Post by davidhr on Feb 26, 2013 11:57:24 GMT -5
A busy week for Lara, with many diverse elements, as she split her time between preparations for the new album’s release and her Russian obligations.
Lara actually began the week in Moscow, giving a concert for the Russian Federation Supreme Court. This concert was not listed on any known public schedule ahead of time, and we know about it, first, because Rob Mancuso posted a photo from it
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151439167539255&set=a.10150261245104255.342208.636394254&type=1&theater
and then Lara herself commented that it was now over and she was returning home. More pictures from the event can be seen at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=491339747570413&set=a.491339694237085.99637.126171034087288&type=1&theater
Surprisingly, there are no videos readily available from the concert, nor any track list. It may have been a greatly restricted audience.
As to why Lara would break up her new album promo with this out-of-the-way trip, it may well be for the same reason as her upcoming concerts in Russia – money. In an on-line article at www.jeanmarcmorandini.com/article-300759-revelations-les-salaires-des-stars-francaises-pour-participer-a-des-soirees.html
it was reported that Lara asks for 50,000 euros for a two hour show (the same as Yannick Noah, a little less than Kim Kardashian, and downright cheap compared to the one million euros charged by Lady Gaga). In addition, to be asked to sing for the prestigious (if powerless) Russian court can also be thought of as an honor. However, it has to be considered extremely odd for Lara to be so enthusiastically engaged in persuading the French public of her ‘comeback’, while at the same time continually boarding planes for Russia.
Back in France, the other highlight of the week was the release of her new single, ‘Deux ils deux elles’. And ‘in France’ were the operative words, as the single was only available through iTunes France – due to the asinine iTunes policy, if one doesn’t have a credit card registered in that country, one can not download anything from that store. This came as something of a shock to her Belgian fans, who wondered why this ‘Belgian’ artist was releasing a song that they could not obtain. [It was true, in a way, for Lara’s ‘Mlle. Zhivago’ release in Russia initially as well, but this was a song meant for the French market]. Lara’s people hastily noted that it would subsequently be available in Belgium, presumably starting today, but it underscores once again the poor planning of Lara’s team (now including her new press agent). Emails came in from fans all over the world decrying the fact that the single was not available for them to hear, despite the large international publicity accompanying its release. And in most countries it still isn’t available – it is not on youtube, and while it was released to French radio stations, apparently they aren’t playing it (it is not an upbeat crowd pleaser, despite its important message). Lara’s team indicated that there will be a video accompanying it, and then people may get to hear the full cut. Apparently, Lara and her people still don’t understand the demands entailed in being an international artist; there is no doubt that this lack of availability has severely restricted the number of downloads the song would have obtained.
Actually, all the fuss is not really warranted – the one minute that is available for promo purposes indicates that it is essentially the cut that Lara performed at the ‘Defense of Gay Marriage’ show, except that version did not have the background chorus vocals (their addition probably delayed the single’s release). The instrumentation, phrasing, everything else seems the same. So to those who have not yet heard it – you have essentially heard it!
Some further information has come forth concerning the new album. It seems ‘Deux ils deux elles’ was the last song recorded and added to the album after the other 14 titles were already recorded. And as we had speculated several weeks ago, ‘Mirage’ will be on the new album, according to a reported conversation with Bruce Gaitsch, who played guitar on the various cuts (and whose wife Janey Clewer wrote the music for it, as well as for most of the others). So, along with ‘Deux ils deux elles’ and ‘Le Secret’ we’ve now heard three of the 15 songs (although one report claims there may be as many as 17, hence a double album). They are all serious, melodic, with restrained singing. But there are still plenty of cuts left to fill out the advance characterization of a ‘progressive rock album with powerful vocals’. Manu Pitois produced the CD along with Lara, it is a ‘9Prod’ product (Lara’s company), and it will be distributed by Warner Bros. (instead of Universal). This last aspect guarantees that Lara will not have to resort to selling it on-line, and raises its prospects immensely; and with the ‘distribution only’ contract, Lara doesn’t have to worry about company oversight as she did with Universal (e.g., TLFM1).
Lara’s people have gotten around to finalizing and posting some of the tour dates, and those are now listed in the ‘events’ section of her FB site. So far some 25 venues are given as available for ticketing, primarily in France and Belgium, with one location in Switzerland (Geneva). Other concerts will be added as their contracts are signed.
