Post by davidhr on Mar 19, 2013 10:27:45 GMT -5
There are so many ‘top’ stories this week, it’s hard to decide which should go first, but we’ll start with the Mlle. Zhivago film, since it remains the most surprising. Alan Badoev released a new trailer for the film, available at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFGOfBp-R-U
Some fans have said they like it better than the first one; to me, the first one was also quite spectacular.
Furthermore, many sources, including Badoev himself, have announced that the movie will be premiered with a special screening for invited guests in Kiev on April 5. Lara and Igor Krutoi will come to Kiev to join Badoev for the showing. (Is this an alternate universe we’re living in?
). There will then be a follow-up special showing in Moscow on the 6th. It’s likely that Max Barskih, who played opposite Lara in many of the scenes, will also be there, as he released the following (translated) statement on his website:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A great premiere: Krutoi, Fabian and her offspring with Badoev in Kiev". The first expected projection of the Mademoiselle Zhivago project will be in Kiev on April 5, on a large screen. A special projection in cinema "Ukraine". Lara Fabian and Igor Krutoy come especially to the Ukrainian capital for the premiere and will join to present the project of Alan Badoev. After Kiev will be a special exhibition in Moscow. I'm very proud of this project, I have never been more convinced in my life. "Our children", that of Igor and Lara stood the test of time. And from then on it became more important and valuable to us. I would like to thank Igor and Lara for the extraordinary moments we spent together in this movie. I'll remember every minute we traveled together. "Max Barskih"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And Badoev released his own (translated) message:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Project ‘Mademoiselle Zhivago’ - I tried to bring music videos beyond the usual commercial videos. In it, bringing together small stories, you can see the portrait of a modern woman - fragile, tender, passionate, strong ...
We worked on the edge of the possible, to give the audience our creation. I am very proud to have filmed all of it in Ukraine and with Ukrainian professionals.
I thank Igor Krutoy for music, faith and constant support. Believe me, this project required a lot of courage. And Lara Fabian will remain for me the most versatile, because it is the portrait of her that was the basis of everything.
Hopefully everyone who views "Mademoiselle Zhivago" will be able to see this project as something that will stay with them after the completion of review.” Alan Badoev
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He then posted what may well be the poster for the movie:
When asked (by Tarcisio) where it will be made available, Badoev reportedly said on the website ‘Vimeo’ (http://vimeo.com/). So far, there is no information on that site about it.
The news of the films release has been picked up by the French press (e.g., chartsinfrance.net; actuamusic.fr). It is also an obvious item of interest in the Ukraine(http://24tv.ua/home/showSingleNews.do?muzichniy_proekt_mademuazel_zhivago_otrimav_noviy_treyler&objectId=318162) (thanks to LaraFabianweb). Even Bruce Gaitsch (who played guitar on ‘Le Secret’, and is the husband of Janey Clewer who wrote 14 of the 17 songs on that album) chipped in with this message: "I saw the films at Lara's home in November of 2011...she is an incredible actress and these little gems should prove to the world that fact. Her singing has always been the finest....now we all will get to see her living the songs”.
As to what the movie would contain, it was apparently reported in the Ukrainian press that the version to be shown would be that which Badoev had originally put together, without any of the rumored ‘adjustments’ (thanks to Daina for the info). That didn’t seem to be what Lara implied when she spoke about their having reached an agreement, unless the agreement was simply her giving in. Why would she do that, after stonewalling it for close to two years, and just when her new album was due to come out? Fans have wondered whether the scene of the children shooting paint guns at each other, to the song of Mr. President, was still in the film, for it is not in the new trailer. However, the trailer says ‘9 lives’, and it was one of the nine, so it’s hard see how it won’t be.
An argument in favor of it being Badoev’s original version (or close to it) is that while we have the above statements from Badoev, and Barskih, both apparently very happy, we have no such written statement from Lara, not on her FB site or her Twitter page. She has not announced she is attending the opening, although she apparently is. Fans posting about it on her FB page, and providing a link to the new trailer, have not had their messages removed, but they were not answered, either [except for the statement from last week that nothing official had been decided, which seems to have been superseded by events]. One would have to conclude that Lara is not altogether pleased that this is happening – maybe it’s just a question of timing, taking attention away from the new album, or maybe it is a matter of content. Nevertheless, she will have to say something eventually, as her FB site promised it would let fans know.
The response to the new trailer, and to the news of the release in general, has been overwhelmingly ecstatic on the part of those who are interested. If this had been a marketing campaign to drum up interest, it could not have been done better, as the pent-up demand is enormous. Presumably we will actually get to see whether the movie is worth it… . If in fact the release is really the same version that’s been ready for the last year, then it is yet another example of Lara being her own worst enemy, considering the impact an earlier release would have had on the publicity, CD sales, and overall impact of the Mlle. Zhivago project.
