Rita, Gilles, Geoffroy are three of the thousands of other that we do not see but who can be heard.

At some time or other, we have certainly happened to direct we to a place with a firm and cadenced step, the mind absorbed by various questioning, by focusing our eyes on the ground and with complete detachment from the world around us. In these moments, we bring in fact very little attention to the places we passed through, to people that we have crossed and to other day-to-day events of life, we are simply going somewhere. That’s when a music, a known song, a catchy melody comes to move us from out of our bubble to bring us back to the world that surrounds us. As if our ears were forcing our eyes to open and our minds to catch the present moment.

In two years spent in Montpellier, whenever I went to the “Place de la Comédie”, whatever the weather, whether it was sunny, raining or winds, Rita was always there to play tam-tam. With pugnacity she can play tam-tam whole hours leading all the place in a playful and exotic rhythm. It is very clear that I would have been disappointed by a crossing of the “Place de la Comédie” without hearing the Rita tam-tam. As long as the music of this Romanian women probably the most famous of Montpellier is sound to my ears, I cannot help but have a festive heart and began dreaming. Then Rita also had a secondary benefit that is far from neutral because since I first meet her, I am paying much more attentiveness to all these unknown persons who accompany our dailies by a huge bouquet of good mood that makes you want to dance in the street.

On Saturday morning to the street market, it is Gilles with his barrel organ gives it of musical bal look. Without him everyone would hustle to shop in the same way as to the supermarket, would wait in line in front of stalls by blowing because there are too many people, would annoy after a tote left in the middle of the passage, would keep his eyes on his small shopping list, without even humming at least one melody more or less known but still playful and friendly. In the street of the baker is Geoffroy Bruno with his ukulele that produces a sound unlike any other and instantly evokes the pleasure of live. Rita, Gilles, Geoffroy are three of the thousands of other invisible unknowns who we love to hear and meet because they naturally keep us smiling.

Concerning myself, Montpellier, this sunny city in the south-east of France will keep a tune of tam-tam executed by the rhythm of the Rita overflowing energy. The charm of Montpellier resides in its numerous squares, little squares and alleyways with the particular atmosphere of the “écusson”. The central and iconic “place de la Comédie” is essential and offers to the visitors an ideal break with Rita.

So, let the music play!