Mélodie Française is an extremely pleasant surprise. The covers contained within are either true to the original’s style or completely reinvented to reflect the Australian artists – both approaches working equally well. Even the French accents are surprisingly consistent, which makes the songs sound that little bit more authentic.
Providing an excellent selection of songs, the compilation covers a wide variety of genres and artists, from Édith Piaf to Air, with an unsurprising amount of Serge Gainsbourg thrown in.
The Australian artists are also chosen extremely well, in a way that makes the record seem consistent and well constructed. Composed of a mix of established acts and up-and-comers, hopefully the record gains the lesser-known some deserved recognition.
Tracks such as Kate Miller-Heidke’s cover of “Il N’y A Pas d’Amour Heureux” and Katie Noonan’s “Les Feuilles Mortes” are examples of songs that replicate the same maturity and grace as the original artists.
Elsewhere, Melbourne newcomer Vance Joy covers the Charles Trenet classic “La Mer”, but truly makes it his own. He turns it into a bouncy ukelele-driven track, but keeps the swelling chorus towards the end in a nod to the iconic original.
It’s the same with Thelma Plum’s cover of one of France’s most famous songs, Édith Piaf’s “La Vie En Rose”. It might be controversial to note, but Ms. Plum definitely gives the great Piaf a run for her money with this soothing, beautiful track. It truly makes you feel as though you’re sitting on a fifth floor balcony in Paris overlooking the Champs-Elysées, devouring champagne and macarons.
