Post by davidhr on May 21, 2013 10:11:32 GMT -5
This past weekend Lara appeared on the final segment of the French ‘The Voice’, and was chosen by Florent Pagny’s contestant Nuno Resende for a duet. They sang ‘Adagio’, and Lara got great reviews 
- one has to say that she did not hold back, and it is fair to wonder whether she was actually doing Nuno any favors! He didn’t win – that prize went to Yoann Freget who came across as very humble person with a powerful voice (Jennifer was his coach). Lara then also performed a live version of ‘Deux ils, deux elles’.
Lara also had many other media appearances. She was on the (120 minute) program “69 minutes Sans chichis”. A very personable show, with old photos and videos of Lara (Croire from Eurovision), an appearance by her friend Nathalie, and relaxed conversation, the type of thing Lara does best. She also participated (slightly) with a gospel group singing ‘Let It Shine’, and much more so on “Oh Happy Day” (at about the one hour point in the show). One would have to think that if anything were to raise Lara’s positive standing in the mind of the French public, this program would do it. The full show (in French) can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7xS5HAPNd8
On Saturday, Lara appeared at the new store Cultura Tours North to sign her new CD. A story about several women who went to see her there, after participating in the filming of the video for ‘Deux ils, deux elles”, was published in ‘La Nouvelle Republic’. There are several photos available:
www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/Indre-et-Loire/Loisirs/24H/n/Contenus/Articles/2013/05/20/Ils-aiment-Lara-Fabian-et-sont-venus-le-lui-dire-1472061
And another at www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/Indre-et-Loire/Loisirs/Livres-cd-dvd/n/Contenus/Articles/2013/05/19/Lara-face-a-ses-fans-1471477
The same day Lara was on the radio show Roumanoff Saturday on Europe 1, with the host Anne Roumanoff, discussing her album and career in general, with a lot of good humor (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1001vw_lara-fabian-samedi-roumanoff-sur-europe-1-18-05-13_music#.UZruKYKhU-w).
Yesterday, Lara was on the radio show MFM Live, for an extensive (one hour) interview about Le Secret. We have already seen some videos of the four songs Lara sang on the program, but this provides clear sound, along with the interview available (in French) at www.dailymotion.com/video/x1017r4_lara-fabian-mfm-live-19-05-13_music#.UZrm0IKhU-w
On almost all of the shows, the fact that Lara’s album started out at number 1 has gotten a big play, implying that she is having great success with her ‘comeback’. However, Le Secret has fallen to 27th on the French charts, and fans expect that tomorrow’s ranking will be lower still. Here’s how it has compared with Lara’s other French album releases this century, for the first 4 weeks:
Le Secret (2013): #1, 11,16, 27
TLFM (2009) : #3, 6, 9,13
Neuf (2005) #3, 6, 5, 6
En toute intimite (2003) #5, 6, 9, 8
Nue (2001) #2, 4, 6, 8
So the numbers would suggest that this is Lara’s least sustained French language album in terms of sales since she moved back to Europe, so far. That is not true as far as reviews are concerned – it certainly ranks as her best in that respect since ‘Nue’. There are many possible reasons for this discrepancy. For one, the contrast between ‘Adagio’ and ‘Deux ils deux elles’ on The Voice may also be indicative of what sells albums, big powerful songs, not complete interlocking sophisticated discs. It may also be true that however much hosts of these shows love Lara, the sales indicate her popularity with the general public in France is shallow, either because her reputation has suffered over the years or because her songs are often quite negative (a complaint I have heard from non-fans). The latest album may also be too ‘highbrow’ for a popular audience. Her complicated music and sober often profound lyrics competes in a market that is used to more immediately accessible products. Lara herself made reference to that possibility when she noted that ‘Le Figaro’ had said that “liking Lara Fabian was one of the indications of snobbery”. Finally, Lara has been more absent than present in the French market for the last three years, and memories are short. She will have a chance to rectify some of these aspects with her year long tour starting next fall, so down is not necessarily out, although for most albums, a large percentage of their total sales occurs immediately following its release. This album may benefit from continuous exposure, as it can take awhile to be fully appreciated. Of course, for may of her fans, sales are less of a concern than the quality of her work; nevertheless, they do want her to do well commercially - for both her peace of mind, and to guarantee that she continues in this profession!
