Customer Reviews

Nolwenn

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Nolwenn won Star Academy 2d season (equivalent to Spain Operacion Triunfo and UK Fame Academy). Her voice and technical skills made her the vocal coach pet. The 15 other contestants reckon she had the best voice of the gang. She seduced several serious people in the business, even some reluctant to real TV concepts.

Laurent Voulzy, one of the most reserved among French artists, wrote her the luminous "Suivre une étoile" (follow a star), Lara Fabian gave her "Inévitablement", a typical Lara Fabian's ballad. One of my favourite sons is "Une femme cachée", elegantly written by Daniel Lavoie: "one woman hidden inside of me, one woman ready for all fights would like that when she'll wake up, you'd hear her voice and you'd be there to open her your arms". It's a beautiful song about leaving adolescence and becoming a woman (Nolwenn was 20).

Pascal Obispo is producing most of the album, bringing with him some of his usual songwriters. Lionel Florence wrote the power ballad "Cassé" (broken), the first single about a lost love (some saw an allusion to Nolwenn's dad who left the house when she was 10). It went to n°1. He also wrote "14 Février": "There are days when gods forget about you, when some memories become heavy, days you shouldn't live or you should put between parenthesis, just one day I erased forever, February 14". Finally he collaborated to "Rayer l'émotion inutile" (delete the useless emotion) with Hocine Hallaf, one of the mid-tempo songs of the album I like a lot.

"Finir contre toi" gives Nolwenn the possibility to show some sensuality and it fits her warm voice very well: "I will never tell you wher my desires take me, how much my body hates me when I destroy those dreams; he who feels the warmth of your hidden looks, who burns every hour spent next to you; if you knew (...) the battle I fight not to end up close to you". It is another of my favourites.

"Vu d'en haut" has a strong chorus that makes it a real pop anthem but the evident construction might quickly tire the listener: "Seen from above there is only air and water, there is no chains or no bars, seen from above, a life without frontiers and without flags; all I see is the light of some torchs, seen from above". "Etre une femme" has the same type of structure: "To be a woman on earth, be a queen or be a mother, or barefoot without prayers, we're always lonely; be a woman on earth is love or hell, it's sowing without knowing it the beginning of a story". "Jure-moi" is another song to show Nolwenn's power vocals skills. "Ce qu'il nous faudrait" (what we would need" is a sweet and tender album filler, used as b-side for "Cassé". The song is about wishing a better life and better understanding between humans. "Qui mieux que moi" (who better than me will know how to love you) sounds as well much like a filler and closes the album on a quiet note.

Knowing that Nolwenn was only given one month to choose the songs and record them, while rehearsing for the Star Academy tour with 7 other contestants, I can only applause at the effort. She cleverly chose among what was proposed, the producers did a good job and she avoids falling into the "screaming from the top of my lungs" type of vocals even in the power ballads. Her next step will be to release a less formatted and more personal second album (she should enter in studio in November 2004) to stand up against the numerous French divas of the moment. She will also have to learn to communicate her passion to her public. Seeing her singing live Tori Amos (Crucify), Sarah McLachlan (I will remember you) or "Kissing you" alone with her piano promises the best.

I'm totally in love with this 12 fabulous songs... Each time I listen to it, the album seems more and more wonderful!!!

My favourite are still "Casse", the dark song, and "Suivre une etoile", the warm song...

This album's left me astonished!!! Nolwenn seems really to be a French superstar, and I'm in love with her wonderful voice... She won "Star Academy" ("American Idol" Equivalent) with over 90% of votes, and now I'm understanding why!!!

I don't understand the lyrics however I think I'm going to learn French after this!!! She has got an unbelievable voice, so strong and emotionnal!!!

"Cassé" (Broken) & "Suivre une étoile" (Follow a Star) are my fav songs, but I love too "Etre une femme" (Be a woman), "Jure-moi" (Swear me!), "Finir contre toi" (Finish against you), etc...

THIS ALBUM IS SOOOOOOOOO FABULOUS!!!!!

Nolwenn Leroy's voice just takes your breath away... Never has a French singer so captivated my imagination. Musically, her first, eponymous album is what you'd call classical French 'variété' but actually, there is more to it than meets the ear, so to speak. Nolwenn's unique and beautiful mellow tones just singles her out. In my view, though her style is often likened to that of other 'gutsy singer' by the French Media, it seems to me that she sounds much better than Mariah Carey, Céline Dion and the likes who tend to content themselves with showing off the range of their voice and that's it...

Nolwenn's singing does convey heartfelt emotions. It is imbued with real, deep feelings. I do believe she has the power to fathom your soul... It does not leave you indifferent anyway: either you love her or you hate her. Well, it's difficult putting it down in words... You've got to experience it to understand what I mean and I strongly advise you to go and see her live if you can. I was in France last year and had the opportunity to attend one of her concert and I have to say it was really 'magical', mesmerizing... People from all ages, from all walks of life, from all musical tastes...I still haven't got over it as you see (lol).

She's remarkable for her talent, one of the few singers able to sing 'Carmen''s opera with such conviction and then go on with Alicia Keys's "Falling", Shakira's "Whenever wherever", Luz Cazal's "Piensa en mi" or Edith Piaf's "L'hymne à l'amour" and each time with so much natural ease. Really amazing!
Moreover, she is not at all the typical 'reality show' cast. A law student at uni before she entered Star Academy's contest, she sent her application demo cassette, without hoping much from it. She thought they would turn her down because she wouldn't really fit in the programme but eventually she got through and won it. Nolwenn, an astounding beauty with her startling blue eyes and dark hair, has always been modest about her talent, which makes her all the more loveable to her audience.

