Customer Reviews

Comment Te Dire Adieu

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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This is an excellent album. Francoise Hardy specialises in the autumnal, and a couple of numbers apart (the jazzy 'Etonnez-Moi Benoit...' and the sublime camp-cool opener 'Comment te Dire Adieu') the mood is reflective and often melancholy - without lapsing into dullness. Fine examples of Hardy's own songwriting such as 'Les Etoiles et Le Mer' and 'A Quoi Ca sert?' (with proto-Nymanesque intrumental passage in the middle) keep fitting company with covers of Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne', Gainsbourg's 'L'anamour' (better than his own version, I feel), subdued Brazilian piece 'Mesange' and a pleasant French version of 'Lonesome Town'.

Highlights for me are: the title track itself, in which Hardy's breathy detached voice drifts over a flamboyant orchestral tune and a latin beat; the wistful closing number 'Les Etoiles et Le mer'; and the gorgeous 'Ou Va La Chance?', a glorious weepy which has the sweetest, loneliest music and voice, without ever quite becoming sacharine.

Never less than good, this is record worth playing all the way through, and that makes it a rarity for me. It's a well structured, charming, and sometimes moving, artefact. Recommended for FH fans and also simply fans of good pop songs.

In this album Hardy's velvety voice ranges over a wide variety of styles. The album begins with a fun, danceable pop song in pure late sixties style, "Comment te dire adieu". Afterwards, Hardy veers to slower songs, making beautiful renditions of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne", Georges Brassens' classic "Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux" (A mas-ter-piece, with incredible piano arrangements) and Jobim's bossa nova "Sabiá" (in French "Le mésange"), as well as singing a couple of very sweet own compositions, "A quoi ça sert?" and "La mer, les étoiles et le vent", which demonstrate her talent as a songwriter. Towards the end of the album she includes a lively French jazz tune, "Etonnez-moi, Benoît", which stands as an oddity, but is quite fun. Recommended for all lovers of sixties stuff.

I still cannot believe how amazing this CD is - I heard Francoise Hardy's voice several years ago after a friend made a tape, and I decided to try some of her music on my own. I'm glad I picked this CD because it is just one of the most beautiful, romantic, and sublime collections of music I have ever heard. Her voice is melancholy, but not cloying, the music (outside of the lighthearted "e'ttonez-moi,benoit...! and playful, but not vapid, "comment te deire adieu?") is incredibly compelling and moving on every track. "ou' va la chance?" actually gives me the chills at certain points. Her cover of Leonard Cohen's impossibly lovely "Suzanne" is very effective. Most Americans don't know Francoise Hardy, but I'm glad I do. After hearing this CD, I know I want more.

I purchased this CD on the recomendation of a friend, and have deemed it one of my personal foreign favorites. Overall, the album is very strong. Francoise Hardy's voice is unearthly and the musical arrangements are fantastic. I would say the album is influenced by a unique combination of Serge Gainsbourg, early American country, and '60s folk music. Her style is tireless, and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates the French sound.

FRANCOISE'S first VIRGIN album has survived rather well, even if it only goes 30 minutes.Two GAINSBOURG classics:the title track and L'ANAMOUR;ETONNEZ MOI BENOIT from the pen of writer PATRICK MODIANO;a BRASSENS song that was inspired by poet LOUIS ARAGON ,and a few other interestings songs.The importance here ,is that FRANCOISE is more willing to orchestrate her songs with different arrangers, and it works well.Actually, she had started doing it in the previous album MA JEUNESSE FOUT LE CAMP

An artist more similar to Jody Collins and with a more modern style such as those of Tift Merritt and Carla Bruni than the typical French music Style of the mid century; Contempative, controled, subtle and brooding. More intelectual than emotional. She has a voice that never goes off treck; soft, evenly paced and with a smooth timber, but not a great range. Don't expact highs and lows or tremblings of passionate feelings. She expects you to stop and be very still and silent while you are listening to her and discover the underlying depth of her undemonstrative feelings for yourself. You'll have to earn it, she would not through it at your face. A little like an austere French provincial aristocrat. But you should not miss this unique experience, if you are up to the task.

I commute a lot to work, so I buy a lot of music to listen in the car. This belongs to the pile "to play on the way back home", in contrast w/ "to play on my way to work". I find her voice & music calming/soothing. Plus, her songs are easy to sing-along, giving you an opportunity to remember your French. I like all her songs on this album, the one called "Etonnez-moi, Benoit" being my least favorite and "Comment te dire adieu" my favorite. Her songs are neither slow or fast, just right, and her voice feels like a "brain massage". How relaxing! I remember, just a few days ago, I left from work MAD, then I played her album, started singing along, rolling my "r"s, and before you know it, I felt happy wrapped in her warm voice...mmm...