I first heard Madeleine Peyroux on her album Careless Love about a year ago and fell in love with her dynamic, sultry voice. I had envisioned a sexy chanteuse emerging from a smoky Parisian cafe, and listening to her transported me back to that era. Until now. Last night she played The Centre in Vancouver and it was a perfect example of how perception and reality can often be very different things.
Yes, indeed she has an incredible voice and has a casual confidence in it that makes what she does look simple and utterly unattainable at the same time. It was a pleasure to hear her live. However, the outfit she emerged wearing was unflattering, too casual and combined with her dishevelled hair style kind of made her look like a cross between a street busker and Janice Joplin. Immediately I hoped there would be at least one wardrobe change. It didn’t work with my expectations and was a let down.
With an ensemble that included a bassist, drummer and keyboardist there’s no question this is a woman more comfortable with her voice than her clothes. It would serve her well to makeover her look since it’s so out of whack with the calibre of her talent it’s distracting. A little pizzaz to help focus the eye and create a visual centre of attention for her performances would elevate it to the level I was hoping for. Holly Cole did it back in the early 90s. Come on Madeleine!
Regardless, if you get a chance to see her as she tours promoting her new album, Half the Perfect World, do it.
Posted by Ben Garfinkel
Tags: Music, Pop Culture
Mark Busse (September 29th, 2006)
I totally know what you mean. Peyroux sounds to me like Billie Holiday mixed with Ella Fitzgerald, and I was taken aback when a dishevelled Edie Brickell-like character took the the stage, forgot some lines and making unusual comments to the audience.
Maybe her irreverent, folksy attitude is why she covers Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits songs on her new album. I closed my eyes and it sounded great.
Ryan Murphy (November 22nd, 2006)
Hi Ben,
Great post. For more info on this eccentric artist check out my Madeleine celebrity profile at: http://ca.askmen.com/women/singer_300/358_madeleine_peyroux.html
Keep up the great work!