Clara Bellino: Press/Reviews

Embarcadero Love - CD
Get your copy at CD Baby
Download tracks from iTunes

Jim Page, Hali Hammer & Clara Bellino Live at Art House Gallery
Sunday, Nov 22 7:00p
at The Art House Gallery, Berkeley, CA
“Jim Page is a lyrical genius with a guitar.
Hali Hammer is an award winning singer-songwriter who has sung and played for peace and political causes for over three decades.

Hailing from Paris, France, and growing up in a small village of the French Alps, Clara Bellino blends heartfelt rhythms, magical lyrics, and unimaginable emotions into a rare mixture of solid American songs with an unfettered sense of humor and a European sense of what is amusing.

Event Website
Categories: Folk, Blues
Creator: haroldadler

Interview on October 28th at 10 am PST with The People's Showcase!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009

Embarcadero Love - Clara Bellino
“I’ve got one foot in the grave
one foot on a banana peel
you can call me brave
but I know the deal”

Those are the first four lines of the song “Game Up—Bigger Pickle” on Clare Bellino’s latest release Embarcadero Love. After listening to the album a number of times now, I find it to be like a box of chocolates—you don’t know what experience you’re going to have each time you listen, but the end result is always a delight.

Bellino’s music has been described as a cross between Suzanne Vega and David Bowie, but her sound still has its own unique quality. Bellino, who was born and raised in Paris, France and studied classical music in the Conservatory for ten years, creates music that defies genres and boundaries. There is a feeling of past, present and future in Bellino’s music; latin, jazz, pop, and rock rhythms infuse her songs with a fresh and engaging vibe.

“Tout Est Fini,” the first song on the album is sung entirely in French. While I don’t understand the lyrics, it has a catchy, rhythmic beat and the second half of the song has a chanteuse like quality to it. Listening to it, I can almost imagine myself sitting in a postwar Paris nightclub.

Bellino’s voice has a childlike quality to it, but don’t let that lull you into a state of peaceful oblivion. Her lyrics can be humorous, haunting, lyrical and surprising, but never cliché. In “Peaceful Solution,” Bellino sings “give me the heart to make peace every day, let me be part of the solution, let me be a peaceful solution, let me be a peaceful solution.” The more I listen to this CD, the more I like it, and that’s all I need to know.

Review by Gita Tewari

"Awesome, Bright, Bubbly, Campy, Cheerful, Earnest, Eccentric, Energetic, Exciting, Exuberant, Fun, Funny, Giddy, Happy, Joy-Filled, Passionate, Playful, Quirky, Fun, Whimsical"

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2009

Clara Bellino‏


Hailing from Paris, France, and growing up in a small village of the French Alps, Clara Bellino blends heartfelt rhythms, magical lyrics, and unimaginable emotions into a rare mixture of solid American songs with an unfettered sense of humor and a European sense of what is amusing. Americans probably remain puzzled by her songs in French, but are still moved by the rhythms and the performance. Her English songs are instantly understandable and the range between Europop and American Music is beguiling. All you have to do is listen to “Potential Criminal” or “Goodnight Baby” and you won’t get these beautifully produced songs out of your head.

http://www.clarabellino.com/
http://myspace.com/clarabellino
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=756373432&ref=name

An Everywhere Girl (elfslut) wrote in mossip,
@ 2009-02-18 18:31:00

Current music: Clara Bellino - El Crepusculo | Powered by Last.fm
Album Review: Clara Bellino - Embarcadero Love
Clara Bellino - Embarcadero Love
Album Review by: elfslut



Clara is a Paris born singer who's music will captify you. Embarcadero Love is partially sung in French and partially sung in English. The beautiful artistry of the music and Clara's voice, which ranges from a modern day dance diva to a 60s songstress, make it so that the language the songs are sung in matter little.

On Embaracadero Love you will find songs that tell a story, make you giggle, make you want to get your groove on, and make you take that chill pill that you've been needing for a long while. Game Up Bigger Pickle makes you cock your head to the side like a confused puppy, but you smile while you're doing it, because how many songs have the word "pickle" in the title that are good?

Tout Est Fini will make the non-French speaking listener wonder what the heck it is she's singing about while they bounce across the floor to the infectious melody and beat. Big Picture seems like a throw back from an old Blondie album.

