In Irish mythology, a pot of gold is hidden at the end of rainbows by leprechauns which are mischievous little fairy creatures akin to grumpy pixies and spend their time playing nasty tricks on humans.
This legend originates from long ago, in 795 when Vikings invaded Ireland and were known for burying their loot in undisclosed locations which leprechauns found and buried again at the end of rainbows so no man could ever find it.
Of course, rainbows do not have an end since their arch shape is an illusion — they are actually full circles reflected from raindrops and seem to move farther from us as we move toward them. In most European countries though, rainbows herald fair weather after rainy days and are often linked to exhilaration, joy and happy changes of fortune.
A rainbow is also a symbol of hope, patience and renewal. All we need on this Saint Patrick Day prior to the spring equinox, long considered the true beginning of the year and also the astrological New Year's Day (as the Sun moves at zero degree Aries, the first sign of the zodiac).
The aim is to get 10 million views to force President Macron to invite me at the Élysée. I'll take this opportunity to sing him this little song expressing all OUR demands without resorting to neither arms nor violence.
Spare no effort !!! Come on, go and share massively! I'm counting on you. Also, my friends, please, do not reupload. You need to share directly from this page otherwise it won't work.
Thank you for your support. Hang in there! I love you.
Ingrid
No, Ingrid does not pay me to promote her videos — even though I thank her for following me on my spare Twitter account (the first got suspended during the great purge in January). I know I don't usually share two music videos in a row (especially of the same artist), but it is a rather urgent matter and it's for a very good reason. So even if you're not French, please, go to Ingrid's channel on YouTube and share this pastiche cover of Charles Aznavour's "Emmenez-moi" to help her reach her target.
Ey@el
Libres au réveil
– Good morning Mr. President! – Oh, you know the President? – No, but you know, it's about his challenge to YouTubers. – Yes, he did ask YouTubers to promote barrier gestures for free. – Oh! – And altogether, a cheap way to boost his popularity. – Sure, it's all about the forthcoming election. – Also given what happens to former presidents1, he'd better watch out his expenses. – So he asked youths to make a video. – For free! – Yes, but in return they will be invited at the Élysée! – Ah, so you want to go sing your song at the Élysée? You're not supposed to sing it in the street? – Yes, but it's because all the other venues have been closed. – Wait, there's a long way to go! You need to make ten million views. You need people to share, share... – Ah, it must be a lot of sharing! – So Mr. President, this song is about your barrier gestures to our freedoms which have been going on for months. If I can get ten million views as promised, I agree to come and sing this little popular ditty directly to you. Is that okay for you? And also, you don't want to miss the little extra in the end. – Here we go!
Our world today is in shock. We're in a state of chaos, Every Tuesday they report new variants Which stay out of the subway.
Knowing all these students, Alone in their campuses, Bound by the shackles Of their screens, isolated, Held hostages.
And seeing all those Crowded department stores, Whereas when you want to Go for a beer, all you get is Vaccine soup.
While our elderly, all alone, Exiled in their nursing homes, Are waiting patiently for the final blow With a shot of Rivotril.
Bring me back to the Age of Enlightment.2 Let's revive this sleeping country. And may France stand united To wake up as a free country.
Hey you, ordinary citizen, it's your fault they say If there are so many deaths. It's been months LCI2 is telling us We're in Black Mirror.3
Archaic measures Failing to decide To stop the wrecking And maiming In intensive care units.
With your so many mistakes, We end up missing All your predecessors Who were no less wrong. I'm bagging!
Stop it with all your fears and doubts When it's time to get your shot. Have you ever seen them getting off track, Urging us to go to the polls?
Bring me back to the Age of Enlightenment. Let's revive this sleeping country. And may France stand united To wake up as a free country.
Alone, in your restaurant, With tears in your eyes When they told you You were a danger To your customers.
The days of warm food festivities With soulful entertainers, And our dreamy souls Being carried away, All seem long gone.
They provided us with shackles And lost the key. “Watch TV And look at the figures!” They tell us boldly.
No more need for 49.3,4 They got Covid 19. Will we have to go and take back our rights Like we did in '89?5
Bring me back to the Age of Enlightenment. Let's revive this sleeping country. It won't be Voltaire's fault6 If we're less peaceful when we wake up.
Bring me back to the Age of Enlightenment. Let's revive this sleeping country. And may France stand united To wake up as a free country.
Bring me back to the Age of Enlightenment. Let's revive this sleeping country. And may France stand united To wake up as a free country. It won't be Voltaire's fault If we're less peaceful when we wake up.
Endnotes
^ Former French president Sarkozy has just been sentenced to three years in prison for corruption and influence peddling.
^ The Age of Enlightenment is a reference to The Lumières (the Enlighteners), a cultural, philosophical, literary and intellectual movement beginning in the second half of the 17th century, originating in France and spreading throughout Europe. It included philosophers such as Spinoza, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, Newton...
^Black Mirror is a British dystopian science fiction anthology television series.
^ With article 49.3 of the French Constitution which allows them to impose the adoption of a text by the Assembly, immediately and without a vote, the governments of the Fifth Republic are stronger than ever as it allows them to compel the majority if reluctant to adopt a text, and also to accelerate the legislative process, and in particular to end any obstruction from the opposition.
I had promised you to share more pastiches by Ingrid Courrèges, so here is another adaptation of a song by Francis Cabrel written and recorded in just 24 hours as a protest against nonsensical (criminal) measures making face masks mandatory for children as from age six which like most of us, infuriated her.
“To you, little guy stunned and out of breath in the playground. To you, parent who saw the fear and disbelief in the eyes of your child, with a knot of rage and helplessness in your belly. To you, grand-parent who refuse to serve as an excuse to wipe the smile off children's faces. To you, teacher coerced to implement these nonsensical measures” she wrote on her YouTube page, ending her dedication with a thumb down: “To you, leader who still cannot make the right decisions in the management of this crisis.”
Ever since the song was released, back in November 2020, a collective of parents organised in local communities has formed in France to address their concerns regarding the ongoing dynamics ruining our daily lives and threatening our children and our basic individual freedoms. They even made a video to expose the abuse of the implemented token system where each child is forced to a careful and thorough management of their right to breathe and go to the bathroom.
Ey@el
On voudrait leur dire
Since they're coercing us And that from age six, the rules are the same We'd like them to know It feels like a Brown Morning† Just one look At my mother distraught That a piece of fabric might suffocate me
Since they tell us we're at war And that we are school soldiers We'd like them to know We're going to the battlefield To attend the smileless classes Somewhat dazed But all united We, the reckless contingent of the little ones
Just some more additional limitations With far less joy Far less laughters Far less rights
Since all the grown-ups have fever And we can't lip-read anymore While we're learning to read Words we cannot see Access to knowledge is expiring We are left aside To the sound of shackles In the playground with less air to breathe in
They say it's to save grandma That my face is covered We'd like them to know That grandpa/grandma would rather let us breathe All these hugs we can no longer give them It's far less love, but it's for public health
Endnotes
Brown Morning is a French fable, written by Franck Pavloff in 1998. The title is a reference to the infamous Nazi militia known as "Brown Shirts". This universal shortstory is against single mindset and what Pavloff calls "small compromises".
FR
