Customer Reviews

Savoir Aimer

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

 

 

What a pity it is that a great singer/composer still remains largely unknown outside Europe...I have no choice but to conclude that it is due to the lack of enough promotion to put him onto a world-wide stage, which he deserves. Musically? His voice is so strong but sweet that it rivets listeners on the spot; his songs are excellently composed. In a nutshell, he is a rare talent in all terms...A great discovery for me!

Un magnifique cd ou l'on trouve tooute l'essence et le savoir faire de Florent. "Savoir aimer" est pleine de poesie ainsi que toutes les autres. Un cd a posseder dans sa collection.

Florent Pagny carries a voice that not only fills your rooom but your mind. The texts although sometimes reminding of 'THE THE' are lyrical and beautifully flowing with compassionate music. Even if you do not understand Fench the whole makes compelling listening.

OK, I couldn't in any conscience not update my comments below. Because I'm determined to master the French language, I stayed with the album, and my opinion has changed. Although this isn't the kind of music I would listen to in English -- I normally wouldn't even give it a chance -- I have to admit it's a very good CD. "Mourir les yeux ouverts" and "Loin de toi" are probably my favorites (I can hear what everyone is talking about on "Loin": his voice is exceptional, although it's not immediatly obvious), followed by "D'un amour, l'autre." Although less blues-based, it compares favorably with Jean-Jacques Goldman's "En passant."

I stumbled upon Florent Pagny's voice on a drive through France in 1997 and quickly picked up SAVOIR AIMER, produced in that same year. I still listen with appreciation.

Pagny is at his best when a certain darkness, a certain suffering interpenetrates his music. The title track does so with its juxtaposition of savoir aimer // savoir sufrir and the equally important shift from acoustical to full-blown (including orchestra) instrumentation from one beat to the next.

'Dors' and 'Loin de toi' are similar in this regard. Both carry real throw weight, emotionally and aesthetically. The Spanish female narrator's voice in 'Sierra Cuadrada' is enough to make a man question his life commitments.

The album uses electric guitar *and* strings persuasively throughout. After a basement flood, I can no longer pry open the cd insert to see who deserves the credit.

Pagny is much less convincing when he goes up-beat. I take him to be an accomplished love balladeer who would be well advised to stick with his strengths. Other albums might prove me wrong on this, however.

This is truly a fine cd. You don't have to speak French or Spanish to appreciate the music, though it certainly adds a level of texture if you're able to do so.

I love this album! Florent's voice is so passionate and strong that you really enjoy every song.

Yes ! Pagny has at least found his team, with Obispo for the lirics... The previous CDs were far below this one which is a musica succes, strong in emotions, where you feel the inner power of the artist ... Florent Pagny deserves this, and i hope there will be many others CD of this kind .. May be, like Johnny Halliday, who has changed his style many times until he found the good one, may be Florent Pagny will be a great french singer of the next century ... wait and see !

Over-produced middle-of-the-road Top 40-friendly pop. If big drums, drenching keyboards, epic vocals, and power chords bouncing off canyons is your thing, you shouldn't be disapointed. I find it ironic that the only song which I can listen to, the only one NOT overproduced, is the one sung in Spanish! (OK, "Dors" isn't too bad either.) Someone below compared Pagny to Francis Cabrel (SAMEDI SOIR SUR LA TERRE, HORS-SAISON); I'm afraid I just don't hear it, they are worlds apart. The comparison to Hallyday is more apt, especially JH's CE QUE JE SAIS, since Obispo wrote many of those songs as well. I also don't hear the "great voice" others are raving about. To me, a great voice is Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour... I keep looking for something challenging, or non-mainstream, or alternative, coming from France. I know it's there, I just can't find it. (Cabrel is excellent, in a Clapton kind-of-way. For now, it'll have to do). If you can turn me on to something, please e-mail me!: desoc001@hotmail.com

Over-produced middle-of-the-road Top 40-friendly pop. If big drums, drenching keyboards, epic vocals, and power chords bouncing off canyons is your thing, you shouldn't be disapointed. (I'm exaggerating slightly.) I find it ironic that the only song which I can listen to, the only one NOT overproduced, is the one sung in Spanish! OK, 'Dors' isn't too bad either.

Someone below compared Pagny to Francis Cabrel (SAMEDI SOIR SUR LA TERRE, HORS-SAISON); I'm afraid I just don't hear it, they are worlds apart. The comparison to Hallyday is more apt, especially JH's CE QUE JE SAIS, since Obispo wrote many of those songs as well. (Far superior to both Pagny's and Hallyday's CDs, in my opinion, is Jean-Jacques Goldman's EN PASSANT.)

I also don't hear the 'great voice' others are raving about. To me, a great voice is Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour... I keep looking for something challenging, or non-mainstream, or alternative, coming from France. I know it's there, I just can't find it. (Cabrel is excellent, in a Clapton kind-of-way. For now, it'll have to do). If you can turn me on to something, please e-mail me, I'm getting desperate!: desoc001@hotmail.com

Recently bought the cd and was thoroughly disappointed. Same old 80's beats throughout most of the album. Only worthwhile song comes from the album's title, Savoir Aimer. Personally, I'm waiting for his "best of" cd if it hasn't come out already. I considered his live cd, but I prefer studio recordings anyday.