Article by Nathan Mountford (Australia)

This is my story of conquest to enjoy the music (by any means) of one of my favourite artists, who happened to represent France at Eurovision. From JB HiFi Narre Warren to Borders Chadstone, iTunes Australia, a music store in Paris and ebay twice. It may take time but I will find it, eventually!

 

I was 20 going on 21, young and still innocent! My other half was house sitting and I was there often. Back then most people owned Compact Discs and stored them in a display cabinet. I decided to fill in some time one day and listen to the house owner’s collection. He was older, white and lived in Indonesia for the most of any year.

 

I’ve always preferred female singers so it was no surprise that one CD stood out. It was SNOW ON THE SAHARA. The sound coming from the speakers was so unique. I fell in love with this husky, strong and masculine voice. One of the songs initially stuck in my mind – a cover of LIFE ON MARS by David Bowie. I went to various music stores as soon as I could to hunt down the CD. Eventually I purchased my very own copy. I was so happy, like a kid at Christmas. A ROSE IN THE WIND became my anthem and to this day is one of my favourite songs.

 

From then on, whenever I visited a music store, my sight was focused on the ‘A’ section. I would request help. “How do you spell that?” they would ask. One day I was in Borders (some of you may remember them) trolling through music. I found a CD in the soundtrack section with “featuring songs performed by” printed on the cover. How did I not know about this? The CD was the OPEN HEARTS original soundtrack. I played it in my car on the way home from work. I WANNA HURT YOU was good for me at the time. I found the movie at the video store (remember them) and rented it.

 

In Australia we don’t have many places to buy or even listen to foreign music. My next conquest was the album CHRYSALIS. I couldn’t find it anywhere and had to order it at JB. I waited and waited but it never came. I was so upset. Fortunately this was around the time that iTunes was taking off and luckily it was available to download. My favourite song from this album is BROKEN DREAM.

 

I was watching a movie one day called Transporter II and recognised a voice. I slow motioned the credits and sure enough it was the song SAVIOUR. By this time music videos started to become popular on YouTube so I started my quest to watch all of her music videos. I downloaded the videos IN YOUR MIND and SAVIOUR from the LUMINESCENCE album. I knew that one day I would visit Europe. In Paris I found an International version of the album and purchased it without hesitation. This album probably has the best mix of songs, which sound great in French and English. How many artists release albums in three languages?

 

ELEVATION released in 2007 has a more R’N’B sound. I have the English version and also the CRAZY music video.

 

One day at the supermarket I heard A ROSE IN THE WIND. I was so happy that other people could hear it and she was getting some airplay in Australia (even if only in the supermarket)! On YouTube I found a few live performances of her with my favourite Australian artist Tina Arena. Hopefully Tina will do Eurovision (either for Australia or possibly France)!

 

I was more on the ball now and watching the Internet for new album releases. I knew in advance that ECHOES was going to be released. I didn’t know the person I had been supporting all these years would take part in the competition I had been supporting all these years! ECHOS (YOU & I) was a surprise, I didn’t know what to expect and for the first time I didn’t really care. She really couldn’t do wrong in my eyes. The film clip is super hot. And although I too was disappointed when I watched the rehearsal video I think she did a great job on the night. This was my first CD ordered on ebay!

 

Since then I have downloaded a few other single releases on iTunes. FLY MY EAGLE is one of my most played. My other half doesn’t really like her sound so I secretly listen to her albums whenever I can. I hope one day I will get to see her live. Until then my next CD/DVD DESIGN OF A DECADE is on its way from Indonesia. And a new album is to be released in November (hopefully with an English version not soon after).

 

I grew up with a stereo that had a radio, record player, double cassette and compact disc player. You could only order music from a music store not from someone overseas through the Internet. Now you only need a phone and music is downloaded instantly! But sometimes you do have to wait. I think the wait makes me appreciate it even more. I like the tactility of a product and visual artwork of the album sleeve. But thankful I have many ways to access music by an Indonesian born artist who now lives in France and still sings in English.

 

I discovered Anggun by accident in 2001. One of my best discoveries.