I want to share some of my music projects with you.  Most were written in English, but several were adapted in to French.  Here is one, a ballad called “Tout les Silences”, sung and adapted in to French by Barbara Nicoli.  Arrangement was by Mathias Schuber. I wrote this song in my home studio in Paris. It is just one of many Pop-Rock songs I have written over the past 20 years.

Tous les Silences ©Benjamin Kanarek (SACEM)

Adaptation/Barbara Nicoli

JE N’ARRIVE PAS À TE PARLER DE MOI

J’AI PEUR QUE TES YEUX TROUBLENT MA VOIX

ET MON CŒUR QUI BAT À CHACUN DE TES PAS

JE N’AI PLUS VRAIMENT LE CHOIX

MAIS SI JE M’INVENTE DES HISTOIRES

ET SI J’AI BIEN FINI PAR Y CROIRE

JE NAGE À CONTRE COURANT

MON CORPS IMPATIENT

DÉROUTÉE PARFOIS J’IMAGINE TOUT BAS

QUE TA PAUME FRÔLE UN PEU DE MOI

QUE TU LAISSES UN PAS ENTRE TES LÈVRES ET MOI

C’EST PEUT-ÊTRE MIEUX COMME ÇA

MAIS SI JE M’INVENTE DES HISTOIRES

ET SI J’AI BIEN FINI PAR LE CROIRE

IL Y A DES ORAGES EN MOI

QUE TU N’ENTENDS PAS

ET MÊME SI JE TOURNE LA PAGE

J’ENTENDS TOUS LES SILENCES QUE TU ME LAISSES

JE DÉRIVE ET JE PERDS TA TRACE

JE SAIS BIEN QUE TU NE M’AIMES PAS

ET CES FANTAISIES POUR ME METTRE À L’ABRI

DE L’ÉTAT QUI TROUBLE MES ESPRITS

JE COMMENCE À VOIR QUAND NOS RIRES SE SÉPARENT

L’ILLUSION QUE J’AI NOURRIE

ET SI JE M’INVENTE DES HISTOIRES

C’EST QUE J’AI BIEN FINI PAR ME CROIRE

JE N’ARRÊTE PAS D’Y PENSER

J’ESSAIE D’OUBLIER

ET MÊME SI JE TOURNE LA PAGE

J’ENTENDS TOUS LES SILENCES QUE TU ME LAISSES

JE DÉRIVE ET JE PERDS TA TRACE

JE SAIS BIEN QUE TU NE M’AIMES PAS

MAIS LES TEMPS QUE MES RÊVES S’EFFACENT

N’OUBLIE PAS LES SILENCES QUE JE TE LAISSE

JE DÉRIVE JUSQU’À PERDRE LA FACE

JE SAIS BIEN QUE TU NE M’AIMES PAS

This is one of my favourite songs ever. I was and still am profoundly touched by this masterful composition. The lyrics have on occasion moved me to tears and the melody is so unique in its “Simple Complexity.”

Nik Kershaw is a profoundly prolific and prodigious song writer. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Nik got screwed over by the Press who pigeon holed him as a Pre-Teen, Teeny Bopper POP IDOL. Highly unjustified in my opinion. His melodic progressions and complex yet beautifully rendered melodies were absolutely astounding and thought provoking. I have often called him the Mozart of Pop/Rock.

Back in the late 90′s, I was working with a singer named Brian McDonald from Scotland and sent some of the songs I wrote with Brian to Nik’s manager at the time. If my memory serves me well, I think his name was Mickey. Nik was interested in producing Brian if we used one or two of Nik’s songs on the album. Unfortunately Brian’s ego got the better of him and refused. Bad move Brian. Oh… And then there was the Peter Murray, classic record label horror story that I won’t get in to here. I will perhaps in my memoirs.

