Music Of France

On this CD:

1. Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 1, in D minor, Op. 75
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Brooks Smith

2. Sonata, for Violin & Piano No. 1 in A major, Op. 13
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by Brooks Smith

3. Beau soir ("Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivières sont roses"), song for voice & piano, L. 6
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Brooks Smith

4. Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113 No. 6, Golliwog's Cakewalk
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Brooks Smith

5. La Chevelure ("Il m'a dit 'cette nuit d'ai revé"), L. 90/2 No. 2, La Chevel
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Brooks Smith

6. La fille aux cheveux de lin, prelude for piano, L. 117/8 No 8, La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Brooks Smith

7. Histoires for flute & piano No 2, Le petit âne blanc
Composed by Jacques Ibert
Performed by Brooks Smith

8. The Swan (from "Carnival of the Animals"), original (for 2 pianos & ensemble) and arrangements No 13 ("The Swan") (arr for violin & piano by Heifetz)
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens
Performed by Brooks Smith

9. Valses nobles et sentimentales for piano (or orchestra) No 06 in C
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Brooks Smith

10. Valses nobles et sentimentales for piano (or orchestra) No 07 in A
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Brooks Smith

11. Trois mouvements perpétuels, for piano, FP 14
Composed by Francis Poulenc
Performed by Brooks Smith

Tracks:

Vie, L'amour
La Vie En Rose
Milord
Comme Moi (Like Me)
Le Vieux Piano (Old Piano)
Polichinelle (Punchinella)
Toujours Aimer (Always Loving)
L'effet Que Tu Me Fais (The Effect You Have On Me)
Mon Manege A Moi
Mon Dieu (My God)
Hymne A L'Amour (If You Love Me, Really Love Me)
T'es Beau, Tu Sais
Bravo Pour Le Clown!
C'est L'Amour (It's Love)
Non, Je ne Regrette Rien
Avant Nous (Before Us)
La Goualante De Pauvre Jean (Poor People Of Paris)
L'Accordeoniste

Amazon.com essential recording

The voice of Edith Piaf carries with it perhaps more national identity than that of any other recorded artist in the world. Tiny, frail, and tragic in her life, Piaf brought French identity to the rest of the world in a way that was understandable to all. Known as "the Little Sparrow" in her country, her voice was strong, bold, and passionate, even as she grew more infirm. The archetypical torch singer, she had massive popular success with songs like "Milord," "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien," and "La Vie, L'Amour," included here with 18 other classics. While this is a great compilation of some of her best material, the complete lack of enclosed notes or biographical material may frustrate those not familiar with her fascinating career. However, the work of one of the most original songbirds of all time speaks loud and clear for itself. --Derek Rath

Customer Reviews:

"The little sparrow" ,Edith Piaf sings her best hits!.......2007-06-26

This Cd has all of Edith's best known hits, sung by "the little sparrow" herself.

The re-recordings are quite excellent....well done....smooth and crisp.

The songs are well chosen and nicely arranged in sequence.

Edith`s voice sounds as good as ever in this BEST HITS Cd.

A fantastic compilation.......2007-06-23

Edith Piaf's voice is like no others. It is husky yet brash, sultry and deep. Hearing this music takes you to another place. She was a fantastic singer with a wonderful low range a great cd.

The Voice of a Sparrow at a Bargain Price!.......2007-06-03

Edith Piaf was a tragic figure with a talent of singing often painful and sometimes happy songs. In this compact disc, there are her classics like Ma Vie en Rose, Milord, Non Je Ne Regrette Rien, and others listed here. Of course, Edith Piaf is not for everybody. She is an acquired taste that unless you are fan of French music or Edith Piaf that you may not like. Piaf's life was as tragic as some of her songs but she left in indelible legacy of her recorded music that comforted and soothed the French during World War II. Piaf's singing has to be appreciated as well. maybe you don't know French, you don't need too. You do know pain, agony, heartbreak, falling in love, loss, death, happiness, sadness, etc. then you will appreciate and love Edith Piaf.

Piaf cd.......2007-05-30

Fabulous music. Film of her life will be out soon featuring this music.

Splendid introduction to the art of Edith Piaf.......2007-05-04

This is a collection of some of Edith Piaf's greatest hits. My French has deteriorated to the point where I cannot translate the French to English very well. But I can appreciate a genuine talent.

Piaf caught the spirit of those not in the elite. Her songs touch one's heart and spirit, even if one cannot understand the words themselves. She has an evocative voice that captures the spirit of these songs.

Take, for example, "Non, je ne regrette rien" ("No, I regret nothing," if my understanding of French suffices). This song really catches one's attention. Her rather small voice (voice of the sparrow??) catches an emotion, a fragment of our feelings. One of my Piaf favorites.

Or the lively, inspiriting song, "La vie, l'amour" ("Life and love," if my memory of French is accurate). This livelies one up.

Another of her signature songs: "La vie en rose." Listen to this and you understand her hold on the French who listened to her songs.

"Poor People of Paris" ("La goualante de pauvre Jean") is delightful, filled with energy and excitement.

One could only wish that there were liner notes to this excellent CD that provided some context for the listener. That is a disappointment. Still and all, this is a wonderful introduction to the talent of Edith Piaf. !

