En concert

Infobox Album | Name = En Concert
Type = Live album
Artist = Mylène Farmer


Released = December 4, 1989
Recorded = Paris
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 1:49:39
Label = Polydor
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gzfexqqhldke link]
Last album = "Ainsi Soit Je..."
(1988)
This album = "En Concert"
(1989)
Next album = "L'Autre..."
(1991)Singles
Name = En concert
Type = Live album
single 1 = Allan
single 1 date = December 1989
single 2 = Plus grandir
single 2 date = May 12, 1990

"En Concert" is the first Live album by Mylène Farmer, released on December 4, 1989. It retraces her two first albums, "Cendres de Lune" and "Ainsi soit je..." and contains a cover, "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes", originally sung by Marie Laforêt.

Background

From May, 1989, Farmer began a series of concerts through all France, which was successful. After these performances, an live album, mixed by Thierry Rogen, was eventually recorded on October 20 and 21, 1989 in Brussels. The photos, made by Marianne Rosenstiehl, illustrate the booklet with images from various shows of the singer on stage. The album was released on December 4, 1989. It was the last album edited by Bertrand Le Page for Mylène Farmer, because he was later dismissed. ["En concert" [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/enconcertglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved April 1, 2008)] A video of the concert, released in May, 1990, was directed by Laurent Boutonnat who added to the concert some rather morbid sequences, such as satanic monks and cemeteries, giving thus to the video the look of a film. The editing was produced over a period of one year"L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer", Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 116-117 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)] and was criticized, because certain scenes were re-filmed without the audience."Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 210]

Two singles were released to promote "En concert" - what was rather rare at the time for a live album : "Allan" and "Plus grandir", which had a minor success, but were much aired in nightclubs. The album also contains the live version of a song which didn't appear then on Farmer's albums, "À quoi je sers...", and a cover version of Marie Laforêt's song, "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes".

Critical reception

"En concert" was generally well-received in media. For example, "The Mag" stated that this album is "a beautiful technical and musical performance". ["Le Mag", 1989, "Mylène Farmer en concert", Eric Joffo [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1989/LE_MAG_89a.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 31, 2008)] "TV Hebdo" considered that this album is "loan of emotion". ["TV Hebdo", December 31, 1989, "La libertine sur scène" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1989/TV_HEBDO_311289.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 30, )] However, according to Caroline Bee, "the production, a little bit smooth, doesn't pass on completely the emotion and the strength which emanated from the blazing show". ["Mylène Farmer - La part d'ombre", Caroline Bee, Antoine Bioy & Benjamin Thiry, 2005, Archipel Ed., p. 362]

Chart performances

The album debuted at #18 on January 3, 1990, on the French Album Chart. It was then #15 , then #9, its highest position. It remained in the top ten for two months and in the top 20 for seven months. It appeared on the chart (Top 40) for ten months.Albums trajectories on French SNEP Albums Chart [http://www.infodisc.fr/Albums_Runs.php Infodisc.fr] (Retrieved April 1, 2008)] It was certified Double gold album by the SNEP for a minimum of 200,000 copies sold. On March 18, 2005, the album, then released in a new version, re-entered the chart for four weeks, peaking at #106 (Top 200)."En concert", 2005 version, French Albums Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=42066&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved April 1, 2008)]

ingles

References