My Exclusive comparison of french culture and american culture

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exclusive58
illegal alien

Registered: 04/16/04
Posts: 2,146
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months

My Exclusive comparison of french culture and american culture

#3816631 - 02/22/05 11:52 AM (21 years, 7 months ago)

Ok this is going to be a comparison between europe (france more precisely) and america again. But this time the comparisons are not based solely on judgement anymore, i'm going to back myself up withhhh..song lyrics!! yup, this thread is going to be comparing america's pop culture and france's.

At first i was going to make a long thread comparing ALL the differences i've picked up (i've lived a third of my life in CA), but then bunch of "europe vs. america" threads came up recently and this one would have been one too many, and i also realized that it would be too long and not many people like to read long posts.

Ok, here it goes. My thesis is that american mainstream music is very weak in insightful meaning (Spears) and is indulged in materialism (rap). Although i love american music, the music there is simply created in the name of money. There is practically never an insightful lyrical message sent to the listeners. Who never got sick of listening to all the bullshit you hear on the radio?

Example: i went to MTV's webpage, and the top song of this week is "Helena" by MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE (awesome group name btw!). Now, check out the lyrics:

Long ago
Just like the hearse you die to get in again
We are so far from you

Burning on just like a match you strike to incinerate
The lives of everyone you know
And what's the worst you take (worst you take)
from every heart you break (heart you break)
And like the blade you stain (blade you stain)
Well I've been holding on tonight

[Chorus]
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight

What the hell? this song doesn't say shit! it might be good music (never heard it), but how is such nonsense listenable?

Now, the comparison with France.
When i came back from US 2 years ago, i was struck by the difference of lyrics you hear on radio. Sure you hear some Usher and such, but you hear so many more songs written by people that REALLY have a message to get through, that actually have something interesting to say, or that have a point to make, compared to the US.

Example: this song, by Sensimila (very nice group name as well :grin:

)number 1 on the radio, is called "all the joy in the world" (it doesn't rhyme because i'm translating it from french :smirk:

):

Since the future belongs to you
Since we don't control your destiny
and that your take-off is for tomorow,
Since everything we have to offer to you
will never suffice in this liberty to come
Since we won't always be there
like for the first step:

[Chorus]
We wish you all the joy in the world
and that someone holds their hand out to you
May the road you take avoid the bombs
May it lead you to calm gardens
We wish you all the joy in the world
for today as well as for tomorow
May your sun lighten the shadows
May it shine with love daily

A whole life is offering itself in front of you
So many dreams to live till the end
Surely lots of joy at the rendez-vous
Free to make your own choices
To chose which way you will take
and where it will lead you to
I hope you will take the time
to make the best out of every moment

See the difference? And it isn't just a coincidence that this song is number one and that i'm making this post today. There are many other songs that are very respectably ranked that have some kind of philosophical message to get through. Ask me, i'd be glad to translate another song for you!

This is not a generalisation: american songs are empty. They're blank. Transparent. Meaningless.

In france, even people that come out of Star Academy (the equivalent of America's Idol) have something constructive to say in their songs.. Constructive! that's the word! french mainstream pop culture is overall very constructive, and since culture is the image of society, then french society is a very constructive one.

Is America construcive? No, it's mainstream culture sure doesn't reflect anykind of constructive behavior. Americans are laid back in their comfortable seat trying to make everything better for themselves. Personal enrichment are key words here. This behavior hardly constructs anything positive for society, just for individuals. Everyone is mostly only concerned of their personal well being, everything else doesn't matter as much.

This is where lies the biggest difference between the two countries. A very larger percentage of french population is concerned in the advancement of society. Many more people here are implied in social movements. Many more people here give a fuck.

All in all, i think spiritual awareness is higher in france. There are lots of dumbasses here for sure, but not as much as in the US :shocked:

.

I got a bit carried on there, sorry. I could go on though, i could give many more examples, like movies, subjects of discussion, attitudes and behaviors, education, politics, but i'm gonna stop my ranting now.

peace

PS: i'm sorry for any over-generalisations, they were accidental and weren't "truely honestly" ( :wink:

) typed , this is just an observation coming from the heart, take it as it is.

Edit: the original title wasn't quite appealing...

Edited by exclusive58 (02/22/05 02:25 PM)

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