Cat Power - Birthday Party In Paris

Cat Power and Paris built a strong relationship since years - maybe a love one - therefore it’s not a surprise that Chan Marshall choose the capital of France to celebrate her birthday as well as the released of Jukebox (Matador) last Monday (January 21st).
Many years ago, in her previous life, she found in France a steady audience long before that her own motherland or other European countries like England discovered her. As soon as she released What would The Community Think and played in Paris for the first time in 1996, she started to be follow by hundreds of fans who filed every venue she performed since (mostly alone). Whatever happened on stage – you know her reputation - people stood still with respect and affection even asking for more. Why? In the country of Verlaine and Rimbeau I guess you are ready to welcome a performer as fragile and beautiful as Chan Marshall especially when her voice and her songwriting create an intimate relation with your own sensibility.
I guess those longtime fans made the right choice, long after Cat Power is still there and praise by the world. The problem for them now is to share her with so many people and the question is do they wish to go again and see her in crowded halls where intimacy vanished.
I am one of them, never missed a show from Cat Power since 1997, last Monday was my 10th; bought all her albums… Last 21st, whatever will happen, I said to me “You must be at the Bataclan to celebrate Chan's Birthday”.
Of course, I was glad to see her so alive and happy, dancing, jumping on stage running from left to right like a young Mike Jagger. The music was good (songs from Jukebox, of course, but no Song To Bobby or Blue). The Dirty Delta Blues is “the” perfect band for her. Chan voice still a wonder. She even stayed on stage alone fifteen more minutes to share with crowd roses, setlist and presents (see picture). But, but…, I may say that I missed something, something that only happened in a Cat Power’s concert years ago. Anyway, that was really great and I was pleased to see her again.
Happy many returns Chan, you’re still the Greatest!

Cat Power will be in London the 27; will tour North America in February and Australia in March.

MySpace: myspace.com/catpower
Label: Matador Records

Cat Power - Breathless (Nick Cave) .mp3 via The Yellow Stereo

Cat Power - Metal Heart .mp3
Cat Power - The Greatest .mp3
Cat Power - (I can't Get No) Satisfaction .mp3

Bonus: Frank Sinatra - New York New York .mp3

Photo: Photos Concerts (Robert Gil) – Cat Power – Paris, le Bataclan – January 21st, 2008