AN INTERESTING MIX OF FRENCH AND ENGLISH HITS
Thomas C. Rizzo, Jr. | Largo, Florida | 04/16/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With its entry at #18 on the French charts, "Kaleidoscope" further extends Petula Clark's claim to the longest span ever on international charts - an amazing 49 years have passed since she first registered a hit in the U.K. in 1954. This two-disc compilation is a 42-track collection of both French and English recordings, most of which were major worldwide hits. Listeners will recognize "Chariot" from Peggy March's "I Will Follow Him" (Clark in fact recorded the French version first) and the hauntingly beautiful "Ceux Qui Ont un Coeur" as Dionne Warwick's "Anyone Who Had a Heart" (which Clark recorded in four languages but never in English, unfortunate in that all her versions are far superior to Warwick's rendition). Other French tracks that will be familiar include "Hello, Dolly!" (her recording far outsold Louis Armstrong's in France), "C'est Ma Chanson" ("This is My Song"), "La Chanson de Marie-Madeleine" ("I Don't Know How to Love Him"), and "La Chanson d'Evita" ("Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"); English titles include her popular U.S. hits "Downtown and "I Know a Place." Also included are three new recordings - "La Premiere Fois," despite its title, is in English, and two French tunes - "La Chanson de Gainsbourg" (an homage to the composer of several of her French hits) and "Recommencer a Zero," co-written by Clark as her reaction to the events of 9/11 and their aftermath. You needn't understand a word of French to add this to your collection - all that's required is an appreciation of an artist whose interpretation of a song is as much of a masterpiece as a work by Leonardo DaVinci."
Petula est revenue! Stronger than ever!
pat | New York | 05/22/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After a bit of an absence,the love affair between Petula Clark and the Franco-phone world continues. A melange of newly recorded material together with some of her greatest French hits and worldwide successes are in a package entitled "Kaleidoscope".
Most notable here are the amazingly touching "Recommencer A' Zero" which embraces the theme of starting all over again, a personal and worldwide message by Petula-her newly found career as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard" which she toured with and the events of September 11 and the beating New York City has taken in attempting to "recommencer a' zero". Also, very pretty is "La Fin" and "La Premiere Fois" either newly recorded or never releeased. A song "Chanson de Gainsbourg" is cleverly designed to recall some of Petula's hits such as "La Gadoue" ("The Slush" but also in slang means "a lady of the streets"),this title featuring the sound of rain and walking through puddles on a boring day through the streets of France. It's a loving and cleverly designed tribute to the celebrated late composer, best known for his "Je t'aime non plus".
Most beautiful is "Je Voudrais Qu'il Soit Malheureux" and "C'est Le Refrain De Ma Vie" songs especially created for Petula by leading French composers and to put her in the league of the leading chanteuses there.
Included here as well are songs Petula is famous for in France such as "Chariot,""Que fais-tu la', Petula?" cleverly capitalizing on the theme that Petula was British and might have been considered somewhat of a traitor to the Brits for surrendering herself to France by marrying Claude, her French husband since 1962.
All in all, this is an excellent compilation and one worth getting, Petula fan or not; it contains all the loved hits such as "This Is My Song" and of course "Downtown"
The CD is sure to be a chart topper with the TV promotion Petula, God bless her, is doing in Europe.
Don't miss getting this- every song is a gem!"
Wonderful collection
Tom | Toronto | 08/16/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are many Petula Clark collections out there, but I must admit this is probably my favourite Pet collection. While it covers mostly her French catalogue, it also features the best of the biggest English hits ("Downtown", "My Love", "Don't Sleep in the Subway"); movie classics ("Look to the Rainbow" from Finian's Rainbow and "You and I" from Goodbye, Mr. Chips), plus some new recordings both in English and French.
I love this collection because it shows many different sides of Petula and the combination of the English and French songs are seamless. "Kaleidoscope" is an affirmation that Petula's English hits are classics, but so are her French songs. She brings the same energy and vocal magic to songs like "Ya Ya Twist", "O Sheriff" and "Un enfant" as she does to her English hits. They are truly important to her catalogue and career, and to include them with her English songs makes this compilation totally unique and worthwhile.
Highly recommended."
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1