Post by davidhr on Jan 15, 2013 10:15:13 GMT -5
Lara appeared on the ‘Fête de la chanson française’ at the Zénith de Paris this past Friday night, and it was a tale of what happened, what ‘sort-of’ happened, and what didn’t happen.
As to what did happen, Lara sang a spirited duet with Vincent Niclo of the song ‘Je chante’ (from the 1938 movie of the same name). Lara was in good voice and looked quite pretty; it was very nice to hear Lara singing something we hadn’t heard her do before. The video editing was a little strange, but the singers carried the upbeat song to its proper conclusion. Videos are available on youtube; be sure to see the ones that have the full song, such as:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5n55R1wZY
As to what ‘sort of’ happened: you know a show is really being done live when problems arise and are telecast. In this case, Lara was due to lead off a medley honoring Johnny Hallyday and… nothing happened. Lara then indicated she couldn’t hear the cue, before eventually starting. To be fair, it wasn't Lara's fault - there were a number of technical 'glitches' on the show. A complete video is again available, at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHeE4X6ch4E
Then finally, what didn’t happen. It was advertised that Lara would sing the new single from ‘Le Secret’. But shortly before the program began, Lara posted a message on her FB site indicated she would not be performing it, because the ‘arrangements’ still needed fine tuning. And so she didn’t; furthermore, she didn’t sing anything else in its place (e.g., nothing from Mlle. Zhivago), her time obviously being given to someone else.
Even though Lara publicly announced some time ago that the album was ‘finished’, she has also said that it was ‘essentially finished’ but still needed a bit of work. One could then say that the ‘fine tuning’ of the single fell in that category.
Lara has also said that when she presents a new album to the public, she likes everything to be perfect before unveiling it on TV. This was her explanation for ‘lip-synching’ the songs of ‘Neuf’ on TV back in 2004 (and perhaps part of the reason for the same actions on Russian TV with the Mlle. Zhivago songs). She said it again when explaining why she wouldn’t be singing this new single. Hence. on the surface, not performing because she didn’t have the final arrangements worked out could be viewed as consistent with her approach for the last 10 years.
However, also consistent with that approach was the idea that she was hesitant to sing the new song live, which she would have been forced to do given the show’s format (witness the problem discussed above). It may well have been that challenge, as much or more so than the final arrangements (which after all would hardly be remembered by much of the French public), that was the real impediment.
Whatever the actual reason, it was a shame. To borrow a phrase often applied to Mideast peace negotiations, Lara ‘never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity’. This was a big deal program; it was an honor to be asked, and apparently several million people tuned in to see this show (and more will see the replay). What better chance to introduce the new album to a public that has pretty much forgotten her? To have it undercut by ‘arrangements’ (or worse yet, fear) is poor business sense, at the very least. [One has to think that the Lara of Canadian days wouldn’t have acted this way, but then again, she has had a lot of hard knocks to her confidence since.]
So given this delay, the new single is now due out at the beginning of February, with the album still nominally set for April 15th. We also learned a bit more about her fall tour, set to start on Sept. 11, 2013. The 100 city venue will apparently include a stop at Carnegie Hall, noted as being set for December 27, 2013. A call to that venue elicited the following information:
1) There is no indication in their listings of such a concert on that date;
2) If it does take place, it would not be part of their regular season, but a rental of the hall;
3) The listing for ‘next season’, which is when it would be, will not be out until late January or February;
4) Tickets would not be on sale until August.
We shall see more when Lara releases the schedule for the complete tour (due on her website, according to her, some time in January). Given her checkered history concerning concerts in New York, we know that even the selling of tickets would not be proof positive that she would appear, although perhaps being part of a true world-wide tour might give it sufficient momentum to occur. Whether it is related to setting up the tour or not, the LaraFabian _News (fan) Twitter site has a post from ‘maurane official’ that says Lara is currently in Quebec.
