Les Rita Mitsouko
Encyclopedia
Les Rita Mitsouko was a French pop rock
group formed by guitarist
Fred Chichin
and singer Catherine Ringer
. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727592/bio The duo first performed as Rita Mitsouko at Gibus Club, Paris in 1980. They went on to become one of the most successful musical acts of the 1980s in France .
According to the french Wikipedia the name of the group was chosen to reflect the band's extremely diverse musical reference: Rita refers to the the South American music (and cult actress Rita Hayworth). Mitsouko is a Japanese first name and is also the name of a perfume by Guerlain. The group originally went by the name "Rita Mitsouko" but in 1985 "Les" was added when they realized that many people believed the name of the group was that of the singer.
Rita Mitsouko began performing in the early 1980s in alternative spaces such as the Pali-Kao, a squatted
factory building in Belleville, Paris
.
The band first achieved major popular success in 1985, with the release of the second single from their first album: "Marcia baila
" rose to number 2 on the French record charts that summer. Philippe Gautier directed a vibrant and widely viewed music video to accompany the record. "Marcia Baila" is an homage to Argentine
choreographer and dancer Marcia Moretto
, with whom Catherine Ringer had studied and performed in the 1970s. Moretto died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 32.
Rita Mitsouko was a creative and eccentric debut album, combining elements of punk
, rock
, synth pop and jazz
. Coupled with the band's colorful, wild, over-the-top image, it brought Rita Mitsouko to the attention of some important anglophone listeners.
American record producer and musician Tony Visconti
produced the band's next two albums, The No Comprendo and Marc et Robert, helping to polish and perfect their sound. These two albums feature both French and English lyrics. The most successful singles from these albums were "C'est comme ça" and '"Andy."
The American band Sparks
collaborated with Les Rita Mitsouko on Marc et Robert. Russell Mael
sings lead vocals with Catherine Ringer on three of the album's tracks, "Singing in the Shower," "Live in Las Vegas," and "Hip Kit." ""Singing in the Shower" was included on the soundtrack for the Ridley Scott
film Black Rain.
Jean-Baptiste Mondino
directed most of Les Rita Mitsouko's music videos in the 1980s.
Jean-Luc Godard
's 1987 feature film Soigne ta droite
incorporates documentary footage of the band's The No Comprendo recording sessions.
In 1993, the video of "Y'a d'la haine," from the album Système D, was awarded Clip of the Year by MTV Europe
.
On Système D Catherine Ringer sings a duet, "My Love Is Bad," with Iggy Pop
. Variéty also includes a vocal duo in which Ringer is joined by guest musician Serj Tankian
(from System of a Down
).
Les Rita Mitsouko's album Variéty was released in 2007 in both French and in English (Variety) versions; it was produced by Mark Plati
.
On Wednesday 28 November 2007, Fred Chichin
died from cancer while the band had just cancelled their previous concert dates in Paris. He was only diagnosed with the disease two months before.
Catherine Ringer toured under her own name following the death of her partner and Les Rita Mitsouko collaborator, Fred Chichin
.
of Les Rita Mitsouko, the French
pop-rock duo, consists of seven studio albums, two compilations, one remix album, three live albums, two extended plays, twenty-seven singles, one video and twelve music videos.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
group formed by guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Fred Chichin
Fred Chichin
Frédéric "Fred" Chichin was a French musician and songwriter. He was born in Clichy, France.He was the lead member of the band Les Rita Mitsouko, along with Catherine Ringer, whom he met in 1979...
and singer Catherine Ringer
Catherine Ringer
Catherine Ringer is a French singer, musician, songwriter, dancer, choreographer, and actress.Ringer started her professional career on stage in the late 1970s in productions with Michael Lonsdale's Théâtre de Recherche Musicale as well as musical and dance productions...
. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727592/bio The duo first performed as Rita Mitsouko at Gibus Club, Paris in 1980. They went on to become one of the most successful musical acts of the 1980s in France .
History
The duet has stated that the name "Rita Mitsouko" originates from the combination of Catherine Ringer's childhood friend and the name of a meal they enjoyed in a local Japanese restaurant soon after they met.According to the french Wikipedia the name of the group was chosen to reflect the band's extremely diverse musical reference: Rita refers to the the South American music (and cult actress Rita Hayworth). Mitsouko is a Japanese first name and is also the name of a perfume by Guerlain. The group originally went by the name "Rita Mitsouko" but in 1985 "Les" was added when they realized that many people believed the name of the group was that of the singer.