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Compilation of Edith Piaf
Eternelle
Mesmerizing and enchanting...
The definitive single CD

Eternelle: The Best Of
Edith Piaf
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
Edith Piaf: Her Greatest Recordings 1935-1943
Edith Piaf: 30th Anniversaire
Aznavour: Ses Plus Grands Succes
La Vie en Rose: La Mome

ASIN: B000050ZM2
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Tracks:

La Vie En Rose
Hymne A L'amour
Padam... Padam
Johnny Tu N'es Pas Un Ange
La Goualante Du Pauvre Jean
Sous Le Ciel De Paris
L'homme A La Moto
Mon Manege A Moi (Tu Me Fais Tourner La Tete)
Non Je Ne Regrette Rien
Milord
Les Flonflons Du Bal
Les Mots D'amour
Fallait-il?
La Foule
Tiens V'la Un Marin
Le Droit D'aimer
A Quoi Ca Sert L'amour?
L'accordeoniste

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Compilation of Edith Piaf.......2007-03-09

Such a pleasure to hear so many songs that Ms. Piaf made famous especially, "Milord", "La Vie En Rose", and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien". A great compilation! I only wish a word booklet had been included, but you can't have everything. Ms. Piaf's voice is more than enough!

Eternelle.......2007-02-17

The songs are wonderful, Edith Piaf has a beautiful voice. The songs are sung in French, a masterpiece.

Mesmerizing and enchanting..........2002-03-26

I love this collection. It has all of my favorite songs of Edith Piaf. This one is truly a classic. You won't be dissatisfied.

The definitive single CD.......2002-02-11

EMI did a nice job of remastering these tracks, so that they are cleaner and more dynamic than ever before. This is significant since there is so much Piaf product out there from second-generation tapes/old records/etc. Including the most well-known of Piaf's songs this, then, has become the definitive single CD of her work. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

review of amazon orders
Matthew Hit the Nail on the Head
Piaf Tonight!
The sad and tragical nosthalgie !
not as good as i thought it would be

Edith Piaf: 30th Anniversaire
Edith Piaf
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

French Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
Edith Piaf: Her Greatest Recordings 1935-1943
Eternelle: The Best Of
Aznavour: Ses Plus Grands Succes
La Vie en Rose: La Mome

ASIN: B000002TMF
Release Date: 1994-04-05

Tracks:

La Vie En Rose
J'm'en Fous Pas Mal
Les Trois Cloches
Les Amants De Paris
Bal Dans Ma Rue
Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux
Hymne A L'amour
Jezebel
Padam Padam
Hymn To Love
Bravo Pour Le Clown
Johnny, Tu N'es Pas Un Ange
La Goualante Du Pauvre Jean
Le 'Ca Ira'
L'accordeoniste
La Vie En Rose (En Anglais)
C'est A Hambourg
L'homme A La Moto
Les Amants D'un Jour
Autumn Leaves
Dans Les Prisons De Nantes
Pour Moi Toute Seule
Il Y Avait

Tracks:

La Foule
Mon Manege A Moi (Tu Me Fais Tourner La Tete)
Fais Comme Si
Je Sais Comment
Milord
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
Les Flonflons Du Bal
Le Vieux Piano
Mon Vieux Lucien
Mon Dieu (En Anglais)
Sous Le Ciel De Paris
Les Amants
A Quoi Ca Sert L'amour
Une Valse
Emporte-Moi
L'homme De Berlin
Legende (Inedit)
Un Dimanche A Londres (Inedit)
A L'enseigne De La Fille Sans Coeur
La Valse De L'amour
Les Mots De L'amour

Amazon.com essential recording

Abandoned as a baby and raised in a brothel, Piaf was dicovered singing in the streets of Paris by a club owner, who started her 30-year career during which time she became France's best-loved and best-known songstress, with major hits from beginning to end. At times singing in front of the band with no microphone, her powerful voice and emotional delivery was a striking contrast to her diminutive size. Nicknamed "the Little Sparrow," Piaf was plagued by controversy, from implications in a clubowner's death to multiple affairs (including Yves Montand and Charles Aznavour), drugs, and alcohol. Her torchy cabaret and dramatically theatrical songs eventually won her global recognition. This two-CD set covers highlights of her career up to her death in 1963, many of which are now standards. Described in France as "the greatest figure in the history of song," her voice still rings with a passion for life, something that eventually consumed her. --Derek Rath

Customer Reviews:

review of amazon orders.......2007-05-07

While Im happy with the products i purchased, all of them arrived damaged..The cd covers were all broken. i think the packaging needs to be much better and safer for international mail.

Matthew Hit the Nail on the Head.......2006-10-02

Matthew hit the nail on the head when he wrote:

"This two CD set is highly recommended for Piaf fans (as if they didn't know that already), fans of French classic vocals and fans of international music. Thank goodness Edith Piaf shared her talents with us while she lived amongst us--fans of the arts are infinitely better off because of Piaf's substantial contributions to the arts."

The Piaf legend will live forever and should. I, too, recommend the Carnegie two-cd set. It's enthralling from start to end.

Piaf, Garland and Minnelli...the world will never see women performers like these again.

Great reveiw, Matthew!

Piaf Tonight!.......2006-10-02

This two CD set is not merely a magnificent sampling of Edith Piaf's songs; it is a celebration of her career as one of the greatest female singers the world has ever known or ever will know. The songs include many of her beloved songs recorded by Piaf between 1946 and 1963.

These wonderful French classics by Piaf include "La Vie En Rose;" "Les Trois Cloches;" "Hymne À L'amour;" "Jezebel;" "Padam Padam;" "Autumn Leaves" sung in English; "Milord;" "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien;" and "Les Amants De Paris." There are, of course, many more wonderful songs--all with beautiful musical arrangements--on this two CD set. There are even two unedited songs that show how Piaf worked on a song before it was polished: "Légende" and "Un Dimanche À Londres."