Here is a rough Keyboard and Voice demo called “Temporary Carnival” sung by Brian McDonald

Here is a recent concert of his classic Hit “Wouldn’t it be Good” and the original Video…

Live Version from the Ritz

The Acoustic Version from the “Good Acoustic Tour” 2009

Live Aid Wembley Stadium

Enjoy the trip… A new single from the new album “Looking Back Ahead” Marv Kanarek Lyrics Below…

Beam Me Up Scotty

When the wind’s blowing

I can hear it say

You can be free like me

There’s another way

A man who’s searching

Dies when he stays

And even love can’t hold him

For another day

Beam me up Scotty

Cause I’ve gotta get away

I really know this side of me

There’s no time to explain

Beam me up Scotty

I’m a man who’s got a  a plan

Can you get me far from here

I need your magic hand

Like a sweet note

In a bitter song

Life’s too short

Doesn’t last too long

Hear what I’m saying

Don’t be afraid

‘cause everything works out

anyways

chorus (beam me up Scotty….)

Don’t wanna change

And I don’t give a damn

I’m still dreaming

‘cause I know I can

the game ain’t over

until it ends

and like a gambler

I gotta play my hand

chorus (beam me up Scotty….)

©Marv Kanarek 2010

Just wanted to share a couple of songs with you that I wrote originally titled “Wake Up Call” and “Silence”. They were sung and adapted in to French by Barbara Nicoli. The French title is “Just Quelque Chose” which translates in to “Just a Little Something” and “Tout les Silences” “All the Silence”

“Wake Up Call-Just Quelque Chose”

“Tous les Silences”

“Juste Quelque Chose”

Original Title “Wake up Call”

JUSTE QUELQUE CHOSE

QUI NOUS EFFACE

PARCE QUE JE N’ SUIS PLUS DE CES INSTANTS

PLUS RIEN MAINTENANT

EMPRUNTER LES RIRES

DEPUIS NOS DOUTES

PARCE QUE JE N’SUIS PLUS L’AMI SÛREMENT

C’EST DIFFÉRENT

MEME SI TU N’ES PLUS LÀ

QUAND JE NOUS VOIS

COMME SI TOI ET MOI

ÇA N’EXISTAIT PAS

MÊME SI TU N’ES PLUS LÀ

JE N’OUBLIE PAS

MÊME SI TOI ET MOI…

JUSTE QUELQUES MOTS

QUI NOUS DÉPASSENT

OUBLIER SOUVENT QUE L’ON SAVAIT,

SE JUGER MAINTENANT

ÉLOIGNÉS PAR LES HEURES

DE NOS IVRESSES

DÉCHIRER LES PAGES QUE L’ON S’INVENTE

ÉVITER LES RENCONTRES

MÊME SI TU N’ES PLUS LÀ

QUAND JE NOUS VOIS

COMME SI TOI ET MOI

ÇA N’EXISTAIT PAS

MÊME SI TU N’ES PLUS LÀ

JE N’OUBLIE PAS

MÊME SI TOI ET MOI…

MAIS JE PENSE À TOI, À TOI

ET MOI, ET MOI, ET MOI, JE N’COMPRENDS PAS

MAIS REGARDE MOI,

JE N’NOUS OUBLIE PAS

MÊME SI ON S’EN VA

JE SAIS, LES CHOSES QUI BLESSENT

ON NE MÉRITE PAS

JE SAIS QUE TU TE TAIS

JE SAIS QUE TU LE SAIS

JE SAIS QUE TU TE TAIS

JE SAIS QUE TU LE SAIS

JE SAIS QUE TU TE TAIS

MÊME SI TU N’ES PLUS LÀ QUAND JE NOUS VOIS

COMME SI TOI ET MOI

ÇA N’EXISTAIT PAS

MÊME SI TU N’ES PLUS LÀ JE N’OUBLIE PAS MÊME SI TOI ET MOI… MAIS REGARDE MOI,

JE N’NOUS OUBLIE PAS

MÊME SI ON S’EN VA

JE SAIS, LES CHOSES QUI BLESSENT (X2)

