Gourmandises [Import]

Alizee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 21, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B0000523PQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,464 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2001 debut for 16-year-old pop phenomenon who's becoming something of a national obsession in France due to her overtly 'Lolita'marketing. 10 tracks including 'Moi...Lolita', 'Lui Ou Toi; & 'Abracadabra'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alizée boldly marches on into 2002, February 12, 2001

By 

Peter Cooper (Louth, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gourmandises (Audio CD)

I have to update my original review (Feb 11th 2001) because so much has happened..

In early 2001, I heard a lot of people saying Alizée is "France's answer to Britney Spears". A cliché statement, perhaps, but 2001 has been a banner year for Alizée. Not only has she triumphed over the French charts, but the German, Dutch, Russian and Japanese ones too.

2002 looks to be even better for the pretty French 'chanteuse', with Alizée attacking the UK charts in February, and possibly the US after that. This album may be a year old, but it's as impressive as ever.

Being able to appreciate, or understand, French isn't a prerequisite for this album. Even if you've been studying French for a while, you'll find many of the lyrics rather cryptical. You'll enjoy a lot of wordplay and puns, especially in 'Moi Lolita'. Some English even creeps into the album on tracks such as 'J.B.G.' (James Bond Girl).

As with many French albums, there are a few incidents where the lyrics are too direct and blunt. 'Je sais que cette hymen durera longtemps' (I know that this hymen will last a long time), for example.

When you first put this CD on, you might be surprised by how deep her voice is. Don't worry, Alizée is simply demonstrating her impressive vocal range, and she leaps between sultry lows and dizzy highs throughout the album.

Unlike many pop albums, this album has a very interesting sound overall. Some songs are dark, some are very much 'pop', yet all have the 'traditional' broody creepy French mood in them. Yes, this is a pop album full of minor chords..

Alizée's promotional site... is one of the best musical promotion sites I've ever seen. It has ALL of her music videos for you to download, and you can even listen to samples of every track. The album comes with all the lyrics in the CD insert so you can also have lots of fun honing your French pronounciation skills.

So, in 2002 as in 2000 and 2001.. still an excellent effort all round! Alizée, and this CD, is an excellent package most people are sure to enjoy.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best French Debut Album Of The Last Ten Years, July 3, 2001

By 

Wim (Leuven, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gourmandises (Audio CD)

I hope there not too many mistakes in my review but I think you'll understand when I'm writing here.

This CD is really great. If you know Alizée and you love her music, you have to buy this album.

The first track on her CD is her famous single "Moi... Lolita". I think everybody knows this song, so I will tell some more about the other tracks. The second track "Lui ou Toi" is a very slow song with piano on the background, you really feal this song getting better each time you hear it. It has also a good structure. It's a real Alizée-song. The third song you may know also. It's "L'Alizé", her second single. A very good song also. Then you have "JBG" (James Bond Girl), almost a real James Bond-theme and you hear the tune of James Bond on the background. It sounds very good. The next song "Mon Maquis" is a very rare song, it's a completely different style. It sounds almost medieval. "Parler Tout Bas" is the third single of Alizée. It's another great song. "Veni Vidi Vici" is again a normal Alizée song. Especially the refrain is very good. "Abracadabra" sounds a little mysterious, on the background you hear a cat. "Gourmandises" is the also the title of the 9th song. It sounds a little housy. You have a beat on the background. It's not that good as the other songs. The last song is "À quoi rêve une jeune fille?" which is one of the best songs on the album.

All the texts are written by Mylene Farmer and the music was composed by Laurent Boutonnat who is also the producer.

I would say, if you really like Moi ... Lolita, and you also like another song of Alizée (L'Alizée or Parler Tous Bas) then you really have to buy this album.

I recommend this CD to everyone!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French Superstar with Real Talent, August 14, 2001

By 

"gigglestar00" (Riverside, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gourmandises (Audio CD)

I first heard Alizee while studying abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris France (summer 2000). While listening to French radio, I immediately fell in love with "Moi...Lolita" and for the entire summer, the lyrics and beat of the song were constantly in my mind. It was definitely the hit of the summer, making Alizee an international superstar! Upon my return to the US, a few months later, Alizee's first album Gourmandises was finally release and I ordered it without hesitation. The rest of the album proves that Alizee is more than just a pop icon. With each song, you can definitely sense the deep passion in her voice. I listen to the album practically everyday. I don't think I will ever outgrow Alizee. My absolute favorites from the album are "Moi, Lolita," "Lui ou Toi," "L'Alize," "JBG," "Mon Maquis," Veni Vedi Vici," and "Gourmandise." I am anticipating the follow up to Gourmandises. Hope you enjoy it too.