Lara had a special message in that regard for Quebec. Translated from her FB site:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My angels from the The Beautiful Province... I'm suffering with you for not being able to come see you now... I'm suffering for not being able to come "home" more often...
The way in which I recently "came closer" was to record most of my album in Quebec... in a studio at Morin Heights this summer and in Montreal this winter.
...I just asked my staff to schedule concert dates at the end of this year in Montreal, Quebec, Gatineau and I hope some other cities too...
For now, it is impossible to me to come to Quebec and that's why I asked to postpone the release [of the album] in October, to introduce it to you personally!!! Just a little more patience and we will meet in October and December...
Lots of big kisses!
Lov
Lara"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was obviously also a way to report that the new album will not be available in Quebec for six months, although presumably it will be obtainable elsewhere (e.g., FNAC, amazon.fr; unlike the situation with iTunes, they will deliver the physical CD worldwide).
Since getting back from Russia, Lara has been engaged in recording more TV shows. Specifically noted was the registration of ‘Enfants de la télé’ yesterday. One report from an audience member said that ‘Lara was amused, danced and laughed, while eating a lot of candy”, with a filmed sequence of her from the past aboard an aircraft carrier (you may remember that one). There was apparently a medley of songs, ending with the new single. It will be broadcast March 29th. A picture of Lara there is at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151465022257417&set=a.398533517416.164839.382393522416&type=1&theater
For those in Paris (or thinking of going there), Lara mentioned in a ‘Tweet’ that before going to the show she ate at her favorite restaurant in Paris, "Momoka".
TV appearances will continue up to the time she leaves for her next Russian concerts, including ‘Hier Encore’ on March 2, and the program ‘Simplement pour un soir’ (one can see the blurb for it at www.emissions-tv.com/emissions/197/simplement_pour_un_soir).
And Lara now has a presence on ‘instagram’, a place to present pictures. Her official site is: instagram.com/larafabianofficial
With her promotional activities and her upcoming Russian concerts, we can expect a plethora of news the next two months…Lara in ‘very active’ mode is a joy to behold, and hopefully she will be able to fully enjoy it as well.
David
Lara actually began the week in Moscow, giving a concert for the Russian Federation Supreme Court. This concert was not listed on any known public schedule ahead of time, and we know about it, first, because Rob Mancuso posted a photo from it
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151439167539255&set=a.10150261245104255.342208.636394254&type=1&theater
and then Lara herself commented that it was now over and she was returning home. More pictures from the event can be seen at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=491339747570413&set=a.491339694237085.99637.126171034087288&type=1&theater
Surprisingly, there are no videos readily available from the concert, nor any track list. It may have been a greatly restricted audience.
As to why Lara would break up her new album promo with this out-of-the-way trip, it may well be for the same reason as her upcoming concerts in Russia – money. In an on-line article at www.jeanmarcmorandini.com/article-300759-revelations-les-salaires-des-stars-francaises-pour-participer-a-des-soirees.html
it was reported that Lara asks for 50,000 euros for a two hour show (the same as Yannick Noah, a little less than Kim Kardashian, and downright cheap compared to the one million euros charged by Lady Gaga). In addition, to be asked to sing for the prestigious (if powerless) Russian court can also be thought of as an honor. However, it has to be considered extremely odd for Lara to be so enthusiastically engaged in persuading the French public of her ‘comeback’, while at the same time continually boarding planes for Russia.
Back in France, the other highlight of the week was the release of her new single, ‘Deux ils deux elles’. And ‘in France’ were the operative words, as the single was only available through iTunes France – due to the asinine iTunes policy, if one doesn’t have a credit card registered in that country, one can not download anything from that store. This came as something of a shock to her Belgian fans, who wondered why this ‘Belgian’ artist was releasing a song that they could not obtain. [It was true, in a way, for Lara’s ‘Mlle. Zhivago’ release in Russia initially as well, but this was a song meant for the French market]. Lara’s people hastily noted that it would subsequently be available in Belgium, presumably starting today, but it underscores once again the poor planning of Lara’s team (now including her new press agent). Emails came in from fans all over the world decrying the fact that the single was not available for them to hear, despite the large international publicity accompanying its release. And in most countries it still isn’t available – it is not on youtube, and while it was released to French radio stations, apparently they aren’t playing it (it is not an upbeat crowd pleaser, despite its important message). Lara’s team indicated that there will be a video accompanying it, and then people may get to hear the full cut. Apparently, Lara and her people still don’t understand the demands entailed in being an international artist; there is no doubt that this lack of availability has severely restricted the number of downloads the song would have obtained.