Of course, something that does meet with Lara’s full approval is her new album, and the preliminary reviews coming in are probably even beyond her expectations. Her official site provided a link to a Ptitblog review; here’s a translation of it:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lara makes a return full of class and elegance. True to her desire for artistic freedom, Lara directs her music where you do not expect it, and delivers a double album of 17 original songs, all written by her pen, which is certainly not commercial but worthy of the finest examples of French song. Lara Fabian will certainly have very fine critiques emanating from the media, but according to me will have problems imposing this universe on the general public.
Nevertheless this album carries universal values and messages, and titles such as "Deux ils deux elles", "La vie est là", "Le Secret", "Il est Lune" ou still "P... de grand Amour" will not leave anyone indifferent. Eight years after her last album of original songs, Lara Fabian effectuates an honorable return and places herself as a true artisan of sound.
Each piece connects perfectly with carefully placed interludes between songs and as soon as we dive into the sonic journey that is "The Secret" you can not leave before the end. Lara Fabian offers here an album that is a reflection of the woman, artist, author, composer, in a word HER album, more intimate than the previous ones, and always with the force we love so much from the artist.
"The Secret" will no longer be one as of the next month and I can already assure you that this album will take the stage with all its nobility and has an extra dimension!
Congratulations to Lara Fabian for having taken this course and the ability to always know how to renew herself and take her music off the beaten path. This is an album that reconciled me with the French song and deserves an attentive ear, at the risk of missing out on an exercise of style, daring but successful!
The release of this new album will be followed by a world tour starting in September 2013 in Belgium, before passing through Switzerland, France and even the United States, where the singer is expected in the prestigious confines of Carnegie Hall New York on 27 December.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While Lara may not have been overjoyed to read the reviewer’s opinion that the album was not ‘commercial’, she should be very happy about the rest of it. And this seems to be the general opinion of the few fans who have heard it – they like best the songs which are most daring. It is probably an album that Lara could not have made if she had stayed with Universal, given their discouragement of her first version of TLFM (saying it was not commercial). On the other hand, it was reported that Warner Bros. announced they were spending 1,150,000 Euros on publicity and marketing of this album – clearly they think it has commercial potential! And with that effort on their part, the audience will at least (and at last) get a chance to hear how creative Lara really is. BTW, all reports say that the singing is top-notch, so it would appear she has been true to her word, in using her vocal power.
In other news, and almost as an afterthought, Lara concluded her ‘Best of’ tour in Russia this past week. The Lara Fabian Brazil site has some nice photos and videos of her last three shows in Penza, Volgograd and Saratov, available at:
www.larafabianbrasil.com.br/2013/03/show-em-penza-russia-120313.html
www.larafabianbrasil.com.br/2013/03/show-em-volgogrado-russia-130313.html
www.larafabianbrasil.com.br/2013/03/encerramento-da-turne-best-of-show-em.html
BTW, her FB site posted a message indicating that the travel problem getting to Penza was, as stated then, more scary than harmful, and Lara did give her concert there, although it was 90 minutes late in starting. All three concerts received glowing reviews from fans attending, and the available videos show her once again in very good voice.
And Lara was on French TV this past Saturday, in a coaching role, for the program “The Voice”. A video of her (non-singing and in French) participation is available at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200814379500207&set=vb.103390503041918&type=2&theater
She’ll be there next week as well (3/23 on TF1). Also on that date she will be on "Le Plus Grand Cabaret" (France 2). And in a different context, Lara will participate in the yearly battle against AIDS program on the 22nd.
Lara seems to have been having her picture taken as part of the promotion for ‘Le Secret’, and two of those photos are posted on her various sites, in particular at:
instagram.com/larafabianofficial
As can be seen, one of the photos shows her looking quite emaciated. Fans have been commenting for some time that she appears to have lost weight, and this photo makes it appear extreme. In the photos at the links given above for the Russian concerts (and in a news video of her in Saratov, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeirGAoXb1A), one can see that she has lost some weight, but it doesn’t appear out of place; perhaps the photo in question, and the makeup, was associated with the song “Amourexique” (song 3 on disc 1 of 'Le Secret').
Lara’s two projects would seem to have something in common, in addition to their release date: though most of us have neither seen/heard either as of yet, apparently they both show her to be very daring. Perhaps, as has been suggested in some quarters, Lara has finally ‘grown up’, transitioned from being a ‘pop star’ to being a mature highly sophisticated, complicated artist. She was always more than her prevailing image, but she now seems willing to be more out front about it. Even if it turns out these projects are not overly commercial, if they are as good as their ‘buzz’, they may just end up defining her legacy.
