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Putumayo Presents: French Cafe

Putumayo PresentsAudio CD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)

Price: $11.87 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Music

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Videos

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Biography

Putumayo World Music was established in 1993 to introduce people to the music of the world's cultures. The label grew out of Putumayo clothing company, founded by Dan Storper in 1975 and sold in 1997. Co-founder Michael Kraus joined Dan to launch Putumayo World Music and establish a non-traditional sales division. Putumayo World Music has become known primarily for its upbeat and melodic ... Read more in Amazon's Putumayo Presents Store

Visit Amazon's Putumayo Presents Store
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Frequently Bought Together

Putumayo Presents: French Cafe + Paris + C'Est L'Amour: Romantic French Classics
Price for all three: $30.88

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Product Details

  • Audio CD (November 11, 2003)
  • Original Release Date: 2000
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Putumayo World Music
  • ASIN: B0000DBJDB
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,615 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

1. Fibre De Verre - Paris Combo
2. Marilou Sous La Neige - Serge Gainsbourg
3. Si La Photo Est Bonne - Barbara
4. Juste Quelau'un De Bien - Enso Enso
5. Je M'Suis Fait Tout Petit - Georges Brassens
6. Elaeudanla Teiteia - Jane Birkin
7. La Mer Opale - Coralie Clement
8. Ondule - Mathieu Boogaerts
9. Un Jour Comme Un Autre - Brigitte Bardot
10. On N'a Pas Besoin - Paris Combo
11. Mal O Mains - Sanseverino
12. En Douce - Baguette Quartette
13. La Fee Clochette - Polo

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although far from definitive (no Edith Piaf in sight!), this enchanting compilation delivers a perfect aural snapshot of what spending a late summer afternoon in a French cafe actually feels like. The supreme elegance and understated approach that lie at the core of these 13 tracks will delight fans of sophisticated pop. As is the case with previous Putumayo releases, the sequencing is seamless, combining the endearingly old-fashioned flavor of George Brassens with the iconoclastic romanticism of George Gainsbourg and the sultry whispers of a youthful Brigitte Bardot. Better yet, the disc spends some valuable time introducing listeners to a new generation of French musicians who have embraced the traditional chanson format while incorporating fresh elements into the mix. Try the light-as-a-feather caress of female vocalist Enzo Enzo, the sweet playfulness of the electronica-informed Mathieu Boogaerts, and the irrepressible optimism of Paris Combo--a jazzy quintet that represents the French cafe ambiance at its cosmopolitan best. --Ernesto Lechner

Product Description

VARIOS INTERPRETES FRENCH CAFE

Customer Reviews

I love this CD and it is one of my favorite French CD's (I own many). J. G.  |  13 reviewers made a similar statement
It makes me want to go to France! Krystine J. Mleczko  |  10 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
156 of 163 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Y'a d'la joie! June 26, 2004
Format:Audio CD
Serge Gainsbourg (or Gainsbarre, as they call him in the Caribbean) is one of the creepiest musical perverts ever known. He's also one of France's great musical geniuses, so go figure. Putumayo had the guts to put him on the disc and the good taste to select a beautiful, melancholy, and touching song: "Marilou sous la neige".

How do you narrow down the brilliant Barbara to a single song? Everything about her was always just so: the right enunciation, hitting the notes perfectly, every hair in place, her make-up impeccable. Putumayo chose "Si la photo est bonne", and it fits right into the album without leaving me drooling for more (although more would be nice).

The collection is called "French Cafe", so you should have a pretty good idea what you're going to get. The question is, did Putumayo choose the tracks well? ABSOLUTELY. This is one of their real winners. It creates a perfect mood, laid-back and content, neither too melancholy nor too zealous.

Just the thing for cruising the Pacific Coast Highway through Laguna Beach, the sun and waves and palm trees and thirty dollar pizzas and rich ladies in high heels on the beach.

Or you might want to put it on while you houseclean, because it's not so brooding you'll collapse in tears among the cinders, but neither is it so vigorous you'll look like a overprogrammed robot. You'll just think: "Hell, why not vacuum in pearls?"

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80 of 84 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific French ensemble April 12, 2004
By Alison
Format:Audio CD
I chose to buy this CD because I was looking for a good collection of and introduction to French musicians (past and present). A major attraction of this album is the lengthy, detailed booklet it comes with that tells about each group or singer on the album and gives a rough translation of the lyrics in English. (Note: a complete translation in English is not provided, just a few lines) Summaries of the songs' subjects in English are provided, though. If you understand/can translate French, I highly recommend reading the lyrics because it just adds another dimension of enjoyment and appreciation of the songs. I was able to find the French lyrics to all of the songs, except for the last song, on www.paroles.net.

While it is true that this album is most likely not an accurate representation of the music playing at French cafes today, it is still a great collection and introduction to some great French artists. I will definitely be looking into buying the albums of some of the groups/singers on this CD. The music is jazzy, light-hearted, and relaxing and has been playing and replaying in my stereo for days.

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39 of 43 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Got the Paris bug? :) June 11, 2004
Format:Audio CD
This cd was playing in a beautiful little shop in the Detroit Radisson Hotel recently. It caught my attention the second that I walked through the door and I ended up "keeping busy" in the store just so that I could listen to it. I listened to several songs and fell in love with it! I went through a long process to figure out what it was that was playing, as the hotel had different cds on automatic rotate throughout the complex and no one had any idea how to find out which one was playing. lol. I finally got the answer and was able to purchase it at one of the hotel shops! :) I am very pleased! It is such a relaxing dreamy cd. If I would have seen the case of it first, I would not have been drawn to it as it looks very "high pace, hustle and bustle" (I know I know, you can't judge a book by its cover!:)But the music on this cd isn't what I would have expected from seeing the cover. I love it! I am looking into the other cds in this series because it is so great! So far, the Brazillian one is also fabulous!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Parfait!
I used this CD as background music for an absinthe-and-tea event at the local historical society. It could not have been more perfect!
Published 1 month ago by Marie Prudence Gagne
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute!
I love this CD.
It makes me feel like I'm sitting in a French Café in Paris eating a French pastry.
Published 1 month ago by Firefly
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the music...
The the beat and the way it makes me want to dance ! Cheerful and catchy. I plan to bye all of them.
Published 2 months ago by daley
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Every song is wonderful. Very fun music that lifts your mood immediately and transports you to a small cafe in Paris.
Published 2 months ago by susan g
5.0 out of 5 stars Mais Oui J'aime French Cafe Beaucoup !!!
If like me you LOVE the musique of France this album will not disappoint you ; it is a fantastic collection by the great crew at Putumayo who know their World Music ! Read more
Published 3 months ago by HARDIE
1.0 out of 5 stars french cafe
hate it, hate it, hate it and i will not rate anything again. do not require people to do anything.
Published 3 months ago by sandy conkle
5.0 out of 5 stars French Cafe
Loved it so much before I lost the disc that I re-ordered. You can't get a better review than that!
Published 4 months ago by saundra iqbal
1.0 out of 5 stars this was the least worse cd in the group I purchased from Amazon.
only basic par for this cd, which while it was light years above the others by Putumayo, it left me clearly wanting a better sound, performace and overall quality.
Published 5 months ago by Neal Ward
4.0 out of 5 stars C'est bon!
Fun mix of upbeat and "tragic" songs. Light entertainment. I especially love "c'est un jour comme un autre" (not sure if that's the title). Read more
Published 11 months ago by alias-mom
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
A very nice selection of French songs with a touch of a jazzy feeling. You will love it! "Je me suis fait tout petit" by George Brassens is especially good.
Published 11 months ago by JLG
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