I've Never Met Anyone More Special Than You

Sometimes the link from one post to the next is purely down to serendipity, which is how I go to today's single by Mélanie Pain.

Yesterday's post featured a cover of The Undertones' Teenage Kicks by French artist Taggy Matcher, a song previously - and famously - covered by another French band, Nouvelle Vague.

Yesterday afternoon, a post popped into my social media feed advertising that Mélanie Pain is playing a Valentine's Day show at the Blakehouse theatre in Weston-super-Mare. 

In case the name doesn't immediately ring a bell (which was the case with me), the sub-title underneath Mélanie's name helpfully proclaims her as "the iconic voice of Nouvelle Vague".

Of course, that was immediately apparent from the moment I heard Mélanie sing a note.

The single in question follows the time-honoured Nouvelle Vague tradition of being a cover version - in French - of a 2009 song by Turkish rock band Duman, who I've never heard of, but are ten albums and a quarter of a century into their career, so they must be doing something right.

Senden Daha Guzel translates into French as "Plus Belle Que Toi" and into English as "More Beautiful Than You"; today's post title is a translation of another line from the song. 

If I had to choose between the two songs and videos, it'll be Mélanie's version every time. 

As it happens, Senden Daha Guzel is the sole cover on How And Why, Mélanie's fourth album released in November last year. The other nine songs are self-penned and in English, including Cold Hands, a duet with Brian Lopez, of Calexico and Giiant Sand.

If you enjoy that, you'll be pleased to know that Brian is supporting Mélanie on her February UK tour, in addition to Weston-super-Mare, taking in Shoreham-By-Sea, Southampton, Hastings and that other well-known coastal location, London.

Sadly, I don't think Mrs. K would consider a pair of tickets to Mélanie's show and the 85-mile round trip to Weston-super-Mare a suitably romantic gesture - and rightly so - but I think those in the audience in that 207-capacity venue are in for a special night.

How And Why has also been added to my shopping list for the next Bandcamp Friday.