Vanessa Paradis - Vanessa Paradis (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

Sweet mixture of retro-soul, Motown-soul from Paradis

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 08/11/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lenny Kravitz gets to do what Prince did for talent such as Vanity, Sheila E. and Apollonia, do the satellite artist thing. He chose the French soft, breathy little-girl voiced soul-pop chanteuse Vanessa Paradis as his songbird and with the exception of one song, all music, most of the instruments, and lyrics were done by Kravitz. As a result, some of the music sounds like something from a Lenny Kravitz album, such as the opening track, "Natural High."I first heard "I'm Waiting For The Man" when it was sung by Paradis, and when I later compared it to the Velvet Underground version, saw that Kravitz and his musicians mimicked the sound, even that trademark guitar, to a tee, so there was no way she could mess this song up."Silver And Gold" bewails digging up the Earth for the title resources. She doesn't do as well on these minimalist ballads, highlighted by a guitar and drum, which is something similar Kravitz would do on Are You Gonna Go My Way, released a year later. Well-intentioned, but not convincing with her vocals.Yow! "Be My Baby", with its upbeat string arrangements and Motown-like drums recalls Supremes-style numbers like "Nothing But Heartaches" and "Baby Love." Heck, I could even picture Diana and the Supremes doing this! A standout cut and one of the songs Marva sings in the Belgian comedy Everybody's Famous.The sad and melodic fantasy "Lonely Rainbows" is a much better vehicle for Paradis than "Silver And Gold" as it has strings and piano. The place beyond the rainbow is "a place we can hide/... where we always be together." Sounds like Oz to me. Kravitz himself sings a few lines solo.A harpsichord sets the melody of the skippy canter of "Sunday Mondays", recalling an idyllic Beatles, Supremes, or Petula Clark number: "Let's go walking through the park today/I love Sunday Mondays any day/when the skies are blue and it's not grey/I'll take Sunday Mondays any every day." After hearing the trombone solo, I thought, "okay, something Nancy Sinatra might do too." She also sings, "Sometimes its fun/to just escape and run/And levae the troubled world behind." Sound advice.The lush easy-listening of "Your Love Has Got A Handle On My Mind" sounds like a Dusty Springfield or Petula Clark number, although I doubt either two had a coral sitar in their sessions.Funky drums and guitar make the slow 1970's blaxploitation-style number "The Future Song." It's the usual philosophical tract of paving the way for the future. Again, something I can picture on a Kravitz album.The pop-jazz fusion instrumental jam "Paradis" has Vanessa whispering breathy French in the background.The Drifters/Motown soul of "Just As Long As You Are There" features a lovely gospel-like choir and church ensemble.Using modern comparisons, Rachel Farris is a less-refined, shriller version of Vanessa Paradis. A mixture of Kravitz-style retro-soul and lush Motown productions, underscored by a breathy, little-girl voice makes Vanessa Paradis's debut album a mixed but pleasing affair."

Lenny Kravitz vs. Vanessa Paradis.

The Groove | Boston, MA | 10/21/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm pleasantly surprised this CD is actually still in print. When it came out in 1992, it didn't quite make a splash on the charts, despite production from Lenny Kravitz. Still, this is an overall agreeable CD that Kravitz fans should consider. Lenny is a musician who sounds as though he hasn't listened to a note of music past 1979, explaining the retro feel of this album. There's psychedelica in the catchy "Always Be My Baby," as well as the 1970s soulful swagger of "Natural High" and "Just As Long As You Are There." But while "Vanessa Paradis" is a fun listen, the lyrics are amazingly banal and cliche-ridden, showing once again that Lenny Kravitz is no gifted wordsmith. And Paradis's voice, a girlish warble, lacks both strength and personality to carry any of these songs. Still, if you're a Kravitz diehard, this album may qualify as a worthy listen out of curiosity."

Psychadelic oooh la la...

Daniel J. Hamlow | 09/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i love this album and it has been in my cd player ever since it came out in 1992. it has a great 60's/70's overtone to it. the vocals are breathy and "babydoll" like. standout tracks include "waiting for my man," "sunday mondays," "natural high" "be my baby" & "your love has got a handle on my mind." will we ever see a follow up?"

Psychedelic 60's French Jazz Frolic - A Classic !