Lara gave an interview to ‘Blind’ magazine. Here is the translation:
-------------------------------------------------
Absent from French shelves to meet a call from her audience in the east, Lara Fabian is back with an album of original songs. The first in the language of Moliere (in French) after 8 years.
Blind: You came back with a new album. You are reconciled with your image, but it does not appear on the cover of it, why?
Lara : One thing has nothing to do with the other. It was relevant to show a sign to symbolize happiness inside on the cover and do other things after the disclosure.
Blind: The album is called Le Secret and begins with a song of the same name that deals with incest. How did that song arise?
Lara: It's the story of an occurrence in which one in three women experience. This song was born when I got in touch with this pain, with women who were subjected to it. This has never happened to me thank God, but it happened with people I love. Incest is unfortunately one of the impacts of the life of a being, whether male or female. And when it comes to impact this is one of the most painful that I wanted to narrate my way.
Blind : In 2007, you were the mother of a little girl. What education have you given to her, is it like what you received?
Lara : Certainly the sense of protection that I offer to Lou. To pass the values that make up me. In my life, my mother was instrumental in the foundation of my education.
Blind: In eastern countries they have just seen the release of his film Mademoiselle Zhivago, from Alan Badoev. Which tells the story of the sufferings of the soul through eight stories. Was it necessary that it be filled with so much violence?
Lara: This was my great conflict with the director. That was his vision. I remember the day of the press conference, he said that crazy phrase: "Why should man be happy?" I got up and walked away.
Blind: That was the reason for the film's release being delayed?
Lara: Yes! This movie is a total mismatch to what I am. In the story "Mademoiselle Hyde" for example there are several things that should be removed. The heart scene with the syringe, the explosion of blood in the bathtub ... Like you I did not understand that it was necessary. I had a real artistic disagreement with this man.
Blind: You have always been at odds with the final edit of the film?
Lara: Yes, and I screamed loud and strong. I have not stopped trying to make him take the rifle from his shoulder for three years.
Blind: You did not write this with full awareness of that?
Lara: As you can see I'm not in the most violent scenes
Blind: These sequences you speak of were filmed without your knowledge ...
Lara: Totally! When I saw that they had three more months of filming parallel to mine, I sat down with him and said, " You're delirious, what did you do? " And he told me that was his vision. And of course it was not mine.
Blind: This apocalyptic vision presents death as a liberation of the soul ...
Lara: That's what he says! According to him, when it suffers, the soul becomes better.
Blind: And what does make the soul best according to you?
Lara: For me it's the way we apprehend the pain that makes us better.
Blind: This divergence of opinions prevented the display of film in France?
Lara: Absolutely!
Blind: According to you, what becomes of the soul after death?
Lara: It goes for a body later.
Blind: Do you believe in reincarnation?
Lara: Yes! I'm convinced! It is my personal view and opinion of things.
Blind: What is for you the feeling that is the strongest in humans?
Lara: The need to be useful to others. To help someone. One of the greatest joys that manifests in us is when we know that we belong to a group whom we can rely upon.
Blind: For many the strongest feeling is fear ...
Lara: I believe that the strongest sensations are not negative!
Blind: What do you do to forget the negative things?
Lara: I have a button that automatically turns it off, it is impressive. If it is too negative, cruel, useless and not allowed to enter the spaces of a solution, I forget.
Blind: So you do not know rancor?
Lara: There is great luck!
Lara also spoke of the nude photos for the magazine Gala: " It was tender, sexy without being vulgar. The result was a reflection of my state of mind today. Ten years ago I would not. Ten years from now I will not be able to do it. " " My team was there for hair and makeup, but at the time of the photos I was alone with the photographer. " "The publication had record sales, my fans loved it and my father thought it very beautiful," said Lara.
