Post by davidhr on Jul 19, 2016 8:12:18 GMT -5
Usually during summer, the news is slow because Lara, and everybody else, is away on vacation. However, according to Lara’s team, Lara has already had her brief vacation, and is now focused on work for the new English language album. The net effect though is hardly different, with little in the way of public appearances.
One news album that elicited a response from Lara publicly was the terrorist attack in Nice. Lara posted on her FB site the comment,
“I'm upset… From all my heart with the families of the victims, with the Nice, with France....”
It has reached the point that these events are starting to resemble ‘dog bites man’ stories, in which resorting to violence against ‘non-combatants’ to oppose some envisioned inequity has become the norm, not only for terrorists in Europe but for grievances elsewhere, e.g., racial issues in the U.S., etc. There is little new Lara can add each time a new episode arises, except to express her regret with ever-decreasing surprise and shock. Hopefully none of it will directly impact Lara and her family (or you, too!).
On a more positive note…Lara’s team announced that her boutique store is now open, with products delivered internationally. It can be found at:
shop.larafabian.com/fr/
So far it has a poster, a few T-shirts, a magnet, pen, mug, key chain, a bag hanger, some programs – all with Lara’s picture and/or name - and both the original album and the collector’s box edition of ‘Le Secret’.
One thing that is surprising is that the boutique doesn’t have more CDs. And this is also true of the Discography section of Lara’s official URL (www.larafabian.com), which lists only ‘Ma vie dans la tienne’. It’s not as if that site has been abandoned – it lists all the concerts that are currently on her FB site. Strange oversight, in both cases.
Now that Lara’s team has indicated that her tour in support of ‘Ma vie dans la tienne’ will largely end with this calendar year, we can put the sales for this album in some perspective. The following comparison involves only sales rankings in France as determined by ‘Charts in France’ [thus in particular it ignores the world wide sales of the first English album]. It also excludes albums not formally released in France in record stores, such as ‘Mademoiselle Zhivago’, or ‘Every Woman in Me’, and other albums aimed at other markets (e.g., Lara’s compendium albums, “Selection” for Turkey and “Essential” for Italy). It also ignores all other collections (e.g., Best of). And it underplays (or completely ignores) the albums made and released especially in Quebec (the first self-titled French album, and to a good extent Carpe Diem).
Comparing total sales for Lara’s albums over time is complicated by the overall trend of declining album sales. CD sales have been on the decrease for more than a decade, first in favor of digital purchases and now, in addition, due to streaming (e.g., www.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/business/media/music-sales-remain-steady-but-lucrative-cd-sales-decline.html?_r=0). Music charts now incorporate a separate component for digital purchases, but given the digital ability to purchase individual songs, it is not a real substitute when considering whole album sales. So to make this comparison more equitable, it will be done relative to ‘other artists’ who suffer the same changes, i.e., by the position on the French music chart.
Shown below are the titles of Lara’s albums, their date of release, the number of weeks they spent on the French charts in the first 50 positions, and then the number in the first 100 positions (which obviously includes the top 50). [Charts before 2002 only had the top 150 positions; for a few years thereafter they had 200 positions; and now they have 300 positions – so by assessing only the first 100 slots, all the albums are given the same chance].
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE (YEAR OF RELEASE)….#WEEKS TOP 50/# WEEKS TOP 100
Carpe Diem (1998)………………...25/34
Pure (1998)……………………………..99/108
Live (1999)……………………………...26/44
Lara Fabian(Eng) (1999-2000).11/15
Nue (2001)……………………………...56/80
Lara Fabian Live (2002)………….10/17
En toute intimate (2003)…………23/27
A Wonderful Life (2004)……………5/13
Neuf (2005)……………………………..20/52
Un regard neuf (2006)………………4/6
TLFM (2009)…………………………...13/28
Le Secret (2013)……………………… 6/11
Ma vie dans la tienne (2015)….15/25 [considering physical CDs]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
There are few surprises in this chart, which shows the overall decline of Lara’s position visa vi other artists for the French buying public. The latest album is broadly continuing this trend, despite its good reviews, although it is actually not much different than TLFM, released 6 years earlier. It does come in ahead of ‘Le Secret’, but that album was presumably handicapped to some extent by Lara’s having to cut short her tour.
