The Guardian nicknamed him: “The Morrissey of the Eurozone,” because of his realistic and gloomy lyrics. All of his video clips play like mini-movies. Stromae, it turns out, is a trained musician, an accomplished percussionist, a fan of poetry. Yet, the pace is upbeat, and one can’t help watching the short movie… Stromae sold three million copies of the first album. Some of Stromae‘s favorite themes are in the song: the rat race, divorce, loneliness, hopelessness. His first big hit was Alors on Danse, (Then you Dance,) a song he wrote about a friend going through a tough time. What’s not to like?įrench friends recommended I checked him out. He seems surprised, and humbled, by his success, but exudes self-confidence and controls all aspects of his career. He can discuss his origins, his career, and the issues confronting European youth articulately. His public appearances are greeted with much anticipation. Two albums ( Racine Carrée, Square Root, came out last spring.) Awards up the wazoo.
His most popular video to date, F ormidable, has received over 43 million hits on Youtube. If the social media is any indicator of success, numbers are impressive: 2.6 million follow his Facebook page. Stromae – French slang for “Maestro” – has developed a cult following in most European countries. Meet Stromae the 28-year Belgian-born artist who is taking Europe (and French Canada) by storm. The smart, if mournful lyrics, both poetic and realistic, a sharp contrast to the catchy tunes, a blend of rap, hip hop, electronic music and Latin rhythms. All the same, the line that translates as: “Sometimes I’ve had suicidal thoughts and I’m not proud of it,” especially when followed by his anguished flailing and jittery electronic noises in the video, has real power.The smile. He tends to depict characters in his songs, so it’s hard to know exactly how close to reality the new song L’enfer (“Hell”) comes to reality.
He also spent his gap years directing music videos for Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish with his brother, but his biggest issue seems to have been side effects from an anti-malaria drug called Lariam, which affected him physically and mentally. Even so, English speakers have so far been resistant despite his appearances on songs with Kanye West, Lorde, Haim and Coldplay. He also crossed over to non-Francophone countries, especially when his early single Alors on danse hit number one across the continent. His last release, Racine carrée (or “Square Root”, beating Ed Sheeran to that particular mathematical symbol) was the highest selling album of both 20 in France and Belgium. This is his first album in nine years, a disappearing act that’s surprising considering that when he left the stage he was one of Europe’s biggest stars. Marriage and fatherhood are two reasons for the 36-year-old’s long absence from music. Those who understand French will hear him summing up his love for his son, who was born in 2018, thus: “You’ll see, it’s nothing but joy/You’ll see, it’s pure happiness/There are nappies and foul smells/There is vomit, there is shit, and everything else.” It’s easy to allow Belgian singer/rapper Stromae’s resonant tones to drift dreamily past on his third album, though the language of love takes on a different hue on C’est que du bonheur (“Nothing But Joy”), a mix of accordion and clattering beats that sees him considering the experience of parenthood. H, the French language! So charming, so romantic, so softly evocative of beautiful times.
0 kommentar(er)