She also spoke of comedian Yann Barthes and his criticism and jokes about the pictures of the magazine: "It's his job. This made me laugh "
----------------------------------------------------------------
Again Lara was quite explicit about her problems with the Mlle. Zhivago film. [It is somewhat ironic that Lara is concerned with the negativity and violence Badoev shows, at the same time the hosts interviewing her have gently questioned why so many of the songs on Le Secret are so negative]. Her comment last week that there would be a DVD release after all did not specify where it would be available, and if her opinion as expressed in this article is followed, it will probably not be in France. But as Lara’s view of its future changes from week to week, we will clearly have to wait and see, maybe for just a few more weeks.
One also has to say that Lara seems to be fooling herself about her ability to transcend negative events in her life. Interviews of this nature seem to alternate with those in which she says she is quite hurt by the mockery that Barthes and Le Petit Journal aim at her – and that she wants to be on their show to confront them directly, or at least change their opinion of her. Her ‘higher Self’ may be able to forget them, but her ego doesn’t seem so immune…
Lara’s appearance on The Voice did not settle the question of what would be the next single release from Le Secret, which fans hope will boost the album back up. In an article in Purepeople concerning last week’s Global Gift Gala and Gergory Lemarchal, the following comments appeared (in translation):
------------------------------------------------------------
As for Lara Fabian, she also had the chance to meet the artist. For the singer of ‘Deux ils, deux elles”, “Grégory Lemarchal, he was a completely different incarnation, he was an angel." Telling an anecdote about a conversation they had had in Florence, the singer said she had always wanted to write a song to him but had not had time. Back in the bins with the album Le Secret, she believes that her song “Je rêve d'une étoile” might concern him, notably in the last verses that speak of God. Lyrical, she takes off: "For me, Gregory was part of God" ...
------------------------------------------------------------
There’s a very formal picture of Lara accompanying the article, at:
www.purepeople.com/article/lara-fabian-sur-gregory-lemarchal-pour-moi-c-etait-une-parcelle-de-dieu_a121127/1
If in fact she does use ‘Je rêve d'une étoile’, she has provided a justification and talking point here. Another factor in its favor is it could help to counter the idea that her album is too negative.
In ‘non-album’ related news, as a number of fans have noted, Lara’s version of “Je suis malade” was used by a contestant on the U.S. program “So You Think You Can Dance”, on the Fox network. One of the judges appreciated her voice, noting that the dancer was as dramatic as the singer… For those who haven’t seen it, it’s at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARxTRp1Fh-c
And don’t miss the beautiful duet Lara did with Roberto Alagna, shown last week on Chabada, at:
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=nMJ7d-Aa9Kk
…or the wonderful photo of Lara with Eva Longoria, at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=500476126672723&set=a.168982793155393.43222.166959643357708&type=1&theater
Lara will be on "La Parenthèse Inattendue" on the 22nd on France 2. In a segment already released, available for example, at: www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=523318151060709&set=vb.419485338110658&type=2&theater, she discusses the mocking she suffered by the Guignols. As part of the show, attendees were asked to leave their cell phones off for 24 hours (hence the show’s title), and the question was asked to fans as well what effect that would have on their lives. Most said that they have become dependent on rapid communication, but that without the cell phone, they could get by with e-mailing on their computer. Somehow that violates the spirit of the question! Many nice photos of the show can be seen at:
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.509078775806420.1073741890.103390503041918&type=1
But that seems to be it at least for the moment, as far as the announced media appearances are concerned, although her popping up here or there occasionally is not unlikely. The blitz lasted for more than a month, and it certainly has brought Lara back into the consciousness of the French public. Jean Christopher Santos, on the Mademoiselle Zhivago FB site, bemoaned the fact that very little of the album outside of ‘Deux ils, deux elles’ was actually played in all this promotion, so the general public has not really gotten a chance to hear it. Interviewers on TV and Radio were more concerned with Lara’s history than with the great musicality of the songs. It’s difficult for Lara to fully control that, but if there is another single, maybe she can choose one representative of the immense creativity the album possesses.
