Arabesque

Jane Birkin

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B0000C3I8R
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #126,043 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
British-born Birkin, with her deep bangs and waif-like, androgynous persona, was an iconic 1960s sex kitten. Her exploits ranged from the three-way scene in in Antonioni¹s film Blow Up to performing one-half of her late ex-husband Serge Gainsbourg's notorious (in retrospect, also quite witty!) erotic duet, "Je T'Aime, Moi Non Plus." These days, although her trademark breathy vocal style remains as subtly elusive as ever, she has finally moved on to a mature and womanly sensibility. This live album features an all-Gainsbourg program, but his romantic, world-weary satires are now wreathed in sultry Middle Eastern instrumentation, which suits them remarkably well. The songwriter died relatively young, worn out by cigarettes and hard living. Birkin's interpretations, while based on inside knowledge of the man and his music, are filtered through a shifting kaleidoscope of private images. Her sensuous, sophisticated renditions are part of Gainsbourg's legacy but more importantly, they make scrumptious listening. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seductively exotic, July 17, 2004

By	filterite "filterite" (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

With an arabian twist to the usual French pop sensibilities and fine vocals the effect is a subtly seductively exotic album filled with delights. It's almost like Ferrero Rocher ( I don't know if you guys get them ) but you feel as if " you're really spoiling us " with this collection. This has to go down as a first rate tribute to the great Serge Gainsbourg and also a first rate live album too. A must have for those interested in something different and are not bothered by a different language

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tribute to the late Serge Gainsbourg, September 18, 2003

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Jane Birkin is a bundle of talent wrapped up in a stylish package. She's been hot on the model circuit, had a fun role as the villainess in the amusing Agatha Christie film "Evil under the Sun" as well as being the ingenue in the cult 60's film "Blow Up." Birkin married musician and composer Serge Gainsbourg and had a hit European single "Je t'aime, Moi non plus.

Gainsbourg died in 1991. As a tribute to her late husband, Birkin has released "Arabesque." The North African-Arabic sound is intriguing, hypnotic and pleasantly mixed with French sensibility. My favorite, next to Le Javanaise (because I like that type of rhythm) on the album was "Baby alone in Babylone" with its brusque lyrics. Not great poetry, but fun and quite listenable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jane inside out, January 17, 2007

By	Franz "Franz" (Athens, GA) - See all my reviews

Here's a woman throwing a bouquet at her past, and how gracefully so. Turning heartbreaking events into today's patina is an art in life, and putting a talent towards its public expression is art sublimated. This concert recording is the most intimate I've heard of Jane Birkin. Beautiful French lyrics, most appropriately set to a intensively poetic Arabic soundscape and performed in front of a wonderful audience. This cd will unfold itself a little more upon each listen.