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Stromae

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Stromae
Stromae at the NRJ Music Awards 2011
Stromae at the NRJ Music Awards 2011
Background information
Birth namePaul Van Haver
Born (1985-03-12) 12 March 1985 (age 39)
OriginEtterbeek, Brussels, Belgium
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websitewww.stromae.net

Paul Van Haver (born 12 March 1985), better known by his stage name Stromae [stʁɔmaj], is a Belgian singer, rapper and songwriter. He is originally from Laeken, in Brussels.[1] He has established himself in both the hip hop and electronic music genres. Stromae came to wide public attention in 2009 with his song "Alors on danse", which became a number one in several European countries. In 2013, his sophomore album Racine Carrée was a commercial success.

Early life

Stromae was born in Belgium to a Rwandan father and a Flemish mother.[2] His father, a Rwandan architect, was mostly absent during his childhood and was killed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.[2] His mother raised him and his four siblings in Brussels, and later in a nearby suburb. She encouraged each of her children to play a sport and an instrument, and Stromae studied percussion. His mother placed him in a Roman Catholic Jesuit school after he failed in the public school system at the age of sixteen.[2] He formed a small rap group with friends while still in school. His early influences included Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel, Cuban son, and Congolese rumba.[3] He did not always feel that he was from Belgium, even though he was raised as a Belgian. This "outsider" image became part of his appeal.[2]

Musical career

2000–07: Early career

In 2000 he appeared as a rapper called Opsmaestro, though he later changed his stage name to "Stromae". "Stromae" is "Maestro" with the syllables reversed in a French vernacular practice called verlan.[2]

At the age of 18, he founded a rap group called "Suspicion", along with rapper "J.E.D.I." in Eichof. They produced the song and music video "Faut que t'arrête le Rap..." before J.E.D.I. decided to leave the rap duo. In order to finance his private school education, Van Haver worked part-time in the hospitality industry, but his academic performance wasn't up to standard.[citation needed] It was only later, when he registered at the Institut national de radioélectricité et cinématographie, that he released his first album "Juste un cerveau, un flow, un fond et un mic...".[citation needed]

2007–08: Debut EP and record career

During his study at the film school of Brussels, Stromae decided in 2007 to concentrate fully on his musical career. This resulted in his debut-EP "Juste un cerveau, un flow, un fond et un mic…". In 2008 he signed a 4-year record deal with "Because Music" and "Kilomaître".[citation needed]

2009–12: Breakthrough and international success

Portrait of Stromae

In 2009 Stromae worked as a young trainee at the musical radio station NRJ in Brussels. Vincent Verbelen, Music Manager, was impressed by the talent of Stromae's first single 'Alors on danse' and decided to air it for the first time on NRJ. The response from listeners (including influential personalities ranging from Anna Wintour and Jean-Claude Van Damme, to the then-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy)[citation needed] was one of extreme enthusiasm and Stromae came to wider public attention. In a few weeks from that point, sales of the song established it as number one in Belgium.[citation needed]

Vertigo Records, a label of Mercury Records France (Universal Music Group) signed him for a worldwide licensing deal soon after this.[citation needed]

By May 2010 the track Alors on danse had reached number one in Belgium, France, Sweden, Greece, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Romania and the Czech Republic.[citation needed]

On 2 September, Stromae collaborated with Kanye West in a remix of his hit Alors on danse.[4] In 2010, he was nominated for "Best Dutch and Belgian Act" at the MTV Europe Music Awards.[citation needed]

Of his music and its influences he has said: "I was in a little group doing rap music. I thought that rather than copying the French sound, I'd focus on a more American style but give it a European spin. And then I rediscovered 90s Eurodance. For a long time we were ashamed of that sound but in fact there's a lot to discover, it has its roots in everything from house to salsa. I also really admire Jacques Brel – he has been a huge influence on me – but also all sorts of other stuff, Cuban son, and the Congolese rumba, that I heard as a child; that music rocked the whole of Africa." Also, Stromae insists he wanted to collaborate with up and coming rap group Swag+5 featuring rapper T-Jay. In the end, the collaboration did not take place, but Stromae is a big fan of the American-based group.[5] The critic Molloy Woodcraft : "He combines 90s electro synths and beats with a laidback delivery to mesmeric effect".[citation needed]