Rita Mitsouko began performing in the early 1980s in alternative spaces such as the Pali-Kao, a squatted
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
factory building in Belleville, Paris
Belleville, Paris
Belleville is a neighbourhood of Paris, France, parts of which lie in four different arrondissements. The major portion of Belleville straddles the borderline between the 20th arrondissement and the 19th along its main street, the Rue de Belleville...
.
The band first achieved major popular success in 1985, with the release of the second single from their first album: "Marcia baila
Marcia Baila
"Marcia Baïla" is a 1985 song recorded by the French duet Rita Mitsouko. It was the third single off their first album, the eponymous Rita Mitsouko, and was released in April of that year...
" rose to number 2 on the French record charts that summer. Philippe Gautier directed a vibrant and widely viewed music video to accompany the record. "Marcia Baila" is an homage to Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
choreographer and dancer Marcia Moretto
Marcia Moretto
Marcia Moretto, born in 1949 and died in 1981 in Paris, was an Argentine dancer, choreographer and director.She worked with Armando Llamas and also taught dance at Sartrouville in the 1970s. Her students included Catherine Ringer and Frédéric Chichin, the duo of Rita Mitsouko...
, with whom Catherine Ringer had studied and performed in the 1970s. Moretto died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 32.
Rita Mitsouko was a creative and eccentric debut album, combining elements of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, synth pop and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. Coupled with the band's colorful, wild, over-the-top image, it brought Rita Mitsouko to the attention of some important anglophone listeners.
American record producer and musician Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
produced the band's next two albums, The No Comprendo and Marc et Robert, helping to polish and perfect their sound. These two albums feature both French and English lyrics. The most successful singles from these albums were "C'est comme ça" and '"Andy."
The American band Sparks
Sparks (band)
Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , initially under the name Halfnelson...
collaborated with Les Rita Mitsouko on Marc et Robert. Russell Mael
Russell Mael
Russell Mael is an American singer and songwriter who, with his older brother Ron, is in the band Sparks....
sings lead vocals with Catherine Ringer on three of the album's tracks, "Singing in the Shower," "Live in Las Vegas," and "Hip Kit." ""Singing in the Shower" was included on the soundtrack for the Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
film Black Rain.
Jean-Baptiste Mondino
Jean-Baptiste Mondino
Jean-Baptiste Mondino is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Les Rita Mitsouko...
directed most of Les Rita Mitsouko's music videos in the 1980s.
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
's 1987 feature film Soigne ta droite
Soigne ta droite
Keep Your Right Up is a 1987 film, written, directed by, and starring French Swiss filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard.Soigne ta droite is a phrase from boxing - a trainer's call to "keep your right up". The immediate reference is to Jacques Tati's first short film, Soigne ton gauche...
incorporates documentary footage of the band's The No Comprendo recording sessions.
In 1993, the video of "Y'a d'la haine," from the album Système D, was awarded Clip of the Year by MTV Europe
MTV Europe
MTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on August 1, 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent...
.
On Système D Catherine Ringer sings a duet, "My Love Is Bad," with Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
. Variéty also includes a vocal duo in which Ringer is joined by guest musician Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
(from System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
).
Les Rita Mitsouko's album Variéty was released in 2007 in both French and in English (Variety) versions; it was produced by Mark Plati
Mark Plati
Mark Plati is a New York-based musician, record producer, and songwriter, widely acclaimed for his work in the 1990s with David Bowie. An in-demand producer, Plati also has worked with Spookey Ruben, The Cure, Duncan Sheik, Hooverphonic, Robbie Williams, Joe McIntyre, and Natalie Imbruglia...
.
On Wednesday 28 November 2007, Fred Chichin
Fred Chichin
Frédéric "Fred" Chichin was a French musician and songwriter. He was born in Clichy, France.He was the lead member of the band Les Rita Mitsouko, along with Catherine Ringer, whom he met in 1979...
died from cancer while the band had just cancelled their previous concert dates in Paris. He was only diagnosed with the disease two months before.
Catherine Ringer toured under her own name following the death of her partner and Les Rita Mitsouko collaborator, Fred Chichin
Fred Chichin
Frédéric "Fred" Chichin was a French musician and songwriter. He was born in Clichy, France.He was the lead member of the band Les Rita Mitsouko, along with Catherine Ringer, whom he met in 1979...
.
