We Speak Music
Marie-Claire Giraud Set To Release Her Second Single ”Barcarolle” featuring Sondra Radvanovsky on June 19
Vocalist Marie-Claire Giraud announces the release of Barcarolle, a luminous new single that dares to do what few artists would attempt: reimagine one of opera’s most beloved arias as a living, breathing jazz performance. The result is transcendent, a recording that honors the profound beauty of Offenbach’s original while opening it up to the world in an entirely new way.
Originally the celebrated duet from Jacques Offenbach’s opera The Tale of Hoffmann, Barcarolle is built around one of music’s most intoxicating lines: “Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour, souris à nos ivresses”, Beautiful night, oh night of love, smile at our intoxication. It is a song about Hoffman’s eternal quest for love, and Marie-Claire has carried it with her for a lifetime.
“Sondra Radvanovsky is one of the most profoundly moving opera artists on the planet, and she is singing this duet with me.”
— Marie-Claire Giraud
To complete the duet, Marie-Claire invited opera superstar Sondra Radvanovsky, internationally acclaimed as “one of the most profoundly moving opera artists on the planet” (OperaWire), a 2025 International Opera Awards nominee, and widely regarded as one of the finest living interpreters of Verdi and Puccini, to lend her incomparable voice. The two sopranos’ voices intertwine with devastating beauty, creating something that is at once timeless and startlingly fresh.
“Singing the Barcarolle with Marie-Claire was pure joy. To hear a duet I’ve loved my whole life reborn alongside a live jazz band, opera and jazz meeting as if they’d always belonged together, was unforgettable. That fearlessness is her gift, and I’m honored she asked me to sing it with her.”
- Sondra Radvanovsky
Barcarolle is a centerpiece of Marie-Claire’s boldly conceived new album, “My Big Bold & Beautiful Technicolor Fantasy”, a project that embodies her vision of a world where opera, jazz, pop, and classical music exist not in separate rooms but in one glorious, uninhibited space. The album also features a song co-written with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison.
Marie-Claire commissioned acclaimed New York songwriter and jazz pianist Jeff Franzel, whose songs have been recorded by artists from Frank Sinatra collaborations to Taylor Dayne and Plácido Domingo, with over 30 million albums sold worldwide, to write a jazz arrangement of the piece. Recorded with a live jazz band featuring piano, upright bass, trumpet, and drums, the arrangement breathes new life into Offenbach’s masterwork without diminishing a note of its grandeur.
“I always had the idea of mixing opera with other genres. Barcarolle is one of my favorite arias of all time, it deserves to be heard by everyone, not just opera audiences. Life’s most beautiful moments deserve this song.”
— Marie-Claire Giraud
Marie-Claire has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall (twice), the United Nations General Assembly Hall (seven times), Birdland, and Dizzy’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, among many prestigious venues. An Intercontinental Music Award winner and Amadeus International Classical Music Competition Silver medalist, she is a voice that belongs to many genres.
We Speak Music
The Refusers Ignite a Call for Rebellion with Explosive New Single “Buck The System” (Out July 5)
Seattle rock outfit delivers a blistering anthem for a generation frustrated by political dysfunction, economic inequality, and technological disruption
SEATTLE, WA – The Refusers are turning up the volume on resistance with the release of their powerful new single, “Buck The System,” the title track from their upcoming 14-song album of the same name. Fueled by raw punk energy, searing guitars, and unapologetic lyrics, the song captures the growing frustration of everyday people who feel abandoned by political institutions, threatened by economic uncertainty, and marginalized by powerful elites.
What began as a simple song title scribbled on a sheet of paper quickly evolved into the centerpiece of the band’s most ambitious project to date. For songwriter and frontman Michael Belkin, “Buck The System” represents a sentiment shared by millions worldwide.
“People are tired of being ignored, manipulated, and left behind,” says Belkin. “Whether it’s politicians breaking promises, corporations replacing workers with AI, or billionaires gaining more power while ordinary people struggle, there’s a growing feeling that the system no longer serves the people. ‘Buck The System’ is about standing up, pushing back, and reclaiming your voice.”
The track taps into the rich tradition of protest music pioneered by artists such as Bob Marley, Rage Against the Machine, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Public Enemy, and The Clash. With driving Gibson Les Paul guitars, roaring Marshall amplifiers, and the unmistakable punch of a Hammond B3 organ, The Refusers deliver a modern protest anthem with a classic punk-rock spirit.
The song’s defiant chorus leaves no room for ambiguity:
“We won’t kneel, we won’t break. Every chain we’re gonna shake. Rise above and take it back. No retreat, no turning back.”
As the track builds, the band issues an unmistakable call to action:
“One by one we flood the streets. A million fists, a million beats. They can build their walls up high. We will tear them from the sky.”
Recorded during an intense two-week studio session, “Buck The System” is one of fourteen hard-hitting tracks featured on the forthcoming album. Other standout songs include “Fat Cats,” “Get Off My Back,” “Don’t Tread on Me,” “Deep State,” “Rise Above,” and “Conspiracy Theory,” each tackling themes of power, corruption, media influence, and personal freedom.
Far from promoting any specific political ideology, The Refusers channel a broader spirit of popular resistance against entrenched systems of power. Their music speaks to listeners across the political spectrum who feel disconnected from institutions that no longer represent their interests.
The Refusers have built a passionate following of more than 228,000 Facebook fans by refusing to shy away from controversial topics and delivering music with a message. Their trademark sound combines heavy rock guitar riffs, driving rhythms, Hammond organ textures, and provocative lyrics that challenge listeners to question conventional narratives.
Belkin draws inspiration from his experiences navigating corporate and institutional environments, carrying forward a philosophy he embraced while attending UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business: “Question the Status Quo.” That principle remains at the heart of The Refusers’ music and mission.
Hailing from Seattle, The Refusers feature:
- Michael Belkin – Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Steve Newton – Bass, Backing Vocals
- Tom Basher – Drums
- Jordan Pitre – Hammond Organ
At a time when public dissatisfaction with politics, economic inequality, and global conflict continues to grow, The Refusers have crafted a soundtrack for those unwilling to remain silent.
With “Buck The System,” the band delivers more than just another rock song—they deliver a rallying cry for anyone ready to challenge the status quo.
“Buck The System” will be available on all major streaming platforms on July 5.
About The Refusers
The Refusers are a Seattle-based rock band known for their unapologetic blend of hard rock, punk attitude, and socially conscious songwriting. Combining Les Paul guitars, Marshall amplifiers, Hammond B3 organ, and fearless lyrical commentary, The Refusers create music that challenges conventional thinking while delivering high-energy performances. Their upcoming album, Buck The System, continues the band’s mission of speaking truth to power through music.
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