ч ш щ ъ ы ь э ю я
a b v g d e ë ž z i j k l m n o p r s t u f x c č š šč y è ju ja

РУССКИЙ
Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!

Ах, под сосною, под зеленою,
Спать положите вы меня!
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли,
Спать положите вы меня.

Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!

Ах, сосенушка ты зеленая,
Не шуми же надо мной!
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли,
Не шуми же надо мной!

Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!

Ах, красавица, душа-девица,
Полюби же ты меня!
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли,
Полюби же ты меня!

Калинка, калинка, калинка моя!
В саду ягода малинка, малинка моя!

RUSKII
Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!
V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!

Akh, pod sosnoyu, pod zelenoyu,
Spat’ polozhite vy menya!
Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli,
Spat’ polozhite vy menya.

Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!
V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!

Akh, sosenushka ty zelenaya,
Ne shumi zhe nado mnoy!
Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli,
Ne shumi zhe nado mnoy!

Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!
V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!

Akh, krasavitsa, dusha-devitsa,
Polyubi zhe ty menya!
Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli,
Polyubi zhe ty menya!

Kalinka, kalinka, kalinka moya!
V sadu yagoda malinka, malinka moya!

FRANCAIS
Petite baie, petite baie, ma petite baie !
Dans le jardin, il y a des petites framboises,
ma petite framboise !

Sous le sapin, sous la verdure,
allonge-moi pour dormir !
Ah, liouli, liouli, ah liouli,
allonge-moi pour dormir !

(Refrain)

Ah, petit sapin, toi qui es vert,
Ne fais donc pas de bruit au dessus de moi !
Ah, liouli, liouli, ah liouli,
Ne fais donc pas de bruit au dessus de moi !

(Refrain)

Ah, jolie fille, chère jeune fille,
Tombe donc amoureuse de moi !
Ah, liouli, liouli, ah liouli,
Tombe donc amoureuse de moi !

(Refrain)

ENGLISH
Little guelder rose, guelder rose of mine !
in the garden, raspberry, little raspberry of mine !

Ah, Under the pine, the green one,
Lay me down to sleep !
Ah, lully lully, ah lully lully,
Lay me down to sleep !

(Chorus)

Ah, Little pine, little green one,
Don’t rustle above me !
Ah, lully lully, ah lully lully,
Don’t rustle above me !

(Chorus)

Ah, you beauty, pretty maiden,
Fall in love with me !
Ah, lully lully, ah lully lully,
Fall in love with me !

(Chorus)

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Posted on by tanguy
Filed under: ENGLISH, Europe, Languages, cross-cultural, ethnic, "race", multicultural, mixity, culture, literature, architecture, photography, art | 2 Comments »

footages around the world

just about feelings around the world - I really enjoyed going through this flash presentation even if it is part of a branding action (for the BBC) snapshots of the world - if I had the budget… this makes you dream :-)

BBC, British Broadcast Corporation, where journalists are more independent than maybe the rest of the crowd (proper network of correspondents)… No advertising, and no (direct at least) influence from political parties (even if its sole source of financing is from the U.K. - I know this freedom of speech sounds strange, maybe it is part of the English culture - even though there are channels I wouldn’t trust for a penny) - slightly left wing to some extent (that’s fine with me).
A bit of free advertising for a good television that worths it… for a world tour, don’t hesitate to read these following online newspapers - I am not sure how independent they are, but at least, you’ll be collecting different point of views… don’t hesitate to add your favorite ones, or to comment…

Enjoy.

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Posted on by tanguy
Filed under: ENGLISH, culture, literature, architecture, photography, art, society, demography, global trends, Zeitgeist, travel | No Comments »

Definition of “real” censorship.

What’s the best form of censorship you could ever think of ?
To not think about “what” you should not think.

In other words, your mind might be structured in such a way it would naturally be directed in certain tortuous directions, while in the mean time, it would be just busy focusing about those ones.

For instance, concretely, I have always wondered about the true meaning of pornography’s censorship in Europe… are we just focusing our attention to this debate (completely worthwhile in certain areas), so we unconsciously avoid topics that could enrich ours ? Do we have the opportunity to think about something else, when it is just wrapping our share of mind from any side ? Thinking, going outside the offered context requires an effort.

Hereunder are examples of books you would have never imagined. Don’t try to find them, you won’t (click on the pics for other examples).

CIMG2785

CIMG2787


CIMG2789

CIMG2792

Artwork visible at the Van Abbe Museum (Eindhoven - NL)
what if Ruhnama was a Bible ?

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Posted on by tornado
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