Chris

I struggled with eighties pop throughout, and this [albeit more sophisticated] reincarnation of the genre is no exception. Only that it lacks the romantic perspective we can now afford eighties pop. Also, this album is way too long.

Like many other albums that are on this list I’m struggling to see why? But that’s the beauty of a list like this, variety and diversity. I didn’t dislike it, I just felt that I had heard the tunes before but with a different artist singing

Not bussin

Do you hate pop music? Do you hate french pop music? Do you hate french pop music that contains features ok k-pop, such as singing chorus in a foreign language? Then this is the perfect album to hate!

i feel kind of conflicted here I liked the french version more than the english because I could enjoy the vocals and production, for that the french version gets a 6/10 but that was a really cringey message in english it felt like some kind of left wing circlejerk, like I’m just picturing excited soyjack looking at this album saying “holy shit! a queer, androgynous woman singing about how stupid god is! slay the patriarchy my queen!” it was just so lame and cringey hearing these lyrics, I’ll give the overall album a 4/10

This album has a cultural importance that shouldn't be ignored, but musically, this brand of pop does less than nothing for me. Best track: Girlfriend

fuck yea gay shit on this list. mint.

I understand why someone enjoys this, but it's definitely not me. This is played daily at Marshall's though.

Of course an incredible record. Christine and the Queens nails a balance between pop formula and experimentation within a synth framework that really blasts past her competitors in the pop scene. When listening to her, you feel very trendy but not douchey.

Now this is how you make a pop album up my alley. Full of bops and bangers, solid variety of sound and approach without sacrificing a clear identity, and just a damn good time.

I heard nothing in this album that made me think that it belongs on this list. 2/5

Competently executed but sorta soulless and glossy and generic late 2010s global pop … music for an airport lounge when wait is hopefully not too long.

This album is deeply boring. Bland vocals. Uninspired arrangements. Flat, tinny beats. Respect to Letissier/Chris for living her truth, but this album is like a clone of the most boring, formulaic aspects of pop music in the 80s. Fave Songs: Don't have one. Doesn't Matter and Girlfriend are probably the least annoying to me.

i like - girlfriend, doesn't matter sounds like if chatgpt made music

Why would someone recreate soulless 80s synth-pop in 2018? And why is this on a list of must-hear albums?

no

Only listened to the French half, because I'm not listening to the same album twice in a row and because I felt silly today. Bullshit music. Generic radio pop. Zero unique or interesting ideas. A complete waste of time that felt like the audio equivalent of drowning in mud.

The definition of background music

English and French language versions of, quite frankly, my favorite album of the year that it was released. Chris found Christine and the Queens (and its focal point, Héloïse Letissier) at peak form, bending pop music to its absolute will with sheer technical ability and unmistakable brilliance in cultivating emotions from within. I love this album, I have great memories attached to this. It's nice to once again come across such wonderful sounds that stick to you and endears you to the point to going back to it again and again. Long may Chris reign!

This is a really nice album. I love the music, love Chris’ voice, love the French and English. Love it all! Wonderful discovery.

Fuck it that was really fun

I love him

While the French version is better, this album has no real redeeming qualities. It's not bad per se but it's the very definition of generic and even artificial (as in lacking soul). An 80s wanna-be vibe albeit with a better production sound. Been there done that.

Didn't do much for me. Sounds like a one hit wonder from the 80s, but it was only released a few years ago. The French version does sound a little better than the English version.

This was released in 2018?! It sounds straight out of '88. Why are we going backwards with this Michael/Janet Jackson wannabe nonsense? Music has progressed past these garbage synths and trash drum machine sounds. I'm sorry. I have no patience for this pseudo-retro bullshit.

so amazing

Great french pop! Worth putting in my heavy rotation!

I discovered Christine and the Queens a few years back on spotify and fell in love. She has become an absolute favourite of mine and it was a delight to have to listen to this album again. I'm really looking forward to see where her career takes her.

Very fun in English and in French.

I really found this pleasant to listen to, but I really could not follow the meaning of the lyrics even when reading along. Definitely something lost in translation for me.

Goya Soda was a favorite

I honestly cannot day why, precisely, this album landed so well with me. Maybe it was my mood. Bit the poppy, sultry, dark, multilingual qualities all sorta worked t9gether to make me really dig this. Another day, another time, it may have fared worse.

Would listen again

Brilliant stuff, engaging and poppy. 5 stars

Amazing find. Great French pop.

All killer no filler!

I've been meaning to listen to this record in full since 2019 when I discovered them, because of their feature on Charli XCX's 2019 song "Gone". I heard a few songs from the project before this full listen, so I knew I was going to like it. In full, it definitely matched my expectations. I think this is a perfect pop record.