Lara also recorded another TV appearance this past week, ‘Hier Encore’, a tribute to Charles Aznavour. It apparently will be shown on France 2 at the end of February or in March. Excerpts filmed from the audience are already on youtube, including Lara’s performance of ‘Gottingen’, available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAEi-jcpWzc
IMHO, at least in the version filmed from the audience, it is not one of Lara’s better efforts – very restrained, without the intensity or soaring that was evident on her TLFM album, or the live DVD. Performances by some of the other entertainers seemed much better, as can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFfFnOTrY70
The pictures taken by the Lara Fabian Romanian fanclub of the event were published on the ‘closer’ website; you can find them at:
www.closermag.fr/content/75742/alessandra-sublet-sexy-et-en-cuir-pour-charles-aznavour
On both of these shows, Lara displayed the charisma that sets her apart from many of the other performers; one’s eyes naturally gravitate toward her (on the ‘Fete’, they even acknowledged her birthday). Yet on both, in one way or another, she has also displayed the timidity in action that one has associated with her response to the French critics, one that we hoped she was over. If it continues, how is she going to promote an album with full throated singing, as ‘Le Secret’ is advertised to be (other than by lip-synching)? Perhaps she needs time to come to terms with what she has said will be a new attitude…
One last item related to these shows: Rozenn Roz, on the MZ FB site, pointed out that if there was any doubt that Lara is no longer associated with Polydor, it can be alleviated by Polydor’s published statement lauding their artists who were to perform on the ‘celebration of French songs’. Lara’s name was not included.
In other news, there is to be a special evening dedicated to Lara on RB1 radio, this coming Friday, the 18th, as Lara ‘won’ in a competition on their FB site. The station has been asking fans what song of Lara’s they’d most like to hear. The leading candidate is ‘the new single’ (and the voting took place after the TV show)… (probably not much chance of that, but if it is played, then it will be further confirmation that Lara simply did not want to sing it live). The station can be heard on-line at:
rb1laradio.wix.com/rb1laradio#!rb1/c230d
Although by now this is several months old, the Lara Fabian Romanian Fanclub just posted the information that Lara wrote a French version of ‘Broken Vow’ to be sung by Jackie Evancho; as they indicated, it is available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUcoAlnNWP8&feature=youtu.be
Lara presumably will be working on ‘the final arrangements’ for ‘Le Secret’, and in particular the new single in the coming weeks. We might also expect her to pop up in some media events in promotional mode if time and opportunity permit.
David
As to what did happen, Lara sang a spirited duet with Vincent Niclo of the song ‘Je chante’ (from the 1938 movie of the same name). Lara was in good voice and looked quite pretty; it was very nice to hear Lara singing something we hadn’t heard her do before. The video editing was a little strange, but the singers carried the upbeat song to its proper conclusion. Videos are available on youtube; be sure to see the ones that have the full song, such as:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5n55R1wZY
As to what ‘sort of’ happened: you know a show is really being done live when problems arise and are telecast. In this case, Lara was due to lead off a medley honoring Johnny Hallyday and… nothing happened. Lara then indicated she couldn’t hear the cue, before eventually starting. To be fair, it wasn't Lara's fault - there were a number of technical 'glitches' on the show. A complete video is again available, at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHeE4X6ch4E
Then finally, what didn’t happen. It was advertised that Lara would sing the new single from ‘Le Secret’. But shortly before the program began, Lara posted a message on her FB site indicated she would not be performing it, because the ‘arrangements’ still needed fine tuning. And so she didn’t; furthermore, she didn’t sing anything else in its place (e.g., nothing from Mlle. Zhivago), her time obviously being given to someone else.
Even though Lara publicly announced some time ago that the album was ‘finished’, she has also said that it was ‘essentially finished’ but still needed a bit of work. One could then say that the ‘fine tuning’ of the single fell in that category.
Lara has also said that when she presents a new album to the public, she likes everything to be perfect before unveiling it on TV. This was her explanation for ‘lip-synching’ the songs of ‘Neuf’ on TV back in 2004 (and perhaps part of the reason for the same actions on Russian TV with the Mlle. Zhivago songs). She said it again when explaining why she wouldn’t be singing this new single. Hence. on the surface, not performing because she didn’t have the final arrangements worked out could be viewed as consistent with her approach for the last 10 years.
