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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Parisians shattered my stereotype about them. How typically rude
When you think of France, what exactly do you think of? Pretentiousness? Croissants? Perhaps Serge Gainsbourg smoking (although not for long since a nationwide smoking ban has just been announced). For me, it's Owen Wilson walking beside La Seine. But that is perhaps a result of watching Midnight in Paris at 16 instead of going out and doing normal teenage things like getting drunk and vomiting on my friend's sofa. Maybe you think of the kind of Parisian disdain that has long been the nation's stereotype. It's a portrayal that Netflix's wildly successful Emily in Paris has leaned into, to the point where a character in the show's third season says: 'The French are just Italians in a bad mood.' On a recent trip to France and Italy, my first time visiting, I was curious to see if this claim rang true. Like many, I arrived in Paris full of assumptions: that the French would be aloof and allergic to tourists. My partner and I expected to be made fun of for our attempts to order coffee, over-reliance on tote bags and out-of-style sneakers. Instead, we got the most welcoming 'bonjour' I had ever heard. It was at a boutique store that neither me nor my partner had any financial right to be in. And yet, the 'assistante commerciale' was unbelievably gentle. She helped us find something in our budget (a key ring) and complimented my girlfriend's jacket, asking if it was vintage (it was). On the metro system, I thought that would be the moment we would finally meet the sinister Parisians who pushed and shoved … And yet, we didn't. Even when we went to the rooftop bar of the gorgeous department store Printemps, I thought about how 'touristy' my partner and I must have looked as we were taking photos of our coffee, and the Eiffel Tower. Instead, a local simply said, 'It is a beautiful view, huh?' Loading Around the corner from our hotel in the 9th Arrondissement, there was a bar run by a gentleman called Robert. I couldn't understand why he was so kind. My girlfriend whispered to me, 'Your hair is looking a lot like Paul Mescal's these days … Maybe he thinks you're him?' He took us through his bar, showing us the kitchen, offering shots, conversing throughout, as if we were not just locals, but friends (or as the French say, 'poto', a loose translation of our term 'mate'). He was being like this well before I told him that my name was also Robert, a revelation that, as you can imagine, called for even more celebration. I asked him about the stereotype of the French, the whole notion they were 'Italians in a bad mood'. Robert was not surprised by the perception, but remarked that this social flaw was actively being 'dealt with' by the younger people of the city. His view was that the old French stereotype is a result of the older, more 'conservative' generations. He said he employs many people who were not born in Paris, let alone France, and how this growth in both diversity and community has opened the potential for a kinder, more inclusive cultural shift. I found the pinnacle of this shift in the Latin Quarter. Across La Seine, the 5th Arrondissement, is home to a buffet of different cultures, all intertwined and connected. There are pizza restaurants owned by off-the-boat Italians that serve every type of pork under the Tuscan sun, right next to a Halal kebab shop. It is a fascinating area, not too dissimilar to Melbourne's Sydney Road, albeit … no offence, a little prettier.
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Parisians shattered my stereotype about them. How typically rude
When you think of France, what exactly do you think of? Pretentiousness? Croissants? Perhaps Serge Gainsbourg smoking (although not for long since a nationwide smoking ban has just been announced). For me, it's Owen Wilson walking beside La Seine. But that is perhaps a result of watching Midnight in Paris at 16 instead of going out and doing normal teenage things like getting drunk and vomiting on my friend's sofa. Maybe you think of the kind of Parisian disdain that has long been the nation's stereotype. It's a portrayal that Netflix's wildly successful Emily in Paris has leaned into, to the point where a character in the show's third season says: 'The French are just Italians in a bad mood.' On a recent trip to France and Italy, my first time visiting, I was curious to see if this claim rang true. Like many, I arrived in Paris full of assumptions: that the French would be aloof and allergic to tourists. My partner and I expected to be made fun of for our attempts to order coffee, over-reliance on tote bags and out-of-style sneakers. Instead, we got the most welcoming 'bonjour' I had ever heard. It was at a boutique store that neither me nor my partner had any financial right to be in. And yet, the 'assistante commerciale' was unbelievably gentle. She helped us find something in our budget (a key ring) and complimented my girlfriend's jacket, asking if it was vintage (it was). On the metro system, I thought that would be the moment we would finally meet the sinister Parisians who pushed and shoved … And yet, we didn't. Even when we went to the rooftop bar of the gorgeous department store Printemps, I thought about how 'touristy' my partner and I must