While almost all of the remastering is excellent, a few songs were not done to completion. For example, "Hymne À L'amour" on the first CD is obviously simply recorded from an old 78 rpm record complete with surface noise and scratches; and "L'homme De Berlin" sounds as if someone was holding tissues in front of the microphone in order to create a muffled reproduction of the recording. However, this is a minor disappointment because the rest of the package is so perfect.

The liner notes offer an excellent essay about Piaf's life written in both English and French. There are several photos of Edith Piaf and two of them are colorized for effect. The liner notes also provide songs credits and the year each song was recorded.

Piaf recorded much, much more than these two CDs could ever hope to cover simply because her career spanned so many years; if you like this set I strongly recommend other Piaf CD recordings including her performances at Carnegie Hall in 1956 and 1957. This two CD set is really best viewed as either a thorough introduction to Piaf or as a very good retrospective of her career including most of her greatest songs.

This two CD set is highly recommended for Piaf fans (as if they didn't know that already), fans of French classic vocals and fans of international music. Thank goodness Edith Piaf shared her talents with us while she lived amongst us--fans of the arts are infinitely better off because of Piaf's substantial contributions to the arts.

The sad and tragical nosthalgie !.......2004-09-04

There are lives who would seem destined to burn in themselves to reach the sincere expression the hard rapport to express and moreover to feel the song and make of their special repertoire his inspiration source .
Halliday , Edith Piaf , Maria Callas ; three different styles but a common cause the loneliness , the unability to be really loved besides her mythical sphere .
In the case of Piaf the pain was so close to her that I really think Piaf adopted as his partner and she faced that awful truth . After the Marcel Chardin death you feel this twist of fate and the sense of the emptiness in every one of her themes .
La foule , Hymn a l'amour or amants d 'un jour for instance are the best proof of this sadness who seems to fly far beyond the melody and become in a permament leit motive .
Edith Piaf will be always have a very special place in the soul of all those who love without being loved , who have loved , those who still love and specially for those who consider that they just can not love anymore.

not as good as i thought it would be.......2003-01-13

I am going to be the only dissenter here. The choice of songs is excellent, and this is why i bought the CD.

However, I think that several of the selected songs must be early versions which were then fine tuned by E. Piaf over the years. I have listened to other CDs and vinyl record where renditions such as Jezebel, and La Foule where much more forceful and on a higher emotional level.

Tracks:

Space Maker
Once Upon A Time
Hell Of A Party
Napalm Love
Mayfair Song
Left Bank
Photograph
Mer du Japon
Lost Message
Somewhere Between Waking And Sleeping
Redhead Girl
Night Sight

Amazon.com

Some bands like to thwart expectations, and Air is one of them. "Spacemaker," the opening of Pocket Symphony, sounds like a cousin to their instrumental retro-lounge "La Femme D'Argent" from 1998's Moon Safari, right down to the electric bass break in the middle. But this isn't a return to their breakthrough sound. "Spacemaker" really does pave the way for an almost classically somnolent outing from the French duo. Air once proclaimed, "In any classical song you can take five seconds of it and make a loop and you make a great pop song with it." I think they took that to heart on an album that echoes Debussy, Bach, and Reich, but which also contains a Beatlesque eclecticism redolent of Revolver. But instead of the Beatles' Indian flourishes, Air look to Japan, using a plucked koto on a couple of tracks, but also a zen garden sense of sonic placement. Although Jarvis Cocker from Pulp and Neil Hannon of Divine Comedy sing on a couple of tunes--adding some emotional gravitas--Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel do most of the vocalizing in their preternatural Munchkins-on-Quaaludes lisp. Air are known for their chilled melancholy, but the mood of Pocket Symphony is introspectively somber. Only "Mer du Japon" rises to a groove, while the rest recline in a luxurious torpor. That mood works especially well on instrumentals like the minimalist cycles of "Night Sight" and the Enoesque "Lost Message," with its circular piano line and ice-sheathed string synthesizers. Pocket Symphony won't yield any pop hits, but it could be the soundtrack to endless rainy afternoons. --John Diliberto

Album Description

From the creators of the classic albums "Moon Safari" and "Talkie Walkie", Air deliver a career masterpiece, their most seductive and accomplished work to date.

Features guest vocals by Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy).

Includes the single "Once Upon A Time".

Customer Reviews:

Air is God........2007-06-19

...or, at least, Air is Music. Since their endlessly beautiful Moon Safari, Air (along with Zero 7) is the group that produces CDs one can purchase without needing a preview; you can also count on their absolute genius. I bought this CD blindly. And as I suspected, it paid for itself with frissions up the spine from its mere perfection and unrelentling beauty. Even if you don't like the majority of the tracks (although this should only happen if you hate music), than one could buy this CD for Mer du Japon: Best. Song. Ever. Air epitomises their talent in this one track. Can you say "obsessed"? I can't stop listening to it. I must admit it does have some run-away tracks I'm not a fan of, but on the whole they don't hinder the CD's overall genius. Pure, absolute genius. The CD is rife with genius. No doubt.

Sit back and enjoy... (not for anyone in a hurry).......2007-06-05

Ever since Air's instant-classic debut album, 1998's "Moon Safari", the French duo has sought to try and follow up to and meet that high standard. Their output since then has divided the fan base. I, for one, absolutely love the often-maligned 2001's "10,000 Hz Legend" album, but was disappointed with 2004's "Talkie Walkie" album. Now comes the new album.

