Collector's Choice Music
Soeur Sourire : The Singing Nun (B,1962)****°
Singing nun / Soeur Sourire really had a sad life. Because of her popularity and too open friendship with one of the nuns I believe she was banned from the monastery. I heard that the rights were kept by the nuns so she was denied her rights to sing her songs again because she no longer owned them. Never-the-less she started a new life, opening a school for autistic children. The government claimed the income tax on the songs which she didn’t have, and also the monastery did not help her at this time either. She started singing different songs of which some were critical of some ideas by the church, trying to raise enough money, but she couldn’t get enough money together and she started to drink and take pills. When the government said they were going to close the school down, she didn't see any way out any more and committed suicide. This is a reissue of her first, most known album.
The hit “Dominic” sounds very happy, inspired and innocent, but for me it isn’t necessarily the most beautiful moment. It immediately attracks attention, while other tracks are less extravert in energy. “Sister Adele” is named after her guitar, inspired from a Spanish flamenco idea, in a typical innocent way. Charming is the vocal quartet who sing as one voice on the background of the songs. The "lament for Marie-Jacques" is a more sad song fitting perfectly with the singer’s voice. The best song for me is undoubtedly “I would like” (Je voudrais”, a melancholic eternal beauty about true spiritual and very poetic and heartfelt longings. Somewhat similar in energy is “I have found the lord” about finding God behind little things. All tracks are enjoyable. The texts are full of respect for the spiritual quest a nun could experience when not detached from the heart and thoughts that guide along the way. A unique document. I’m very curious to her second album from 1964, and her late songs before she sadly left life for what it was.
If anyone could provide me a copy of her 1964 album, please let me know.