If you want to get romance on, try Goodnight Baby with its slow verses and uptempo chorus that will have you singing along in no time.

Swordfishtrombone tops my list of Tom Wait's covers. Its hard to picture a woman with a sweet sounding voice singing the line "And he knew that he'd be ready with a stainless steel machete and a half a pint of Ballentine's each day," and make it sound convincing, but Clara manages it quite well.

Peaceful Solution has a great gospel backing vocal. Clara delivers her message in an uptempo and peaceful manner.

Embarcadero Love has much to offer the listener, cool ballads, bouncy dance tracks and just plain enjoyable pop. Its an album that's been around for awhile, but that doesn't mean it should fade from the spotlight. Give it a listen and you'll see the songs are just as fresh and enjoyable as anything on the radio right now.

Tracklisting:
1 Tout Est Fini
2 Swordfishtrombone
3 Goodnight Baby
4 What's Too Much
5 Peaceful Solution
6 Something Cool
7 Game Up Bigger Pickle
8 Come and Stay With Me
9 Potential Criminal
10 Big Picture
11 Game Up Bigger Pickle (Radio Edit)
12 El Crepusculo

Best Tracks: Peaceful Solution, Come And Stay With Me, Game Up Bigger Pickle, Goodnight Baby
Video: Potential Criminal

Buy: CD Baby
Genre: Mood, Pop
Sounds Like: Chillaxin' with a a bottle of wine music
Website: Myspace
Released: 2006
Rating: 9/10

Review: Clara Bellino - Embarcadero Love


Clara Bellino – Embarcadero Love
2006, Clara Bellino

Clara Bellino melds the worlds of American and European popular music styles like few others have. Memorable melodies, infectious rhythms and a wry sense of humor are the earmarks of Bellino’s material. Born in Paris, France, Bellino spent a number of years performing on the West Coast of the United States, even landing a role as a singer in the 1993 film, Steal America. These days, Bellino performs to support her 2006 release, Embarcadero Love. Recorded while living on a houseboat at Embarcadero Cove (Oakland), Embarcadero Love has a free and easy feel that’s full of life, love and a forceful sense of humor.

Bellino studied music in Conservatory for ten years in France, and was introduced early on to jazz and classic American popular music artists by her father. These influences inform Bellino’s musical choices, as does a progressive socio-political mindset that comes across in her lyrics. Bellino opens with Tout Est Fini, a French language pop song with an infectious dance beat. Swordfishtrombone is an abstract musical piece built on colloquial humor. It’s a fun listen. Peaceful Solution draws on a modern R&B sound to deliver a pop culture re-working of the Prayer of St. Francis Of Assisi. It’s catchy and poignant but alternates a peace-oriented chorus with preachy verses.

Something Cool is a classic song. Bellino dusts off her jazz roots in a song of mistaken intentions. The subtle shift in attitude of the protagonist here is the stuff of movies (or at least sitcoms). Potential Criminal is a sardonic take on the perceived social status of a naturalized US citizen (or perhaps any US citizen in this day and age). Other highlights include Game Up Big Pickle, Big Picture and Goodnight Baby.

Clara Bellino delivers intelligent lyrics in smart, focused pop music that mixes elements of American glam-pop with the more refined sensibilities of Europop. I suspect Embarcadero Love would get mixed reactions from American audiences as an inherent European sense of superiority is woven into the fabric of the CD through Bellino’s cutting sense of humor. European audience may likewise hold the CD in contempt for its distinct American influences. This probably means Bellino is hitting some truth on both sides of the ocean. Embarcadero Love is a strong pop record and definitely worth investing a little time in.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Clara Bellino at http://www.clarabellino.com/. You can purchase a copy of Embarcadero Love at www.cdbaby.com/cd/bellino.
Posted by Wildy at 5:10 AM 1 comments
Labels: Clara Bellino, Embarcadero Cove, Gwen Stefani, Prayer Of St. Francis of Assisi, Sade, Steal America, Vanessa Paradis

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009

Q&A: Singer Clara Bellino
Clara Bellino grew up in the French Alps and spent time in Paris before ending up in San Francisco. She's played charity gigs in Washington, D.C., Paris and Berkeley, and in addition to singing tunes in both English and French, she also plays the piano, guitar and tenor recorder. And any woman who's compared to Debbie Harry and Nico but who says her favorite recent album was from Michael Franti and whose first concert experience was Johnny Cash is a perfect fit for my corner of the musical podcasting world.

