Brief Encounters
Encyclopedia
For the 1945 film, see Brief Encounter
.
For the 1967 film, see Brief Encounters (film).
Brief Encounters is the fourteenth studio album by French singer Amanda Lear
. The album was released in Italy on October 16, 2009 as a double CD set containing twenty five new recordings sung in both English and French, comprising eight original compositions and a selection of covers. The first CD contains pop, acoustic and jazz numbers, while the second CD features more dance oriented tracks.
It's described as offering "an exceptional showcase to highlight Lear's unique voice" and paying tribute "to David Bowie
who launched her musical career with "Sorrow".
The album was recorded during the Autumn of 2008 in Italy, France, England and Australia, released one year later in Italy and scheduled to be released in France in the beginning of 2010. On December 28, 2009 the acoustic version of selected songs from the album were recorded in a new CD called Brief Enconunters Acoustique and sold via the album's official website. A re-edition of the acosutic version, called Brief Encounters Acoustique - Golden Edition, has been released at the beginning of 2011.
A remix album
called Brief Encounters Reloaded has been released in France on May 24, 2010 and it includes a remix version of the lead single
Someone Else's Eyes
edited by Boy George
, released as a single on May 10, 2010.
singer Peter Wilson in 2006. The album was finished in the end of 2008 and was previewed at the years annual Midem music conference
in France on 18–20 January. PMG Music had written and produced "Doin' Fine" and have remixed the ballad, "Someone Else's Eyes
", a duet between Lear and Italian writer producer, Deadstar. that was released as a first single from the album.
"Working with Amanda, Deadstar and her labels in France and Italy has been a fascinating experience" says PMG's Carl M Cox. "Amanda is unique and like no one else I've ever worked with. The experience of working with her is one I wouldn't have missed for the world. I was thrilled when I learned that I was producing a voice that could also boast, amongst many other things, being a Disney character voice- Amanda was both the French and Italian voice of Edna Mode in the Disney/Pixar blockbuster, The Incredibles
. So that for me really was the cherry on the cake."
PMG have continued to work with Lear since March 2009, remixing "Someone Else's Eyes". Originally composed as a ballad, PMG was given the task of revamping the whole song in readiness for release in the clubs. Two mixes have been cut, "All Eyes on the Dance Floor Mix", which marks the entry of new PMG producer, Andrew Firth to the team and the slightly retro "Fully Loaded NRG Mix" by PMG, Steen Ulrich. Both mixes have been added to Lear's album.
Peter Wilson was also recently interview in late March 2008 and said that have submitting a song called "Brand New Love Affair". Wilson described it then as sounding like a sequel to Lear's 1978 disco classic "Follow Me
", and it promises to be brilliant, he also said that "Has a real retro vibe, but with a dark edge and modern twist."
Wilson and his songwriting partner Chris Richards also contributed the song "C'est la vie" and produced a cover of "Always on My Mind". Wilson contributed three tracks to the album and produced a fourth.
During a chart in early 2009, Wilson described the four track, and said also that the Disc 2 is a tribute to her Munich
Eurodisco sound. About the song "C'est la vie" Wilson said that is "Pure Eurodance/Hi NRG very trance a la Kate Ryan
style", and about "Always on My Mind" he said "Yes, a cover of Pet Shop Boys
and of course Elvis
. On the radio mix we have stripped it back, with live drum sounds and a basic production. We love the result. The Dance Mix is very faithful to the PSB version, but also very new Eurodance sound." Finally, about "Doin' Fine," Wison said "I am really excited Amanda has recorded a version of my song. I can't wait for you to all hear it, and it's Disc 2's opening track. She recorded it with the original producers from London that did my version."
Lear was asked if she was working on a new album. Lear said that was working on a double album with covers of David Bowie
and Lou Reed
. After, Lear was interview in the Italian TV show Pomeriggio 5 and also here confirmed that she was working on a new album. In both interviews Lear revealed that she was expecting the album to be released in 2009, but no release date was announced until producer Peter Wilson said in the 2009 chart that the album was set to released in April 2009.
After nine days, Carl M. Cox announced on his MySpace
page that the album was ready to be released on summer 2009, but according with Cox the date of released was moved to summer-early autumn 2009. Al last in September 2009 Lear was interview at "Radio 1 Europe", and she said that the album was currently scheduled for release on October 2009. Finally the album, was released on October 16, 2009 only for the Italian market, whereas a French release has been announced by producer Enrico Petrelli on Lear's French fansite
"Follow-Amanda-Lear", for January 2010.
of Lear and Deadstar while a clip of "Secret Lover", the B-side was available in the Lear's MySpace
.
