Top model, world traveller, singer, First Lady… Some Presidents really get it all!

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s new wife, has a new album coming out this Friday, July 11th. But in staying true to her role as a Lady of the people, her label has announced that fans can listen to it for free on her website until July 21st. Anyone will be able to listen to two hours’ worth of the album for free.

The Italian-born former supermodel has already released two albums over the last six years. Her first, Quelqu’un M’a Dit (Someone Told Me), was a hit, selling two million copies. Her follow-up, No Promises, wasn’t.

But aside from the obvious pressures of releasing an album, the political ramifications are somewhat staggering. After all, Sarkozy was elected with a huge buffer of popularity that has steadily eroded since then. Advisors and pundits alike have mentioned that the success of the album might actually play a big part in helping him regain popularity and, subsequently, his political clout. In a sense, his very presidency hinges on the success of this album!

Meanwhile, Bruni-Sarkozy is giving interviews left and right but has thus far refused to tour in support. After all, that would be very unbecoming. Of course, she hasn’t shied away from any controversy thus far, openly admitting numerous affairs in her freewheeling youth, including flings with Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton. Then again, how many First Ladies can claim that? Do you think Laura Bush ever hooked up with Ted Nugent during a nude photo shoot?

The new album, Comme Si de Rien N’était (As If Nothing Happened) comes out July 11th — a full ten days early, thanks to popular demand, on Naive records. All royalties will be going to charity.

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