:: The Singer - Original Soundtrack

The Singer

This is a soundtrack that at is, at best, mildly irritating. At worst, so mind-numbing as to convert even the most devoted Francophile. Two words. Electronic Keyboards. Perhaps the only way to enjoy this album is to envisage Gerard Depardieu as some kind of comical French Pepe le Peu character, perennially trying to woo la femme … or the skunks. The musical intelligence of the album is comparable to the cover songs of a suburban wedding singer. The photos that grace the back compare with a fatter, French version of Mark Holden. Remember Da Vinci Code? Think Audrey Tatou‘s overdone French-ness and you are half way there. I will not be alone in wishing that they and their clichéd contemparies would temporarily choke on their petite fours and shut up! This is a compilation of commercial, crowd pleasing French 'classics’ that are best left for theatre restaurants. Gerard sings the majority of the songs. There are ballads and more poppy tracks, all largely sentimental. Save The Last Dance For Me, is the standout song. Not as sentimental and less ostentatious, it was the one song that I enjoyed. Despite the fact it has been covered so many times, it was sung with restraint and conviction. At the other end of the scale is Comme Un Garcon, a song as contagious as it is annoying.

As well as all the bad serenading attempts, there are smackering of ‘sad’ songs that constitute of forlorn, if not pathetic, mumblings and puppy dog eyes from the generously sized Gerard. This may well be for the purpose of using pity as a ‘pick up’ tool for women, but it does not do anything positive for Gerard! He has this image quite worked out, dressed in a white suit, clutching a rose with a puppy dog expression. Do some women actually like this? There he is on the back cover of the album with pan foundation on, his white suit jacket, a hopeful expression and a red rose. Do you like the sound of this? If so, certainly then, embrace this album and perhaps debut it at a baby boomer French inspired dinner party.