In the United States, Vanessa Paradis is probably best
known as Johnny Depp's live-in girlfriend. Other people may know her as
the Chanel model or an actress. But in her native France, she is an
institution.
Paradis first made waves when she was only 14, with her 1987
international hit single "Joe Le Taxi." That single was a huge hit in just about every country but the U.S., and the song and
accompanying album M & J made her a star. Since then she has worked
with musicians like Serge Gainsbourg and Lenny Kravitz. In fact,
Vanessa Paradis, her 1992 English language album which was written and
produced by Kravitz, was not only a spectacular album, but it was the strongest
set of songs Kravitz has come up with in his entire career... and yes, that is
including all of his own albums.
This is Paradis' second live album, and
frankly, 1994's Vanessa Paradis-Live is a little better and includes
several of the same songs. But Au Zenith still makes a nice career
overview for this French star.
The concert take on "Joe Le Taxi" has lost a little of the
jailbait sexiness of the original, and yet the smooth backing of Paradis' crack
band (led by Steve Nieve, formerly of Elvis Costello's
Attractions) makes the song sound better than it ever has.
Pop gem "Sunday Mondays" skips along with a groovy retro vibe. "Dis-Lui
Toi Que Je T'Aime" sounds unbearably striking and introspective. Paradis
pulls off a quite credible take on Lou Reed's New York nightlife underworld
anthem "Walk On the Wild Side." The screeching and cooing push-and-pull of "Tandem" sounds like aural foreplay. The smooth and swaying bossa nova beat of "St. Germain" goes down like a tropical drink at a
Riviera cafe.
There are some obvious omissions (how could they skip the
spectacular Motown homage "Be My Baby?") but Au Zenith is a terrific way
to pass the time until Paradis' next album... particularly since she usually takes
several years between studio albums. (8/02)