have looked as we were taking photos of our coffee, and the Eiffel Tower. Instead, a local simply said, 'It is a beautiful view, huh?' Loading Around the corner from our hotel in the 9th Arrondissement, there was a bar run by a gentleman called Robert. I couldn't understand why he was so kind. My girlfriend whispered to me, 'Your hair is looking a lot like Paul Mescal's these days … Maybe he thinks you're him?' He took us through his bar, showing us the kitchen, offering shots, conversing throughout, as if we were not just locals, but friends (or as the French say, 'poto', a loose translation of our term 'mate'). He was being like this well before I told him that my name was also Robert, a revelation that, as you can imagine, called for even more celebration. I asked him about the stereotype of the French, the whole notion they were 'Italians in a bad mood'. Robert was not surprised by the perception, but remarked that this social flaw was actively being 'dealt with' by the younger people of the city. His view was that the old French stereotype is a result of the older, more 'conservative' generations. He said he employs many people who were not born in Paris, let alone France, and how this growth in both diversity and community has opened the potential for a kinder, more inclusive cultural shift. I found the pinnacle of this shift in the Latin Quarter. Across La Seine, the 5th Arrondissement, is home to a buffet of different cultures, all intertwined and connected. There are pizza restaurants owned by off-the-boat Italians that serve every type of pork under the Tuscan sun, right next to a Halal kebab shop. It is a fascinating area, not too dissimilar to Melbourne's Sydney Road, albeit … no offence, a little prettier.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
QUENTIN LETTS: My friends in France say their country's ban on smoking in public will be ignored with a Gallic shrug. Will we be as defiant when it happens here?
The gendarmerie may be in for a busy summer. It will soon be illegal to smoke outdoors in France, the government having ruled that 'tobacco must disappear where there are children'. The ban will apply anywhere near youngsters, from the ski slopes of La Plagne or Courchevel to the boulevards of Reims and Marseille. Defense de fumer. If you hoped to stroll down Paris's Rue de Verneuil, sucking on a Disque Bleu while striking Serge Gainsbourg poses – sultry Sixties star Serge was seldom seen sans cig – then you have only 29 full days left to do it. From July, it will be illegal to light a cigarette en plein air. Those who disobey will be fined 135 euros (£113).
Local France
5 days ago
- Local France
Explained: France's new smoking ban rules
France might have an international reputation as the 'chimney of Europe' but it has in fact had a ban on smoking in indoor public spaces since 2007. In truth, France isn't quite as smoky as its image suggests - although it does still have a higher proportion of regular smokers than the EU average. Much of the image of the French as a nation of cigarette lovers comes from the films of the French New Wave and pop culture icons like Serge Gainsbourg, who was rarely pictured without a cigarette in hand. MAP Where in France do people smoke the most In the years since the 2007 smoking ban the French government has enacted a series of measures aimed at persuading people to quit including steep hikes on the taxes charges on tobacco. However from July 1st 2025 a new law will extend the smoking ban to include some out door spaces. Here's what changes; Indoor spaces Smoking in indoor public spaces and workplaces has been illegal in France since 2007. This covers offices, shops, other workplaces, leisure spaces such as cinemas and hospitality spaces such as the indoor areas of bars, cafés and restaurants. Public transport is also a no-smoking zone. Advertisement The ban also covers some private spaces - specifically it is illegal to smoke in a car if there are children under the age of 12 inside. Private homes or other private spaces are exempt from the ban. This includes rented properties - it is very unusual for landlords to try and ban tenants from smoking (although check your contract to be sure). When it comes to tourist rentals, however, it's increasingly common to have a no-smoking policy. Outdoor spaces The July 1st change extends the ban to include some outdoor areas as well. Smoking will be banned in all spaces where children could be present, including "beaches, parks, public gardens, outside of schools, bus stops and sports venues", said the minister Catherine Vautrin. In truth, many local authorities have already enacted similar bans under the power given to them by local bylaws, but from July 1st this will be standardised across the country. What about café terraces? Café terraces occupy an in-between status when it comes to the indoor or outdoor areas - at present, smoking is allowed on terraces, and the minister has specified that they will also be excluded from the new outdoor smoking ban, despite them being a place where children could be. The terrace has been something of a smoking battleground ever since the 2007 smoking ban came in, especially in winter. In response to the ban in 2007 many café owners created sheltered or covered 'terrace' spaces so that their customers could continue to smoke without having to go outside in the