at variance: perfervid french song and woeful poem
I’ve been hearing the term A Capella ever since I was a child. I know what it means but the etymology of the word is unknown to me until now. Found out it is Italian for “in the manner of the church”, the opposite of Cantata, which is accompanied singing.
A few months ago, a relatively new friend and correspondence from Prairieville, Louisiana, sent me a an audio track of her singing “La Vie En Rose“, the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf. It is currently in my feel-goodism playlist of tracks I listen to when trying to invoke inspiration. She sounded remarkably fluent for someone born and raised in Cebu, Philippines.
La Vie En Rose (A Cappella) – Xiomara Glindmeyer
During the late 90s, there was this Cebuano band by the name of Robotballoons. I heard they were quite popular back then, with some artistic success under their sleeve. Their singer was Xiomara, the lady singing the French classic. Before Robot Balloons, Xiomara also did vocals for a band named Xiomara and the Superheroes.
Xiomara in her lady madhatter outfit. I’m mighty pleased to find a kindred spirit.
I heard some of their old demo tracks before and I clearly remember instantly noticing a sublime confidence in the songs with dreamlike qualities. Too bad Robotballoons weren’t able to properly release an album but the songs did get regular airplay over NU107. I’ll post some of them soon. Her penning prowess adds up to her pop sensibility. I stumbled on an old poem she wrote (most probably during her younger days) over the internet:
Are You Sure You’re Love’s Salesman?
Cupid, come here boy.
Come here with those damn arrows
that spared him and gave me the fissure.I am plain, charmless, colorless and hopeless
You had to make me fall in love.
You didnt ask my permission.You softened my jagged words.
You cemented his lips with scorn.
You fed my mouth with odes and sonnets.
You made him throw up biles of nonchalance.Cupid, come down, impetuous lad.
Stand before me in my dejected state.
Bathe with my tears. Make my sighs your lullabyes.
Bring along love’s pain ridden-arrows
which brought me nothing but calories of misery.
Your ammunition made me hate.Come I said, Love’s harbinger.
I have Disdain’s dagger tucked somewhere.
One plunge to where your heart would be.It ends here Valentine Boy.
Dragonfly Collector 
One Response to “at variance: perfervid french song and woeful poem”
Awww..one of my favest song!!! have got to ask copy of that track too from Xio , funny i know her through a common bestfriend but never heard her sing soooo dreamy yet till now =)