Read on for a chance to win a CD set of Putumayo’s best-selling French collection, available in most Whole Foods Market Stores. Dan Storper is the CEO and founder of Putumayo World Music. UPDATE: Thanks to everyone that entered. Congratulations to our randomly chosen winner, Nicole! Though echoing the past, Putumayo proves how alive and hip classic French chanson remains in its latest release, Vintage France. Several generations of musicians continue to find inspiration in tunes that were first popularized in the early to mid-1900s and have withstood the test of time.
On Vintage France, sultry songstresses such as the iconic Juliette Gréco (singing the Belle Époque beauty “La Valse Brune”) and Madeleine Peyroux (with a cheeky renewal of Serge Gainsbourg’s “La Javanaise”) join newcomers Francesca Blanchard (“Sous le Ciel de Paris”) and Dutch jazz harmonica whiz Martijn Luttmer (“Les Parapluies de Cherbourg”). Old master Norbert Slama’s swinging “Nany,” is full of Gypsy jazz energy and retro warmth, and demonstrates the connection between Paris of the 1940s when Slama first performed, and the vibrant French music scene of today.
This harmonious collection has deep roots. From the outdoor guingette dances where the waltzing musette instrumentals of early French popular music began, to the cabarets where Édith Piaf, Maurice Chevalier and other legends entertained a country struggling with the recovery from World War II. Over the last 100 years, the French chanson tradition has undergone a process of evolution, yet retained an inimitable charm.
The musicians featured on this collection, such as Slama, have kept the tradition of rich harmonization and rhythmic nuance alive while evolving the sound for today’s listeners. This open-minded evolution is captured on the interpretations of classic songs on Vintage France.
Fans of Édith Piaf and Serge Gainsbourg, or new listeners looking for an introduction to France’s classic gems, will find exactly what they are looking for on Vintage France.
Does French music make you go ooh-la-la? Share your favorite French artist in the comments below by May 15 for a chance to win a CD set of Putumayo’s best-selling French collection, including Vintage France, French Café, Paris and French Playground.
The fine print: No purchase necessary. Promotion ends May 15, 2013, 11:59 PM CDT. Must be a legal resident of the US or Canada (except in Quebec, where it is void) age 18 or older to participate. Taxes on prize, if applicable, are the responsibility of the winner. Employees of Whole Foods Market, Inc., are not eligible. Void where prohibited.
