1926
Words and Music by ROY TURK and LOU HANDMAN
French words by FLOANNE

Pour Un Flirt

1971
Music by ROLAND VINCENT
French Words by MICHEL DELPECH
English Words by FLOANNE

If you were a talented filmmaker and you were showing your film for the very first time at the stupendous Ziegfield Theater in NYC, this is what it would feel like. It is silent so you can think. It goes on for 15 mns, be prepared for a lot of thinking. And then listen to what your mind said.

Tip: filmmaker arrives at 6min 27sec
Who?

Here are the beautiful performers I had the pleasure to share the stage with this week-end: Patti Cohenour (Joy), Luke Eberl (Pete), Junior Case (Conductor), Black Uhuru (Jamaica), Brian Joo & Heather Park (Korea), Fabiana Passioni (Brasil), Debbie Gravitte (USA – or rather New York), Liz Callaway (Australia), Kay Tse (China), Kiril Kulish (Russia), Jon Secada (Cuba), Mark Janicello (Italy), Katie McMahon (Ireland), Camellia Abou-Odah/Liel Kolet/Siavash Shams (Middle East), Jody Watley (Africa), Hó Quynh Huong aka Hope (Vietnam). We were accompanied by three troops of beautiful dancers and a live orchestra.

The show was directed by Vincent Paterson, choreographed by Bonnie Story, conducted and arranged by Doug Katsaros. The three of them are geniuses.

The Song

Accepte Moi Ainsi
English words by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Music by Nan Schwartz
French words by Floanne
Orchestration by Doug Katsaros
Voice recording by Charlie Dos Santos

The Dress

French actress Flo Ankah, also an authentic chanteuse called Floanne, is collaborating with a team of Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Emmy winners for the new US-produced musical, Loving the Silent Tears, to be held on October 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. She will be representing the beauty of the French culture in a show that travels to 16 countries around the world. 

Loving the Silent Tears is directed by Tony nominee Vincent Paterson (Michael Jackson’s Bad and Madonna’s Blond Ambition world tours), with Emmy-winning choreographer Bonnie Story (High School Musical).

Floanne in “Edith Piaf Alive” sold out at Joe’s Pub

The red carpet premiere of the musical will also star 2-time Grammy-winning pop artist Jon Secada, Grammy-winning pop/R&B icon Jody Watley, and Broadway stars: Tony winner Debbie Gravitte, Tony winner Kiril Kulish, Emmy winner and Tony nominee Liz Callaway, and Tony nominee Patti Cohenour.

They will be joined by Grammy-winning reggae legends Black Uhuru, Arab singer Camellia Abou-Odah, Italian tenor Mark Janicello, Korean pop star Brian Joo, award-winning Israeli singer Liel Kolet, Irish soprano Katie McMahon, Korean singer Heather Park, award-winning Brazilian singer Fabiana Passoni, and Persian superstar Siavash Shams.

Also involved are Emmy-winning set designer John Iacovelli and award-winning costume designer Sharell Martin.

The first of its kind in theatre history, Loving the Silent Tears will take the audience on a cultural journey across six continents, to tell a story about humanity’s search for inner peace and happiness.

Vincent Paterson stated, “It will be a wonderful evening of theatre – beautiful costumes, great sets to look at. They’re going to hear great music. They’re going to see great dancing. There are some beautiful messages. It’s a mammoth, vast production.”

With all elements in place to make for absolutely thrilling musical theatre, the show was inspired by a poetry anthology titled Silent Tears, written years ago by world-renowned spiritual teacher, humanitarian and artist Supreme Master Ching Hai. Two-time Oscar-winning composer Al Kasha created the musical after being inspired by her poetry.

Taking a unique approach, Al Kasha (The Poseidon Adventure) and multiple other eminent composers have come together to set Supreme Master Ching Hai’s soulful verses to soaring melodies: 6-time Grammy winner and 2-time Oscar nominee Jorge Calandrelli (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Emmy winner Doug Katsaros (Footloose), 2-time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), Tony and Emmy winner Don Pippin (Oliver!), Grammy winner Nan Schwartz (Harry Potter), and Oscar and 2-time Grammy winner David Shire (Saturday Night Fever).

Jon Secada will also be debuting a song that he composed for the musical, based on Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poetry.