He is one of the ten winners of the European Border Breakers Award 2011. On 9 February 2011, his debut album 'Cheese' (including the hit single "Alors on danse") won the award for Best Dance Album at the Victoires de la musique.[citation needed]

On 23 May 2011, during the recording of the French TV show Taratata, Stromae did a mashup of Alors on danse and Don't Stop the Party with the Black Eyed Peas. Stromae also announced he would perform as opening support act for the first of two concerts by the band in Paris on 24 and 25 June 2011 at Stade De France.[6] Stromae had previously met will.i.am at the NRJ Music Awards in January. will.i.am told him that he liked "Alors on danse" and said he wanted to collaborate with Stromae.[citation needed]

In 2011, he received one nomination for "Best Belgian Act" at the MTV Europe Music Awards.[7]

Stromae organizes his songs and music in the same way he is: a somewhat ambiguous mix of identities and influences.[8] But that doesn’t mean he acts in a random and hazardous way because he does have a certain rigor and framework. For him, it was obvious to talk about real life, even if it is not mostly what people want to hear, especially nowadays when looking at all the video clips about money, sex and vulgarity. He chooses important issues that are relevant for him, even sometimes from a personal perspective. For instance, in "Papaoutai" he broaches the subject of a childhood without a father and it is actually a situation he has himself experienced. He uses what he is to create music and lyrics. For example, his African roots have an impact on the instruments and dance, and also on his clothing style and now collection. In addition, the fact that he’s Belgian helps him to avoid a manichean view of the world he describes because Belgians are often known to be good at compromise and to be in the middle all the time. According to him, the common point in all his creations is melancholy, which is sadness and happiness at the same time.[9]

2013–present: Racine Carrée

The first single "Papaoutai" from his second album Racine Carrée (Template:Lang-en) was digitally released on 13 May 2013. It went on to chart number 1 in Belgium and France, number 2 in the Netherlands, as well as number 7 in Germany and Switzerland.[citation needed]

On 22 May 2013, amateur-looking videos appeared on YouTube showing Stromae, apparently drunk and wandering at the Louiza tram station in Brussels at dawn.[10] The videos went viral. A few days later, it was revealed that this was linked with the filming of a professional music video. This was confirmed during an appearance by Stromae on the French TV show Ce soir ou jamais in which he discussed and also performed his new single "Formidable", which is about the story of a drunk man just separated from his girlfriend. The clip was made from edited hidden camera footage taken on 22 May. It also shows people taking pictures with their cellphones, people who are clearly irritated by his drunk actions, people helping him stand up, and three policemen asking if the artist is ok or if he needs some help.[11][12] The policemen also got some critiques for not acting against the drunk Stromae; however, they later declared that the entire story was not shown. The part where they returned and Stromae had to explain his case was not broadcast.[13]

On 26 July 2013, Stromae announced on his Facebook[14] and Twitter[15] accounts that he had completed his second studio album Racine Carrée or √ and that it would be released on 16 August 2013. On 25 August 2013, Stromae joined Major Lazer's show at French festival Rock en Seine, where he performed Papaoutai. In September 2013, Belgian rock band Mintzkov covered his song "Formidable/Wonderful" for a live session on Studio Brussel, with lyrics in English. In November 2013, Stromae received the award for Best Belgian Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards.[16][17]

On 17 March 2014, it was made public that Stromae's song "Ta fête" would become the official song for the Belgian national football team at the 2014 World Cup.[18]

