Alain Bashung
Encyclopedia
Alain Bashung (1 December 1947 – 14 March 2009) was a French singer, songwriter and actor.
factory worker and French
Kabyle
father, whom he never knew. His mother remarried, and at the age of one, Bashung was sent to Strasbourg
to live with his new stepfather's parents. He spent his childhood in the countryside.
. Bashung, who had cancer, had to postpone several dates of his last tour. While receiving his award, he said he hoped that record companies would "remain in a human dimension by making people happy with records."
Long beginnings
Boris Bergman
Jean Fauque
Other collaborations
Last albums
. On 28 February 2009, he received three prestigious Victoires de la Musique
awards for his final album Bleu pétrole. The 2009 award ceremony was his last public appearance. He appeared frail, but still performed "Résidents de la République."
Bashung died in Paris on 14 March 2009 from lung cancer at the age of 61. He was buried on 20 March 2009 in the Père Lachaise Cemetery
.
Youth
Alain Bashung was the son of a BretonBreton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
factory worker and French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Kabyle
Kabyle people
The Kabyle people are the largest homogeneous Algerian ethno-cultural and linguistical community and the largest nation in North Africa to be considered exclusively Berber. Their traditional homeland is Kabylie in the north of Algeria, one hundred miles east of Algiers...
father, whom he never knew. His mother remarried, and at the age of one, Bashung was sent to Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
to live with his new stepfather's parents. He spent his childhood in the countryside.
Career
A multi-platinum artist, Bashung received three awards during the ceremony at the Paris Zenith, including best male artist, best album for "Bleu Pétrole" (Barclay/Universal) and best live show. He spent his career singing a pop-chanson repertoire. With 11 trophies won since 1993, he was the most awarded artist in the history of the Victoires de la MusiqueVictoires de la Musique
Victoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
. Bashung, who had cancer, had to postpone several dates of his last tour. While receiving his award, he said he hoped that record companies would "remain in a human dimension by making people happy with records."
Long beginnings
- 1966 : "Pourquoi rêvez-vous des États-Unis ?" (first record, 45 tours) ; arranger for RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
; writes and composes - 1968 : "Les Romantiques", first (and rare) single
- 1972–1974 : (co)realizes and writes in 3 albums for Dick RiversDick RiversDick Rivers is a French singer and actor who has been performing since the early 1960s. He was an important figure in introducing rock and roll music in France. He is known for being an admirer of Elvis Presley, who highly influenced both his singing and looks...
- 1973 : plays on stage Robespierre in the musical La Révolution française
Boris Bergman
- The success comes with the lyricist Boris Bergman, the single "Gaby oh Gaby" in 1980 (after two albums in 1977 and 1979) and their third album, Pizza (with the tube "Vertige de l'amour") in 1981.
- 1982 : Bashung breaks with Boris Bergman, no success for the album Play blessures, in collaboration with Serge GainsbourgSerge GainsbourgSerge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
; Bashung is described by one critic as the « Johnny Hallyday New-wave »... - 1983 : album Figure imposée – no more success
- 1985 : "Touche pas à mon pote", single for the association SOS Racisme
- 1986 : Passé le Rio Grande, album with Boris Bergman and the tube "SOS Amor", and Victoires de la musiqueVictoires de la MusiqueVictoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
(TV show) ; surprise success for Bashung (not very satisfied) - 1989 : Novice, first official collaboration with the lyricist Jean Fauque and last with Boris Bergman
Jean Fauque
- 1991 : Osez Joséphine with the tubes "Osez Joséphine" (first real popular tube since "Vertige de l'amour") and "Madame rêve" in a new vein.
- 1992 : Bashung sings "Les Mots bleus", old tube by the eternal ChristopheChristophe- As mononym/pseudonym :* Christophe , French comic strip artist and botanist* Christophe , French singer* Christophe , Belgian hairstylist- As first name :* Christophe Barratier, French filmmaker...
in a compilation for AIDS research. - 1994 : Chatterton, "Country New Age album" (according to Bashung), with the tube "Ma petite entreprise".
- 1997 : "City", duet with Brigitte FontaineBrigitte FontaineBrigitte Fontaine, born in 1939 in Morlaix in the Brittany region of France, is a singer of avant-garde music. During the course of her career she has employed numerous unusual musical styles, melding rock and roll, folk, jazz, electronica, spoken word poetry and world rhythms...
in Les Palaces - 1998 : Fantaisie militaire (collaborations with Jean Fauque, Rodolphe Burger, Les Valentins, Jean-Marc LedermanJean-Marc LedermanJean-Marc Lederman is a Belgian keyboard player and producer. He has worked with numerous bands including Fad Gadget, The The, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Weathermen, Belgian rock band Streets, and Front 242, and with other artists including Julianne Regan and Alain Bashung.His main projects are The...