Brief Encounter
Brief Encounter is a 1945 British film directed by David Lean about the conventions of British suburban life, centring on a housewife for whom real love brings unexpectedly violent emotions. The film stars Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway and Joyce Carey...
.
For the 1967 film, see Brief Encounters (film).
Brief Encounters is the fourteenth studio album by French singer Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear is a French singer, lyricist, composer, painter, TV presenter, actress and novelist....
. The album was released in Italy on October 16, 2009 as a double CD set containing twenty five new recordings sung in both English and French, comprising eight original compositions and a selection of covers. The first CD contains pop, acoustic and jazz numbers, while the second CD features more dance oriented tracks.
It's described as offering "an exceptional showcase to highlight Lear's unique voice" and paying tribute "to David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
who launched her musical career with "Sorrow".
The album was recorded during the Autumn of 2008 in Italy, France, England and Australia, released one year later in Italy and scheduled to be released in France in the beginning of 2010. On December 28, 2009 the acoustic version of selected songs from the album were recorded in a new CD called Brief Enconunters Acoustique and sold via the album's official website. A re-edition of the acosutic version, called Brief Encounters Acoustique - Golden Edition, has been released at the beginning of 2011.
A remix album
Remix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
called Brief Encounters Reloaded has been released in France on May 24, 2010 and it includes a remix version of the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
Someone Else's Eyes
Someone Else's Eyes
"Someone Else's Eyes" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 2009 by Just Good Music For Your Ears.- Song information :"Someone Else's Eyes" features Italian singer Deadstar , who wrote both music and lyrics as well as produced the song. It is a mid-tempo pop song, lyrically a break-up...
edited by Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
, released as a single on May 10, 2010.
Background
Lear started to work on her album in October 2008, with PMG (Prolific Media Group) Productions, Carl M Cox and Nathan Thomas for a song called "Doin' Fine", previous recorded by Australian Hi-NRGHi-NRG
Hi-NRG describes a form of high-tempo disco music as well as a genre of electronic dance music originating in the United States during the late 1970s...
singer Peter Wilson in 2006. The album was finished in the end of 2008 and was previewed at the years annual Midem music conference
Midem
-MIDEM:Short for Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale, MIDEM is the world's largest music industry trade fair, which has been held annually at and around the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, since 1967...
in France on 18–20 January. PMG Music had written and produced "Doin' Fine" and have remixed the ballad, "Someone Else's Eyes
Someone Else's Eyes
"Someone Else's Eyes" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 2009 by Just Good Music For Your Ears.- Song information :"Someone Else's Eyes" features Italian singer Deadstar , who wrote both music and lyrics as well as produced the song. It is a mid-tempo pop song, lyrically a break-up...
", a duet between Lear and Italian writer producer, Deadstar. that was released as a first single from the album.
"Working with Amanda, Deadstar and her labels in France and Italy has been a fascinating experience" says PMG's Carl M Cox. "Amanda is unique and like no one else I've ever worked with. The experience of working with her is one I wouldn't have missed for the world. I was thrilled when I learned that I was producing a voice that could also boast, amongst many other things, being a Disney character voice- Amanda was both the French and Italian voice of Edna Mode in the Disney/Pixar blockbuster, The Incredibles
The Incredibles
The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated action-comedy superhero film about a family of superheroes who are forced to hide their powers. It was written and directed by Brad Bird, a former director and executive consultant of The Simpsons, and was produced by Pixar and distributed by...
. So that for me really was the cherry on the cake."
PMG have continued to work with Lear since March 2009, remixing "Someone Else's Eyes". Originally composed as a ballad, PMG was given the task of revamping the whole song in readiness for release in the clubs. Two mixes have been cut, "All Eyes on the Dance Floor Mix", which marks the entry of new PMG producer, Andrew Firth to the team and the slightly retro "Fully Loaded NRG Mix" by PMG, Steen Ulrich. Both mixes have been added to Lear's album.
Peter Wilson was also recently interview in late March 2008 and said that have submitting a song called "Brand New Love Affair". Wilson described it then as sounding like a sequel to Lear's 1978 disco classic "Follow Me
Follow Me (Amanda Lear song)
"Follow Me" - a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 1978 by Ariola Records.- Song information :"Follow Me" was released as the first single from Amanda's second album, Sweet Revenge, in the spring of 1978. The B-side of the single was "Mother, Look What They've Done to Me" in most of the...