winter. Although these spaces remain technically a terrace, in winter you will often see places with three walls and a roof that look remarkably like an indoor space to the uninitiated. Technically, these remain legal so long as the walls are temporary and can be removed once the good weather arrives. Advertisement Café owners have vigorously resisted any expansion of anti-smoking laws, saying it will cripple their business, and it seems that the government has listened to them. From July 1st, therefore, the smoking rules in bars, cafés and restaurants will remain the same as they are now - not allowed inside but allowed on the terrace, even if the terrace has walls and a roof. There is no particular rule around smoking in areas where food is served - if you want to be sure of a smoke-free environment, you will need to go inside. If the windows are open and the smoke from smokers outside on the terrace drifts in, then unfortunately that's just bad luck. On film One thing that often surprises visitors from the US is seeing characters in French films and TV series lighting up. There is no restriction in France on characters smoking on film, and no plans to change this. Advertisement Enforcement The new outdoor smoking ban carries the same penalty as the indoor ban - a €135 fine for lighting up in a prohibited area - but any law is only as good as its enforcement. At present the law around indoor smoking is fairly well established and, on the whole, quite well enforced. The bits that are less well enforced are those areas that could be seen as a grey area - for example, smoking in public transport hubs is not permitted, but it's very common to see people lighting up on the platform in train stations, so these could be argued to be an outdoor space. Likewise although it would be unusual to see someone lighting up in a fully indoor area such as a swimming pool, it's common and broadly tolerated for people to smoke in sports stadiums which are open to the air. Enforcement of local bylaws banning smoking in areas such as beaches has so far depended on the area and whether the local authority has the resources to police such a ban. Local laws Local authorities maintain their powers to expand a smoking ban to public spaces not mentioned in the new law if they wish to. In the summer smoking is often banned in national forests, because of the risk of wildfires - keep an eye out for signs announcing a smoking ban in a certain area. What about vaping? Somewhat confusingly, vapes or electronic cigarettes are partially covered by the old law but are not covered in the law's outdoor ban. It will therefore remain legal to vape outdoors in places such as beaches or outside schools, even after the introduction of the new law. Advertisement When it comes to indoor use, vapes have a 'half and half' status - it is prohibited on enclosed forms of public transportation, and in enclosed workspaces intended for collective use. Restaurants, cafés, shopping centres and nightclubs can legally allow vaping, although the owners can also introduce private rules prohibiting vaping. In general the rules are not well enforced, in part because of confusion around what the law actually says. In 2023 the then-prime minister Elisabeth Borne sparked a controversy over her habit of vaping in the French parliament (her workplace).
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The 10 Eurovision finalists to watch: From Swedish saunas to suggestive microphones
Grab your miniature flags and hold on tight – Eurovision 2025's finalists have been confirmed following Thursday's second semi-final. It's a fascinating line-up, encompassing comedy, pop, rafter-raising ballads and a celebration of coffee that has Italians gagging on their espressos. Ahead of Saturday's grand final in Basel, here's a run-down of 10 tunes worth looking out for. 10. La Poupée Monte le Son, Laura Thorn (Luxembourg) A creepy banger seemingly about a doll that wants to be pop star (the title translates as 'the doll turns up the volume'). The track is a tribute to Luxembourg's Serge Gainsbourg-composed 1965 Eurovision winner Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son –though the blistering techno beat would have had Gainsbourg coming out in blisters. Luxembourg used to be a Eurovision power and has five victories under its belt. Could this be the post-Barbie bopper to restore some of that faded glory? 9. What the Hell Just Happened?, Remember Monday (UK) 'What the hell just happened?' was the thought racing through the minds of Eurovision viewers last year when Olly Alexander staged his performance of Dizzy inside a mocked-up sex dungeon. Twelve months later, Hampshire trio Remember Monday are playing it straighter with a girl power anthem celebrating the joys of a messy night out and the even messier morning after. A bit of a Frankenstein monster of a tune, it probably won't win – it's slightly all over the place, sounding a bit like The Last Dinner Party if they really wanted to impress Simon Cowell, crossed with Queen rebooted as a Dolly Parton cover band. But they are full of vim, and having reached the knockout stages of The Voice in 2019, know what it's like to perform under pressure. Controversy continues to surround Israel's participation in Eurovision, but the scrutiny has not unduly detained the country's 24-year-old representative, Raphael. She has