Carla Bruni Takes French Touch on the Road: "It's Heaven"
The French-Italian singer-songwriter traded her native tongue for English with a new album of covers, which she'll perform at New York's Town Hall on Friday, February 16.
By Ilana Kaplan
Bruni performs on "Che Tempo Che Fa" on February 4th.By Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty Images.
As a musician, model, and former First Lady of France, Carla Bruni has lived many lives in her 50 years. She found success in the 90s as a top Italian model, developed as a pop singer, and had iconic romances with Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton. But music has always been an integral part of who Bruni is. Now out of the political spotlight in Élysée Palace, she has even more time to dedicate to her music—and her husband, Nicolas Sarkozy.
During her two decade-long career, Bruni has never stopped writing music; she's simply been working at her own pace. Last year, Bruni released French Touch, a series of covers of renowned English-language songs. The release is her first studio album since 2013, and her second foray into English music: something that was inspired by working with producer David Foster. "I had been trying to write English lyrics for maybe 20 years and could never make it," Bruni explains. From AC/DC to Jagger, the pop singer crafted flawless, jazzy covers tinged with her signature French flair. Bruni curated the record based on her personal connection with songs she listened to and played as a child. "I chose the songs I could actually change a little bit and make them mine," she notes.
Ahead of Bruni's headline show at Town Hall in New York City, she discussed how French Touch came to life, her romance with Sarkozy, and the state of modeling today.
Vanity Fair: Tell me how French Touch came about.
Carla Bruni: It happened when I met the producer of the album, David Foster. We met years ago because he came to my concert. He was the head of my American label, Verve. He came to my concert and we had a drink. The day after, we had another drink and a cup of tea. The next day, he said he liked my music and voice, but doesn't understand a word of my lyrics. Then he said to me, "Let's make an album with English songs." I said, "All right." I had been trying to write English lyrics for maybe 20 years and could never make it. I told him that and he said, "Maybe we could mix some colors," because I can't write in English. That's how the album was born. I sent him 20 demos I did of famous songs, and he chose the ones he liked the most. He came to Paris in one week and we recorded the album. Then I went to L.A., and in another week we finished the album's vocals and strings. Then that was it.
What were you doing in between records?
I was writing new songs, taking care of my kids, and taking care of my man. Basically I'm always working. I guess I'm very slow. Of course when I'm on the road, it's super intense.
Tell me about your upcoming tour.
I'm coming to America in February. I've only done a few dates before. I'm very excited. After America, it will be a great challenge: I'll be going to South America, Europe, Italy, and I might even go to Australia. I haven't been to Australia, and I'm so looking forward to it. I'm doing a lot of promotion and rehearsal to make it good enough.
How did that transatlantic relationship work with you and David Foster?
It's very easy to work with him—he's a very professional person. It was very easy. He's really fast, and has an incredible ear. He also has a lot of leadership qualities. It was great to get his experience and to be working with him.
How did you go about choosing the songs for this record?
I chose songs I've known forever. I chose songs I used to play since I was a teenager or child. Most of the songs I started playing on my guitar when I was 10 or 11 years old because I got offered a guitar by my uncle. . . There were 200 other songs I tried to play as a young girl, but couldn't put on the album because we had to choose. I couldn't choose my favorite one, but all of those 11 songs are my favorites. But then I had 30 more I could have put on the album. I chose the songs I could actually change a little bit and make them mine.
You've obviously been in the modeling industry for many years. There's a lot more body positivity and diversity on the runways. What has been the most interesting change for you to see?
I would say the girls are much younger. I remember doing Fashion Week—I was between 19 and 25 or even older. We were women. Modeling isn't necessarily for older women or men. Now they look like they're 15 or something. I would say the change is more related to the age of the girls. Often people say that models are too thin these days, but I don't think it's about being too thin; it's also about being too young. Fashion Week doesn't really change—it gets renewed.
You had made a comment about being polyamorous to the press when you were younger, but then said you were joking all along.
No, I wasn't joking—I was just young. Then you meet someone that changes your mind. When you're young, you think you're so cool, and you're trying to say stuff that will make you look cool. I thought that would make me look cool. It's always the same story: when a man has a lot of girlfriends, he's a fantastic playboy, and when a girl has a lot of boyfriends, they say she's not a good girl. As a woman, I hated that point of view. So I thought it would be so cool and pretend that I was free from society's judgment and blah blah blah. The truth is, as soon as I met my man, I thought I could escape that and be free. But as soon as I met my man, I became like all women, being faithful and jealous. I became completely common. That's how love is—it makes you average, doesn't it? I think that he changed my mind [laughs].
What are your favorite songs to cover on the record?
My favorite song is "Moon River" because I listened to that song since I was a child. I could never forget it being in this movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's, in the 60s. It was performed by Audrey Hepburn. She didn't allow the song to be released until she died. It's such a charming moment—she's so incredibly graceful and lovely, but she didn't realize. She only focused on the fact that she wasn't a good singer. She wasn't Adele, obviously, but she was great.
What would a future record look like for you?
It would be my songwriting again because that's my job. I'm a singer, of course, but I am really a songwriter. This record is really my first only-singing record. The next one will probably be one of my normal songwriting albums that I've been doing for years. The good thing about French Touch is that it gave me so many good songs to play on tour. Especially in America because people understand the English language everywhere in the world, and most of these songs are very famous. It's very nice material to bring on tour. The next album will be my own songs. Hopefully I can go everywhere in the world. It's heaven.
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