I don’t know if it’s scientifically proven, but what this song tells us is plausible: that the merguez was brought to France by the Pied-Noirs repatriated from Algeria at the dawn of the 1960s. ‘years later, this 45 rpm by a group called El Smoule claims in any case this explanation for the arrival in Europe of this friend of barbecues.
And when Unesco decides to classify Thiéboudienne in its list of intangible heritage of humanity – we told you about it this week on France Info – it is not only the Senegalese national dish, but also an element the culinary landscape familiar to many French people, who are not necessarily of Senegalese origin.
Because you know it well, our French plates are of a joyful variegation, which is reflected in our musical landscape.
In the second episode of These songs that make the news airing this weekend, you hear excerpts from:
El Smoule, La Merguez, 1976
Blond Blond, The Merguez, 1960
Bob Azzam, Make me couscous, darling, 1960
Minou Drouet, Spaghetti, 1960
Song Plus Bifluorée, Spaghetti bolo, 2019
Koffi Olomide, Spaghetti, 1992
Marc Lavoine, This is France, 1996
The Compagnie du Beau Temps, How good it is to be at the table, 1990
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Remember: during the summer of 2019, La Playlist de Françoise Hardy was a journey through the musical baggage of an author, composer and performer considered to be the arbiter of the elegance of pop in France.
In July and August 2017, we spent Un été en Souchon, during which Alain Souchon guided us on a tasty walk through a lifetime of love for song.
All summer 2016, in the company of Vincent Delerm, we wandered around in La Playlist amoureuse de la chanson, truant exploration of popular heritage. You can also extend the delicacies of this summer column with the French song lover dictionary, co-published by Plon and franceinfo.