Piano Bar (album)
Encyclopedia
Piano Bar is the name of the sixth studio album recorded by the French
artist Patricia Kaas
. It was released in 2002. Although it was less successful in France
, a country in which Kaas' albums are generally well-received, it had higher sales and chartings in other countries such as Germany
, Russia
, USA, UK and Finland
.
, which achieved a good success. At the same time, Kaas started her acting career in Claude Lelouch's film And now... Ladies and Gentlemen, with Jeremy Irons
. To accompany the film, the concept album Piano Bar By Patricia Kaas was released in 2002, which was explicitly not a soundtrack to the film (the real soundtrack has never been released). Piano Bar was the sixth album of the singer, but the first one published that was sung mainly in English, and is a tribute to the great French chanson artists of history.
The album contains cover versions of "Where Do I Begin
", which was originally on the soundtrack to Love Story
, and an English version of Jacques Brel
's "Ne me quitte pas" (Eng: "Don't leave me"), re-entitled "If You Go Away". There are also a cover version of Yves Montand
's song "Les Feuilles mortes", and another of Gilbert Bécaud
, "Et Maintenant", under the title "What Now My Love".
, the album had a moderate success : it started at #14 on April 14, 2002, then reached #10 in its second and sixth week, but was unable to clim higher. It remained for nine weeks in the top 20, 22 weeks in the top 50, 26 weeks in the top 100 and 30 weeks on the chart. Even if it was certified double gold, sales were less in comparison with the previous albums. By contrast, Piano Bar reached #12 in Germany, which was the second most successful album of the singer in this country.
In Belgium
(Wallonia), the album reached #6 debuted at #35 on April 27, 2002, jumped to #9 and finally reached #6 for two consecutive weeks. It totaled six weeks in the top ten, stabilized in the top 20, then dropped quickly, and deseappered after its 21 weeks.
In Switzerland
, the album peak at #6 too. It hit this position in its second week, on May 5, 2002, before dropping first slowly, then quickly, remaining for ten weeks in the top 50 and 24 weeks on the chart (top 100). It achieved Gold status.
The album hit only #38 in Austria
, and for the first time in Kaas' career, one of her albums was charted in New Zealand
, peaking at #35 in its second and last week, on April 20, 2003.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
artist Patricia Kaas
Patricia Kaas
Patricia Kaas is a French singer and actress.Kaas is a very successful French-speaking singer, with an International following...
. It was released in 2002. Although it was less successful in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a country in which Kaas' albums are generally well-received, it had higher sales and chartings in other countries such as Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, USA, UK and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Background
In 2002, Sony BMG decided to publish the singer's first best of, Rien ne s'arrêteRien ne s'arrête
Rien ne s'arrête is the name of a compilation by the French singer Patricia Kaas. It was released in 2001 and achieved a good success in various countries.-Background:...
, which achieved a good success. At the same time, Kaas started her acting career in Claude Lelouch's film And now... Ladies and Gentlemen, with Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
. To accompany the film, the concept album Piano Bar By Patricia Kaas was released in 2002, which was explicitly not a soundtrack to the film (the real soundtrack has never been released). Piano Bar was the sixth album of the singer, but the first one published that was sung mainly in English, and is a tribute to the great French chanson artists of history.
The album contains cover versions of "Where Do I Begin
(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story
" Love Story" is a popular song published in 1970, with music by Francis Lai and lyrics by Carl Sigman. The song was first introduced as an instrumental theme in the 1970 film Love Story. The lyrics were added after the theme music became popular.-Covers:The song has been covered many times...
", which was originally on the soundtrack to Love Story
Love Story (1970 film)
Love Story is a 1970 romantic drama film written by Erich Segal and based on his novel Love Story. It was directed by Arthur Hiller. The film, well known as a tragedy, is considered one of the most romantic of all time by the American Film Institute , and was followed by a sequel, Oliver's Story...
, and an English version of Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
's "Ne me quitte pas" (Eng: "Don't leave me"), re-entitled "If You Go Away". There are also a cover version of Yves Montand
Yves Montand
-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in...
's song "Les Feuilles mortes", and another of Gilbert Bécaud
Gilbert Bécaud
Gilbert Bécaud was a French singer, composer and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et Maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love"...
, "Et Maintenant", under the title "What Now My Love".
Critical reception
About this album, Allmusic said : "The end result is a lovely, winning album, another fine recording by a fine vocalist".Charts performances
In FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the album had a moderate success : it started at #14 on April 14, 2002, then reached #10 in its second and sixth week, but was unable to clim higher. It remained for nine weeks in the top 20, 22 weeks in the top 50, 26 weeks in the top 100 and 30 weeks on the chart. Even if it was certified double gold, sales were less in comparison with the previous albums. By contrast, Piano Bar reached #12 in Germany, which was the second most successful album of the singer in this country.
In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(Wallonia), the album reached #6 debuted at #35 on April 27, 2002, jumped to #9 and finally reached #6 for two consecutive weeks. It totaled six weeks in the top ten, stabilized in the top 20, then dropped quickly, and deseappered after its 21 weeks.
In Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the album peak at #6 too. It hit this position in its second week, on May 5, 2002, before dropping first slowly, then quickly, remaining for ten weeks in the top 50 and 24 weeks on the chart (top 100). It achieved Gold status.
The album hit only #38 in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and for the first time in Kaas' career, one of her albums was charted in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, peaking at #35 in its second and last week, on April 20, 2003.
Track listing
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Man" (Charles, Pollack, Willemet) |
|
| 2. | "If You Go Away" (Brel, McKuen) |
|
| 3. | "What Now My Love" (Bécaud, DeLanoe) |
|
| 4. | "Un Homme et une Femme" (Barouh, Lai) |
|
| 5. | "The Summer Knows" (Bergman, Bergman, Legrand) |
|
| 6. | "I Wish You Love" (Beach, Trenet) |
|
| 7. | "Yesterday, When I Was Young" (Aznavour, Kretzmer) |
|
| 8. | "Les Moulins de mon cœur" (Bergman, Bergman, Legrand) |
|
| 9. | "Les Feuilles mortes" (Kosma, Mercer, Prevert) |
|
| 10. | "Where Do I Begin" (Lai, Sigman) |
|
| 11. | "Syracuse" (Dimey, Salvador) |
|
| 12. | "La Mer" (Lasry, Trenet) |
|
| 13. | "And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen" (Bergman, Ives, Legrand) |
|
| 14. | "If You Go Away" (remix) (Brel, McKuen) |
|
| 15. | "Une Question de temps" (D.Manet / L.Bertignac) |
|
Certifications and sales
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Gold | 2002 | 100,000 | 192,000+ |
| Switzerland | Gold | 2003 | 20,000 | |
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | 38 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart | 6 |
| French Albums Chart | 10 |
| German Albums Chart | 12 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 6 |
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 35 |
| End of year chart (2002) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart | 36 |
| French Albums Chart | 60 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 60 |