Heartless: French Trans Singer Redefines A Kanye West Classic
Chris Letissier’s Genderqueer Cover Of Kanye West’s “Heartless” Will Restore Your Faith In Music
“Paradis Perdus” combines the power of “Heartless” and “Les Paradis Perdus” with genderqueer Chris Letissier’s vocals. The mixed arrangement creates a version that proves indelible and inspiring for anyone yearning for the sound of Queer Power and the Yesteryear of Ye.
Note: go here for Trans Mix Tape #1
Queer Power And The Yesteryear of Ye
Thanks to Kris Allen’s cover back in season 8 of American Idol, “Paradis Perdus” isn’t the first time I found myself captivated by a transformative cover of Kanye West’s classic song “Heartless.”
But it is the first time I heard a TRANSformative cover.
Eh? Eh? Did you see what I did there?
The Road to Paradis Perdus: Kanye West releases an instant classic
The road to “Paradis Perdus” begins with artistic visionary (no comment on the rest) Kanye West.
From 2008, here’s Kanye West’s original version of “Heartless.”
It’s subversive. It’s profound. It’s catchy as hell.
The fork in the white bread road
Leave it to Kris Allen to reinvent the genre simply by putting a little white bread spin on it. Bleach it, add a drop of sincerity, and it may as well have been produced by Sara Lee.
But damn if it doesn’t taste good to the ear.
From 2009, here’s the performance that catapulted Kris Allen to the finals and beyond all reason snatch the title from Adam Lambert.
He followed that up with an official recording on his 2009 self-titled second album.
From 2009 until 2016, Kanye and Kris Allen dueled daily in my mind for which version I would put on repeat.
Then came the singer that would change the game.
A Kris by any other name is probably also known as Chris
Forget ****, Chris is the most powerful C-word you’ll ever hear.
After Kris Allen’s cover came Christine and the Queens version on their 2016 album Chaleur Humaine.
The song is called “Paradis Perdus.”
Coming from queer as hell Chris Letissier, the perspective on the song is as unique and indelible as that of the two artists who preceded this one.
A song is significant to me if it clarifies as much as I am as I am not.
A song is significant to me if it clarifies all that I might become by revealing all I do not want to be.
A song can offer an infinite scale of significance regardless of its origins.
With Kanye West’s 2008 release of “Heartless,” he expressed insight and authenticity that could only come from a person of his lived experience. I don’t even need to separate the person of Kanye from the artist and this song (I leave that to FD Signifier over on YouTube).
For me, Kris Allen’s 2009 cover proved as catchy, though not as thought-provoking. He expressed insight and authenticity unique to his lived experience, too.
And then in 2016, Chris Letissier’s “Paradis Perdus” changed the whole damn game.
Christine and the Queens: “Paradis Perdus”
Héloïse Adélaïde Letissier — known professionally as Christine and the Queens, other times as Redcar, or occasionally simply Chris — is a French singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Nantes, he started learning piano at the age of four and found inspiration while studying in London clubs.
His expressions of his gender identity are as powerful in the spoken word as they are in his music.
He has stated that he is “in resistance to the approach of trans identity that there has to be hormones and operations”, which he considers as a form of binarism.
If you watched the show trans-allied show Better Things, then you may remember their deliberate inclusion of Chris’s chart-topping song “Tilted” for the season 2 finale.
The kid in the right of frame is Frankie, who is so genderfluid that the show is able to tackle multiple kinds of representation without ever having to jump on a transgender soapbox (hey now).
Admirable restraint!
See also: “Better Things” Tells an Important Trans Story — By Not Telling a Trans Story (Autostraddle)
The song from the season 2 finale, of course, is the English version of “Christine,” a song that was originally released in French. That version needs to be heard, too.
And then there was “Paradis Perdus”
“Paradis Perdus” is a cover of Kanye West’s “Heartless.”
It’s also a cover of fellow French singer Christophe’s “Les Paradis Perdus.”
“Paradis Perdus” combines those two songs together with genderqueer Chris Letissier’s indelible vocals. The mixed arrangement creates a version that proves indelible and inspiring for any ear yearning for the sound of Queer and Trans Power mixed with the Yesteryear of Ye.
French lyrics Dans ma veste de soie rose Je déambule morose Le crépuscule est grandiose
Heartless How could you be so heartless? How could you be so heartless? How could you be so heartless?
Dandy un peu maudit, un peu vieilli Dans ce luxe qui s’effondre Te souviens-tu quand je chantais Dans les caves de Londres? Un peu noyé dans la fumée Ce rock sophistiqué Toutes les nuits tu restais là
Heartless How could you be so heartless? How could you be so heartless? How could you be so heartless?
Bandit un peu maudit, un peu vieilli Les musiciens sont ridés Et ce clavier comme c’est joli J’essaie de me rappeler Encore une fois Les accords de ce rock Qui détonnait comme les Anglais
Heartless How could you be so heartless? How could you be so heartless? How could you be so heartless?
In the night I hear them talk The coldest story ever told Somewhere far along this road He lost his soul To a woman so heartless How could you be so heartless?
Find out more about Christine and the Queens
Read these:
- ‘I’m changing and I don’t think society helps at all’: Christine and the Queens’ journey to becoming Redcar (The Guardian)
- Chris performs “Tilted” for stalwart trans ally Graham Norton on The Graham Norton Show (BBC)
- Christine and the Queens: ‘I just want to shatter everything’ (The Guardian)
- Christine and the Queens: ‘I’ve just discovered sex, I can’t stop yet!’ (The Guardian)
- Christine And The Queens Gave A Grand Performance Of ‘La Vita Nuova’ For A Digital Benefit (Uproxx)
- Christine and the Queens Bring ‘Pansexual’ Pop Into the Mainstream (Variety)
- CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS EXPLAINS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GENDERQUEER (Attitude)
- Christine and the Queens Opened Up About His New Pronouns and Expanded Artistic Moniker (Them)
- “Better Things” Tells an Important Trans Story — By Not Telling a Trans Story (Autostraddle)
Further listening
That Kris Allen album with his cover of “Heartless” also includes the great “Live Like We’re Dying,” written by Kara Dioguardia, the HOLY SHIT songwriter behind hit songs for other folks like Celine Dion.
American Idol season 8 was almost fifteen years ago. Kris Allen recently recorded an updated version of “Live Like We’re Dying” for the “10” Sessions just a few years ago, and my god if his voice doesn’t sound better than ever.
The album doesn’t include the other track he made famous next to second-place winner (and long-reigning singer for the reinvented band Queen) Adam Lambert: “No Boundaries”
Please don’t try to take my microphone away, sir. I am playing your song!!1!
If your ear remains tuned to the yesteryear of Ye, here is one more fun version of his still-a-hit song.
The end (of the playlist)
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