New Wave Bossa Nova from Paris France
The most current edition of Nouvelle Vague
Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux were producers and musicians on the Parisian trip-hop scene before founding Novelle Vague in 2003. Their concept was to resurrect classics from the punk & New Wave music era, and reinterpret them in the samba and bossa nova styles of Brazil. Collin and Libaux deliberately recruited both Brazilian and French singers who were completely unfamiliar with punk and new wave music to assure their vocal renditions had their own identity, uninfluenced by the original music. The lineup of singers varied from album to album but nearly every singer was a notable, well established vocalist who either sang Brazilian music or French pop.
On the name
Nouvelle Vague: Nouvelle Vague means "new wave" in English but in the Porteguese native tongue of Brazil, Nouvelle Vague means "bossa nova." In France, Nouvelle Vague is the name for the '60s new wave of cult French cinema.
Here's Nouvelle Vague's cover version of the new wave classic
I'll Melt With You, originally done by Modern English.
Nouvelle Vague gained a reputation for their hilarious stage antics at live shows. In finale of their live shows, one or both of the sexy female singers ends up writhing on the floor in an over-the-top display of feigned ecstasy.
Writing in ecstasy in concert
Theatrics aside, there's still a lot to like about these clever rearrangements of new wave classics by Collin and Libaux. Their understated samba interpretation the XTC classic,
Making Plans For Nigel induces more fear and loathing of a future Big Brother dystopian society than the original version. This live performance of
Nigel is at the Bluebird Cafe in Denver Colorado. Please pardon the crowd noise.