Belinda Carlisle - Voila!

Go-Go’s frontwoman returns with French pop and standards

The success of this kind of project tends to rest on the knowledge and sincerity of those concerned, as much as it does on the quality of the voice singing the songs. An English-speaking ‘pop’ singer tackling the likes of Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Brel compositions may not seem like an obvious marriage. Carlisle ticks all the boxes most of the time, however, which is perhaps why she gets away with some of the more radical reworkings of French standards herein. Her voice doesn’t always fit perfectly, but Ma Jeunesse Faut Le Camp (with Natacha Atlas), Bonnie Et Clyde (with Fiachna O’Braonain), Pourtant Tu M’Aimes and the energetic Jezebel are all very good and innovatively arranged. Of the standards, Avec Le Temps works well, with Carlisle’s voice taking on a suitable and believable weariness, wrung of emotion. Yet she remains restrained and never resorts to vocal histrionics. Carlisle may not have a voice to rival multi-octave divas, but she has a feel and appreciation that many of them lack.

Rykodisc | RCD 10883

Reviewed by Caroline Blase
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