Pop Romantique: French Pop Classics

Various Artists (Artist), Francoise Hardy (Artist), Magnetic Fields (Artist), Luna (Artist), Lloyd Cole (Artist), John Wesley Harding (Artist), The Apples In Stereo (Artist), Kevin Ayers (Artist), Ladybug Transistor (Artist), Air (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emperor Norton
• ASIN: B00000I18I
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,014 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pardon - The Hang-Ups

2. L'anamour - Ivy

3. La Poupee Qui Fait Non - Luna

4. Jeanne - Air ft. Francoise Hardy

5. Avril En Mai - The Apples In Stereo

6. Si Tu Dois Partir - Lloyd Cole & His Negatives

7. Nous Ne Somme Pas De Anges - Heavenly

8. Contact - Godzuki

9. Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais - John Wesley Harding

10. Zoooom! - Sukia

11. Le Tourbillion - Magnetic Fields

12. Puis-Je? - The Ladybug Transistor ft. Kevin Ayers

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If the notion of indie intelligentsia expounding en français doesn't prompt your gag response, you'll find Pop Romantique a tasty fluff piece. Tunes with true French flavor work best: each note of "L'anamour," written by 1960s icon Serge Gainsbourg (who's covered four times here), is delivered with a no-tongue kiss from Ivy's front-femme, Dominique Durand; meanwhile, Air's delicate guitar suits famed countrywoman and guest vocalist Françoise Hardy--her tones are languid, luxe, and spent as vintage silk. Several unamphibian activities sound swell: Apples in Stereo apply their tweaked, fuzzy signature; Godzuki burble dark as a champagne-absinthe cocktail; and Luna seem positively jaunty. As for faux pas, John Wesley Harding's heart's in the right place (oozing appropriate melancholy, his outro a series of sighs), but he struggles with the accent, as does Lloyd Cole, who has the gall to go Gaul with Bob Dylan. In sum: a pleasant Valentine's spin for kitschy couples.--Nina Malkin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRAVO DOMINIQUE DURAND, April 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pop Romantique: French Pop Classics (Audio CD)

THE SYNERGY OF COMBINING THE VOICES OF IVY AND FRANCOISE HARDY IS A REFRESHING REINTERPRETATION OF CLASSIC FRENCH SONG.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Selection of Indie-Pop Band Covering French Classics, October 17, 2002

By 

Lucius Kwok (Saint Davids, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pop Romantique: French Pop Classics (Audio CD)

Like Pop American Style, this compilation is a theme comp drawing from a broad roster of indie-pop bands, plus it includes the vocals of ye-ye pop legend Françoise Hardy on one of the tracks. What is great is the same hand (Skippy McFadden) that picked the songs for the Pop American Style comp also picked the songs for this CD.

Some of my favorites are Ivy doing "L'anamour," (previously performed by Françoise Hardy) Heavenly doing the "Nous ne sommes pas des anges" (previously performed by France Gall) and the Apples in Stereo doing "Avril en Mai." I'm not sure what "Zoom!" is doing on this comp, as it seems out of place. The theme is centered around 1960's French Pop, or Ye-ye as it is called. If you like Françoise Hardy, France Gall, Serge Gainsbourg, and 60's French Pop, you'll like this album.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars QUELLE SURPRISE!, October 9, 2000

By 

EriKa "E" (Iceland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pop Romantique: French Pop Classics (Audio CD)

When you can have John Wesley Harding sing Serge Gainsbourg's "Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'En Vais" why do you need anything else? Okay, JW Harding's version is still not Gainsbourg's (which cannot be imitated or surpassed). But this clever arrangement of songs by contemporary artists performing French pop standards is a classic in itself. Air (French band) team with classic French pop star Francoise Hardy to provide a lovely version of "Jeanne". Probably my favourite track here, apart from John Wesley Harding, is Ivy's rendition of "L'anamour". One of my favourite songs anyhow, and Ivy has a very pleasant sound. There were other surprises... like Luna, Magnetic Fields, and other things. I think, if you enjoy, French pop-or any of the bands on the album-this is a must have. An updated, modern version (tribute, even) to the standards of French romantic pop. It was a great treat for me, at least.