David
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFGOfBp-R-U
Some fans have said they like it better than the first one; to me, the first one was also quite spectacular.
Furthermore, many sources, including Badoev himself, have announced that the movie will be premiered with a special screening for invited guests in Kiev on April 5. Lara and Igor Krutoi will come to Kiev to join Badoev for the showing. (Is this an alternate universe we’re living in?
). There will then be a follow-up special showing in Moscow on the 6th. It’s likely that Max Barskih, who played opposite Lara in many of the scenes, will also be there, as he released the following (translated) statement on his website:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A great premiere: Krutoi, Fabian and her offspring with Badoev in Kiev". The first expected projection of the Mademoiselle Zhivago project will be in Kiev on April 5, on a large screen. A special projection in cinema "Ukraine". Lara Fabian and Igor Krutoy come especially to the Ukrainian capital for the premiere and will join to present the project of Alan Badoev. After Kiev will be a special exhibition in Moscow. I'm very proud of this project, I have never been more convinced in my life. "Our children", that of Igor and Lara stood the test of time. And from then on it became more important and valuable to us. I would like to thank Igor and Lara for the extraordinary moments we spent together in this movie. I'll remember every minute we traveled together. "Max Barskih"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And Badoev released his own (translated) message:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Project ‘Mademoiselle Zhivago’ - I tried to bring music videos beyond the usual commercial videos. In it, bringing together small stories, you can see the portrait of a modern woman - fragile, tender, passionate, strong ...
We worked on the edge of the possible, to give the audience our creation. I am very proud to have filmed all of it in Ukraine and with Ukrainian professionals.
I thank Igor Krutoy for music, faith and constant support. Believe me, this project required a lot of courage. And Lara Fabian will remain for me the most versatile, because it is the portrait of her that was the basis of everything.
Hopefully everyone who views "Mademoiselle Zhivago" will be able to see this project as something that will stay with them after the completion of review.” Alan Badoev
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He then posted what may well be the poster for the movie:
http://instagram.com/p/W971auALD1
When asked (by Tarcisio) where it will be made available, Badoev reportedly said on the website ‘Vimeo’ (http://vimeo.com/). So far, there is no information on that site about it.
The news of the films release has been picked up by the French press (e.g., chartsinfrance.net; actuamusic.fr). It is also an obvious item of interest in the Ukraine(http://24tv.ua/home/showSingleNews.do?muzichniy_proekt_mademuazel_zhivago_otrimav_noviy_treyler&objectId=318162) (thanks to LaraFabianweb). Even Bruce Gaitsch (who played guitar on ‘Le Secret’, and is the husband of Janey Clewer who wrote 14 of the 17 songs on that album) chipped in with this message: "I saw the films at Lara's home in November of 2011...she is an incredible actress and these little gems should prove to the world that fact. Her singing has always been the finest....now we all will get to see her living the songs”.
As to what the movie would contain, it was apparently reported in the Ukrainian press that the version to be shown would be that which Badoev had originally put together, without any of the rumored ‘adjustments’ (thanks to Daina for the info). That didn’t seem to be what Lara implied when she spoke about their having reached an agreement, unless the agreement was simply her giving in. Why would she do that, after stonewalling it for close to two years, and just when her new album was due to come out? Fans have wondered whether the scene of the children shooting paint guns at each other, to the song of Mr. President, was still in the film, for it is not in the new trailer. However, the trailer says ‘9 lives’, and it was one of the nine, so it’s hard see how it won’t be.
An argument in favor of it being Badoev’s original version (or close to it) is that while we have the above statements from Badoev, and Barskih, both apparently very happy, we have no such written statement from Lara, not on her FB site or her Twitter page. She has not announced she is attending the opening, although she apparently is. Fans posting about it on her FB page, and providing a link to the new trailer, have not had their messages removed, but they were not answered, either [except for the statement from last week that nothing official had been decided, which seems to have been superseded by events]. One would have to conclude that Lara is not altogether pleased that this is happening – maybe it’s just a question of timing, taking attention away from the new album, or maybe it is a matter of content. Nevertheless, she will have to say something eventually, as her FB site promised it would let fans know.