David
- one has to say that she did not hold back, and it is fair to wonder whether she was actually doing Nuno any favors! He didn’t win – that prize went to Yoann Freget who came across as very humble person with a powerful voice (Jennifer was his coach). Lara then also performed a live version of ‘Deux ils, deux elles’. Lara also had many other media appearances. She was on the (120 minute) program “69 minutes Sans chichis”. A very personable show, with old photos and videos of Lara (Croire from Eurovision), an appearance by her friend Nathalie, and relaxed conversation, the type of thing Lara does best. She also participated (slightly) with a gospel group singing ‘Let It Shine’, and much more so on “Oh Happy Day” (at about the one hour point in the show). One would have to think that if anything were to raise Lara’s positive standing in the mind of the French public, this program would do it. The full show (in French) can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7xS5HAPNd8
On Saturday, Lara appeared at the new store Cultura Tours North to sign her new CD. A story about several women who went to see her there, after participating in the filming of the video for ‘Deux ils, deux elles”, was published in ‘La Nouvelle Republic’. There are several photos available:
www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/Indre-et-Loire/Loisirs/24H/n/Contenus/Articles/2013/05/20/Ils-aiment-Lara-Fabian-et-sont-venus-le-lui-dire-1472061
And another at www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/Indre-et-Loire/Loisirs/Livres-cd-dvd/n/Contenus/Articles/2013/05/19/Lara-face-a-ses-fans-1471477
The same day Lara was on the radio show Roumanoff Saturday on Europe 1, with the host Anne Roumanoff, discussing her album and career in general, with a lot of good humor (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1001vw_lara-fabian-samedi-roumanoff-sur-europe-1-18-05-13_music#.UZruKYKhU-w).
Yesterday, Lara was on the radio show MFM Live, for an extensive (one hour) interview about Le Secret. We have already seen some videos of the four songs Lara sang on the program, but this provides clear sound, along with the interview available (in French) at www.dailymotion.com/video/x1017r4_lara-fabian-mfm-live-19-05-13_music#.UZrm0IKhU-w
On almost all of the shows, the fact that Lara’s album started out at number 1 has gotten a big play, implying that she is having great success with her ‘comeback’. However, Le Secret has fallen to 27th on the French charts, and fans expect that tomorrow’s ranking will be lower still. Here’s how it has compared with Lara’s other French album releases this century, for the first 4 weeks:
Le Secret (2013): #1, 11,16, 27
TLFM (2009) : #3, 6, 9,13
Neuf (2005) #3, 6, 5, 6
En toute intimite (2003) #5, 6, 9, 8
Nue (2001) #2, 4, 6, 8
So the numbers would suggest that this is Lara’s least sustained French language album in terms of sales since she moved back to Europe, so far. That is not true as far as reviews are concerned – it certainly ranks as her best in that respect since ‘Nue’. There are many possible reasons for this discrepancy. For one, the contrast between ‘Adagio’ and ‘Deux ils deux elles’ on The Voice may also be indicative of what sells albums, big powerful songs, not complete interlocking sophisticated discs. It may also be true that however much hosts of these shows love Lara, the sales indicate her popularity with the general public in France is shallow, either because her reputation has suffered over the years or because her songs are often quite negative (a complaint I have heard from non-fans). The latest album may also be too ‘highbrow’ for a popular audience. Her complicated music and sober often profound lyrics competes in a market that is used to more immediately accessible products. Lara herself made reference to that possibility when she noted that ‘Le Figaro’ had said that “liking Lara Fabian was one of the indications of snobbery”. Finally, Lara has been more absent than present in the French market for the last three years, and memories are short. She will have a chance to rectify some of these aspects with her year long tour starting next fall, so down is not necessarily out, although for most albums, a large percentage of their total sales occurs immediately following its release. This album may benefit from continuous exposure, as it can take awhile to be fully appreciated. Of course, for may of her fans, sales are less of a concern than the quality of her work; nevertheless, they do want her to do well commercially - for both her peace of mind, and to guarantee that she continues in this profession!
