Nouvelle Vague live in Athens November 2009

The current situation, being what it is, does not allow for live gigs. Still, some artists aren't short of ideas and this is what two members of Nouvelle Vague did a few days ago because they couldn't come to Thessaloniki, Greece, for an appearance at the Demetria festival. They streamed an acoustic performance from a sauna! Back in 2009 though, they had come to Athens and it was the second time that I went to see them. Once again, it was at the same place, Gagarin and they still had a male singer, along with the two female ones.

The opening act was Olga Kouklaki, herself an established artist in the field of electronic music in France, even though she is Greek. I had heard of her a while back but this was the first time that I saw her live.

Nouvelle Vague were, once again, amazing. Remember it was only the second time I had seen them live and I was very excited to listen to all those songs from my childhood, in a bossa nova arrangement.

 

Even when I think about it now, what was on that night's menu was amazing. Covers of songs by The Sex Pistols, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Blondie, Joy Division and The Specials among others. Probably, the best Nouvelle Vague gig I have ever been to.

September means Nouvelle Vague

This was the title of an article in a newspaper. And that was because they usually visits Greece every other September. I have now seen them 4 times: In 2007, in 2009 in 2011 and in 2013. That's every two years. Mind you, only 2011 and 2013 were in September. 2007 was in December and 2009 it was in November. And only 2011 and 2013 were in an oprn air venue. I read an aeicle about them on a Sunday paper supplement and I was intrigued. You see, Nouvelle Vague (which means "new wave" in French) cover new wave songs from the 70's and 80's in bossa nova style (which means "new wave" in PORTuguese). Here are a few examples: "Heart Of Glass" by Blondie, "God Save The Queen" by The Sex Pistols, "Just Can't Get Enough" by Depeche Mode, "Don't Go" by Yazoo, "Friday Night Saturday Morning" by The Specials, "Guns Of Brixton" by The Clash, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division, "Blue Monday" by New Order, "Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This" by The Eurythmics among others. They released 2 albums in that style. On the 3rd they collaborated with the original artists whose songs they covered. And on the 4th they covered French pop songs from that same era. And they say they choose their singers among people who have never hears the original versions.

I liked what I saw that first night at Gagarin Music Space in 2007 so I went to see them again, 2 years later at the same venue.

With an extra singer this time and an even better performance.

Once again I saw them in Athens at Technopolis, an open air venue this time.

Apparently they have fans from all age groups.

On the 2009 and 2011 concerts they were supported by Greek electro artist Olga Kouklaki who is well-known in France.

One of the Nouvelle Vague singers actually sang on her set in 2011 and she returned the favour by getting up on stage το sing Blue Monday with them.

And so, they were back, on the same venue in September 2013, this time supported by Opera Chaotique.

 

 

And, even though she was not supporting them this time, Olga Kouklaki did come up on stage and sang one of her songs with them

Nouvelle Vague

3 φορές έχω δει τους Nouvelle Vague. Το 2007, το 2009 και το 2011. Κάθε 2 χρόνια δηλαδή. Τις 2 πρώτες φορές στο Gagarin και φέτος στη Τεχνόπολη. Διάβασα ένα άρθρο γι αυτούς πριν από 5 χρόνια στο ΕΨΙΛΟΝ της Κυριακάτικης Ελευθεροτυπίας και μου κίνησαν την περιέργεια. Οι Nouvelle Vague (που σημαίνει "νέο κύμα" στα Γαλλικά) διασκευάζουν κομμάτια new wave (που σημαίνει "νέο κύμα" στα Αγγλικά) σε ρυθμούς bossa nova (που σημαίνει "νέο κύμα" στα Πορτογαλικά). Αυτό πρακτικά σημαίνει κομμάτια της Βρετανικής κυρίως σκηνής, χονδρικά της εποχής 1977-1984. Θέλετε παραδείγματα; Heart Of Glass των Blondie, God Save The Queen των Sex Pistols, Just Can't Get Enough των Depeche Mode, Don't Go των Yazoo, Friday Night Saturday Morning των Specials, Guns Of Brixton των Clash, Love Will Tear Us Apart των Joy Division, Blue Monday των New Order, Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This των Depeche Mode μεταξύ άλλων. Έβγαλαν 2 αλμπουμ σ'αυτό το στυλ. Στο τρίτο, συνεργάστηκαν με τους αυθεντικούς καλλιτέχνες τα κομμάτια των οποίων διασκεύαζαν. Και στο τέταρτο και πιο πρόσφατο διασκευάζουν Γαλλικά κομμάτια της ίδιας περιόδου. Τους ταργουδιστες και τις τραγουδίστριες του συγκροτήματος τους/τις διαλέγουν με τον όρο να μην έχουν ακούσει τις αυθεντικές εκτελέσεις των κομματιών ώστε να τα αποδίδουν με τον δικό τους τρόπο.

Κόλλησα μετά από αυτή τη πρώτη βραδιά στο Gagarin και ξαναπήγα να τους δω, 2 χρόνια μετά στον ίδιο χώρο.

Με μία επιπλέον τραγουδίστρια αυτή τη φορά και ακόμη καλύτερη εμφάνιση.


Ξανά λοιπόν στην Αθήνα, σε ανοικτό χώρο αυτή τη φορά, τον περασμένο Σεπτέμβριο.

Από τα απρόοπτα της βραδιάς ο παππούς που έκανε στριπτήζ προσπαθώντας να σαγηνεύσει τις 2 τραγουδίστριες.

Να σημειώσουμε ακόμα ότι στις 2 τελευταίες από αυτές τις 3 συναυλίες support έπαιξε η δικιά μας Όλγα Κουκλάκη η καριέρα της οποίας, κυρίως στην ηλεκτρονική μουσική ξεκίνησε από τη Γαλλία.

Στη φετινή συναυλία μάλιστα, τραγούδησε μαζί της η μία από τις τραγουδίστριες των Nouvelle Vague και η ίδια ανταπέδωσε αργότερα ανεβαίνοντας στη σκηνή για να τραγουδήσει μαζί τους το Blue Monday.

Θα πετύχετε συχνά την Όλγα να παίζει DJ sets στο Loop, στο Θησείο