Patricia Kaas
Je te dis vous

THE REVIEW

Let me introduce you to a singer with a capital “S”. Her voice, at times simple and at times emphatic, has, over the course of a two-decade career, literally touched the hearts of millions of listeners. Thousands of concerts behind her and a series of really successful albums have established this woman as a singer of exceptional value in much of the globe.

Certainly, one of the most precious gems in the French musical landscape of the last 15-20 years (at least for the general public). Not many women can aspire to such a title, so, chapeau!

The album in question is, for the writer, among “our” Patricia's most beautiful and intense; recorded at Eel Pie Studios by a certain Mr. Townshend, it sounds magnificent.

Attention, those looking for innovation or musical research should keep a respectful distance from this work, here they will simply find a series of wonderful songs that represent as classically as possible what French “chanson” is.

It is nearly idyllic to listen to the golden voice of our “transalpine cousin” in a musical language like French.

Love songs alternating with others with a social commitment, above all: "Hotel Normandy" and "Ceux qui n'ont rien" in which one can even perceive masterful arrangements akin to "The Dark Side Of The Moon" that, therefore, alone could justify purchasing the CD.

Unfortunately, some of the many good things produced in the first 10 tracks are rendered vain by the last 5 songs among which the only noteworthy is the very beautiful "Out Of The Rain" part of the trio of compositions sung in English along with "Space In My Heart" and the dreadful "It's A Man's World" cover of James Brown.

There is also room for a “little song” sung in German and dreadfully anonymous (to be really picky, in an album lasting almost 70 minutes, three of the four aforementioned “little songs” could have been spared).

There remain, however, at least 7/8 splendid songs often with melancholic tones as only the French know how to do, with always intelligent lyrics and an attentive eye towards those who suffer and have nothing.

Sounds ranging from Pop to Jazz with excellent Rock incursions (Chris Rea participates in "Out Of The Rain" and "Ceux qui n'ont rien") all “modulated” by Kaas's remarkable timbre.

An essential album in Kaas’s career and one that should find at least a nook in the collection of every respectable music lover.

Je te dis vous (1993):

Laissez-moi chanter

Pour ceux qui n'ont rien

Laissez-moi penser

Qu'y a toujours quelqu'un

Qui cherche à donner

Quelque chose de bien

Qui cherche à couper

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