One altered demographic that can’t be changed, and that one would think is influencing this trend, is Lara’s increasing age relative to the record buying public. However, that might not really be the case: in a recent study conducted in the U.S., it turns out that the 45+ age group (i.e., Lara’s age) was actually the largest buying demographic (https://spinditty.com/industry/Who-is-Buying-the-Most-Music-Its-Not-Who-You-Think). Apparently those people purchase primarily ‘catalog’ music, that is from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, rather than newer artists. So older music buyers don’t go out actively looking for new artists. If this is also relevant for France, it should work in Lara’s favor, at least to some extent, with those who brought such success to the sales of ‘Pure’ and ‘Nue’ wanting to follow up their purchases with her later work. It hasn’t really happened. Warner France might want to consider why that is, given that Lara’s singing is as top notch as ever, and her songwriting, both for this album and ‘Le secret’ maintains it depth and poeticism. Perhaps a stint on ‘The Voice’ would change things, though Lara has not been absent from the French media.
Another aspect one can see in this chart, also not a great surprise, is that Lara’s English language albums do not do well in France. You might think, “Of course!”, but actually, six of the top 20 albums currently on the French album chart are English language albums. Again, whatever record company is producing the coming English disc should investigate why Lara’s English music doesn’t translate to the French audience. Perhaps they are simply influenced by an English language record’s success in English speaking countries – or at least record promoters and radio stations believe they are, and so make it so. We’ve heard that Lara’s next English language album will be released in both France and Belgium, but the above chart does not offer great hope in that regard. Despite its substantial world-wide appeal, the self-titled English album spent less time high on the French charts than her latest French album, and ‘A Wonderful Life’ did somewhat worse (though it too was handicapped by an illness that largely prevented Lara from promoting it). The new record will apparently be marketed world-wide (or why else promote it with a tour), so we’ll see if it resuscitates Lara’s decade-old allure with record buying international audiences (something ‘A Wonderful Life’ never had a chance to receive).
The other main 'explanation' is that Lara’s form of music, being a ‘singer of voice’ is just out of fashion with the French public. There appears to be some truth to that. ‘Charts in France’ lists the greatest ‘singers of voice’ (of various nationalities) (http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?/topic/13155-les-50-plus-grandes-voix-feminines-mondiales/); besides Lara, for France it includes Hélène Ségara, Julie Zenatti, Isabelle Boulay, Patricia Kaas, Nolwenn Leroy, Tina Arena, Chimène Badi, Zazie, and Natasha St Pier. We can ask a simple question: in each case, did their last two records (in the last five years) show a decline similar to what Lara has in # of chart positions in the top 50 compared to what they had done previously (10-15 years ago)? The answer is: in six of the nine cases, they did. For isabelle Boulay and Chimene Badi, there was some drop off but not nearly as drastic. And for Nolwenn Leroy, her albums in 2011 and 2012 charted better than the ones a decade earlier. So while Lara is following the general pattern, this shows that at the very least, the degree of the decline was not inevitable.
Coincidentally, the video of an interview Lara gave on the show ‘La traversée du miroir“ from 2009 was just put on youtube, available at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXH2LBDwAhQ . It came out at the time of the promotion for TLFM, and so had some discussion about that album, particularly Nana Mouskouri, but also concerned Lara’s life and career. In it she noted (and not for the first time) that as a result of the criticism she received for singing ‘too loudly’ and ‘shouting’, she altered her type of singing, believing the critics to be right. One can’t help think that both the criticism and her more muted style contributed to her loss of popularity among the public at large, if not to her devoted fans. And though she’s back singing the way she wants, with an even more mature approach and control, it’s not easy to regain the reputation and public interest one has lost, although she is making a valiant effort. Being cast as an ‘international singer’ has provided her a new perspective for the French audience, even if it has not immediately resulted in a vast restoration of sales.
