Mon album québécois préféré, je l'aime toujours comme un fou après tant d'années et si je me rappelle j'avais 17 ans et maintenant j'en ai 66 que de bons souvenirs.
I am in shock, Harmonium is forever one my favorite bands, pink floyd level of enlightenment, I never even dreamt of requesting it from you since its in french, how much I wish you could understand the lyrics, l’Heptade has helped me get through some of the toughest moments in my life. Thank you for this
Agreed! My dad got me listening to this for the first time when I was a kid… there’s something in this album, especially « histoire sans paroles » that is relaxing, soothing to it. And that last one, one could easily meditate to it and feel like travelling to another dimension. I always get goosebumps listening to these tracks
"Vert" means "Green", and "Depuis l'Autumne" means "Since Autumn". Harmonium is perhaps the greatest band to come out of French Quebec (where I lived for many years), and this is my favourite album by them. Side one especially is sublime. Their first album is fantastic as well.
"Brush with Greatness" moment: In the 90's, when Serge Fiori was dating another local artist, Nanette Workman, he hung out with her at my nephew's place one lazy summer evening. Imagine Fiori pulling out his guitar around your campfire... Yeah, he did that! So cool!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love this band. I grew up in northern Vermont and heard them a lot in the 1970's. They were very popular in Quebec. They are great musicians with such beautiful music. I do not speak french but still sing along to the songs as best I can. Thank you for a perfect New Year's gift. Happy New Year everyone!
I grew up in Montreal at that time. I sing in other languages too. RUclips has a lot of language aid videos which are good for pronunciation. they use the same alphabet, but some pronunciations are different. Good luck with singing and be well.
I was born in rural Quebec, didn't start to learn English until I was like 10. I grew up knowing this album was phenomenal. But you always wonder... Am I just biased? It's my culture, and nobody seems to know about this. Surely if it had been that great it would have become much bigger right? Then came social media, RUclips, etc., and in the last 10 years I've seen so many people listen to this album and praise it. And you just think... I knew it. Also when you grow up not knowing English, you get used to listening to music where voice is just an instrument you don't understand what's being said. I'm always amazed at how important vocals and understanding lyrics is to most English speakers. I mean sure, understanding lyrics is certainly a plus, but it always feels like SUCH a HUGE hindrance to not understand them for some people. Puzzling to me. Aaaanyway, getting sidetracked, but Histoires sans paroles, as the title says, doesn't have any lyrics, so problem solved. And it has some of the most beautiful moments I've ever heard in music.
L’album est pas mal considéré comme un universel top 30 dans le monde du progressif si c’est pas mieux. C’est de loin l’album prog francophone le plus apprécié et il est dans les albums non Anglo les plus aimé dans la sphère progressive. Le Québec a toujours eu une scène progressive beaucoup plus d grande que le reste de l’Amérique du Nord
Fun fact about this band, they didn't stop doing music because they broke up, or because they were tired of it, they were simply satisfied with what they've done and left it at that, definitely one of my favorites bands ever. Looking for something more from the main singer at least check out Fiori Séguin
Ok so you are literally the only English man I’ve ever seen make a reaction of Harmonium. That band is in my life and this album is just pure gold and I’m really glad people outside of Quebec know this stuff. Merci
My favorite album from Harmonium. Depuis l’automne is my favorite song from them. Written in1975, this song is about The independence of Quebec. At one point Fiori sings: now that I know that this land is my own, the other is quite angry. Well because wére both angry Wé’ll buried ourselves alive. At the end of the song, the repetitive lyrics are: if it’s a dream, wake me up. It will be our turn soon. Stay here because it is coming. After Harmonium,Serge Fiori did a great proggi album with Richard Séguin, you should give it a listen. The title is 200,000 nuits à l’heure or 200,000 nights per hour in english
Merci beaucoup ! Thank you very much ! A great band ! Harmonium , Corbeau (rock-hard rock 1977-84) and Offenbach (blues rock-rock 1969-85) are the top 3 Québec bands for me !
Hi JP! Very good review, loved it! My name is Pierre-Olivier and i am a very good friend of Etienne, the guy who send you this album and an Harmonium fan myself. Just a few clarification, specially about Depuis l'automne (which mean Since autumn and not before autumn) is a very political song. The context of the song is about the October crisis that we had here in Quebec in October 1970. That's a period of our history when we had kidnapping and bombing by the radical indenpendentist group called the FLQ. The lyrics also bring the rise to power of PQ (a non-radical independent party who took the power of the province in 1976). The verse: Si c'est un rêve réveille moi donc... (who mean: If it's a dream wake me up) , the dream is the future rise of The PQ run by René Lévesque. The verse: Depuis que je sais que ma terre est à moi, L'autre est en calvaire (who mean: Since I know my land is mine, The other is pissed) is the struggle battle of Quebec but is ignored by the canadian gouvernement about their differences and the non-recognition of their independence. The prime minister of Canada then was P.E Trudeau, the father of Justin Trudeau, the actual prime minister and both are/were anti-indenpendentist but Harmonium were all for the independence of Quebec. Hope those clarifications will help you understand this masterpiece!
DUDE! what a classic, iconic and epic album! Dixie was a BIG hit over here and is still played on radio! what a gift for my birthday today! (I born today in 1975 so I grew up with this album) you're on the right path with the lirycs, you just need to add the context of when and why it applies to our province of Québec! like people said in the comments, it's about the birth of a country that didn't want to be a province anymore... (for a long time before that too!) but that dream did not happen... democracy has spoken! can't wait for the second part!
What a surprise this morning to hear Harmonium on your channel. This album deserve to be listen in is entirely. For the lovers of Anthony Philipps The Geese & The Ghost, you’ll enjoy the folky arrangements of it…and the mellotron to fly away in a proggy journey. For the meaning of each songs, it’s a poetry statement about Quebec independence from Canada. Thank U JP.
Depuis L’automne sends me to a different realm. One of the most influential albums to me, glad you’ve crossed paths with it! The arrangements here are so masterful
Wonderful record. If you're ever in the mood for more gorgeous Quebec Prog for a long song Saturday I cannot recommend Maneige's "Les Porches de Notre Dame" strongly enough. Heck, I'm gonna listen to it right after this one. Happy New Year!
I've been looking forward to this, thanks for doing it. I was 15 when this came out, and it was the album of that summer for me. Such a beautiful piece of music.
A classic out of Quebec, great album. I especially love "Dixie" (I think there used to be on RUclips a live cover version of "Dixie" from a Quebec festival, led by Catherine Major and Mara Tremblay--nice, but it doesn't come near the original, in my opinion). There is nothing like hiking in the Charlevoix region of Quebec in the autumn when all the leaves are changing --this album makes the perfect soundtrack for it!
Wow, I got this album (on vinyl) when it was new. It has been one of my favorites since the 70’s. I never suggested it because it is in French but I have always loved it. Thank you!