"Pocket Symphony" (12 tracks, 48 min.) is as atmospheric as Air will get while not making a movie soundtrack. The instrumental opener "Space Maker" sets the stage. First single (in the UK--can you imagine Air getting a single released in the US?) "Once Upon a Time" is a beautiful dreamscape. Jarvis Cocker is the vocalist on "One Hell of a Party", which reminds me almost of cabaret-style music. Another instrumental "Mayfair Song" flowes into "Left Bank", bringing the duo back home. "Mer du Japon" ironically enough does not feature some of the Japanese sounds found on several other tracks here (such as the beautiful "Somewhere between Waking and Sleeping" and "Redhead Girl"), and in fact I find this song to be somehwat out of whack with the rest of the album. The instrumental closer "Night Shift" is the perfect ending to this album.

Is this album as good as "Moon Safari"? No, but Air may never be that good again, who knows. That said, "Pocket Symphony" is a fine album, which I have been enjoying ever since its release a few months ago. I happen to catch Air at Coachella in late April, and due to technical difficulties they only put on a brief set, which was very disappointing. I'd love to see them again in concert in better circumstances.

Record Label Ruins Product.......2007-05-25

I bought this CD took it home and put it in my computer to dump it to my iPod and was surprised to find out my PC didn't even see the disk. I tried it on other computers in the house and it wouldn't see it at all. I immediately returned the disk and got a refund. The copy protections on this disk make it impossible to use the music the way I want to in my own home. I believe this is the record label messing with an artist's work. I love Air, but I hate this miserable attempt to control my access to the music.

Most boring Air record to date........2007-05-22

This new one is pretty lame. It contains some of Air's most lazy and unoriginial work so far. As a huge fan of Moon Safari, The Virgin Suicides Soundtrack, and especially Premieres Symptomes...I was quite disappointed with Pocket Symphony. And Walkie Talkie for that matter. This groups been going downhill for a while. Get something interesting instead. Like the new Chromeo record. Or hell, the old Chromeo record. Or watch the Air movie, "Eating Sleeping Waiting Playing," to find out what dolts these guys really are.

Air continues the streak!.......2007-05-12

It is rare these days a band can continuously put out an album that can be listened to all the way through without skipping over songs. Air has accomplished this feat with Moon Safari and Talkie Walkie and now Pocket Symphony. Nothing will ever capture the gorgeous majesty of Moon Safari but Pocket Symphony is a wonderful companion piece for driving and comtemplating, or late evening relaxing. There is so much derivative music out there, treat yourself to some special sounds you just won't hear on the radio.

Edith Piaf: Her Greatest Recordings 1935-1943

Average customer rating:

Edith Piaf: Both Recordings
Edith Piaf
A Good Second Piaf
casual music listener
Pleasantly surprised

Edith Piaf: Her Greatest Recordings 1935-1943
Edith Piaf
Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

French Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
Edith Piaf: 30th Anniversaire
Aznavour: Ses Plus Grands Succes
Eternelle: The Best Of
La Vie en Rose: La Mome

ASIN: B000001HIM
Release Date: 1995-07-18

Tracks:

Mon Legionnaire
Un Coin Tout Bleu
Mon Coeur Est Au Coin D'Une Rue
Le Grand Voyage Du Pauvre Negre
Ballade De Mr. Browning
C'Etait Une Histoire D'Amour
On Danse Surma Ma Chanson
De L'Autre Cote De La Rue
C'Est Toi Le Plus Fort
Fais-Mois Valser
Paris-Mediterranee
Mon Apero
Le Fanion De La Legion
Mon Amant De La Coloniale
Entre St. Ouen Clingancourt
L'Etranger
C'Etait Un Jour De Fete
Les Momes De La Cloche
Elle Frequentait La Rue Pigalle
C'Est Lui Que Mon Coeur A Choisi
L'Accordianiste

Customer Reviews:

Edith Piaf: Both Recordings.......2007-05-17

Edith Piaf: 30th AnniversaireI bought both of these recordings for my husband. It was one of the better presents I ever got for him. He is throughly enjoying both of them.

Edith Piaf.......2007-02-17

What a delight to hear Edith Piaf's lovely voice! Lovely songs, and it is well done.

A Good Second Piaf.......2005-10-01

Once she has won your heart, you will want this collection to hear how she developed as a performer -- and came to be a great symbol of France in the 20th Century

casual music listener.......2005-09-10

Adds depth to a music collection; sound quality of old recording makes it interesting

Pleasantly surprised.......2005-08-12

Having heard a song by Edith Piaf while watching the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and being captivated by the sound of her voice, I decided to venture into a completely new direction in my listening library. I must admit that I have not been able to take this CD out of any player that happens to be around me! Even though I have no idea of the lyrics, Ms. Piaf has the ability to draw you in and make you feel like you understand exactly what she is saying. She is joyful, tragic, coy, sad, dramatic, and ultimately she leaves me with the feeling of her devotion to her art and her time in history.