She's interviewed here courtesy of Ariel Publicity.


What are your main musical influences? Classical, jazz, soul, pop, rock.

What's the last album you bought that you're enjoying? Michael Franti's All Rebel Rockers.

Have you seen any great live shows lately? A mariachi band last week in Oakland, Calif.

What was the first album you ever bought? A single by a very "schmaltzy" French variety-pop star named Michael Brant, entitled "Rien qu'une larme...", or "Just a tear..."

First concert you ever attended? Johnny Cash.

Are you working on any music right now? Yes, lots of music. Songs destined for my new CD, and a new set of songs to perform.

What's your favorite artist and album? Michael Franti. I like all his albums.

If you could create your own fantasy music festival, who would the top six headliners be? Well, Michael Franti, Ismael Lo, David Bowie, Joe Cocker, Fats Waller if he were alive, it's a fantasy right?, Bob Marley. Of the living, Aimee Mann and Marianne Faithfull.

What is your favorite movie? It used to be Last Tango in Paris; these days it's Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino.

Gold or silver? Silver.

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate.

You have $5 to spend on dinner. What are you eating? Seaweed salad and a piece of chicken.

What's your favorite magazine to read? I don't have one; anything pertaining to music and songwriting and production.

What do you think is the most alarming media story in the last few months? The violence in Gaza.

Do you support any specific charities, and how do you give back as an artist? I have supported charities by giving performances. Some are: Music in Schools Today, Food Not Bombs, Beyond the Hoop, Katrina, Guitars Not Guns, Code Pink for Peace, Toys for Tots, Musicians for Peace.

I give back by helping where I can as an artist and individual, and hopefully with the emotions I stir in others with my songs.

Have you read any great books lately? Let There Be Lite by Rupert Morgan.

If you were a superhero, what famous musician would be your arch-nemesis and why? David Bowie for his visual creativity and musical genius.

What is the most adventurous food you've ever eaten? Recently, bull's testicles. I'm not kidding, my brother made them, I had to try! They won't be on my shopping list in the foreseeable future.

Do you read any online music magazines, if so, which ones? Not regularly, yet!

How would you say that growing up in France has affected your music? How has living in California affected your music? In France, I was exposed to classical and jazz. And French variety/pop. Those seemed to be the avenues at the time.

Coming to California gave me access to musicians I would dream of, who honed their chops with Sly, Tower of Power, The Commodores, etc. So it allowed me to mix the music of my roots with American grooves.

When did you start singing? Do you play any instruments, or do you just focus on the voice? I started singing in the choir of the conservatory I attended in France. They had me as a soprano, which I am not!

I play piano, 10 years classical, played bass in a reggae band, guitar I get by, and when really coerced dabble on the accordion. Oh, and tenor recorder.

What was your most memorable experience in performing so far? Playing in Washington for Beyond The Hoop. The sound guy was awesome; the sound was a dream. I was happy to play for them, and it made me want to be able to hire that sound guy anywhere we go!

Did the anti-French sentiments from some corners of America have any effect on your work during the last several years? It's made me want to tell them to all go to .... even more! As for the effect on my work ... maybe I was discriminated against and don't even know it!

I sing in French occasionally. The same channels that wouldn't play the Dixie Chicks probably wouldn't understand my song "Potential Criminal" about becoming an American.

Clara Bellino's album "Embarcadero Love" is available from her Web site and at CD Baby, via iTunes or used at Amazon (where you also might find a used copy of "Flying Monkey"). You also can find her on Facebook and at MySpace.

Clara Bellino - Embarcadero Love

Posted by Jason at 7:15 PM

Clara Bellino - Embarcadero Love
- Parisian Clara Bellino’s first CD, “Embarcadero Love,” was released in 2005. “Embarcadero” means “wharf” in Spanish. This title hints at an album with more than a little foreign influence. The first track, “Tout Est Fini” (all is done) is in French, track twelve, “El Crepusculo” (the twilight) is in Spanish, and the fourth song, “What’s Too Much” is partly in Spanish.

