Customer Reviews

Les Annees Orlando

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dalida's Les Annees Orlando is the definitive compilation of her French songs from her post-Barclay era, probably the one she's most remembered for. By the time she started recording on the new label, she had outgrown her bambino and ye-ye years, and changed her repertoire almost radically. She had metamorphosed from a lightweight and disposable French chanteuse with a checkered discography of Italian-accented refrains reminiscent of the sun and the Mediterranean and mostly translated from American and British pop hits, to a mature diva whose repertoire boasted the work the best songwriters of that time, and songs that are deep, poetic, and avant-gardiste in many respects. For example, Il venait d'avoir 18 ans was considered one of the most popular and daring songs of 1974. It had won the singer unprecedented accolades, and established her as the ultimate Dame de la Chanson Francaise with over 100 million records sold to her credit thus far. We also find such priceless gems as Leo Ferre's Avec le temps, Gigi L'amoroso, Pour ne pas vivre seul, Ta Femme, Manuel, Mamy Blue, and J'Attendrai which ushered in the Disco period of Dalida's career where she reinvented herself (again) as a disco queen and Broadway-style dancer despite the fact that she had been pushing 50 at the time. The collection ends with Dalida's last recorded song, Le 6e jour, a dark ballad which she sang as a tribute to the movie of the same name in which she had starred a year before her tragic suicide on May 3, 1987. The compilation has some songs that were not previously released, and a whole disc dedicated to her international hits, including German, Arabic, English, and Italian rarities. If you're a Dalida fan, it would be a crime not to have this collection. It's worth every last penny.

After listening to the 4 remix CD's of Dalidas songs it was a treat to hear the originals. All just as beautifully moving and exciting. "I just called..." by Stevie Wonder to the beautful "Love In side" by Barry Gibb. Plus the original dance hits "Laissez-moi danser" and Frances first disco hit "J'attendrai".Definitely a must for any Dalida novice or fan!!!!!!!

Dalida, like so many other Diva Singers of her generation, has been re-packaged endlessly. This album remains the ultimate collection. As the title reads, this compilation focuses on the "Orlando Years", the songs were recorded for her brother's label (1970 - 1986).
The songs are first rate and all the great hits are here (Digitally Remastered).
Recommended.

Being a new fan, I am not as knowledgeable about Dalida's creative path as the previous reviewer, but I own 2 CDs so far: this one and Master Serie (a French-made digest on a single disc). The difference is so stark that sometimes it's hard to tell it is the same singer. In the Master Serie, Dalida's voice is full, fresh, vibrant, and there is a lot of heart in it. In contrast, Les Annees Orlando CD seems flat and listless but for a few songs, and Dalida's voice is more hoarse and lacks strength and vitality, making for a CD that entertains with diversity of the repertoire but disappoints with a lack of "personality".