Search - Vanessa Paradis :: M & J

Not a product of cookie-cutter marketing, Paradis is my favo

Darren Harrison | Washington D.C. | 01/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late 1980s saw another trio of young female singers dominate the European charts. Yes almost two decades ago and long before Spears, Duff and Lohan the pop charts were dominated by Debbie Gibson, Tiffany and ... Paradis.

I grew up in the United Kingdom where French music gets a little more airplay than it seems to in the United States. So whereas people in the U.S. had the (apparently nonexistent) rivarly between Debbie and Tiffany as a hot topic in 1987, for those of us in Europe and Canada another female singer was the hot topic among schoolboys everywhere - Vanessa Paradis.

I first saw Vanessa perform on the now-defunct British show "The Roxy" in 1987 (think a more raunchier European version of `American Bandstand'). Here was this incredible looking (and very young) girl singing the song "Joe Le Taxi" on a stage alongside a full-size real yellow taxi cab. I was so entranced by her striking looks that it was only later that I heard the song.

Since that fateful night I have collected everything I could get my hands on connected to this French singer/actress (who is perhaps best known in the US more for her relationship with Johnny Depp rather than her career). From this album to her movies like "Noce Blanche" and "Une Chance Sur Deux" she has developed a large following and it's easy to see why.

Some criticize the tracks on this album as sounding child-like, but what do they expect? Vanessa was 14 when she sang "Joe le Taxi," certainly she deserves credit for not falling into the cookie-cutter marketing product trap that her contemporary Tiffany fell into. Over the years she has shown that she is willing to take some risks. And after all the venom that was slung her way by female admirers of Johnny Depp, jealous that she was his partner, she has maintained a mature posture that underlies the fact that she is more than just a pretty face."

Great, Young, Fun.

A film watcher | the USA | 06/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't speak a word of french, and discovered Vanessa through my love for Johnny Depp (they have been dating since 1998 and have 2 kids together). I started out with the english ablum "vanessa paradis", which was incredible, and then bought her first live ablum, which gave me a small taste of her popular french songs but also let me hear some of my favorite all-american songs again. I then bought M&J, Vanessa's first ablum ever. All I can say about it is great things. She definatley is not even close to having a strong voice like Chrstina Augulaira or Whitney Houston, but yet Vanessa's voice enchants you in it's own way. This ablum (made when she was just 14) is more bubblegum than anything. It reminds me of Britney Spears's "Hit Me Baby One more Time". My Favorite songs would have to be "Marilyn & John" and "Joe le Taxi", but they are all amazing. VAnessa's songs are all oldies pop, which means that me, my mom, and my grandmother (not to mention even my dad) all love listening to this ablum. All really simple beats and tunes, nothing weird or techno. It's almost the type of music you could calm a baby to, but still stay awake yourself. All in all, not her best ablum, but still absolutley captivating and amazing. If you're like me and speak none or very little french, I dont recommend this as your first Vanessa ablum, and would advise you to go in the order that I did."

A Good Start

WnB | Laguna Beach, CA United States | 10/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first Paradis album and it's great. A beautiful recording that you can't help but play over and over. Amazingly though, her voice has grown so much over time that it sounds almost weak here-still very good but not the fearless confidence she belts out with today. Here is a girl with a gifted voice, not the powerhouse that makes her one of the greatest pop singers of all time. It's still a great listen though and a must for any fan. If you don't speak French-don't worry, all her work transcends the language barrier.
Wes"