Post by davidhr on Mar 5, 2013 12:21:55 GMT -5
While Lara continued her ‘promo’ mode for the new album, the big news this week revolved around a past event. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Alan Badoev posted several ‘tweets’, including the following picture on Instagram:
The caption reads “Soon”
Then, in a tweet yesterday, he repeated a version of the poster, with a caption that says:
“Nine faces of a woman…in April”.
The return, and this time apparently actual release of Mlle. Zhivago, the film seems to be right around the corner! Lara actually spoke about it while promoting ‘Le Secret’ on Radio Nostalgia in Belgium last Thursday (and on the show they played some of the songs from the Mlle. Zhivago album). She said it will be made available (only) on the Internet. She and Alan reached agreement on the necessary changes, which involved cutting some scenes and editing others, presumably making it less ‘dark’.
To say this is surprising is a vast understatement, as there had been no word about the film in many months. If it does show up in April, it will be two and a half years after it was first supposed to have been ready. Nevertheless, it is very welcome news! It also does come in time for her next Russian tour, which starts tomorrow. Unfortunately, this compromise did not arrive soon enough for Lara to include it with the ‘western’ version of the MZ album box set, something that had been her intention from the beginning. Nor was it available to drum up interest in the MZ CD in Russia or the west; ironically it arrives in time for the new CD that has nothing to do with it. Better late than never, but much better if it hadn’t been late!
Since it seems from Badoev’s last comment that there will be nine separate vignettes, each associated with a song from the Mlle. Zhivago album, we can dust off the clips we were shown during the spring and summer of 2010. The ones we are aware of included: Mlle Hyde; Mr. President; Toccami; Demaine n’existe pas; Llora; Desperate Housewife; Lou; Russian Fairy Tale (for a total of 8); and possibly ‘Mama’. Vocalization (‘Ascolta la voce’) was at one point said to be the theme for the movie that ties the various clips together. Apparently we’ll soon be able to see if this listing is correct, although one wonders why the ‘new, interactive, social-networking Lara’ has left it up to Badoev to make the announcement on Twitter…This should be a very big deal for her as well. The film’s fate has gone through so many reversals that SEEING IS BELIEVING should really be the title of this part of the update.
Back to the present: Lara’s appearance on the French TV program ‘Hier Encore’, an homage to Charles Aznevour, aired Saturday night. Lara looked positively beautiful, and participated in several numbers, singing ‘Gottingen’ as a solo, and joining with three others on ‘La Chanson de Prevert’. Her performance of ‘Gottingen’ was more restrained than we have seen in the past, emphasizing the lyrics as opposed to the melody, but without the intensity she has given it in the past. Perhaps this was in keeping with the overall tone of the program, as Aznevour is known for his lyrics; one hopes it was not to avoid using her vocal power in front of the French. Videos of both songs are available on youtube.
And we’ve learned more about the upcoming album. Various reports have it of length 90 minutes (copy of the add posted on Lara’s FB site) or 105 minutes (including the musical interludes, which act as bridges between the songs, as stated on the ‘Pure Charts’). Both sources indicate there will be 17 titles, implying a double album, and it is listed as such on amazon.fr. It is not (yet) available there, even for pre-ordering, although on her website, Lara’s people indicated that pre-ordering will be possible soon (somewhere). An article on pitiblog mentions two new song titles of note, ‘Un ange est tombé’, a rock song (finally!), and ‘Dance’, described as “worthy of the greatest pieces of tragic opera”
. There is also apparently a song about the folly of over-reliance on ‘Social networks’, sitting behind a computer rather than getting out and living a life, having many ‘virtual’ friends but actually being alone. As several fans pointed out, she actually covered this topic with "Les amoureux de l'an 2000" on the album ‘Pure’ (so, along with homosexuality issues, returning again to the themes from that album). They also noted that it was ironic they learned about this song on the Internet.
The official cover for the new album is available on-line in many places, including at:
fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529836_559880277370354_1530184568_n.jpg
In discussing it, Lara said ‘Le Secret’ is the point inside all of us where happiness resides, while all the ‘songs’ of our life (and the album) circle round it. Quite profound – probably most people won’t get it, but it satisfies her!
