La Grande Sophie
Encyclopedia
La Grande SophieLa Grande Sophie (real name Sophie Huriaux; born July 18, 1969 in Thionville
, France
), is a French
singer-songwriter who got her start in the mid-1990s in the Paris alternative scene.
, near Marseilles, where her parents moved when she was quite young. She had her first musical idea while watching Jacques Demy
's film Peau d'Ane
on television. She began playing guitar at age 9, then at age 13 started a band "Entrée interdite" with her brother and her neighbor. As well as performing covers of hits, she wrote and composed for this group, where she was the leading vocalist and musician. In June 1983 the first Fêtes de la Musique
took place in France. At almost 14 years old, Sophie managed to convince the management of the school to let her group perform.
in Marseilles. She continued to write, compose, and play her songs, as well as covers, at sidewalk restaurants in Marseilles. After two years of courses in fine arts she chose to quit her studies to dedicate herself exclusively to music. In 1994, she met Julien Bassouls, the entrepreneur of "Life, Live in the Bar", a group which arranged concerts for young artists, and went up to Paris in 1995. She played in many bars and small venues there, accompanied by guitar and bass drum.
In collaboration with other young artists, including Jean-Jacques Nyssen, Clarika and Philippe Bresson, she participated in writing and staging a musical, La Marée d'Inox, played at the Théâtre Jean Vilar in Suresnes
in February 1996.
Her influences ranged from Jacques Dutronc
to Chrissie Hynde
of the Pretenders through Polly Jean Harvey and Joe Hisaishi
. In 1996 she was invited to the Francofolies
festival in La Rochelle
. Next year, she released her first self-produced album, La Grande Sophie s'agrandit (La Grande Sophie grows up), on the independent label "Les compagnons de la tête de mort".
On May 11, 2004, she released her third album, Et si c’était moi (If it were me), which earned her her first Victoire de la musique in 2005. With the singles "Du courage" and "On savait", the album sales exceeded 130,000, allowing her to appear at the Olympia
for the first time in her career. She also recorded a duet with Lee Hazlewood
, who she regarded as "one of the most beautiful voices in the world." She also wrote a song, Seventy-Seven, especially for the anniversary of Lee Hazlewood. She also participated in the album On dirait Nino, in honor of the singer Nino Ferrer
.
She returned to stores in October 2005 with an album titled La suite… (The sequel…), the tone much more rock, with pushed-forward guitars. The album was accompanied by a long tour through France and Belgium, passing again through the Olympia and ending at the Zénith de Paris
in January 2007.
At this point in her career, Sophie paused and questioned herself. She wanted to give herself time to redefine herself in new ways, go back to basics, and refine her style and her arrangements, which she felt were weighed down with layer after layer of guitars. In the summer of 2007, she was invited to the Francofolies in La Rochelle for two concerts:
On February 25, 2008, La Grande Sophie released a digital-only EP, containing acoustic versions of four songs and two previously unreleased tracks ("Un jour de fête" and "Avec un Grand F".) In March 2008 she began a solo acoustic tour, "Toute seule comme une grande", in France, Belgium and Switzerland. In the spirit of her beginnings, she played in small venues with only a guitar, bass drum and pedal. Also, she participated in Autrement dit, an albums of covers of Claude François
released March 10, 2008, with the song "Le jouet extraordinaire".
by David Lynch
. According to the artist, the album was distinguished by its "woodsy" tone, and very consistent throughout. More emphasis was given to her voice. La Grande Sophie arranged the pieces on the album herself, with the participation of Edith Fambuena for three of them.
The tour started immediately with two dates at the Alhambra
. Sophie was accompanied by three musicians, in broad outline, a drummer, a bassist, and a keyboardist-trumpeter, and, at times, a cellist. The tour lasted 15 months and had around a hundred appearances in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, including at the Casino de Paris
and at the Olympia in November 2009 where she received a gold record, as well as the Francofolies at La Rochelle, Spa and Montreal. (La Grand Sophie also received gold discs earlier for Et si c’était moi and La suite….)
At the end of 2009, the jury of "Les Sonos tonnent", representing Le Nouvel Observateur
, L'Express
and Télérama
designated the song "Quand le mois d'avril" as one of the best of the year (as well as "Ton Héritage" from Benjamin Biolay.) In January 2010, she was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros for her album Des vagues et des ruisseaux.
Thionville
Thionville , is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. The city is located on the left bank of the river Moselle, opposite its suburb Yutz.-Demographics:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
singer-songwriter who got her start in the mid-1990s in the Paris alternative scene.
Childhood
Sophie lived the whole of her youth in Port-de-BoucPort-de-Bouc
Port-de-Bouc is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, near Marseilles, where her parents moved when she was quite young. She had her first musical idea while watching Jacques Demy
Jacques Demy
Jacques Demy was one of the most approachable filmmakers to appear in the wake of the French New Wave. Uninterested in the formal experimentation of Alain Resnais, or the political agitation of Jean-Luc Godard, Demy instead created a self-contained fantasy world closer to that of François...