, Adrian UtleyAdrian UtleyAdrian Francis Utley is an English musician and a member of the band Portishead.-Biography:Utley is self-taught on guitar, bass and keyboards, and played professionally from the age of 18 in working men's clubs, night clubs, holiday camps, and in cabaret, backing soul artists...
(Portishead), Joseph Racaille) with, as first single, the tube "La nuit je mens" ; wins 3 victoires de la musiqueVictoires de la MusiqueVictoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
in 1999 and, in 2005, during the twentieth edition of the Victoires de la Musique, Fantaisie Militaire becomes "best album of the last twenty years".
Other collaborations
- 2000 : Climax, double album and compilation, with the duet "Volontaire" with Noir DésirNoir DésirNoir Désir was a French rock band from Bordeaux. They were active during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, and have had two albums certified double platinum in France and three certified gold. They have been an influence on numerous French musicians including Cali, Louise Attaque and Miossec...
; Bashung writes "L'eau et le vin" for Vanessa ParadisVanessa ParadisVanessa Chantal Paradis is a French singer, model and actress. She became a child star at 14 with the worldwide success of her single "Joe le taxi"...
(in album Bliss). - 2002 : Alain Bashung sings (or says) with his wife Chloé Mons "Le Cantique des cantiques", the song of Solomon, in a new traduction by Olivier CadiotOlivier Cadiot- Biography :Cadiot's first book of poems, L'Art poetic, in which he used the cut-up technique, was published in 1988. In 1993, Cadiot published Futur, ancient, fugitive, and in 1997 he published Le Colonel des zouaves. In these books he proposed novels as poems...
(music by Rodolphe Burger). - 2003 : sings "Avec le temps" in Avec Léo, tribute to Léo FerréLéo FerréLéo Ferré was a Franco-Monegasque poet, composer, singer and musician.Born in Monaco, Ferré mixed love and melancholy with moral anarchy, lyricism with slang, rhyming verse with prose monologues...
. - 2004 : La Tournée des grands espaces, double live album.
- 2005 : sings "Le sud" in On dirait Nino, tribute to Nino FerrerNino FerrerNino Ferrer was a famous French – Italian singer, actor and jazz musician.- From prehistory to jazz :...
. - 2006 : sings "Que reste-t-il de nos amours" (written by Charles TrenetCharles TrenetCharles Trenet was a French singer and songwriter, most famous for his recordings from the late 1930s until the mid-1950s, though his career continued through the 1990s...
), duet with Françoise HardyFrançoise HardyFrançoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
in Parenthèses ; on stage with ChristopheChristophe- As mononym/pseudonym :* Christophe , French comic strip artist and botanist* Christophe , French singer* Christophe , Belgian hairstylist- As first name :* Christophe Barratier, French filmmaker...
, Dominique ADominique ADominique Ané , better known as "Dominique A," is a French songwriter and singer.-Early life:Born on the 6 October 1968 in Provins, France, Dominique Ané is the only child of a teacher and a homemaker. He was passionate about literature and music from a young age...
, Rodolphe Burger et Arto LindsayArto LindsayArthur Morgan Lindsay is an American guitarist, singer, record producer and experimental composer. He is a 1974 graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida....
. - 2007, Les Aventuriers d'un autre monde, tour with Jean-Louis AubertJean-Louis AubertJean-Louis Aubert is a French guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has also composed music for the cinema and for television, including the soundtrack for the film I've Loved You So Long, starring Kristin Scott Thomas .In 1976, he co-founded the rock band Téléphone...
, Cali, Daniel DarcDaniel DarcDaniel Darc , born Daniel Rozoum, is a French singer, who has achieved success with his band Taxi Girl between 1978 and 1986, and also as a solo artist...
, Richard Kolinka et Raphaël ; Bashung plays the british myth, Jack l'éventreur, in the song "Panique Mécanique", in La Mécanique du cœur (album by Dionysos) ; plays with ArnoArnoThe Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.- Source and route :The river originates on Mount Falterona in the Casentino area of the Apennines, and initially takes a southward curve...
(themselves) in the film J'ai toujours rêvé d'être un gangster (director : Samuel BenchetritSamuel BenchetritSamuel Benchétrit is a French writer, actor, scenarist and director.He had a son with Marie Trintignant. He lives with Anna Mouglalis; they have a daughter, Saul...