As you specifically asked me (I'm very honored !), I try to help with the translation and prononciation of the track names: Vert = means “green” - like very without “y” Dixie = an English word, so… Depuis l'automne... = Since autumn… - Pronounce “the-poo-i (i like in “is”, the “s” isn't pronounced) low-tone” Side two : En pleine face = means “right in the face” - pronounce “on (without the “n”)-plain-far (without the “r”)-ss” Histoires sans paroles - L'isolement / L'appel / = Story without words / The isolation / The call - “l-hist-wow-R- song (without “g”)-par (as in park)-whole” - Well I stop here… with prononciation ! :-D La rencontre / L'union / Le grand bal = The Meeting / The Union / the big ball - I knew Heptade but never heard this album. I prefer it to Heptade after this first listen of first side.
The middle part of "Après l'automne" shows nature dying and freezing, and the last part is proudly defiant. We will not disappear! We have a dream! Our time is coming.
This reaction of yours I enjoyed a lot. I don't know how much of Québec you know, it is far from Florida (in all aspects), but never the less you rightly understoud it. From my point of vue, coming from a stranger of my culture, it is objective and clear. This music was (and still is for me and my generation) the very essence of Le Québec, because it reflects all the condenced harmonies and dissonances of hopes and expectations we where putting in the blossoming of our national identity so denied and fought on by the English Canadian powers, all of this expressed each in these pieces-seasons.The next songs; En pleine face is winter, metaphoricaly talks about now, if depuis l'automne was about the realisation of an utopia, winter is the fulfilment of a due separation between two persons, two countrys, two cultures for the best. Histoire sans paroles est l'aboutissement dans le rêve de la suite d'émotions qui précède. Tank you and my best wishs to you and to your loved ones for that year to come, let's hope for a better one.
I"ve never visited Quebec, but having grown up in Broward County, FL, there definitely was a snow bird season of Quebecoise which established itself every winter. Very generous, colorful, and joyous people! Very much like this album side.
Vert means green. Depuis L'automne means: Since autumn. En Plain face: Straight face Histoires sans paroles: Stories without words Isolation The Call The Encounter (the meeting) The Union (Could imply marriage) The Big Ball (Dance, celebration/party) Bonne année JP, avec beaucoup d'amour du Canada. For a true québecois experience you should look for Jean Le Loup. Happy New Year!
For Quebecqois music I really like Karkwa (I own "Le Volume de vent" and "Les Chemins de Verre" which is my favourite of the two). Yes, there is also Arcade Fire, Patrick Watson and Stars but Karkwa really works for me though I do not understand the lyrics. I know there a so many bands from the Belle Province that I have never heard of who are more than worthy of a listen. I realize they are closer to the pop than prog but I still like them.
Now that midnight has passed worldwide, and my intent of uttering "Jumanji!" has had a few hours to be absorbed by the universe, I feel safe in wishing Justin and the Community a Happy New Year. Peace, Love, and Blissful Sonic Vibrations to you all! 💖
Long story short, each track represents a season: Vert is spring, Dixie is summer, Depuis l’automne is fall and En pleine face is winter. Fun fact: Dixie was written in 5 minutes while the band was recording.
I am a big fan of their debut. I was first introduced to them back in 2019, but first heard their entire debut album now in autumn 2021 when taking the bus to Trondheim for a Rave that I was going on, great vibes and another happy memory from 2021, the album flowed incredibly well when taking bus through the stunning view of Jotunheim National park. I am a big fan of the folky thing that they have going for them, one of my favorite prog bands from across the Atlantic. I will def save this one for later, and I have to check out their other albums as well, thank you for the reminder and good video uploads as always!
As I understand it, Quebecois French is an older, almost Shakespearean era French (or would it be the era of Moliere?) with many new words adapted as needed. Hints of Moody Blues, probably because of the symphonic elements. There is a mountain of music waiting to be discovered on the banks of the St Lawrence. I loved this side. I am looking forward to side two. edited to add: We have finally throttled 2021 and heaved it's reeking corpse into it's frozen grave. Let us begin our slow march through 2022. Stay together, moving forward one foot in front of the other towards 2023. Hopefully we will all see each other on the other side.
Thank you for playing Les Cinq Saisons. To understand the meaning of the lyrics you also have to immerge yourself in the political environment in which Quebec was going through at the time. There was a political change that was about to occur with the first election of a rather new political party that advocated independence for Quebec. They were elected in 1976, one year after Les Cinq Saisons. From 1972 through 1980, the majority of artists were behind the idea of an independent Quebec. So, at the end of "Depuis l'automne", we must see more than just a change of season. The lyrics convey a political message: "Depuis que j'sais qu'ma terre est à moi..." (Since I know my land is mine) and the last verse "Si c'est un rêve, réveille-moi donc, Ça va être notre tour, ça sera pas long, Reste icitte parce que ça s'en vient" (If this is a dream, then wake me up, It's going to be our turn, it won't be long, Stay here because it's is coming). At the time those lyrics were really politically charged for everyone in Quebec.
Alright so, about prononciation, I'll give you my best shot at a guide: - Vert is just v followed by the same ending as "there". - Dixie is just Dixie - Depuis l'automne (which means "since fall") would be the same de as in "Deshawn" then, 'p', then the 'u' of "omelette du fromage", then 'ee'. Then read as "low-tawn". De-p-u-ee low-tawn. - En pleine face (which roughly means "straight in the face") is "en " as in "en route", then 'plenn', then faass. Not the English pronounciaction of "face". En plenn faass. - Histoire sans paroles (Story without words) is "iss-twar" then "sans" as in "Comic sans" but without the final 's', so "san(s)", then just say parole as in "parole officer". It's not 1-to-1, but close enough. "iss-traw san(s) parole".
Just another information. The interludes between the songs are done on a rare instrument called Ondes Martenot by Marie Bernard. When you will be listening to the side 2 of this record, you will blown away! Histoire sans paroles had the best melody in the history! This is a true masterpiece...
Thanks Justin! I think this music always deserve to be discovered a little more, and I’m glad that you give it that space on your Chanel! Great review as usual! This album have such a unique sound and feel.
If the Back Street Boys married the Rolling Beach Beetles and learned Canadian French I would wonder: "Why the Hell are they doing this, especially when they could kick back and listen to something groovy, like this?" The vibe here reminds me of "White Bird" by It's a Beautiful Day, and also "Light and Day" by Polyphonic Spree...two groovy reaction-worthy songs. I love the fun they are having the most of all. Great review. God is in the details, which you never miss. Glad it made you feel better too. :)
@@Katehowe3010 The actual band, "Rolling Beach Beetles" spelled it with the dual e, probably out of copyright concerns. A shame they dissolved, as they had a clever name.
I just love French and French Canadian progressive rock. I bought this on vinyl for 50p in the UK in a closing down sale in around 1996. I already had a love for this kind of music, but this is a little more folky than I was expecting. I notice that they kept "forgetting " the lyrics :-)) unusual to find scat singing anywhere these days, even then it was unusual. They sound remarkably like a French " folk/ prog" singer / band called Castelhemis who released 3 or 4 albums. A very nice post Justin, happy new year, we hope! Cheers
What a wondeful surprise to start the year! Thanks for doing this JP! Last autumn, I was in a cottage in the Charlevoix region (in Quebec). It was a cloudy/rainy day and I was facing the St. Lawrence River. I listened to Heptade in its entirety. Wow....
