Search - Juliette Greco :: Jolie Mome 1959-63

Juliette is a true Original

M. Hartman | East Coast, Etats-Unis | 04/24/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is part of a larger 6 cd set by Phillips containing the highlights of Juliette's career. This cd covers the years from 1959 to 1963, which were quite prolific. The opening track "Les Amours Perdues" is a masterpiece with superb orchestration over Greco's dark and sexy vocals. With the exception of a couple of tracks this is one heady musical parfum. The songs are romantic and dark all at once (Songs for Existential Lovers, if you will). This is not without reason, Greco was spending time with such luminaries as Sartre and de Beauvoir. Her voice is low, breathy and smokey (all those Gauloises, you know). This is music that makes you want to smoke, drink some Cotes du Rhone and discuss Proust. However, this is more than great French Chanson music. The melodies and atmosphere are superb, but what really comes as a shock is that the songs have something to say (for those who understand French...and the lyrics are included in the booklet). "La Cuisine" is a brutal indictement of the privleged classes and "Defense d'Afficher" has a dark street sense. "Il n'y a Plus d'Apres" is wonderfully haunting. These songs capture the itellectual restlessness and beauty of early 1960's France perfectly, Bacharach meets Camus. The songs are beautiful and literate artistic gems delivered by a very talented singer. This cd is smart, romantic, lush and simply wonderful. Highly Recommended."