Post by davidhr on Apr 19, 2009 16:10:01 GMT -5
Preparations continue for the launching of the promotion, if not of the new album itself. One can expect to see more and more of Lara in the coming weeks, gradually ratcheting up to the release date, now scheduled as May 26th. Interestingly, the CD is now available for pre-order on FNAC, and they indicate that the shipping date will be May 21st.
As part of this preparation, Lara gave an interview to Le Parisien which was published this week. It is accompanied by the video, available here (and also on youtube):
videos.leparisien.fr/video/iLyROoafJOna.html
As for the press interview, a translation is provided below:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The new Lara Fabian
The Belgian singer is going to return with an album of reprises. Metamorphosed, she finally dares to take some risks.
She sports a frank smile. And even attempts the “tu” form. "Did one say ‘vous’ or ‘tu’ before necessarily?” In some seconds, Lara Fabian is far from the image that one kept of her, being a not unpleasant artist but a bit distant, indeed distrusting. There is unquestionably something of change with the singer, who makes us listen spontaneously in preview, to her first album in four years, "TLFM", to appear May 25.
A disc of reprises. Yes, one more but one which runs the risk of seeing herself strangled by the temple guardians.. For, at 39 years old, Lara Fabian has attacked the unassailable: Sparrow ("the Hymn to love"), Barbara ("Göttingen"), Françoise Hardy ("Personal Message"), but also Veronica Sanson, Diane Dufresne, Maurane, reinvented in moods of soul, gospel music, R' n’B.
Some will see it as a crisis of growing old. For Lara Fabian, this is a project still closer to her, homage to all these women who have crossed her personal and artistic life. "Nana Mouskouri, of whom I reprise ‘Soleil’, is the singer who my mother listened to constantly. This is the time when I took a mortar for a microphone at 8 years old, in front of the entry mirror to pretend to be a singer. Nicoletta and ‘Mamy Blue’ remains the first piece that I sang at 18 months old, when my mom groomed me on the kitchen table. Céline Dion and ‘L’amour existe encore’, the first song sung in public." Those who have imagined a war between the Belgian and the one from Quebec will be caught short. "This was a false rivalry mounted between our respective fans. This reprise is not a thumbing of the nose, but a true bow." All seems thus much easier with Lara Fabian, less cerebral than before. "There is one thing that I never said before: This is not serious. I am really relaxed. Before, I was very much surrounded, I knew nothing. I right away was surprised by a success and, immediately, a battalion created itself around me and I freaked!"
"The ‘singers of voice’ have had their time"
And Lara Fabian to explain that "the arrival of a child created an organized disorder that re-centered the priorities, those of the bottle every morning". Mother of a small Lou, the singer protects her private life and her relation with Gérard Pullicino, the director of "Taratata" notably, far from her very publicized history with Patrick Fiori. "At 26 years old, you do not reflect. Then, it is not a matter of me. Nevertheless, someone proposed to make a report on us. I know that one struggles sometimes to give rise to the interest with an album." On this disc, Lara Fabian plays big, at the time when the singers of voice no longer are very popular. "They did their time. The songs also, even if I had defended them and that I take them up." If this project does not walk, Lara Fabian will doubtless say to herself: "This is not serious.” She will think about the autumn concerts, notably the Zenith in Paris, from the 7 to October 9. Without forgetting the musical comedy where she will resume the role of disguise of Julie Andrews in "Victor Victoria", at the beginning of 2010. "This is the first time that I will put together completely someone that will not be me." Unless all that be exactly the true Lara Fabian.
Emmanuel Marolle
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A number of interesting things in the article and video. In the video one can hear portions of other songs (‘Mamy Blue’ in particular), and the article says Lara returns to the ‘singer of voice’, which implies that she gives full voice to the songs – a wonderful thing, if true. Certainly, her singing on ‘Soleil Soleil’ is consistent with that. The album, style-wise, is shaping up as a real departure, with Lara exploring a wide variety of styles. The combination could make for a very exciting album, regardless of whether the public and her fans are ready for it.
She also confirms the plan (at any rate) to take on the theatre project at the beginning of next year. Lara already has concerts scheduled for the end of January; if her comments are to be taken literally, it would imply the tour would not extend much beyond that. Again, whether this really comes to pass remains to be seen; the official site is still mum on the subject, regardless of Lara’s own comments.