However, also consistent with that approach was the idea that she was hesitant to sing the new song live, which she would have been forced to do given the show’s format (witness the problem discussed above). It may well have been that challenge, as much or more so than the final arrangements (which after all would hardly be remembered by much of the French public), that was the real impediment.
Whatever the actual reason, it was a shame. To borrow a phrase often applied to Mideast peace negotiations, Lara ‘never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity’. This was a big deal program; it was an honor to be asked, and apparently several million people tuned in to see this show (and more will see the replay). What better chance to introduce the new album to a public that has pretty much forgotten her? To have it undercut by ‘arrangements’ (or worse yet, fear) is poor business sense, at the very least. [One has to think that the Lara of Canadian days wouldn’t have acted this way, but then again, she has had a lot of hard knocks to her confidence since.]
So given this delay, the new single is now due out at the beginning of February, with the album still nominally set for April 15th. We also learned a bit more about her fall tour, set to start on Sept. 11, 2013. The 100 city venue will apparently include a stop at Carnegie Hall, noted as being set for December 27, 2013. A call to that venue elicited the following information:
1) There is no indication in their listings of such a concert on that date;
2) If it does take place, it would not be part of their regular season, but a rental of the hall;
3) The listing for ‘next season’, which is when it would be, will not be out until late January or February;
4) Tickets would not be on sale until August.
We shall see more when Lara releases the schedule for the complete tour (due on her website, according to her, some time in January). Given her checkered history concerning concerts in New York, we know that even the selling of tickets would not be proof positive that she would appear, although perhaps being part of a true world-wide tour might give it sufficient momentum to occur. Whether it is related to setting up the tour or not, the LaraFabian _News (fan) Twitter site has a post from ‘maurane official’ that says Lara is currently in Quebec.
Lara also recorded another TV appearance this past week, ‘Hier Encore’, a tribute to Charles Aznavour. It apparently will be shown on France 2 at the end of February or in March. Excerpts filmed from the audience are already on youtube, including Lara’s performance of ‘Gottingen’, available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAEi-jcpWzc
IMHO, at least in the version filmed from the audience, it is not one of Lara’s better efforts – very restrained, without the intensity or soaring that was evident on her TLFM album, or the live DVD. Performances by some of the other entertainers seemed much better, as can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFfFnOTrY70
The pictures taken by the Lara Fabian Romanian fanclub of the event were published on the ‘closer’ website; you can find them at:
www.closermag.fr/content/75742/alessandra-sublet-sexy-et-en-cuir-pour-charles-aznavour
On both of these shows, Lara displayed the charisma that sets her apart from many of the other performers; one’s eyes naturally gravitate toward her (on the ‘Fete’, they even acknowledged her birthday). Yet on both, in one way or another, she has also displayed the timidity in action that one has associated with her response to the French critics, one that we hoped she was over. If it continues, how is she going to promote an album with full throated singing, as ‘Le Secret’ is advertised to be (other than by lip-synching)? Perhaps she needs time to come to terms with what she has said will be a new attitude…
One last item related to these shows: Rozenn Roz, on the MZ FB site, pointed out that if there was any doubt that Lara is no longer associated with Polydor, it can be alleviated by Polydor’s published statement lauding their artists who were to perform on the ‘celebration of French songs’. Lara’s name was not included.
In other news, there is to be a special evening dedicated to Lara on RB1 radio, this coming Friday, the 18th, as Lara ‘won’ in a competition on their FB site. The station has been asking fans what song of Lara’s they’d most like to hear. The leading candidate is ‘the new single’ (and the voting took place after the TV show)… (probably not much chance of that, but if it is played, then it will be further confirmation that Lara simply did not want to sing it live). The station can be heard on-line at:
rb1laradio.wix.com/rb1laradio#!rb1/c230d
Although by now this is several months old, the Lara Fabian Romanian Fanclub just posted the information that Lara wrote a French version of ‘Broken Vow’ to be sung by Jackie Evancho; as they indicated, it is available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUcoAlnNWP8&feature=youtu.be
Lara presumably will be working on ‘the final arrangements’ for ‘Le Secret’, and in particular the new single in the coming weeks. We might also expect her to pop up in some media events in promotional mode if time and opportunity permit.
David
