Lots of FS-visiteurs told me to check out La Femme Chocolat, the second album by Olivia Ruiz. In 2003 I bought her debut-album when I was in the south of France (Olivia hails from the Carcasonne-vicinity) just by looking at the cover: a smiling, darkhaired beauty with a latin name doing French songs - must be good. It wasn't. J'aime pas l'amour is patchy, lots of ideas, interesting instrumentation but very few memorable songs. When I read that she participated in Star Academy (a cross between American Idol and Big Brother), I knew why the album looked good, but lacked weight. Still, visitors (Bibi, Sir Edward, René S.) were persistent, so I checked out La Femme Chocolat. And read about Olivia - she grew up in a musical family and fronted her first band at the age of 12. Although the debut sold a respectable amount, she found that the Star Academy-participation was held against her.
That she's a genuine talent is marked by La Femme Chocolat, "an upbeat mix of rock, accordion, violins, tango, clarinets and Latin rhythms." And France recognised that talent: over 350,000 albums were sold, various prizes were won. And rightly so. Sorry for doubting you, Olivia
Olivia Ruiz - La Petite Voleuse
Olivia Ruiz - La Petite Valse de Narbonne Plage
UPDATE: from Olivia's debut-album:
Olivia Ruiz - J'aime pas l'amour
Olivia Ruiz - Tango du qui
See Olivia on Youtube
Proof that she is something else than "Star Ac" singer: the people who work on this second album! Mathias Malzieu, the singer of Dyonysos (the Best French Rock Band in Live) and Juliette (who is a good singer of old french music style from Southern East of France)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenJulien
I told you that she was a good singer! Actually I first checked her last album, and after the other songs.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHaar album staat deze week op 1 van de IFOP albumhitlijst...
BeantwoordenVerwijderenOeps.... rectificatie... STOND... ze is er van afgeduwt door ene mw. Gainsbourg, jullie bekend???
BeantwoordenVerwijderen(http://www.ifop.com/europe/sondages/topalb/alb0635.stm)
Salllooopppe...
BeantwoordenVerwijderen.Julien is right: Olivia Ruiz had good partners for this album: in fact she and Mathias are also a couple in real life (gossip).....Dionysos is the best live band in france and play on 21st of September one only show in Berlin at Roter Salon (small club with 300 capacity, usually Dionysos play in France in front of thousands!)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBy the way: Olivia is also very good live. I`d seen here in July at the Paleo Festival in Nyon: impressive!