). - 2008 : sings "L.U.V.", duet with Daniel DarcDaniel DarcDaniel Darc , born Daniel Rozoum, is a French singer, who has achieved success with his band Taxi Girl between 1978 and 1986, and also as a solo artist...
, in Amours suprêmes ; "I Can't Escape from You", duet with Étienne DahoÉtienne DahoÉtienne Daho is a French singer, songwriter and record producer who has released a number of synth-driven and rock-surf influenced pop hit singles since 1981.- Career :...
, in the Daho Show ; (re)records the classic album L'Homme à tête de chou (Serge GainsbourgSerge GainsbourgSerge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
) for stage.
Last albums
- 2002 : L'Imprudence, inspired by music from old films according to Alain Bashung.
- 2008 : Bleu pétrole (collaborations with Gaëtan RousselGaëtan RousselGaëtan Roussel is a French singer, songwriter and composer. Roussel is the former lead vocalist for the bands, Louise Attaque and Tarmac....
(Louise AttaqueLouise AttaqueLouise Attaque is a French chanson/folk rock group founded in 1994. Several of the group's albums were produced by Gordon Gano, lead singer of The Violent Femmes, a band whom Louise Attaque often cites as an influence and for whom their own band is named....
), Arman Méliès and Gérard MansetGérard MansetGérard Manset is a French singer-songwriter, painter, photographer and writer, most well known for his musical work.Since 1972, the covers of his albums state his name as simply "Manset"...
– Bashung sings "Il voyage en solitaire", last track of his last album).
Final months
On 1 January 2009, Bashung was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. On 28 February 2009, he received three prestigious Victoires de la Musique
Victoires de la Musique
Victoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
awards for his final album Bleu pétrole. The 2009 award ceremony was his last public appearance. He appeared frail, but still performed "Résidents de la République."
Bashung died in Paris on 14 March 2009 from lung cancer at the age of 61. He was buried on 20 March 2009 in the Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris, France , though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs.Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement, and is reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the...
.
Studio Albums
| Année | Album | Charts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
|||||
| 1977 | Romans photos | - | - | - | |||
| 1979 | Roulette russe | 13 | - | - | |||
| 1981 | Pizza | 1 | - | - | |||
| 1982 | Play blessures | - | - | - | |||
| 1983 | Figure imposée | - | - | - | |||
| 1986 | Passé le Rio Grande | - | - | - | |||
| 1989 | Novice | - | - | - | |||
| 1991 | Osez Joséphine | 14 | - | - | |||
| 1993 | Réservé aux Indiens | - | - | - | |||
| 1994 | Chatterton | 6 | - | - | |||
| 1998 | Fantaisie militaire | 1 | 15 | - | |||
| 2002 | L'Imprudence | 1 | 2 | 46 | |||
| Cantique des cantiques en duo avec Chloé Mons | - | - | - | ||||
| 2008 | Bleu pétrole | 1 | 4 | 11 | |||
Singles
| Année | Single | Charts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
||||||
| 1966 | Pourquoi rêvez-vous des États-Unis ? | - | - | ||||
| 1967 | T'as qu'à dire Yeah | - | - | ||||
| Tu es une petite enfant qui fait la belle | - | - | |||||
| 1968 | Chère petite chose | 66 | - | ||||
| Les romantiques | - | - | |||||
| 1969 | Lise | - | - | ||||
| La rivière | - | - | |||||
| Simplement quelques jours | - | - | |||||
| Ho gli occhi chuisi | - | - | |||||
| 1970 | Un jour viendra | - | - | ||||
| 1971 | Du feu dans les veines | - | - | ||||
| 1973 | Bois de santal | - | - | ||||
| 1977 | Roman Photos | 71 | - | ||||
| C'est la faute à Dylan | - | - | |||||
| 1979 | Je fume pour oublier que tu bois | - | - | ||||
| 1980 | Gaby oh Gaby | 2 | - | ||||
| 1981 | Vertige de l'amour | 1 | - | ||||
| Rebel | 19 | - | |||||
| C'est comment qu'on freine? | 45 | - | |||||
| 1983 | Elégance | - | - | ||||
| 1984 | S.O.S. Amor | 36 | - | ||||
| 1985 | Tu touches pas à mon pote | - | - | ||||
| Hey Joe | 59 | - | |||||
| 1986 | L'arrivée du Tour | 44 | - | ||||
| Malédiction | 36 | - | |||||
| 1989 | Bombez! | 76 | - | ||||
| Pyromanes | 94 | - | |||||
| Etrange été | - | - | |||||
| 1991 | Osez Joséphine | 14 | - | ||||
| J'écume | - | - | |||||
| 1992 | Madame rêve | - | - | ||||
| 1994 | Ma petite entreprise | 61 | - | ||||
| J'passe pour une caravane | 31 | - | |||||
| 1998 | La nuit je mens | 12 | - | ||||
| Sommes-nous | 24 | - | |||||
| Aucun express | 39 | - | |||||
| 2003 | La ficelle | - | - | ||||
| 2008 | Résidents de la République | - | 32 | ||||
Live albums
- 1985 : Live Tour 85
- 1992 : Tour novice
- 1995 : Confessions publiques
- 2004 : La Tournée des grands espaces
Actor
- 1981 : Nestor Burma, détective de choc de Jean-Luc Miesch
- 1981 : Le Cimetière des voitures de Fernando ArrabalFernando ArrabalFernando Arrabal Terán is a Spanish playwright, screenwriter, film director, novelist and poet. He settled in France in 1955, he describes himself as “desterrado,” or “half-expatriate, half-exiled.”...
