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John Aizlewood's rating
, Ma foi, c'est Martha Wainwright
By
John Aizlewood
12 Nov 2009
In 2006, Rufus Wainwright disastrously attempted to channel Judy Garland. At first glance his little sister seems to be doing much the same thing with Edith Piaf on Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris, her current album of Piaf songs, and last night’s Martha Wainwright Sings Piaf.
Not quite. Whereas Rufus’s Garland phase was born of all-consuming adulation, Martha cheerily admitted to being unfamiliar with Piaf’s life and oeuvre.
Moreover, regretting precisely rien, the endearingly scatty hostess explained she had neglected to acquaint herself with the Piaf biopic, La Vie En Rose. As a result, perhaps, the early stages had a rather awkward feel and her wearing shiny chav leggings for the first half hardly helped dispel the notion that this was a slapdash enterprise.
Yet there was method and majesty in the apparent sloth. The pregnant Wainwright hit her stride with the gloriously cascading La Foule and suddenly ignoring Piaf’s hits (save La Vie En Rose, a goodnight lullaby sung without the aid of a microphone) made perfect sense.
Both Wainwright and her audience were discovering the strident Les Grognards, the scattergun Le Metro De Paris and the impossibly beautiful C’est Toujours La Même Histoire together. Carrying none of Piaf’s ample personal baggage or her standards’ over-familiarity, Wainwright seized these haunting tales of prostitutes, death and ennui for herself and didn’t let go. Formidable.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (2)
Amazing that 2 people could have such different experiences. I sat enthralled throughout this concert. I was only vaguely familiar with Piaf's songs before. Martha's voice and passion were incredible. And the hundreds who queued to congratulate her, many of whom rushed to buy her CD for signing, presumably felt the same. A Barbican employee said it was the longest queue he had seen in the many years he had worked there
- Patricia, London, 13/11/2009 13:44
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This was one of the worst concerts I have ever been to. Martha had not even taken the trouble to learn the song words and had to read them from a lecturn. I sat cringing with embarrassment as she bumbled around the stage. Shame on her for her lack of preparation and when she finished one song summary that she did not understand, her conclusion was ".....or whatever". Absolute tosh. Her main ambition was to promote the sale of her new CD in the foyer.
- Peter Wood, London, UK, 12/11/2009 14:54
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