Martha Does Piaf

12 EVENT MUSIC MARTHA DOES PIAF But finally the timing seemed right deal with too much of the comparison French connection: Though it Martha Wainwright’s early introduction to and Willner – who has records by between my recordings and some of terrified her, Martha Wainwright Leonard Cohen, Marianne Faithfull her most famous recordings because had the pedigree to pull off Edith the sounds of Edith Piaf was a blessing, and Lou Reed to his name – and she would win that battle,’’ she laughs. Piaf’s songs Wainwright got together an ensemble But the singer, whose parents are writes Sally Browne of string and brass musicians (not to folk singer Kate McGarrigle and the Wainwright’s favourite song on the mention the obligatory accordion inimitable Loudon Wainwright III, record is Soudain Une Vallee (Suddenly IT’S an irresistible image. Martha abandon that Piaf put into every player) and recorded a couple of had the musical pedigree to pull it off, There’s a Valley), which was originally Wainwright and her famous brother performance. shows at small venues in New York. and, growing up in Montreal, is pas written in English. ‘‘When I first Rufus belting out Edith Piaf tunes ‘‘That seemed to be very exciting to It was a nerve-racking experience mal (not bad) at the old French. heard it I heard it in French and the when they were small. me when I was a kid. It sort of makes for Wainwright, but the team was so ‘‘I realised having the focus of melody and the air of it was very But that’s what the Canadian you stand up and shake.’’ happy with the production – and the doing one artist’s songs really made a unFrench. It was very American siblings did when they were growing So when she was approached by intimate, unpolished feel created by lot of sense and even though I’m not sounding. Of course I was relieved to up in their musical household eminent producer Hal Willner to the live recording – they decided to trying to sound like Edith Piaf and I sing something that wasn’t so word- in Montreal. record some songs by the famed release it as is. certainly don’t look anything like trippingly ‘Frenchy Frenchy’, so I ‘‘We had our favourites,’’ Wain- French songbird, Wainwright wasn’t And voila! Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Edith Piaf, interestingly enough she really got into it. wright says. ‘‘The favourite one I had, exactly unfamiliar with her tunes. Paris, Martha Wainwright’s take on very much comes out in the songs and ‘‘Since having done the record I and I think was his too, was Milord. Even so, the 33-year-old, who has Edith Piaf was released. I think that’s because a lot of the learnt it was originally an American ‘‘We were wild about Piaf. I forget released two solo CDs, Martha Wain- On the CD, Wainwright covers songs were written for her specifically. song, and the lyrics are terrible in that, because we did grow up in wright and I Know You’re Married But some of Piaf’s more obscure tracks. ‘‘She would tell journalists or poets, English. It’s much better in French!’’ Montreal and in a musical family that I’ve Got Feelings Too, decided to wait She didn’t want to go head to head men who were often involved with Wainwright, a frequent visitor to had a lot of different types of records, before going ahead with the project. with the Little Sparrow on some of her – whether in a sexual way or a Australia, plans to tour the record I just assumed that she was that She wanted to work on her own her most famous recordings. mental way – because she was a very next year, although no dates have yet popular for everybody my age and of material and, after La Vie en Rose, the Willner originally sent her almost powerful person, she would get these been announced. course that isn’t at all the case.’’ popular film about Piaf, had come out, 300 songs on an iPod to listen to. people to write songs for her and I Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris, But Wainwright says she remem- didn’t want to appear to be jumping ‘‘I didn’t want to get into a think that they really encapsulated Martha Wainwright’s Piaf Record is bers the soaring voice and reckless on the Piaf bandwagon. caricature of Piaf and I didn’t want to her in the songs.’’ out now. Carr-ismatic Idol winner aims to stay grounded MANY 15-year-olds would have ‘‘Even though I didn’t write You,I think I’ll be cringing,’’ he says. It has ‘‘If you’re a bit scared of the trouble describing love. But at that Wes Carr is up for really thought the UK songwriters been a year since Carr won Aust- limelight or the judges, you shouldn’t age, last year’s Australian Idol winner and producers, T. Jay and Adam ralian Idol. do it,’’ he says. Wes Carr defined it as an animal. his first ARIA, writes Argyle, nailed it,’’ Carr, 27, says. He entered the competition As a contestant he found it hard to A dozen years after the pop-rock ‘‘The music and lyrics captured knowing his days of being ‘‘this dude get to know the judges, but he has singer wrote Love is an Animal, the Christie Martin where I was at the time and it also no one knows about’’ could not last since developed a good relationship single became the fourth cut from inspired a few ideas in regards to forever. And despite establishing with Marcia Hines and Ian Dickson. his debut album The Way The World The Adelaide-born Carr appeared which direction I should take.’’ himself as a professional artist, he Looks. in the video with just his band, Carr is happy with his album, wants to stay grounded. Wes Carr’s album The Way the Unlike the star-studded cast for preferring to highlight the song more which includes three of his own Staying focused and being honest, World Looks is out now. Single You has been nominated for an ARIA for the film clip for album single Fear- than the production. songs and seven co-written singles. he says, is what will lead to success, Highest Selling Australian Single. less, the Love is an Animal clip was An earlier single, You, has been ‘‘I didn’t want to look back in 20 especially with this year’s Idol con- See the ARIA Awards on Thursday stripped back and kept simple. nominated for an ARIA Award. years and cringe but, yeah, I don’t testants. from 8.30pm on Channel 9. Page 12 THE SUNDAY MAIL, event November 22, 2009 thesundaymail.com.au.

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