And on this 'international' point: Lara is being promoted as having sold 32 million records world-wide (as in the article below). Presumably that includes singles, but even so, the numbers on Charts in France total less than half that amount (although we know they severely underestimate the first English album and associated singles). It would be nice to know how the record company or publicist comes to that number, and whether the drop in French sales is balanced to any extent by the increase in international sales. If so, then the above chart has an entirely different meaning and explanation, i.e., due to a change of her geographic focus.
To end this discussion of 'chart position' on a positive note: The single ‘Razorblade’, the duet with Natalia, has risen to #8 on the ultratip ‘bubbling under’ Belgian chart in Flanders [this is for singles not yet in the ‘top 50’ which are most likely to be hits]. So there’s hope for it yet! While this may be due primarily to Natalia, it’s good to see an effort at ‘peace-making’ have some hope of success.
In other news, Lara’s fall tour continues to grow. The LFIAG site noted that Lara has a concert set for Greece on September 21 (http://mikrofwno.gr/2016/07/h-lara-fabian-stin-ellada-tetarti-21-septemvriou/). The [Google] translation is provided below:
-----------------------------------------------
The Lara Fabian in Greece!
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Centre Court Tennis | OAKA
Lara Fabian: One of the female voices of the millennium!
A voice with incredible extent, hidden passion, talent, feeling, melody! A voice, which from the late 80s until today counts dozens of achievements!
A top performer who has touched millions of music fans through the magnificent songs like “Je t 'aime”, “Je suis malade”, “Tout”, “Humana”, “La Difference”, “Si tu m' aimes” , “Tu t'en vas”, “Adagio”, “I Will Love Again”, “I Am Who I Am”, “Requiem pour un fou”, “Broken vow”, “Love By Grace”, “Soleil Soleil”, successes that established her as a diva of the world music scene!
An artistic personality, a dramatic soprano who captivates the audience through her interpretations, balancing with the voice skills, arriving at three octaves in a variety of songs ranging from soulful ballads to the "phantasmagoric notes of a French cabaret."
In concerts she creates a particular universe that generates sounds, images and emotions. A soulful atmosphere that enchants the lucky spectators present at the show. Many of the songs seem to spring up as if through film – it is no coincidence that Disney chose to lend her voice to Esmeralda in the French version of Notre Dame, giving her the opportunity to sing a big success, the “Que dieu aide les exclus”.
Each show of Lara Fabian is remembered as unique for the moving interpretation! What makes it unique in the world music scene is the ability of Lara Fabian to sing in seven languages French, English, Spanish, Italian, Flemish, German, Russian, reaching sales of discs to 32 million while the awards and global recognition are innumerable. She has even sung in Greek, along with Mario Frangoulis, the song “All Alone Am I” (Do not ask the sky) by Manos Hadjidakis.
The beloved Lara Fabian, the ultimate diva of contemporary music, will be found in a unique concert in Athens, Wednesday, September 21 at Centre Court Tennis in the Olympic Stadium, to give a magical night for Greek fans!
More information very soon!
For now, keep available that evening.
Advance tickets will begin on July 19 in www.viva.gr
-------------------------------
A wonderful publicity blurb! Whoever wrote that should be commended!
This concert is not yet included on the ‘events’ portion of her FB page, but her concerts in Turkey in late August are. One wonders how many performers appear in both Turkey and Greece, long-term rivals, less than one month apart. Lara believes music transcends all such hostilities. And speaking of Turkey, another example of chaos, in response to the coup attempt there, Lara tweeted, “Praying for Turkey...”. The ‘Lara Fabian Turkey site responded, “Thank you Lara Fabian, for standing with the Turkish Nation during this difficult night. We are proud to have you as our friend, and to be your fans. Lara Fabian Türkiye”.
Interesting photo(s) of the week: from the Lara Fabian Voice of Passion site,
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianTheVoiceOfPassion/photos/a.722339551114856.1073741831.720473304634814/1461645017184302/?type=3&theater
and from ‘Operation Fan Club Lara Fabian’, an appropriately restrained picture,
www.facebook.com/OperationFanClubLaraFabian/photos/a.674006339373232.1073741828.673991206041412/1000147746759088/?type=3&theater
Presumably Lara will continue work on the new album this coming week, but it is bound to be a months-long process. When asked last week whether Lara would be available to give a concert in September her team answered, “No, she will be in the studio recording the new English album.” The first scheduled event on her calendar, the Gay Pride concert in Montreal, is still almost one month away.