- 1991 : Rien que des mensonges de Paule Muret
- 1992 : L'Ombre du doute de Aline Issermann
- 1994 : Ma sœur chinoise de Alain Mazars
- 1995 : Le Jeu de la clé de Michel Hassan
- 1998 : Mon père, ma mère, mes frères et mes sœurs... de Charlotte de TurckheimCharlotte de TurckheimAnne-Charlotte de Turckheim is a French actress, screenwriter, comedian and film producer. Born in Montereau-Fault-Yonne, Seine-et-Marne, France, the daughter of Françoise Husson and Arnaud de Turckheim, a member of a noble Protestant family from Alsace, Charlotte de Turckheim studied theater...
- 1999 : Je veux tout de Patrick BraoudéPatrick BraoudéPatrick Braoudé is a French actor, director, scriptwriter, and producer.-Producer:* 1990: Génial, mes parents divorcent* 1993: Neuf mois* 1996: Amour et confusions* 2000: Deuxième vie* 2004: Iznogoud-Actor:...
- 2000 : La Confusion des GenresLa Confusion des GenresLa Confusion des Genres is a 2000 film starring Pascal Greggory. It was directed by Ilan Duran Cohen.Two actors of this film were nominated at the César Awards 2001: Pascal Greggory for Best Actor – Leading Role and Cyrille Thouvenin for Most Promising Actor....
de Ilan Duran Cohen - 2000 : Retour à la vie de Pascal Baeumler (avec Emmanuelle Laborit)
- 2000 : Félix et Lola de Patrice LecontePatrice LecontePatrice Leconte is a French film director, actor, comic strip writer, and screenwriter.-Biography:...
- 2000 : L'Origine du monde de Jérôme Enrico
- 2002 : La Bande du drugstore de François Armanet
- 2003 : Le P'tit Curieux de Jean Marbœuf
- 2006 : Arthur et les Minimoys de Luc BessonLuc BessonLuc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
(voix de M Le maudit) - 2007 : J'ai toujours rêvé d'être un gangster de Samuel BenchetritSamuel BenchetritSamuel Benchétrit is a French writer, actor, scenarist and director.He had a son with Marie Trintignant. He lives with Anna Mouglalis; they have a daughter, Saul...
Composer
- 1981 : Nestor Burma, détective de choc de Jean-Luc Miesch
- 1985 : Le Quatrième Pouvoir de Serge Leroy
- 1986 : Le Beauf de Yves Amoureux
- 1992 : Le Jeune WertherLe Jeune WertherLe Jeune Werther is a 1993 French drama film directed by Jacques Doillon. It was entered into the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Blue Angel Award.-Cast:* Ismaël Jolé-Ménébhi as Ismael* Faye Anastasia as Faye...
de Jacques DoillonJacques DoillonJacques Doillon is a French film director. He has a habit of giving lead roles to inexperienced young actresses in his films on family life and women... - 1994 : Pigalle de Karim DridiKarim DridiKarim Dridi is a French film director and screenwriter. He has directed ten films since 1987. His film Bye-Bye was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:* Dans le sac...
- 1999 : Ma petite entreprise de Pierre JolivetPierre JolivetPierre Jolivet is a French director, actor and script-writer. His film Zim and Co. was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival....
External links
- Alain Bashung – Official Website
- Alain Bashung – Website (discography, songs, news)
- Listen to Alain Bashung's discography
- IMDb
- Alain Bashung: Revered singer and actor described as 'the gentleman rocker of French chanson' , obituary from The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
- Alain Bashung dies, Radio France Internationale in English
- Site sur Alain Bashung
- Ma Petite Entreprise : The Life of Alain Bashung, featured at http://www.4ortherecord.com