J’Adore everything Parisian. The architecture, the style, the language; everything about The City of Light is so glamorous.
I’ve always fantasized about living in Paris. I dream about scribbling in a leather-bound journal in a small coffee shop, sitting at a small table by myself creating a new piece of writing.
I have visited Paris once. But only for one day. While staying in London, my grandmother and I decided to take the chunnel to Paris. We had lunch in the Eiffel Tower and roamed the Louvre. I would love to visit the beautiful city again. I would love to visit the shops and interact with the French.
Problem is: I can’t speak French. I took French throughout elementary school, for a year in high school, and attended a course at a local college. I have always wanted to speak French, and perhaps one day I will, but for now the only useful French I know is “Je ne comprends pas.”
What sparked this blog entry on why I adore France is an article by Rita Silvan in an oh-so-French issue of Elle Canada. In the article, the Editor-in-Chief writes about travelling to a beautiful townhouse by the Mediterranean in France to learn French. Her attempt is certainly relatable as a Canadian who can’t seem to catch on.
This issue of Elle Canada is filled with lots of France-based articles, including an interview with Audrey Tautou, famous for her work in Amelie and the star of Coco Avant Chanel. In the film, Tautou plays icon Coco Chanel before she started the fashion house. I cannot wait for the little black dresses, strings of pearls and my precious Paris.
I have yet to watch Coco Avant Chanel, but I’m a fan of biopics, especially those set in Paris. Fans of the French should view Julie & Julia, which features Paris in the 1940s. Click here for my review of the film.
But there are many films that feature the beautiful city. One of my favourites is The Devil Wears Prada. Although the Meryl Streep/Anne Hathaway flick only features The City of Light for a fleeting moment, Paris is held up on a pedestal in the film…and I love that. Or perhaps I just love Meryl Streep, as she is also in Julie & Julia. Nonetheless, The Devil Wears Prada is a fantastic film, and Anne Hathaway portrays perfectly the dilemma with visiting Paris: there’s never enough time!
I would love to one day be typing this blog in Paris. Swishing on a dash of red lipstick and ordering an espresso as I type my adventures of being a Canadian expatriate. But, alas, there are magazines, novels, films, music and art to open my eyes to the French culture. Perhaps I’ll see Coco Avant Chanel this weekend? Joie de vivre!
There is something very underdog about Canadian musicians. For some reason, it seems to take a lot for us to breakout in the States. With superstars like Celine Dion and Shania Twain, Canada has made huge waves in the music industry, but we’ve never been the go-to country for great music. Luckily for us Canucks, this is all changing thanks to a 22-year-old rapper.
Just like every Canadian gal, I watched Degrassi: the Next Generation and remember the character Jimmy Brooks. Played by Aubrey Graham, Jimmy Brooks is the basketball star, best friend of Spinner, and loyal boyfriend to Ashley. But when Spinner hangs with the wrong crowd, he foolishly jokes to a friend that Jimmy made the plan of spilling feathers on the school nerd. The school nerd seeks revenge and goes on a shooting rampage, gunning down Jimmy and thus forcing the teen to live the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Throughout the remainder of his high school years, Jimmy had aspirations of a rap career. I must admit, watching Degrassi I thought the Jimmy Brooks/rap star story line was lame. It reminded me of David’s success in the music industry on Beverly Hills, 90210, and anything that reminds a viewer of David’s keyboard performance at the beach club is not a good thing. Not that I remember a Degrassi episode where Jimmy Brooks actually performed his “inspirational” rap songs; I only remember Jimmy sulking about how he’d never make it in music because of his wheelchair and Ashley saying he was talented… or something along those lines.
I was starting to forget about the Jimmy Brooks’ days on Degrassi when, out-of-nowhere, a young Canadian emerged on the rap scene. The rapper, named Drake, had just signed with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment and quickly became the hottest new star. But hey, doesn’t this Drake fella look an awful lot like Aubrey Graham? Drake is Aubrey Graham?!
Name change aside, Drake is a proud Canadian. He’s not too big to appear on MTV News, or even give shout outs to his fav Canucks. I’m so proud to have a Canadian representing a new genre of music, especially one that rolls with the who’s-who of rap. I love his song Forever featuring Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne and Eminem. It’s so catchy just try not saying “If you ain’t been a part of it at least you got to witness, bitches,” after a couple listens.
Another Canadian making waves is Lights. 22-year-old Valerie Poxleitner performs dream pop and her hit, Drive My Soul, has become a radio favourite. She reminds me a little of a softer Gwen Stefani.
The designs for her album look like a graphic novel, and rumour has it a comic book is even in the works for the singer. It’s nice to have a dreamy indie pop singer getting attention in the States next to Drake’s rap; it shows that we are good in more than just one genre of music.
But Drake and Lights are a once-in-a-blue moon rarity. Canadians rarely make it in America. One that should be receiving attention is Joel Plaskett. Plaskett is a little bit folk, a little bit pop/a little bit this, and a little bit that. His quirky charismatic style reminds me a little of Jason Mraz, and he’s got a lot of talent.