Meanwhile, the distribution of the single ‘Deux ils deux elles’ has expanded somewhat, as it is now available on iTunes in Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands as well. In addition, one presumably can buy it from virginmega.fr (http://www.virginmega.fr/musique/titre/deux-ils-deux-elles-lara-fabian-116918172%2cpage1.htm), and its listed as being available for downloading on amazon.fr (http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=deux+ils+deux+elles+lara+fabian&sprefix=deux+ils+%2Caps%2C420). [Without trying it, one can never be sure that it really is available from other countries; some stores have the same policy with respect to mp3 downloads that iTunes does].
Although still not listed in the ‘events’ section of her FB site (which is now up to 28 concerts), Lara’s Carnegie Hall appearance is now official, as can be seen at:
www.carnegiehall.org/Event.aspx?id=4294994730
Tickets are not yet available from Carnegie Hall itself, and, according to them, probably won’t be until August. Those tickets that have been advertised on-line, ranging from $200-$600, if real, may have been obtained directly from the show’s promoter (and thus those prices may be ‘scalpers’ prices). Note that the listing indicates it is a show for ‘Le Secret’ – if correct, then, it won’t be a ‘Best of’ concert, but more in line with the rest of the tour. One wonders how many English songs, as opposed to French songs, will be performed for that audience.
Lara has also scheduled a concert in Ankara, Turkey for April 12, 2013 – hence not part of ‘Le Secret’ tour, being a few days before the album debuts. She has said she will not be prevented from going to Moslem countries, as she was to Lebanon, and this makes good on that pledge.
As to current activities, Lara is featured in the current ‘Le Journal du Dimanche’; a sexy picture of her is available at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151476426577417&set=a.398533517416.164839.382393522416&type=1&theater
What’s most surprising is that she shows her legs, which Lara has been very careful to avoid (she does not think it’s her best feature ). She appears to be ‘breaking new ground’ in many areas! In the article she says that when young she wanted to be a dancer (Nuriyev or Baryshnikov), and she went to a conservatory, but was told that she had flat feet and big thighs – so she would never ‘make it’. She said that ‘made her go into a shell’ as far as her body was concerned, and it was only after the birth of ‘Lou’ that she became reconciled to her body. The picture in effect displays that reconciliation.
Giora Linenburg released a video showing some of his interactions with Lara, available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIhz4Fz3ojQ
In it, there is the strong implication that he wrote (or was involved in the writing) of the song ‘Le Secret’. While we’ve heard that Janey Clewer was involved in the writing of 14 of the songs, it’s not clear how much contribution Giora made. Presumably, we’ll find out.
We’ve also now learned more about what happened at the taping of ‘Chabada’ last week. Apparently the show was meant to focus on Roberto Alagna, but after completing a duet with Lara, he grew angry at the pianist, and stormed off. They couldn’t get him back! So the show then focused on Lara. As reported, she did portions of the following songs "Avec le temps" with Roberto Alagna; "L'hymne a l'amour" with Josh Groban;"Broken vow" with Josh Groban;"Adagio" (as a solo);"Requiem pour un fou" with Amaury Vassili; “Tu es mon autre with Amaury Vassili, and the full version of ‘Deux ils deux elles’. Josh Groban actually sent a ‘Twitter’ to Lara saying “it was a wonderful thrill to see you again!! Sending love to you!” That followed Lara’s comment, on her site, saying “Josh Groban is a Loooooooooove….”, and providing a picture of the two of them (
As for current activities, Lara’s FB site has indicated that they will be posting a daily promo photo of Lara indicating what she’s doing. The first ones showed her at the rehearsals and recording of the TV show "Just for one night"(Simplement pour un soir), to be broadcast on France 2 March 30th. Several sites posted a notable picture from this event, available at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151482485102417&set=a.398533517416.164839.382393522416&type=1&theater
At the show she sang a duet of ‘New York, New York’ with what seems to be Frank Sinatra’s recorded version; it can be heard (thanks to Jean Cristoffer Santos on the Mlle. Zhivago FB site) at:
www.dropbox.com/s/d9hbeaxhu248io9/New%20York%20New%20York%20-%20simplement%20pour%20un%20soir%20%28%2004-03-13%20h.m4a
with another version at,
www.dropbox.com/s/y46rlosl6x0brd9/Autre%20version%20New%20York%20%2B%20talk%20de%20Lara%20-%20simplement%20pour%201%20soir%20%2804-03-13%29.m4a
This is so good, on another week it would be the lead item! [This part of the update could thus be called ‘hearing is believing’]. On the same site one can also see off-to-the-side videos of her singing ‘Je t’aime encore’ and ‘Deux ils deux elles’. Better videos will presumably be available when the show actually airs.
