Arabesque

Jane Birkin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B0000C3I8R
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,007 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #26 in Music > World Music > Middle East > General
  • #26 in Music > World Music > Middle East > General AAS
  • #74 in Music > Pop > Euro Pop > French Pop

Track Listings

1. Élisa

2. Et Quand Bien Même

3. L' Amour de Moir

4. Couleur Café

5. Close to the River

6. Dépression au Dessus du Jardin

7. Valse de Melody

8. Haine Pour Aime

9. Amours de Feintes

10. She Left Home (Instrumental)

11. Les Dessous Chics

12. Les Clefs du Paradis

13. Fuir le Bonheur de Peur Qu'il Ne Se Sauve

14. Comment Te Dire Adieu

15. Baby Alone in Babylone

16. La Javanaise

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

British-born Birkin, with her deep bangs and waif-like, androgynous persona, was an iconic 1960s sex kitten. Her exploits ranged from the three-way scene in in Antonioni¹s film Blow Up to performing one-half of her late ex-husband Serge Gainsbourg's notorious (in retrospect, also quite witty!) erotic duet, "Je T'Aime, Moi Non Plus." These days, although her trademark breathy vocal style remains as subtly elusive as ever, she has finally moved on to a mature and womanly sensibility. This live album features an all-Gainsbourg program, but his romantic, world-weary satires are now wreathed in sultry Middle Eastern instrumentation, which suits them remarkably well. The songwriter died relatively young, worn out by cigarettes and hard living. Birkin's interpretations, while based on inside knowledge of the man and his music, are filtered through a shifting kaleidoscope of private images. Her sensuous, sophisticated renditions are part of Gainsbourg's legacy but more importantly, they make scrumptious listening. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seductively exotic, July 17, 2004

By 

filterite "filterite" (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arabesque (Audio CD)

With an arabian twist to the usual French pop sensibilities and fine vocals the effect is a subtly seductively exotic album filled with delights. It's almost like Ferrero Rocher ( I don't know if you guys get them ) but you feel as if " you're really spoiling us " with this collection. This has to go down as a first rate tribute to the great Serge Gainsbourg and also a first rate live album too. A must have for those interested in something different and are not bothered by a different language

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rare opportunity to hear Djamel Ben Yelles, June 23, 2009

By 

Marius Cipolla - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arabesque (MP3 Download)

This album is a rare opportunity to hear the fascinating and hypnotic violinist, Djamel Ben Yelles (also spelled Benyelles) whose work has been undervalued for years. One of his skills lies in floating a musical liferaft for singers with very small voices, and he does this wonderfully here for Jane Birkin, who only stays afloat in several numbers thanks to him. If you are not a Birkin fan, you may find her contribution unbearably irritating. However the numbers where Ben Yelles's violin soars (as in his own immensely popular "She Left Home") are well worth listening to.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh air, October 25, 2007

By 

Trillita "Trillita" (Ceuta, España) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arabesque (Audio CD)

Well, I'd just heard, not listened to, a piece of one of the Arabesque's song in a TV spot, here in Spain.
I was enchanted by the music and I started to look for the title and the singer through internet, when I found her, Jane Birkin, I read her biography and about her professional career and I decided to buy one of her albums.
As I previously had bought products to Amazon (and I already knew the efficent way they work)it was the first place I visited to buy the cd.
Of course they had it, and I got it in less than six days.
I truly recommend it to all the readers who enjoy life, sunsets, sunlight, moonlight and fresh air.
Elisa, the song with which the album starts, it's simply heavenly.