Playlist: Songs of 2011

The end of the year often rhymes with best-of, highlights or ceremonies and awards. I thus concocted you a playlist collecting my favorites 2011 songs:

Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks: Discovery of the spring, the band now explodes everywhere, second concert dates have been added in London and Paris for next year. They are the Two Door Cinema Club version 2011, a very nice band that has lots of energy live.

Miles Kane - Come Closer: The singer of the Last Shadow Puppets delivered us a cool debut album where Come Closer can be found, totally addictive from the first listening!

The Strokes - Machu Picchu: Song a bit arty, Machu Picchu is one of the symbols of Angles, the last album of The Strokes.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - If I Had A Gun: Noel Gallagher's album was well expected and with If I Had A Gun it was worth the waiting, sublime.

Friendly Fires - Blue Cassette: Discoverey of the Reading Festival for me, Friendly Fires on stage it's a lot of enjoyment and Blue Cassette does it well!

Coldplay - Every Teardrop is A Waterfall: I could have chosen to pick Paradise but I preferred to choose this song because it marks the return of Coldplay with a new album, Mylo Xyloto. Through the video of the song we then realize the new orientation that the band took.

Beady Eye - The Roller: Just like Noel Gallager High Flying Birds's album, Beady Eye's one was also expected this year. The Roller is a very good first single.

The Vaccines - Norgaard: Discovery from the UK where the The Vaccines are from, Norgaard is a fast song (1min39) but effective because the rhythm stays in head easily. 

Metronomy - The Bay: Without any doubt one of the songs of the summer with The Look. Listening to it put a smile upon your face !

The Horrors - Still Life: I'm happy to be transported by this song from The Horrors, which invites you to travel in your mind.

Kasabian - Re-wired: To me, one of the best songs of Velociraptor! It is also the band's new single in the UK so it shouldn't be long before it arrives on the French radios for mydelight!

Pulp - Disco 2000: Well this song did not come out this year, but 2011 marked Pulp's comebak on stage as they've done some festivals this summer. I've seen them at Reading Festival and although I did not know their entire discography, I felt the enthusiasm of the British people towards to them!

Ben Howard - The Wolves: Not well known in France, I discovered him when I lived in London and his debut album, Every Kingdom is worth listening to!

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy: Chip this year with the release of their new album El Camino. I fell in love at the first listening.

Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'cause I've Moved Your Chair: 2011 was also marked by the come back of the band in front of the music stage. With this song we found them where we had left them.

Adele - Someone Like You: Impossible to miss the phenomenon Adele. I must admit that I loved her album 21 when it has been released, but I listen to it less now, the media made me lose the taste.

The Playlist is not exhaustive, please write your 2011 songs in the comments!

Emeli Sandé + Coldplay @ Paris Bercy (14/12/11)

Last night Coldplay lighted up Bercy! The December cold didn't discourage fans of the band who did not hesitate to invest Bercy early. When the doors finally opened, the queue stretched easily over 500 or 600m. I must say that the concert was one of the most expected of this end of year. It was sold out since the day the tickets went on sale. Many people didn't manage to get their precious tickets!

Each spectator was given a Xyloband at the entrance, colored Coldplay wristband. I bet those who did not know stayed baffled!

Emeli Sandé

Emelie Sandé, rising singer from the other side of the sea had the difficult task to open for Coldplay. The audience was a little bit shy at first sight then it started to ease, helped by sympathy of Emelie. She even managed to put the crowd sing along on Heaven, her first single in the UK. She has been rather talkative by giving us anecdotes and taking care to introduce each of her musicians and one of her songs written with Alicia Keys, Hope. It was a discovery for me and I must say that I liked her, so I'll wait for her album to be released in January.

During the installation of Coldplay's scene, some miscellaneous music was broadcasted when suddenly there was 99 Problems by Jay-Z. Coldplay fans know that this is the sign of the imminent arrival of the band on stage. And indeed, few minutes later the lights went out, and Back to the Future Theme began.

When Hurts Like Heaven's first notes began, something extraordinary occurred. Xylobands all ignited at the same time and WOW!!! It was magic to turn around and to see the whole Bercy irradiated by small points stirring. I think I'm gonna keep an immortal memory of this moment. The concert thus started in a hard way but it was without counting the chain with Yellow and the famous balloons that made the happiness of the mosh pit throughout the song! A big jubilation seized the public with In My Place, especially since butterflies and colored symbols fell from the sky. It rained butterflies from everywhere, so much that from where I was, I hardly managed to distinguish Chris and Jonny on the central platform! These first three songs set fire in the venue.