Check out her official FB site or her Instagram site for continual photo updates. Actually this morning Lara carried it one step further – recording a small video message to her fans, thanking them for all the efforts they are making to call radio stations to try to get her new single played. [In particular, she thanked ‘Antoine’]. Lara Fabian Romania, ever quick, has posted an English and Russian subtitled version of this message on youtube. Lara put the original on youtube, and in fact, she now has a youtube page – it is at:
www.youtube.com/user/larafabianoff
In addition to giving her sincere thanks, it was also, perhaps, a clarion call to keep doing it! And so the FB sites of ‘Claire Evelyne Dauge’ and ‘Lara Fabian is Here’ have a list of radio stations one can contact for that purpose (in particular, their URLs).
Nothing is scheduled to be broadcast concerning the promotion for ‘Le Secret’ this coming week, during which Lara will be in Russia for her ‘Best of’ tour, with 7 shows in 8 days. However, she has been giving numerous ‘Le Secret’ interviews in the press, and recording TV shows for future broadcast, so some interview may pop up at any time (perhaps on her youtube page). Hopefully she has had some time to prepare for the upcoming concerts. And with the news about the release of the ‘Mlle Zhivago’ film, she has many very diverse elements on her plate. Some fans are concerned that the film, in particular, may divert attention from the new album, if not for Lara (who may well not promote it), for the public itself. If it is really good that might happen, although at the same time it will raise Lara’s profile, make her a more three-dimensional figure and provide a further example of her versatility (as her fans have been saying all along). Her appearance on ‘Hier Encore’ surely helped in that as well. In the long run, this will likely boost the new album’s sales, as well as the box office for her upcoming tour.
Things are really looking up for Lara, with two long-term projects reaching fruition at once. If they are well-received, this will be a great time for her, well deserved after the angst of the last two years. The album promotion, and probably her new publicity office, have thrown her into 'social media' in a big way, so it is also a great time for her fans. And they, too, deserve it!
David
http://instagram.com/p/WVP-o5gLHo
The caption reads “Soon”
Then, in a tweet yesterday, he repeated a version of the poster, with a caption that says:
“Nine faces of a woman…in April”.
The return, and this time apparently actual release of Mlle. Zhivago, the film seems to be right around the corner! Lara actually spoke about it while promoting ‘Le Secret’ on Radio Nostalgia in Belgium last Thursday (and on the show they played some of the songs from the Mlle. Zhivago album). She said it will be made available (only) on the Internet. She and Alan reached agreement on the necessary changes, which involved cutting some scenes and editing others, presumably making it less ‘dark’.
To say this is surprising is a vast understatement, as there had been no word about the film in many months. If it does show up in April, it will be two and a half years after it was first supposed to have been ready. Nevertheless, it is very welcome news! It also does come in time for her next Russian tour, which starts tomorrow. Unfortunately, this compromise did not arrive soon enough for Lara to include it with the ‘western’ version of the MZ album box set, something that had been her intention from the beginning. Nor was it available to drum up interest in the MZ CD in Russia or the west; ironically it arrives in time for the new CD that has nothing to do with it. Better late than never, but much better if it hadn’t been late!
Since it seems from Badoev’s last comment that there will be nine separate vignettes, each associated with a song from the Mlle. Zhivago album, we can dust off the clips we were shown during the spring and summer of 2010. The ones we are aware of included: Mlle Hyde; Mr. President; Toccami; Demaine n’existe pas; Llora; Desperate Housewife; Lou; Russian Fairy Tale (for a total of 8); and possibly ‘Mama’. Vocalization (‘Ascolta la voce’) was at one point said to be the theme for the movie that ties the various clips together. Apparently we’ll soon be able to see if this listing is correct, although one wonders why the ‘new, interactive, social-networking Lara’ has left it up to Badoev to make the announcement on Twitter…This should be a very big deal for her as well. The film’s fate has gone through so many reversals that SEEING IS BELIEVING should really be the title of this part of the update.