Actually, all the fuss is not really warranted – the one minute that is available for promo purposes indicates that it is essentially the cut that Lara performed at the ‘Defense of Gay Marriage’ show, except that version did not have the background chorus vocals (their addition probably delayed the single’s release). The instrumentation, phrasing, everything else seems the same. So to those who have not yet heard it – you have essentially heard it!
Some further information has come forth concerning the new album. It seems ‘Deux ils deux elles’ was the last song recorded and added to the album after the other 14 titles were already recorded. And as we had speculated several weeks ago, ‘Mirage’ will be on the new album, according to a reported conversation with Bruce Gaitsch, who played guitar on the various cuts (and whose wife Janey Clewer wrote the music for it, as well as for most of the others). So, along with ‘Deux ils deux elles’ and ‘Le Secret’ we’ve now heard three of the 15 songs (although one report claims there may be as many as 17, hence a double album). They are all serious, melodic, with restrained singing. But there are still plenty of cuts left to fill out the advance characterization of a ‘progressive rock album with powerful vocals’. Manu Pitois produced the CD along with Lara, it is a ‘9Prod’ product (Lara’s company), and it will be distributed by Warner Bros. (instead of Universal). This last aspect guarantees that Lara will not have to resort to selling it on-line, and raises its prospects immensely; and with the ‘distribution only’ contract, Lara doesn’t have to worry about company oversight as she did with Universal (e.g., TLFM1).
Lara’s people have gotten around to finalizing and posting some of the tour dates, and those are now listed in the ‘events’ section of her FB site. So far some 25 venues are given as available for ticketing, primarily in France and Belgium, with one location in Switzerland (Geneva). Other concerts will be added as their contracts are signed.
Lara had a special message in that regard for Quebec. Translated from her FB site:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My angels from the The Beautiful Province... I'm suffering with you for not being able to come see you now... I'm suffering for not being able to come "home" more often...
The way in which I recently "came closer" was to record most of my album in Quebec... in a studio at Morin Heights this summer and in Montreal this winter.
...I just asked my staff to schedule concert dates at the end of this year in Montreal, Quebec, Gatineau and I hope some other cities too...
For now, it is impossible to me to come to Quebec and that's why I asked to postpone the release [of the album] in October, to introduce it to you personally!!! Just a little more patience and we will meet in October and December...
Lots of big kisses!
Lov
Lara"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was obviously also a way to report that the new album will not be available in Quebec for six months, although presumably it will be obtainable elsewhere (e.g., FNAC, amazon.fr; unlike the situation with iTunes, they will deliver the physical CD worldwide).
Since getting back from Russia, Lara has been engaged in recording more TV shows. Specifically noted was the registration of ‘Enfants de la télé’ yesterday. One report from an audience member said that ‘Lara was amused, danced and laughed, while eating a lot of candy”, with a filmed sequence of her from the past aboard an aircraft carrier (you may remember that one). There was apparently a medley of songs, ending with the new single. It will be broadcast March 29th. A picture of Lara there is at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151465022257417&set=a.398533517416.164839.382393522416&type=1&theater
For those in Paris (or thinking of going there), Lara mentioned in a ‘Tweet’ that before going to the show she ate at her favorite restaurant in Paris, "Momoka".
TV appearances will continue up to the time she leaves for her next Russian concerts, including ‘Hier Encore’ on March 2, and the program ‘Simplement pour un soir’ (one can see the blurb for it at www.emissions-tv.com/emissions/197/simplement_pour_un_soir).
And Lara now has a presence on ‘instagram’, a place to present pictures. Her official site is: instagram.com/larafabianofficial
With her promotional activities and her upcoming Russian concerts, we can expect a plethora of news the next two months…Lara in ‘very active’ mode is a joy to behold, and hopefully she will be able to fully enjoy it as well.
David
