Friday is video day on Frogsmoke. In this edition: a tribute to a guitarist, ignorance and prejudice, French phrases, powerful signatures, edelweiss in Occitan, a foreign minister in English, a pigeon with remorse, and a sheep with a mission. Enjoy!

Updated: I’ve added the Ingrid Betancourt video:

Ingrid Betancourt — First Sign of Life

French-Columbian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was was kidnapped by the FARC on February 23, 2002, is apparently still alive. This video, shot in October, was released today. Read more about Ingrid Betancourt on Wikipedia.

Rita Mitsouko – Marcia Baila

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In memory of Fred Chichin, co-founder of Les Rita Mutsouko. The guitarist died this week at the age of 53 of cancer. “Marcia baila” was the band’s first hit, in 1984. The latino-rock piece was written to pay homage to Argentine dancer Marcia Moretto, who — ironically — died of cancer. It sold more than a million copies (5:26).

Rita Mitsouko & Philippe Katerine – Under My Thumb

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Here’s a second video of Les Rita Mutsouko. Together with Philippe Katerine, the band covers the Rolling Stones classic “Under My Thumb” at a French TV show on May 4th, 2007 (2:36).

Shepard Smith grills CAP analyst on French riots

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Ignorance and prejudice on American TV: a FOX journalist interviewing a “leftwing” analyst about the recent riots in Paris suburbs. (3:00)

How to speak French if you don’t speak French

A quick course in asking for directions, being polite, getting rid of your money, and tell the Parisians that you don’t speak their language. (2:45) Via

Amnesty International – Signatures

“Your signature is more powerful than you think”. This French spot for Amnesty International won the Lion d’Or at the Advertising Film Festival in Cannes this year (2:38).

Occitan Edelweiss

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The Occitan language is alive and well – and spoken in a wide area, stretching from Spain via France and Monaco to Italy. De cap tà l’immortèla (To the Edelweiss) is a song by Nadau, an Occitan-speaking band from Béarn. It is a hymn to freedom and the love for the motherland. L’immortèla, besides referring to the white flower with a yellow heart found only in the high mountains, means “the immortal one”. (5:04, with French and English subtitles). Via

Bernard Kouchner on Charlie Rose

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A conversation with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Topics include the recent conference at Annapolis and the Mid-East situation, France’s stance on Iraq, his new boss, and a wide range of other matters. Kouchner has an impressive command of English. A little dry, perhaps, but a rare opportunity to hear from one of the most important men in France. (26:01, via The French Journal)

A pigeon with remorse

Nature will remember: a commercial for the “clean technology” of Peugeot cars (0:38).

In the same series: a sheep with a mission (0:39)