Category: Everyday Life

We knew too late

I feel sorry to report the death of another person we didn’t actually know.
This morning, Chris came to my room with a vacant look and said that Fred Chichin had passed away seven months ago. He was the guitarist of the French pop band Les Rita Mitsouko.
Even though we say they are our one of our favourites, we didn’t know about the news, so you could say we are not such serious fans of theirs. But we still feel sad about it. He was fifty-three years old: still not so old.

Festival Eurockéennes - Photo by P. Belossat
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I first came across the them when they appeared in Jean-Luc Godard’s film Soigne ta droite. At the time, I mostly followed British music and didn’t know about French pop music.
I had only known light French pop songs from long ago and French songs with mumbled (or whispered?) vocals, so their songs were quite strong and unique for me. Their sound gave me a cool atmosphere and energy.

In about 1995, unfortunately I was out of Japan and I heard later they had a concert in Fukuoka, which I was disappointed to miss. (Because all my friends went! Well… I could also go to some other concerts I would never have expected to see in Fukuoka. I guess that’s just the way of the world.)
I didn’t like their remix songs so I can’t say I like all of their works, but I feel like we want to listen to their latest album Variety (2007), even though the time became a little late. Before that we have to buy it first.

By the way, the name of the band reflects the musical interests of the members. ‘Rita’ refers to South American music (and the actress Rita Hayworth). ‘Mitsouko’ suggests a Japanese name, and also the word mitsu (which can mean ‘secret’); it is also the name of a perfume by Guerlain.
The other member was his partner, the singer Catherine Ringer.

Les Rita Mitsouko at the Eurockéennes of 2007 - Photo by Rama
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It’s a bit of a leap, but… recently I enjoy the weblog by Kotoshogiku, who is a young sumo wrestler from Fukuoka!
His writing and photographs are very cheerful!
(It’s only in Japanese. But we think his pictures are fun to see!)
We look forward to more of his gaburiyori at the next sumo tournament, in Nagoya!

– YS, 23 June 2008

23 June 2008