| Chanson, Jazz |
We were excited to discover Youn Sun Nah’s new album, but the result is rather disappointing. Indeed, her previous album, ‘Immersion,’ marked an innovative, inventive, and joyful turning point, with a genuine reimagining of tracks and a musical shift towards a new, fitting ‘Pop’ direction. This new album, ‘Elles,’ while showcasing tracks originally interpreted by female artists, makes us long for the period when she was accompanied by the extraordinary guitarist Ulf Wakenius, who captivated us both with ‘Momento Magico.’
We are far, far from all of that. Nevertheless, this album is acceptable because Youn Sun Nah is undeniably a great artist, a skilled musician, and a remarkable interpreter. However, it lacks inspiration entirely. This album will be reserved for her numerous fans, awaiting better days, as boredom prevails throughout. A few vocalizations here and there might still amuse, but what’s the point of revisiting, for the umpteenth time, songs like ‘My Funny Valentine,’ as too many singers have done before? One might even be dismayed by this version of Edith Piaf’s ‘La Foule,’ which adds nothing and is as flat as Lake Geneva. The same goes for ‘White Rabbit,’ which I didn’t even recognize upon first listen – it’s devoid of its intended meaning as a somewhat rebellious song.
The reality is that all great artists experience highs and lows. It’s heartbreaking when you love an artist to speak this way about one of their albums, but honesty is crucial in critique. We miss the magnificent artists who accompanied her during her time on the ACT label or in her previous album. Even the accompanying artists here seem sanitized. Only Youn Sun Nah’s beautiful voice remains, far from enough to make this album unforgettable.
Bayou Blue Radio and Paris Move both award three stars, solely out of respect for the artist, hoping for better days ahead.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, January 5th 2024
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It’s almost a feeling of sadness that we feel when listening to this album and these covers, especially when we remember Youn Sun Nah singing songs like “Ne me quitte pas” or “Avec le Temps” in front of an audience unable to hold back their tears as the emotion she transmitted was so strong, immense… whereas here we feel nothing, or almost, as if all these titles had to be sanitized, neutral, without any harshness, and that’s sad. Of course thousands of fans will go and give a standing ovation to “their” (and our) favorite singer… whatever she sings, surely, and we hope for the magnificent singer that she is, that what we consider here to be a “misstep” will be corrected very quickly.
Frankie Pfeiffer
Editor-in-chief – PARIS-MOVE
PARIS-MOVE, January 5th 2024
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Tracklist:
Feeling Good
Cocoon
I’ve Seen That Face Before (Libertango)
My Funny Valentine
White Rabbit
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Baltimore Oriole
Coisas Da Terra
La Foule
Killing Me Softly With His Song