Lara is still looking for (or is in negotiation with) a channel to air the show she is working on with Gérard Pullicino. It is (still) the show dedicated to women of the world, produced in association with the organization “Paroles des femmes”. You may remember, she originally planned to have such a show on TV to introduce the week dedicated to women, and not coincidentally in conjunction with her album release in March – that was before her album was delayed. A brief notice of this (in French) is available at:
fr.tv.yahoo.com/13042009/27/lara-fabian-la-recherche-d-une-chaine-pour-son-e-0.html
It should be noted that some fans are quite skeptical as to whether there really is such a program planned – a skepticism aggravated by recent experience with Lara and articles in the press. However, as reported by several sources, including another article in the Parisien, Lara was involved in a novel approach to emphasize the experience that homeless women (and men) undergo. Here is a translation:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four Stars in the skin of homeless people
We have followed in an exclusive Lara Fabian, Fiona Gélin, Marek Halter and Bruno Wolkovich who yesterday transformed themselves into homeless peple, to provide testimony in favor of women who find themselves on the street.
They are two, seated on the ground at a bus stop on the Maréchal-Juin in Paris. The neighborhood is posh, commercial and constantly criss-crossed by passersby; women, men, the old, the young, some strollers…everyone, nevertheless, walks by without throwing them a glance. Often, even their steps accelerate, the head imperceivably turning away.
No one recognizes them…Lara Fabian and Fiona Gélin.
The complexion palid, dirty hair imprisoned in a cap for one, and bunched up for the other, the singer and the actress are barely recognizable. An hour of makeup, baggy patched-up jeans, some dirty blankets…They have become gray, disturbing, invisible. And when one is used to being approached, of arousing curiosity and attracting crowds, this not a part of pleasure, even for an hour. There is, however, something hidden going on. If the two personalities lent themselves to the experience, this is for the movie camera of the association Paroles de femmes. To denounce the indifference, give rise to the reaction and launch a call that will be broadcasted next week on the Internet, in favor of the women who find themselves on the street with their children. "They are the first ones touched by the crisis", according to Olive Tree Cattan, the association president, who convinced them. "Help me to shake the authorities!"
“The indifference of the people is stunning”
For this call, the writer Marek Halter, or again the actor Bruno Wolkovich are themselves also passed under the brush of the make-up artists, have suppressed their broad shoulders, set up on the asphalt, held out a cup. But it is Lara Fabian who is the one most jostled by the exercise. If the others, especially Fiona Gélin, briefly knew the street twenty years ago, did not expect anything else other than indifference, the Belgian singer poorly represses her emotion. She clamps her eyes on the faces, tries to attract attention. Banco, a pass marks the step. His closed expression changes dramatically in a half second, she smiles, the recognized one, the movie cameras spotted, reintegrated into the world of the living. "It is horrible…" sighs the singer before the unconscious cynicism of this reaction. "If she had not recognized me, she would never have smiled at me". Then Lara Fabian sits on the steps of the Péreire subway and sings. The voice is recognizable, one in a thousand, and nevertheless… The hurrying passersby do not stop any more. All just have a half second of surprise: Hold on, she sings well this poor girl. The cup remains almost empty. The improvised HOMELESS PERSONS are exhausted. "The children looked at us with benevolence", Fiona Gélin stretched for the positive while removing her make-up. "Me, I have the impression of having been only a trunk of flesh and of blood in a dehumanized world ", not returning it, says Lara Fabian. "I feel very powerless. The disregard of the people is stunning." In the piece, an intense look nevertheless with hope. Emmanuelle, 45 years old, whose business is in bankruptcy and her apartment sold to recoup, is one of these women sustained by the association. She will be expelled from her two room apartment May 26.
-------------------------------------
A similar article in ‘Pure People’, along with a photo, is available at:
www.purepeople.com/article/quand-lara-fabian-fiona-gelin-marek-halter-et-bruno-wolkowitch-se-retrouvent-tous-a-la-rue-l-indifference-des-gens-c-est-terrible-regardez_a29369/1
And from the article (in translation):
The video will be posted on-line Monday on the site Leparisien.fr.., absolutely don’t miss it! One will however note that they could have made more of an effort with the accessories. Lara Fabian notably wears new shoes, Timberland, rather expensive, and baggy jeans so clean that only a rapper would disown them...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other promo-related news, Lara recorded the show “La Boite A Musique”, and a description from someone who was there has been put on the official site. Lara gave an excellent interpretation of her usual song from “La Traviata” accompanied by the piano, and participated in a musical quiz. She did not sing anything from TLFM. The show will be broadcast this summer on France 2. A nice picture of her leaving the stage is at:
www.hiboox.fr/go/images/nature-decouverte/untitled,3ed2612669b64f10f0ab49372f92719d.jpg.html
The program ‘Vivement dimanche’ will be taped this coming week, and fans have registered to attend. Also this coming week, Lara will be in a live show “Petites rock stars le grand soir” on April 25th, to be shown on France TV1. And she will appear on France 2 in the Starmania program, to be televised on the 24th. For the first time in many months, Lara will be much in evidence on the airways – a hopeful sign of things to come.