David
One news album that elicited a response from Lara publicly was the terrorist attack in Nice. Lara posted on her FB site the comment,
“I'm upset… From all my heart with the families of the victims, with the Nice, with France....”
It has reached the point that these events are starting to resemble ‘dog bites man’ stories, in which resorting to violence against ‘non-combatants’ to oppose some envisioned inequity has become the norm, not only for terrorists in Europe but for grievances elsewhere, e.g., racial issues in the U.S., etc. There is little new Lara can add each time a new episode arises, except to express her regret with ever-decreasing surprise and shock. Hopefully none of it will directly impact Lara and her family (or you, too!).
On a more positive note…Lara’s team announced that her boutique store is now open, with products delivered internationally. It can be found at:
shop.larafabian.com/fr/
So far it has a poster, a few T-shirts, a magnet, pen, mug, key chain, a bag hanger, some programs – all with Lara’s picture and/or name - and both the original album and the collector’s box edition of ‘Le Secret’.
One thing that is surprising is that the boutique doesn’t have more CDs. And this is also true of the Discography section of Lara’s official URL (www.larafabian.com), which lists only ‘Ma vie dans la tienne’. It’s not as if that site has been abandoned – it lists all the concerts that are currently on her FB site. Strange oversight, in both cases.
Now that Lara’s team has indicated that her tour in support of ‘Ma vie dans la tienne’ will largely end with this calendar year, we can put the sales for this album in some perspective. The following comparison involves only sales rankings in France as determined by ‘Charts in France’ [thus in particular it ignores the world wide sales of the first English album]. It also excludes albums not formally released in France in record stores, such as ‘Mademoiselle Zhivago’, or ‘Every Woman in Me’, and other albums aimed at other markets (e.g., Lara’s compendium albums, “Selection” for Turkey and “Essential” for Italy). It also ignores all other collections (e.g., Best of). And it underplays (or completely ignores) the albums made and released especially in Quebec (the first self-titled French album, and to a good extent Carpe Diem).
Comparing total sales for Lara’s albums over time is complicated by the overall trend of declining album sales. CD sales have been on the decrease for more than a decade, first in favor of digital purchases and now, in addition, due to streaming (e.g., www.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/business/media/music-sales-remain-steady-but-lucrative-cd-sales-decline.html?_r=0). Music charts now incorporate a separate component for digital purchases, but given the digital ability to purchase individual songs, it is not a real substitute when considering whole album sales. So to make this comparison more equitable, it will be done relative to ‘other artists’ who suffer the same changes, i.e., by the position on the French music chart.
Shown below are the titles of Lara’s albums, their date of release, the number of weeks they spent on the French charts in the first 50 positions, and then the number in the first 100 positions (which obviously includes the top 50). [Charts before 2002 only had the top 150 positions; for a few years thereafter they had 200 positions; and now they have 300 positions – so by assessing only the first 100 slots, all the albums are given the same chance].
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE (YEAR OF RELEASE)….#WEEKS TOP 50/# WEEKS TOP 100
Carpe Diem (1998)………………...25/34
Pure (1998)……………………………..99/108
Live (1999)……………………………...26/44
Lara Fabian(Eng) (1999-2000).11/15
Nue (2001)……………………………...56/80
Lara Fabian Live (2002)………….10/17
En toute intimate (2003)…………23/27
A Wonderful Life (2004)……………5/13
Neuf (2005)……………………………..20/52
Un regard neuf (2006)………………4/6
TLFM (2009)…………………………...13/28
Le Secret (2013)……………………… 6/11
Ma vie dans la tienne (2015)….15/25 [considering physical CDs]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
There are few surprises in this chart, which shows the overall decline of Lara’s position visa vi other artists for the French buying public. The latest album is broadly continuing this trend, despite its good reviews, although it is actually not much different than TLFM, released 6 years earlier. It does come in ahead of ‘Le Secret’, but that album was presumably handicapped to some extent by Lara’s having to cut short her tour.
