Keith

Les Routiers: France’s No-Nonsense Truck Stops Big Portions, Fast Hospitality, and a Slice of Working France

I wrote about the Relais Routiers recently, the network of French truck stop dining destinations around the country. It's good, quality, homestyle food at a great price. Then I talked about Smokey & the Bandit because - truckers! substack.com/history/post...

YouTube video by DALTON DALTON - Connexion

Conexion by Dalton has been in my head all day: a crossover of The Breeders' Cannonball with Dead Kennedys riffs, with somebody else I can’t place. Dalton are a French post-punk band. The video is great, but there’s cartoon dog sex - you’ve been warned. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE8h...

Finding Home Elsewhere: Between Bureaucracy, Baguettes, and the Slow Burn of Belonging Trying to settle in a place that both frustrates and fascinates, where paperwork is an endurance test and cheese can be existential.

I DO mean to be posting more on here. Meanwhile, this is one of my series of awkward personal experiences living in France and a musical interlude.

I hope some folks find it entertaining. I loved writing it. keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/finding-ho...

Thrift shopping in Brittany last week.

& as for the look, in my head, I call it "thrift store."

It's okay! You can be off topic anytime. So glad you liked it.

Any suggestions?

YouTube video by YACHT YACHT — I Thought The Future Would Be Cooler

I'm listening to Yacht's I Thought the Future Would Be Cooler (2015) - Los Angeles-based synth-pop duo mixing retro-future sounds & social commentary. It’s playful and funny, while being sadly true and yet very danceable.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ca...

The French 75: A Cocktail with a Kick From Wartime Artillery to Parisian Elegance and American Prohibition

A new piece about the French 75 cocktail today - including vintage cocktail guides and a bit of history of Paris & the US in the 1920s. I write about people that made a lot of curious choices in history, well, the last century or so.

open.substack.com/pub/keithchr...

Podcast Episode 3: Will Scheckel's Pivot Home New York to Germany to New York—Pivoting, Teaching, and Helping to Create Home for Others

I am so happy that my 3rd podcast was released today! It’s an interview with Will Scheckel, a fascinating guy who moved from the US to Germany and home again, changing careers and his entire life in the process. He's a pretty funny guy as well…

open.substack.com/pub/keithchr...

keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/french-chr...

YouTube video by Nostalgies 60'-70'-80' Jean Schultheis - Confidence pour confidence (1981)

Listening to Jean Schultheis's “Confidence pour confidence” (1981).It feels like the kind of track that couldn't happen today. Shultheis has been compared to early Billy Joel or even Elton John, but he's a bit of his own thing. Today's favorite.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8u0...

Hidden Histories of France: The Cagots Church Doors Tell a Story of France’s Untouchables

Yesterday, I wrote a piece about France's Untouchables: the Cagot, who remain largely undocumented even today, despite their 1,000 year history in the country. keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/hidden-his...

YouTube video by bchfj Dee D. Jackson - Automatic Lover (1978 Original Video)

Listening to Dee D. Jackson's "Automatic Lover," which is just a gem. Jackson had a few hits with her own sci fi disco style and utter commitment before moving on to producing. And yes, there is an original video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTFC...

Synth Guaraldi Zach Tenorio · Album · 2024 · 8 songs

listening to Synth Guaraldi, by Zach Tenorio (2024)- 12 synth interpretations of Vince Guaraldi. A bit of a fresh take on a Snoopy Christmas.

open.spotify.com/album/1Xgqka...

I've been writing a lot about disco after the US election, as both a kind of respite from the news cycle and a reminder that we have been here before.

The Disco Demolition night of 1979 was a baseball riot and "anti-disco" bonfire, with all kinds of racist and homophobic sentiments attached.

Space’s "Carry On, Turn Me On" - Space Disco & Analog Synth Perfection Didier Marouani's 1977 Track and Defined Future Sounds of Disco

I wrote about Space's "Carry On, Turn Me On" recently - I've been doing a bunch about French Disco & Space Disco. This is a beautiful song (with a slow start) by Didier Mourauni, featuring American singer Madeline Bell. keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/space-disc...

Thor Artist · 10.5K monthly listeners.

Possibly the longest review on Spotify, but a great read about Heavy Metal artist Thor. 80's metal, so-so lyrics, & utter commitment. "Muscle metal," nude waitering and Merv Griffen. Fantastic.

I'll be reading a lot more of Rivadavia's reviews in any case: open.spotify.com/artist/4DLEl...

YouTube video by Oxygene 80 Grace Jones - La Vie En Rose

Listening to Grace Jones' "La vie en rose" - it has to be my favorite version of the song. She is magnificent. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEM8...

well, hi.

French Days: Navigating Life, à la Française Between Bureaucracy, Bistros, and Baffling Conversations

Hey people,
This is my first post on Bluesky. Glad to be here.

I used to be a teacher in NYC now I write for a living.

And yes, I do have a blog! It's about France.

I try to be funny sometimes.

Right now, it’s disco, food, French wine in crisis and weird moments with French people.