Discography
The discographyDiscography
Discography is the study and listing of the details concerning sound recordings, often by specified artists or within identified musical genres...
of Les Rita Mitsouko, the 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...
pop-rock duo, consists of seven studio albums, two compilations, one remix album, three live albums, two extended plays, twenty-seven singles, one video and twelve music videos.
Studio albums
| Year | Album information | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
BEL |
SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
||
| 1984 | Rita Mitsouko Rita Mitsouko (album) Rita Mitsouko is the self titled début album by Les Rita Mitsouko. At the time of release the group was simply called Rita Mitsouko. Catherine Ringer and Fred Chichin decided to add 'Les' to 'Rita Mitsouko' at this point to avoid mistakenly identifying the band only as Catherine's.-Track listing:#...
|
– | – | – |
| 1986 | The No Comprendo The No Comprendo The No Comprendo is the second studio album by French musical duo Les Rita Mitsouko. The album is sometimes referred to as Les Rita Mitsouko Presentent The No Comprendo... |
9 | – | – |
| 1988 | Marc & Robert
|
35 | – | – |
| 1993 | Système D Système D Système D is the fourth studio album by Les Rita Mitsouko.The duo moved their studio to a large Moroccan house situated in Essaouira . Tony Visconti was present for some of the recording, but Ringer and Chichin chose to produce the album themselves to find a new sound... |
7 | – | – |
| 2000 | Cool Frénésie Cool Frenesie Cool Frénésie is the fifth studio album by French duo Les Rita Mitsouko.-Track listing:# "Cool frénésie" - 3:52# "Femme de moyen âge" - 4:46# "Toi & moi & elle" - 5:34# "La sorcière et l'inquisiteur" - 4:34# "Dis-moi des mots" - 4:26... |
3 | – | 70 |
| 2002 | La Femme Trombone La Femme Trombone -Track listing:# "Entrée" - 1:26# "Évasion" - 3:06# "Vieux Rodéo" - 3:37# "Triton" - 4:09# "Trop Bonne" - 4:03# "Tous Mes Voeux" - 3:45# "Tu Me Manques" - 4:49# "J'Applaudis" - 3:30# "Melodica" - 2:38# "Interlude" - 1:26# "Ce Sale Ton" - 3:31... |
5 | – | 39 |
| 2007 | Variéty Variety (Les Rita Mitsouko album) Variéty is the seventh studio album by Les Rita Mitsouko. An English language version of the album was produced for the international English speaking market... |
3 | 16 | 36 |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album information | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
BEL |
SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
||
| 1990 | Re Re (Les Rita Mitsouko album) Re is a remix album by Les Rita Mitsouko.All the recordings were taken from the groups first three albums . "Don't Forget the Nite" was one of duo's early singles. It was completely rerecorded for the album with producer Tony Visconti... (Remix album)
|
– | – | – |
| 2001 | Bestov Bestov (Les Rita Mitsouko album) -DVD Track listing:# "Marcia Baïla"# "Andy"# "Les Histoires d'A"# "C'est Comme Ça"# "Singing in the Shower"# "Le Petit Train"# "Hip Kit "# "Les Amants"# "Y'a d'La Haine"# "Cool Frénésie"# "Alors C'est Quoi"... |
– | 34 | 83 |
| 2004 | Essentiel
EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
– | – | – |
Live albums
| Year | Album information | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
BEL | SWI Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
||
| 1996 | Acoustiques Acoustiques Acoustiques is a live album by French duo Les Rita Mitsouko. "Les Consonnes" and "La Tailles Du Bambou" were new songs at the time of release and made their début on the album.-Track listing:# "Nuit D'Ivresse" – 3:22# "Andy" – 6:08... (Live Live album A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album... from an M6 televised concert)
|
18 | – | – |
| 2004 | Les Rita Mitsouko En Concert Avec L'Orchestre Lamoureux Les Rita Mitsouko En Concert Avec L'Orchestre Lamoureux Les Rita Mitsouko En Concert Avec L'Orchestre Lamoureux is the second live album by French duo Les Rita Mitsouko. It was recorded live at the Théatre des Champs-Élysées by Madje Malki and Laurent Gatignol.-Track listing:... (as 'Les Rita Mitsouko avec L'Orchestre Lamoureux') |
