France has not known any more bombardments since the end of the Second World War. And that is why the artists of our country, when they speak of bombers, sometimes place themselves solely from a humanist point of view, like this song from 1975 by Daniel Vangarde – Daniel Vangarde in his short career as a singer – before he becomes the lyricist and producer of the Compagnie Créole, Ottawan or the Gibson Brothers.
And, so, as French cities ravaged in World War II have been rebuilt, he recalls that war is an industry, with workers making bombs and engineers making a living designing devices of death. And talking about this industry is also talking about the paradox that it produces aircraft that we all hope will never be used – even if the bombers are a little bored in peacetime.
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In the second episode of These songs that make the news airing this weekend, you hear excerpts from:
Daniel Vangard, A bomber with his bombs1975
The joyful fuckers, The Bombers2005
Tiken Jah Fakoly, Nothing surprises me anymore2004
Vince Vance & the Valiants, Bomb Iran1980
Renaud and Axelle Red, Manhattan Kabul2002
Alpha Wan, Round2018
French, Bomb2019
Daniel Vangard, A bomber with his bombs1975
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Remember: during the summer of 2019, La Playlist de Françoise Hardy was a crossing of the musical baggage of an author, composer and performer considered as the arbiter of the elegance of pop in France.
In July and August 2017, we spent A Summer in 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 chronicle with the French song lovers dictionary, co-published by Plon and franceinfo.