In the warm comfort of our Parisian hotel room, the day’s photos are downloading on to the laptop.  The music channel is humming tunes on French television. Then I hear a  voice, a phrase, a melody. The sounds intrigue me. I glance up at the screen.
Who is this? is often my way of berating Mr [...]

“They donned their colourful pareos and walked towards the pier at 2.30 pm. The sun shimmered over the tranquil turquoise lagoon. In the distance, thin white clouds crowned the top of Moorea’s volcanic peaks. The canoe arrived on time and took them past jagged mountains with a sharp drop to the sea. They passed [...]

The first time I heard Zouk Machine was at Club Med Moorea, when at the end of the nightly show, everybody stood up to perform the Crazy Songs, a series of steps and dance routines performed by GOs* and GMs** designed to burn off the kilojoules piled on at lavish dinners and makes everyone thirsty [...]

The first time I heard Rachid Taha sing, it was on French television in Paris. I glanced at the screen to see the artist behind the voice that resonated with energy.
Rachid Taha is a popular French-Algerian musician. Some would call him a Raï artist, a form of music that is native to Algeria with rebellious [...]

In essence, this musical post is an announcement. It combines various elements, musical styles and different themes. This time, instead of my crafting words, I’ll let the music and lyrics speak on my behalf. Like a jigsaw puzzle, each song and video clip has been chosen to recount a part of the tale. Together, they [...]

“I’ve got a zizi in my mouth” may not be the most inventive text message I have sent. But who could resist a juicy innuendo? These boys are smooth, powerful, delicious and oh-so-refreshing in the mouth.
Everything a good zizi should be.
Labelled as bonbons à sucer, they are mint-powered lollies in the shape of a zizi, [...]

The first notes of Natacha Atlas’ rendition of Mon Amie La Rose can be misleading. The slow introduction sets a tranquil mood for the melancholic song before it is transformed into an oriental tune, with belly dance drums, oriental rhythms and arabesque vocals.
Such is Natacha’s style, the Belgian born chanteuse of middle eastern background, known [...]