They say that everyone loves a parade. However, I'm hard pressed to find anyone to agree with this. Although we had friends over to watch, we all agreed that the only reason we were watching was because of our prime viewing spot on the balcony. It was pretty podunk all in all, a few marching bands, a couple of floats and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of flags. Don't believe me? Check this.
In fact the most impressive part was the clean up crew following the end of the parade. A fleet of street sweepers, sidewalk vacuums, dumptrucks and the like scoured the street. Once the parade finished, we spent the rest of the afternoon yakking on the patio, drinking beer and finally pizza. Quite delightful all in all. I took several videos. But this one sums up the podunkness and also shows you some traditional Quebecer music. (I always think it's kind of a bluegrass/folk style. Almost country.)
22 comments:
I love the music!
Hmmm, is this is gay pride parade in some small town in the kentucky?
Hey, i must be really sweet to have a view of things like this from your own house AND to have a Subway right across the street. :)
HUGS...
I agree - parades are boring. Even the nudity-filled Pride Parades are unworthy.
I have to say, I've never loved a parade. Mostly I hate them for closing off the streets and playing that damn marching band music.
I have not been to a parade in years! I really do not quite understand the concept.
Speaking of concepts, however, i found the concept of the marching fleur-de-lis (sp?) interesting.
Your comments that it was all rather "podunk" was also interesting. I would think that Montreal, being a fairly large city and a major center of the French Canadian culture, would put on a more sophisticated parade.
My little town has a big 4th of July parade every year. It is mostly High School bands and Masonic Shriners. Teh Shriners are on scooters or tiny cars and they drive up and down the street sometimes running over the legs of unsuspecting toddlers. The last time I attended there was a float with a water cannon. Yes, they sprayed the crowd. Most of the floats throw candy but this one surprised us all by drowning the onlookers. Children screaming and well dressed older ladies cursing...It wasn't pretty. I'll never go back.
Most parades are more fun in theory than in practice. The one exception is the Mummer's Parade in Philadelphia. Those people put in some really exceptional displays. Even so, after the fifth or sixth one, you just get tired of standing and watching.
That's a little bit 'billy! The music, not the fact that you sat on your roof and watched. That's not 'billy at all! :)
hahhahahahah! Oh I'm so funny in the morning!
They say that everyone loves a parade.
I think they said that before t.v. was invented.
I have to agree with you on the "podunk" nature of the parade. I have a parade go by my balcony as well every first Sunday in August -- Natal Day here in Halifax -- and I sit on the balcony and watch it because it's there. But I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
In fact, last year I skipped out of the Pride parade, although I felt a little guilty about it since I'm partly responsible for the local Pride website. I wonder if, for me in both cases -- the St. Jean and Pride -- my disengagement is because those events have become less edgy. Pride, especially, used to be a "march," not a "parade"...
Oh my... My captcha is "pqbtm". Is your blog trying to tell me something?? :)
The music sounded Cajun. Or is that just my own lack of education. It's one of the few 'country' music types that I like... perhaps because I can't understand the lyrics.
At least Quebec has a cool flag.
I'm glad to read your comment on the music - I've always thought that Québécois music sounds rather "country-ish" - and I always think of the accent as very distinctly a "twang".
Bonus points on use of the word "podunkness" for you.
The last time I went to a parade I was hit in the chest by a high-velocity stuffed Ikea moose. Tabernac!
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Actually, it is country music. It's the folk style music that was in vogue in Brittany in the 1600's, when the French were getting in on the big migration west. In that respect, it has a lot in common with Early Appalachian music(pre-bluegrass). I love the style. It's also a bit like Zydeco, in Louisiana.
Apparently you haven't been to the Pride parade in Chicago. It's one of the most energetic and happy celebrations I've ever been to. We lived a couple doors down from where they set up and they had great dance music blasting all morning.
I was going to say the same thing about Atlanta's.
I would have agreed with you about parades last week. But on Saturday, I guess you can say my perception was changed!
i was just in montreal - treat place! my favourite part was laughing at old men sneaking out of the plethora of saunas
uh, techno country maybe.
I don't get the appeal of parades. People line up on the side of the road for them though. Weird that.
The St-Jean parade has always been pretty laughable. Skimpy is the word, really. Some trucks and cars, and, as you said, lots of flags. Oh, and plenty of "classic" 70s Quebec "rock".
Canada knows how to put on a better parade. Didn't Mr. Singh resign his post as parade organizer some years back? Or maybe he came back by popular demand. Anyway, I always found it interesting that Montreal's biggest parade, celebrating Canada, had been tirelessly staged for years by an Indian man. Says something about Canada, eh?
A Subway in the backgroup of Quebec Pride parade - how fitting!
hahahhaa ok the giant fleur-de-lis people were hilarious! How quebec. I spent a little over a month in Quebec two years ago, and I loved almost every part of my stay-- except for the music! I'm not a fan - and you're right, that's a good description. Folky bluegrass countryish or something.
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