The rest of the album is just as eclectic as the languages Bellino sings in. It’s easy to hear influences both of Bellino’s European upbringing and her love of jazz, imparted by her father. Most of the songs are light-hearted, with a sometimes even airy voice singing them.

The standout track is the second, “Swordfishtrombone,” a remake of a song from a 1983 Tom Waits album. I also enjoyed track seven, “Game Up Bigger Pickle,” which includes lyrics such as, “one foot in the grave and one foot on a banana peel.”

Reviewer: Alyssa Marcus

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Added: 14-Feb-2009

New! Cover article from "FUSION" See the cover! Read the article! (Both files are PDF and require the free Acrobat Reader.

"It's hard to rock a boat that's already rocking on the choppy waters of San Francisco Bay, but the ebullient singer Clara Bellino makes the trip on the Alameda-S.F. ferry a little bouncier each month with a Friday evening concert for the commuters."

Click here to read the full review!

Chet Helms, Summer of Love architect, honored at Fort Mason

Thursday, December 1, 2005


Toys for Tots Concert to Feature French Alamedan

By Johyné Taylor Hill
-photo (c) Chet Helms-

The Speiskammer Restaurant will welcome the season of giving by hosting the Toys for Tots Benefit concert Thursday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. The concert, which will feature Alameda musicians, is expected to take on a laidback, acoustic feel.

One of the performers, Clara Bellino, is a French-born singer who claims the United States, and more specifically the Bay Area, as her second home. She recently released a CD entitled Embarcadero Love, which she recorded while living on a boat at the Embarcadero Cove in Oakland. Now an Alameda resident, Bellino brings a lifetime of diverse experiences to her music.

Bellino lived in France until age 5, when she moved to the United States. After a year on the West Coast and a year on the East Coast, the Bellino family moved to the French Alps where they lived in a tiny village of just 30 people, situated about five miles north of Albertville.

After returning to France, Bellino’s parents asked her and her brother what they wanted to do with their time. Bellino wanted to play piano. She enrolled in the French National Conservatory, which focused on traditional, disciplined musicianship. Students were required to develop a firm musical foundation in theory and history before they were allowed to practice their chosen instruments. Bellino said she thrived in the rigorous environment.

“ I loved being in music school and studying it all,” she said. “I loved my daily practice on the piano. I would sit at the piano for hours playing Bach and Debussy. Sometimes I practiced up to eight hours a day.”

She practiced so much, in fact, that her parents made her stop one year because it was disrupting her brother’s studies. However, they soon let her continue.

All in all, she studied the piano for ten years, she said. She also studied the classical guitar for five years. Her musical studies were rounded out by a variety of music played at home. She was exposed to music by Johnny Cash, Frank Zappa, the Beatles, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, among others.

“ It was the one thing when everything else failed that I could do that would get me through. I knew I loved playing music. If I didn’t love it, I would have stopped a long time ago,” said Bellino.

She moved to the Bay Area when she turned 17, this time without her family. She quickly settled into San Francisco, her first big city. Bellino played with several groups, including a reggae band for which she taught herself to play the drums, before creating her own band when she was 19. She has since played in several other bands.

Bellino, who has performed for charities in the past, is looking forward to the Toys for Tots Benefit concert.

“ I love playing music for music’s sake, but it’s even more satisfying when I know there is a bigger cause,” she said. “Music is unifying. It brings people together.”

Clara Bellino’s CD, Embarcadero Love, can be purchased at cdbaby.com. For more information, go to www.clarabellino.com. Those who plan to attend the Toys for Tots Benefit concert are asked to bring donations of toys or money. Monetary donations will be used solely to purchase toys. For more information on the concert, call Rocco Rhodes at (530) 306-5393.

"Embarcadero Love":

"In this album, my friend, songwriter and chanteuse Clara Bellino offers a delightful and eclectic collection of French, English and Spanish songs rendered in her soulful and sultry voice. There are echoes of Sade, Edith Piaf, Alanis Morrisette and numerous other blues, rock, jazz and europop influences. Clara blends them seamlessly and makes them her own. Enjoy... Henceforth Clara will no longer be known as a French chanteuse but as a freedom singer!"

Chet Helms