", and it promises to be brilliant, he also said that "Has a real retro vibe, but with a dark edge and modern twist."
Wilson and his songwriting partner Chris Richards also contributed the song "C'est la vie" and produced a cover of "Always on My Mind". Wilson contributed three tracks to the album and produced a fourth.
During a chart in early 2009, Wilson described the four track, and said also that the Disc 2 is a tribute to her Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
Eurodisco sound. About the song "C'est la vie" Wilson said that is "Pure Eurodance/Hi NRG very trance a la Kate Ryan
Kate Ryan
Kate Ryan is a Belgian World Music Award winner. She began her singing career in 2001 and later found fame with a string of dance hits. These included covers, mostly of Mylène Farmer and France Gall, such as "Désenchantée", "Libertine" and "Ella, elle l'a" as well as new material...
style", and about "Always on My Mind" he said "Yes, a cover of Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
and of course Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. On the radio mix we have stripped it back, with live drum sounds and a basic production. We love the result. The Dance Mix is very faithful to the PSB version, but also very new Eurodance sound." Finally, about "Doin' Fine," Wison said "I am really excited Amanda has recorded a version of my song. I can't wait for you to all hear it, and it's Disc 2's opening track. She recorded it with the original producers from London that did my version."
Release
In late 2008, while being interviewed by a French televisionTelevision in France
Television in France was introduced in 1931, making the country one of the first countries in the world to broadcast television programmes.- Terrestrial :...
Lear was asked if she was working on a new album. Lear said that was working on a double album with covers of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
. After, Lear was interview in the Italian TV show Pomeriggio 5 and also here confirmed that she was working on a new album. In both interviews Lear revealed that she was expecting the album to be released in 2009, but no release date was announced until producer Peter Wilson said in the 2009 chart that the album was set to released in April 2009.
After nine days, Carl M. Cox announced on his MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page that the album was ready to be released on summer 2009, but according with Cox the date of released was moved to summer-early autumn 2009. Al last in September 2009 Lear was interview at "Radio 1 Europe", and she said that the album was currently scheduled for release on October 2009. Finally the album, was released on October 16, 2009 only for the Italian market, whereas a French release has been announced by producer Enrico Petrelli on Lear's French fansite
Fansite
A fansite, fan site, or fanpage is a website created and maintained by a fan or devotee interested in a celebrity, thing, or a particular cultural phenomenon...
"Follow-Amanda-Lear", for January 2010.
Previewed songs
In her official album site were available in streaming clips of the songs from the album. Clips available were, "Always on My Mind (12" Remix)", "Back to Black", "Cupidon" and "I Don't Wanna Lose You". Later were also added in the site, "Doin' Fine", "Let the Music Play" and "Always on My Mind". Also the clip of the first single from the album "Someone Else's Eyes" was available on the official MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
of Lear and Deadstar while a clip of "Secret Lover", the B-side was available in the Lear's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
Singles
- "Someone Else's EyesSomeone Else's Eyes"Someone Else's Eyes" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear released in 2009 by Just Good Music For Your Ears.- Song information :"Someone Else's Eyes" features Italian singer Deadstar , who wrote both music and lyrics as well as produced the song. It is a mid-tempo pop song, lyrically a break-up...
" was confirmed to be the first single from the album. A first preview of the song was added on the official site of the album only in streaming, with other songs from the album. The single was officially released on July 27, 2009 as a digital downloadMusic downloadA music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
and with a limited physical edition. The B-side of the single is "Secret Lover", also taken from the album.
Tracklisting
The official tracklist was posted in early 2009 on the album site, but was later changed: two songs written by Peter Wilson and Chris Richards ("Brand New Love Affair" and "C'est la vie"), "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" and "It's a Good Day" were replaced with mix of "For What I Am", "Someone Else's Eyes" and "This Is Not America". Also for the CD 1 the acustic version of "Cupidon" was replaced with the "Someone Else's Eyes" video.Acoustique
Reloaded
Personnel
- Amanda Lear — main vocals
- Nerio Poggi — artistic and record producer
- Enrico Petrelli (a.k.a. Deadstar) — executive record producer, vocals and arrangements track CD1-1
- Nathan Thomas — record producer
- Carl M. Cox — record producer
- Peter Wilson — record producer
- Chris Richards — record producer
- Elio Leonardo Carchidi, Photographer - Fotografo — cover artwork and photography
- Photographers Studio - Studio154, Rome - Italy — photographers production services
External links
- Brief Encounters — Album official website