Average customer rating:

nothing special
Awesome!!!
best coffee music
French Cafe
comme ci, comme ça

French Cafe
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Putumayo World Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Compilations | International | Styles | Music

French Pop | Euro Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

International | Putumayo World Music Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Putumayo Presents: Paris
Putumayo Presents: Italian Café
C'est L'amour: Romantic French Classics
The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
Something's Gotta Give

ASIN: B0000DBJDB
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Tracks:

Fibre De Verre - Paris Combo
Marilou Sous La Neige - Serge Gainsbourg
Si La Photo Est Bonne - Barbara
Juste Quelau'un De Bien - Enso Enso
Je M'Suis Fait Tout Petit - Georges Brassens
Elaeudanla Teiteia - Jane Birkin
La Mer Opale - Coralie Clement
Ondule - Mathieu Boogaerts
Un Jour Comme Un Autre - Brigitte Bardot
On N'a Pas Besoin - Paris Combo
Mal O Mains - Sanseverino
En Douce - Baguette Quartette
La Fee Clochette - Polo

Product Description

Legends of French chanson join exquisite new voices for an enchanting musical sojourn to the cafes of Paris. Paris Combo Fibre de Verre Serge Gainsbourg Marilou Sous La Neige Barbara Si la Photo est Bonne Enzo Enzo Juste Quelqu'un de Bie

Amazon.com

Although far from definitive (no Edith Piaf in sight!), this enchanting compilation delivers a perfect aural snapshot of what spending a late summer afternoon in a French cafe actually feels like. The supreme elegance and understated approach that lie at the core of these 13 tracks will delight fans of sophisticated pop. As is the case with previous Putumayo releases, the sequencing is seamless, combining the endearingly old-fashioned flavor of George Brassens with the iconoclastic romanticism of George Gainsbourg and the sultry whispers of a youthful Brigitte Bardot. Better yet, the disc spends some valuable time introducing listeners to a new generation of French musicians who have embraced the traditional chanson format while incorporating fresh elements into the mix. Try the light-as-a-feather caress of female vocalist Enzo Enzo, the sweet playfulness of the electronica-informed Mathieu Boogaerts, and the irrepressible optimism of Paris Combo--a jazzy quintet that represents the French cafe ambiance at its cosmopolitan best. --Ernesto Lechner

Customer Reviews:

nothing special.......2007-06-26

This cd didn't do much for me...there's only a couple songs on the entire cd that i enjoy...i skip through the rest of them (they are just goofy).

Awesome!!!.......2007-04-11

I am a high school French teacher and it is REALLY hard to find French music that doesn't make the kids groan. When I first listened to this cd I loved it, but I didn't think THEY would since our tastes in music are sometimes not real similar! Quelle surprise!!! They loved it as much as I did - some have even asked me where to purchase it. I have played it so many times that I am now ordering a back-up copy to keep here at school.
This is French music at its finest!!

best coffee music.......2007-03-20

I love sitting in a cafe and remembering when I went to Europe. This CD gives me the exact feel when I stayed in Paris. I love this cd. I play this cd all the time when I want to relax to mellow tunes.

French Cafe.......2006-11-29

I love this CD and it is one of my favorite French CD's (I own many). Putumayo does such a great job of putting together wonderful compelations from different artists. If you are looking for something you will be able to enjoy during a nice dinner at home, a relaxing car ride or as some easy listening background music, this is a great CD to get. I speak French on an intermediate level, and I've enjoyed trying to figure out what the songs are about. My husband, on the other hand, speaks no French at all, but also enjoys this CD as much as I do. Kind of strange as his regular favorites CD's include anything by U2, The Killers, Cold Play and the like. With that said, I guess French Cafe will appeal to anyone! Additionally, the new Paris Cafe, also by Putumayo, is just as popular in my house!

comme ci, comme ça.......2006-11-09

Je n'aime que la moitié des chansons. I only like half the songs and hit fast forward a lot when I try to listen to this disc. Putumayo could have done better.

Average customer rating:

Clarity.....
Subtly beautiful.

Keren Ann
Keren Ann
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Reminder
Not Going Anywhere
Nolita
New Moon
Volta

ASIN: B000KZRO1I
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

It's All a Lie
Lay Your Head Down
In Your Back
The Harder Ships Of the World
It Ain't No Crime
Where No Endings End
Liberty
Between The Flatland And the Caspian Sea
Caspia

Amazon.com

The fifth album from the Paris-and-New-York-based chanteuse is mesmerizing and beautiful all the way through. Unlike with, say, Mazzy Star or even Feist, Keren Ann shows that she can rise above the slyly sensual signing style to deliver actual croons. From the deliberately breathless vocal delivery to her own smartly minimalist and subtly layered production work, Keren Ann is the singer's finest work to date. Her voice remains the focal point, but intriguing instrumental choices dot the album, from the twisted, distorted guitars on "It Ain't No Crime" to the lovely flutes of "Harder Ships of the World." Just listen to the slowly-percolating "Lay Your Head Down," the album's first single. That song begins as an addictive combination of sparse guitar, hand claps, and crooning to gently accrue bluesy harmonica and guitar licks before drifting away in a layered wash of strings and Carl Orff-ish vocal flourishes. It sounds modern and from the more rarefied aspects of pop's past at the same time. You watch: Keren Ann just may prove to be Blue Note's smartest signing since that Norah Jones person. --Mike McGonigal

Album Description

5th studio album from Keren Ann (author, composer, singer) Album produced by Keren Ann, mixed by Joe Barresi (Queens of The Stone Age, Alanis Morissette, Tool). emi. 2007.

Customer Reviews:

Clarity............2007-05-11

So, after several listens to this album, I kept thinking, where have I heard this before?
Obviously, I have'nt heard it before but one singer/songwriter from the past that I dearly love became apparent; Dagmar Krause/Slapp Happy.
They are very different but in some strange way it's as if Keren has channeled that brittle beauty that Dagmar is/was so good at.
I'll listen to it many more times over the coming months to see how it holds up.
Could possibly become a classic....