One altered demographic that can’t be changed, and that one would think is influencing this trend, is Lara’s increasing age relative to the record buying public. However, that might not really be the case: in a recent study conducted in the U.S., it turns out that the 45+ age group (i.e., Lara’s age) was actually the largest buying demographic (https://spinditty.com/industry/Who-is-Buying-the-Most-Music-Its-Not-Who-You-Think). Apparently those people purchase primarily ‘catalog’ music, that is from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, rather than newer artists. So older music buyers don’t go out actively looking for new artists. If this is also relevant for France, it should work in Lara’s favor, at least to some extent, with those who brought such success to the sales of ‘Pure’ and ‘Nue’ wanting to follow up their purchases with her later work. It hasn’t really happened. Warner France might want to consider why that is, given that Lara’s singing is as top notch as ever, and her songwriting, both for this album and ‘Le secret’ maintains it depth and poeticism. Perhaps a stint on ‘The Voice’ would change things, though Lara has not been absent from the French media.
Another aspect one can see in this chart, also not a great surprise, is that Lara’s English language albums do not do well in France. You might think, “Of course!”, but actually, six of the top 20 albums currently on the French album chart are English language albums. Again, whatever record company is producing the coming English disc should investigate why Lara’s English music doesn’t translate to the French audience. Perhaps they are simply influenced by an English language record’s success in English speaking countries – or at least record promoters and radio stations believe they are, and so make it so. We’ve heard that Lara’s next English language album will be released in both France and Belgium, but the above chart does not offer great hope in that regard. Despite its substantial world-wide appeal, the self-titled English album spent less time high on the French charts than her latest French album, and ‘A Wonderful Life’ did somewhat worse (though it too was handicapped by an illness that largely prevented Lara from promoting it). The new record will apparently be marketed world-wide (or why else promote it with a tour), so we’ll see if it resuscitates Lara’s decade-old allure with record buying international audiences (something ‘A Wonderful Life’ never had a chance to receive).
The other main 'explanation' is that Lara’s form of music, being a ‘singer of voice’ is just out of fashion with the French public. There appears to be some truth to that. ‘Charts in France’ lists the greatest ‘singers of voice’ (of various nationalities) (http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?/topic/13155-les-50-plus-grandes-voix-feminines-mondiales/); besides Lara, for France it includes Hélène Ségara, Julie Zenatti, Isabelle Boulay, Patricia Kaas, Nolwenn Leroy, Tina Arena, Chimène Badi, Zazie, and Natasha St Pier. We can ask a simple question: in each case, did their last two records (in the last five years) show a decline similar to what Lara has in # of chart positions in the top 50 compared to what they had done previously (10-15 years ago)? The answer is: in six of the nine cases, they did. For isabelle Boulay and Chimene Badi, there was some drop off but not nearly as drastic. And for Nolwenn Leroy, her albums in 2011 and 2012 charted better than the ones a decade earlier. So while Lara is following the general pattern, this shows that at the very least, the degree of the decline was not inevitable.
Coincidentally, the video of an interview Lara gave on the show ‘La traversée du miroir“ from 2009 was just put on youtube, available at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXH2LBDwAhQ . It came out at the time of the promotion for TLFM, and so had some discussion about that album, particularly Nana Mouskouri, but also concerned Lara’s life and career. In it she noted (and not for the first time) that as a result of the criticism she received for singing ‘too loudly’ and ‘shouting’, she altered her type of singing, believing the critics to be right. One can’t help think that both the criticism and her more muted style contributed to her loss of popularity among the public at large, if not to her devoted fans. And though she’s back singing the way she wants, with an even more mature approach and control, it’s not easy to regain the reputation and public interest one has lost, although she is making a valiant effort. Being cast as an ‘international singer’ has provided her a new perspective for the French audience, even if it has not immediately resulted in a vast restoration of sales.
And on this 'international' point: Lara is being promoted as having sold 32 million records world-wide (as in the article below). Presumably that includes singles, but even so, the numbers on Charts in France total less than half that amount (although we know they severely underestimate the first English album and associated singles). It would be nice to know how the record company or publicist comes to that number, and whether the drop in French sales is balanced to any extent by the increase in international sales. If so, then the above chart has an entirely different meaning and explanation, i.e., due to a change of her geographic focus.
