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Madeleine Peyroux — Blue Alert
Album: Half the Perfect World
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2345









Released: 2006
Length: 4:06
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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There's perfume burning in the air
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt

She comes so close
You feel her then
She tells you No and No again
Your lip is cut on the edge of her pleated skirt
Blue Alert

Visions of her drawing near
Arise, abide, and disappear
You try to slow it down
It doesn't work

It's just another night I guess
All tangled up in nakedness
You even touch yourself
You're such a flirt
Blue Alert

You know how nights like this begin
The kind of knot your heart gets in
Any way you turn is going to hurt


There's perfume burning in the air
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
Blue Alert

She breaks the rules so you can see
She's wilder than you'll ever be
You talk religion but she won't convert

Her body's twenty stories high
You try to look away, you try
But all you want to do is get there first
Blue Alert

You know how nights like this begin
The kind of knot your heart gets in
Any way you turn is going to hurt

There's perfume burning in the air
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
Blue Alert
Blue Alert...
Comments (130)add comment
 henryisland wrote:


Superb lyrics too!


It's a Leonard Cohen song from the eponymous album.
Posted 1 year ago by ElCamoteLoco    [ Reply ]
superlative!
Posted 1 year ago by blackieray    [ Reply ]
The Wurlitzer and Hammond playing is tasty.
Posted 1 year ago by TimeWaster    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:

Yowza!  With witty lyrics, too!  I vote 9!

I'll never understand why some people decide not to like this because it sounds like Billie Holiday.  Is it not possible to enjoy artists that paint similarly?  Actors that glower similarly?  Vegetables that taste similar?  Jeans that feel similar?  Ski runs that provide similar thrills?

Jeez-o-man what a tough crowd.




Very well stated!!  I think she is GREAT!!   Thanx RP!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 MysteryMan wrote:

Madeline Peyroux is the most consummate Jazz vocalist. I adore her and her art. Seeing her live at Love Supreme in the UK in the summer of 2019 was beautiful. She filled the tent with light.



Superb lyrics too!
Posted 2 years ago by henryisland    [ Reply ]
NICE!! Great voice. I never heard of her before.  Thanx RP!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Neverending listening!
Posted 2 years ago by skurin59    [ Reply ]
Nice naughty lyric!
Posted 3 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
 tinypriest wrote:

Dylan meets Cohen. Most excellent.



Does he? Maybe somewhere but not in this song, if you ask me.
Posted 3 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Madeline Peyroux is the most consummate Jazz vocalist. I adore her and her art. Seeing her live at Love Supreme in the UK in the summer of 2019 was beautiful. She filled the tent with light.
Posted 3 years ago by MysteryMan    [ Reply ]
I love the bit in her bio about her growing up in New York and California; then moving to Paris with her mother as a young teen, and starting her musical career with street musicians playing jazz in the Latin Quarter. I hear that...
Posted 4 years ago by sunward    [ Reply ]
This is fantastic. How have I never  encountered this?  Rhetorical; nevermind. 
Posted 4 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
Dylan meets Cohen. Most excellent.
Posted 4 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
Posted 4 years ago by kleo    [ Reply ]
smooth, (somehow it feel like having cocktails now)
Posted 4 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by glassbrain    [ Reply ]
"It's just another night I guess
All tangled up in nakedness
You even touch yourself
You're such a flirt
Blue Alert"

    

Posted 5 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
Interesting that Bill has this song in the same playlist with Haitian Divorce by Steely Dan.  Walter Becker co-wrote a few songs with Madeleine (although not this one).
Posted 5 years ago by secretsauce    [ Reply ]
Leonard could write but he couldn't sing like this

Compelling
Posted 6 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
check out the Anjani version, that's pretty good as well
Posted 6 years ago by philinnz    [ Reply ]
I can see the appeal of femme singers for Madeleine. She works for me, for sure—here, notably!
Posted 6 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 7 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]

Busenfreunds sending out a blue alert signal.
      Because we're using a cheat sheet.
       Yes, she's my partner in crime.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
Talented and fun to see live!  Yay
Posted 9 years ago by ddupoise    [ Reply ]
Her voice is a close second to Skye's.
Posted 9 years ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
always nice to hear a new granddaughter of billie hollyday and cousin of jo líe holland 👍
Posted 9 years ago by frandoms    [ Reply ]
+1 from me too :) 
On_The_Beach wrote:

Agreed, unclehud.
I happen to like that she sounds like Billie.  : )

 


Posted 10 years ago by spiggy    [ Reply ]
Best MP song I have heard...and I really like her.
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:
Yowza!  With witty lyrics, too!  I vote 9!
I'll never understand why some people decide not to like this because it sounds like Billie Holiday.  Is it not possible to enjoy artists that paint similarly?  Actors that glower similarly?  Vegetables that taste similar?  Jeans that feel similar?  Ski runs that provide similar thrills?
Jeez-o-man what a tough crowd.
 
Agreed, unclehud.
I happen to like that she sounds like Billie.  : )
Posted 10 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]

Most people have never listened to Billy Holiday...

If they have it is seldom for more than one song...

I like her soft Savannah accent... Southern women say so much with tone of voice, inflection and phrasing.  If you listen you'll hear her exact meaning with no ambiguity or confusion...

 

unclehud wrote:

Yowza!  With witty lyrics, too!  I vote 9!

I'll never understand why some people decide not to like this because it sounds like Billie Holiday.  Is it not possible to enjoy artists that paint similarly?  Actors that glower similarly?  Vegetables that taste similar?  Jeans that feel similar?  Ski runs that provide similar thrills?

Jeez-o-man what a tough crowd.

 


Posted 10 years ago by AndyJ    [ Reply ]
 joelbb wrote:
Way Sweet.  Is she as beautiful and sensuous as her voice?

 
Did you not see the album cover?!  {#Rolleyes}










Posted 10 years ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:
I'll never understand why some people decide not to like this because it sounds like Billie Holiday.  Is it not possible to enjoy artists that paint similarly?  Actors that glower similarly?  Vegetables that taste similar?  Jeans that feel similar?  Ski runs that provide similar thrills? 

It's an absurd complaint.  When it doesn't bother me, I call it "influence".  When it bothers me I call it "rip-off".  Whichever way the wind blows...
Posted 11 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Yowza!  With witty lyrics, too!  I vote 9!

I'll never understand why some people decide not to like this because it sounds like Billie Holiday.  Is it not possible to enjoy artists that paint similarly?  Actors that glower similarly?  Vegetables that taste similar?  Jeans that feel similar?  Ski runs that provide similar thrills?

Jeez-o-man what a tough crowd.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
a very sensual song for a very sensual cover :)
Posted 11 years ago by gigikent    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of Melody Gardot, which is a very good thing for me!   Sexxxxxyy yes!
Posted 11 years ago by dris    [ Reply ]
very very nice.
Interesting after Muddy Waters.
Posted 11 years ago by jt1    [ Reply ]
I adore her voice and her guitar isn't too shabby. I like the mixture of self-penned tunes and classics and of course she sings some in that Billie Holliday voice. Her french singing is sexxxxxxy :)
 
Posted 11 years ago by ArseneFurst    [ Reply ]
 joelbb wrote:
Way Sweet.  Is she as beautiful and sensuous as her voice?
 
I'd say so, and have you read the lyrics {#Hearteyes}
Posted 12 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
Way Sweet.  Is she as beautiful and sensuous as her voice?
Posted 12 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
Absolutely brilliant lyrics.
Posted 12 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Wow.  I thought this was Billy Holiday at first.
Posted 12 years ago by rickenbru    [ Reply ]
 agnes wrote:
Ack.  Not a fan of the Ella Fitzgerald rip-off.  I've really, really tried to like Madeline Peyroux, but all I hear is copycat.
 
 
Actually it's Billy Holiday you are thinking of - and I disagree.

Posted 12 years ago by Kimbolini    [ Reply ]
Ack.  Not a fan of the Ella Fitzgerald rip-off.  I've really, really tried to like Madeline Peyroux, but all I hear is copycat.
 