Subtly beautiful........2007-05-09

Critically-acclaimed singer / songwriter Keren Ann Zeidel returns with her fifth album. Often favourably compared to Françoise Hardy, Nico, Serge Gainsbourg, Mazzy Star, Rufus Wainright and Suzanne Vega, Keren Ann is a truly special and engaging artist, one whose work evolves and grows, often with every listen.
"Keren Ann" is the follow up to 2004's Nolita, which was greeted with rave reviews around the globe proclaiming Keren Ann's voice "as alluring as that of Astrid Gilberto and with an emotional languor that would have done Chet Baker proud".
The new self-titled album has been produced by Keren Ann and mixed by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Alanis Morissette).
I was a little nervous about this new one, since Nolita was not an excellent album in my opinion.
Pretty much immediately after starting it, the new album sounded so stunningly beautiful and different.
It was like a city of ice slowly melting as the sun sinks sending rays of warming glow over the ice melting it filling the land with sparkles. So that was a little ridiculous for a comparison beteen the new album and the previous, but it is so clean and twinkly, the sound is crystalline even.
Her vocals are nearly whispery soft, parts of the album are nearly spoken because of her delicate voice. Even though they are so light and airy, and there is something so aged and sexy about it. Without a doubt, they are the focus of the album.
The instrumentation is merely there to compliment the mood of her voice, it's so wonderfully melded together. There are actually many instruments being used, but so softly it gives a dream like illusion to the music.
Most of the self-produced tracks burns slowly, but intricate details add sparkle: Hand claps open "Lay Your Head Down", and tinkling piano closes "In Your Back".
Towards the end she even utilized a choir without having it be overpowering to her dainty songs. The only song that nearly fell out of this mood was the fifth song "It Ain't No Crime", which features a crunchy guitar sound, and it is somehow subtilely forceful but still quite jewel toned.
The album is entirely in English which is rather different for Keren Ann, but I hope it gains her a wider audience for she surely is talented and has a lot to offer if only people were willing to listen
Highlights include also "Lay Your Head Down", which is propelled by handclaps, harmonica, and a mix of strings
Don't miss Keren Ann on tour later on this year.

Average customer rating:

good, bad, ok...
Secret Doors and Delicate Whispers
Like father, like mother, like daughter...!!
KAY ARE A PEE
5:55 Charlotte Gainsbourg

5:55
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Manufacturer: Vice Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Back to Black

ASIN: B000NQR7UC
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

5:55
AF607105
THE OPERATION
TEL QUE TU ES
THE SONGS THAT WE SING
BEAUTY MARK
LITTLE MONSTERS
JAMAIS
NIGHT-TIME INTERMISSION
EVERYTHING I CANNOT SEE
MORNING SONGUS BONUS TRACKS
SET YOURSELF ON FIRE
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WAKING AND SLEEPING

From Amazon.co.uk Review

Even without Charlotte Gainsbourg's musical heritage, the prospect of an album written and performed by Air, with lyrics by Jarvis Cocker (ex-Pulp) and Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy) would be enough to entice most sensible music fans. But as a combination, 5.55 is far better than probably even the participants imagined it would be.

The combination of Air's trademark glide complements Gainsbourg's voice (which is less singing and more melodic, breathy recitation), to the point where, had the lyrical input been less than stellar, this could easily have sent the listener to sleep. Instead, the emotional detachment in Gainsbourg's delivery acts as a foil to the passion presented in the lyrics. For their part, Cocker and Hannon excel with their trademark darkly humourous input- the passenger on a doomed flight in "AF407105", the surgery/seduction metaphor in "The Operation", or the venomous "Jamais" being particular standouts.

Even though 5.55 bears all the hallmarks of its creators (if so inclined, one could see this as a new Air album, or imagine Cocker or Hannon singing the lyrics), it's even more than the sum of its parts and is almost certainly one of the best albums you'll hear in 2006 or beyond. --Thom Allott

Amazon.com

This collaboration has produced a perfect result, wherein all involved have raised the finished work to spectacular heights. Interspersing her recordings into her acting career, Charlotte Gainsbourg has come out with her second full-length release. The music was written and performed by Air, with lyrics by Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon. All 13 tracks (two more than on the European release which appeared in 2006) are finely wrought in every regard, with the arrangements and production moving liquid-like across the set, making for a gorgeously seductive whole. Though significantly different-sounding, Gainsbourg shares with her father Serge an approach to singing that uses speaking tones and timbres. Her whispered voice adds a powerful intimacy to the songs, while Air's musical structures create landscapes and cityscapes through which she wanders, purposefully, suffused with mystery and secrets. The melodies, built for her voice, move with ethereal precision. Gainsbourg's human-scaled singing and Air's unassumingly grand settings create an emotional tension throughout. The album offers atmospheric reveries, pop smarts, and sly invention. --David Greenberger

Album Description

International movie star, fashion icon, and music royalty (daughter of French pop icon Serge Gainsbourg) makes her US debut. Already platinum in France with worldwide sales of over 500,000. The US CD release includes two previously unavailable bonus tracks, two music videos, and a video interview with Charlotte. Music by Air, lyrics by Jarvis Cocker and The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon, and produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck).

Customer Reviews:

good, bad, ok..........2007-06-08

Some really horrifyingly great songs with catchy riffs, ambient sounds, mildly interesting instrumentation. Some mediocre singing that doesn't bother me all that much. Overall pretty O.K.