Thanks for reacting to this JP. I hadn't heard since I was in college. Glad you enjoyed it! Never thought I'd here Cinq Saisons on here, what a nice surprise.
I believe you're the first ever on RUclips to do a reaction to "Dixie". It never disappoints. Glad you enjoyed it. Hoping more people discover this great band.
This album has aged very well and enjoys continued popularity. My son's orchestra will perform a strictly instrumental and "unplugged" version on stage this year, replacing the electronic sounds such as Ondes Martenot and Mellotron with classical instruments.
Amazing breakdown, brother! I bought this CD when I was in Quebec (I knew about it beforhand, but it just made sense to buy it since I was there). Incredibly beautiful album - top 20 progressive rock album.
@@JustJP love your channel and your very insightful reactions! i hope someone told you that you got a really nice shoutout from nicknlex at the nicknlex reaction channel when they did Cygnus X-1 Part 1 & 2 by Rush.
Happy new year Justin 🥳 Thanks for playing this album, you made my day 😄👍🏻 I knew you would like it, but I’m little disappointed that you didn’t use my translated lyrics that I sent you, hope you will use them on your future listen of the album and during the “album review” of this masterpiece 😉 But thanks again to have taken the time to listen to this amazing album from my hometown Montréal 🙏🏻 P.S. Like I said in my letter, “Since Autumn” is about the discovery of our own “Québécois” identity, a very important song to us 😉
@@JustJP It's ok, I kind of understand when you said Monday night after work, very tired. The most important thing to me was that you played 3 songs from one of my favourite album of all time, so thanks to you again, because, after the shitty 2021 I've been through, this was a amazing start for 2022!!!
_"Like I said in my letter, “Since Autumn” is about the discovery of our own “Québécois” identity, a very important song to us"_ Indeed! It would have been even more of an anthem for us if only we'd have won the referendum the very next year... Oh well, like the man said, _"À la prochaine fois!"_ ;-] (Yeah, yeah, I know... we lost the next one too! lol)
Genre jumping band, folk country akin to Chet Atkins, English finger style, flutes, Mellotron, sax, as in some prog sounding bits. I found myself head nodding to the pleasantness of this music, something much needed for me right now. Makes me want to break out the acoustic. That’s a good thing. One thing that I kind of forgot about album sides is that it’s not too long, really a perfect amount of music. If you wish to stop, fine, want to go on, do it. I need to get my turntable looked at. I hear some Chet, some Anthony Phillips, some Queen, Beatles, some Brazilian stuff, and yes jazz. I bought a used harmonium, it’s interesting. Good morning stuff, Paul if you’re out there, Happy New Year! Peace and CGP Music
Thank you! JP / Happy New year from Montreal ! I suggested a song from this album a long time ago (Histoire sans paroles). I was surprised by your reply. You knew Harmonium and heard l’ Heptade!
Glorious melodies, acoustic guitar work and beautiful vocal harmonies, but for the language barrier wich shouln' t matter that much, why aren't there more people reacting to this group... A shame really!
Love it, though my personal fave is yet to come with “En Plein Face”. If you’re interested in a darker, freakier form of folk-prog, try the amazing and sadly unheralded Comus. Their debut album is a delightful little nightmare.
@@RGRG3232 "The Herald" is great, although I think I'd recommend "Song to Comus" as a starter track, if only because it sounds more like a quintessential Comus song.
First time hearing. I think it's rather beautiful. More on the folky side of the 'prog'-spectrum, which is fine with me. Some of this style seems to have crept into the music of French electronic duo AIR.
Afternoon, Justin. Dave from London. Happy New Year, everyone. This music is to Free My Soul... And Drift Away. This band is completely new to me, but I'm enchanted by it. There's a hint of the acoustic side of bands like Traffic; yes, early Genesis and Barclay James Harvest, maybe The Beatles White Album, with a French chanson feel, but it seems that band have forged their own path. Love the variety of singing - from folk to scat to psychedelic to balladeering - but I would have preferred more musical complexity, certainly if they are to merit being a prog band. But I'd like to hear more - bring on side 2.
Wait for side 2, Histoire sans paroles is a little bit more proggy. But, if you want to explore their prog side, listen to L’Heptade, their third and last album. The twelve strings guitar songs is there, but with all the instruments for great proggy moments.
Also... You mentioned the New Orleans like sound/style ... Here's a bit of history for you. When New France was lost to the English, part of the terms of surrender, resulted in the relocation of a large number of Acadian French (who lived in what is now the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) to the French possessions in the area known as Louisiana..... Cajuns.....
So, as a French, not Canadian guy, a few words about those songs (I absolutely love this album, really one of the best all-around records I know of). - Vert is my favorite song on the album, just an inch above the final track, on an album where every track is great. I love how the lyrics refer to colors, like literally colors, but also as in the English phrase "to show one's true colors". At the beginning you have "green, yellow, red and blue", then later "gray all around and black afar". It describes a spring sunset and how, before surrendering ("avant de se rendre"), the sun will show it's true colors ("il va nous montrer ses couleurs"). I'm translating literally, so they truly use that English phrase about true colors, but in French. Maybe it's common in Québec and Acadia, bur here in France, it's unheard of. - Dixie is like a 3-minute condensed version of a full prog song, with half a dozen instrumental solos just *crammed* into that final half. It also features the entirety of this album's percussion: a few spoons, a few hand claps and one cymbal shot. - Depuis l'automne feels like a history trip to me. It was done at a time where there was a big separatist movement in Québec, wanting to break away from Canada, and this song references it. Fiori sings "depuis que je sais que ma terre est à moi, l'autre est un calvaire", now that I know my land is mine, the other one is unbearable. At another point, he sings "Une chanson d'un parti qui fait plus partie d'ici, une chanson pour repartir loin du grand musée de cire", a song from a party that's no longer part of here, a song to get away from the great wax museum. Amazing Mellotron work on that song, as well as some Ondes Martenot, which return in the next track.
A slight correction. He sings "l'autre est EN calvaire", and being "en calvaire" or "en beau calvaire" in Québec French means "to be furious", "to be mad with anger". It is a statement about self-determination.
Merci, Justin. I don't parle francais, but know un peu of it, so I'll make a correctable start that hopefully isn't too misleading. "Armonium" (but "Harmonium" is probably right en anglais). "Lay Sank Sezzong" - The Five Seasons. (Cinq - "sank" = 5) "VarR" - Ver(t) (drop the t - as is the case with many last letters). Green. Think of verdure, verdant. Can't help with the rR (just look up a few words with it in, and keep mimicking. In time you'll get near enough. Bonus if you do is you can use it for fancy-German, too. And Dutch. There are probably others.) OK, you got that one, I see. "De-pwee oh-tonn" - Since Autumn. (I think there might be some of that I mishear). The "De" is "deep" in the voice, not a light "duh". In UK English one could approximate it with "dur", because those Englishes tend to avoid "r" if possible, but you'd probably find it hard to resist not saying the "r". "Ong Plenn Fass" - I think it means a metaphorical "right in your face" (slap bang in the face - like cold air might hit, or like an obvious fact might, too). You'll need someone more knowledgeable for this one. "Ee-stwarR sawng purRol" - Histories - or Stories. Stories sans something. Sawng purRol - without Paroles. Stories without paroles. Without words/ lyrics. Dixie? Qu'est-ce que c'est? "Kess Kuh Say?" - what-this what this'is? What-this what-it-is? Je ne sais pas. "Zhuh nuh say puh". (Nye-znayo. ... er ... I not know not.) It has a certain Je ne sais quoi. "Zhuh-nuh-say Kwa". I not know what. Un peu? "Ung pe" - a little. Again there's an Empire English "Ur" there. Like in Durban, but without the R.
