'Bonsoir Bruxelles!', a long expected warm welcome from a well-known voice suddenly comes from somewhere behind the stage. A brief moment of silence, immediately followed by huge excitement in the crowd: Vorst Nationaal is completely sold-out (approx. 7200 visitors) and each one of them is totally ready for her, Miss Depp, the divine idylle, the lovely Vanessa Paradis! Pity though the announcement only turned out to be her announcement for a rather boring support-act on cello and acoustic guitar. Most support-acts destiny: being there to be immediately forgotten. No possible escape from that as your gig is being followed by such a mindblowing show as Vanessa performed last saturday night in Brussels.
She walked up the stage, up to the frontrow, sexy and sensitive and started off with - how appropriate - 'Irrésistiblement'. First completely on her own, but she was soon followed by her bandmembers, including French rock-hero M (Mathieu Chedid) on lead guitar. After a short break, used to tell the audience this show was going to be filmed as a part of a live-dvd release from this tour, she continued with a steamy version of 'Divine Idylle' that set the high standard for this show at once.
Paradis' voice, so powerful and yet seductive at the same time wasn't exactely what I had expected in advance. With 'Live Au Zenith' from 2001 in the back of my mind, I was somewhat afraid that she would sound too clean, too cultivated. And that she wouldn't be able to make me get rid off the idea that she's only a lolita girl singing with highly needed backing vocals, a gimmick. But things went completely different.
Vanessa's grown and her performance is mature, impressive, seductive, exciting, spontaneous and very professional at the same time. Of course, she's still looks good, no one in the audience could deny that, but far more important: she's a real artist who can sing and entertain just by her talent. No need for useless dress changing all the time (Spice Girls eat your heart out), just plain black jeans with a glittering silver top above. Some just don't need more.
Throughout the years Paradis built an outstanding oeuvre strong enough to keep her audience excited for over two hours. Including hits as Joe Le Taxi, Be My Baby, Dis-Lui Toi Que Je T'aime and Tandem of course, which was played only on four tomdrums with Vanessa and her bandmembers as Japanese drummers behind.
The show ended with Vanessa and 'M' intimate on barstools playing some acoustic tracks and finally she ended alone on stage, a-capella, as if she just invented the very first fille fragile. An apotheosis that couldn't have been better.
And damn was I right, as Ms. Maks asked me just before the show started, which celeb I would like to be for one day. The answer? Johnny Depp.
(Dutch review in Belgian newspaper De Morgen ici)
Vanessa Paradis & M - Pourtant (live)
Vanessa Paradis & M - Chet Baker (acoustic version live)
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