I had never even heard of this band before. And I start listening to it and I'm like what the hell is this French lesbian R&B?! And then after while I'm like this is some damn good French lesbian r&b! A keeper and a sharer

finally music for gay people

Llegué a esta artista hace unos años atrás, en pandemia. Ahí empecé a redescubrir el pop hecho por mujeres y disidencias sexuales y, dentro de todo lo que escuché por recomendación de una influencer argenta, fue el pop queer. Esto fue algo de lo que más me gustó. Me sorprendió cómo Chris tiene una búsqueda que excede lo musical. Jugada en su estética, en el cambio de su identidad sexual, sus letras, sus videoclips, me dio a entender que muchas veces éste género es más vanguardista que el rock.

Another blessing from the album gods to have this generated within my first 50 albums. This is one of my favorite artists of all time; I'm a massive fan. His music has helped me understand myself profoundly. And it's otherworldly, especially his latest release, Paranoia, Angels, True Love, which is an underrated masterpiece. I highly recommend the KEXP performance from 2019, particularly Doesn't Matter, the 4th track on this album. He accesses such raw emotion, it's awe-inspiring. "Run if you stole a shard of sunlight" I was happy to give my vinyl another spin for this one, and Chris is also in my top Spotify artists every year. My favorites are Doesn't matter, The walker, Goya soda, The Stranger, and What's-her-face, but absolutely 0 skips.

"I am done with belonging." An artist I'd heard of often but had never listened to. After the first few songs, I was strapped in. It's a generous, vulnerable, and tough-as-nails serving of French pop; funk-flavored and well-written, confident, and full of momentum. Highlights: Comme si, The walker, 5 dollars, What's-her-face, Feel so good, Make some sense

French pop. I didn’t expect to like this but I really did! It was super catchy and the songs had a good way of keeping you guessing. One song might have a killer bass line and another with an interesting keyboard. Even though it was pop, it felt complex, but still easy to listen to.

ici ça kiffe

This hits right in the Tegan and Sara spot for me. I'd be shocked if Tegan and Sara weren't aware of and fans of Chris. I think I prefer the french versions, but the English versions are great too. Makes me want to smoke a cigarette.

bilingual haim

Better than expected

Will always love this album!!!

I had never heard of Christine and was ready to dislike this album after reading the summary, but was very pleasantly surprised! I will definitely be playing more of this in the future.

Pop, dance, a veces chill out. Me ha gustado. Las canciones en francés le dan un plus. Un 4.

Tres bien. C'est un album quatre etoiles.

Such strong Michael Jackson vibes listening to this album. The production values are pristine Christine. I appreciated the English/French versions of all the songs. Just a stunning album, really.

incredibly fun and poppy, easy to listen to, and creatively composed electronic pop that adds fun twists to prevent it from seeming stale and boring.

Above average pop album; a bit reminiscent of the 80s. Nice. 3.5/5

I had high hopes after hearing "Girlfriend." The level of production is squeaky clean the entire way through and sounds like a French Lorde/Tegan and Sara/SOPHIE. I liked that this album featured both English and French versions, which is something I would like to see more often from multi-lingual artists. Impressive, but it doesn't keep it's momentum the whole way through enough to hold my attention the whole time.

Again, off-beat synth pop is basically my jam. I dig this

How did I not know this existed? It loses steam toward the back half of each disc, but still, I really love it.

"Chris" by Christine and the Queens earns a solid 4/5 rating for its bold experimentation and infectious energy. The album showcases Christine's artistic growth, blending pop, electronic, and R&B elements into a cohesive and captivating sound. Tracks like "Girlfriend" and "Doesn't Matter" are standout examples of Christine's ability to craft catchy hooks and poignant lyrics. The production is slick and modern, adding layers of depth to each song. While some tracks may not hit as hard as others, "Chris" remains a strong and enjoyable listen from start to finish. Christine's unique voice and innovative approach to pop music make "Chris" a standout album in her discography.

NOTE: This is one basically one album, but recorded in both English and French with some track difference. It is streamed as a single work, so unclear on which I Must Hear Before I Die. I'm reviewing them together. A suave and powerful pop record that sounds decent in English, but phenomenal in French. Christine and the Queens belts incredible vocal lines and murmurs softer melodies over a dynamic mix of retro electronic and disco sounds mixed into modern piano and beat production. Songs are fresh and captivating, and the album has a cohesive, punchy flavor that travels well on upbeat and downbeat tracks. I initially approached this work with trepidation, given the hour and a half runtime, but began to comprehend once I was halfway through the French recording. I understand why these two are lumped together on streaming services, given the difference in language and track listing, but the albums are close enough that it's difficult to conceive them as a continuous work. I did enjoy the English recording, but the album(s) really came alive in the French language. Christine and the Queens has a wonderful flow and phrasing style in her native language, and though I don't speak French, I much preferred that version. Still, there's a track on the English version that I liked that isn't on the French version, so I've included it on my stand outs too. Overall, a great listen, just wish I had been more prepared of the meta of the record, a fault not of the artist. Stand out tracks include "Damn, dis-moi", "La marcheuse", "5 dols", "Follarse", "Feel so good", and "Les yeux mouillés".