@@JustJP I think to start butchering a language you need to have first learnt some of it, and then overconfidently set out to show the speakers of that language how they really should do it, and taking the best guess you can doesn't count as butchery. Or use subordinate clauses as if they were sentences. (And it's all about the music, after all!) Still, it can be fun picking up bits and pieces of languages like this.
Thanks JP. My sister loved Harmonium and bought me this album back then. Still have it. Well my daughter has it now as I handed over my record collection to her a few years ago. Passed on the legacy! They were a very good Quebec band and broke through from obscurity from the frozen true north! I mentioned another Quebec band before from the 90s named Karkwa. They were defiantly leaning towards Prog. Try La coup d 'tat. It's very catchy. I think you will like it JP.
I am glad that you like our most iconic band of Québec even if they are not anymore playin they still play a lot on radio and espescially at St Jean baptiste Day june 24 . They made a symphonique orchestral show last year for this band . Thanks JP to listenin of bands from our french Québec languages.
Sometimes I wake up in the morning and the first thought I have is not a thought, it is "Histoires sans paroles". As if my brain has rewired itself to have its own soundtrack, being reborn each day with heavenly music.
It’s amazing how you have captured pretty much the essence of that album. They only made three albums in total, and they are equally good. Of course, the last one being. L’Heptade is a masterpiece double album and in a prog rock world at the time 1976. They were as good as any other Prog rock band in the world. Back to the album that we are listening, it was in the top 50 Prog rock albums of all time by The Rolling Stones magazine. Depuis l’automne is in reality Since Fall and it is a very political song. The province of Quebec had a major downfall in October 1970 and this represents pretty much how Serge Fiori saw the whole thing. This is in my top 10 albums of all time all bands considered. The lyrics are very personal, but they fit pretty much anybody who wants to listen to what he has to say that their first album is as good as the second and the third one even if it was their first album, maybe one day you will review it as well if you think about it all the album or listening right now has absolutely no drums except for a bass drum kick in Dixie, pretty amazing when you think about it.
Justin. Justin, and I pronounce your nom in a French accent,... You impress me more than ever. January First and you have started off 2022 with a pleasant surprise for me. Bravo, jeune homme, bravo.
Hi, JP, let me have pity for you (wink!). «Depuis l'automne = Since the Automn». SINCE, not before. I enjoy your openness and the way you comment. Plus, you have a great voice! Are you working radio, tv, etc?
Very nice analysis, it would be great if you could also read the english translation in real time. This album is a classic, the pride of Quebec and a wondrous record all around! Edit: note there are no drums on this record, but somehow it works perfectly.
Hi Justin, since you did a french-speaking band with Harmonium, what about some seminal french prog ? I'd suggest Capitaine Coeur de Miel or Fils de Lumière by Ange, "the" most well-known french prog act, to discover the theatrical and emotional singing of Christian Décamps. And "Avant qu'il ne soit trop tard" combined with "La Peste" from Mona Lisa, in which Dominique Le Guennec has a totally different voice, but shows equally amazing emotions !
23:27 "Depuis" means 'since' so it should be "Since Autumn", not "before". 23:33 "En Pleine Face" directly translates to 'in full face', which means 'Right to the Face' as in a slap, a pie, or an unexpected occurrence. Also, depending on context, it could also mean Blow up in your Face, like a neglected potential problem that suddenly goes wrong. ;-]
Je suis Québécoise et cet album a bercé mon adolescence. merci
Mon album québécois préféré, je l'aime toujours comme un fou après tant d'années et si je me rappelle j'avais 17 ans et maintenant j'en ai 66 que de bons souvenirs.
I am in shock, Harmonium is forever one my favorite bands, pink floyd level of enlightenment, I never even dreamt of requesting it from you since its in french, how much I wish you could understand the lyrics, l’Heptade has helped me get through some of the toughest moments in my life. Thank you for this
Agreed! My dad got me listening to this for the first time when I was a kid… there’s something in this album, especially « histoire sans paroles » that is relaxing, soothing to it. And that last one, one could easily meditate to it and feel like travelling to another dimension. I always get goosebumps listening to these tracks
Probably one of my favorite albums of all time
"Vert" means "Green", and "Depuis l'Autumne" means "Since Autumn". Harmonium is perhaps the greatest band to come out of French Quebec (where I lived for many years), and this is my favourite album by them. Side one especially is sublime. Their first album is fantastic as well.
Holy f*! This is one of the best albums ever. One of the albums of my life. Thanks for this!
Bonne année! De Gatineau, Québec. Thanks for giving space to one of our best bands. Only three albums! You will love side 2.
"Brush with Greatness" moment: In the 90's, when Serge Fiori was dating another local artist, Nanette Workman, he hung out with her at my nephew's place one lazy summer evening. Imagine Fiori pulling out his guitar around your campfire... Yeah, he did that! So cool!
Wow I’m jealous, I heard from someone who met him also, that he’s very cool and friendly
@@EBFido1973 Just a regular guy with lots of talent, apparently. Thankfully, not all of them let the fame get to them. ;-)
@@robertcartier5088 Yep, thankfully 😎
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love this band. I grew up in northern Vermont and heard them a lot in the 1970's. They were very popular in Quebec. They are great musicians with such beautiful music. I do not speak french but still sing along to the songs as best I can. Thank you for a perfect New Year's gift. Happy New Year everyone!
I grew up in Montreal at that time. I sing in other languages too. RUclips has a lot of language aid videos which are good for pronunciation. they use the same alphabet, but some pronunciations are different. Good luck with singing and be well.
I discovered Harmonium when I went to school in Montreal in 1980. Glad to see so many people still enjoying them! Their work transcends time.
I was born in rural Quebec, didn't start to learn English until I was like 10. I grew up knowing this album was phenomenal. But you always wonder... Am I just biased? It's my culture, and nobody seems to know about this. Surely if it had been that great it would have become much bigger right? Then came social media, RUclips, etc., and in the last 10 years I've seen so many people listen to this album and praise it. And you just think... I knew it.
Also when you grow up not knowing English, you get used to listening to music where voice is just an instrument you don't understand what's being said. I'm always amazed at how important vocals and understanding lyrics is to most English speakers. I mean sure, understanding lyrics is certainly a plus, but it always feels like SUCH a HUGE hindrance to not understand them for some people. Puzzling to me.
Aaaanyway, getting sidetracked, but Histoires sans paroles, as the title says, doesn't have any lyrics, so problem solved. And it has some of the most beautiful moments I've ever heard in music.