ON NE MÉRITE PAS

JE SAIS QUE TU LE SAIS

JE SAIS QUE TU TE TAIS

JE SAIS QUE TU LE SAIS

JE SAIS QUE TU TE TAIS

©Benjamin Kanarek Adaptation by Barbara Nicoli

TOUS LES SILENCES

JE N’ARRIVE PAS À TE PARLER DE MOI

J’AI PEUR QUE TES YEUX TROUBLENT MA VOIX

ET MON CŒUR QUI BAT À CHACUN DE TES PAS

JE N’AI PLUS VRAIMENT LE CHOIX

MAIS SI JE M’INVENTE DES HISTOIRES

ET SI J’AI BIEN FINI PAR Y CROIRE

JE NAGE À CONTRE COURANT

MON CORPS IMPATIENT

DÉROUTÉE PARFOIS J’IMAGINE TOUT BAS

QUE TA PAUME FRÔLE UN PEU DE MOI

QUE TU LAISSES UN PAS ENTRE TES LÈVRES ET MOI

C’EST PEUT-ÊTRE MIEUX COMME ÇA

MAIS SI JE M’INVENTE DES HISTOIRES

ET SI J’AI BIEN FINI PAR LE CROIRE

IL Y A DES ORAGES EN MOI

QUE TU N’ENTENDS PAS

ET MÊME SI JE TOURNE LA PAGE

J’ENTENDS TOUS LES SILENCES QUE TU ME LAISSES

JE DÉRIVE ET JE PERDS TA TRACE

JE SAIS BIEN QUE TU NE M’AIMES PAS

ET CES FANTAISIES POUR ME METTRE À L’ABRI

DE L’ÉTAT QUI TROUBLE MES ESPRITS

JE COMMENCE À VOIR QUAND NOS RIRES SE SÉPARENT

L’ILLUSION QUE J’AI NOURRIE

ET SI JE M’INVENTE DES HISTOIRES

C’EST QUE J’AI BIEN FINI PAR ME CROIRE

JE N’ARRÊTE PAS D’Y PENSER

J’ESSAIE D’OUBLIER

ET MÊME SI JE TOURNE LA PAGE

J’ENTENDS TOUS LES SILENCES QUE TU ME LAISSES

JE DÉRIVE ET JE PERDS TA TRACE

JE SAIS BIEN QUE TU NE M’AIMES PAS

MAIS LES TEMPS QUE MES RÊVES S’EFFACENT

N’OUBLIE PAS LES SILENCES QUE JE TE LAISSE

JE DÉRIVE JUSQU’À PERDRE LA FACE

JE SAIS BIEN QUE TU NE M’AIMES PAS

©Benjamin Kanarek Adaptation by Barbara Nicoli

My brother just sent me a link to what I consider one of the most beautiful Pop/Rock ballads ever written. It is by Peter Frampton, “Lines on My Face”, as well as “I’m in You”…

Just wanted to share it with you. This is the live version. The original version is around 4:30 minutes.

Hope you like it…Lyrics are posted below.

Ben

Lines on my head from that one thing she said
She spoke of strangers that don’t sleep two a bed
Kept on trying, buying time,not waiting on fate
I somehow got the feeling that I opened my eyes too late
I saw where you came from
Called out your name
But there’s no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don’t need that
Lines on my face,while I laugh lest I cry
Speed city dirt and gritty waving me goodbye
Now there is so many people,my family of friends
Trying so hard to make me smile untill this heartache mends
I saw where you came from
called out your name
but there’s no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don’t need that
Ice in her eyes,frozen tears would never be a surprise
You can’t erase a dream you can only wake me up
My mind is turning slower,never to accept defeat
It don’t matter where I live I still got a house to heat
I saw where you came from
called out your name
but there’s no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don’t need that

“Lines on My Face” © Peter Frampton

Another great song “I’m in You”

I don’t care where I go
When I’m with you
When I cry
You don’t laugh
‘Cause you know me

I’m in you
You’re in me
I’m in you
You’re in me
‘Cause you gave me the love
Love that I never had
Yes, you gave me the love
Love that I never had

You and I don’t pretend
We make love
I can’t feel anymore than I’m singing

I’m in you
You’re in me
I’m in you
You’re with me
‘Cause you gave me the love
Love that I never had
You gave me the love
Love that I never had

[Instrumental Interlude]

Come so far where you think of last fall
You can die but remain you and I
I’m in you
You’re in me
I’m in you
You’re with me
‘Cause you gave me the love
Love that I never had
Yes, you gave me the love
Love that I never had
You gave me the love
Love that I never had

I don’t care where I go
When I’m with you

“I’m in You” © Peter Frampton

Several years ago when living in the French countryside near Paris, I kept all of my film archives in the barn next to the house. Unfortunately most of those archives were lost.

