Customer Reviews

Couleur Cafe

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gainsbourg was an incomparable French composer of high-quality, sophisticated pop tunes of all kinds. He sounds like a much more upbeat, hipper, peevish version of Leonard Cohen. In fact, if you don't understand two words of French, Serge's music sounds even better, since your imagination is free to roam anywhere it likes.

There are 3 major compilations of Serge's '60s output that are on the market, "Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin," "Coleur Cafe," and "Comic Strip." All three are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL music for self-respecting pop conneisseurs. In fact, whip out your credit card right now and buy all 3, because THERE IS NO BETTER POP MUSIC MADE BY ANYONE ANYWHERE.

"Coleur Cafe," which is a mostly Mambo, Latin, and African beat influenced collection is the most consistent of the three. "Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin" is a Miles Davis/Dave Brubeck influenced collection of ultra-cool Jazz-pop fusion. "Comic Strip" is a less consistent, late '60s, psychedelic-rock influenced set which features some of Serge's most spectacular songs such as his collaborations with Brigitte Bardot (Bonnie and Clyde) and Jane Birkin (je t'aime...moi non plus).

Serge Gainsbourg put his extraordinary talent to merging Euro-Pop music with Latin and African rhythms on this album, and comes up with the most hip & happening lounge music you'll find. I gave my Esquivel away because after getting hooked on this, it just fell short. Couleur Cafe never fails to make everyone feel like having a party and transports one to an easy state of mind. At first listen, I smiled and laughed. At the second listen, I was chilling out in my own space and at the third, I realized Serge is an extremely sensitive, deeply philosophical man who can extract the very elements of an eclectic range of styles that, when combined, lightly uplift the soul.

I just wanted to make a comment about "What the Critics Say:" Maybe the author of that critic should have made better research about Jane Birkin. She was his WIFE. She sang a lot of songs that Serge Composed. She was not just put in that song because of the song being "filthily." If you want to check other songs where Jane sings, check-out the Gainsbourg "Musiques de Films." There you can find a lot of songs that he composed for movies and where Jane Birkin sings. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to the album right now. He was a great composer and I remember when he passed away, it was a great loss. Also did you know about a dictation that was givin by the French Academy to some French celebrities (song composer etc.), Serge scored best. He might have been very eccentric but that was what made him. He could intimidate a lot of scholars that way, even though he always had a glass of alcohol and never forgot his cigarettes "Gitannes."

Cardamar.

Escargot........Croissant.......Jaques Cousteau. Before I get going I just want to give you all my extensive french knowledge...that's it. Just so you don't think I'm some Sartre Reading Left Banker eating my comfit...this is fabulous without the language thing. I don't know what Serge is saying but this is just the greatest compilation of french beat/ ethnic beat music. You can see the ambiance as you listen to this. Go to Pauvre Lola and give it a listen. The use of girls voices in the pieces is just so sexy and brilliant. Serge himself is a brilliant composer. His melodic lines are always shifting the moment you think you have them. And with all it's frenchness and innovation it is immediately accessible.It is brimming with kitsch. One day I had it in my walkman. I fell asleep and started dreaming of men in berets being followed by models in New York. When I woke up Serge was saying "Rockfeller Center, Empire State Building". It was this song about New York... This is a pretty obscure recommendation but If you want a very european 60's feel, give this a shot You will love it beyond belief.

This CD showcases the best of Serge, in my opinion.

Somehow I think that Serge loved this period best. I think that this is where his heart was - long before he turned into Gainsbarre and the late 60s - 80s.

The song "Couleur Cafe" itself is an enduring classic of French popular music. To this day one can still hear it being played on the radio in France.

Yes, it's hard to believe that only 7 people have reviewed this record. This CD is a compilation of Gainsbourg songs that came out between 1959 and 1964. The sound here is Latin-tropical-"world music" interspersed with echoes of jazz and big band. That sound is described on the inside jacket of this album (by Elisabeth Vincentelli) as "Latin [&] African-inspired beat-driven music". Highlights include the Latin-flavoured "Cha Cha Cha du Loup" (cut 5 as well as the instrumental version on cut 1) & "Laissez-Moi Tranquille"; "L'ami Caouette" with its West Indian zouk-style backup singers; the Latin/Middle-Eastern flavoured "L'Anthracite"; "Mambo Miam Miam"; and the title cut, "Couleur Cafe". "New York, USA" is a silly song about various skyscrapers in NYC; the subject of "Joanna" is an elephant (named Joanna)--on both numbers an African-style female choir provides a counterpoint to Gainsbourg's vocals. Soon-to-be French bubblegum star France Gall can be heard giggling in the background on cut 12, "Pauvre Lola". The arrangements and musical direction by Alain Goraguer on 16 of the 20 cuts is brilliant. Throughout the CD embellishing percussive instruments make up part of the mix--my deficient musical vocabulary prevents me from naming them--nonetheless, the atmosphere they provide is fabulous. I also highly recommend the fantastic "Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin", my favourite of all the Gainsbourg records I have heard thus far.

Stephen C. Bird, author of "Hideous Exuberance: A Satire"

Gainsbourg here is exploring another musical style, and successfully so. It makes me want to dance, at least. I particularly enjoy "Laissez-moi tranquille", although the entire album works well as one coheisve piece, and is great background music. Also wonderful are the vocal and instrumental versions of "Cha Cha Cha du Loup"... the arrangement of "Les Amours Perdues" is clever, along with "New York USA". Apart from this, while the album is lovely overall, it descends into an odd faux-jungle sound in the background with Gainsbourg singing and seems to be a choir of young people singing(chanting) in the background, and this becomes tiresome.

Voila notre Gainsbourg national sur Amazon Ca lui ferait plaisir à Serge de savoir que des millions de petits gars de toute la planete peuvent desormais ecouter on-line ses chansons ce disque m'a fait decouvrir des titres inconnus a mes oreilles a ce jour , et pourtant j'en connais un rayon sur GAINSBOURG !