L’album est pas mal considéré comme un universel top 30 dans le monde du progressif si c’est pas mieux. C’est de loin l’album prog francophone le plus apprécié et il est dans les albums non Anglo les plus aimé dans la sphère progressive. Le Québec a toujours eu une scène progressive beaucoup plus d grande que le reste de l’Amérique du Nord
At the end of '70, a company in music offer to Serge Fiori $1.5 millions for to translate in English and do a world tour , he refuse to translate..
Fun fact about this band, they didn't stop doing music because they broke up, or because they were tired of it, they were simply satisfied with what they've done and left it at that, definitely one of my favorites bands ever. Looking for something more from the main singer at least check out Fiori Séguin
They stopped because Serge Fiori couldnt stand his stage fright, which he mentions multiple times in the lyrics of the 3 albums and in interviews.
Fiori Séguin is probably in my top 20
Including also L'Heptade de Harmonium
The great Serge Fiori
What a delightful way to begin 2022! Thank you.
Ok so you are literally the only English man I’ve ever seen make a reaction of Harmonium. That band is in my life and this album is just pure gold and I’m really glad people outside of Quebec know this stuff. Merci
The best progressive group from Quebec. Serge Fiori has such a beautiful voice…j’espère que vous allez aimer ça
One of my favourite albums of all time.
My favorite album from Harmonium. Depuis l’automne is my favorite song from them. Written in1975, this song is about The independence of Quebec. At one point Fiori sings: now that I know that this land is my own, the other is quite angry. Well because wére both angry Wé’ll buried ourselves alive. At the end of the song, the repetitive lyrics are: if it’s a dream, wake me up. It will be our turn soon. Stay here because it is coming.
After Harmonium,Serge Fiori did a great proggi album with Richard Séguin, you should give it a listen. The title is 200,000 nuits à l’heure or 200,000 nights per hour in english
Merci beaucoup ! Thank you very much ! A great band ! Harmonium , Corbeau (rock-hard rock 1977-84) and Offenbach (blues rock-rock 1969-85) are the top 3 Québec bands for me !
'Engrossing' is a good choice to describe this music. Listened to this growing up as a teenager in Québec in the 70's.
Hi JP! Very good review, loved it! My name is Pierre-Olivier and i am a very good friend of Etienne, the guy who send you this album and an Harmonium fan myself. Just a few clarification, specially about Depuis l'automne (which mean Since autumn and not before autumn) is a very political song. The context of the song is about the October crisis that we had here in Quebec in October 1970. That's a period of our history when we had kidnapping and bombing by the radical indenpendentist group called the FLQ. The lyrics also bring the rise to power of PQ (a non-radical independent party who took the power of the province in 1976). The verse: Si c'est un rêve réveille moi donc... (who mean: If it's a dream wake me up) , the dream is the future rise of The PQ run by René Lévesque. The verse: Depuis que je sais que ma terre est à moi, L'autre est en calvaire (who mean: Since I know my land is mine, The other is pissed) is the struggle battle of Quebec but is ignored by the canadian gouvernement about their differences and the non-recognition of their independence. The prime minister of Canada then was P.E Trudeau, the father of Justin Trudeau, the actual prime minister and both are/were anti-indenpendentist but Harmonium were all for the independence of Quebec. Hope those clarifications will help you understand this masterpiece!
DUDE! what a classic, iconic and epic album! Dixie was a BIG hit over here and is still played on radio! what a gift for my birthday today! (I born today in 1975 so I grew up with this album) you're on the right path with the lirycs, you just need to add the context of when and why it applies to our province of Québec! like people said in the comments, it's about the birth of a country that didn't want to be a province anymore... (for a long time before that too!) but that dream did not happen... democracy has spoken! can't wait for the second part!
What a surprise this morning to hear Harmonium on your channel. This album deserve to be listen in is entirely. For the lovers of Anthony Philipps The Geese & The Ghost, you’ll enjoy the folky arrangements of it…and the mellotron to fly away in a proggy journey. For the meaning of each songs, it’s a poetry statement about Quebec independence from Canada. Thank U JP.
s.v.p. n'oublies pas l'accent sur le é. (Juste une farce).
Dans n'importe quelle langue Québec est Québec pour un Québécois. Pour un anglais c'est cependant différent. On est Québécois ou ben on l'est pas.
@@stephanevilleneuve9450 Bonne année quand même, sans fautes.
I bought the LP in Paris in 1980 and it’s one of my favourite pieces of music. A reminder of that time. Will love it forever.
Depuis L’automne sends me to a different realm. One of the most influential albums to me, glad you’ve crossed paths with it! The arrangements here are so masterful
Wonderful record. If you're ever in the mood for more gorgeous Quebec Prog for a long song Saturday I cannot recommend Maneige's "Les Porches de Notre Dame" strongly enough. Heck, I'm gonna listen to it right after this one. Happy New Year!
Look up Mystery also, very good prog sound
I've been looking forward to this, thanks for doing it. I was 15 when this came out, and it was the album of that summer for me. Such a beautiful piece of music.
Beautiful indeed😃
A classic out of Quebec, great album. I especially love "Dixie" (I think there used to be on RUclips a live cover version of "Dixie" from a Quebec festival, led by Catherine Major and Mara Tremblay--nice, but it doesn't come near the original, in my opinion). There is nothing like hiking in the Charlevoix region of Quebec in the autumn when all the leaves are changing --this album makes the perfect soundtrack for it!
Wow, I got this album (on vinyl) when it was new. It has been one of my favorites since the 70’s. I never suggested it because it is in French but I have always loved it. Thank you!
As you specifically asked me (I'm very honored !), I try to help with the translation and prononciation of the track names:
Vert = means “green” - like very without “y”
Dixie = an English word, so…
Depuis l'automne... = Since autumn… - Pronounce “the-poo-i (i like in “is”, the “s” isn't pronounced) low-tone”
Side two :
En pleine face = means “right in the face” - pronounce “on (without the “n”)-plain-far (without the “r”)-ss”
Histoires sans paroles - L'isolement / L'appel / = Story without words / The isolation / The call - “l-hist-wow-R- song (without “g”)-par (as in park)-whole” - Well I stop here… with prononciation ! :-D
La rencontre / L'union / Le grand bal = The Meeting / The Union / the big ball -
I knew Heptade but never heard this album. I prefer it to Heptade after this first listen of first side.
The middle part of "Après l'automne" shows nature dying and freezing, and the last part is proudly defiant. We will not disappear! We have a dream! Our time is coming.
You will like Histoire sans paroles probably the best song from Harmonium. They have a great live album Harmonium en Tournée. Thank's Happy New Year.
This reaction of yours I enjoyed a lot. I don't know how much of Québec you know, it is far from Florida (in all aspects), but never the less you rightly understoud it. From my point of vue, coming from a stranger of my culture, it is objective and clear. This music was (and still is for me and my generation) the very essence of Le Québec, because it reflects all the condenced harmonies and dissonances of hopes and expectations we where putting in the blossoming of our national identity so denied and fought on by the English Canadian powers, all of this expressed each in these pieces-seasons.The next songs; En pleine face is winter, metaphoricaly talks about now, if depuis l'automne was about the realisation of an utopia, winter is the fulfilment of a due separation between two persons, two countrys, two cultures for the best. Histoire sans paroles est l'aboutissement dans le rêve de la suite d'émotions qui précède. Tank you and my best wishs to you and to your loved ones for that year to come, let's hope for a better one.
