Carla Bruni hurt by critics of new album

France's first lady Carla Bruni said Friday she was "hurt" by frosty reactions to her new album from critics of her husband President Nicolas Sarkozy, as the much-hyped record went on sale across Europe.

Half a million people logged on to the web to listen to the third album by the supermodel-turned-chanteuse, "Comme Si De Rien N'Etait" (Simply), ahead of its official release, according to figures from her record label Naive.

But the '60s-flavored album has sparked some mocking reviews and an outpouring of vitriol on the Internet by French voters hostile to the right-wing leader.

"Of course it hurts me, but I also find it quite natural," Bruni said in an interview on RTL radio Friday.

"It's understandable that people can't help mixing up my work as an artist and my function. Maybe they feel offended by the fact the head of state's wife should make a record," she said.

But the 40-year-old Bruni, who married Sarkozy in February after a whirlwind three-month romance, said she was in a "privileged enough position to be able to handle violent reactions."

She told Europe 1 radio her husband -- who she thanks on the record cover "for his unwavering support" -- had been a major help.

"He is very reassuring, encouraging and trusting in my talent. It has always astonished me, and I am grateful for it," she said.

Sales of the record at one giant FNAC record store in central Paris got off to a slow start Friday, with 60 copies sold by lunchtime.

"Considering all the fuss that's been made about it, it's pretty disappointing," said Pascal, 35, a salesman at the store.

His colleague Pierre, 31, said he expected sales to pick up in the coming days, with Bruni due to appear on France's main evening news Friday, but he predicted a "boycott" by many left-wing voters.

"A whole chunk of her former public just won't buy it even if they like the sound," he argued.

"Clearly, it's a record that leaves no one indifferent, politically if not musically," said their co-worker Emmanuelle, 37.

Based on a survey of Internet chat rooms, Bruni has already provoked the ire of many of Sarkozy's opponents.

"I won't buy it, I won't listen to it, I won't download it, even for free," fumed one user, Padre, on the left-wing Nouvelobs.com website.

Others were scathing about the album itself, written by Bruni except for three tracks, such as Sumiko, who wrote on the left-wing Liberation website:

"All those breathy notes just become annoying: you feel like telling her to have a good cough and give up smoking."

Bruni's first record wowed both critics and the public in 2002, selling two million copies, but her second, which put the words of English poets to music, did less well, with 380,000 copies sold.

Though her new status as first lady proved a headache for music critics, French reviews of the new album have generally been good.

But critics in Britain -- where Bruni received rave reviews for her elegance and poise when she accompanied Sarkozy on a state visit in March -- have been unimpressed.

"First lady... of schmaltz," headlined the Independent newspaper, which said the former supermodel came across as "simpering and weedy".

The Times dryly noted that it "may be the best album ever made by the wife of a head of state."

The record's 14 tracks include the eyebrow-raising "Ma Came," a bluegrass-sounding love song that draws a tongue-and-cheek parallel with drug addiction.

But listeners hoping for a peek into the private lives of France's pre-eminent couple may be disappointed -- only one song "Ta Tienne" (Yours) appears to hint at Bruni's romance with Sarkozy.

"I, who used to make men dance, I give my whole self to you... Let them curse me, let them damn me. I don't give a stuff," run the lyrics.

Bruni says she has no regrets about making the album, though she will not go on tour for security reasons and will donate the proceeds to charity. But she suggested this week her official role would take priority from now on.

"If I give enough to my new role, in terms of what I can really do to help other people, would that not take up all of a person's time?"

© AFP