"Unfortunately, Arielle Dombasle doesn't quite have the voice to pull this off. I like her selection of songs, and her accompaniment is exquisite. She even does a good job some of the time. It's those other times, when she's flat, that really detract from your listening pleasure. The good moments outnumber the bad, or I would pan her altogether.
"Rhum and Coca-Cola" and "Whispering" are my two winners for this album. The vocals needed to be honed (or fixed with "studio magic") before some of these were released to the public. I got the feeling that Dombasle was trying to channel Edith Piaf at times, but she's no Edith Piaf."
No Amor
Jazzdrums | Philadelphia, PA United States | 11/04/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"It probably is my taste, but I got the CD based on what someone else said, and the person and I must have far different tastes. I thought she was mediocre at best. Not the fault of Amazon, of course. My fault."
Captivating...........
Robert C. Hufford | Hopewell, VA USA | 10/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Spanish cabaret? Well, why not? I suppose that all music and singers are a matter of taste...Miss Dombasle comes from a multi national background, all parts of which are visible here...Spanish music sung in French style, perfect English [she's American by birth], with the barest hint of a French accent.
The opening "Sway", done in Spanish and English, will get your attention. For me, the two "hits" were "Rhum and Coca-Cola", and "As Time Goes By", with some interesting engineering on the latter. No duds, though Julio Iglesias' voice on track 3 isn't what it once was. "Besame Mucho" provides a fine ending.
This is not an album for everyone, but if you like this kind of music you will enjoy it...pretty girl [if the cover isn't an old picture, HOT for her age], fine, sexy, voice, skillful production. Enjoy......."
Great!
Bob Stout | Houston, Texas USA | 03/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I stumbled across Arielle Dombasle on eMusic a while back while looking for a good version of "Sway". I liked her sound and the fact that she did both the English version and the Spanish original, "Qien Sera" in the same performance. I looked around and found some other favorite popular classics by her and I liked them all.
The real question in my mind was why did I like her? At this time, I'd never seen her, only heard her. Objectively, I had to admit that her voice, while good, wasn't the greatest. Yet there was something about her that I really liked.
The answer came when I saw her video of "Rhum and Coca-Cola" on YouTube. It was great, and the reason was clear. Here was a woman who was having fun! Her affection for the music, combined with an apparent natural playfulness, came through whether you could see her or not.
I now have both of her recent CD's (this one and "C'est Si Bon") and, although I recognize she is an acquired taste, can recommend them highly"