As most of you know - I have a soft spot in my heart for a certain french singer. Featured in the form of a "lurid T-shirt" in the book "A Year in Provence" (a damn funny read if you ask me), this particular man brings tears to my eyes everytime I see him. Not because of his devestatingly good looks - nor for his incredible talent, rather because of the sheer ridiculousness of it all. I'm talking of course about my withered old friend Johnny Hallyday. To illustrate my point I've posted several pictures of him.....
Now, as you might be able to deduce, he is an older gentleman - his debut as a super star in france dates back to the 50's - you might equate his to a french Elvis and James Dean all rolled into one.... But the really great part is that everyone in France still loves him. He still tours, still releases albums, still rides a motorcycle and has married and had a child with Letitcia - aged 20 something - but I digress....
For some more good old Johnny fun I shall now recount a conversation I had while shopping at a flea market with my friend Edel in Valence ( in France where I used to live). Keep in mind this has been translated in english for your reading pleasure....
ME: Hey Edel, I need to find a record of Johnny's for Cam (this was meant to be a hilarious joke as Cam had just read "A Year in Provence" when he visited me at christmas that year... and we both found him to be particularly ridiculous)
EDEL: I'm sure someone here (at the flea market) has some.....
Meanwhile Edel and I find a man who has records - some priced 6 Euros like U2, Elvis, Michael Jackson etc in one box and Johnny's (sans price) in another...
ME: Excuse me sir - how much are these records (indicating to Johnny's)
MONSIEUR: 9 Euros!
ME: Pardon me?
MONSIEUR: 9 Euros Mademoiselle....
ME: Seriously? But these other ones are only 6 euros - I don't understand....
MONSIEUR: MAIS C'EST JOHNNY [But - it's Johnny] (with a famous french shrug of the shoulders......)
Aparently I had just given this man the insult of his life.......
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!! 
2 comments:
Oh Johnny... He creeps the crap out of me.
JH rocks! I heard that at his last concert, Angela Lansbury tried to throw her bra onstage, but instead she threw out her back. Fortunately, paramedics follow Johnny around everywhere he goes, so they were right there to help out. Crisis averted.
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