This, no ballad of innocence

February 16, 2007 6:50 AM

Carla Bruni puts poems by Emily Dickinson, W.B. Yeats, Dorothy Parker, Walter de la Mare, W.H. Auden, and Christina Rossetti to music. Listen. (via)
posted by anotherpanacea (17 comments total)

I'm happy to note she's as hot as she sounded when I first heard Quelqu'un m'a Dit
posted by DU at 7:04 AM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

the youtube video shot at Shakespeare & Co is hilarious -- not as hilarious as Bruni's music, but it's almost there. clearly, finding a way to spend your time after retirement while that damn clock is ticking and other women get younger every day is indeed an ex fashion model's tragic problem, one that society should care much more about, with grants for research and support groups and more media awareness.

but then, basically talking -- not even singing -- in a reedy, inaudible voice over thin, weak, past-expiration-date fake-Brassens music does not require much effort, leaving one more time to count one's money and see one's plastic surgeon. and thank God that Botox is extremely low in calories.

every time I read a breathless -- literally -- Bruni story in otherwise sane newspapers such as, say, Libé, I marvel at the French's gullibility when this kind of music is involved -- even more surprising in such a demonstrably smart, smart population.

but then, I guess the joke's -- as usual -- on those who actually buy her records. Bruni's music makes Damien Rice or that other guy, Daniel Powter, look like composers on the level of Richard Strauss.
posted by matteo at 7:04 AM on February 16, 2007

Hold it hold it hold it--have you even heard Quelqu'un m'a Dit? Maybe it's the French (if that's what it is) casting some kind of euro-power over my mind and I admit I've heard nothing else of hers, nor do I understand the words of that one, but that's the stuff, baby.

Then again, her site crashed my Firefox.
posted by DU at 7:17 AM on February 16, 2007 [1 favorite]

the joke's -- as usual -- on those who actually buy her records

As with deconstruction, I find that the burden of affirmative musical criticism falls upon the sarcastic, ennui-ridden hipster. So what do recommend instead, matteo?

I like poetry, so start us off with some strong lyricists, would you please?
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:24 AM on February 16, 2007

I usually sing Emily Dickinson to the opening theme from Gilligan's Island. Bee...cause I could not stop for death...
posted by gimonca at 8:14 AM on February 16, 2007

Some arse on her.
posted by fire&wings at 9:57 AM on February 16, 2007

I feel your pain matteo. I too have been rejected by models.
posted by srboisvert at 9:57 AM on February 16, 2007

Nice! The GI theme works nicely, but I learned somewhere to use the melody to "Yellow Rose of Texas."
posted by namret at 9:58 AM on February 16, 2007

namret

I remember that being pointed out on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
posted by Target Practice at 10:07 AM on February 16, 2007

while that damn clock is ticking and other women get younger

Wow, so classy. That mindset in no way contributes to the sexist culture of superficiality that I'm sure you'd say you are opposed to. Wang.

I like Bruni's music, I liked it before I knew who she was or what she looked like (The angular Euro thing isn't my cup of tea anyhow.) It's pretty music that makes me happy.

Thanks, anotherpanacea!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:49 AM on February 16, 2007

Her music is nice and pretty and harmless. She's pretty. She speaks French kinda sexily. Her apartment appears to be a tasteful comfortable disaster. Therefore I find it hard to work up a good hate boner. Is there some kind of Hate Viagra I can take for that?

I marvel at the French's gullibility when this kind of music is involved

Those durn Surrender Monkeys know something you don't. And that's the most amazing fact that she cured cancer and nearly single handedly defeated National Socialism.
posted by tkchrist at 12:56 PM on February 16, 2007

That damn Gilligan's Island suggestion ruined a good deal of Emily Dickinson for me.

I had finally almost forgotten it, and could read her without that kitsch rearranging her prosody. Thanks a lot, gimonca.
posted by felix grundy at 1:15 PM on February 16, 2007

Oh, good. I liked the first one a lot, and wondered if she'd ever do anything else. I'm glad she has.
posted by Grangousier at 1:40 PM on February 16, 2007

Wow, so classy

speaking of classy, why did your other MeFi account(s) get deleted anyway?
posted by matteo at 2:50 PM on February 16, 2007

So what do recommend instead, matteo?

Okay, I'll bite instead.

Other lovely records that set poetry to music:

Sigmatropic. Sixteen Haiku and Other Stories. Sets the poetry of Nobel Laureate George Seferis to attractive and cinematic music featuring readings/singings by all sorts of indie-rock luminaries.

The Divine Comedy. "Lucy." A beautiful (if rather fey) lush pop setting of Wordsworth's "Lucy" poems by Northern Ireland's finest one-man band.

Valentin Silvestrov. Silent Songs. A song cycle in 24 parts from the modern Ukrainian composer, utilizing texts from Pushkin, Shelley, Mandelstam, and others. Gorgeous, sparse, and lyrical.

Also try some Poezja śpiewana, or "sung poetry," from Poland. Follow the artist links at Wikipedia's entry.

Many more artists come to mind, but these are some of my favorites. :-)
posted by mykescipark at 5:14 PM on February 16, 2007

Nice refutation, matteo. If you're so sure I have a sockpuppet please take it to MeTa* - I feel like laughing at you some more.

Apologies for the derail, folks.

*Or at least identify it; I didn't even know I had a puppet until you told me, and you didn't respond to my e-mail asking whether you sincerely thought I had one or were just being a petty child.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:21 PM on February 16, 2007

She had me at "and then we put in some chikachikachikachika."

Not that I don't love Quelqu'un m'a dit.
posted by Kattullus at 8:49 AM on February 17, 2007