Manolo says, apropo of the Manolo’s recent post about Del Shannon’s Runaway, Manolo’s internet friend Litchee, of the French blog, L’Antre du Fruit Changeant , has alerted the Manolo to the French version of Runaway.

Released in 1974 by the Dutch entertainer Dave, under the title Vanina, this version sold over one million singles in France .

The flashing-crazy, runaway-bride eyes suggest that Dave does not feel Del Shannon’s existential pain.

And here is the 2007 version sung by Julien Doré, for the semi-final round of Nouvelle Star, the French version of American Idol.

Personally, the Manolo is just not feeling it. It is too histrionic to be taken seriously, especially when sung by the man wearing what appears to be the My Little Pony Hair Barrette. But, this did not stop Julien Dore from being named the ultimate winner of that season’s Nouvelle Star.