64 | – | – |
| 2008 | Chante Les Rita Mitsouko and more à la Cigalle (Credited to Catherine Ringer)
|
35 | – | – |
Extended plays
- The Eye, More Variety (2007, Because Music)
- Variety Remixes (2007, Because Music)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
BEL |
U.S. Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
|||
| 1982 | "Minuit Dansant" | – | – | – | — |
| "Don't Forget the Nite" | – | – | – | ||
| 1984 | "Restez Avec Moi" | – | – | – | Rita Mitsouko |
| 1985 | "Marcia Baïla Marcia Baila "Marcia Baïla" is a 1985 song recorded by the French duet Rita Mitsouko. It was the third single off their first album, the eponymous Rita Mitsouko, and was released in April of that year... " |
2 | – | 27 | |
| 1986 | "Andy" / "Un Soir, Un Chien" | 19 | – | 11 | The No Comprendo |
| "C'est Comme Ça" | 10 | – | – | ||
| 1987 | "Les Histoires D'a" | – | – | – | |
| 1988 | "Mandolino City" | – | – | – | Marc & Robert |
| 1989 | "Singing in the Shower" (with Sparks Sparks (band) Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , initially under the name Halfnelson... ) |
37 | – | 24 | |
| "Le Petit Train" | – | – | – | ||
| "Tongue Dance" | – | – | – | ||
| 1990 | "Hip Kit" (William Orbit William Orbit William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums... Remix) |
– | – | – | Re |
| 1991 | "Don't Forget the Nite" (Re-recording) | – | – | – | |
| 1993 | "Y'a D'la Haine!" | 33 | – | – | Système D |
| 1994 | "Les Amants" | – | – | – | |
| "Femme D'affaires" | – | – | – | ||
| 1996 | "Riche" (with Doc Gynéco Doc Gynéco Doc Gynéco is a popular French hip hop artist of Guadeloupean origin. His music is typically characterized as a ragga/rap style, that has found its fan base in France. Born in Clichy-la-Garenne, France on July 7, 1974, Beausir's mother was Caribbean and his father white... ) |
– | – | – | Acoustiques |
| 2000 | "Cool Frénésie" | 98 | – | – | Cool Frénésie |
| "Alors C'est Quoi" | – | – | – | ||
| "Femme de Moyen-Age" | – | – | – | ||
| 2002 | "Triton" | – | – | – | La Femme Trombone |
| "Sasha" | – | – | – | ||
| 2003 | "Tu Me Manques" | – | – | – | En Concert |
| 2007 | "Communiqueur D'amour" | – | – | – | Variéty |
| "Ding Ding Dong (Ringing At Your Bell)" | – | 28 | – | ||
| "Même Si" | – | 21 | – | ||
| "L'Ami Ennemi" | – | – | – | ||
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Marcia Baïla Marcia Baila "Marcia Baïla" is a 1985 song recorded by the French duet Rita Mitsouko. It was the third single off their first album, the eponymous Rita Mitsouko, and was released in April of that year... " |
Philippe Gautier |
| 1986 | "Andy" | |
| 1987 | "C'est Comme Ça" | Jean-Baptiste Mondino |
| "Les Histoires D'a" | ||
| 1989 | "Singing in the Shower" | Tim Pope Tim Pope Timothy Michael Pope is a film director most famous for his music videos, having directed feature films, and for a brief pop career.-Early life and career:... |
| "Le Petit Train" | Jean Achache | |
| 1990 | "Hip Kit" (William Orbit William Orbit William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums... Remix) |
Hiroyuki Nakano |
| 1993 | "Y'a D'la Haine!" | Sébastien Chanterel |
| 1994 | "Les Amants" | Jean-Baptiste Mondino |
| 2000 | "Cool Frénésie" | |
| 2002 | "Triton" | |
| 2007 | "Ding Ding Dong (Ringing At Your Bell)" | |
Awards
- 1987 : Grand Prix of the Charles-Cros Academy
- 1987 : Victoires De La Musique: "Best Album of the Year" for The No Comprendo
- 1987 : Victoires De La Musique: "Best video of the Year" for C'est comme ça
- 1990 : Bus Steel of the decade 80 for throughout their work.
- 1994 : MTV Europe Music Awards: "Best video of the Year" for Y'a d'la haine.
- 2001 : Price Roger-Seiller of "Best French Band"
- 2001 : Spring prices SACEM.
External links
- Official Les Rita Mitsouko website
- Biography of Les Rita Mitsouko, from Radio France InternationaleRadio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
- Extensive Rita Mitsouko fanpage with many images
- MySpace page
- :fr:Les Rita Mitsouko#Biographie Wikipedia page in French with more links
- Video to "Ding Dang Dong"