Back to the present: Lara’s appearance on the French TV program ‘Hier Encore’, an homage to Charles Aznevour, aired Saturday night. Lara looked positively beautiful, and participated in several numbers, singing ‘Gottingen’ as a solo, and joining with three others on ‘La Chanson de Prevert’. Her performance of ‘Gottingen’ was more restrained than we have seen in the past, emphasizing the lyrics as opposed to the melody, but without the intensity she has given it in the past. Perhaps this was in keeping with the overall tone of the program, as Aznevour is known for his lyrics; one hopes it was not to avoid using her vocal power in front of the French. Videos of both songs are available on youtube.
And we’ve learned more about the upcoming album. Various reports have it of length 90 minutes (copy of the add posted on Lara’s FB site) or 105 minutes (including the musical interludes, which act as bridges between the songs, as stated on the ‘Pure Charts’). Both sources indicate there will be 17 titles, implying a double album, and it is listed as such on amazon.fr. It is not (yet) available there, even for pre-ordering, although on her website, Lara’s people indicated that pre-ordering will be possible soon (somewhere). An article on pitiblog mentions two new song titles of note, ‘Un ange est tombé’, a rock song (finally!), and ‘Dance’, described as “worthy of the greatest pieces of tragic opera”
. There is also apparently a song about the folly of over-reliance on ‘Social networks’, sitting behind a computer rather than getting out and living a life, having many ‘virtual’ friends but actually being alone. As several fans pointed out, she actually covered this topic with "Les amoureux de l'an 2000" on the album ‘Pure’ (so, along with homosexuality issues, returning again to the themes from that album). They also noted that it was ironic they learned about this song on the Internet. The official cover for the new album is available on-line in many places, including at:
fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529836_559880277370354_1530184568_n.jpg
In discussing it, Lara said ‘Le Secret’ is the point inside all of us where happiness resides, while all the ‘songs’ of our life (and the album) circle round it. Quite profound – probably most people won’t get it, but it satisfies her!
Meanwhile, the distribution of the single ‘Deux ils deux elles’ has expanded somewhat, as it is now available on iTunes in Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands as well. In addition, one presumably can buy it from virginmega.fr (http://www.virginmega.fr/musique/titre/deux-ils-deux-elles-lara-fabian-116918172%2cpage1.htm), and its listed as being available for downloading on amazon.fr (http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=deux+ils+deux+elles+lara+fabian&sprefix=deux+ils+%2Caps%2C420). [Without trying it, one can never be sure that it really is available from other countries; some stores have the same policy with respect to mp3 downloads that iTunes does].
Although still not listed in the ‘events’ section of her FB site (which is now up to 28 concerts), Lara’s Carnegie Hall appearance is now official, as can be seen at:
www.carnegiehall.org/Event.aspx?id=4294994730
Tickets are not yet available from Carnegie Hall itself, and, according to them, probably won’t be until August. Those tickets that have been advertised on-line, ranging from $200-$600, if real, may have been obtained directly from the show’s promoter (and thus those prices may be ‘scalpers’ prices). Note that the listing indicates it is a show for ‘Le Secret’ – if correct, then, it won’t be a ‘Best of’ concert, but more in line with the rest of the tour. One wonders how many English songs, as opposed to French songs, will be performed for that audience.
Lara has also scheduled a concert in Ankara, Turkey for April 12, 2013 – hence not part of ‘Le Secret’ tour, being a few days before the album debuts. She has said she will not be prevented from going to Moslem countries, as she was to Lebanon, and this makes good on that pledge.
As to current activities, Lara is featured in the current ‘Le Journal du Dimanche’; a sexy picture of her is available at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151476426577417&set=a.398533517416.164839.382393522416&type=1&theater
What’s most surprising is that she shows her legs, which Lara has been very careful to avoid (she does not think it’s her best feature
). She appears to be ‘breaking new ground’ in many areas! In the article she says that when young she wanted to be a dancer (Nuriyev or Baryshnikov), and she went to a conservatory, but was told that she had flat feet and big thighs – so she would never ‘make it’. She said that ‘made her go into a shell’ as far as her body was concerned, and it was only after the birth of ‘Lou’ that she became reconciled to her body. The picture in effect displays that reconciliation. Giora Linenburg released a video showing some of his interactions with Lara, available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIhz4Fz3ojQ
In it, there is the strong implication that he wrote (or was involved in the writing) of the song ‘Le Secret’. While we’ve heard that Janey Clewer was involved in the writing of 14 of the songs, it’s not clear how much contribution Giora made. Presumably, we’ll find out.
