Few bands have left their mark on Quebec as much as Les Cowboys Fringants. On the eve of a summer series of concerts during which Quebec’s favorite quartet will reconnect with the Plains of Abraham during the Festival d’été de Québec, The newspaper thought to offer you this selection of the 25 most beautiful songs of the Cowboys. Will you agree with our number 1?
JURY
The Journal of Montreal
Raphael Gendron-Martin
Sarah-Emilie Nault
The Journal of Quebec
Cedric Belanger
25. My boyfriend Rémi
(Union break – 2002)
The lyricist Jean-François Pauzé had written this moving song about a friend who was going through a bad patch and who thought it was over… still owe fifty piasses.” Words that had probably resonated with several fans of the group. (RGM)
24. A little tour
(Motel Capri – 2000)
Simple love song that closes Motel Capri, it has a special place in the hearts of many fans of the group, me the first. In 2018, the Cowboys sang it on video for my wedding. A very nice and touching moment. I confirm to you, Karl, that I had the heater repaired. (RGM)
23. Between two taxis
(Shipping – 2008)
Before Benjamin Biolay did it in duet with Jeanne Cherhal, in 2009, with Brandt Rhapsodie, the Cowboys had already offered, a year earlier, a melancholy look at the cycle of a love relationship, from the exaltation of the first kiss to the disenchantment with the breakup, on this heartbreaking extract from the album Shipping. Since its publication, Between two taxis had reached the top of the charts. (CB)
22. The crossing (of the Atlantic in 1774)
(The Antipodes – 2019)
Jérôme Dupras says he carried out very serious research on the long journeys of our European ancestors to the New World. The result, a mixture of punk-trad with an alcoholic chorus, which nevertheless ranks among the group’s most festive songs. Come on, everyone: “Down to Quebec.” (BC)
21. Winter is coming
(Union break – 2002)
It may not be the biggest success of Union break, but this play was important to the Cowboys 20 years ago. In 2003, they called their double live album Tie your tuque!, a nod to the first line of this song. And their concerts at the time also ended with this epic song. (RGM)