I"ve never visited Quebec, but having grown up in Broward County, FL, there definitely was a snow bird season of Quebecoise which established itself every winter. Very generous, colorful, and joyous people! Very much like this album side.
Vert means green.
Depuis L'automne means: Since autumn.
En Plain face: Straight face
Histoires sans paroles: Stories without words
Isolation
The Call
The Encounter (the meeting)
The Union (Could imply marriage)
The Big Ball (Dance, celebration/party)
Bonne année JP, avec beaucoup d'amour du Canada.
For a true québecois experience you should look for Jean Le Loup. Happy New Year!
For Quebecqois music I really like Karkwa (I own "Le Volume de vent" and "Les Chemins de Verre" which is my favourite of the two). Yes, there is also Arcade Fire, Patrick Watson and Stars but Karkwa really works for me though I do not understand the lyrics. I know there a so many bands from the Belle Province that I have never heard of who are more than worthy of a listen. I realize they are closer to the pop than prog but I still like them.
"En Plaine Face" really translates more as "Right In the Face", sort of like getting punched right in the face.
"En pleine face" is an expression we often use in Quebec when someone trips and falls full face on the ground.
This is one of my favourite albums of all time, i'm so happy you are gonna cover ir.
A great idea, I'm very fond of this album, I managed to pick up a very nice (vinyl) copy a couple of years ago and I play it all the time.
I understand why.
Happy New Year Mark!
Now that midnight has passed worldwide, and my intent of uttering "Jumanji!" has had a few hours to be absorbed by the universe, I feel safe in wishing Justin and the Community a Happy New Year.
Peace, Love, and Blissful Sonic Vibrations to you all! 💖
Thank you - I've been a fan of Harmonium (and especially Vert) for years!
Merci beaucoup JP ! 👍 No doubt great album as well as many others from 70's Québec prog scene.
Long story short, each track represents a season: Vert is spring, Dixie is summer, Depuis l’automne is fall and En pleine face is winter. Fun fact: Dixie was written in 5 minutes while the band was recording.
Nostalgie j'écouterais cette musique tous les jours.
I am a big fan of their debut. I was first introduced to them back in 2019, but first heard their entire debut album now in autumn 2021 when taking the bus to Trondheim for a Rave that I was going on, great vibes and another happy memory from 2021, the album flowed incredibly well when taking bus through the stunning view of Jotunheim National park. I am a big fan of the folky thing that they have going for them, one of my favorite prog bands from across the Atlantic. I will def save this one for later, and I have to check out their other albums as well, thank you for the reminder and good video uploads as always!
Was just listening a bit to the debut, sounds great. Going to play my Harmonium playlist at work.
As I understand it, Quebecois French is an older, almost Shakespearean era French (or would it be the era of Moliere?) with many new words adapted as needed. Hints of Moody Blues, probably because of the symphonic elements. There is a mountain of music waiting to be discovered on the banks of the St Lawrence.
I loved this side. I am looking forward to side two.
edited to add: We have finally throttled 2021 and heaved it's reeking corpse into it's frozen grave. Let us begin our slow march through 2022. Stay together, moving forward one foot in front of the other towards 2023. Hopefully we will all see each other on the other side.
Wishing you a happy 2022 Maruad!!🥳
@@JustJP And a happy New Year to you and yours. May it be full of sweet surprises.
Thank you for playing Les Cinq Saisons. To understand the meaning of the lyrics you also have to immerge yourself in the political environment in which Quebec was going through at the time. There was a political change that was about to occur with the first election of a rather new political party that advocated independence for Quebec. They were elected in 1976, one year after Les Cinq Saisons. From 1972 through 1980, the majority of artists were behind the idea of an independent Quebec. So, at the end of "Depuis l'automne", we must see more than just a change of season. The lyrics convey a political message: "Depuis que j'sais qu'ma terre est à moi..." (Since I know my land is mine) and the last verse "Si c'est un rêve, réveille-moi donc, Ça va être notre tour, ça sera pas long, Reste icitte parce que ça s'en vient" (If this is a dream, then wake me up, It's going to be our turn, it won't be long, Stay here because it's is coming). At the time those lyrics were really politically charged for everyone in Quebec.
Alright so, about prononciation, I'll give you my best shot at a guide:
- Vert is just v followed by the same ending as "there".
- Dixie is just Dixie
- Depuis l'automne (which means "since fall") would be the same de as in "Deshawn" then, 'p', then the 'u' of "omelette du fromage", then 'ee'. Then read as "low-tawn". De-p-u-ee low-tawn.
- En pleine face (which roughly means "straight in the face") is "en " as in "en route", then 'plenn', then faass. Not the English pronounciaction of "face". En plenn faass.
- Histoire sans paroles (Story without words) is "iss-twar" then "sans" as in "Comic sans" but without the final 's', so "san(s)", then just say parole as in "parole officer". It's not 1-to-1, but close enough. "iss-traw san(s) parole".
Just another information. The interludes between the songs are done on a rare instrument called Ondes Martenot by Marie Bernard. When you will be listening to the side 2 of this record, you will blown away! Histoire sans paroles had the best melody in the history! This is a true masterpiece...
Thnx for sharing ...
This band has à huge succès in Québec. Canada...
Merci just JP .....
Thanks Justin!
I think this music always deserve to be discovered a little more, and I’m glad that you give it that space on your Chanel!
Great review as usual!
This album have such a unique sound and feel.
If the Back Street Boys married the Rolling Beach Beetles and learned Canadian French I would wonder: "Why the Hell are they doing this, especially when they could kick back and listen to something groovy, like this?"
The vibe here reminds me of "White Bird" by It's a Beautiful Day, and also "Light and Day" by Polyphonic Spree...two groovy reaction-worthy songs.
I love the fun they are having the most of all. Great review. God is in the details, which you never miss. Glad it made you feel better too. :)
@@Katehowe3010 The actual band, "Rolling Beach Beetles" spelled it with the dual e, probably out of copyright concerns. A shame they dissolved, as they had a clever name.
I just love French and French Canadian progressive rock. I bought this on vinyl for 50p in the UK in a closing down sale in around 1996. I already had a love for this kind of music, but this is a little more folky than I was expecting. I notice that they kept "forgetting " the lyrics :-)) unusual to find scat singing anywhere these days, even then it was unusual. They sound remarkably like a French " folk/ prog" singer / band called Castelhemis who released 3 or 4 albums. A very nice post Justin, happy new year, we hope! Cheers
It invigorates my Québécois heart.. Dixie comes in my head at least 2 times a year... love your channel.
What a wondeful surprise to start the year! Thanks for doing this JP!
Last autumn, I was in a cottage in the Charlevoix region (in Quebec). It was a cloudy/rainy day and I was facing the St. Lawrence River. I listened to Heptade in its entirety. Wow....
Thank you JP!!! Just made my year…!!!
That makes me happy to hear! Have a wonderful day today, and a good start for the year!
I just want to say thanks. You make my day! Hope you like Harmonium! You are a great human been!
Oh shhhhhh! As a french canadian im really excited to see you react to this!
