A wonderful version of Mylene Farmer's Les Mots from 2006, a live version from the Avant que l'Ombre a Bercy DVD.
The song was originally a duet with Seal, released in 2001 on her album of the same name. The Les Mots album remains her best selling album ever, and France's biggest selling ever greatest hits collection.
In this version, the male English language vocals are sung by Abe Laboriel JR, who was playing drums in Farmer's band. Seal was apparently asked to perform the duet at Farmer's 13 Bercy shows, but asked too much money so was replaced by Laboriel.
Abe Laboriel is a US session musician, who has also performed with Seal, Steve Vai, Eric Clapton and Lady Gaga. He is a regular member of Paul McCartney's band and has played live with him and on most of his albums for the last ten years.
To these ears he sound a bit like a more soulful Peter Gabriel, the song reminding me a little of the Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush duet Don't Give Up from the So album.
In comparison to Seal, I actually thing he does a better job of the song. True, Seal's a big star and no doubt that brought something to the song, but it must have been extraordinary to see this live. Realising that it was the drummer who was singing this duet must have been priceless.
The original video for Les Mots was a big budget production that referenced the Wreck of the Medusa painting, featuring the two singers, although Seal was not actually at the shoot and was added in later, the original filming featuring a body double.
Of course, the song having been associated with a big video makes it all the more difficult to stage live. No problems here as the video shows, the standard of the live production being higher than the live performances at mant international award shows.
Farmer's Bercy shows were not a tour as such, playing the same venue every night making it easier to design a stage that did not have to be broken down every night and transported,
Needless to day, in typical Mylene Farmer style, the Bercy DVD was the best selling music DVD ever in France.
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