Recently, I was pleased to find that Annie M. on the Fashion Spot forum found the published series from one of my Advertorials for Chopard and posted them there. I was totally blown. Thanks again Annie! I also realized that I didn’t have Photoshop at the time

I am pleased to be able to share them with you. They were published in L’Officiel Paris around 1986-87.

I am looking for more of my archives published from the mid 80′s to the mid 90′s. If anyone finds anything interesting, please e-mail me.

Photography by Benjamin Kanarek

Make-up by Bridget Bernhart

[svgallery name="Chopard"]

.

Veils were in the air in 1986…

by isa maïsa

As a designer I am always curious to see what sells and how it sells.  Selling is the meal ticket for all commodities even in fashion. If we do not sell then we can no longer continue to make the doughnuts, so to speak. This brings me to an observation which I am finding to be interesting as well as upsetting:

How did we come to this juncture in time where the public judges the quality of the product solely on the notoriety of the brand name? We have become obsessive compulsive brand addicts. It has gotten to the point where we would buy a knock-off just to say that we have a known BRAND!

Personally, if I cannot have the real thing then I do not want it. Period!

What I find fascinating is the Parisians dress basically the same as the folks in my hometown of Burlington. Iowa.  WTF!! How can this be? What happened to individuality?  How have we all become the same in appearance as chocolate chip cookies?  The Gap, H&M, Uniqlo, Blue Navy, Morgan, etc. Does this bother anyone else besides me?

I love rummaging through The Salvation Army or Emmaüs or Guerrisol or anyother thrift / secondhand store in high hopes of finding an incredible gem for myself or for my home. Vintage shoes are definitely one of the things I love to hunt for. Mega businesses began with this concept such as Martha Stewart or Restoration Hardware or Ralph Lauren. The timeless beauty you found in the vintage past, often finding luxury brandnames for a steal, was so worth the effort and time needed to dig through the pile of stuff. But more importantly I bought, and still buy, things that I love whether it has a brand name to it or not. This keeps me true to me and ecclectic in my sense of style. I am not nor do I want to become a cookie cutter when it comes to fashion. True, I live in my 501 Levi’s jeans but the rest is sooooo me that I am distinctive in my sense of style.

And then there are the likes of Kate Moss (…a gifted, brilliant Fashion Designer!), Sienna Miller & Madonna… If you wish to be part of the cookie cutter generation, you can go ahead and FOLLOW their lead.  That would be the easiest way of fitting into their mold.

We, in my opinion, are in a very unoriginal period in fashion, music and film industries. I do get excited when I see an independent musician, film director or fashion designer doing something so true and new, often on a shoe-string budget. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long once they are discovered, packaged, sold and regurgitated.

So help me understand why there is such a need of possessing Givenchy, YSL, Louis Vuitton or whatever other brand name that is HOT at this moment. Is it for the prestige? For comfort? For notoriety? For confidence? For power? For being part of a Group or a Tribe? This obsession is akin to Herd Mentality. We are the sheep following the proverbial Sheppard. I admit I am a big fan of brands when it comes to quality: Hermès works leather magically as Bugatti makes gorgeous cars and the red soles of Christian Louboutin‘s shoes leave a lasting impression. These brands understand artisanal values and represent the epitome of excellence in design , integrity and know how.

So go ahead choose your brand, but do so with discernment and with the understanding  of the real reason you are attracted to that object of desire. It could be as simple as “I just LOVE it!”

video directed by Terence Donovan

Official Addicted to Love 1986 Make-Up by Martin Pretorius

Painting & photo by Marvin Kanarek

Here is the video of the new single “My Addiction” by my bro, Marvin Kanarek.

Film Director: Tom Jantol

This is “Talk to Me” from his first solo album, “Kanarek 2forty6”

Film Director: Rick Boston

“Chaotic” from “Kanarek 2forty6”
Footage of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake courtesy of the Prelinger Archives

“You Lied to Me” from the album “Kanarek 246″

To find out more about Kanarek’s music:

What an Amazing Mind Blowing Song!

These guys are incredible writers and players…

I just wanted to say that this song from the film “Lost in Translation by Sofia Coppola”

by “Phoenix” originally from France is just SO awesome. It is one of my favorite Pop-Rock tunes in a long time… It is titled “Too Young”… Enjoy!

and check this one too “everything is everything”:

live version of “too young”