Jacques Brel
1964
Amanda: I have had the most pleasant evening. I went to dinner with my cousin at this cool Caribbean place. The food was actually pretty awful (we are talking sunny side up egg on tofu on goatcheese on tomatoes on bread) but I tried it. I have been trying so many new things lately (props to the 1001 books!). Anyway, I actually have free time so I can watch a movie and go to bed early! Woohoo!
So this is our first French album. French people have some pretty odd tastes. I mean, the Prime Minister gave Jerry Lewis an honorary award. Jerry Lewis. Still, I expected to like this because pretty much everyone else does. I was disapointed however. The music was kind of boring, the kind I heard people singing in the Metro. It also sounded choppy to me. I think that makes me the only person in the world who dislikes this album. Prove me wrong, Brie. Prove me wrong.
RATING:
Click here for a link to a really good French song.
Brie: If my French was more fluent I probably could appreciate the wonderful songwriting of Jacques Brel a lot more. But, as it is, I completely adored this! (Sorry, Mandy) Some of these made me want to be very stereotypically French (see Le Dernier Repas) and wear horizontal striped shirts, black skinny pants, and smoke cigarettes. Someday, someday. Brel uses a very tender, pensive tone to his voice on some of the songs. Also I became a bit depressed when listening to this because it just reminded me that my French accent will never be that good. :( So overall an awesome album to listen to if you want a taste of critically acclaimed French music. It won't be a waste of your time, I promise.
RATING:
"Amsterdam" and "Mathilde" show that Jacques Brel can certainly write a song, so it makes sense that he would be covered by other artists. I didn't care for his performances, though, and nothing else about this album interested me.
ReplyDeleteStandout track: "Mathilde"