Oh man you REALLY need to listen to their first album!!!!
Their self titled début album was brilliant ( and an all time favourite of mine). Another band you might enjoy from les belles provence ...
Cano
Thanks for reacting to this JP. I hadn't heard since I was in college. Glad you enjoyed it! Never thought I'd here Cinq Saisons on here, what a nice surprise.
Wow! i listen to reaction music since a long time. Pretty surprise of seeing my best band of all now here! thanks!
Enjoyable for sure. I like the doing chores music comment...
Justin!! thank you! Harmonium is so special for me! Their 3 albums are in my top musical journey. They keep my soul alive!
I believe you're the first ever on RUclips to do a reaction to "Dixie". It never disappoints. Glad you enjoyed it. Hoping more people discover this great band.
Thanks Acarch! Loved this one :D
Thank you so much for reacting to this! Their three albums are in my collection.
Happily Marc!
Very nice Pastoral Prog. I’ll have to give it more listens :)
This album has aged very well and enjoys continued popularity. My son's orchestra will perform a strictly instrumental and "unplugged" version on stage this year, replacing the electronic sounds such as Ondes Martenot and Mellotron with classical instruments.
Amazing breakdown, brother! I bought this CD when I was in Quebec (I knew about it beforhand, but it just made sense to buy it since I was there). Incredibly beautiful album - top 20 progressive rock album.
Ty Gorgon!
@@JustJP love your channel and your very insightful reactions! i hope someone told you that you got a really nice shoutout from nicknlex at the nicknlex reaction channel when they did Cygnus X-1 Part 1 & 2 by Rush.
Happy new year Justin 🥳
Thanks for playing this album, you made my day 😄👍🏻
I knew you would like it, but I’m little disappointed that you didn’t use my translated lyrics that I sent you, hope you will use them on your future listen of the album and during the “album review” of this masterpiece 😉
But thanks again to have taken the time to listen to this amazing album from my hometown Montréal 🙏🏻
P.S. Like I said in my letter, “Since Autumn” is about the discovery of our own “Québécois” identity, a very important song to us 😉
Ty Fido! I totally forgot about it at the time, im sorry about that😬
@@JustJP It's ok, I kind of understand when you said Monday night after work, very tired. The most important thing to me was that you played 3 songs from one of my favourite album of all time, so thanks to you again, because, after the shitty 2021 I've been through, this was a amazing start for 2022!!!
_"Like I said in my letter, “Since Autumn” is about the discovery of our own “Québécois” identity, a very important song to us"_
Indeed! It would have been even more of an anthem for us if only we'd have won the referendum the very next year...
Oh well, like the man said, _"À la prochaine fois!"_ ;-]
(Yeah, yeah, I know... we lost the next one too! lol)
Yeah ! Quebec Power ! Very very good choice. A happy new year (ou, en vieux québécois, "la pinouillère) !
Oh ! "En pleine face" means "right in the face".
@@jean-pierrebolduc2837 Or "Face first"
Genre jumping band, folk country akin to Chet Atkins, English finger style, flutes, Mellotron, sax, as in some prog sounding bits. I found myself head nodding to the pleasantness of this music, something much needed for me right now. Makes me want to break out the acoustic. That’s a good thing. One thing that I kind of forgot about album sides is that it’s not too long, really a perfect amount of music. If you wish to stop, fine, want to go on, do it.
I need to get my turntable looked at.
I hear some Chet, some Anthony Phillips, some Queen, Beatles, some Brazilian stuff, and yes jazz.
I bought a used harmonium, it’s interesting.
Good morning stuff, Paul if you’re out there, Happy New Year!
Peace and CGP Music
Happy NY David!!😃
@@JustJP
Let’s go forward friend as my Dad would say, with gusto!
Thank you! JP / Happy New year from Montreal !
I suggested a song from this album a long time ago (Histoire sans paroles). I was surprised by your reply. You knew Harmonium and heard
l’ Heptade!
Awesome. This album is absolutely amazing. This album should be recognized more as one of the absolute best in the prog scene
One of the best albums in the prog scene??? I take it it's all on side 2 then. I certainly didn't hear any prog here 🙂
@Justsome Jusstsome It is.
@@Kotro oh, good.
@@jfergs.3302 it's prog folk for the most part but has a lot of moments of symphonic prog on the second side
@@justsomejusstsome8994 Hmm, i'll see soon enough. That said, none of what ive heard here i'd call folk either...
Glorious melodies, acoustic guitar work and beautiful vocal harmonies, but for the language barrier wich shouln' t matter that much, why aren't there more people reacting to this group... A shame really!
Love it, though my personal fave is yet to come with “En Plein Face”. If you’re interested in a darker, freakier form of folk-prog, try the amazing and sadly unheralded Comus. Their debut album is a delightful little nightmare.
I've been requesting "The Herald" for quite some time now. Hopefully your mention here will add to his interest.
@@RGRG3232 "The Herald" is great, although I think I'd recommend "Song to Comus" as a starter track, if only because it sounds more like a quintessential Comus song.
Love it.
First time hearing. I think it's rather beautiful. More on the folky side of the 'prog'-spectrum, which is fine with me.
Some of this style seems to have crept into the music of French electronic duo AIR.
In the magazine Rolling Stone this album is ranked 36th of the 100 best prog albums of all time…
Afternoon, Justin. Dave from London. Happy New Year, everyone. This music is to Free My Soul... And Drift Away. This band is completely new to me, but I'm enchanted by it. There's a hint of the acoustic side of bands like Traffic; yes, early Genesis and Barclay James Harvest, maybe The Beatles White Album, with a French chanson feel, but it seems that band have forged their own path. Love the variety of singing - from folk to scat to psychedelic to balladeering - but I would have preferred more musical complexity, certainly if they are to merit being a prog band. But I'd like to hear more - bring on side 2.
Song ref… Dobie Gray?
@@-davidolivares You're right, David. Very underrated soft soul singer.
Wait for side 2, Histoire sans paroles is a little bit more proggy. But, if you want to explore their prog side, listen to L’Heptade, their third and last album. The twelve strings guitar songs is there, but with all the instruments for great proggy moments.
@@stephanevilleneuve9450 Merci bien, Stephane.
If you are looking for more complexity, look for ''L'Heptade'', their 3rd album. Their 3 albums are extremely good, and different from each other.
Also...
You mentioned the New Orleans like sound/style ...
Here's a bit of history for you.
When New France was lost to the English, part of the terms of surrender, resulted in the relocation of a large number of Acadian French (who lived in what is now the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) to the French possessions in the area known as Louisiana..... Cajuns.....
Principal instrument from Harmonium is the guitar with 12 ropes.
Side two will blow your mind.
So, as a French, not Canadian guy, a few words about those songs (I absolutely love this album, really one of the best all-around records I know of).
- Vert is my favorite song on the album, just an inch above the final track, on an album where every track is great. I love how the lyrics refer to colors, like literally colors, but also as in the English phrase "to show one's true colors". At the beginning you have "green, yellow, red and blue", then later "gray all around and black afar". It describes a spring sunset and how, before surrendering ("avant de se rendre"), the sun will show it's true colors ("il va nous montrer ses couleurs"). I'm translating literally, so they truly use that English phrase about true colors, but in French. Maybe it's common in Québec and Acadia, bur here in France, it's unheard of.