To end this discussion of 'chart position' on a positive note: The single ‘Razorblade’, the duet with Natalia, has risen to #8 on the ultratip ‘bubbling under’ Belgian chart in Flanders [this is for singles not yet in the ‘top 50’ which are most likely to be hits]. So there’s hope for it yet! While this may be due primarily to Natalia, it’s good to see an effort at ‘peace-making’ have some hope of success.
In other news, Lara’s fall tour continues to grow. The LFIAG site noted that Lara has a concert set for Greece on September 21 (http://mikrofwno.gr/2016/07/h-lara-fabian-stin-ellada-tetarti-21-septemvriou/). The [Google] translation is provided below:
-----------------------------------------------
The Lara Fabian in Greece!
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Centre Court Tennis | OAKA
Lara Fabian: One of the female voices of the millennium!
A voice with incredible extent, hidden passion, talent, feeling, melody! A voice, which from the late 80s until today counts dozens of achievements!
A top performer who has touched millions of music fans through the magnificent songs like “Je t 'aime”, “Je suis malade”, “Tout”, “Humana”, “La Difference”, “Si tu m' aimes” , “Tu t'en vas”, “Adagio”, “I Will Love Again”, “I Am Who I Am”, “Requiem pour un fou”, “Broken vow”, “Love By Grace”, “Soleil Soleil”, successes that established her as a diva of the world music scene!
An artistic personality, a dramatic soprano who captivates the audience through her interpretations, balancing with the voice skills, arriving at three octaves in a variety of songs ranging from soulful ballads to the "phantasmagoric notes of a French cabaret."
In concerts she creates a particular universe that generates sounds, images and emotions. A soulful atmosphere that enchants the lucky spectators present at the show. Many of the songs seem to spring up as if through film – it is no coincidence that Disney chose to lend her voice to Esmeralda in the French version of Notre Dame, giving her the opportunity to sing a big success, the “Que dieu aide les exclus”.
Each show of Lara Fabian is remembered as unique for the moving interpretation! What makes it unique in the world music scene is the ability of Lara Fabian to sing in seven languages French, English, Spanish, Italian, Flemish, German, Russian, reaching sales of discs to 32 million while the awards and global recognition are innumerable. She has even sung in Greek, along with Mario Frangoulis, the song “All Alone Am I” (Do not ask the sky) by Manos Hadjidakis.
The beloved Lara Fabian, the ultimate diva of contemporary music, will be found in a unique concert in Athens, Wednesday, September 21 at Centre Court Tennis in the Olympic Stadium, to give a magical night for Greek fans!
More information very soon!
For now, keep available that evening.
Advance tickets will begin on July 19 in www.viva.gr
-------------------------------
A wonderful publicity blurb! Whoever wrote that should be commended!
This concert is not yet included on the ‘events’ portion of her FB page, but her concerts in Turkey in late August are. One wonders how many performers appear in both Turkey and Greece, long-term rivals, less than one month apart. Lara believes music transcends all such hostilities. And speaking of Turkey, another example of chaos, in response to the coup attempt there, Lara tweeted, “Praying for Turkey...”. The ‘Lara Fabian Turkey site responded, “Thank you Lara Fabian, for standing with the Turkish Nation during this difficult night. We are proud to have you as our friend, and to be your fans. Lara Fabian Türkiye”.
Interesting photo(s) of the week: from the Lara Fabian Voice of Passion site,
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianTheVoiceOfPassion/photos/a.722339551114856.1073741831.720473304634814/1461645017184302/?type=3&theater
and from ‘Operation Fan Club Lara Fabian’, an appropriately restrained picture,
www.facebook.com/OperationFanClubLaraFabian/photos/a.674006339373232.1073741828.673991206041412/1000147746759088/?type=3&theater
Presumably Lara will continue work on the new album this coming week, but it is bound to be a months-long process. When asked last week whether Lara would be available to give a concert in September her team answered, “No, she will be in the studio recording the new English album.” The first scheduled event on her calendar, the Gay Pride concert in Montreal, is still almost one month away.
David
