how many here are afraid of telling friends, family, and acquaintances about alizee?

[CFHollister]

Originally Posted by lowbeam

Yes, anyone who knows me knows of my Alizée adoration. I refuse to be ashamed of her. I have her picture on my dresser, I play her music, my children (they're adults) ask me if I'm still obsessed (it is obsession, but it's a good kind).

Where I work there is a large LCD screen in the lunch room. I have commandeered the input with my video IPOD and shown Alizée videos to the maintenance crew I'm a part of (all guys). First J'en Ai Marre, usually that stuns them into awed silence (maybe just some quiet moans), then a selection of my favorites. They are properly impressed but not in the same way I am. They are affected by the physical and musical beauty but when I explain that I have never been a "fan" of anyone until now they don't understand what I mean - what she means to me. They may ask why I like some French singer so much, but they don't ridicule, not after seeing her.

If I had the same venue I'd do exactly the same thing

[Jess]

Afraid? I'm fearless....... Embarrassed would probably be a better word, this is how I would describe my old friends or ex-friends. I will try to be a little more specific here... I was one of those guys that hanged out with other guys who only listened to rock, like Papa Roach, Blindside, Breaking Bejamin, The Used (you get the picture). We would spend hours working out and then showing off our so called portrayal of real tough guys, along with our tough music. Well, that all changed when I discovered Alizée. I'm not saying that the music or my friends are bad, I still like rock and I'm sure others here do also. I just don't think I was true to myself and my friends then, that was not really me. I know most guys go through this when they mature, so it could be that I'm just a late bloomer. Anyways, all this happened at the same time that I found Alizée, so I credit her for everything. I have no problem showing off my new find, but my old friends are embarrassed of me, and I'm ok by that. "I'm happy with my new me". Besides, I've made new friends and have expanded my points of view. I see things in a different light now, and all the things I detest I will almost like (DM) .............

[Aussie]

I don't really mind telling my friends about Alizèe and that I like her music. They do bag me about it but meh I know they're just screwing around so I'm happy hehe
But hey if you like something express it don't hold it in just because ya afraid someone will bag you about it.

[painbringer]

i tell no one... NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fsquared]

Originally Posted by Jess

Besides, I've made new friends and have expanded my points of view. I see things in a different light now, and all the things I detest I will almost like (DM) .............

A Depeche Mode fan, eh? Great!

[Hylas1896]

I can relate to a lot of what has been said. I have really wanted to show people out of a desire to share. But I'm afraid people will get the wrong idea. But they'd only be HALF right, hehe.

I figured I could explain my way past everything except for three things.
I could imagine hearing this:

1. Her age: "Yeah, you're right, but she is a little YOUNG, don't you think? She's not even 18 in most of these clips. 'Moi... Lolita', don't you get it?"

2. My age: "This would be cool if we were still in HIGH SCHOOL."

3. The stuff that's online: Them looking up Alizee online, and seeing all the tastelessly timed screen captures, the J'en Ai Marre outfit, and the sites which present her as an object instead of an attractive and overwhelmingly endearing young woman.

Of these, it's 3 that bothers me the most. There are quite a few people who like her only for all the wrong reasons. And some criticisms about Alizee herself are partially correct. But that isn't the point. Why trash someone just because they're only 98% perfect?

So pardon me, I'm going to enjoy!

Hylas1896

[isabella]

i thought my experience was just in the US, but i guess not. where are you from?

i'm from the netherlands

oh..and when my little brother say's he don't want to hear my music, i will put the volume up!

[Hylas1896]

Originally Posted by espire

Europe is a much more progressive region than North America. Unfortunately, there are many conservative beliefs that I still hold, so I tend to sit with them :S

Yes. In some ways. I mean, I'm a conservative drifting strongly towards liberal in a lot of ways. But I gotta love my conservative streak! Even France for example, though socialist, is very conservative in a lot of ways. (I'm not talking politics here, necessarily.) France is in so many ways more in touch with the past than the US, especially culturally. Conservatives love culture and honoring the past. And what irritates US conservatives most? French nationalism. And nationalism, as opposed to individualism, is a pretty conservative idea, regardless of what type of politics it espouses.
And no one can tell me France would turn down the chance to be a superpower! What kind of superpower, I don't know, but ...

In 20 years, with different world leaders, who knows! The US could end up more chummy with France and chilly with Britain. Certainly this has happened in the past. Don't laugh. Just 15 years ago some thought the end of the Cold War signaled the 'end of history.' Now look!

Hylas1896

[Drake498]

I shamelessly tell my friends I love Alizée and her music Some of them actually listened to her more because of it

[Roman]

Originally Posted by OGRE

Everybody around me knows I listen to Alizée. The reactions are widely varying, as everyone seems to take something different away from the experience:

Most guys thinks she's hot, and can't get past the looks.
Most gals think I only listen to her because she's hot, and can't get past the age difference.
A few (both guys and gals) see beyond the looks and appreciate my appreciation.

Amidst all this, keep in mind we are all different and have widely varying tastes in music. Don't let what others think determine what you like. If you like it.....then enjoy it because YOU like it. On the flip side, don't expect others to like what you like. As such, be courteous to others when playing music. If they don't like it, limit the exposure or use headsets. And you can expect the same in return.

Very wise points. For me:
Most guys thinks she's hot, and can't get past the looks. (though only maybe one or two have taken any interest anyway).
Most gals think I only listen to her because she's hot, though I don't know if they really even think about it that deeply anyway.
I haven't told everyone, like my sister and her husband, about Alizée because I just don't figure they'd get it and I don't really have any reason to bring it up, though I sometimes get close.
Everyone at work knows about her only because I put her on my computer's desktop. I think they find it slightly amusing and a little curious that I have a "crush" (is how they see it) on this pretty singer girl. Maybe none of them have ever been a real "fan" of anyone before and don't really know what that's like. I had only mildly ever been any kind of fan before; so, I understand that.
Yes, I would like to play her music for everyone and say, 'you see, her singing is really good. Everyone should appriciate it.' But, people just are generally not very interested and like I said, I don't really have any reason to push it, especially since most of the people I hang out with (mostly I should say work with), are even older than me and you know...
The language thing is kind of a barrier in most cases, but then I think I can also use it as an excuse. I'm into French, so there you go. I would be more comfortable showing certain people Alizée videos than say Avril Lavigne. I do sort of resent my inclination to feel like I need an excuse. I have to keep reminding myself to not explain anything. Just show them and if they want more information, it will come naturally. I think I just make it worse when I try to bring up Laurent and Mylène, for example.
Deux_Ex, maybe you don't mean gay music, but kind of wussie music for a guy to be listening to. That's not really a fair statement either, but that's probably what people think. I have one friend who's into heavy metal or hard core stuff. I don't think I'll be playing "Parler tout bas" for him any time soon. As I've said before, some of these people might take an interest if they (1) listened to/watched a few times (2) were willing to take some time to lookup translations. I still remember that at first I wasn't really into the music (except JEAM and L'alizé). It took some time (few days, couple weeks?) to aclimate to it or something. Now, I really like JPVA. At first, I just thought it was ok. Weird, huh?

Cooney: "At work I talk French at people." HA That's funny. When I learn more French I probably will do that to. Cooney rocks!

Isabella, give your little brother a few years and then show him the videos. He'll be a convert I think.