's film Peau d'Ane
Peau d'Âne
Peau d'Âne is a 1970 French musical film directed by Jacques Demy. It is also known by the English titles Once Upon a Time and The Magic Donkey. The film was adapted by Demy from Donkeyskin, a fairy tale by Charles Perrault about a king who wishes to marry his daughter...
on television. She began playing guitar at age 9, then at age 13 started a band "Entrée interdite" with her brother and her neighbor. As well as performing covers of hits, she wrote and composed for this group, where she was the leading vocalist and musician. In June 1983 the first Fêtes de la Musique
Fête de la Musique
The Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival taking place on June 21.-History:The idea was first broached in 1976 by American musician Joel Cohen, then employed by the national French radio station France Musique. Cohen proposed an all-night music celebration at the...
took place in France. At almost 14 years old, Sophie managed to convince the management of the school to let her group perform.
The beginnings
At first attracted to the visual arts, especially sculpture, she studied at the École des beaux-artsÉcole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in Marseilles. She continued to write, compose, and play her songs, as well as covers, at sidewalk restaurants in Marseilles. After two years of courses in fine arts she chose to quit her studies to dedicate herself exclusively to music. In 1994, she met Julien Bassouls, the entrepreneur of "Life, Live in the Bar", a group which arranged concerts for young artists, and went up to Paris in 1995. She played in many bars and small venues there, accompanied by guitar and bass drum.
In collaboration with other young artists, including Jean-Jacques Nyssen, Clarika and Philippe Bresson, she participated in writing and staging a musical, La Marée d'Inox, played at the Théâtre Jean Vilar in Suresnes
Suresnes
Suresnes is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. The nearest communes are Neuilly-sur-Seine, Puteaux, Rueil-Malmaison, Saint-Cloud and Boulogne-Billancourt...
in February 1996.
Kitchen Miousic and the first album
She created "kitchen miousic", which she defined as considering musical activity as little different from any other daily task. This popular and lifelike approach to writing and performing music was one of her distinctive characteristics. This self-definition also expressed her desire not to be pigeonholed in a specific genre.Her influences ranged from Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc is a French singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and actor. He has been married to singer Françoise Hardy since 30 March 1981 and the two have a son . He also has been a longtime songwriting collaborator with Jacques Lanzmann...
to Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
of the Pretenders through Polly Jean Harvey and Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi
, known professionally as , is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.While possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalist, experimental electronic,...
. In 1996 she was invited to the Francofolies
Francofolies
Francofolies, common name of various music festivals including:* Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada* Les Francofolies de La Rochelle, in La Rochelle, France* Les Francofolies de Spa in Spa, Belgium...
festival in La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
. Next year, she released her first self-produced album, La Grande Sophie s'agrandit (La Grande Sophie grows up), on the independent label "Les compagnons de la tête de mort".
The majors
In 2001, accompanied by other musicians, she released her second album, Le Porte-bonheur (Lucky Charm), on a major label. This album sold over 50,000 copies, thanks to the single "Martin".On May 11, 2004, she released her third album, Et si c’était moi (If it were me), which earned her her first Victoire de la musique in 2005. With the singles "Du courage" and "On savait", the album sales exceeded 130,000, allowing her to appear at the Olympia
Paris Olympia
The Olympia is a music hall in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Located at No. 28, Boulevard des Capucines, its closest métro/RER stations are Madeleine, Opéra, Havre – Caumartin and Auber....
for the first time in her career. She also recorded a duet with Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
, who she regarded as "one of the most beautiful voices in the world." She also wrote a song, Seventy-Seven, especially for the anniversary of Lee Hazlewood. She also participated in the album On dirait Nino, in honor of the singer Nino Ferrer
Nino Ferrer
Nino Ferrer was a famous French – Italian singer, actor and jazz musician.- From prehistory to jazz :...
.
She returned to stores in October 2005 with an album titled La suite… (The sequel…), the tone much more rock, with pushed-forward guitars. The album was accompanied by a long tour through France and Belgium, passing again through the Olympia and ending at the Zénith de Paris
Zénith de Paris
The Zénith de Paris is a concert hall in Paris, located in the Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement on the edge of the Canal de l'Ourcq. Its ability to seat approximately 6,300 people makes it one of the largest venues in Paris...
in January 2007.
At this point in her career, Sophie paused and questioned herself. She wanted to give herself time to redefine herself in new ways, go back to basics, and refine her style and her arrangements, which she felt were weighed down with layer after layer of guitars. In the summer of 2007, she was invited to the Francofolies in La Rochelle for two concerts:
- July 12, 2007: An event in honor of Barbara, following the publication of her biography by Valérie Lehoux, journalist from TéléramaTéléramaTélérama is a weekly French magazine owned by Le Monde S.A. Its primary contents are television and radio listings, though the magazine also prints film, theatre, music and book reviews, as well as cover stories and feature articles of cultural interest. The name is a contraction of its earlier...
