Soeur Sourire - The Singing Nun
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Free Music Notes for The Singing Nun
Free Music Review: Plume de Radis
Hit: 5 Stars
I stumbled upon this album as a child of eight, and listened to the LP every chance I got. Those of you who own the LP know what I'm talking about. The fantastic graphic-pen artwork is simply magical, and it had the lyrics both in English and French. This album was my first introduction to the French language, and over time 'The Singing Nun' became my favorite foreign language album, even though I do speak French now, so its not exactly foreign anymore.The title track was actually a Billboard No. 1 hit (yes, on the Hot 100 singles chart) way back in the 50s. It was called 'Dominique', a catchy little ditty. All of the songs are heavily soaked in Christian influences, but they come across as melodious and engaging and not especially puritanical. Gems such as 'Mets ton joli jupon' and 'Plume de Radis' are my personal favorites, though others such as 'Fleur de Cactus' and 'Je voudrais' have often been termed the more outstanding of the tracks here.
When CDs first became available, I transferred the LP onto CD through an expensive process, as I was so desperate to own this album on CD. It comes as a great surprise that Amazon has this album on CD. Parents of little children would do well to gift this item to their offspring as it will carry them through their lives. La Soeur Sourire is one of those magical recordings that have been proven timeless in their quality and effect.
Highly recommended also to French language teachers looking for a song album that glows with perfect diction. The Sisters' French accent and pronounciation here is impeccable. Certainly worth referring to for anyone desirous of learing proper French.
Free Music Review: The American Catholic folk mass began here
Hit: 5 Stars
Either that or with The Highwaymen's hit version of "Michael". Or maybe both, who knows. It's easy to dismiss this music as camp, but you have to remember that this album was released during an era when folk music was as hot as alt-rock is today. And as such, this country's Roman Catholic church began courting the youth demographic with guitars in the chancel. A Catholic organist friend of mine calls it "chucka-chucka music" in retrospect--he would, he's conservatory-trained and a John Rutter fan. Souer Sourire ("Sister Smile") doesn't have the greatest voice going--she tends to lose power in the alto ranges (the verses of "Dominique", for example), but look what was to happen with Dylan only a couple of years later. The music itself is honest and sincere, the melodies catchy and easily-followed--that's Rule Number One in sacred music. ...you don't have to know beans about French to appreciate it. Standout tunes here are the hit single "Dominique", "Entre les Etoiles", "Souer Adele" (named after the Singing Nun's guitar) and "Plume de Radis". But I also remember from my parents' LP of this album a song that went "Petit bateau sur lieu, vogue, vogue..." (or something like that) and I can't tell from the titles here if it's on this pressing. Does anybody know?Free Music Review: She Will Sing Forever
Hit: 5 Stars
I first heard "The Singing Nun" when I was fifteen years old and I heard her song, "Dominique" on the radio. Those were the days when radio played all kinds of music, not one genre only.I then watched her perform her music thanks to Ed Sullivan and "The Ed Sullivan Show". He had his crew film her at her Dominican Convent in Belgium and aired it on his Sunday night show.
I don't speak much French . . . but I love to hear the language sung. . . and i truly enjoy hearing this voice singing it.
I love "Fleur de Cactus". But I treasure "Resurrestion". And the album couldn't have had a better choice for its final track than, "Among The Stars".
Sadly this nun, after leaving the convent and operating a nursery school, because of supposed tax/money problems committed suicide and left our world. But she hasn't left our lives and she remains in these songs which are captured on disc now forever. "Soeur Sourire" now herself is "Among The Stars".
I'm grateful to her for her songwriting and for her singing. And I thank her for recording these tracks way back in 1964. Here we are in 2003 and still get to enjoy her voice and her talent and her songs.
Free Music Review: Joyous and uplifting music and lyrics.
Hit: 5 Stars
The Singing Nun is a joyous and uplifting CD filled with the inspiration and faith of Soeur Luc-Gabrielle, (Soeur Sourire). The CD is filled with light-hearted lyrics as well as lyrics deeply reflecting Soeur Sourire's journey of faith. The music calls to mind a simpler time and a place of serenity and peace. The melodies express joy and hope, transcending the limits of language. It was these very melodies that captured the heart of a young boy who fondly remembers searching music stores in New York City with his dear grandmother in an attempt to find the songs of Soeur Sourire. It was some time after Soeur Sourire's debut and so those searches, unfortunately, came up empty. That the moving melodies and the uplifting harmonies remained with this young boy into adulthood attest to the true wonder of this music. I happened upon this CD quite seredipitously and frankly it has filled a void. Music that has an appeal, even as we grow older, tells us that it conveys an unchanging message. The music of Soeur Sourire is quite expressive and will continue to delight those who hear it, children and adults alike.Free Music Review: Ms. Decker's Story is Profound
Hit: 5 Stars
The Singing Nun (Jeanine Deckers)produced an album which was a one-hit-wonder during the 1960s -- bringing her an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and even a Hollywood movie starring Debbie Reynolds. There's plenty of saccharine there. Inside all the saccharine, there is an incredibly complex story of a real human life that has lessons and puzzles for all of us. I'd recommend consulting the Wikipedia for a short biography of Ms. Deckers. Listen to the clips. Buy the album. You won't regret it. The music and the lyrics are filled with wit and joy. As a bonus, Ms. Deckers was a gifted artist and several of her line drawings are included in the liner notes. Ms. Decker's story is that of person whose path led into the convent, through brief fame, and out of the convent. Even outside the convent, she appears to have led a life doing good works for autistic children. When her efforts were ended by the Belgian government, she died by her own hand in a suicide pact with what may have been her lesbian lover. Her story raises questions: What is goodness? How do we use the good? And how do we abuse it?