Lara gave an interview to ‘Blind’ magazine. Here is the translation:
-------------------------------------------------
Absent from French shelves to meet a call from her audience in the east, Lara Fabian is back with an album of original songs. The first in the language of Moliere (in French) after 8 years.
Blind: You came back with a new album. You are reconciled with your image, but it does not appear on the cover of it, why?
Lara : One thing has nothing to do with the other. It was relevant to show a sign to symbolize happiness inside on the cover and do other things after the disclosure.
Blind: The album is called Le Secret and begins with a song of the same name that deals with incest. How did that song arise?
Lara: It's the story of an occurrence in which one in three women experience. This song was born when I got in touch with this pain, with women who were subjected to it. This has never happened to me thank God, but it happened with people I love. Incest is unfortunately one of the impacts of the life of a being, whether male or female. And when it comes to impact this is one of the most painful that I wanted to narrate my way.
Blind : In 2007, you were the mother of a little girl. What education have you given to her, is it like what you received?
Lara : Certainly the sense of protection that I offer to Lou. To pass the values that make up me. In my life, my mother was instrumental in the foundation of my education.
Blind: In eastern countries they have just seen the release of his film Mademoiselle Zhivago, from Alan Badoev. Which tells the story of the sufferings of the soul through eight stories. Was it necessary that it be filled with so much violence?
Lara: This was my great conflict with the director. That was his vision. I remember the day of the press conference, he said that crazy phrase: "Why should man be happy?" I got up and walked away.
Blind: That was the reason for the film's release being delayed?
Lara: Yes! This movie is a total mismatch to what I am. In the story "Mademoiselle Hyde" for example there are several things that should be removed. The heart scene with the syringe, the explosion of blood in the bathtub ... Like you I did not understand that it was necessary. I had a real artistic disagreement with this man.
Blind: You have always been at odds with the final edit of the film?
Lara: Yes, and I screamed loud and strong. I have not stopped trying to make him take the rifle from his shoulder for three years.
Blind: You did not write this with full awareness of that?
Lara: As you can see I'm not in the most violent scenes
Blind: These sequences you speak of were filmed without your knowledge ...
Lara: Totally! When I saw that they had three more months of filming parallel to mine, I sat down with him and said, " You're delirious, what did you do? " And he told me that was his vision. And of course it was not mine.
Blind: This apocalyptic vision presents death as a liberation of the soul ...
Lara: That's what he says! According to him, when it suffers, the soul becomes better.
Blind: And what does make the soul best according to you?
Lara: For me it's the way we apprehend the pain that makes us better.
Blind: This divergence of opinions prevented the display of film in France?
Lara: Absolutely!
Blind: According to you, what becomes of the soul after death?
Lara: It goes for a body later.
Blind: Do you believe in reincarnation?
Lara: Yes! I'm convinced! It is my personal view and opinion of things.
Blind: What is for you the feeling that is the strongest in humans?
Lara: The need to be useful to others. To help someone. One of the greatest joys that manifests in us is when we know that we belong to a group whom we can rely upon.
Blind: For many the strongest feeling is fear ...
Lara: I believe that the strongest sensations are not negative!
Blind: What do you do to forget the negative things?
Lara: I have a button that automatically turns it off, it is impressive. If it is too negative, cruel, useless and not allowed to enter the spaces of a solution, I forget.
Blind: So you do not know rancor?
Lara: There is great luck!
Lara also spoke of the nude photos for the magazine Gala: " It was tender, sexy without being vulgar. The result was a reflection of my state of mind today. Ten years ago I would not. Ten years from now I will not be able to do it. " " My team was there for hair and makeup, but at the time of the photos I was alone with the photographer. " "The publication had record sales, my fans loved it and my father thought it very beautiful," said Lara.