Secret Doors and Delicate Whispers.......2007-06-02

"I feel you all around me
You are everything I cannot see
As the ocean crawls onto the shoreline
So you lap at the edges of me"

Charlotte Gainsbourg's vocals are whispers of silky perfection. With a delicious French sensuality, she merges breathy lyrics by Jarvis Cocker, Neil Hannon and AIR with music by AIR. It is true to say she could sing anything and sound sexy.

At times the music does overtake her velvety vocals and in "Night-Time Intermission" she almost seems invisible except for giggles and silken nuance. At times the moods of her voice seem more important than the lyrics. The highlight is "Tel Que Tu Es" which is breathtaking.

Wistful and creative poetic lyrics make Charlotte Gainsbourg seem wise beyond her years and at times she reminds me of her mother, Jane Birkin on her Fictions album. Charlotte's shyness in singing, which is very attractive in a delicate way, will in no doubt give way to a full range of vocal ecstasy in future albums.

~The Rebecca Review

P.S. If you love electronica you may also want to check out
the debut album by Evening Ocean - The Attraction.

Like father, like mother, like daughter...!!.......2007-05-16

Her mother Jane Birkin added her breathy, orgasmic tones to her father Serge Gainsbourg's "Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus".

And the family resemblances are unavoidable in Charlotte's album, that voice hesitant, barely a whisper at times, but shimmering with sexiness.

What saves this album from being a lot of Gallic mumblings bound up in its own self-importance is the heavweight help the family name commanded.

Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon are involved in the writing, those Parisian maestros of wafting electronica "Air" are on board, as is "Radiohead" producer Nigel Godrich and Nigerian percussionist Tony Allen, lauded by Brian Eno as "the greatest musician on the planet".

We get the mildly erotic, such as the teasing "Beauty Mark", and we get something like beat poetry in "AF607105", with its stark lines about air travel.

There's also big helpings of the kind of wistful balladeering only the French can muster.

4 * * * * and 1/2.

Jane Birkin et Serge Gainsbourg
The Originals
Songs That We Sing
L'Effrontee

KAY ARE A PEE.......2007-05-10

Um, hello? Has anyone noticed that this woman doesn't know how to sing? Most songs are an over-baked litany of melodramatic metaphors that add up to ... what? Others appear to be some sort of short story told in the past tense. All are whisper-talked by the artist in her faux Gallic/Brit accent that wears poorly as the CD progresses. The few times when the producers require her to actually hit a note are cringe-inducing.

I wanted to like this record and spent $15 of hard-earned cash on it. But I guess there's a good reason why she's only dragged out of storage every ten years.

5:55 Charlotte Gainsbourg.......2007-05-07

What a great album!!! I never knew she sang as well. I have seen her in French movies and enjoyed greatly her acting in those movies. Now I even adore her more, because not only can she act, but she can sing as well!!!
Go Charlotte Go!!!! Can't wait for her next album.

Hymn to Love: All Her Greatest Songs in English

Average customer rating:

Huge surprise!
Better in French
Handy reference for lyric meanings in English

Hymn to Love: All Her Greatest Songs in English
Edith Piaf
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
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75 Chansons
La Vie en Rose: La Mome

ASIN: B0000C8WYE
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

Hymn To Love
One Little Man
La Vie En Rose (Version Anglaise)
Chante Moi (Version Anglaise)
Simply A Waltz
My God
Don't Cry
Autumn Leaves
I Shouldn't Care
The Three Bells
'Cause I Love You
My Lost Melody
Heaven Have A Mercy
No Regrets
Lovers For A Day (Live)
Heureuse (Live)

Amazon.com

Frankly, it feels a bit weird to listen to Edith Piaf perform in English. There aren't many singers so associated with a country as Piaf is with France. And yet she did record some of her hits in English in an attempt to facilitate her career in the United States. While newcomers to the singer's oeuvre should start with her French albums, this CD is fascinating for advanced Piaf listeners. Most of the sides were cut 1950 and show Piaf in fine vocal form on tracks such as "La vie en rose" (she switched from English to French for the title) and "Autumn Leaves" ("Les feuilles mortes"), a strangely compelling hybrid that alternates between French and English. Piaf was certainly more at ease singing in French, but her charismatic sense of drama could break through in just about any language. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Collection of the "Little Songbird's" Hits that She Re-recorded in English.

Customer Reviews:

Huge surprise!.......2007-05-12

What an unbelievable surprise - and joy - to discover Edith Piaf singing in English, and sometimes songs which she never sang in French! Her accent is ten times worse than mine... but the voice remains, outstanding!

Better in French.......2007-01-06

I think Edith Piaf was one of the world's great chanteuses. However, she loses a lot in translation. Whereas her songs in French are effective, touching and powerful, in English they are somewhat bland. Perhaps this has to do with the translations which almost always water down the French. Perhaps it is because her command of English is not great. In any case, for the REAL Piaf, buy anything she recorded in French--you will be transported.

Handy reference for lyric meanings in English.......2005-12-13

This is a nice enough album. I think she sounds a lot nicer in French, but some of these songs are fun, and if you have enjoyed some of her original music and been curious what they might mean in English, this is one way to get a sense of them. Of course, it would be nicer if all the albums came with liner pages of lyrics but they don't. (Edith Piaf sings clearly enough in French that even an amateur language scholar can try to follow the songs by ear however.) I bought this album when I bought "The Voice of the Sparrow," and while I like that one a lot better, and can listen to it more, this one is handy to have. If you do like lyrics in translation, you might also like to check out the music of Joni James and Nana Mouskoura. Their voices are very different from hers, but the multi-lingual aspect is fun.

