Ngofeen: One month after his first lesson, Arnaud headed to the best venue available to him: le métro. He set himself up at the entrance to a subway station with his microphone and his amp. He had never performed before, and he was terrified. He had le trac, stage fright.
One of the seemingly innumerable Philips-era Jacques Brel compilations issued during the 1970s, Ne Me Quitte Pas is a double-album extravaganza rounding up five songs apiece from his first, second, and fourth albums and three from his too-frequently overlooked third, then rounded out by an apparently random selection of EP cuts. There are, of course, few surprises in store. The title track (better known to the Anglo-American public as "If You Go Away") and "Quand on N'a Que l'Amour," Brel's first hit single, are the most immediate selling points for purchasers seeking a quick introduction to the catalog -- "Sur La Place," "Les Flamandes," and "La Mort" ("My Death" can be similarly highlighted. Where the interest lies for the more serious fan is in the inclusion of such seldom heard sides as "Voir," "Le Prochain Amour," and the duet "Demain L'on Se Marie." None rank among the best of Brel, but, in breaking the domination of album cuts, they do offer something different -- and that, in the fast-filling world of Brel collections, is certainly nothing to be sneezed at! Dave Thompson
The Best of Jacques Brel
But scrumptious desserts they are. Keating thoroughly inhabits tunes like "Brussels." "Madeleine," "Marieke," "Fanette," "Girl in an Armchair," and "The Song for Old Lovers." He was especially good at playing both sides of a deteriorating affair in a medley of "If You Go Away" and "No Love, You're Not Alone." He illuminates the bleakness of "Old Folks" and "My Death." I was especially fond of "Days of the Waltz" a Ravel-like construction about the days of one's life whirling by at an ever-faster velocity. And he saved the best for last, singing Brel's most notable composition, "If We Only Have Love." He punctuated the evening with poems by Brel himself and Rod McKuen.In full disclosure, I am not the biggest fan of Jacques Brel. His anti-optimist view of the world is antithetical to the joy of the chanson, in my opinion. But I am a huge fan of Rian Keating. I think his acting of Brel's songs is exemplary. He is also greatly aided by the wonderful arrangements and virtuoso playing of his musical director, Jeff Cubeta. I found this show beautifully acted and well sung, but structurally problematic. It is worth seeing for Mr. Keating's passionate performance and for Cubeta's wonderful arrangements. But I was left wanting a little less Jacques Brel and a whole lot more Rian Keating.
I kept you barefoot like you camethree worlds later or fifty years earlier,but I had Nicki Minaj dreams for us:bleached brown skin, long stringy yellow hair,God-blue eyes, lips pink as a Cadillac. Only thencould you wear the best dress and the one pair of pumps. 2ff7e9595c
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