She also spoke of comedian Yann Barthes and his criticism and jokes about the pictures of the magazine: "It's his job. This made me laugh "
----------------------------------------------------------------
Again Lara was quite explicit about her problems with the Mlle. Zhivago film. [It is somewhat ironic that Lara is concerned with the negativity and violence Badoev shows, at the same time the hosts interviewing her have gently questioned why so many of the songs on Le Secret are so negative]. Her comment last week that there would be a DVD release after all did not specify where it would be available, and if her opinion as expressed in this article is followed, it will probably not be in France. But as Lara’s view of its future changes from week to week, we will clearly have to wait and see, maybe for just a few more weeks.
One also has to say that Lara seems to be fooling herself about her ability to transcend negative events in her life. Interviews of this nature seem to alternate with those in which she says she is quite hurt by the mockery that Barthes and Le Petit Journal aim at her – and that she wants to be on their show to confront them directly, or at least change their opinion of her. Her ‘higher Self’ may be able to forget them, but her ego doesn’t seem so immune…
Lara’s appearance on The Voice did not settle the question of what would be the next single release from Le Secret, which fans hope will boost the album back up. In an article in Purepeople concerning last week’s Global Gift Gala and Gergory Lemarchal, the following comments appeared (in translation):
------------------------------------------------------------
As for Lara Fabian, she also had the chance to meet the artist. For the singer of ‘Deux ils, deux elles”, “Grégory Lemarchal, he was a completely different incarnation, he was an angel." Telling an anecdote about a conversation they had had in Florence, the singer said she had always wanted to write a song to him but had not had time. Back in the bins with the album Le Secret, she believes that her song “Je rêve d'une étoile” might concern him, notably in the last verses that speak of God. Lyrical, she takes off: "For me, Gregory was part of God" ...
------------------------------------------------------------
There’s a very formal picture of Lara accompanying the article, at:
www.purepeople.com/article/lara-fabian-sur-gregory-lemarchal-pour-moi-c-etait-une-parcelle-de-dieu_a121127/1
If in fact she does use ‘Je rêve d'une étoile’, she has provided a justification and talking point here. Another factor in its favor is it could help to counter the idea that her album is too negative.
In ‘non-album’ related news, as a number of fans have noted, Lara’s version of “Je suis malade” was used by a contestant on the U.S. program “So You Think You Can Dance”, on the Fox network. One of the judges appreciated her voice, noting that the dancer was as dramatic as the singer… For those who haven’t seen it, it’s at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARxTRp1Fh-c
And don’t miss the beautiful duet Lara did with Roberto Alagna, shown last week on Chabada, at:
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=nMJ7d-Aa9Kk
…or the wonderful photo of Lara with Eva Longoria, at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=500476126672723&set=a.168982793155393.43222.166959643357708&type=1&theater
Lara will be on "La Parenthèse Inattendue" on the 22nd on France 2. In a segment already released, available for example, at: www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=523318151060709&set=vb.419485338110658&type=2&theater, she discusses the mocking she suffered by the Guignols. As part of the show, attendees were asked to leave their cell phones off for 24 hours (hence the show’s title), and the question was asked to fans as well what effect that would have on their lives. Most said that they have become dependent on rapid communication, but that without the cell phone, they could get by with e-mailing on their computer. Somehow that violates the spirit of the question! Many nice photos of the show can be seen at:
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.509078775806420.1073741890.103390503041918&type=1
But that seems to be it at least for the moment, as far as the announced media appearances are concerned, although her popping up here or there occasionally is not unlikely. The blitz lasted for more than a month, and it certainly has brought Lara back into the consciousness of the French public. Jean Christopher Santos, on the Mademoiselle Zhivago FB site, bemoaned the fact that very little of the album outside of ‘Deux ils, deux elles’ was actually played in all this promotion, so the general public has not really gotten a chance to hear it. Interviewers on TV and Radio were more concerned with Lara’s history than with the great musicality of the songs. It’s difficult for Lara to fully control that, but if there is another single, maybe she can choose one representative of the immense creativity the album possesses.
David