In June 2014, in support of Racine Carrée, Stromae made his US television debut on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers.[19] He then embarked on a tour across the United States and performed at the Best Buy Theater in New York City.[20][21] While in New York, on 22 June 2014, Stromae guest starred in a Snapchat story with Jerome Jarre as The Carrot's Father.[22]

On 21 October 2014, it was revealed that New Zealand singer Lorde invited Stromae to work on the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 along with artists like Kanye West, Grace Jones, Diplo and The Chemical Brothers.[23] He contributed to the song "Meltdown" which also features Pusha T, Q-Tip, Haim and Lorde herself.[24] Earlier that month she declared herself a fan of Stromae after attending his concert.[25] In March 2015, Stromae released a music video for the song "Carmen", which was directed by Sylvain Chomet. The video warns people against the addiction of social websites such as Twitter.[26]

Stromae continued touring the United States, performing in March 2015 in several places among which the SXSW in Austin, Texas.[27] He was also among the line-up of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.[28][29] He then began a tour in Africa on 13 May. However, in mid-June Stromae was forced to cancel the remaining of his shows until 2 August for health reasons.[30] He will perform at Lollapalooza in the summer[31] and at Madison Square Garden in October.[32]

On 14 September 2015, Stromae released a music video for "Quand c'est?", a song about cancer.[33]

Fashion label

Stromae is known for his distinctive physique and clothing style. He has used this image in launching a limited fashion line, called "Mosaert" (an anagram of his stage name). The collection features bright colors and geometric patterns, and has been described as "hipster" and "retro kitsch". Stromae has said that he wanted to "create a bridge between British style and African aesthetic.".[34]

The first collection was a success, with stocks almost sold out after three days.[35] The newest collection, Capsule No. 2, was released at Colette in Paris on 3 December 2014, and features the square root design on each item in different colors.[36][37]

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Award Work
2009 NRJ Music Awards Belgian Francophone Musical Breakthrough of the Year —
2010 Music Industry Awards Hit of the Year Alors on danse
2010 Music Industry Awards Musical Breakthrough of the Year —
2011 Victoires de la Musique Electronic or Dance Music Album of the Year Cheese
2011 Ultratop Download Award Most Downloaded Artist in 2010 in Belgium —
2011 Octaves de la musique Artist of the Year —
2011 Octaves de la musique Show of the Year —
2012 ADISQ Most Successful Francophone Artist in Quebec —
2013 Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur Best Music Video Papaoutai
2013 SACEM Rolf Marbot Prize for Song of the Year Formidable
2013 MTV Europe Music Awards Best Belgian Artist —
2013 NRJ Music Awards Best French-Language Song Formidable
2013 NRJ Music Awards Best French-Speaking Male Artist —
2013 Red Bull Elektropedia Awards Artist of the Year —
2014 Victoires de la Musique Male Artist of the Year —
2014 Victoires de la Musique Music Video of the Year Formidable
2014 Victoires de la Musique Song/Variety Album of the Year Racine Carrée
2014 Globes de Cristal Awards Best Male Singer —
2014 Octaves de la musique Artist of the Year —
2014 Octaves de la musique Bel RTL Public Prize —
2014 Octaves de la musique Best Album of French Songs Racine Carrée
2014 World Music Awards Best-Selling Benelux Artist —
2015 Victoires de la Musique Concert of the Year —

Discography

Main article: Stromae discography
Stromae singing

Studio albums

Extended plays

  • 2007: Juste un cerveau, un flow, un fond et un mic...

