If we found Solveig (right) less awful than Bob Sinclar or David Guetta, that was us damning him with faint praise. We hated the insufferable smugness of his videos – ‘Jealousy’, for instance, with Solveig’s chipmunk smirk and irritating false-modest persona. Playing fundraisers for Nicolas Sarkozy’s political party didn’t endear him to us either. However, this (you’ll be nauseated to learn) is a story of redemption and conversion. Solveig’s new album, ‘C’est La Vie’, has just been released. The title track and first single is getting plenty of airplay here – which is a good thing, because it’s smashing. ‘C’est La Vie’ the single mixes classic dancefloor pop – Chic, early Michael Jackson, first-album Justin Timberlake – with Paris nightclub attitude.
Even the video is okay. Solveig is quite tolerable, with no ‘funny’ antics or wacky gurning. He also appears less than in his other videos. Coincidence?
Well, your blogger is not quite ready to declare himself a Martin Solveig fan. Still, there's no denying that this is a fine cut of pop that shoots right to the top of the Songs Called 'C'est La Vie' league table (B*Witched, Robbie Nevil, Emmylou Harris, Ace of Base, loads others).
Anyway, here's the video, with Martin bashing away on a giant polkadot egg. Fair play to him: