Les Cowboys Fringants

Les Cowboys Fringants (English The Frisky Cowboys or The Dashing Cowboys) are a popular French-Canadian band and cult phenomenon from Quebec, who perform Quebecois néo-trad music (modernized Quebec folk music with a rock flavour), the band also draws on Country music. They have gained an international underground following, especially in France and Switzerland. There is even a group of French fans called Les Cousins Fringants (a take on the expression cousin that the French and Quebecois use to affectionately call each other). They hail from the Montréal suburb of Repentigny, Quebec. The entire band collaborates on the lyrics, although guitarist Jean-François Pauzé often contributes more than the others. The fundamental aspect of the band are their explosive live performances, captured on the Attache ta tuque live album and the Centre Bell 30 décembre 2003 DVD.

Les Cowboys represent an important part of modern Quebecois music. They are part of the néo-trad movement that appeared in Quebec around the turn of the 21st century, and they embody a resurgence of political songwriting (after the draught of the 1980s and parts of the 1990s, political songwriting had been a victim of Post-Referendum Syndrome). As the néo-trad movement adapts Quebec folklore into contemporary crafts, the political message of the band is a re-occurence of 1970s chansonnier activist messages of left-wing solidarity and sovereignism, although in a more distinctly modern way. They also sometimes adopt a minimalist & dadaesque style, a trend of the Quebec music scene of the 2000s - a decade of voluntary simple yet nonetheless quite intelligent and Joual lyrics, therefore subversive and akin to a sort of lyrical naïve art. (The 1970s did see the first wave of voluntary Joual art, like the songs of Robert Charlebois and Aut'chose, and the plays of Michel Tremblay, although not as willingly exaggerated. This is present even more so in the music of Les Trois Accords, Les Denis Drolet, Daniel Boucher, or in Martin Lapalme's song Carole).

The usual subject matter of the group includes: environmentalism, poverty, personal anguish and family troubles, as well as the denouncing of consumerism, corporate exploitation, state-controlled gambling, cynical government attitude and political apathy. While some of those subjects are serious in appearance, they are often treated in a light manner, sometimes even in a fun, amusing and ironic way. The band also deals with themes of Quebec history, Quebec independence, suburban life, childhood and adolescence, kitsch, relationships and sports. Their songwriting is renowned for having woven an elaborate tapestry of fictional characters with interpersonal relationships, and sometimes a number of these characters appear in more than one song. Much like their writing, the clothes of the male members of the band are quite unique, sometimes purposely normal or kitsch and something of a postmodern, second degree artistic statement. Fans have followed the trend by wearing the equally kitsch t-shirts and other official clothing, with the group logo.

The band themselves are noted fans of Passe-Partout composer Pierre F. Brault and have performed shows in his honor. They have also been influenced by French singer Renaud, and his songs with political messages and local popular language (for Renaud, the French argot).

Many of the idiosyncrasies of their music stem from Marie-Annick Lépine, a versatile musician, who makes the band line up distinct from the conventional guitar-bass-drums-singer. Her talents contribute to the vivacious sounds of instruments like the violin, mandolin and accordion. Also, She has worked on the Dumas' album Le cours des jours.

Contents

1 Members 2 Discography 3 Filmography 4 Notable songs 4.1 from Motel Capri 4.2 from Break Syndical 4.3 Unreleased 5 See also 6 External links

Members

• Karl Tremblay (vocals)
• Jean-François "J-F" Pauzé (guitar)
• Marie-Annick Lépine (violin, mandolin, accordeon, piano, banjo etc)
• Dominique "Dom" Lebeau (drums)
• Jérôme Dupras (bass guitar)

Discography

• 12 Grandes chansons
• Sur mon canapé
• Motel Capri - (April 4, 2000) - (listen (http://www.archambault.ca/store/product.asp?sku=000917588&type=1))
• Enfin Réunis (12 grandes chansons + Sur Mon Canapé) - (November 20, 2001) - (listen (http://www.archambault.ca/store/product.asp?sku=001187310&type=1))
• Break syndical - (March 5, 2002) - (listen (http://www.archambault.ca/store/product.asp?sku=001215985&type=1))
• Attache ta tuque! - (May 13, 2003; live album) - (listen (http://www.archambault.ca/store/product.asp?sku=001381975&type=1))
• La Grand Messe - (November 23, 2004) - (listen (http://www.archambault.ca/store/product.asp?sku=001619063&type=1))

