Roses of Picardy :: SteynOnline

Audio Recording

For this week of Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, Mark presents a special audio edition of the SteynOnline Song of the Week dedicated to his favorite song of the First World War and concluding with an epic live performance of "Roses Of Picardy" by Mark and Monique Fauteux, in which Mark sings in French for the first time since the 2009 Mark Steyn Christmas Show. Monique has sung with everyone from Quebec's legendary progressive rock band Harmonium to the great Charles Trenet, so duetting with Mark is quite a comedown for her but she's being awfully sporting about it.

Along the way, he'll also nod to other songs of the Great War and tell the story of Fred Weatherly's other enduring hit, "Danny Boy" - and we'll hear "Picardy" in various styles from English barrack-room ballad to Vegas swinger, hot jazz to pop synth, and recordings by Jo Stafford, Perry Como, the Platters, Yves Montand, and Harry Connick Jr. But the climax of this special podcast is Mark and Monique's summation of the song's almost century-old history, in English and in French, in four-four and three-quarter time, with spare guitar accompaniment and with the full orchestra conducted by Kevin Amos. It's the most ambitious live performance we've yet attempted on our Song of the Week podcasts and we hope you enjoy it. To listen, click above.

This audio edition includes material from Mark's essay on "Roses Of Picardy" in his book A Song For The Season.