This summer, I had the pleasure of seeing Plaskett perform live. He has a great sense of humour, a unique way with music, and is a fantastic performer. The music industry has a lot to offer, with sensations like Madonna to youngin’ Taylor Swift, but the mainstream is missing out on Joel Plaskett.
Every day I turn on the radio and listen to the greatest hits, feeling quite content. Sure I, like everyone else, have listened to Drake and Lights and am proud they are Canadian. But when I listen to an artist that others have not heard, like Joel Plaskett, I wonder how many others I’m missing out on. Surely there are hundreds of Canadian musicians that fly under-the-radar, just waiting for their Lil’ Wayne to snatch them from the bitter cold of Toronto and introduce them to Hollywood’s elite. And while us Canadians are filled with pride when one of our own makes it in the big leagues, it’d be even sweeter if we supported that talent before their were chillin’ in LA-LA-Land.
Who are your favourite under-the-radar musicians and what country are they from?
I have a confession. Okay, so it’s a little embarrassing. But I’ve overcome it! I swear!
I am a recovering wedding addict.
I had my first hit at age 18 with a TV show called Rich Bride, Poor Bride on Slice. The hour-long docu-series follows a couple and their wedding planner throughout their wedding preparations. From selecting the perfect dress to food tastings, finding the right venue and overcoming family dramas; Rich Bride, Poor Bride has it all!
But Slice had more to offer, and I took it. In the form of a little old English lady named Jane Dayus-Hinch, comes a wedding-maestro. A woman who knows the ins-and-outs of wedding planning and can repair any damage done by a procrastinating bride-to-be. Wedding S.O.S. shows overstressed couples nearing their Big Day with nothing-or nearly nothing-prepared. It was magical.
For a while, Rich Bride, Poor Bride and Wedding S.O.S. was it for me. But eventually, the buzz wore off and I needed more. And then I found it, the show of all wedding the shows: Whose Wedding is it Anyway? Forget the boring family drama, Whose Wedding is it Anyway? follows different wedding planners from across the U.S. And these aren’t the wedding planners used by your average everyday couple getting married, these are the wedding planners throwing $100, 000+ extravaganzas! No more grooms saying “you spent how much on shoes?” or brides begging their fiance’s to do cash bars, these are the no-expense spared couples. And I loved it!
For nearly a year I curled up on my sofa watching Rich Bride, Poor Bride, Wedding S.O.S., and Whose Wedding is it Anyway? in glee. Oh how I adored the gowns, gushed over the centrepieces, and swooned watching their Big Day. I holed myself up in the family room watching these shows like a junkie. Forget the great outdoors, I had Jane Dayus-Hinch fixing weddings gone array on Wedding S.O.S.!
With wedding show overload came one real problem: repeats. Eventually Slice started to show repeats of the extremely frugal bride, the groom who was just too into the wedding decor, and the bride who was allergic to everything. My wedding show dealer just didn’t have anything new to offer, so I left my wedding junkie life behind.
But apparently I was just ahead of the trend. Slowly but surely new wedding shows started to trickle in. First, there was TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, a show following the staff at a wedding dress shop filled with to-die-for gowns. Then came Mark Conseulos and Kelly Ripa’s Masters of Reception, which follows a wedding catering service.
Although I did check out Say Yes to the Dress, it was missing too many crucial parts for me. Where was the fondant? the ceremony? the groom? It just didn’t do it for me. The commercial for Masters of Reception seemed interesting, but I bowed out of temptation.
I never hit rock bottom with my wedding obsession. I still love weddings, but I prefer the real deal. The shows were fun while they lasted, but its time to move on with my life. These TV shows just aren’t healthy.
But like any addict, there comes a time-out of nowhere-when you least expect the temptation to arise. Last night my mom turned the TV channel to her favourite show Desperate Housewives, and-although only for a moment-my habit came back.
On last night’s episode Susan (Teri Hatcher) remarried Mike (James Denton) in front of the Wisteria Lane gang. But I didn’t notice the drama between Susan and Katherine, or care about Lynette being unhappily pregnant; no, what I cared about was the gown, the shoes, the flowers, and…
the piece-de-resistance: Susan’s headpiece. The oh-so-beautiful piece contained a diamond headband with a beautiful veil attached at the back. I could feel my heart racing, my eyes lighting up, and my smiling growing. Relapse! Relapse!
But Katherine interrupted the ceremony and Julie got strangled outside and quickly but surely I returned to my state of loafing on the couch.
Although I’ve left the wedding shows behind, the temptation will always remain. There’s nothing more exciting than custom made invitations, engagement photos, and ceiling drapery; but this is an obsession that has got to stop. So, I opt for healthier TV choices, because four-tier cake is sending me in wedding show overdose. Every once in a while I might be tempted, but I must avert my eyes from gorgeous headpieces and couture heels. I can be strong, I can be strong.