We’ve also now learned more about what happened at the taping of ‘Chabada’ last week. Apparently the show was meant to focus on Roberto Alagna, but after completing a duet with Lara, he grew angry at the pianist, and stormed off. They couldn’t get him back! So the show then focused on Lara. As reported, she did portions of the following songs "Avec le temps" with Roberto Alagna; "L'hymne a l'amour" with Josh Groban;"Broken vow" with Josh Groban;"Adagio" (as a solo);"Requiem pour un fou" with Amaury Vassili; “Tu es mon autre with Amaury Vassili, and the full version of ‘Deux ils deux elles’. Josh Groban actually sent a ‘Twitter’ to Lara saying “it was a wonderful thrill to see you again!! Sending love to you!” That followed Lara’s comment, on her site, saying “Josh Groban is a Loooooooooove….”, and providing a picture of the two of them (
http://instagram.com/p/WNq3TMB8_C).
As for current activities, Lara’s FB site has indicated that they will be posting a daily promo photo of Lara indicating what she’s doing. The first ones showed her at the rehearsals and recording of the TV show "Just for one night"(Simplement pour un soir), to be broadcast on France 2 March 30th. Several sites posted a notable picture from this event, available at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151482485102417&set=a.398533517416.164839.382393522416&type=1&theater
At the show she sang a duet of ‘New York, New York’ with what seems to be Frank Sinatra’s recorded version; it can be heard (thanks to Jean Cristoffer Santos on the Mlle. Zhivago FB site) at:
www.dropbox.com/s/d9hbeaxhu248io9/New%20York%20New%20York%20-%20simplement%20pour%20un%20soir%20%28%2004-03-13%20h.m4a
with another version at,
www.dropbox.com/s/y46rlosl6x0brd9/Autre%20version%20New%20York%20%2B%20talk%20de%20Lara%20-%20simplement%20pour%201%20soir%20%2804-03-13%29.m4a
This is so good, on another week it would be the lead item! [This part of the update could thus be called ‘hearing is believing’
]. On the same site one can also see off-to-the-side videos of her singing ‘Je t’aime encore’ and ‘Deux ils deux elles’. Better videos will presumably be available when the show actually airs. Check out her official FB site or her Instagram site for continual photo updates. Actually this morning Lara carried it one step further – recording a small video message to her fans, thanking them for all the efforts they are making to call radio stations to try to get her new single played. [In particular, she thanked ‘Antoine’]. Lara Fabian Romania, ever quick, has posted an English and Russian subtitled version of this message on youtube. Lara put the original on youtube, and in fact, she now has a youtube page – it is at:
www.youtube.com/user/larafabianoff
In addition to giving her sincere thanks, it was also, perhaps, a clarion call to keep doing it! And so the FB sites of ‘Claire Evelyne Dauge’ and ‘Lara Fabian is Here’ have a list of radio stations one can contact for that purpose (in particular, their URLs).
Nothing is scheduled to be broadcast concerning the promotion for ‘Le Secret’ this coming week, during which Lara will be in Russia for her ‘Best of’ tour, with 7 shows in 8 days. However, she has been giving numerous ‘Le Secret’ interviews in the press, and recording TV shows for future broadcast, so some interview may pop up at any time (perhaps on her youtube page). Hopefully she has had some time to prepare for the upcoming concerts. And with the news about the release of the ‘Mlle Zhivago’ film, she has many very diverse elements on her plate. Some fans are concerned that the film, in particular, may divert attention from the new album, if not for Lara (who may well not promote it), for the public itself. If it is really good that might happen, although at the same time it will raise Lara’s profile, make her a more three-dimensional figure and provide a further example of her versatility (as her fans have been saying all along). Her appearance on ‘Hier Encore’ surely helped in that as well. In the long run, this will likely boost the new album’s sales, as well as the box office for her upcoming tour.
Things are really looking up for Lara, with two long-term projects reaching fruition at once. If they are well-received, this will be a great time for her, well deserved after the angst of the last two years. The album promotion, and probably her new publicity office, have thrown her into 'social media' in a big way, so it is also a great time for her fans. And they, too, deserve it!
David