That was a vibe. I like her voice and the synths

I've never heard of this band, but I really liked the vibe of the album. It had an 80's electronic feel to it, good stuff.

Nice album

A true leap in talent, production and lyrical prowess. Thoroughly enjoy her pop stardom in both the English and French versions.

good queer euro pop! I think it was ahead of its time, just now it seems other artists are coming out with stuff like this

I like this album but why is this on this list?

Kuuntelin patonkiversion. Positiivinen yllätys, tyyliltään aika kaukana omilla soittolistoillani pyörivästä musasta.

I like the music and the vocals a really good album.

Excellent electro-funk pop record. I wore this one out pretty quickly when it came out and then I kind of forgot about it mainly because it was released around the same time as Robyn’s classic, Honey and for me this album got overshadowed by it. I’m glad this project got me to revisit it though. With the exception of DāM FunK’s additional production on “Girlfriend” this album was self produced remarkably by Chris. There’s plenty of nostalgia sprinkled in the music but it doesn’t feel like a cheap gimmick and it’s balanced with modern pop elements giving it a timeless sound. Chris’ emotive, theatrical and heartfelt vocal delivery demonstrates precision and control while his lyrics show a poetic defiance against the typical pop parameters. On this listen I picked up on some phrasing similarities with Caroline Polachek and Michael Jackson, something I didn’t notice before. Every nuance in his performance seems meticulously calculated and deliberate, yielding huge pay offs for the listener. Definitely a must listen for anyone who loves pop music like I do. I’m leaning 3.75 on this one.

Day 28 of listening to 1001 albums, one day at a time. It’s pretty interesting how this album jumps from this seductive tone to a pretty strong and powerful tone. This album really stands out with the lyrics. Truly I don’t think there is a single song that is lacking lyrically. The walker talking about domestic violence and 5 dollars talking about buying love. It’s a pretty good and a great listen with sharp lyrics.

Shout out to my wife for playing this album incessantly

oh i feel bad, cause this wasn’t bad, it was interesting some of it, it just wasn’t all my cup of tea…. but i didn’t hate it. and i liked that i had a female artist to listen to, if it was a different day, i might have been able to appreciate it more and give it a higher score, but for now, i can’t.

Some interesting melodies and vocals

French pop. Album is long because it's the same songs twice, once in French and once in English. If you like French pop, then you'll probably love this. If not, then you probably won't.

Sounded all the same.

Ja leuk album hoor. Beetje Michael Jackson vibes ook wel maar dat is natuurlijk naar beide kanten misschien geen compliment.

Blissful but throw away pop. The second disc with songs in French sounds better as the product on the first few tracks feels hollow and a bit too slick for my taste. Enjoyable overall though hardly essential

Pleasant poppy yacht music. Recent so I raise an eyebrow. Meh.

Feel the rating is a bit harsh and would love to give 3.5 stars. Overall I really liked a few songs but also really hated a few as well

Meget moderne pop. Godt produceret og en sjov blanding af fransk/engelsk.

funky!

Helt fint. Kunne klart bedst lide den franske version

Nice voice - good melodies - late 80's movie background vibe

Beh ma foi j'ai plutôt bien aimé, pas toutes les chansons mais globalement ça allait j'étais surprise 3.5?

tine queen

Pas mal

Listedned to the french version and then some of the English. Catchy but didn't immediately draw me in. Maybe try another listen some time.

A really fun 80s throwback album that’s bristling with bangers, but a bit inconsistent upon relistening. I don’t think it has quite the same impact Chaleur humaine did, and in hindsight it lacks the emotional depth Redcar has now given us with La vita nuova and Paranoïa

liked it better than i expected, but preferred the 2nd disc (French version). 3.1/5

Soothing to listen to.

Not bad fun album

#155. The name Christine and the Queens implies there's at least three people, but it seems it's only one person [that looks like 1997 Johnny Depp] whose name isn't even Christine. It's pretty good, I'd say, for dance pop, but that's not really a genre I know or care too much about. 3/5: decent

Electro pop, pretty laid back

Hauskaa on, kun levy on kahdella kielellä. Tyylipuhdasta ja hyväntuulista, mietittyä popia (aika indie). Harmi, että jää vähän ns. piippuun, hitusen liian vaisuksi vaikka ainesta on vaikka mihin, ollaan ihan rajalla onnistua tosi tykisti. Ehkä liika tyylikkyys tekee sen efektin?

This one didn't do much for me. But I've never been into pop music. I went for the French version. I like to hear music in different languages than my own.

Not bad. Not spectacular, but not bad.

First listen Saved 5/11 Top track: Girlfriend

Liked it a lot more than I thought I was going to based on some of the reviews. 3/5

👍🏻

Had high hopes for this one but it didn't live up to them sadly.

Kids dig it, one supposes, but one finds nothing much of interest or substance. It's as stylish as oversharing can be, one supposes. And is one supposed to be impressed that it's bilingual?