OK This is a long one. So, I was a exchange student to France in 1983 and it was a wonderful experience (almost dream like)…
For starters, I was coming out (gay) and my french friends were supportive. My french host brothers were OK but their mother wasn’t. I eventually switched families and got a super cool family afterwards. With my straight friends, we’d go to “Le Pourquoi” and afterwards I’d go to “boots” which was a gay bar owned by Gilles. The irony is that everyone was so into English music that it was difficult for me to listen to French music. At Boots, they’d only let in men and Gilles thought I was adorable. He called me ” le Petit Americain” and the DJ would ask me to sing “Precious Little Diamond” as it played. I didn’t drink alcohol so they gave me free drinks. At the end of the night, Gilles was always drunk and crying because some guy broke his heart. I would console him. I met this guy name Piou (nickname) who took me to meet the punk rock band “leda Atomica”, his best friend was in the band. The were famous for Leda Atomica – Docteur Jekyll Et Mister Hyde. (i can’t find a youtube link to that song) Once the lead singer for Leda Atomica gave me a ride to school on his motorcycle and I instantly because the most popular kid in school because of it. Piou had the biggest crush on me. He took me everywhere. FUNNY STORY – (remember I was 16) and it was the first time I saw an uncut penis and I told him that my penis had not grown into that yet (extra skin) – I remember the confused look on his face. I now laugh at my stupidity. Anyway, here were the French songs that I loved. Tell me if you remember them or which ones did you like. Also share your own from that era, I’d love to see if I remember them….My absolute French song that I still listen to and dance to this day!!!

1) Lio & Jacky Tétéou!!!

these I listen to….
2) Lizzy Mercier-Descloux – Mais où sont passées les gazelles ?

3) Serge Gainsbourg – Love on the Beat – 1 Love on the beat

4) Axel Bauer – Cargo

Honourable mentions ( I didn’t particularly like this song but it played a lot)

5) Daniel Balavoine : Dieu que c’est beau

4 comments

  1. >FUNNY STORY – (remember I was 16) and it was the first time I saw an uncut penis and I told him that my penis had not grown into that yet (extra skin) – I remember the confused look on his face. I now laugh at my stupidity

    Omfg thanks for the laugh. Glad you have such a kind and impactful memory of your time in France, and thanks for sharing it 🙂

  2. Cool story, bro. I mean it in a good way. That’s an interesting testimony of life in Marseille in the 80s.

    I was born in the mid 70s and remember every single song you linked here. Me and the wife recalled Axel Bauer just yesterday.

    However I’m afraid that Leda Atomica is an obscure local band, and searching it might prove difficult because of Dali’s painting.

  4. What great stories! Also had one of my first kisses with someone of the same sex in France. It’s a great way to learn French and the culture. I was there when I was 20 and I will never forgot. So magical!

Leave a Reply