After a 20 years of being in the business, Vanessa Parads is releasing a Best Of.
The occasion to rediscover our divine idol, who plays, with the guidance of Jean-Baptiste Mondino, all the music roles that she loves!

More than 20 years and her first Best Of, Vanessa Paradis isn't in a hurry, just a young girl who left the job of filming the video of her amazing single "Il y a" to her lover, Johnny Depp. Composed by Gaetan Roussel, the new single is the chic et choc of the double CD. Vanessa Paradis obviously knows how to surround herself. After Serge Gansbourg, Lenny Kravitz and Mattieu Chedid , the men who accompanied her on the road to success, it's to Roman Duris who she'll play opposite to in the feature film "L'Arnacoeur" which comes out March 17th of next year. But while waiting to speak movies, let's talk Joe le Taxi to Divine Idylle, and the variations of many themes (Variations sur les memes themes).

Elle: Why come out with your first Best of now?
VP: It wasn't really my idea, mostly my record companies idea for the last few years. I wasn't really interested, I didn't feel asthough I had made enough albums, but really, I was just being lazy (about putting out a Best Of). Not just lazy, but also busy enough as is, with my children. Then I decided to put one out. I figured it would be as easy as putting together all the successful singles and a few other songs that I liked, then package it up! Not really.. it's really a lot of work.

Elle: So , there are actually two CDs; one for your hits, then another one a little more personal.
VP: I ddn't want to just put together the most well known songs, so the second CD was a bit of an indulgance for myself. It feautres "I love Paris", a song I put out for the Paris Airports, also a clip from "Le Soldat Rose" which I love, and a few other songs from the side, which the public hasn't really heard. There is also a completely new piece, an amazing unreleased song from Gaetan Roussel, the singer from "Louise Attaque". I had heard it once and thought it was just wonderful. A top notch, humble boy with crazy talent!

Elle: A Best Of, it's also a look back on your career. Do you remember your first urge to do music?
VP: My earliest musical memories were from from the music we listened to at the house! All the good varieties of 70s music! I also used to listen to Emilie Jolie nonstop. After, the idea of doing music came naturally from my uncle. One day I went with him to a recording session for Sophie Marceau's album. The sounds, the voices, I just suddenly thought that it was for me, that I was born to do it. I pctured myself in Sophie Marceau's place.

Elle: And then came "Joe le Taxi"...
VP: Actually, I think all I said was "hey, I wanna sing!", something I had done since I was very little. Franck Langolff got me to do the chorus for two songs, then a year later he wrote me "Joe le Taxi".

Elle: What still stays with you from this period?
VP: I remember the exact that the song came out.. April 27th 1987. It was during the days of Top 50, and for two months, Joe le Taxi didn't give up first place (on the top 50). I was 14 with a lot of things to figure out. I was finishing up Junior High, went on vacation as an unknown and when I got back, I was on the cover of all the magazines. It was violent and fun at the same time.. within two months, my life had completely changed. I had just finished school and was travelling everywhere, all at the same time. Since Joe le Tax had so much success, we released a second single "Monolo, Manolete" then made an album. After achool, I would go to the studio.. I lead two completely different lives.

Elle: Then, two years later, you had your first acting role, in "Noces Blanches"...
VP: At the time, I was growng up under the public eye.. and the public wasn't always very nice. Insults, being spit on, I wasn't prepared to have to defend myself. This movie was a way of showing the world another part of my personality. It wasn't a happy filming, it was actually quite painful. But thankfully, it didn't turn me against movies. The experience changed a lot of things.... some even started to think I had a bit of talent.

Elle: First meeting with Serge Gainsbourg?
VP: I had heard on the radio that he wanted to work with me. Next thing you know, I was at his house on Verneuil street, with Franck Langolff, with a dozen songs so he could choose one to write lyrics to. I was literaly paralyzed while there.. so scared to move, just incase I broke a piece of this amazing musical museum that he had.. I sat straight, still, on the egde of his couch, fixing my shoes. Thinking back, having made a video for Tandem with Mondino... I had definately come a long ways.

Elle: Then you left for the US, where you said that you had relearned how to walk with your chin held up..
VP: Living the life of a celebrity isn't easy. Especially when you're so young and things aren't always going so well. So, to fall back into the life of the unknown was a breathe of fresh air. New York is a city where you walk a lot... so when people looked at me, it wasn't because they recognized me. At 19, I needed that bit of freedom. At the time, I was working with Lenny Kravitz... which was sometimes diffult, as he could be quite directive... and he also had the tendancy to erase all of my intuitions (gut feelings, her thoughts of what should be done on the album?). But the memories of just beng human again will always stay in my mind.

Elle: And if we talked a little about Johnny Depp?
VP: We had friends in commun and we actually met long before we were together... we often dined together with our groups. One day, we randomly crossed paths in Paris, at a moment where we were both single. All of a sudden, I had this very strong feeling. Its not like I said to myself that he would be the father of my children... but it all just came together, naturally. I had other stories from the past, more complicated (love?) stories, which could have put me off (of love?).. but they didn't. Everything was done without fear, but consciously.

Elle: And Lily Rose was here soon after...
VP: I had this desire to be a mother for a long time. With him, I just couldn't avoid my feelings any longer... He is and always was the man of my life.

Elle: After, you both put a lot (of yourselves) into your album Bliss...
VP: It was Johnny, really, who gave me the confidence. He gave me a guitar, taught me how to play it. I started to seriously compose, and it was his gaze and desire that permitted this album to see the light of day. It'll always stay (in my memory as) a very happy time in my life...

Elle: Matthieu Chedid was also very important too, wasn't he?
VP: We definately bonded a lot during "Bliss". He had composed a good portion of the album. With him, the work was more simple, more rich. I deeply admire him. Even if we went for long periods of time without seeing eachother, nothing ever changed. He's a very generous man, turned towards others, we were super connected. We also did Divinidylle together.. an experience full of creativity and laughter. That lead to a tour together, between good friends.

Elle: Is the contact wth the public (concerts) important to you?
VP: Its the best way to show your work. The songs take life and you see people who know the words by heart.. that really touches me.

Elle: What view do your parents have on your career, more specifically your beginnings?
VP: I find it very couragous on their part to have left me do what I wanted to do, especially now that I have my own children. They were always there, but didn't suffocate me. I wouldn't be able to handle it if my son became a boxer.. to see him take punches.

Elle: What kind of relationship do you have with your little sister, Alysson?
VP: Weirdly enough, consult wth her more than she does with me! Her opinions matter a lot to me, whether it be for musc, movies.. the decor. I love her taste.. she's part of a different generation, so she brings a lot to me (as far as ideas, etc). I agree with her a lot of the time.

Elle: Who touches you the most in this new generation of (female) singers?
VP: I'm a complete fan of Melody Gardot. I think she's just.... perfect. The music, the voice, the melodies. She's a mixture of Sade and Norah Jones.. an absolute wonder.

Elle: Madonna recently said that her daughter wanted to become a singer. She said "it's a job for the desperate and those who have nothing else to do". What would you say if Lily Rose wanted to sing?
VP: I would do what I could. I'd hope that I would have the intelligence that my parents had. I think I would just tell her to live her life, to learn, and to go out there whenever she's ready.