Posted 13 years ago by agnes    [ Reply ]
Brilliant song, artfully sung. "Bits of beauty everywhere," sums this up well, indeed! 
Could listen to it 5 times in a row without tiring of it.  
Posted 13 years ago by DJDaddyD    [ Reply ]
 nicolewe wrote:
Makes me want to buy a croissant and some flowers- in Paris...{#Notworthy}
 
Save me a seat at a little bistro - someplace where we can watch the world and laugh and make time stand still. {#Daisy}
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Peyroux -  isn't that a Canadian kind of mushroom cream sauce?
Posted 13 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 coccyx wrote:
Her butt is 20 storeys high
you try to look away, you try
but all you want to do is get there first

la a la la la
 
Mwahahaha! Coming from the coccyx, this is just hilarious!! {#Devil_pimp}
(although the coccyx tends to look down on the butt, no pun intended) Mwahahaha!

Posted 13 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
The Billie Holiday similarity is undeniable, if not downright creepy. That said, I like it!
Posted 14 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
delicious
Posted 14 years ago by rmmartins    [ Reply ]
Makes me want to buy a croissant and some flowers- in Paris...{#Notworthy}
Posted 14 years ago by nicolewe    [ Reply ]
Mademoiselle Peyroux stands on her own two lovely feet, despite of similarities between her phrasing/interpretation and that of the great and late Ms. Holiday—which, in my opinion, are just superficial.
MP
Posted 14 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
Her butt is 20 storeys high
you try to look away, you try
but all you want to do is get there first

la a la la la
Posted 14 years ago by coccyx    [ Reply ]
Soldier, hit the dirt ....Love it {#Music}

Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
She is an awesome voice in her own right! Its nice to be compared to the greats, but I'd rather be on my way to being the one that everyone else is compared to and Madeleine is well on her way there.

Posted 14 years ago by MrClean    [ Reply ]
 Limpopoking wrote:
Who the f%&* is Billie?

{#Nyah}
 


Holiday
Posted 14 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
 scraig wrote:
8 for madeleine it would be a 9 for billie. i hate being tricked into thinking this is billie
 
To me, she sounds as much like Billie as Joe Cocker does.
Posted 15 years ago by tompoll    [ Reply ]
Billie stands alone. But listen to MP with "fresh" ears & you'll convert.

Posted 15 years ago by Dog_Ear    [ Reply ]
Who the f%&* is Billie?

{#Nyah}
Posted 15 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
8 for madeleine it would be a 9 for billie. i hate being tricked into thinking this is billie
Posted 15 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
Her name reminds me of a gum disease but her music is good :)
Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
Swank and slinky.  I like slinky.
Posted 15 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]

Blah, blah, blah, . . . Billie Holiday, .  . . blah, blah, blah. . .

Madeleine should be enjoyed and not judged.  This is great stuff.

{#Meditate}


Posted 15 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Amazingly beautiful women and voice.  You do not see people singing this type of "old fashioned" blues!


Posted 15 years ago by ortallcowgirl    [ Reply ]
I've heard Holly Cole being criticized because she doesn't sing the way Billie Holiday did because if you don't sing that way you're ruining jazz, etc.

It's funny to read Peyroux being criticized for being too close to Holiday.

I like Peyroux better than Cole but that's just me.
Posted 15 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
 denmom wrote:
Faux Billie.  But a nice voice.
 
It's a good song.  You're one of the few who spelled Billie Holiday's name correctly.


Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Faux Billie.  But a nice voice.
Posted 15 years ago by denmom    [ Reply ]
I just love this chick's voice, tempo, everything about this.
Posted 15 years ago by wycado    [ Reply ]
Misterfixit wrote:

Only way to get that Billy Holliday voice is to shoot smack six times a day.



Martin Sexton does a killer Billy Holiday. It's unsettling.


Posted 15 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
Beatiful!
Posted 15 years ago by belalugosi    [ Reply ]

Posted 15 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
 andrewimft wrote:
I agree, I think her voice is mostly a gimmicky style she's parlayed into success. She overuses that style when in many instances real singing would carry the song and its meaning better, and it makes me doubt she has the chops at all if she has to resort to this and can't deliver holding notes longer, and not bending them in tiny breaths all the time. People compare her to Billy Holliday and other singers with that style, but in my opinion she's inferior as Holliday and most other jazz singers of that style would also have other skills on display and not be this one trick pony. But I do think it works well on this song, and I do like this song quite a bit.
 
Only way to get that Billy Holliday voice is to shoot smack six times a day.