Composer Al Kasha stated, “All these composers who are the best in the world and all of these singers who won Grammys and Tonys from Broadway worked on this piece because they saw the spiritual nature of it. I think it will lift the audience up inspirationally, I really do.”

Born in Châbons, France, Flo Ankah is a versatile artist based in New York City. As an actress of film, stage and television, she made her Off-Broadway debut in the solo show Edith Piaf Alive at The Public Theater. She has acted with Helen Hunt and Tuc Watkins, and for esteemed directors such as Jonathan Demme. Floanne has been featured on radio’s NPR, For Your Ears Only, and French national television on France 5, M6 and TV5 Monde.

Flo expressed, “It is an honor to embody France in this ambitious performance, aiming to elevate its audience.”

With a superb cast and creative team, beautiful poetry as lyrics, and accompaniment by a 30-plus member dancing ensemble and a live orchestra, Loving the Silent Tears will be an unprecedented show of grand proportions and five-star production value.

The evening will commemorate the 19th anniversary of Supreme Master Ching Hai Day honoring the values of philanthropy and peace. Oscar-winning actor George Chakiris (“West Side Story”) will participate as guest speaker. The event’s emcees will be vegan TV host and former Miss USA Susie Castillo and vegetarian award-winning actor Corey Feldman.

A pre-show art exhibition at the venue will feature Supreme Master Ching Hai’s uplifting creative works, with free admittance for all attendees.

There will also be a celebrity red carpet.

Press credentials available. Footage of the event will be provided to members of the media upon request.

Loving the Silent Tears on October 27 will be a one-time extraordinary event that will inspire audiences of all backgrounds. So don’t miss it – and share the meaningful experience by bringing family and friends.

For more information, please visit: SilentTearsMusical.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SilentTearsMusical
Twitter: twitter.com/LoveSilentTears

Show Info:

What: Loving the Silent Tears: A New Musical

When: Saturday, October 27 (one show only)

2 PM Art Exhibit
3 PM Red Carpet
4 PM SHOW

Where: Shrine Auditorium, 665 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007

Tickets can be purchased at:  $45, $55, $75

*SilentTearsMusical.com
323.680.4826

*THE GROVE’S CONCIERGE
189 The Grove Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.900.8060

*WESTSIDE PAVILION
(near Forever 21 on 1^st level)
10800 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
626.433.3816
*Ticketmaster.com

Information: SilentTearsMusical.com

Fashion

I had way too much fun receiving your emails. So I will extend the offer and if you voted pink and weren’t able to make it, I’ll give you the CD at my next concert!

Awesome emails!

But the best was undoubtedly your emails, justifying back and pink.  Here are some of my favorites:

- Definitely Black Floanne sweetheart, definitely black.

- I always thought you looked great in black.

- Pink….it’ll be unique and brings out your eyes.

- Black darling you look marvelous in black…

Black is overrated ..wear the pink

- Green with the yellow an blue stripes (this must be in reference to the the Fais Moi Mail Johnny song)

-BECAUSE IT IS NOW FALL…..(ARRGHGH)
AND IT IS NEW YORK CABARET…..I WOULD
GO WITH THE BLACK DRESS. PIAF WOULD TOO I AM SURE.

- Please show me both dresses. Which dress are you most comfortable in?

- Hi Floanne! Its a hard choice. Depends on the intensity of pink. I tend to think more about bright colors then black.

For a sec, I thought you were actually asking me for fashion advice.

- Depends on the dress but I say Pink

- I was playing safe b/c I want to get a copy of your CD so I selected both

- Simple Black Dress

- I say PINK

- Pink say pretty black says serious. While you are certainly pretty you are a serious woman, go black.

- I didn’t see the pink so I voted for the black one.

- I voted for pink dress! As musicians we always wear black. I say spice up things a little!

Pink… Anyone can wear Black!

- Pink will be Devine on you!

- Pink baby. You are hot stuff. Wear pink.

- I would go with pink only because it’s just that the black is so played out and the pink would highlight your lovely complexion !

I prefer Black, even though my wife hates it.

- You will look stunning in either, but: black

- How can i possibly pick your dress without seeing pictures of you in each?  I might steer you wrong…

- Every girl needs a little black dress.

