Vanessa Paradis (album)

Vanessa Paradis
Studio album by Vanessa Paradis
Released May 1, 1992
Genre Pop, rock
Label Polydor, Barclay Records
Producer Lenny Kravitz, Gerry DeVeaux
Vanessa Paradis chronology
Variations Sur Le Même T'aime
(1990)
Vanessa Paradis
(1992)
Live
(1994)

Vanessa Paradis is the self-titled third album and English debut by popular French singer Vanessa Paradis. It was released in 1992 and contains the singles "Be My Baby" and "Sunday Mondays".

Contents

Background and writing

Lenny Kravitz, who was dating Paradis at the time, produced and co-wrote the album. Japanese Editions of this album contain the extra track entitled "Gotta Have It", which is a tribute track to Lenny Kravitz, written by Kravitz himself. This was omitted on the U.S. release of the album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Robert Christgau [2]

The album was one of her most successful and most critically acclaimed, proving to be both popular in France and the UK. It spawned several successful singles, including one of her most recognisable songs "Be My Baby". The album is also noted for being the first time Paradis took creative control over her music.

The album is noted for being extremely innovative in its use of instruments, and for its replication of the 1960s soundscape on virtually every song. One of the biggest hits from the CD was "Sunday Mondays". Vanessa's own personal favorite off this record was Track 10, "Just as Long as you are There", which she often performs live in concerts. A One Hour Television Special on the Making of the Album was recorded in 1992 but was never aired. The album is now officially out of print and can be found at various collector stores, and on eBay.

Track listing

  1. "Natural High" (Lenny Kravitz) 3:21
  2. "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Lou Reed) 3:25
  3. "Silver and Gold" (Kravitz) 2:43
  4. "Be My Baby" (DeVeaux, Kravitz) 3:41
  5. "Lonely Rainbows" (Hirsch, Kravitz) 2:33
  6. "Sunday Mondays" (Hirsch, Kravitz, Paradis) 3:56
  7. "Your Love Has Got a Handle on My Mind" (Kravitz) 3:56
  8. "The Future Song" (Kravitz) 4:55
  9. "Paradis" (Kravitz) 3:03
  10. "Just as Long as You Are There" (Hirsch, Kravitz) 3:24
  11. "Gotta Have It" (Hirsch, Kravitz, Ross) 2:17 (Bonus track)

Charts

Album

Chart (1992) Peak
Position
Austrian Album Charts 22
Dutch Album Charts 44
French Album Charts 1
Swedish Album Charts 27
UK Album Charts 45

Singles

Year Single Chart Peak Position[1]
1992 "Be My Baby" French Singles Charts 5
1992 "Be My Baby" UK Singles Charts 6
1992 "Be My Baby" Swedish Singles Charts 11
1992 "Be My Baby" Austrian Singles Charts 19
1992 "Be My Baby" Dutch Singles Charts 40
1993 "Sunday Mondays" French Singles Charts 41
1993 "Sunday Mondays" Dutch Singles Charts 36

References