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Post by ocelot on Jan 18, 2006 19:57:59 GMT -5
Natasha's new album "Longueur d'Ondes" came out this week in France and later will be released in Canada. Here is the tracklisting:
1 Un ange frappe à ma porte 2 Longueur d'ondes 3 Ce silence 4 J'oublie 5 Tiens-moi à la vie 6 Je peux tout quitter 7 A l'amour comme à la guerre 8 Tant que j'existerai 9 Comme dans un train 10 Je traverserai 11 Je fais comme si 12 De nous
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Post by ocelot on Feb 6, 2006 17:36:44 GMT -5
I got this album today and I love it. Natasha says it's a much more personal album and she co-wrote one of the songs on the album.
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Post by ocelot on Feb 14, 2006 15:16:23 GMT -5
I've been listening to this album alot lately. My favourite song would probably be "Ce Silence".
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Post by ocelot on Mar 5, 2006 14:09:21 GMT -5
Here is a review done by David at the Lara Fabian Forum (www.larafabianforum.com), through I don't I agree with everything he wrote it should give you a bit of perspective on the album:
Natasha St Pier is back with a 5th album "Longueur d'ondes" and I thought I'd do a review of it...After not really liking her last one which was a pale copy of the one before that, I had a lot of reservations as to whether Natasha could renew herself, but let me assure you: she exceeded expectations and produced her best album yet! Many are calling it the album of artistic "maturity" for her, and it has debuted #1 in France.
For this CD Natasha has surrounded herself with pretty much her usual team : Pascal Obispo, Volodia, Lionel Florence & Frédéric Château; but something different on this album is that there's a clear vision in the choice of a song, a unity of arrangements (all somptuous and very reach), and of course her voice which is at her career best. What works for this album is that it's truly a team effort, so you're not just hearing Natasha but the work of her producers who have fun innovating and getting her to try new sounds. it's always such a chance meeting when such a perfect pairing happens in music, and it makes me think of lara/allison, gall/berger, birkin/gainsbourg. About this album Natasha said it's her most personal yet. she recorded something like 40 songs for this and picked only the ones that related to her life..here's my song by song review
1. Un ange frappe à ma porte: This is one masterful and innovative first single, and a clear departure for Natasha. The song has a cinematographic feel, well complimented by the eletronic arrangements and the spoken dialogue in Japanse. Natasha's vocal is very evocative 10/10 2. Longueur d'ondes: A song written by Obispo. The melody is a throw back to the french pop of the 80s, a la Marc Lavoine or Jane Birkin but the arrangements are modern. The best part is Natasha's vocals..man she's gotten so good 10/10 3. Ce silence: Another change of style for her. This song was co-written by Natasha, and features a guest rap by Frederic Chateau but he does not feel out of place at all. The result is intimist 8.5/10 4. J'oublie: An euro poprock track with an ambiance very much like Longueur d'ondes. Again if you've enjoyed songs by Daho, Desireless, and Lavoine in the past you'll adore this. 8.5/10 5. Tiens-moi à la vie: This song "un ange frappe a ma porte" part II but faster. Though not as good. 7/10 6. Je peux tout quitter: This is the first miss for me, not that the song is horrible just it's not very original as the other ones on the album. 4/10 7. A l'amour comme à la guerre: This song will officially mark Natasha's return as a power vocalist diva which is an identity that fans complained her new french producers have tried to erase from her. There's absolutely no holding back on this song, and it's so nice to see her show off her effortless belt again..probably her most powerful renditions since "Tu m'envoles" and a favorite of mine "Repose ton ame" 9.5/10 8. Tant que j'existerai: This one is like a "Mourrir demain" bis, and I feel like she's already done this song in previous albums. but I give it high marks for the beautiful arrangements. 8/10 9. Comme dans un train: Another song that is going to throw you off! her vocal is very R&B and raggae influenced in the verses, whereas the chorus is classic pop rock. a real treat of a song to listen to again and again. 9/10 10. Je traverserai: A nice song, just gets annoying cause there's a need of change of style and pace..would have loved for her to do a classic ballad by now. 7/10 11. Je fais comme si: This one is another one of my favorites, a very simple song but just love it. 8/10 12. De nous: This is the killer ballad of the album, and the only other track by Obispo as writer. It's a heart wrenching piano piece that will not leave anyone indifferent. even if till this day you've considered a singer with nothing more than a pretty voice and little personality other than the one created by her producers, you'll be surprised by this. she turned into a real artist capable of emoting the most subtle and complex emotions. As she said she became a woman, and has gone through heartbreak, and this album represents her first venture into exploring the more personal stuff. 10/10
Overall: One of the best french albums I have heard in the last few years, I sure hope music buyers and radio will not sleep on this one cause that would be a waste of good music. Go get this one!!Well, sample it and if you've enjoyed Natasha's work in the past you'll love it I know 8/10
My top 5 1. Un ange frappe a ma porte 2. Longuer d'ondes 3. De nous 4. Comme dans un train 5. A l'amour comme a la guerre
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Post by achebeautiful on Mar 5, 2006 14:20:46 GMT -5
Wow! Thank you for posting that, Leona! I will have to measure his song by song review to my own opinions when I finally get the album for myself. I would be very interested to match his review up against yours. Maybe if you get some extra time, you could give us your song by song review!
