PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Stuck in France, a true story

Great, fun song, Hans, and accompanied by an entertaining video. Sorry about the wife's mishap, though! Of the 2 versions I much prefer the 1st as it has a more apt spirit.

Hans, Wow, that is quite the story.
I hope your wife is mending, doing well...
Of your 2 songs, I prefer the first. The accordion with Rock was too busy.
I enjoyed your vocal.

fj

Hi Deej, Marty, Janne and Brain,

Thanks a lot for your comments on the song(s).
To start with the finish between the rock- and the swing version, it is obvious that the swing version won.
Not only here in the forum, but also on SoundCloud. I don't know what happend but the swing version got a all time high on listeners, 1,3k
Never had this much, so maybe someone made a mistake... Or they just love that song. Who knows?
On YouTube the views were almost nothing, but there the rock-version is laying on top. So still hope for the rock lovers ;-)


Hi Deej, it was by accident I made 2 versions. I was getting bored by the swing version, hearing it over and over again, to correct the lyrics, or my singing, etc. You know how that goes.
Also Marty told me to change the end. I let us be stucked in France forever! But he complaint,kept whining about a happy ending (for us it means something different), so finally i listened to him.
Then I heard a steel guitar. Normally I don't use that instrument, but here it souded like a nice rock guitar. Liked it a lot and so that versio was born.
Try it too. Get bored and try something completely different. Who knows. At least you have the fun of it.
I only mention Marty one more time; he said he likes the swing version, but stayed polite on the Rock one...
And it seems he is right!


Hi Marty, I told Deej (above) about your influence on my taste and song. And when I saw that helicopter coming in, while I know I had forgotten to insure us for this trip, I thought bye bye savings. But that wasn't the case. They charged me nothing. We only had to rent holiday houses for about 3 weeks. And I missed my cats too. They did miss me too, I noticed.
Taking care of my wife was a lot of work, especially in the beginning. Now it's getting better. Luckily I could find time to make the songs...
Marty it was nice to lean a bit on you when this all happend. Thanks for that!



Hi Janne, thanks a lot for your good analysis of the songs! The 'oh la la' came to me when singing about that waiting for an operation. And I liked it immediatly, so I kept it.
Fun you liked it too!



Hi Brain, yes I knew you would prefer the rock version. I did too, So now they call us loosers... But we don't care, do we?
My 2 sons came to France immediatly after the accident. And while waiting for a solution, I told them what title I have for a Rock song. Never mentioned a swing version.
But now you see; 2 versions and the rock one did not win.
Ah, and my wife is getting better. Still a long time to go, but... she brought me a cup of tea on a morning!!!

Have a very lovely day today,
Hans

We enjoyed both versions - the swing version is our favorite … but then we are always happy with a swing vibe! Great vocals (love the “ooh la la”) and mix and BiaB session guys.

The videos are very creative and usage of the French scenes is excellent until … the helicopter scene says it all.
What an awful situation to deal with.

Your ability to create something positive and humorous from the accident and resulting situation is awesome. We hope she has a smooth and fast journey to her healing.

And as very frequent cyclists we hope to never be in that situation!

Great audio and videos!

J&B

What an adventure, and I’m glad to hear your wife is recovering well. Both versions are great, but the swing version feels perfect for capturing the mood of France—it’s light, fun, and has such a unique charm. The "ooh la la" is a brilliant touch!

Reading this thread and listening to your songs makes me think about how much there is to discover in France https://gowithguide.com/France Here’s hoping your next trip is smoother and even more inspiring!

Well, hey there, Birchwood. Thank you so much for the numerous insider-joke laughs. I live in France, have not much enjoyed my own and loved ones' medical moments here, and survive on Google translate. Seriously hard chuckles as I listened, and as someone has already said, the review mirror can make the worst situations quite humerous. Loved the French phrases, the break at your surprise for her, and the feel/sound of the swing chorus which, dare I say, reminds me of an old Monkees tune. I prefered the swing version, however the accordian in the rock version gave me another burst of laughter.

I prefer the Rock version. A priori the experience of French hospitals has not been very positive. The system has been deteriorating for 30 years and in summer it is worse, less staff and more activity. Congested emergencies and saturated operating theaters. The most important thing is that your wife is cured and walks again.
Laurent

Hi Firesong, Ezekiel, Ray, Andi, Wao, Floyd and J&B,

I was shocked to find that I had not responded to you in august last year. How incredibly sloppy of me. Must have been because of my care for my wife. But still...
I found out because I recently got 3 new messages and I wanted to reply to them.
Don't be too disappointed if I answer you all alone, and not individually. As an exception...

Thanks a lot for the nice words you wrote, also for my wife. She now still walks with one crutch, but she is making good progress. Just don't cycle yet.
So, both of us gain some weight now. Within some weeks that will be gone, I hope.

Hans

Hi Newbie Making Melody, BYOBand and Laurent4114,

Thank you very much for your nice replies on the two songs Stuck in France (Swing and Rock).
I am very pleased to read your reactions'. And it is nice to see the 'French' had a lot of fun with the songs.
The rock version didn't win the popularity contest. The swing did by far.


Hi MM (hope to get your name one day), but it is a nice post from you! We came a lot to France in recent years. I love Brittany (fruits de mer!). My daughter in law has an appartment in Paris, so one day we take that guide to the sewers. Very interesting!
But no more biking for some years, I think. Thanks for the link, although my wife doesn't like skulls...


Hi BYOBand, also hope to know your name one day. I had to laugh how much pleasure you had with the story and how it was brought to you in the video. I had much fun too, making it. Especially those doctors... Luckily my wife is getting better.
And I'm fond you mentioned the Monkees. I loved them when I was a child. Now I'm proud you compared my song with them. Thanks!


Hello Laurent, The housekeeper in France has the same name as you, except for the digits. To be honest, I also liked the Rock version a bit more, but we were the minority, Laurent! And to be serious, yes the nursing staff was generally very friendly. But there was a strong hierarchy in the hospital. That made them uncomfortable, and we understood that.. But, my wife is getting better every day a little more! Thank you for your post!

I am very fond this song got some attention after al that time since I released it. I like that,
Hans

Hans, I really like this! So well produced and it really put a smile on my face!

Hi Hans.

My goodness! That's quite a story and one that will pass down through the generations to come.
I'm glad your wife is on the mend.
I love both your songs.
You've come up with some amazing lyrics and equally amazing rhymes.
Whilst both versions are good, the swing version appealed to me the most.
The kind of overarching sound your created in the swing version always sits comfortably on my ears.

--Noel

Hello David and Noell,

Well, that was quite unexpected to receive your messages after such a long time!
But I'm very happy with them, let me tell you that.
My wife is (still) recovering, but it's going better by the day.
I am also happy with that, because it gave me back some more time.
And in a little while she will be completely independent in her transport again!!


Hi David, that was my biggest challenge; to get that smile on your face because of a song of mine. Thanks for doing that!


Hi Noell,
You know, the worst part was we forgot to take out travel insurance. And then that helicoppter came...
I thought I was broke by the end of this adventure, but luckily this wasn't the case. Our health insurance covered it all.
Of course not the extra's for housing etc. So I could pour in some humor in the video and the song.
And about the two versions. I hadn't planned to make two versions. I tried something else instead of that swing, As a result, I liked them both.
Thank you very much for your nice compliments and concerns.

Kind regards,
Hans

Both versions are excellent Hans. The feel from the songs were very different but cool. Super vocal.