David
As part of this preparation, Lara gave an interview to Le Parisien which was published this week. It is accompanied by the video, available here (and also on youtube):
videos.leparisien.fr/video/iLyROoafJOna.html
As for the press interview, a translation is provided below:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The new Lara Fabian
The Belgian singer is going to return with an album of reprises. Metamorphosed, she finally dares to take some risks.
She sports a frank smile. And even attempts the “tu” form. "Did one say ‘vous’ or ‘tu’ before necessarily?” In some seconds, Lara Fabian is far from the image that one kept of her, being a not unpleasant artist but a bit distant, indeed distrusting. There is unquestionably something of change with the singer, who makes us listen spontaneously in preview, to her first album in four years, "TLFM", to appear May 25.
A disc of reprises. Yes, one more but one which runs the risk of seeing herself strangled by the temple guardians.. For, at 39 years old, Lara Fabian has attacked the unassailable: Sparrow ("the Hymn to love"), Barbara ("Göttingen"), Françoise Hardy ("Personal Message"), but also Veronica Sanson, Diane Dufresne, Maurane, reinvented in moods of soul, gospel music, R' n’B.
Some will see it as a crisis of growing old. For Lara Fabian, this is a project still closer to her, homage to all these women who have crossed her personal and artistic life. "Nana Mouskouri, of whom I reprise ‘Soleil’, is the singer who my mother listened to constantly. This is the time when I took a mortar for a microphone at 8 years old, in front of the entry mirror to pretend to be a singer. Nicoletta and ‘Mamy Blue’ remains the first piece that I sang at 18 months old, when my mom groomed me on the kitchen table. Céline Dion and ‘L’amour existe encore’, the first song sung in public." Those who have imagined a war between the Belgian and the one from Quebec will be caught short. "This was a false rivalry mounted between our respective fans. This reprise is not a thumbing of the nose, but a true bow." All seems thus much easier with Lara Fabian, less cerebral than before. "There is one thing that I never said before: This is not serious. I am really relaxed. Before, I was very much surrounded, I knew nothing. I right away was surprised by a success and, immediately, a battalion created itself around me and I freaked!"
"The ‘singers of voice’ have had their time"
And Lara Fabian to explain that "the arrival of a child created an organized disorder that re-centered the priorities, those of the bottle every morning". Mother of a small Lou, the singer protects her private life and her relation with Gérard Pullicino, the director of "Taratata" notably, far from her very publicized history with Patrick Fiori. "At 26 years old, you do not reflect. Then, it is not a matter of me. Nevertheless, someone proposed to make a report on us. I know that one struggles sometimes to give rise to the interest with an album." On this disc, Lara Fabian plays big, at the time when the singers of voice no longer are very popular. "They did their time. The songs also, even if I had defended them and that I take them up." If this project does not walk, Lara Fabian will doubtless say to herself: "This is not serious.” She will think about the autumn concerts, notably the Zenith in Paris, from the 7 to October 9. Without forgetting the musical comedy where she will resume the role of disguise of Julie Andrews in "Victor Victoria", at the beginning of 2010. "This is the first time that I will put together completely someone that will not be me." Unless all that be exactly the true Lara Fabian.
Emmanuel Marolle
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A number of interesting things in the article and video. In the video one can hear portions of other songs (‘Mamy Blue’ in particular), and the article says Lara returns to the ‘singer of voice’, which implies that she gives full voice to the songs – a wonderful thing, if true. Certainly, her singing on ‘Soleil Soleil’ is consistent with that. The album, style-wise, is shaping up as a real departure, with Lara exploring a wide variety of styles. The combination could make for a very exciting album, regardless of whether the public and her fans are ready for it.
She also confirms the plan (at any rate) to take on the theatre project at the beginning of next year. Lara already has concerts scheduled for the end of January; if her comments are to be taken literally, it would imply the tour would not extend much beyond that. Again, whether this really comes to pass remains to be seen; the official site is still mum on the subject, regardless of Lara’s own comments.