The response to the new trailer, and to the news of the release in general, has been overwhelmingly ecstatic on the part of those who are interested. If this had been a marketing campaign to drum up interest, it could not have been done better, as the pent-up demand is enormous. Presumably we will actually get to see whether the movie is worth it…
. If in fact the release is really the same version that’s been ready for the last year, then it is yet another example of Lara being her own worst enemy, considering the impact an earlier release would have had on the publicity, CD sales, and overall impact of the Mlle. Zhivago project. Of course, something that does meet with Lara’s full approval is her new album, and the preliminary reviews coming in are probably even beyond her expectations. Her official site provided a link to a Ptitblog review; here’s a translation of it:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lara makes a return full of class and elegance. True to her desire for artistic freedom, Lara directs her music where you do not expect it, and delivers a double album of 17 original songs, all written by her pen, which is certainly not commercial but worthy of the finest examples of French song. Lara Fabian will certainly have very fine critiques emanating from the media, but according to me will have problems imposing this universe on the general public.
Nevertheless this album carries universal values and messages, and titles such as "Deux ils deux elles", "La vie est là", "Le Secret", "Il est Lune" ou still "P... de grand Amour" will not leave anyone indifferent. Eight years after her last album of original songs, Lara Fabian effectuates an honorable return and places herself as a true artisan of sound.
Each piece connects perfectly with carefully placed interludes between songs and as soon as we dive into the sonic journey that is "The Secret" you can not leave before the end. Lara Fabian offers here an album that is a reflection of the woman, artist, author, composer, in a word HER album, more intimate than the previous ones, and always with the force we love so much from the artist.
"The Secret" will no longer be one as of the next month and I can already assure you that this album will take the stage with all its nobility and has an extra dimension!
Congratulations to Lara Fabian for having taken this course and the ability to always know how to renew herself and take her music off the beaten path. This is an album that reconciled me with the French song and deserves an attentive ear, at the risk of missing out on an exercise of style, daring but successful!
The release of this new album will be followed by a world tour starting in September 2013 in Belgium, before passing through Switzerland, France and even the United States, where the singer is expected in the prestigious confines of Carnegie Hall New York on 27 December.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While Lara may not have been overjoyed to read the reviewer’s opinion that the album was not ‘commercial’, she should be very happy about the rest of it. And this seems to be the general opinion of the few fans who have heard it – they like best the songs which are most daring. It is probably an album that Lara could not have made if she had stayed with Universal, given their discouragement of her first version of TLFM (saying it was not commercial). On the other hand, it was reported that Warner Bros. announced they were spending 1,150,000 Euros on publicity and marketing of this album – clearly they think it has commercial potential! And with that effort on their part, the audience will at least (and at last) get a chance to hear how creative Lara really is. BTW, all reports say that the singing is top-notch, so it would appear she has been true to her word, in using her vocal power.
In other news, and almost as an afterthought, Lara concluded her ‘Best of’ tour in Russia this past week. The Lara Fabian Brazil site has some nice photos and videos of her last three shows in Penza, Volgograd and Saratov, available at:
www.larafabianbrasil.com.br/2013/03/show-em-penza-russia-120313.html
www.larafabianbrasil.com.br/2013/03/show-em-volgogrado-russia-130313.html
www.larafabianbrasil.com.br/2013/03/encerramento-da-turne-best-of-show-em.html
BTW, her FB site posted a message indicating that the travel problem getting to Penza was, as stated then, more scary than harmful, and Lara did give her concert there, although it was 90 minutes late in starting. All three concerts received glowing reviews from fans attending, and the available videos show her once again in very good voice.
And Lara was on French TV this past Saturday, in a coaching role, for the program “The Voice”. A video of her (non-singing and in French) participation is available at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200814379500207&set=vb.103390503041918&type=2&theater
She’ll be there next week as well (3/23 on TF1). Also on that date she will be on "Le Plus Grand Cabaret" (France 2). And in a different context, Lara will participate in the yearly battle against AIDS program on the 22nd.
Lara seems to have been having her picture taken as part of the promotion for ‘Le Secret’, and two of those photos are posted on her various sites, in particular at:
instagram.com/larafabianofficial
As can be seen, one of the photos shows her looking quite emaciated. Fans have been commenting for some time that she appears to have lost weight, and this photo makes it appear extreme. In the photos at the links given above for the Russian concerts (and in a news video of her in Saratov, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeirGAoXb1A), one can see that she has lost some weight, but it doesn’t appear out of place; perhaps the photo in question, and the makeup, was associated with the song “Amourexique” (song 3 on disc 1 of 'Le Secret').
Lara’s two projects would seem to have something in common, in addition to their release date: though most of us have neither seen/heard either as of yet, apparently they both show her to be very daring. Perhaps, as has been suggested in some quarters, Lara has finally ‘grown up’, transitioned from being a ‘pop star’ to being a mature highly sophisticated, complicated artist. She was always more than her prevailing image, but she now seems willing to be more out front about it. Even if it turns out these projects are not overly commercial, if they are as good as their ‘buzz’, they may just end up defining her legacy.
David