Last but not least, she is only 22 so that's quite a fine start. She sure has got a great future ahead of her!
Her eagerly awaited second album is to be released in 2005 and should include her own songs this time. I am convinced she'll be an artist to be reckoned with in years to come, not only in France and Europe but also at an international level so you'd better keep an eye on her...
If you don't know her yet, don't lose time (lol)!

Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I personnally do...

Love XXX

Haylie (22, UK)

Nolwenn is simply fantastic! Her voice is so perfect, the most beautiful I've ever heard... Listen to her, and you will fall in love with this most brillant 1st album. Queen of beauty, queen of personnality, quenn of music, she is the most famous singer in Europe.
The greatest winner of "Star Academy" (France) has an unbelievable success in France (where she sold 1 000 000 copies of her album, and where she recently won the Award of Breaktrought of 2003), but in Belgium, Switzerland, Liban and Canada too.
Her 1st single (disc of diamonds), entitled "Cassé" (Broken), shows the wonderful capacities of her strong voice. A unforgetable song... Thanks to that, she managed to be no1 (Global European Chart) for several weeks...
The last single, "Suivre une étoile" (Follow a star), keep making addicted all those who hear this nice sommer/autumn song. A big hit for Nolwenn again, ...

You really should buy this amazing album (realized by all the most famous french compositers/writers, like Pascal Obispo, Lara Fabian, Laurent Voulsy, etc...) in order to discover french music trought 12 wonderfuls songs and above all the voice of Nolwenn.

I don't write a very good english language, but this young artist has a marvellous voice and her CD is good. I like 11 of the 12 songs.

She won the second season of Staracademy TV-show in France. There is a lot of jealousy between certain (young) fans of the competitors of this TV-show and between certain (young) fans of the four winners... This appaers on the web and here too...

Listen this CD and it's up to you to draw your own conclusions.

Nolwenn Leroy has an incredibly magnetic voice and this album is fabulous. All the tracks of this album are true jewels, particularly "14 Fevrier" and "Inévitablement", and I really hope that it will have the same effect on you as on me. To listen will make you travel. I am reached of a serious disease and the voice of Nolwenn Leroy makes me forget it. Thank you Mrs Leroy.

I'm an AMERICAN who lives in France, I can't say enough about Nolwenn Leroy. Yes, she won Star Academy in 2002, but she's no "reality star" - she's for REAL - destined for greatness. I attended several of her concerts during her solo tour here this winter. To hear and feel the voice, the incredible emotion evoked by her interpretations, and her presence, is just unbelievable!! She overwhelms her audience with pure emotion and pleasure. This album indeed has a melancoly tone - but it's well worth the pleasure to hear her tremendous voice & feel the power of her delivery. I can honestly listen to ANY song Nolwenn sings - and it's always a pleasure. There ARE very good songs on this album. Some will become classics, I'm sure (Casse, Suivre Une Etoile, Inevitablement, 14 Fevrier, Finir Contre Toi - and Ce Qu'il Nous Faudrait always gives me chills!!). Personally, I've never been so intoxicated or moved by any particular artist - but for some reason, Nolwenn has the power to affect people like this - perhaps because she truly sings from her soul. You really have to listen to this CD to appreciate her tremendous talent - and if you have the chance to WATCH her perform (videos can be found on the Net), you'll be absolutely captivated by those profound, big blue eyes, her beauty and her charm - and it's hard to let go (you won't want to!!). Nolwenn Leroy IS "pure emotion" - and she honestly has one of the greatest classic voices you will ever hear (anywhere). She received a high school diploma in Ohio, where she spent one year on an exchange - she is fluent in English. She sounds "American" - you would think that if you heard her talk - or sing in English, which I'm sure she will do on her NEXT album. She sang 5 English songs en concert - including "Crucify" (Tori Amos), which will be released here within weeks as part of a 3-title CD. She will be in Quebec in April to promote this CD in Canada. With all of her talent, I'm certain she will soon become appreciated by people all over the world!!!

This album is a MUST BUY if you truly appreciate music and artistry - if you only listen to French song once in your life - THIS is THE album (until her next!!).

After listening to Nolwenn Leroy sing in person, I can honestly say that her voice is the most captivating, sensual and beautiful that I've ever heard! There's just something about it that it very unique, and the same can be said about the person. This girl truly has immense talent, which becomes evident after hearing a few of her songs. I'm really looking forward to the release of her 2nd album in the spring of 2005. I just hope there are a few English songs on it so that my fellow Americans can begin to know her. If you enjoy people like Norah Jones and Dido, and think they are great, wait until you hear this fabulous voice!!!

this young artist is quite simply espoustouflante, it has a voice sublimates, exceptional, a rare pearl and moreover is very very beautiful, I advise you his album which is a little marvel, you will not be disappointed we are much in France has to believe in it I wish of any heart qu it has career qu it deserves and qu it will make career on your premise that would be fantastic, I ask you m to excuse D to write in French I know your language very little but J likes nolwenn as well as I wanted wanted to make you share my admiration in spite of the language and the borders claudy
J found a translator