‘Melodie Francaise’, the music project conceived by Aussie music entrepreneur Cathy Oates, has been officially released through Sydney record company Inertia.
‘Melodie Francaise’ features Australian artists singing in French. The album features Kate Miller-Heidke, Husky, Megan Washington, Katie Noonan, Vance Joy and Gossling & Oh Mercy interpreting contemporary French songs.
“This landmark project showcases a serious depth of talent in this country right now” says Inertia Managing Director Colin Daniels. “I am equally impressed by the songs that each artist has chosen and the undertaking of the artists to learn French in such an accomplished fashion.”
Gossling & Oh Mercy’s Alexander Gow gave us the first taste of the album with ‘La minute de silence’. The pair travelled to Paris to record their song and make the video.
Megan Washington teamed with Deep Sea Arcade for Serge Gainsbourg’s 1967 classic ‘Bonnie and Clyde’. Nic McKenzie of Deep Sea Arcade couldn’t speak a word of French before he recorded the song. “It was funny, I asked my dad who happens to be fluent in French to read out the lyrics and send me a recording from Sydney,” he said. “It was cool hanging out in the London studio with Megan and obsessively studying his pronunciation like a cross continental French lesson. Also in the original version the verses are delivered as spoken word and I wanted to make them more melodic in our version. Meg and I had fun figuring out those call and response melodies.”
Lisa Mitchell covered ‘Bang Bang’, best known internationally as a Sony & Cher song but it originally recorded by French artist Sheila. “I remember singing this song for my school play nearly 8 years ago! Nancy Sinatra’s version has always been the version I’ve been familiar with and I only found Sheila’s version through searching for a French version! The story is a little different, but the essence the same. I adore the overly-dramatic ‘BANG, BANG!’ refrain and how it lends itself to such an epic atmosphere,” Lisa said.
Katie Noonan covered Edith Piaf’s ‘Les feuilles mortes (Autumn Leaves)’. “I grew up listening to the wonderful Nat King Cole with my Dad and I first heard him sing this song and was instantly transported to a special place,” she said. “Years later I discovered the French version which also included the verse (which is rarely done) and fell in love with it! It felt very special to do it with my trio Elixir and take it into our musical landscape”.
‘Melodie Francaise’ was released this week as the French celebrated Bastille Day.
Mélodie Française tracklisting
1. Gossling & Oh Mercy – La minute de silence
2. The Jezabels – Morgane de toi
3. Thelma Plum – La Vie en rose
4. Dappled Cities – Sexy Boy
5. Kate Miller-Heidke – Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux
6. Husky – Le Berger
7. Deep Sea Arcade feat. Megan Washington – Bonnie and Clyde
8. Lisa Mitchell – Bang Bang
9. Big Scary – Je t’aime… moi non plus
10. Jinja Safari feat. Okenyo – Le temps de l’amour
11. Elixir feat. Katie Noonan – Les feuilles mortes
12. Edward Deer – Belles! Belles! Belles!
13. SoKo & The Walking Who – Mini, mini, mini
14. Vance Joy – La Mer
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