been through far worse than social media hate as a survivor of the October 2023 attacks. Raphael was among the attendees of the Nova music festival, where she hid from Hamas death squads by concealing herself under the bodies of other victims. Inspired by Celine Dion, Beyoncé, and Led Zeppelin, New Day Will Rise is an old-fashioned, hair-dryer barnstormer that blends English, French, and Hebrew lyrics and has been interpreted as a response to the trauma Raphael suffered in 2023 – a tonne weight of emotion crashing down as she reaches the line, 'Everybody cries, don't cry alone.' Benny Hill meets Richard Wagner on an innuendo-fuelled power ballad from former tango singer Erik Vikman. Ich Komme – the lyrics are German – is an ode to a healthy sex life, delivered by Vikman with the fury and enthusiasm of a thousand Valkyries. For anyone who has wondered what might happen if Aqua collaborated with Sisters of Mercy... Well, now you have your answer. The memorable staging features with Vikman astride a giant phallic microphone. 6. C'est La Vie, Claude (Netherlands) There is a rich tradition of soppy man-pop doing well at Eurovision – just look at Nemo's 2024 winner, The Code. Dutch-Congolese singer Claude satisfyingly tweaks this familiar formula. Written as an ode to his mother, C'est La Vie starts as cheesy and maudlin but soon spreads its wings into energetic Afropop. Still not a patch on the B*witched original, obviously. 5. Bara Bada Bastu, KAJ (Sweden) Sweden is on course to finally eclipse Ireland (boo!) and take first place on the leaderboard with eight Eurovision wins. But while this boisterous and bonkers song from Finnish comedy trio KAJ is among the favourites, it also has a bad case of what scientists call 'LadBaby' syndrome in that it's massively quirky and a bit annoying. That isn't to say comedy pop has never done well at Eurovision – it is part of the contest's DNA. Still, this wacky song about Finnish sauna culture (a source of bafflement to Swedes) is funny first and catchy second – and you wonder if that will be enough to get it over the line. Who knows? It might. 4. Bur man laimi, Tautumeitas (Latvia) Finally, someone taking Eurovision seriously. Amid a parade of pervy stompers and songs about Finns and their saunas, this all-female six-piece goes bananas for Bjork and frantic for Florence and the Machine with a seismic salvo of melodic power-power. Costumes straight out of folk-horror shocker Midsommar add to the vibe while the haunting crescendo suggests an unlikely fandom for early Nineties madrigal goth trio Miranda Sex Garden. Just what you want from Eurovision, in other words. The song translates as 'Bring me happiness' – a surprise sentiment considering how terrifying it is. 3. Espresso Macchiato, Tommy Cash (Estonia) Forget Israel's participation – the real controversy at Eurovision 2025 is Tommy Cash's Espresso Macchiato. Half of Italy is reportedly up in arms over its celebration of exaggerated cliches about Italy: 'I work around the clocko/That's why I'm sweating like a mafioso.' If the relentless melody and comedy-rap qualities are familiar, it is because co-writer Johannes Naukkarinen was responsible for the 2023 Finnish entry Cha Cha Cha, aka the one sung by the scary man with the glowing green hulk arms. The memorable staging features Cash fighting off a fake stage-invader. But will Eurovision voters want to shower him with douze points? 2. Volevo Essere un Duro, Lucio Corsi (Italy) What if a young David Bowie grew up in Bari rather than Bromley and was obsessed with winning Eurovision? That is the sensibility evoked by glam-pop balladeer Corsi, whose entry feels like a love letter to the Thin White Duke's Hunky Dory years. It's one of the favourites, and you do have to credit Italy for standing apart from the pack. In 2021, Måneskin won with a glam-metal bopper Zitti E Buoni: this time, they're pinning their hopes on a wistful and entirely sincere post-hippy piano anthem. It might just work. 1. Wasted Love, JJ (Austria) The key to a great Eurovision entry is to combine ludicrous ambition and absolute sincerity. That mix comes together perfectly on this slo-mo banger from former Voice UK contestant Johannes Pietsch. It starts as a graceful slab of neo-classical balladry and pivots into floor-melting techno. Talk about having your cake and also waving your cake around like a glow stick at a rave. Eurovision 2025: Full line-up and running order Norway, Kyle Alessandro – Lighter Luxembourg, Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son Estonia, Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato Israel, Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise Lithuania, Katarsis – Tavo Akys Spain, Melody – Esa Diva Ukraine, Ziferblat – Bird of Prey United Kingdom, Remember Monday – What The Hell Just Happened? Austria, JJ – Wasted Love Iceland, Væb – Róa Latvia, Tautumeitas – Bur Man Laimi Netherlands, Claude – C'est La Vie Finland, Erika Vikman – Ich Komme Italy, Lucio Corsi – Volevo Essere Un Duro Poland, Justyna Steczkowska – Gaja Germany, Abor & Tynna – Baller Greece, Klavdia – Asteromáta Armenia, Parg – Survivor Switzerland, Zoë Më – Voyage Malta, Miriana Conte – Serving Portugal, Napa– Deslocado Denmark, Sissal – Hallucination Sweden, KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu France, Louane – maman San Marino, Gabry Ponte – Tutta L'Italia
