French Pop to the Rescue

Confession: every once in a while I break down and watch…The Hills. I know it’s really beneath me to actually do this, but it’s one of those guilty pleasures that’s right up there with US Weekly, Facebook status updates, and the Lilian Vernon catalog. What can I say? Like all humans I like a little bit of mindless entertainment that is completely out of touch with reality. And yet it’s called “reality” TV…hmmm.

I loved the Paris season opener, because honestly, how stupid can one girl actually be on camera? Pretty damn stoopid, it turns out.

Girl, you’re in Paris! Don’t even take that call from Audrina about stupid Brody and his new GF! Why would you do that? Can I remind you that you’re in Paris, working for Teen Vogue? Besides, do you really want to date anyone that has even the remotest connection to the Kardashians, much less step-relations? Look at the adorable androgy-French-rocker boy in skinny jeans right next to you! Okay, he looks like he needs a shower, but I’d lay Euros to Krispy Kremes that he’s a fantastic kisser. Witness the little jealousy bit he pulled when you talked to that other guy at the club. Allô? Le mec is waaaaay into you!

But the moment of monumental stupidity had to be the ruining of the Alberta Feretti dress. It wasn’t enough that L.C. “altered” it to go out to a smoky nightclub (and while the whole idea freaked me out, I do have to give the girl props for gumption – the whole thing was a little Diana Vreeland-meets MacGyver…thrilling in a way, n’est ce pas?) but then completely wrecked it with a hot curling iron. Yes, doll – it’s called scorching! MTV was too much here: “I can’t go to the ball without a gown!” I’m sorry, when did this show become Cinderella? This isn’t exactly a rags-to-riches story. To then cap her own monumental stupidity, Lauren nearly ruins ANOTHER Feretti gown by hiking it up to get on the back of a scooter and go sightseeing…at night…in December…in the rain. C'mon. Seriously? And poor Matthias didn’t even get a kiss goodnight. (I am in agreement with Fashion Is Spinach here: the little bow-back swing jacket in this scene is simply fantastique…J’adore.)

If there is one thing MTV is finally getting right it’s that they now give their viewers the song titles to the background music while the show is airing. This allowed me to catch up on some great French Pop which I’ve been really enjoying over the past few weeks. Everyone seems to be all over Yelle – who is featured on MTV with all this Paris nonsense, but I loved hearing from Brazilian Girls (one of my favorites) as well as MC Solaar, who was on constant rotation while I was living in Paris. If there’s anything good about a guilty pleasure its actually getting something out of it that’s of good quality; overall, these little musical gems are just that - and lots of fun to have on the Shuffle during a long run:

“Jique” – Brazilian Girls

“Un jour je serais Lara Croft” – Erika

“Le code de conne conduite” – Manresa

“La belle et le bad boy” – MC Solaar

“A Cause Des Garçons” - Yelle

Now if we could just get Lauren to do something smart for a change…

Comments

[kpriss]

Wow! You're really involved, there!I don't have the time anymore (except maybe when I'm ironing, at morning), TV's long gone from my life (oh, except the cartoons I have to explain when doing the dishes and letting the kids watch - we rationalize TV here, don't want the kids growing up in that culture), otherwise, I would have found some mindless recreation also!

So you lived in Paris ... Interessant ;). Tiens, recemment je suis completement tombee amoureuse de France Gall... Je te recommande sans moderation!