Average customer rating:

Voila, Le Maitre
C'est magnifique!
A Velvet Voice
Charles, Je t'adore
OUTSTANDING

Aznavour: Ses Plus Grands Succes
Charles Aznavour
Manufacturer: EMI Latin
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
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Brel Vol. 1 (Master Serie)

ASIN: B000069CKM
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Tracks:

Emmenez-Moi
Et Moi dans Mon Coin
Je Te Rechaufferai
La Boheme
Dans Tes Bras
Les Comediens
If Faut Savoir
Hier Encore
For Me...Formidable
J'en Deduis Que Je T'aime
Mes Emmerdes
Et Pourtant
Sur Ma Vie
Les Plaisirs Demodes
Les Deux Guitares
Tu T'laisses Aller
L'amour C'est Comme un Jour
Le Temps
Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux (Duo avec Edith Piaf)
Reste

Customer Reviews:

Voila, Le Maitre.......2007-01-06

I recently "discovered" Charles Aznavour in the used vinyl section at a local second hand shop. There I occasionally find gems while picking through the weathered relics of bygone decades. The same shop once yielded a now-beloved Nana Mouskouri album from the sixties, with songs in French. My French is passable at best, but it's easy for me to pick up on the romanticism of post-war French popular music, a romanticism which is now largely passe, apart from serving as background music at Macaroni Grill or the Olive Garden. I just love songs in French. Anyway, the Aznavour album was packaged basically like an album by Perry Como or some other "popular singer" of the era, but I sensed from the extensive liner notes that the lyrics (all written by Aznavour himself) were the work of a true artist. I hoped that his voice would not prove as dated as the packaging. I took a chance. I was not disappointed.

The production value reminds me of the fore-mentioned Nana Mouskouri album of the sixties. Some of it sounds a little Austin Powers, a little swinging sixties, but I don't mind. Musicians from that era seem much more versatile, more well-versed in all kinds of music from all over the world. The featured musical fills, whether by violin, accordion, what-have-you, are so tasty, so expert that they're almost boring; you take them for granted. Then there is the heavy orchestration, the notorious 40 piece violin sections. Fortunately none of it overwhelms the man's delivery and songwriting skills. His singing style does not sound dated in the least. It sounds timeless. He is masculine and strong, but not overly so, like Sinatra, who to me often sounds ponderous and self-important,dated like a WWII relic. Aznavour's delivery is light, subtle and rich, passionate yet disciplined. He never borders on self-parody, like Sinatra often does. He never displays that cheesy/smarmy rat pack/Las Vegas/lounge style.

The man can swing. You will feel it. It will move you, and you will want to move to its rhythms. Without having delved too far into the lyrics, I can say that thematically they are generally what you would expect. Things that would sound trite or clichéd in English sound heart-breaking and, well, French in this music. He sings of being 20 and the bittersweet memory of a woman who left him in Venice. Of poor artists painting their nude lovers in Monmartre, of the flowers, cafes and bakeries in a city that is now gone as he returns as an old man. Sad clowns with smiling faces--that kind of thing. Don't worry, it's all in French, and actually rather poignant.

I see that Aznavour is still going strong at 81. Guys like this are coolest when their music is not considered cool. Give it a try. I would recommend "Que C'est Triste Venise," and "La Boheme" as representative. Be open-minded, because this man has the gift of the muse.

C'est magnifique!.......2007-01-04

All the songs here are wonderful -- I can listen to it over and over again, and still enjoy it!

A Velvet Voice.......2007-01-03

I am a loooooooooooong-time fan of this master of French love songs, and I was not disappointed. There are several songs that I just play over and over. I think what I love about his music is that I don't have to understand a word he says to understand his heart. He sings with his heart and that overrides any language barrier. His voice feels like something liquid warmth massaging you.

Charles, Je t'adore.......2005-10-25

You can see from the title I am a devoted Aznavour fan and have been for 40 years. I have attended several of his performances and even met him once briefly. He is an extraordinary singer/songwriter and performer. He is 81 years old now and although he still records, he doesn't tour much outside France as he used to. He has, however, made a number of DVDs. Unfortunately, they have only been released in PAL format. I have so many Aznavour recordings. I bought this because it has a nice compilation for CD but it is by no means definitive. It's interesting, because I also have the Spanish version of this CD, "Sus Mas Grandes Exitos" which has the same cover, but a slightly different mix of songs. The French version omits "Que C'est Triste Venise" and "Mourir D'Amour," two of my favorite songs, but they are included on the Spanish. There are so many more than 20 songs which I consider Aznavour classics, that it would take many more CDs to contain. That said, I highly recommend this CD for both the diehard fan and the casual listener. It's a wonderful example of the work of this extraordinary man. He has never made a bad recording.

OUTSTANDING.......2005-05-01

You can take Edith Piaf, Gilbert Becaud, Yves Montand and put them together and don't even come close to Aznavour. Had the distinct pleasure of seeing him at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, as well as, the Olympia Theater in Paris, France, and other venues throughout Europe. Aznavour is the quintessence of the interpreter of songs (ala Sinatra and Ella), as well as, a most prolific writer of songs in the realm of Jimmy Webb, Gershwin, etc. His emotions and sentivities are eveident in EVERY performance that I have had the pleasure to witness. NONE BETTER!!!!! In addition, these traits are evident in very recording available by him. BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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