(Nicoletta - French Pop gone intense - and no one seemed to mind)
When we think about French Pop music of the 60's names like Francoise Hardy and France Gall come to mind. Engaging, well crafted songs sung by a light breezy voice, almost whispering into the microphone.
Not Nicoletta. She was, and still is a consumer of songs (and I don't I don't mean that in the conspicuous consumption sense). A singer who wrung every possible bit of emotion out of every note she sang. She didn't sing for the passive. She sang like her life depended on it.
Nicoletta first came on the scene in 1966 and this ep featuring tonights track, Pense A L'Ete became a massive hit for her, and grabbed the attention of not only the audience but of her peers. Ray Charles was a huge admirer of hers and many of the leading pop music writers in America were offering her material in the hopes she would give the same emotion charged treatment. She did French translations of a number of American songs over the years and with great success.
Some forty years later, she is still in fine form performing as well as recording. Although probably not as well known here as in France, she is still a pop legend, no matter whose language it is.