Posted 15 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
I'm LOVING this. I did think it was Billie Holliday for a while.

Is it just me, or is it almost identical to 'When I was cruel' by Elvis Costello?

Still great though...  
Posted 15 years ago by Chipps    [ Reply ]
 mattowan wrote:
I find her a very marginal Billie Holiday. Not even close to the real thing.
 
No one could be.
But still, a nice, sensual track.

Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
I bought this CD a couple of years ago. It gets very, very, very old after a few playings. Cool, sexy and suggestive, but it ends up just being boring.
Posted 16 years ago by Rafter101    [ Reply ]
The "Anjani" (produced by Leonard Cohen) version of Blue Alert is far superior imo
Posted 16 years ago by philinnz    [ Reply ]
This girl isn't doing anything I haven't already heard a zillion times before.

This isn't music, it's a history lesson. Blah, blah, blah. 
Posted 16 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
I don't think she is a cheep imitation at all, if any thing she is a breath of fresh air.

Posted 16 years ago by lisahead    [ Reply ]
 mattowan wrote:
I find her a very marginal Billie Holiday. Not even close to the real thing.  —-> CHEAP IMITATION

 


Posted 16 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
nice mood you have going. its why I’m here.
Posted 16 years ago by dookie    [ Reply ]
David Sedaris does a more convincing Billie Holliday.
Posted 16 years ago by iggam    [ Reply ]
A perfect adult lullaby
Posted 16 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Not that this has anything to do with POP/Rock, still....it got something, especially in certain moments!
WOMANIZERS listen up...

