Still light. This is what 10pm looks like in Paris as summer arrives. ©Lisa Anselmo
It’s Music Monday! (See bottom of post.) And it’s the first of June. Already. You’re not the only one surprised by this. “Is tomorrow a holiday?” a friend asked me today, while we were touring around the Gambetta neighborhood in the 20th arrondissement. I told him I didn’t know all the French bank holidays. There are so many.
He was pretty sure it was a day off. “It’s the first of May, right? May Day? That’s a holiday, no?”
I had to break the news that Monday was the first of June. “May is over, sweetie.”
His eyes popped. “Are you joking? You’re joking. It’s June?” He asked again if I was joking. “Serious? It’s the lost year!”
I do want the virus to hurry up and go away but at the same time, I don’t want these beautiful warm days—or my life—to go by so quickly. One thing lockdown taught me was to savor these simple moments. At least the days are long in May and June here in Paris where we are situated farther north than my other home, New York. Here in the summer, sunlight angles into my apartment until nearly 9:30 p.m. and the sky stays light until 11 p.m. The photo at the top of the page was taken at 10:15 at night.
All that’s missing is a café terrace to sit on during these long, languid day, but as of tomorrow, June 2, cafés in Paris will be able to open their terraces (only). I plan to spend the day taking photos of some of my favorite places to share with you. And if the terraces aren’t too crowded, I might sit on one and have a glass of rosé. We’ll see.
Music Monday is here!
In the meantime, I’m offering another favorite song, this one by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, written for the 1966 film of the same name. The version for the U.K. release of the film was recorded by Cilla Black, but do you know who sang it for the U.S. release? (Hint: it’s one of my all-time favorite singers.) Tell me your best guess in the comment section below. No cheating.
Alfie, by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Vocals and arrangement by Lisa Anselmo
Listen to all the Music Monday offerings here.
_________________________
Get caught up on my diary, here.
Subscribe to my series on Youtube, My (Part-Time) Paris Life, produced by Nomadic Frames.
Follow me on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
_________________________
Runs in the family
My brother Richard is also a writer like me, and a music connoisseur like Dad. And like Dad, he’s also DJ. You can catch his radio show, The Anselmo Experience, on WolfRockRadio.com at 8 a.m. EST weekday mornings!
_________________________
On the bookshelf
Audiobook recorded by the author. 4.5 stars on Amazon. Click book to buy.
My (Parttime) Paris Life 
Barbra!!!
Nope not Babs.
Your singing of the song brought back ‘bittersweet’ memories. I believe Dionne Warwick sang the song for the US release of the movie.
Nope. Not Dionne. But she did release the single, and was Burt Bacharach’s choice for the film. But was not chosen.
Dionne Warwick !!!
Nope.
Oh Lisa, I’m sorry but I just don’t like this version at all. It sounds as if she’s struggling to reach the notes.
Are you talking about Cher? Or Cilla? Hopefully not me. LOL
Cher! I always struggle with her singing anything.
Well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. LOL.
Dusty Springfield
Nope. But love her.
Cher
Cher!! She’s still going strong.
What do you use for your backing tracks? They are great.
Congrats, Christine! It was indeed the one and only Cher who was about 20 when she recorded it and just starting to do some solo work. Your correct response came in first, followed by J. Morales (Janine is that you?), and Debbie in that order. Pamela finally landed it on it, too. Cher’s version is stunning in its simplicity. We forget how talented she is now that her fame has eclipsed her own voice.
I worked almost 40 years in the record biz, so I know a little music trivia. Mostly arcane stuff like this. Nowadays I just follow Cher on twitter. LOL
I can’t read her tweets. The all caps thing is crazy. Congrats again!
Beautiful rendition of that song. Full disclosure: my grandparents were musical and we always watched old movies together so I think it was, Cher?
I’m trying to focus on what I’m doing and only posting one comment this time 😉 I’m afraid I have absolutely no idea although I suspect it was someone with an amazing voice like Ella Fitzgerald. In the meantime do please take photos of terraces and if you have the time to go to other, young, neighbourhoods again, like the tenth and the 20th and take photos there, that would be wonderful as well!
I’m just next to the 20th. I’m also in a “young neighborhood” here in the 11th. So that’s what you’re gonna get. 😉 As for the singer, think YOUNG pop star, 1966. Female.
Dionne Warwick. But Bacharach wrote a number of songs just for her.
Not Dionne. He wanted Dionne but the studio said no. They wanted a young pop star. Cilla Black got the gig in the UK. But who would be a hot, new young female American singer from 1966? Can you guess?
Was it Cher?
You got it.
I cheated so I know and was very surprised at the answer.
You’re very honest. 😉
My first reaction was Barbra which we know is wrong. Correct answer is one of my all time favs also. Have had the privilege of meeting her in person. Very gracious!
nice!
Doris Day?
Alfie was a young, Carnaby Street-type, film. Young pop stars were called for. The correct answer was Cher!
Pingback: Life After Lockdown: Nous Sommes en Terrasse (Once Again) | My (Parttime) Paris Life·