Never in my life would I have guessed that i would be writing a blog, much less a blog entry with the title “Love by Cartier.” But as I was doing a little research into the band Phoenix (more on them later) their website advertised a “Free Download” and, as you probably know, I’m a sucker for anything free and more of a sucker when that free thing is music. So I followed the link. To the Cartier website.
I was in a mild form of shock and a definite state of confusion. Because I was greeted by this website:
It’s not exactly what I was expecting. But it’s always a pleasant experience to find more then you were expecting. In this case I was glad, because it led me to a whole CD (12 tracks, standard) of music for free download. And there are some really good songs on it. There are also films on the website, a link to the charity, and highlights of the new Cartier jewelry collection. I briefly viewed one of the films, but when I realized it was just an artsy, black and white excuse to promote the aforementioned new collection, I stopped. I can only take so much propaganda in one day, and that website was too much to begin with–as pretty looking as it is.
Back to the music: there are some incredibly great songs on that CD, and sadly the reason I was there, for the Phoenix single, was not the highlight. Well, really that’s better news for me because it means I’m expanding my musical horizons. And I’m sorry this review isn’t more in depth, but I keep falling asleep during my listening sessions. You try and see if you can get through the whole thing without at least getting a little droopy eyed.
- “The Ground That We Stand On” by Hawksley Workman – In my opinion, the best song on the compilation. Unassuming, simple, delightful. A near perfect song. Wonderful lyrics, such as the lines where the title is derived: “The time that we keep wasting, like we don’t know the pain we’re called to bear. Oh the ground that we stand on won’t long be there.” It’s a song that passes my ultimate test: relistenability. Unlike my favorite Weezer songs that I have to take a pause from, this I cannot get enough of, repeat listen after repeat listen. If you download one song from this website (though you should download them all) it should be this one.
- “The Strong Ones” by Marion Cotillard – It’s just one of those infectious ballads that you’re kind of tempted to cry along with. Not really, but just a little. And sung by Marion Cotillard, the actress who (more than deservedly) won the Best Actress Oscar this year for her performance in the biopic of Edith Piaf, La Vie En Rose. And now she sings, and sings much better than other actress turned singers (such as the most recent disaster: Scarlett Johansson. Or even the disappointing Julie Delpy album.) This song is just sweet, a song for people in love (which is a pretty common theme if you haven’t already guessed.)
- “Love in This World” by Khalil Fong – how many soul and R&B performers do you really expect to come out of Hong Kong? Seriously? If you’re impressed by that idea alone, you’ll love the track. This very smooth Jack Johnson-esque track is sung in goodness knows which (or how many different) languages, and it’s just so smooth, and so good.
- “Drive Around Another Time and Stop” by Grand National – From the first seconds of this track I assumed I would hate it. It sounded like the overhead music I would expect to be in a Cartier store, or worse: the elevator music in the Cartier store. But I got over it. The over synthesized background isn’t so bad, because ultimately these guys do know what they’re doing, and they do make a good song out of it, regardless. At the very least, it’s quite different, at least to my ears, and so somewhat exciting simply because of that.
- “Twenty-One One Zero” by Phoenix – I’ll highlight it, if only because it was the track that got me there in the first place. I do want to say it is a good song, it really is, but having listened to the rest of the Cartier compilation, I admit it is not my favorite. I was inspired by Phoenix’s latest album “It’s Never Been Like That” to seek out this new song in the first place, and I was initially surprised by the lack of lyrics throughout most of the song (not that they aren’t there). As the Cartier website says of Phoenix’s music: “a blend of youthful excitement and the mysterious science of the counterpoint.” A fair and good description to this mysterious little song.
Ok, that’s all. I’ll stop there, lest I get carried away, and more critical as I get to the songs I don’t like as much–like the weepy, voiceless, curious, but ultimately boring “Mor” by fennesz+sakamoto.
The other songs on the compilation are: “Liz and Jonny” by Dan Black, “Infinite Love” by Little Dragon, “The Power of the Heart” by Lou Reed, “Sur l’Ecorce” by Pauline Croze, “I Am Snow” by Sol Seppy, and “Everybody Knows” by Thomas Dybdahl.
However what I would like to impress upon you: Please download the track “The Ground That We Stand on” by Hawksley Workman. It’s a great song.
7 comments
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June 20, 2008 at 2:10 pm
rosie
oh my god! i have been looking for the song titles off of the cartier love website, which they “conveniently” left out and merely replaced everything with “cartier love”. marketing ploy, much?
anyways, just wanna say THANK YOU for posting them, and talking about them. they’re great, and deserve some commentary! 🙂
cheers!
June 23, 2008 at 2:21 am
Laura
Hi.
It’s Laura.
Can you give me, please, the name of the song in the background of Cartier site?
I can’t find it anywhere…I think it’s amazing!
Maybe if you know the band’s name, or the song’s title…
Thanks.
July 1, 2008 at 1:10 am
Juan Manuel
No need to be cynical. There are many Gems in this website and the fact that the songs are free is an added bonus. Thomas Dybdhal’s “Everybody Knows” is a melancholic and haunting song that makes you want to relive those days when the snow was falling, the air was crisp and you could smell the wood burning in stoves inside the homes of people as they slept, while you held on tight to someone you loved…
Little Dragon’s “Infinite Love” yearns for the attention and affection we got fortunate enough to experience from someone who, in spite of our imperfections, found something likable in us…
Mr. Lou Reed’s Song “The Power Of The Heart” needs no definition or translation. I guess you just have to listen. It’s just like him to write a song that mixes the pavement, the bricks and the steel of urban landscapes with the undertones and hidden meanings in dreams.
We take Love and Compassion for granted when we have it… Only to miss it terribly when it’s gone.
July 21, 2008 at 6:38 am
Sandy
Help please! I was on the site and I was trying to download the Marion Cotillard song because I absolutely love it, but it won’t let me. I filled out the form like it said to do and then there was no button to press after finishing the form. Nothing like “Done” or “ok download song here”. Am I missing something? Is the song supposed to download automatically once you finish the form?
😦
August 26, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Gonzague
my favourite one here is Thomas Dybdahl’s one !
August 27, 2008 at 7:38 am
David
Hello,
I’m glad you to enjoy your LOVE experience.
Khalil Fong is a great artist too. I like it
Cartier would love to share with you the LOVE experience.
please contact me by email and you will receive the music compilation at home.
Best,
February 1, 2011 at 5:56 am
Hayward Cole
I love Pauline Croze Song sur l’ecore If possible please send me that song, Link to the Love Soundtrack or the Album!I will reply with my address upon contact!!