- PINK ,  YOU WOULD LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL

- Black for sure.

- Pink, for sure!

Sorry can’t help you with the choice of a dress.

- Black dress! You look great in black.

- If it was me, I would make pink the new black!!!
Can’t wait to see the most votes!!
if all else fails, do black with outrageous pink!!!!

- If you look super thin and have a great pink dress maybe but the salmon pink was in last summer this year was off and this year what is “in” is more the green look like a dear in the woods kind of thing so I think you can’t go wrong with black if you dont want to make a mistake.

- I’m a big fan of pink but I think it should be more of accent a black dress with a pink belt or pink flower in your hair would be awesome

A cupid head hunter

- P.S.  Black dress I think.  ;)

- I think black will be most becoming.  It’s elegant and goes well with your beautiful black hair.

- All black is too severe and all pink is too frilly.  Have you a combination, perhaps, of black or silvery-grey with a dash of pink, or pink accessories? A black sheath with a pink sash round the waist and a pink corsage and pink crystal jewellery would be fabulous on you.  Long eyelashes, too.

- If its’ a SOLID pink, that is okay.  Stick to solids.  They make you look classy.

- You would look great in either color.

Both Colors would look wonderful on you, but i have not seen you in pink, so i go for that !

- I would say pink with black accents or accessories. Like black headband with black feather.  Black belt cinching waist black shoes or heals,  and short black gloves .

- Always bet on black! Lol, but pink could be different.

A pink red dress–for love–

- Totally Black Dress.

- Do you think I could win a date with you?

- When in doubt, always wear black;)

- Wear black!

Written by Floanne and Frank Simms, 2010
Performed at Floanne’s solo show “Edith Piaf Alive”
her sold out debut show at Joe’s Pub, NYC on July 28, 2012

Song Lyric

I never learned to be lonely
I didn’t know how to be
Without a man, holding me free
Longing for romance

TOO LATE, YOU’RE TOO LATE
MY FRIEND, IT’S TRUE
WHAT IF YOU HAD JUST BEEN
A SIMPLE LOVER
IT’S ME, NOT YOU
MISS YOU, I DO
THE MEMORY OF US TOGETHER

Life is a game that’s forever
Together we hoped to be
After the storm, swe-et and warm
Something was missing

What has become of us anyway
Why don’t we see eye to eye?
Wishing we could have been so much more
And I found a way…

I put myself through the test
You couldn’t last in the nest
Got to be more, wanting to soar
I closed the door.

Music/Video Credits

Piano: Dan Furman
Upright Bass: Ray Parker
Accordion: Benjamin Ickies
Guitar: Marcel Van Dam

Footage: Richaud Valls/Simonet Productions
Edit: Ludovic Jardiné

Jerry T. from NYC Grind came to shoot and Alex Bencomo edited something fun.
I hope you like it.

French Singer New York

Edited by Ludovic Jardiné
Subtitles and sound design coming soon

Music Video

Music video filmed and directed by Charlotte Annequin.

Love Song Lyrics

Words and Music by Charles Trenet, 1942

Il revient à ma mémoire
Des souvenirs familiers
Je revois ma blouse noire
Lorsque j’étais écolier
Sur le chemin de l’école
Je chantais à pleine voix
Des romances sans paroles
Vieilles chansons d’autrefois

{Refrain:}
Douce France
Cher pays de mon enfance
Bercée de tendre insouciance
Je t’ai gardée dans mon cœur!
Mon village au clocher aux maisons sages
Où les enfants de mon âge
Ont partagé mon bonheur

Oui je t’aime
Et je te donne ce poème
Oui je t’aime
Dans la joie ou la douleur
Douce France
Cher pays de mon enfance
Bercée de tendre insouciance
Je t’ai gardée dans mon cœur

J’ai connu des paysages
Et des soleils merveilleux
Au cours de lointains voyages
Tout là-bas sous d’autres cieux
Mais combien je leur préfère
Mon ciel bleu mon horizon
Ma grande route et ma rivière
Ma prairie et ma maison.

{Refrain}
Je t’ai gardée dans mon cœur

This original song was written and performed by Floanne, for the fashion video below directed by David Dougan.

Music Video filmed in Paris

Featuring Coco Rocha and Lars Burmeister