| first
record you remember
The first record I remember would probably be an Arabic record.
Because my parents were born in Tunisia and my grandparents
as well. So when I grew up they were listening a lot to this
kinda music. I can't say which record exactly. Maybe an Umm
Kalsum record or something like that, like Egyptian music
or Libanese music.
a song that reminds you of school
Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight. That was the first dance
music record I really been into. That was during a trip to
Paris with my parents. The first thing I did when I arrived
from Nice in Paris was going to a record store and get that
record. I didn't even know at that time that it was based
on "Good Times" by Chic. I was just amazed by how
these guys were rhyming with this funky tune behind.
a record you fell in love to
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - In A Sentimental Mood.
It’s a super emotional record, which could also be the
answer for the next question.
your ultimate heartbreak song
A Marvin Gaye record. Because it's full of love and full of
soul, smoothness. Probably "Let's Get It On" or
something like that...
a record that evokes the greatest summer
of your life
Snap! - The Power. It reminds me of the first party I ever
went out. When I had like my first female excitation. So to
me, this song is a really good summer party time record. The
one that reminds me of going out for the first time, not having
your parents with you. Even though it is very commercial,
I still like the production of it.
first record you bought
I was into records since I was very young and I remember being
at my grandparent's place every wednesday. They had a turntable
and they had a record collection which I always checked. And
whenever I went out with my grandparents they bought me a
record. And the very first one I remember was from Afric Simone,
a track called "Hafanana". This was this almost
kinda clichee black guy – without being pejorative –
he was like "the nice nigger" or something like
that, the funny one. And another record I remember I got at
a very early age was this guy called. Michel Delpech. I must
have been about 4 years old when I asked my grandparents to
buy me that one.
your liberation anthem
Public Enemy - Fight The Power. I wasn't so much into their
first album, I was more into their second album "It Takes
A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back". To me that was
a kind of a mind-blowing record, because it was a collage
of many different sounds, a sonic blast. And this tune is
one I still can't resist to go on the dabcefloor and go wild
to.
a song you wish you wrote yourself
Georges Brassens - Les Passantes. I actually discovered this
tune only just recently. I wasn't so much into Georges Brassens,
but a friend of mine was and introduced me to his music. The
arrangement is very simple, it's just guitar and a bass, and
the lyrics are very touching. It's about something probably
a lot of people expeirence: You walk down the street or you
are in a club and you see someone and you just imagine what
could have happend or you think it's the woman of my life
but she just crosses your way for a second and is gone.
record it took you the longest time
to find
I'm excited by so many records, I never really had this problem.
And with the internet nowadays, I always find very quickly
what I'm looking for.
song that reminds you of a friend of
yours
Any I:Cube track. Especially the early stuff he's done. Because
he was the first artist I signed for Versatile Records and
I was really stunned by his productions straight away. I remember
that he sent me a tape when I was working at the Radio station
Nova in Paris. I thought this music was very mature and it
goes in many directions. I've been very involved with his
music. Still today this music is very emotional. We build
a weird relationship throughout the time – it's not
too familiar but at the same time we share something because
we make music together and know each other for so long, which
is very special.
a record that will make you dance
There are so many. But I would say a Franck Timm record. Timm
is a producer from Berlin (and one half of Smith N Hack),
which I discovered quite early – around 1997. I always
wanted to make a record with this guy but it never happend,
cuz he's just doing music for himself. I like this mixture
of very cutting edge chopping samples and funkiness.
best concert you ever attended
Stevie Wonder in 1982. I was very young at that time. It was
one of the first concerts I've been to just for the music.
It was in a big stadium and I was very impressed by that.
And music wise it was incredible – it had all the magic
of a big concert, the lightings... Since he is blind, he couldn't
walk on stage, so everything had to move towards him. So I
remember the piano moving on two rails across the stage. That
really stunned me.
a song guaranteed to make you feel
depressed
Mal Waldron - All Alone. But for me there's something very
deep in sadness that I like. So this song doesn't make me
feel just sad. It makes me feel very introspective. I discovered
this track when I was coming out of a party. I think I was
very drunk and got in my car, turned on the radio and there
was this tune. It's a very sad song... Usually Mal Waldron
is not too much my kinda jazz, but this track is very special.
perfect song for jogging
I bought an mp3-player for my running. I think it's a very
good moment to listen to new stuff. I used to always joke
around with my friend Ivan Smagghe, who has more of a New
Wave background opposed to me coming from black music, about
his strange taste in music. But recently he played me this
amazing podcast program called "Minimal Electronics"
by DJ Veronica. It's a pure New Wave show. And I only got
into New Wave like six months ago... But now I'm filling up
my mp3-player only with New Wave tracks for when I'm going
jogging. Lots of French and Belgium stuff, for instance: Deux
- Paris Orly.
best Serge Gainsbourg Song
The whole "Ballad of Melody Nelson" album. But I
have to say I like almost everything he as done until "Love
On The Beat", which is still okay. I mean now it's okay.
And actually I:Cube made a track out of a sample of "Lemon
Incest", which is very cool. To me, Gainsbourg was extremely
innovative in his productions, he was so aware of what was
going on and was always so on point.
the perfect anthem for Paris
Jacques Dutronc - Paris S'eveille. It reflects Paris like
it used to be, some kinda "Lost Paris". Respect
due to Jacques Lanzmann who recently died. A great songwriter.
the song to be played at your funeral
I wouldn't like to have a song played at my funeral. I would
like to have my friends have a party after my funeral. But
during my funeral I'd like to have a Jewish prayer, a Kaddich,
read by my son above my grave. |