Friday's French music break - Louane, "Jour 1"

If ever you've had the misfortune of catching the French version of (what must surely be an oxymoron) "The Voice, la plus belle voix" you might remember the young women (or girl) who sings this week's Friday's French music break.

Louane (real name Anne Peichert) appeared in the second series, making it all the way through to the semi-finals and apparently leaving her mark as a singer of "talent and sensitivity".

In other words she didn't really have that much of a voice, but was able to put in a performance which charmed the public (but not enough) and the coaches alike.

Louane (screenshot from official video "Jour 1")

All right, that's being a little unfair perhaps.

Louane is just 17 years old and her participation in "The Voice" secured her a recording contract with Universal Music/Mercury and the release of her first single "Jour 1".

It's a pretty (love) song (what else?) with a catchy enough melody, and Louane has voice that's delicate in the tradition of, say, Cœur de pirate or Joyce Jonathan.

It doesn't exactly knock your socks off, but it's not unpleasant to listen to either.

"The Voice" wasn't Louane's first stab at trying to make it in showbiz.

Back in 2009, she appeared in the now defunct talent show for children aged 8-12 on D8 "L'École des stars" making it through to the final, won by (the then) nine-year-old Léo Rispal.

What's the betting he makes an appearance at the auditions of a future "The Voice"?

Anyway, here's Louane with "Jour 1" - plenty of airplay but not many sales.