Elle France - 3 may 2013 - Cover

[Deleted]

Tomorrow in France !

[MarieClaire]

Merci!!

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

very beautiful! photo #6 is very sexy

[Deleted]

WOW!!!Thanks

[Chandelle]

Gorgeous, thanks!

[gavrilova1993]

Beautiful! :DThanks!

[audreyfan1]

Gorgeous! Thank you!

[likeaflower]

Beautiful!

[Monique]

She looks lovely.

Would love a translation of the interview whenever someone gets the chance.

[nounours13]

A little translation ?
Just the first page for the moment...



It's a very successful album...
I have to say that I had to perform very strong songs, and that, it gives me wings. Some of them were written for me, some were not. To tell the truth, I didn't ask the question. When we receive presents like that, we don't mind...

Did you meet B. Biolay before ?
We met each other, but nothing more. I thought he was a very talented author and composer. But I also was very impressed by his gift as a director. If we listen to his first album, we realize that - the strings, the brass, chorus... - everything is already there.

He speaks highly of you. And what about you ? What do you think about your collaboration ?
B.Biolay is an amazing musician and a singer with a unique voice. Working with someone who is so talented, clever, and who does all for you in order to create a surprising album, it's ideal. He has a lot of ideas and he works very quickly. He plays all the instruments, and writes sublime songs. And, above all, he's very nice.

And why a double-album ?
I know it's the financial crisis ! (Laughs) It wasn't planned, but we had to do that, 'cause there were too many beautiful songs written by B.Biolay, M.Boogaerts, A.Gallo or M.Kanche. We felt inspired by all these songs and we wanted to make them together in order to create a kind of "musical trip". There are African influences, pop music or English rock, and French music too...

Your voice (timbre) is deeper...
I was told who is the boy who sings in the chorus of Love Song. It's me ! I have to say that in the studio, we didn't count the hours. We recorded this song at 3 o'clock in the morning, and I didn't have to sing, it wasn't planned. That's a thing I love with Benjamin : he uses, in general, the first "shoot" (?) for the singers and for the musicians. It gives a lively and natural side to the whole, it makes up the strict aspect of the songs.

In order to write his songs, M.Boogaerts says that he didn't meet you, so he shared e-mails with you. Is it difficult to confess by e-mail with a stranger ?
I didn't have to confess for these songs 'cause he sent to me songs already written. We didn't have begun to communicate when I received them.

He says that he felt inspired by your split to write "Le Rempart"...
It's nonsensical to pretend that because I was not separated when he gave me this song. He maybe felt inspired by his own separations...

This song is about split...
Yes, for sure, and it is a song that I sang as if it was a role without having the impression to speak about myself. When I have a role of killer in a movie, I'm not told if I have got a "killer soul". Obviously, I weren't able to sing these songs when I was 20 years-old. But there is nothing of shameless about that, this album contains imaginary and personal things.

So this album isn't more personal than the others ?
It's inevitably more personal than my first album, when I was fifteen. Everything is more personal 'cause I'm in a position to write by myself, I take part in composition and production, and I can give my opinion.

In any case, this album is deeper than the others...
I agree. And it's good like that. I like deep things.

Do you feel more comfortable now you are 40, than when you were 20 years-old ?
Yes, it's more pleasant. With hindsight, I have more humour about myself and I know myself better. My "treasures box" is full of experiences, and things that I understand better now. But there are still things to learn and to understand, it's not over.

Did you dread this fortieth birthday ?
No, not at all. I'm fatalistic.

On the album, there is a song written by your daughter, and composed by yourself...
Lily-Rose found the melody and the first sentence when she was 6 years-old. I've found it was sublime. We finished the song, in family, seven years later.

Does your daughter have a gift for music ?
Yes, she has a natural gift for that.



The rest of the interview is coming soon. and sorry for the mistakes...

[flo116]

Dear Nounours...thank you so much I, we, would be lost without you.