Filmography

• Centre Bell 30 décembre 2003 - (April 13, 2004)

Notable songs

from Motel Capri

Su'mon Big Wheel (C'tait l'fun)

One of their ultimate naïve art-esque songs. A silly 10 second piece with the title constituting the entire lyrics (On my Big Wheel, 'twas fun!). (A Big Wheel is a childs plastic tricycle toy). (listen (http://216.113.10.98/062/333/902/0725/T0009175880101.wma))

Le Plombier

A thoroughly farcial song about a grotesque plumber sharing the name of hockey great Guy Lafleur, speaking fanatically about wrestling not being fake. The song grew out of a bet made to J-F Pauzé by signer Karl Tremblay to manage writing a song with bizarre, random expressions like Jaromir Jagr haircut, butt crack and Velveeta. And since that time, when I see the real Guy Lafleur on TV; I always have a little thought for a fat badly raised plumber! (listen (http://216.113.10.98/062/333/902/0725/T0009175880102.wma))

Québécois de souche

A complete critical comical mocking of the anglicisms of the popular language of some Quebecers, and their corny lifestyles. I am an old-stock Quebecois... My Bill 101, don't you dare touch it; It's not that I don't know how to speak well... but I'm an anglicized idiot... (listen (http://216.113.10.98/062/333/902/0725/T0009175880103.wma))

Mon Pays

Mon Pays, suivi du Reel des Aristocrates is a very amusing song which ends in a long reel and laying down the ludicrous theory that much of the Quebec independence-related defeats of the Quebec people throughout its history (the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the Patriotes Rebellion and the October Crisis) are caused by an almost endemic tradition of drunkenness. The Patriotes rebelled, the English regime will have to fall, they got out their ceintures fléchées! The Patriotes all agreed: to achieve victory, we will have to stop drinking! (listen live (http://216.113.10.98/006/402/772/1324/T0013819750112.wma))

Le Gars d'la compagnie

It's about Trois-Rivieres workers and the Quebec forest, as well as aboriginals, being exploited by American businessmen before the Quiet Revolution. This might be one of the only songs with little irony (although some lyrical passages are indeed ironic). And the guy from the company was laughing secretly; Who's the idiot that says that money doesn't grow on trees! (listen live (http://216.113.10.98/006/402/772/1324/T0013819750107.wma))

from Break Syndical

En Berne

A denunciation anthem that proved to be one of the group's biggest hits. It attacks the Quebecois political apathy of the present, (regarding the environment and Quebec independence), State gambling and the cynicism of the government regarding poverty. If this is modern Quebec, well I put my flag at half mast, and the clowns that govern us can all get bent; If you're happy with this country (Quebec), well my man that's your opinion, you must be the CEO of some company! (listen (http://216.113.10.98/006/402/772/0020/T0012159850101.wma))

Toune d'automne

A piece where the singer speaks fondly to a sister that has come back from a trip to English Canada. Singer Karl Tremblay famously likes to make a humorous political statement on stage by replacing the verse Promise me that this time, you're staying home for good by Promise me that you didn't turn into a federalist, little dammit! (listen (http://216.113.10.98/006/402/772/0020/T0012159850103.wma))

La Manifestation

It comically chronicles a public protest, led by a guy that thought he was Castro, that ends up being a major disappointment and disillusionment. (listen (http://216.113.10.98/006/402/772/0020/T0012159850105.wma))

Quand je r'garde

A romantic but upbeat song, the only one to have been sung (as main, not backing vocals) by female member Marie-Annick Lépine.

Unreleased

La Sainte paix

A song in opposition to the war. Come, let us resist, my brothers, to the stupidity of the military; in our village of Astérix, at the North of America! The village of Asterix (a French comic book character) is a common analogy made by Quebecers, Quebec being a relatively small society surrounded in an overly English speaking continent, much like the Gaul village of Astérix is surrounded by the Roman Empire. (listen live (http://216.113.10.98/006/402/772/1324/T0013819750204.wma))

See also

• Néo-trad
• Quebec sovereignism
• Politics of Quebec
• List of Quebec musicians
• Music of Quebec
• Culture of Quebec

External links

• Official site (http://www.cowboysfringants.com/) (in French)
• Official forum (http://www.cowboysfringants.com/forum) (in French)fr:Les Cowboys Fringants