St. Paul De Vence - Musical Performance | Ben Doerr | TEDxSantaCruz
Translator: Rachael Williams Reviewer: Ilze Garda When I sat down to listen to my grandfather's stories and then begin to tell them in these songs, I don't think either of us had an idea of the impact it would have on me, on him, on our relationship together. We all have some at least small part of our story that wants to be told and that we want to have preserved. He wasn't unique in that way. Nor was his story of growing up in time of war, coming of age in occupation, that, sadly, isn't unique even today. I didn't just find a way to tell these stories and save his history for the family, for him, but we stumbled on this process together, in telling this universal story in a way that was preserved and went out into the world forever. The first song we'll play is called Annecy Is On Fire, and it's about his experience of watching American planes bomb German targets within the south of France and the emotional turmoil that this part of the liberation was the destruction of his home. (Music starts) (Singing) Every day I watch the planes Bring good news in a bucket of flames What a sight when the cloud strikes The town below is dancing like a firefly Annecy is on fire Annecy is on fire Annecy is on fire It's a slow burn When they deal in shame To save your own You offer up a neighbour's name And it feels strange to want this pain Still I lift my eyes to the sky, and I pray for burning rain Annecy is on fire Annecy is on fire Annecy is on fire Annecy is on fire (Singing and music ends) (Applause) (Cheering) Thank you. (Applause) The second and last song we'll play for you is called Pink Wine, and this is a celebration of music as revolution. During the occupation of World War II, Hitler had outlawed music and dance in the south of France. You weren't allowed to play music. You weren't allowed to have dances. My grandfather and his friends and many people across the country would sneak out into a friend's barn or go to an apartment somewhere and if they had a violin, or an accordion, or both, they would sing and dance and have a party, and that was the revolution. (Singing) I was born in the dim glow of autumn light With the tune of an accordion and the taste for pink wine As a young man My legs, they learned to dance My lips at any chance Would steal a little bit of innocence My clothes, they were handsewn Some of my food was even stolen But that was how we learned to live then What did you expect, this was occupation (French) You will never have my song You will walk a long road of silence My country gives me this song I will always sing, you bastards We kept the radio low And the curtains drawn close 'Cause it could be your friend You never knew in the end what was what and for sure But we would ride our bikes to the countryside Where an old tin band put fire in the night With a tune so deep you could see in our eyes It was the way we'd chosen to fight (French) You will never have my song You will walk a long road of silence My country gives me this song I will always sing, you bastards I will always sing, you bastards (Singing and music ends) (Applause) (Cheering)