On n'enferme pas les oiseaux

On n'enferme pas les oiseaux
Photo taken in Italy, in June 2021, Barbara is elegantly dressed in a white dress, and has the title ‘On n’enferme pas les oiseaux’ at the top of the cover.
Studio album by
Barbara Pravi
Released27 August 2021 (2021-08-27)
RecordedJune/July 2021
StudioParis
Genre
Length37:00
LanguageFrench
LabelCapitol Music France
Producer
Barbara Pravi chronology
Les prières
(2021) 		On n'enferme pas les oiseaux
(2021) 		Les prières: Racines
(2021)
Singles from On n'enferme pas les oiseaux
  1. "Voilà"
    Released: 6 November 2020
  2. "Le jour se lève"
    Released: 23 June 2021
  3. "L'homme et l'oiseau"
    Released: 8 July 2021
  4. "Saute"
    Released: 27 August 2021

On n'enferme pas les oiseaux (transl. "We Don't Lock Up the Birds") is the debut studio album by French singer-songwriter Barbara Pravi. It was released on 27 August 2021 by Capitol Music France. Following the release of three extended plays and her representation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Voilà", Pravi began working on a full-length album as her next work. The record's title comes from a lyric found in the song "L'homme et l'oiseau", which she stated is "because nothing is more majestic than the spreading of one's own wings".[1] On n'enferme pas les oiseaux is a French pop and chanson album that explores themes of love, feminism and self-affirmation.[2][3][4]

Background and release

After releasing singles and an extended play with Jules Jaconelli on Capitol Music France in 2017, Pravi switched direction to French chanson music, which was 'more to her own taste'.[5]

In 2021, Pravi's song "Voilà", composed alongside Igit and Lilie Poe, was chosen to represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam.[6] She finished in second place, scoring 499 points, thereby achieving France's best Eurovision result since 1991.

Following the contest, Pravi continued to work with Elodie Filleu and Jérémie Arcache on her debut full-length album, continuing to write with Igit and Poe, who co-wrote "Voilà", as well as Vincha and Arcache. Two further music videos were released after "Voilà", to create a triptych of videos before the album's release; "Le jour se lève" and "L'homme et l'oiseau".[1] The album was released on 27 August 2021 on CD and digital download, and 8 October 2021 on vinyl.[7][8][9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Le Soir[10]
The Yorkshire Times[3]
Gigwise[2]

The album was met with critical acclaim upon release. Jeremy Williams-Chalmers of The Yorkshire Times highlighted its distinct sound, concluding that the record "is a stunning collection that showcases an artist comfortable in her own skin and ready to explore many musical terrains."[3] Martin Leitch in a Gigwise vinyl review of the album praised Pravi's songwriting and lyricism, adding that "On n'enferme pas les oiseaux boasts the compulsive immediacy of all the best pop, whilst managing in the same breath to command a certain distinguished subtlety that sets Pravi out as an artist with a clear creative vision."[2]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[11]

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Voilà"
  • Barbara Pravi
  • Igit
  • Lili Poe
2:57
2."Le jour se lève"
  • Pravi
  • Vincha
3:01
3."Interlude"Jérémie Arcache1:27
4."L'homme et l'oiseau"
  • Pravi
  • Vincha
3:36
5."Saute"
  • Pravi
  • Vincha
  • Arcache
3:34
6."Je l'aime, je l'aime, je l'aime"
  • Pravi
  • Igit
3:21
7."La vague"
  • Pravi
  • Vincha
  • Arcache
3:06
8."La femme"
  • Pravi
  • Vincha
3:06
9."Mes maladroits"
  • Pravi
  • Igit
  • Arcache
3:43
10."La ritournelle (de la vieille qui oublie)"
  • Pravi
  • Igit
  • Vincha
4:38
11."Prière pour rester belle"
  • Pravi
  • Poe
4:45
Total length:37:00

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "On n'enferme pas les oiseaux"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] 52
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] 8
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] 35
French Albums (SNEP)[15] 6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 32

Certifications

Certifications for "On n'enferme pas les oiseaux"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[17] Gold 50,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "France: Barbara Pravi's debut album On n'enferme pas les oiseaux will be released on August 27". WiwiBloggs. 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Leitch, Martin (18 December 2021). "Vinyl Revue: Barbara Pravi - On N'enferme Pas Les Oiseaux". Gigwise. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Williams-Chalmers, Jeremy (16 October 2021). "Album Review: Barbara Pravi - On n'enferme pas les oiseaux". The Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ Yoann B. (6 October 2021). "Barbara Pravi – On n'enferme pas les oiseaux". Eurovision-Quotidien.com (in French). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Barbara Pravi en interview : 'J'ai compris que j'avais besoin d'amour, de personnes bienveillantes'". aficia. (in French). 6 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  6. ^ "France has started their new selection process for Eurovision 2021". Eurovision Song Contest. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  7. ^ "On n'enferme pas les oiseaux by Barbara Pravi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. ^ "On n'enferme pas les oiseaux (CD album)". Fnac. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ "On n'enferme pas les oiseaux (LP album)". Fnac. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  10. ^ Coljon, Thierry (14 September 2021). "Barbara Pravi : On n'enferme pas les oiseaux". Le Soir. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  11. ^ On N'enferme Pas Les Oiseaux (booklet). Barbara Pravi. Capitol Music France. 27 August 2021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Ultratop.be – Barbara Pravi – On N'enferme Pas Les Oiseaux" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  13. ^ "Ultratop.be – Barbara Pravi – On N'enferme Pas Les Oiseaux" (in French). Hung Medien.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Barbara Pravi – On N'enferme Pas Les Oiseaux" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  15. ^ "Lescharts.com – Barbara Pravi – On N'enferme Pas Les Oiseaux". Hung Medien.
  16. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Barbara Pravi – On N'enferme Pas Les Oiseaux". Hung Medien.
  17. ^ "French album certifications – Barbara Pravi – On n'enferme pas les oiseaux" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 27 May 2024.