By running from the right and to the left, the energy of Chris Martin was the same as during the last passage of Coldplay in Paris Bercy (September 2008). In perfect French he greeted the crowd: "Désolé pour mon français, nous sommes très heureux que vous ayez fait l'effort de venir ici, c'est un plaisir d'être ici avec vous, merci beaucoup" (meaning: "Sorry for my French, we are very happy that you made the effort to come here, it is a pleasure to be here with you, thank you very much").

To focus on the setlist, they interpreted the songs of Mylo Xyloto they played since the summer festivals. We can regret that they did not play one or two other titles of this album among UFO, Don't Let It Break Your Heart, Up With The Birds and Princess of China. Let's hope they will include these song to their stadium tour next year. The majority of their set thus consisted in titles or should I say hits, from their previous albums just like Viva La Vida or Clocks. From a point of view more personal, I was delighted to see Shiver appearing on the setlist because I did not expect it! In England they had not played it. Their show is well done and prepared but it's pleasant to see that they still allow themselves some changes in the setlist according to where they are playing.

In the middle of the gig Chris, Guy, Jonny and Will came on the central platform to interpret two acoustics titles: Up in Flames and Us Against The World where Will (the drummer) also sings. All Bercy was captivated by this little platform in the middle of the mosh pit, everbody had eyes riveted on the 4 musicians.

The general atmosphere was explosive throughout the concert, people in the seats spent the whole gig standing. The public sang as well on the former songs as on the new pieces. Special mention to Viva La Vida and Paradise whom Bercy sang at unison. They knew how to be powerful on God Put A Smile Upon Your Face and Politik with an electrified guitar sound, quite as how to provide emotions on The Scientist and the beginning of Fix You.

The wristbands lighted up again on Charlie Brown and Every Teardrop is A Waterfall and it was as impressive to see as it was at the beginning of the concert!

Visually the show was worth seeing with amazing stage effects (lights and lasers, in particular during Clocks), round screens of different sizes were suspended at the roof of the venue and of course the wristbands and butterflies. 

As you can suspect it, I had an excellent evening with Coldplay! So excellent that it went too fast! By playing around 1h30 they left with us on our hunger, we would have loved to have 15min more. They assured a high-level performance by remaining themselves, that is to say a generous band with its crowd in energy and in feelings.

The band made a liveblog in direct from the concert thus you can find magnificent photos on their website. You can also go on my Youtube chanel to see some of my videos. Here is the setlist:

Mylo Xyloto
Hurts Like Heaven
Yellow
In My Place
Major Minus
Lost!
Shiver
Violet Hill
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
The Scientist
Up in Flames
Us Against the World
Politik
Viva La Vida
Charlie Brown
Paradise

Rappel:
Clocks
Fix You
Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

After the concert I've been lucky enough to see Chris Martin at the Artists doors. He was in a car with his wife Gwyneth Paltrow, nothing forced him to come and see his fans. He could have continue his road but he chose to go out despite the cold and his tiredness, to give himself to a small photography and autographs session. He is a profoundly kind and generous person, I don't know if others musicians would have done the same.

Charlie Brown:

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ Casino de Paris (06/12/11)

Needless to say, the Casino de Paris has been sold out for ages for the visit of the eldest of the Gallagher brothers. Noel stoped by Paris in his first European tour (a second one is planned for next year with another stop in Paris at the Grand Rex on March 6th).

The opening act was ensured by an indie band originally from Brighton, The Electric Soft Parade. Although they have four albums to their credit, I had never heard of them. Tom and Alex White were alternately at the microphone while Matthew Twaits and Mathew Priest assured on bass and drums. Despite some people from Manchester, the public remained rather passive (personally, I got bored). They  finished their set with a long musical improvisation.

Let's go to the main topic, Noel Gallagher's gig itself! He opened with (It's Good) To Be Free, an Oasis song, which immediately set the tone of the evening and woke the audience up. This was followed by a mix of songs from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (the entire album was played except Stop The Clocks) and from Oasis for the happiness of all. If I Had A Gun was very well received by the public, as the first single from his album, The Death Of You And Me.

Since the 2009 event that everybody knows, Paris is special for Noel. During his visit to the Casino de Paris he stayed in the same hotel as the one he stayed when Oasis was supposed to headline Rock en Seine. Still, he said it was good to play once again in the French capital. During the concert, he was rather quiet and communicative with an ounce of arrogance. During the presentation of his bandmates the audience was applauding and he replied with "Enough, it's enough". Many spectators began screaming names of songs they wanted to hear and Noel answered them "You think it's what you want but it's not." As the spectators did not agree between each others, he kept saying "You do not know what you want, I do. That's Why I'm fucking up here and you're downthere".

In the middle of the show Noel did some acoustic songs such as Wonderwall and Supersonic. Personally, I would have liked to see Oasis's version of Supersonic but I must say that Wonderwall was quite magical to see as a first time!

