Tuesday 5 May 2015

pipe down!

Imagine Paul McCartney closing a prime time variety show with a little ditty advocating a quick smoke before bed - would it provoke a response from the Minister of Health? That is what happened here with aging French crooner Patrick Sebastien on Saturday. The show "Les Annees Bonheur" (the happy years) is one of those nostalgia fests French TV seems to like, with stars of yesteryear (Didn't know she was still alive etc) and troupes of jugglers, presented by Sebastien and with 4 million viewers obviously popular.
This week M Sebastien sang his latest recording "Une petite pipe avant d'aller dormir" (catchy title..) and some family viewers, including the Minister for the Family, Laurence Rossignol, took exception to the suggestion. There are also some rather rude meanings to this in French, which the Minister found shocking, but Sebastien defended himself, saying that the lady should go back to her dictionary, and find that the worst he could be reproached for was promoting tobacco, in a song he said was "funny". One supposes that if he had a Tom Lehrer type reputation for irony he could get away with it - but on a prime time "Sunday Night at the Palladium" show?
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