[Lily-Lou]

Thank you <3 I love reading her interviews and having it in both languages is a great way to learn

[shellysmom]

May 23, 2013 21:17:45 GMT 1 Lily-Lou said:

Thank you <3 I love reading her interviews and having it in both languages is a great way to learn

It is a great way to learn. When a scan is posted I read it and try to translate as much as I can. I'm not very good at it but the more I do it the better I am getting. Then, I read Nounours translations to find out what the article really says. Sometimes I can translate the words but it is hard to get the correct meaning. It is great to have someone translate it so we can get the correct meaning. I also listen to Vanessa's songs and read the lyrics along with the songs. This helps me with pronunciation. Then, I write out the words/sentences phonetically in English so that I will remember the correct pronunciation. I still can not pronounce the French letter "r." There is no sound like that in the English language.

Vanessa (and this site) are helping me to learn French!

[kittcat]

Dear nounours13!! Thank you...I can usually get a few words...but I can't get much more than that!! So thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Lovely to be able to read the interview!!

[nounours13]

Merci beaucoup ! You're all welcome !
For sure, translations are a good way to learn French, and I also try to improve my english...without using Google translation (I don't like Google translation)... ;D

So I've tried to translate the end of the interview, and there is a word that I don't know how to translate 'cause in French it's a swearword...
It's for "La chanson des vieux cons", "con"or "conne" are French swearwords that I will translate by "stupid", it's better ...



B.Biolay makes you sing : "This is a song for the stupid old people / like me little stupid girl from the past ". Have you ever felt like this ; " stupid little girl" ? (petite conne in french)
"Petite conne", it means everything. It's a quite charming term to evoke the carefree of youth. Of course, I was like this, I can give that "name" to me.

Do you sometimes watch your old clips ?
Rarely. I did it when my Best of video was released, and it was odd to me. It was quite nostalgic 'cause I was surrounded by people who are dead. It was as when you flick through a photo album, it made me smile and cry at the same time.

Are you a nostalgic person, in general ?
I enjoy remembering good moments. Nostalgia, yes, I adore that, but not at all for regrets. I really love being in the present moment, so it doesn't bother me to look back, or having desires for after.

Among your desires, there is cinema. You have just shot your first film in english, produced by the actor John Turturro...
And it was great ! The kind of shooting where a really strong team is able to do everything in order to help the director. I spent one and a half month in New-York, where I lived 20 years ago and where I didn't come back very often. The emotion was intense, 'cause we shot during the hurricane Sandy and the presidential election. For a lot of people, Sandy was tragic, but the inhabitants of this city has got a marvelous generosity. A grand lesson.

And what about Woody Allen, your partner ?
I went to see him play clarinet at Carlyle, it was fabulous. As an actor, he improvises a lot. I was very impressed. Backstage, Woody Allen made me laugh, asked me questions about myself. We talked about music together.

You also are the model (égérie) for the H&M Conscious Collection...
Yes, I like the idea to represent a popular affordable brand, and a collection that tries to make people are aware of our planet's future. I liked everything, the clothes, the scenery, the photographer, the director. I recycle old clothes, buy vintage, it's what I do in life, and it works for me.

The preservation of the environment is a battle in which you are aware ?
Of course, even if I'm not good to talk about that. I wouldn't be a good spokeswoman. I'm careful not to waste water, I sort my refuse and I limit my shopping.

Do you eat wholefood ?
I do eat health food and junkfood too.

When you are in Los Angeles, do you miss France and Paris ?
I couldn't do without France. Because of my family, my friends, of course... But this also is the place where I feel the best in the world. In Paris, I feel moved by architecture, bridges, the Seine. I also love to stay longer in the terraces cafes in order to observe people. Los Angeles, it's another thing, the three quarters of the time, we spend them in cars, there are many less interactions between people. But there are fabulous things, like the private school system that offers an incredible artistic and sports program. As a little girl, I would have dreamt to go to these schools, it's very academic, but very individualized too.

How do you imagine yourself in five years ?
I don't know, I don't imagine myself. I would have finished the tour for the album, or I would have shot movies...

Would you like to produce a movie, one day ?
I don't say no 'cause I enjoy taking pictures and framing is something that has always interested me. I would certainly want to produce my own film, one day.



Voilà voilà !

[flo116]

I loved her answer about LA and missing France. Thank you

[bitak]

I'm glad to read a few times as of late that she sees some good side to LA. I was worried this living in LA thing was a complete trouble to her.and what maybe she did for the kids comfort only,to not change their surrounding. Glad she sees good sides of it,but that's Vanessa as always!