Sylvie Vartan Proves Irresistible
Lumen Doce | North Augusta, SC USA | 08/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's difficult for me to put Sylvie Vartan into perspective, because, being from the U.S., I wasn't there for the ye-ye singers of the 60s. But, I was there for the Beatles, and those reviewers who dismiss Vartan's singing abilities sound like the older generation who dismissed the Beatles for their musicianship - and comparing her to Francoise Hardy is like comparing Ricky Nelson to Bob Dylan (first, what's the point? and, second, their styles and audiences were of a different complexion; yet, many listeners enjoy both). Vartan has a great voice that is perfectly suited for pop music, and this compilation of songs recorded during a four-year period establish her importance and her influence as she moved away from the typecasting of a ye-ye singer to a mature and singular performer. With a team of writers -- including her brother, Eddie - Vartan no longer had to depend on reinterpreting American rock `n' roll songs into French. She now sang songs written specifically for her, and this disc has the best of them -- some are very bouncy (Dans Tes Bras), others are borderline girl-group (Gonna Cry), some have an edginess (It's Not A Game), while still others are refined and slick (Irresistiblement). The selections are varied and show off to great effect Vartan's skill and range. If you like ye-ye, if you like Vartan, if you like good music, you'll like Irresistiblement."