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Post by ocelot on Mar 5, 2006 16:46:43 GMT -5
1 Un ange frappe à ma porte I love the mystery in this song. It's really well done. It took me a while to get into the song but now I love it. It's one of the better songs on the album 9/10 2 Longueur d'ondes The music is great on this song. Natasha 's vocals are great, she really puts the emotion out there on this song. 9/10 3 Ce silence I love how this song is arranged. I feel the rap really adds to the song (it's not rapping like you here on the radio in North America). Natasha's vocals are amazing on this song, she really puts her emotions out there. This is my favourite song on the album. 10/10 4 J'oublie Natasha's vocals are amazing on this track. She really brings the emotions out. The music really adds to the song. 10/10 5 Tiens-moi à la vie This is a faster track. It has a good sound but it just doesn't carry like the previous songs. Natasha's vocals on it are great though, she really uses her range. 7/10 6 Je peux tout quitter This is again a faster track. To me it's a bit too poppy. The great lyrics are a bit lost. 5/10 7 A l'amour comme à la guerre This is an amazing ballad. Her emotions really shine through her vocals. I really love how this song is arranged: simple so that her vocals really shine through. 10/10 8 Tant que j'existerai This is again a faster track, but one thing that really shines through that didn't in the previous faster tracks is her emotions. It's my favourite of the faster tracks but still doesn't match up to the ballads that she sings so well. The music is really well done on this song. 8/10 9 Comme dans un train This is a moderate paced song. Natasha's emotions really come out on this track. I can really feel her yearning for connection on this song. It's really well done. I love her vocals on this track, she really uses her range. 8.5/10 10 Je traverserai Natasha's vocals are great again on this track. She brings her emotions out again and uses her range. The music is great and doesn't take away from her voice. It's a great track but it doesn't quite blow you away like some of the other tracks on the album. 8.5/10 11 Je fais comme si I can really hear the emotions in Natasha's voice in this track. The music is great and simple. A soft ballad. 9.5/10 12 De nous This is an amazing ballad. The emotions just pour out of her voice. When I hear this song for the first time it just made me sit back and go Wow! This is the type of song that makes an album. I love the simple arrangement of this song, it really enhances Natasha's vocals which can blow you away.
Overall: I think this is Natasha's best album. It has some low points but the strong points make up and pass it. The complete work makes it one of my favourite albums ever. I love the simple arragements of the album that don't take away from her voice. the only times that they are more complex are when they really enhance the songs like on Ce Silence and J'Oublie.
Top 5 Tracks 1 Ce Silence 2 J'Oublie 3 De Nous 4 A L'Amour Comme A La Guerre 5 Je Fais Comme Si
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Post by achebeautiful on Mar 5, 2006 17:18:43 GMT -5
Wow! These reviews are just begging me to get this album! I've learned a little about you in the time we have spent here, and so your comment, "The complete work makes it one of my favourite albums ever" is not at all taken lightly. I'm sure I will love it as well, knowing your great taste in music! Thank you very much for a very informative and interesting review! Natasha would be very proud of the promotion that you give to her work!
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Post by achebeautiful on Apr 2, 2006 18:12:12 GMT -5
Leona, I am absolutely loving this album! It is so crisp and so contemporary. The songs are so fresh and lively!
So far I only have one ever so slight criticism on track #6 "Je peux tout quitter", and that being that it seems to me that the music is more enthusiastic on this one than Natasha's voice. In my opinion, Natasha St. Pier does as great a job as any artist I know blending her voice in with the music that supports her. But on this track it almost seems as if the musicians are more convinced of the song than she is.
Now, don't let that disturb you in any way, because it is just an observation of mine and one that I make because I have tremendous respect for Natasha's passion and heart with which she makes her music. It just seems to me that she falls short on this one. It's still a good song.
Oh, and can I ask a favor of you? Would you be able to translate the song "Je traverserai" and post it for me? I really love this song! By the way, in my opinion "Je traverserai" is a great example of what I mean about Natasha blending her vocals in so well with the music! Beautiful!
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Post by ocelot on Apr 2, 2006 19:21:05 GMT -5
I had it translated and never posted it. It's posted now.
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Post by ocelot on Apr 2, 2006 19:24:45 GMT -5
Je Peux Tout Quitter is my least favourite song on the album, so I don't mind your criticism because I feel the same way about the song. It quite doesn't fit.
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Post by achebeautiful on Apr 2, 2006 19:46:20 GMT -5
Hmmm, well, I didn't mean to be overly critical about it. I do like the song. But Natasha has done a much better job consistantly with her music and I guess I've come to expect that of her. Although she misses a bit with this song, it doesn't take away from the fact that this is an incredible album!
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Post by achebeautiful on Apr 2, 2006 19:48:44 GMT -5
And thank you very much for translating and posting the lyrics to "Je Peux Tout Quitter" for me!
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Post by achebeautiful on Apr 3, 2006 18:15:07 GMT -5
I'm having a terrible time choosing my top five songs on this album because I absolutely love the whole album! But, if I had to pick just five:
1. Un ange frappe à ma porte 2. Ce silence 3. A l'amour comme à la guerre 4. Tant que j'existerai 5. Je traverserai
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Post by achebeautiful on Apr 4, 2006 16:51:43 GMT -5
Umm, I'd like to add the song "J'Oublie" to my Top Five Songs list without taking any of my other choices away!
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Post by achebeautiful on Apr 4, 2006 19:55:26 GMT -5
The more I listen to this album, and that has been repeatedly since I got it, the more I really like the one- two punch of "A l'amour comme à la guerre" and "Tant que j'existerai."
"A l'amour comme à la guerre" is so stunning, and I continue to marvel at it! "Tant que j'existerai" just soars, and I love its feel!
Another thing I absolutely love about this album is that it doesn't lose any of its energy or strength. There are no big letdowns or weaknesses on this album. The worst song is still very likable. And even then, the drop off is picked right back up with the very next song. I think this is one of my very favorite albums!
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