- Dixie is like a 3-minute condensed version of a full prog song, with half a dozen instrumental solos just *crammed* into that final half. It also features the entirety of this album's percussion: a few spoons, a few hand claps and one cymbal shot.
- Depuis l'automne feels like a history trip to me. It was done at a time where there was a big separatist movement in Québec, wanting to break away from Canada, and this song references it. Fiori sings "depuis que je sais que ma terre est à moi, l'autre est un calvaire", now that I know my land is mine, the other one is unbearable. At another point, he sings "Une chanson d'un parti qui fait plus partie d'ici, une chanson pour repartir loin du grand musée de cire", a song from a party that's no longer part of here, a song to get away from the great wax museum. Amazing Mellotron work on that song, as well as some Ondes Martenot, which return in the next track.
A slight correction. He sings "l'autre est EN calvaire", and being "en calvaire" or "en beau calvaire" in Québec French means "to be furious", "to be mad with anger". It is a statement about self-determination.
@@hdufort Thanks for the insight in Québec vernacular :)
Ça serait cool, dans votre écoute de prog québécois du Morse Code ou du Sloche (J'un Oeil)
Oh! Haven't heard about Sloche for ages! I had prog friends in cégep and they introduced me to Marillion, Gentle Giant and Sloche.
You will love side two!
Rolling Stone ranked it 35th on their list of the best prog albums of all time, saying it represents the peak of folk prog
Merci, Justin.
I don't parle francais, but know un peu of it, so I'll make a correctable start that hopefully isn't too misleading.
"Armonium" (but "Harmonium" is probably right en anglais).
"Lay Sank Sezzong" - The Five Seasons. (Cinq - "sank" = 5)
"VarR" - Ver(t) (drop the t - as is the case with many last letters). Green. Think of verdure, verdant. Can't help with the rR (just look up a few words with it in, and keep mimicking. In time you'll get near enough. Bonus if you do is you can use it for fancy-German, too. And Dutch. There are probably others.) OK, you got that one, I see.
"De-pwee oh-tonn" - Since Autumn. (I think there might be some of that I mishear). The "De" is "deep" in the voice, not a light "duh". In UK English one could approximate it with "dur", because those Englishes tend to avoid "r" if possible, but you'd probably find it hard to resist not saying the "r".
"Ong Plenn Fass" - I think it means a metaphorical "right in your face" (slap bang in the face - like cold air might hit, or like an obvious fact might, too). You'll need someone more knowledgeable for this one.
"Ee-stwarR sawng purRol" - Histories - or Stories. Stories sans something. Sawng purRol - without Paroles. Stories without paroles. Without words/ lyrics.
Dixie? Qu'est-ce que c'est? "Kess Kuh Say?" - what-this what this'is? What-this what-it-is?
Je ne sais pas. "Zhuh nuh say puh". (Nye-znayo. ... er ... I not know not.)
It has a certain Je ne sais quoi. "Zhuh-nuh-say Kwa". I not know what.
Un peu? "Ung pe" - a little. Again there's an Empire English "Ur" there. Like in Durban, but without the R.
Appreciate that, I felt I was probably butchering everything 😅
@@JustJP I think to start butchering a language you need to have first learnt some of it, and then overconfidently set out to show the speakers of that language how they really should do it, and taking the best guess you can doesn't count as butchery. Or use subordinate clauses as if they were sentences.
(And it's all about the music, after all!)
Still, it can be fun picking up bits and pieces of languages like this.
Thanks JP. My sister loved Harmonium and bought me this album back then. Still have it. Well my daughter has it now as I handed over my record collection to her a few years ago. Passed on the legacy! They were a very good Quebec band and broke through from obscurity from the frozen true north! I mentioned another Quebec band before from the 90s named Karkwa. They were defiantly leaning towards Prog. Try La coup d 'tat. It's very catchy. I think you will like it JP.
Dans mon livre , ceci est un des meilleurs albums de tous les temps.
I am glad that you like our most iconic band of Québec even if they are not anymore playin they still play a lot on radio and espescially at St Jean baptiste Day june 24 . They made a symphonique orchestral show last year for this band . Thanks JP to listenin of bands from our french Québec languages.
Thank you Sylvain, I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)
Sometimes I wake up in the morning and the first thought I have is not a thought, it is "Histoires sans paroles". As if my brain has rewired itself to have its own soundtrack, being reborn each day with heavenly music.
It’s amazing how you have captured pretty much the essence of that album. They only made three albums in total, and they are equally good. Of course, the last one being. L’Heptade is a masterpiece double album and in a prog rock world at the time 1976. They were as good as any other Prog rock band in the world. Back to the album that we are listening, it was in the top 50 Prog rock albums of all time by The Rolling Stones magazine. Depuis l’automne is in reality Since Fall and it is a very political song. The province of Quebec had a major downfall in October 1970 and this represents pretty much how Serge Fiori saw the whole thing. This is in my top 10 albums of all time all bands considered.
The lyrics are very personal, but they fit pretty much anybody who wants to listen to what he has to say that their first album is as good as the second and the third one even if it was their first album, maybe one day you will review it as well if you think about it all the album or listening right now has absolutely no drums except for a bass drum kick in Dixie, pretty amazing when you think about it.
Justin.
Justin, and I pronounce your nom in a French accent,...
You impress me more than ever. January First and you have started off 2022 with a pleasant surprise for me. Bravo, jeune homme, bravo.
Best Quebec album ever
sound like supertramp and yes also pinkfloyd very good album
Should check out more of Anthony Phillips work, Wise After The Event and Sides are great albums
Bleak House- alternative Barry Manilow fans please form an orderly queue!🌸✅
Harmonium has many great albums....
All three of them! 😅
Hi, JP, let me have pity for you (wink!). «Depuis l'automne = Since the Automn». SINCE, not before. I enjoy your openness and the way you comment. Plus, you have a great voice! Are you working radio, tv, etc?
PS: «En pleine face» = «In your face»
Very nice analysis, it would be great if you could also read the english translation in real time. This album is a classic, the pride of Quebec and a wondrous record all around! Edit: note there are no drums on this record, but somehow it works perfectly.
Hi Justin, since you did a french-speaking band with Harmonium, what about some seminal french prog ? I'd suggest Capitaine Coeur de Miel or Fils de Lumière by Ange, "the" most well-known french prog act, to discover the theatrical and emotional singing of Christian Décamps. And "Avant qu'il ne soit trop tard" combined with "La Peste" from Mona Lisa, in which Dominique Le Guennec has a totally different voice, but shows equally amazing emotions !
23:27 "Depuis" means 'since' so it should be "Since Autumn", not "before".
23:33 "En Pleine Face" directly translates to 'in full face', which means 'Right to the Face' as in a slap, a pie, or an unexpected occurrence. Also, depending on context, it could also mean Blow up in your Face, like a neglected potential problem that suddenly goes wrong. ;-]
Yes. Although "tomber en pleine face" means to fall down violently, to hit your face on the floor.
@@hdufort indeed, the additional word, 'tomber', brings context.