Post by davidhr on Dec 7, 2010 12:15:50 GMT -5
Lara continued the promotion for Mlle. Zhivago in Russia this past week with several TV appearances. On two TV shows (“What, Where, When”; “Song of the Year 2010”) she presented “Demaine n’existe pas”, and in one case the Russian song from her new album. As expected, these were lip-synched versions, with little effort to make the appear anything else, which would have required at the very least a full string section. She also presented an award at the ‘Golden Gramaphone’ show in Moscow, as usual appearing with Igor Krutoi. Videos of her songs and pictures from the events are available on youtube, larafabiannews.com and Christina’s sites. Presumably these appearances are solidifying recognition of her and the album in this and related countries, although it is hard to find firm figures on how well the album is doing. And there is even a report that Russian fans learned from Lara during her trip that she has been nominated for consideration as ‘singer of the decade’ – no details are as yet forthcoming.
One comment that can be made about all this – and fans are making it – is that Lara has looked particularly glamorous on these shows (see for example the pictures on the pure-lara facebook page), with beautiful outfits and makeup. She is certainly playing the role of the international star to the hilt in Russia, aided by the presence of Igor Krutoi who is doing for her there what Lara had hoped Gigi d’Allesio would do for her in Italy.
The Mlle. Zhivago album is now available for sale in France, as an import (on amazon.com) – still with the Russian lettering, so obviously not the ‘occidental’ release. ‘jonlee’ on the official site forum said that it is currently under exclusive contract, which is why Universal can’t release it in France. This issue goes back and forth, and we don’t really know if Universal wants to, or if Lara will let them. But at least for those who want it, the physical disc and package can now be obtained from a well-known source. One note about it - the last (Russian) song is labeled a bonus on the album (and we know it did not figure in the movie clips).
Meanwhile, concerning Lara’s other recent release, the on-line French stores have announced that the DVD of TLFM font leur show will be available beginning January 3, 2011 (18 euros at amazon.fr; 14.5 euros at fnac). No word yet whether there will be anything different about this release – a bonus, for example – compared with the version that accompanied the ‘best of’ album (the ‘best of’ + DVD is selling for 27-29 euros at the two stores, which means if there is nothing different about the stand alone DVD, one gets the ‘best of’ for 10-15 euros). The question is whether the DVD will be packaged with the first version of TLFM, and it was reported that the ‘audio’ section of the DVD can be heard playing a cut from that album (I could not reproduce that). The whole marketing of this is very strange – to release the DVD (almost in secret) as part of the ‘best of ‘ package, and then two months later release it on its own, does not suggest a very coherent strategy.
The ‘best of’ is still #1 in France in the compilations category, and #14 overall, with some 15,000 albums sold in two weeks. In Belgium it is #1 in downloads and #2 overall (in the French section).
Lara had several French media activities this past week. On the program "Mon heros dans l'histoire" she spoke of Verdi and her desire to play Violetta (in another life). She was in the last docu-fiction on the school of musical comedy (AICOM) ‘Pleure pas Chante’ (unfortunately the video is not available outside of France). And with respect to Lara’s choice of ‘Je t’aime’ for the show ‘500 Choristes’, Humana 85 reported that Lara discussed her feelings about it in Ludres, last March. She said that she first heard it while driving in the snow – Rick Allison had put it on a CD she could play. It was a love song between people who had grown up, and their change had ruptured their relationship. But despite that, the song ends with a hopeful declaration of love. Lara was of the opinion that the honesty of this was what appealed to people. She said she called Rick and told him it was one of the most beautiful declarations of love he could give her. With these as her feelings, it is no surprise that she chose this song for the show.
With the holidays approaching, Lara has nothing official on her schedule, although programs she has already recorded may be showing up. Bouncing back and forth between these two promotions, she certainly deserves the rest, as does her family.
David
One comment that can be made about all this – and fans are making it – is that Lara has looked particularly glamorous on these shows (see for example the pictures on the pure-lara facebook page), with beautiful outfits and makeup. She is certainly playing the role of the international star to the hilt in Russia, aided by the presence of Igor Krutoi who is doing for her there what Lara had hoped Gigi d’Allesio would do for her in Italy.
The Mlle. Zhivago album is now available for sale in France, as an import (on amazon.com) – still with the Russian lettering, so obviously not the ‘occidental’ release. ‘jonlee’ on the official site forum said that it is currently under exclusive contract, which is why Universal can’t release it in France. This issue goes back and forth, and we don’t really know if Universal wants to, or if Lara will let them. But at least for those who want it, the physical disc and package can now be obtained from a well-known source. One note about it - the last (Russian) song is labeled a bonus on the album (and we know it did not figure in the movie clips).
Meanwhile, concerning Lara’s other recent release, the on-line French stores have announced that the DVD of TLFM font leur show will be available beginning January 3, 2011 (18 euros at amazon.fr; 14.5 euros at fnac). No word yet whether there will be anything different about this release – a bonus, for example – compared with the version that accompanied the ‘best of’ album (the ‘best of’ + DVD is selling for 27-29 euros at the two stores, which means if there is nothing different about the stand alone DVD, one gets the ‘best of’ for 10-15 euros). The question is whether the DVD will be packaged with the first version of TLFM, and it was reported that the ‘audio’ section of the DVD can be heard playing a cut from that album (I could not reproduce that). The whole marketing of this is very strange – to release the DVD (almost in secret) as part of the ‘best of ‘ package, and then two months later release it on its own, does not suggest a very coherent strategy.
The ‘best of’ is still #1 in France in the compilations category, and #14 overall, with some 15,000 albums sold in two weeks. In Belgium it is #1 in downloads and #2 overall (in the French section).
Lara had several French media activities this past week. On the program "Mon heros dans l'histoire" she spoke of Verdi and her desire to play Violetta (in another life). She was in the last docu-fiction on the school of musical comedy (AICOM) ‘Pleure pas Chante’ (unfortunately the video is not available outside of France). And with respect to Lara’s choice of ‘Je t’aime’ for the show ‘500 Choristes’, Humana 85 reported that Lara discussed her feelings about it in Ludres, last March. She said that she first heard it while driving in the snow – Rick Allison had put it on a CD she could play. It was a love song between people who had grown up, and their change had ruptured their relationship. But despite that, the song ends with a hopeful declaration of love. Lara was of the opinion that the honesty of this was what appealed to people. She said she called Rick and told him it was one of the most beautiful declarations of love he could give her. With these as her feelings, it is no surprise that she chose this song for the show.
With the holidays approaching, Lara has nothing official on her schedule, although programs she has already recorded may be showing up. Bouncing back and forth between these two promotions, she certainly deserves the rest, as does her family.
David
