What makes Osez Bashung by Alain Bashung notable?

The album received widespread acclaim, underscoring Bashung's enduring legacy in the French music scene and reaching high positions on charts across France. It includes tracks that reflect the evolution of his style while maintaining a connection to his iconic earlier works, influencing contemporary French artists. Released on November 22, 2010, 'Osez Bashung' came out shortly after Alain Bashung's death earlier that year, marking a posthumous celebration of his influential career. This album showcases Bashung’s unique blend of genres and lyrical depth, cementing his status as a pioneering figure in French music.

How many songs are on Osez Bashung?

Osez Bashung has 35 tracks, running approximately 134 minutes.

Released 16 years ago this November

Osez Bashung

Alain Bashung · 2010

134 min · 35 tracks · new wave

A haunting fusion of rock and poetic lyricism, weaving intricate stories through atmospheric soundscapes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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La nuit je mens — This track exemplifies Bashung's lyrical prowess, mixing surreal imagery with themes of deception and identity that resonate throughout the album.
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Osez Joséphine — A standout single that captures Bashung's signature sound, blending melancholy with an upbeat rhythm, showcasing the contrast present in his work.
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Madame rêve — Featuring lush instrumentation and evocative lyrics, this track delves into themes of longing and fantasy, representing Bashung's complex emotional landscapes.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

69 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

Bashung’s sharp, unusual songwriting carries the collection, but its cross-period selections and cover versions make it a survey rather than a unified statement.

What we noticed

The 35-track sequence gathers songs from different periods, including early hits such as “Gaby, oh Gaby” and later work such as “Résidents de la République.”
The latter portion shifts from Bashung originals to songs associated with other writers, including “Avec le temps,” “Le Sud” and “Suzanne”; a live “Everybody’s Talkin’” also appears.
The tracklist moves among studio recordings, a remix and a live performance, so its long running time reads as a career survey rather than one continuous album arc.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 4/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.