Mixtapes

  • 2006: Freestyle Finest
  • 2009: Mixture Elecstro

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ a b c d e Scott, Sayare (14 October 2013). "Stromae: Disillusion With a Dance Beat". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  3. ^ Hoby, H, Fox, K & Woodcraft, M (5 September 2010). "Stars In Our Eyes: This Season's New Music Talent". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Stromae feat. Kanye West – Alors on danse on YouTube (2 September 2010). Retrieved on 2012-02-22.
  5. ^ The Observer, 5 September 2010
  6. ^ Black Eyed Peas at Stade De France | MSN Arabia Entertainment. Arabia.msn.com (26 July 2011). Retrieved on 2012-02-22.
  7. ^ MTV EMA 2011 :: 06.11.2011 :: Belfast :: Stromae. Be.mtvema.com (6 November 2011). Retrieved on 2012-02-22.
  8. ^ Sayare, S, (15 October 2013). "Stromae: Disillusion With a Dance Beat". The New-York Times. Retrieved 28 October 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, B (19 February 2014). "Stromae - the Europop megastar you've never heard of". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  10. ^ Stromae bourré à Bruxelles on YouTube (23 May 2013)
  11. ^ "Stromae - Formidable (ceci n'est pas une leçon)". 27 May 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  12. ^ "VIDEO. Formidable : le clip de Stromae nous a tous buzzés" (in French). lexpress.fr. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  13. ^ "VIDEO. Interview with the policemen appearing in the formidable clip" (in Dutch).
  14. ^ "Stromae". Facebook. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Twitter / Stromae: It's done. My 2nd album will". Twitter.com. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  16. ^ Thijs, Tommy (18 September 2013). "Dit zijn de genomineerden voor de MTV European Music Awards". De Morgen (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  17. ^ "2013 MTV EMA: Highlights of the show & winners". MTV. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  18. ^ "Het officiële Rode Duivels-lied is er!". De Standaard (in Dutch). 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  19. ^ Allain, Xavier (17 June 2014). "Découvrez la première télévision de Stromae aux Etats-Unis". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  20. ^ Lowery, Tim (30 April 2014). "Meet Stromae, the most famous pop star you've never heard of". Time Out. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  21. ^ Lindsay, Benjamin (23 June 2014). "International Artist Stromae Slays, Sells Out Best Buy Theater". Next Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Jerome Jarre Tweet". 22 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  23. ^ Minsker, Evan (21 October 2014). "Kanye West, Chvrches, Bat For Lashes, Haim, Pusha T, Charli XCX Appear on Lorde's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1 Soundtrack". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  24. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (13 November 2014). "Lorde Gathers Stromae, Pusha T, Q-Tip & HAIM for 'Meltdown' from 'Hunger Games': Listen". Radio.com. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  25. ^ Lorde (5 October 2014). "@Stromae has one of the best shows i've ever seen. so smart, well paced, lit and constructed. and the SONGS". Twitter.com. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  26. ^ Dunlap, Kelley. "Premiere: Stromae Warns Of The Tweetpocalypse In Amazingly Animated "Carmen" Video" (31 March 2015). BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  27. ^ Thompson, Stephen (25 March 2015). "Stromae, Live In Concert: SXSW 2015". NPR. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  28. ^ Krishnamurthy, Sowmya. "10 Most Anticipated Hip-Hop and R&B Acts Performing at Coachella 2015". The Boombox.
  29. ^ Wong, Grace (13 April 2015). "Coachella 2015: Belgium's Stromae proves music is a universal language". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  30. ^ Pointu, Tupac (14 June 2015). "Belgian singer Stromae cancels concerts for health reasons". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  31. ^ "Lollapalooza reveals 2015 lineup". Consequence of Sound. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  32. ^ Spanos, Brittany. "Stromae Plots East Coast Dance Party With New Tour Dates". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  33. ^ Hugo-Pierre Gausserand (14 September 2015). "Stromae affronte le cancer dans son clip Quand c'est ?". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  34. ^ "Stromae: the eclectic musician". Vogue Italia. Vogue Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  35. ^ Voogt, G. "Stromae's clothing line 'Mosaert' huge success". D’Sign Magazine. D'Sign Magazine. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  36. ^ http://en.colette.fr/content/mosaert-capsule-n2/
  37. ^ http://stromaeometre.com/tag/mosaert-capsule-no-2/
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