Cabir Davis | 09/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vanessa Paradis' 1992 album is to me everything that is good and beautiful in the world. Its one of those CDs that you both have a strong connection with due to the significance it had in your life at a certain time, and its also because the music is just so darn good! That said, it mystifies me as to why true French talent such as Vanessa have remained unknown to American audiences, despite their obvious mastery of the musical medium. The only reason I can think of is that much of the best French music doesn't even reach American shores, but then again, I remind myself that this CD is sung in English, and was the songstresses' stateside debut. Recorded with Lenny Kravitz who produced the album, the CD is perfection personified. Its definitely one of my Top 10 favorite albums of all time, alongwith Vanessa's 2000 release 'Bliss'. What is so stunning about the music here is that it takes the best of the 1960s, infuses it with the French jazz air, and creates a mood that is quite unique. Getting Vanessa to sing in a language she is not fluent in lends it a quaint something, but her perfect diction and remarkable command over emotionalising her songs in the right places lead me to believe she is a young woman who is not being given her due in Europe.The album begins with 'Natural High', which is what Vanessa also named the tour she did in 1990 (if you ever get a chance to lay your hands on the OOP tour book from the era, please do so. Its gorgeous). Penned by Kravitz, it sets the tone for the rest of the CD. Vanessa's voice has often been criticized as being too squeaky - in Europe this is greeted with warmth and embraced as a sign of being a true 'Lolita' - and after Paradis struck a big hit in 1988 with 'Joe Le Taxi', girls by the dozen were trying to emulate her style. But this singer is unique, as she CAN sing, let alone possess an unusual voice. And it is this voice that is most remarkable in songs that are stripped down and bare - like 'Silver and Gold' sung with an earnest girlishness by Paradis, not unlike the coy yet deep 'I Deserve It' on Madonna's last CD. I don't know the record company's marketing strategy for promoting this album in the US, but it seems that the focus was on presenting Vanessa as some sort of British ingenue rather than a French diva. Even the lyrics, like on the great second track 'I'm waiting for the man' refer to landmarks in England and our weary heroine's travels in the city searching for her mate.This album spawned some awesome singles, the first was the French No. 1 'Be My Baby', which is an typical Kravitz-soaked piece with an infectious chorus. The second was 'Sundays Mondays', a song that sounds it could have been on a morning show for PBS, but the song samples German Circus tunes with a cheerful verse and chorus play that is really stunning. Simplicity is what makes this album a winner, and if you enjoy stripped down vocals with a Eurojazz element to it, this is certainly the CD for you.There are two songs that stand out here - 'Paradis', a musical piece that Lenny wrote especially for the singer, which is also the only track where she mouths over in French. The other is 'The Future Song', a two-step beat house track that didn't floor me, but its often played at French slumber parties, or at least at the ones I attended with my French friends in India a couple of years ago.The best songs are probably 'Your love has got a handle on my mind' - a song instantly reminiscent of 'St. Germain' on Vanessa's latest CD 'Bliss'. This is one of those laid back lounge tracks with trombone and clarinet doing all the work. Sometimes Paradis reminds one of Ute Lemper, but she is quite different. Shes also very unlike Alizee whom she is nowadays compared to, in the sense that her music is vastly better.The other best song here is 'Just as long as you are there', a Euro-only single release which is very Bob Marley in its' groove. Recorded in a live studio on a dictaphone and then with vocals added, this song is a brilliant way to end the CD, and you'd probably want to listen to it fullway all again!I bought this album in 1992 and listened to it everyday. I wore out the cassette in months. Recently I found the CD at a used-CD store and pounced on it instantly. I count this album as one of those must-haves, an album for keeps, and one that reminds you of the good old days.Highly recommended."

Newcomer

Valerie Fox | Divide, CO | 02/06/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was intrigued by Vanessa Paradis and heard "Be My Baby" and loved it. So I got this cd as my first one. However, it's got SO MUCH Lenny Kravitz, even his picture on the inside of the cd case, that I think he must have the biggest head on the face of the earth. That's just my honest impression. Here's a French girl, a very young one at that time, singing African American sounding lyrics and the music is very funky, retro, 60's, 70's, whatever. I would of given this four stars for Vanessa's sweet and passionate voice, but there's just too much Lenny over shadowing the whole thing. I am glad I have this cd, but I don't want Lenny Kravitz, I want Vanessa Paradis, which is why I am really looking forward to hearing her new cd. She's so much older now, and I hope it will reflect her true self and artistry. It's all in French. That's a good start. What does anyone think? Am I on track here?"

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	Vanessa Paradis Vanessa Paradis Genres: Alternative Rock, International Music, Pop, Rock Track Listings (11) - Disc #1 Natural High I'm Waiting For The Man Silver And Gold Be My Baby Lonely Rainbows Sunday Mondays Your Love Has A Handle On My Mind Future Song Paradis Just As Long As You Are There Gotta Have It
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