Lara is still looking for (or is in negotiation with) a channel to air the show she is working on with Gérard Pullicino. It is (still) the show dedicated to women of the world, produced in association with the organization “Paroles des femmes”. You may remember, she originally planned to have such a show on TV to introduce the week dedicated to women, and not coincidentally in conjunction with her album release in March – that was before her album was delayed. A brief notice of this (in French) is available at:
fr.tv.yahoo.com/13042009/27/lara-fabian-la-recherche-d-une-chaine-pour-son-e-0.html
It should be noted that some fans are quite skeptical as to whether there really is such a program planned – a skepticism aggravated by recent experience with Lara and articles in the press. However, as reported by several sources, including another article in the Parisien, Lara was involved in a novel approach to emphasize the experience that homeless women (and men) undergo. Here is a translation:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four Stars in the skin of homeless people
We have followed in an exclusive Lara Fabian, Fiona Gélin, Marek Halter and Bruno Wolkovich who yesterday transformed themselves into homeless peple, to provide testimony in favor of women who find themselves on the street.
They are two, seated on the ground at a bus stop on the Maréchal-Juin in Paris. The neighborhood is posh, commercial and constantly criss-crossed by passersby; women, men, the old, the young, some strollers…everyone, nevertheless, walks by without throwing them a glance. Often, even their steps accelerate, the head imperceivably turning away.
No one recognizes them…Lara Fabian and Fiona Gélin.
The complexion palid, dirty hair imprisoned in a cap for one, and bunched up for the other, the singer and the actress are barely recognizable. An hour of makeup, baggy patched-up jeans, some dirty blankets…They have become gray, disturbing, invisible. And when one is used to being approached, of arousing curiosity and attracting crowds, this not a part of pleasure, even for an hour. There is, however, something hidden going on. If the two personalities lent themselves to the experience, this is for the movie camera of the association Paroles de femmes. To denounce the indifference, give rise to the reaction and launch a call that will be broadcasted next week on the Internet, in favor of the women who find themselves on the street with their children. "They are the first ones touched by the crisis", according to Olive Tree Cattan, the association president, who convinced them. "Help me to shake the authorities!"
“The indifference of the people is stunning”
For this call, the writer Marek Halter, or again the actor Bruno Wolkovich are themselves also passed under the brush of the make-up artists, have suppressed their broad shoulders, set up on the asphalt, held out a cup. But it is Lara Fabian who is the one most jostled by the exercise. If the others, especially Fiona Gélin, briefly knew the street twenty years ago, did not expect anything else other than indifference, the Belgian singer poorly represses her emotion. She clamps her eyes on the faces, tries to attract attention. Banco, a pass marks the step. His closed expression changes dramatically in a half second, she smiles, the recognized one, the movie cameras spotted, reintegrated into the world of the living. "It is horrible…" sighs the singer before the unconscious cynicism of this reaction. "If she had not recognized me, she would never have smiled at me". Then Lara Fabian sits on the steps of the Péreire subway and sings. The voice is recognizable, one in a thousand, and nevertheless… The hurrying passersby do not stop any more. All just have a half second of surprise: Hold on, she sings well this poor girl. The cup remains almost empty. The improvised HOMELESS PERSONS are exhausted. "The children looked at us with benevolence", Fiona Gélin stretched for the positive while removing her make-up. "Me, I have the impression of having been only a trunk of flesh and of blood in a dehumanized world ", not returning it, says Lara Fabian. "I feel very powerless. The disregard of the people is stunning." In the piece, an intense look nevertheless with hope. Emmanuelle, 45 years old, whose business is in bankruptcy and her apartment sold to recoup, is one of these women sustained by the association. She will be expelled from her two room apartment May 26.
-------------------------------------
A similar article in ‘Pure People’, along with a photo, is available at:
www.purepeople.com/article/quand-lara-fabian-fiona-gelin-marek-halter-et-bruno-wolkowitch-se-retrouvent-tous-a-la-rue-l-indifference-des-gens-c-est-terrible-regardez_a29369/1
And from the article (in translation):
The video will be posted on-line Monday on the site Leparisien.fr.., absolutely don’t miss it! One will however note that they could have made more of an effort with the accessories. Lara Fabian notably wears new shoes, Timberland, rather expensive, and baggy jeans so clean that only a rapper would disown them...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other promo-related news, Lara recorded the show “La Boite A Musique”, and a description from someone who was there has been put on the official site. Lara gave an excellent interpretation of her usual song from “La Traviata” accompanied by the piano, and participated in a musical quiz. She did not sing anything from TLFM. The show will be broadcast this summer on France 2. A nice picture of her leaving the stage is at:
www.hiboox.fr/go/images/nature-decouverte/untitled,3ed2612669b64f10f0ab49372f92719d.jpg.html
The program ‘Vivement dimanche’ will be taped this coming week, and fans have registered to attend. Also this coming week, Lara will be in a live show “Petites rock stars le grand soir” on April 25th, to be shown on France TV1. And she will appear on France 2 in the Starmania program, to be televised on the 24th. For the first time in many months, Lara will be much in evidence on the airways – a hopeful sign of things to come.
David