. For the occasion, Sophie covered six titles by Barbara. Sophie also covered "Dis, quand reviendras tu" during her concerts in 2008 and 2009. - July 14, 2007: On the main stage, she appeared with sixty musicians from concert bands from Lille-Fives and La Rochelle. The initial plan was to use ArnoArno HintjensArno Hintjens , usually referred to as Arno, is a Belgian artist born in Ostend. He was the frontman of the group TC Matic. After the band split in 1986 he went solo....
, but following his defection from rehearsals, La Grande Sophie agreed to take up the challenge. Five of his titles and a piece of Barbara were rearranged, with the participation of David Hadjadj.
On February 25, 2008, La Grande Sophie released a digital-only EP, containing acoustic versions of four songs and two previously unreleased tracks ("Un jour de fête" and "Avec un Grand F".) In March 2008 she began a solo acoustic tour, "Toute seule comme une grande", in France, Belgium and Switzerland. In the spirit of her beginnings, she played in small venues with only a guitar, bass drum and pedal. Also, she participated in Autrement dit, an albums of covers of Claude François
Claude François
Claude François was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way."-Early life:...
released March 10, 2008, with the song "Le jouet extraordinaire".
Des vagues et des ruisseaux
The new, long-matured album Des vagues et des ruisseaux (Waves and streams) was released January 26, 2009. The first single was called "Quelqu'un d'autre", a piece for which a video was also released, a nod to the film Inland EmpireInland Empire (film)
Inland Empire, sometimes styled as INLAND EMPIRE, is a 2006 mystery film written and directed by David Lynch. It was his first feature-length film since 2001's Mulholland Drive, and shares many similarities with that film. It premiered in Italy at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2006...
by David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
. According to the artist, the album was distinguished by its "woodsy" tone, and very consistent throughout. More emphasis was given to her voice. La Grande Sophie arranged the pieces on the album herself, with the participation of Edith Fambuena for three of them.
The tour started immediately with two dates at the Alhambra
Alhambra (Paris)
The Alhambra is a theatre which opened in April 2008 at 21, rue Yves-Toudic in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, 300 meters from the site of the old Alhambra Maurice Chevalier.-History:...
. Sophie was accompanied by three musicians, in broad outline, a drummer, a bassist, and a keyboardist-trumpeter, and, at times, a cellist. The tour lasted 15 months and had around a hundred appearances in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, including at the Casino de Paris
Casino de Paris
The Casino de Paris, located at 16, rue de Clichy, in the 9th arrondissement is one of the well known music halls of Paris, with a history dating back to the 18th century. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is a performance venue, not a gambling house...
and at the Olympia in November 2009 where she received a gold record, as well as the Francofolies at La Rochelle, Spa and Montreal. (La Grand Sophie also received gold discs earlier for Et si c’était moi and La suite….)
At the end of 2009, the jury of "Les Sonos tonnent", representing Le Nouvel Observateur
Le Nouvel Observateur
Le Nouvel Observateur is a weekly French newsmagazine. Based in Paris, it is the most prominent French general information magazine in terms of audience and circulation ....
, L'Express
L'Express (France)
L'Express is a French weekly news magazine. When founded in 1953 during the First Indochina War, it was modelled on the US magazine TIME.-History:...
and Télérama
Télérama
Télérama is a weekly French magazine owned by Le Monde S.A. Its primary contents are television and radio listings, though the magazine also prints film, theatre, music and book reviews, as well as cover stories and feature articles of cultural interest. The name is a contraction of its earlier...
designated the song "Quand le mois d'avril" as one of the best of the year (as well as "Ton Héritage" from Benjamin Biolay.) In January 2010, she was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros for her album Des vagues et des ruisseaux.
Albums
- 1997 : La Grande Sophie s'agrandit (Les Compagnons de la tête de mort)
- 2001 : Le Porte-bonheur (Epic/Sony Music France)
- 2003 : Et si c’était moi (AZ/Universal)
- 2005 : La suite… (AZ/Universal)
- 2006 : La suite… re-release, including two new pieces, artwork, and a DVD (AZ/Universal)
- 2009 : Des vagues et des ruisseaux
| Year | Album | Ranking | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... TL |
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... Wallonia |
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.... |
||
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
La Grande Sophie s'agrandit | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 2001 in music See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band.... |
Le Porte-bonheur | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
Et si c'était moi | 27 | — | 84 | — |
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
La suite... | 21 | 9 | 47 | — |
| 2009 2009 in music The following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year... |
Des vagues et des ruisseaux | 12 | 10 | 21 | — |