The public was already familiar with the lyrics of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds such as AKA ... What a Life! or AKA ... Broken Arrow but it's on Oasis's songs that he really illustrated himself. Despite the conflictual relationship between Noel and Liam Gallagher, fans still want Oasis to come back into the music world. Thus the three songs of the encore greeted them. First there was Little By Little from the album Heathen Chemistry that put the public in a state of jubilation, and The Importance Of Being Idle. Noel then took the time to thank his audience that was asking for more but he insisted "You only want one more, you think you want 4 but you don't." He concluded the concert on the best possible way, with Don't Look Back in Anger sang out loud by the Casino de Paris's crowd which remembered Oasis's glory.

I did not get the chance to see Oasis on stage so I can't afford to make comparisons or to emit regrets. I had a great time, especially since the album Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds is one of my favorites of 2011. The concert was filmed so without doubt it will be possible to relive it soon. In the meantime you can find some videos on my Youtube channel.

The setlist:

           
(It's Good) To Be Free 
(Oasis song)
Mucky Fingers 
(Oasis song)
Everybody's on the Run 

Dream On 

If I Had a Gun... 

The Good Rebel 

The Death of You and Me 

Freaky Teeth 

Wonderwall 
(Oasis song) (Acoustic)
Supersonic 
(Oasis song) (Acoustic)
(I Wanna Live in a Dream in My) Record Machine 

AKA... What a Life! 

Talk Tonight 
(Oasis song)
Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks 

AKA... Broken Arrow 

Half The World Away 
(Oasis song)
(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach 


Encore:
Little By Little 
(Oasis song)
The Importance of Being Idle 
(Oasis song)
Don't Look Back In Anger

Transfer + Tribes + Kaiser Chiefs @ L'Olympia, Paris (29/11/11)

  Kaiser Chiefs invested the legendary venue of the Olympia last night accompanied by two opening acts: Transfer and Tribes. It was the last date of their European tour and the occasion they set fire!

   First the Californians Transfer came on stage in front of an audience more or less receptive. Being the opening act is never easy but they did a great job, they were good and managed to capture the public's attention.

Then it was Tribes' turn. They came straight from England and they had the difficult task of being the second opening act. The audience was attentive to Transfer but for Tribes it was different. I have to say that it was 8:45p.m when the boys came on stage, we realized that we had to wait again for Kaiser Chiefs gig! 

Musically it was not bad but the singer's voice was a bit too garish. I discovered that I've already knew them because when I lived in London some of their songs were played on the radio such as Saffo or When My Day Comes. But obviously French people did not know them.

It is a little more than 9:30 p.m. when Kaiser Chiefs made its entrance with Money for Nothing by Dire Straits. The first notes of Everyday I Love You Less And Less immediately made the crowd as mad as Ricky Wilson, the singer was. He did not hesitate to approach the mosh pit at the start of the show and kept more surprises in store for later.

The English from Leeds sang lots of hits, also after the concert I heard someone saying "I did not think they had as many hits, I knew almost everything". I must say that the setlist included mostly songs from their debut album Employment in the detriment of those from The Future is Medieval whose fans were involved in picking the tracklist. Ricky Wilson did not hesitate to play with his audience, whether from a general point of view or by giving personal items to specific individuals. The fans knew all the songs, so they had the choirs on The Angry Mob, Na Na Na Na Naa and Oh My God. It reigned a great atmosphere in the mosh pit, everybody was jumping in unison on almost every song!

I found the setlist a bit short (17 songs) when you know they have four albums to their credit, a show of just 1h30. But the show was worth it! To see Ricky Wilson so full of energy jumping and running around, I can understand that perhaps the show was that "short". He went for a walk on the floor near the balcony, singing and best of all, he took himself for Moïse! During Oh My God in the encore he asked the mosh pit to split into two parts, he joined us maintaining the separation, he even sat down and stretched between us. Then, after a countdown, the mosh pit closed itself, huge pogos erupted and Ricky Wislon took part of this craziness!

To be brief, an explosive concert, it's nice to see a band that gives that much on stage! Their set was one of my favorites ones of summer festivals (I saw them at Hard Rock Calling and Main Square), last night they  proved they can sold out venues by themselves providing a show as huge as they do when they headline festivals. Why not the Zenith next time?
I filmed some songs that are on Youtube, crowd movements were quite muscular so I do not guarantee a perfect picture.

La setlist:
Everyday I Love You Less and Less
Never Miss A Beat
Little Shocks
Everything Is Average Nowadays
Good Days Bad Days
Put Me On The Cover Of Your Magazine
Modern Way
Man On Mars
Ruby
The Angry Mob
Na Na Na Na Naa
Starts With Nothing
I Predict a Riot
Kinda Girl You Are
Take My Temperature

Encore:
Love's Not a Competition (But I'm Winning)
Oh My God

Lucy Rose + Bombay Bicycle Club @ La Maroquinerie (28/11/11)

Yesterday evening I went to Bombay Bicycle Club's gig at the Maroquinerie, young British band which has already three albums to his credit. Discovered at the V Festival in 2006, these little English are back this year with their new album A Different Kind of Fix released this summer.

