Search - Jean-Jacques Goldman :: Pluriel-Best of 90-96

A must have in all French music collection

Sandy | Brussels, Belgium | 10/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jean-Jacques Goldman has established himself as one of the most respected French singer-songwriter since the 80's. The double CD compilation "Singulier 81-89" (singulier = singular) was covering his 'solo' career and early work. "Pluriel 90-96" (pluriel = plural) is its logical follow up. It covers his latest work with long time collaborators and friends: the British guitarist Michael Jones (who was already singing the English lyrics on "Je te donne") and the late American singer Carol Frederickx (who died from a heart attack shortly after releasing her own first solo album). Jean Jacques is known for his relative shyness and he often prefers working with friends rather than being alone in the spotlight, and all the albums he released between 90 and 96 were signed in group 'Frederickx-Goldman-Jones'.If you're not familiar with Jean Jacques Goldman, the two compilations will build up a good view of his career. If you already like JJG, you will still enjoy these compilations of highlights in his career. All the songs on "Pluriel" have been hits (with the exception of "Think" for the obvious reason it is released here for the first time)."Nuit" (night) is a beautiful and haunting ballad describing the feeling of loneliness and the mystery that comes with the night."A nos actes manqués" mixes bittersweet lyrics about gains and loss, what you achieve and what you miss and a joyful latino/rock beat. As JJG notes "there is always some sadness in joy and some joy in sadness". A great song."Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" (Born in 1917 in Leidenstadt - a German town) is song about racism and cultural misunderstanding. In the first verse see, Jewish JJG asks himself how he would have act if he had been German during second world war. The second is for British M Jones, asking what he would do if he was born in Belfast. The last verse is sang by afro-american Carol Frederickx, asking herself how she would have felt as a white upper class girl of Johannesburg. The conclusion: "We will never know what we have inside, hidden behind appearances; The soul of a brave or of an accomplice or of a torturer? The worst or the most beautiful? Would we be among those who resist or the sheep of the flock; if more than words were needed? (...) And may we be preserved if possible for a long time, to have to choose a side". The tempo changes with each verse."C'est pas d'l'amour" (This is not love) is not a folk song about love, but about the simple feeling of happiness and completion. "Without fear and without loneliness, happiness as they say; there are lives without Beethoven and without meaning, why not lives without screams?". A refreshing ballad."Un deux trois" (One two three) is a joyful and swinging ode to rock'n'roll. They are obviously having fun playing that one."Tu manques" (you're missed) is a song about absence, the feeling of emptiness left by a missing loved one. The voice is held back, expressing soberly the grief with half words. "Peurs" (fears) is a strange song, a little dance, but as usual with JJG the meaning is deep. "Fears against fears, we're from here she's from elsewhere, fears against fears one day she left, we stayed and so did our fears"."Il suffira d'un signe" is a live recording of an earlier song, worth it for the energy it gets to be played live."Je commence demain" (I'm beginning tomorrow) is a mid-tempo rock song about laziness and living day by day. "Should become wiser, should become more reasonable at my age, I know I know... I begin tomorrow". In true rock'n'roll style, a fun song that fits them very well."Rouge" (red) has been recorded with the Choir of the Red Army. It describes the hope for a better future, the reasons why you start a revolution... A masterpiece, impressively building up from a guitar/voice first verse to a powerful full choir piece. It shows the capacity to compose a complex songs with various rhythms and tempo changes."Juste après" (Just after) was written after JJG saw a nurse bringing a baby on earth with some difficulties (it was a TV report). After such an adrenaline rush, what do you do? "Did she turn off the light? And what could she do just after? Take a walk, Take a breathe? Forget the blood, ether? Was it day or night, Just after? Some words of a prayer, or rather nothing and shut up as a present you're savoring" No real chorus, a kind of epic soundtrack to the pictures which inspired the song."Des vies" (lives) is once again an upbeat song with ironic lyrics about destiny. What can you really choose in your life, when your cultural background is already heavy on you? How does it influence the options you're getting?"Fermer les yeux" (Close the eyes) says you never really know anyone. The real truth remains hidden inside each of us, behind our close eyes. It also says the farest you can go is maybe... deep down inside yourself, when you close your eyes. A classic JJG ballad ending up on a terrific guitar solo full of rage."Que disent les chansons du monde" (What do the songs of the world tell?) is a call for tolerance, because wherever we live, we are all looking and hoping for the same things: security, love, affection. We are all suffering from the same fears and pain: losing loved ones, war, hunger. The composition is influenced by world music but keeps a traditional JJG sound."Pas toi" (Not you) has been covered several times and it seems JJG was not always happy about the result. He gives here a new version of this 80's song, with a simple acoustic accompaniment and the vocal support of his two friends (Carol especially shines here). What was in the 80's a rebel song against separation and the burden of being the one left behind is turned in a even better (in my opinion) sensitive ballad.To wrap it up in style, "Think" is a swinging cover of Aretha Franklin, recorded live and sang of course by Carol Frederickx. A version the queen of soul would be proud of."