STINGRAY

Posted 16 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
psg wrote:
As much as I enjoy jazz in most of its forms, I just can't get into her voice. Something about it just irritates the hell out of me. I find it's like trying to listen to someone when they have not cleared their throat ...
I agree, I think her voice is mostly a gimmicky style she's parlayed into success. She overuses that style when in many instances real singing would carry the song and its meaning better, and it makes me doubt she has the chops at all if she has to resort to this and can't deliver holding notes longer, and not bending them in tiny breaths all the time. People compare her to Billy Holliday and other singers with that style, but in my opinion she's inferior as Holliday and most other jazz singers of that style would also have other skills on display and not be this one trick pony. But I do think it works well on this song, and I do like this song quite a bit.
Posted 16 years ago by andrewimft    [ Reply ]
cathenley wrote:
I'm hooked...
Me, too! And wow, is she ever GORGEOUS, too!
Posted 16 years ago by justin_thyme    [ Reply ]
I'm hooked...
Posted 16 years ago by cathenley    [ Reply ]
As much as I enjoy jazz in most of its forms, I just can't get into her voice. Something about it just irritates the hell out of me. I find it's like trying to listen to someone when they have not cleared their throat ...
Posted 16 years ago by psg    [ Reply ]
I this this song is HOT!
Posted 16 years ago by dynamaniak    [ Reply ]
I find her a very marginal Billie Holiday. Not even close to the real thing.
Posted 16 years ago by mattowan    [ Reply ]
Obviously going to red alert would mean changing the bulb...
Posted 16 years ago by Cruithne3753    [ Reply ]
Naaldekoker wrote:
This makes me want to drink red wine and lounge on a Persian carpet infront of a fire place...
Yes, yes indeed.
Posted 16 years ago by mamradpivo    [ Reply ]
I just LOVE her singing, her voice...and I love that picture on the cover of her CD too...her voice does remind me quite a bit of Billie Holliday.
Posted 16 years ago by PurplePrincess    [ Reply ]
Wow, this is fantastic... never heard it before but I'll be looking into getting it!
Posted 16 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
This makes me want to drink red wine and lounge on a Persian carpet infront of a fire place...
Posted 16 years ago by Naaldekoker    [ Reply ]
Billie H. time matrix warp - lyrics are amazing on this one too, lapping it up like a dog!
Posted 16 years ago by ppak    [ Reply ]
Shimmer wrote:
That doesn't exactly qualify as "flirting", does it?
Depends who's watching...
Posted 16 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]
Shimmer wrote:
That doesn't exactly qualify as "flirting", does it?
If she's speaking about a woman....then oh my yes, it does.
Posted 16 years ago by rluking    [ Reply ]
Weird! I don't remember hearing this song before, but I gave it an "8" once upon a time! I'd do it again, too! Dunno why I don't remember it... EDIT: Last August!!!:roll: I even looked up the lyrics!
Posted 16 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
Misterfixit wrote:
Me two ... She may be a nut-case, but she sure can sing ...
Hmmm, you're not confusing Madeleine Peyroux with Amy Winehouse, are you?
Posted 16 years ago by cayenne    [ Reply ]
nice :)
Posted 16 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]
laozilover wrote:
"You even touch yourself, you're such a flirt"?
That doesn't exactly qualify as "flirting", does it?
Posted 16 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
A treat, both aural and optical.
Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Love the keyboards
Posted 16 years ago by bdwelch    [ Reply ]
Misterfixit wrote:
Me two ... She may be a nut-case, but she sure can sing ...
Nut case? Please... tell me more!
Posted 16 years ago by rockstarbro    [ Reply ]
Funniest thing I've read about Madeleine. A question was posed to a critic if s/he though Peyroux was channeling Billie Holiday and that critic said, no, she's Clear Channeling Billie Holiday. Very enjoyable sounding music to me...if it can raise the stature of a jazzy lyricist I'm all for her.
Posted 16 years ago by lah1975    [ Reply ]
Zweiblumen wrote:
Crossing my fingers and hoping that this gets followed up with Blue Angel....
Me two ... She may be a nut-case, but she sure can sing ...
Posted 17 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
Crossing my fingers and hoping that this gets followed up with Blue Angel....
Posted 17 years ago by Zweiblumen    [ Reply ]
Love that organ.
Posted 17 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Wow! groovaliscious.
Posted 17 years ago by drekar    [ Reply ]
On_The_Beach wrote:
Yep, this is workin' for me. The reincarnation of Billie Holiday . . . well, not really; there will never be another Billie!
No, not really. :-) But you can really hear the Billie in her voice. She lingers over her consonants in this teasing way that Billie did all the time.
Posted 17 years ago by twp    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by sugarbaby    [ Reply ]
y U C K!
Posted 17 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
I don't care if it was on a commercial. I'd sell my music (e mail me if you're interested) to a commercial any day! gotta make money somehow.... I absolutely love this song, man am i into it!
Posted 17 years ago by StickerSticker    [ Reply ]
mikec wrote:
She was great at the Hollywood Bowl opening for Dave Brubeck. Opened with this one.
If she's good enough for Dave Brubeck, she's good enough for me!
Posted 17 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
She was great at the Hollywood Bowl opening for Dave Brubeck. Opened with this one.
Posted 17 years ago by mikec    [ Reply ]
nice tune, but can we hear it less often? it was played last night...
Posted 17 years ago by kaz    [ Reply ]
I heard this last night on an Old Navy commercial for Flirt Jeans. ewww
Posted 17 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
Odd, Individually her songs are wonderful and I love her voice but I can't listen to more than four or so in a row.
Posted 17 years ago by Coppertop    [ Reply ]
"You even touch yourself, you're such a brute flirt"?
There's perfume burning in the air Bits of beauty everywhere Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt She comes so close You feel her then She tells you No and No again Your lip is cut on the edge of her pleated skirt Blue Alert Visions of her drawing near Arise, abide, and disappear You try to slow it down It doesn't work It's just another night I guess All tangled up in nakedness You even touch yourself You're such a flirt Blue Alert You know how nights like this begin The kind of knot your heart gets in Any way you turn is going to hurt (Blue Alert lyrics on https://www.metrolyrics.com) There's perfume burning in the air Bits of beauty everywhere Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt Blue Alert She breaks the rules so you can see She's wilder than you'll ever be You talk religion but she won't convert Her body's twenty stories high You try to look away, you try But all you want to do is get there first Blue Alert You know how nights like this begin The kind of knot your heart gets in Any way you turn is going to hurt There's perfume burning in the air Bits of beauty everywhere Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt Blue Alert Blue Alert...
Source
Posted 17 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
ktnsb wrote:
This might be the best I've heard from madeleine yet. This is her latest album, I believe. Her voice and Cohen's poetry make an intriguing symbiosis.
symbiosis, is that like miosis or something?
Posted 17 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]