In the privacy of the Maroquinerie, which was slowly filling up, Lucy Rose came on stage accompanied by a cellist. This is the one who laid her voice on some songs from Flaws and A Different Kind of Fix by Bombay Bicycle Club. She gave her guitar / voice compositions in  front of an attentive audience.

She was quite talkative on the fact that she was on the cover of her album with her grandmother who was not aware. She also told us that with the Bombay Bicycle Club they decided to take the road for 18h from Germany to be Paris for their day off. She was nice to see playing but I think it's better to listen to her music rather relax on a deckchair than during a concert itself.

After leaving the scene, Lucy Rose then came back with Bombay Bicycle Club for their first song Shuffle. Meanwhile, the room was now well filled since it was sold out. The atmosphere was warmer than during the opening act but the young audience was still a little on the reserve.

They interpreted titles from their three albums like Magnet, Always Like This, Rinse Me Down, Ivy and Gold or Leave It and What You Want that appear their latest album. They played just over 1h30 in front of an audience which has relaxed itself throughout the concert. At the end some were jumping on some songs (Beggars, What If, What You Want).

They were quite communicative with the crowd. Jamie MacColl (guitarist) said they had not played one of their songs for a long time and Jack Steadman (singer) said they were pretty excited about Paris. The band has been very successful in both ways: Sometimes acoustic, sometimes energetic depending on the songs.

I let you discover the setlist below. As usual you can find videos of the concert on Youtube because I filmed Shuffle and How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep.

The Subways + Kasabian @ Zénith, Paris (22/11/11)

Touring for their fourth studio album Velociraptor!, Kasabian put their suitcases at the Zenith in Paris this week for a night of madness!

The british band The Subways assured the opening act. They were in Paris to promote the release of their new album Money & Celebrity and they set fire to the Zenith with the first notes of Oh Yeah! Very dynamic, Billy and Charlotte jumped all over the place and invited the public to do the same. 

They mixed new songs like We Don't Need Money To Have A Good Time with older ones like Rock & Roll Queen, where Billy incorporated a wink to Paris adding "Paris is rock and roll" to the lyrics.

  They played a little more than 30 minutes that passed very quickly because the atmosphere was good. It was a very efficient opening act that has excited the public for Kasabian's arrival. They will come back to Paris next year and will be playing at the Alhambra.

Let's go to the essential: Kasabian concert itself. I had already been surprised when I saw them as Muse's opening act at the Stade de France and this summer at the Main Square Festival but I have to say I've been even more blown away! The concert began with Days Are Forgotten sang along by the crowd although this song is very recent, it announced the color!
Shoot the Runner was greeted by a delirious audience, whether in the mosh pit or in the standing area where everybody stood up for the occasion. The band from Leicester in the UK has chained hits (Underdog, Club Foot, LSF), more intimate songs (La Fee Verte, Kiss Goodbye) with their latest tracks (Re-wired) in a public reactive and responsive! Underdog was one of the highlights of the evening, the public sang along the "Kill me if you dare, hold my hand up in the air" parts of the lyrics.

Tom the singer did not hesitate to play with the public, from right to left on the stage, throwing his microphone to the ground, rewarding some girls with a look and welcoming those who were on the shoulders of their friends. His right arm Sergio was also communicative with the crowd! There was a great complicity between those two. Jay Mehler, the second guitarist was hilarious and happy to see such a good atmosphere in the venue.

After Pulp Fiction Theme and LSF (among others) the band left the stage. In the meantime the crowd became unleashed and when they came back for the encore everybody sang the "Aaaah aaaaaaah aah" of LSF! The atmosphere and the heat in the venue were at their peak, we were about to live a pure moment. First Switchblade Smiles with very electronic sounds, then Vlad The Impaler with the audience screaming "Get loose, get loose" and finally Fire. These three songs have ended the concert perfectly, the Zenith WAS on fire!

The band thanked the Zenith for a long time. They seemed very pleased and happy to have spent an evening with the Parisian public. It seemed that they did not realize the crowd's enthusiasm for them. Very spontaneous, Tom covered a few words of Michelle by The Beatles accapella for a final goodbye.

I spent a wonderful evening, Kasabian's gig is one of the best I've done so far. Some days ago Kasabian told the English magazine NME "We're made ​​to headline festivals," I am now firmly convinced. They evolved fast and are ready for the next level. I filmed Shoot The Runner, Fire, Michelle and their arrival with Days Are Forgotten, videos are available on the Youtube channel on the right. You can find the setlist below: