Juliette Greco, Yael Naim, Johnny Clegg, Jacques Higelin... we have featured some heavyweight musical talent in the pages of ‘French News’. However, try as we might (and we did try), Carla Sarkozy (née Bruni) proved impossible. To mark the release of Madame Sarkozy’s latest album, we did what anyone else would have done – trawled the internet for the best of Carla. Here for your reading pleasure are a few ‘Bruni bytes’.

You have had a very eventful life over the past few months, however your new album is entitled ‘As if nothing had ever been’. Why?
The title is actually taken from a photo that my brother took, but it’s also a reference to the way I worked on the album and the way it has been released. Because of my new role, everyone is just trying to behave as if nothing is happening. That’s difficult.

Will there be a tour?
As long as Nicolas is President, I won’t be giving any concerts. It may compromise his position and my new role as First Lady. I will however be doing some TV shows, namely ‘Taratata’1 and ‘Le Grand Journal’2.

Does your husband share your musical universe?
Nicolas is a great fan of ‘La chanson Française’. We both share a passion for the music of Barbara and Jacques Brel. When I do try to enlarge his musical horizons, I play him British or American artist such as The Beatles or Bob Dylan.

On your new record there are songs about your former lovers, and about drugs. Hardly subjects for the new First Lady.
As far as I know there is no censorship in France. We live in a democracy. The Élysée has nothing to do with my former life.

Did it ever occur to you not to release this record?
Never, and no one advised me against it.

There are rumours that you are pregnant.
Everyone’s asking me that. I have put on some weight, but that’s just because I like the occasional beer. If I was pregnant, I’d give up beer, and smoking too.

Jean Sarkozy is getting married soon: if you and his wife were pregnant at the same time that would make Nicolas Sarkozy a father and a grandfather all at once.
True. But there’s nothing shocking in that, it’s very common these days.

Do you feel you have been ‘attacked’ by the nation’s media since you became First Lady?
It would be unfair if the media attacked me because I was married to Nicolas. If the media criticise my music, that is totally justified.

Is it possible to be First Lady and a musician at the same time?
Yes. Music is important to me; it gives meaning to my life. As for the role of First Lady, with all the different codes and traditions that entails, I am learning that day by day. I think it’s possible to steer a middle course between the two.

And what about your holidays?
We’ll be taking a short break in August. We’re going to Lavender.

Will you be accompanying the President to the Olympic Games?
No, it is a long trip. Besides, there was never any question that I would.

Despite our lengthy and in-depth research, history does not record if any other French First Lady has ever recorded an album. We can safely say that Carla Sarkozy is the only First Lady in the history of the Fifth Republic to have done so.

1.Music show on France 4. French version of ‘A little later’ with Mr Jools Holland
2 Canal Plus

Sources www.leparisien.fr and www.metrofrance.com