Manau
Encyclopedia
Manau French hip hop
group formed in 1998, known for their fusing of traditional Celtic
melodies with modern hip hop beats. It was initially composed of Martial Tricoche, Cédric Soubiron, and R.V. (Hervé) Lardic until R.V.'s departure and replacement by Gregor Gandon. Although the band is currently based in Paris
, all of the members can trace their roots back to Brittany
. The group's name comes from the old Gaelic name for the Isle of Man
.
.
Several years later, Cédric met R.V., who had come into the station to perform a live session with his group MeanWhile
. R.V. had just finished seven years of schooling at the prestigious Paris Conservatoire, and was now able to play guitar
, bass
, accordion
, and keyboard
. Cédric and R.V. hit it off immediately and began talking about making a group.
Meanwhile, Martial had been developing a career as a song-writer. One of his brother's friends had introduced him to the joys of Celtic culture, and he picked up on it immediately, discovering the work of Breton folk stars such as Dan Ar Braz
, Yann-Fanch Kemener
and the group Tri Yann
. Martial's early songs were also greatly influenced by Jean Markale
's novel L'épopée Celte, an amazing account of ancient Celtic folklore, peopled with Druids and Celtic warlords.
The band set to work on their new single, "La Tribu de Dana
" and it was released in May 1998. The song rocketed to the top of the charts, selling a huge 1.7 million copies to date, 1.5 million of them in the first few months after its release. "La tribu de Dana" means "the tribe of Dana," and is the name of a group of figures in Irish mythology, also described in L'épopée Celte. For further information see Tuatha Dé Danann
.
Although the song was very popular, it sounded very familiar to older music fans. And with good reason. The chorus of Manau's single was actually a cover of the melody line from Alan Stivell
's famous 1970s folk hit Tri Martolod. Stivell promptly sued the group. Manau maintains that the song was simply a baseline, and was modified enough to not be considered plagiarism.
and the bombarde.
They went on to finish their debut album, Panique celtique
, after just a few weeks' work in the studio. The album was released in July 1998 and, as expected, it soared to the top of the French album charts, selling over 500,000 copies almost immediately and reaching the one million mark a year later.
Manau's popularity increased exponentially. They were soon invited to several music festivals, including the famous Francofolies
festival in la Rochelle
, and the annual music festival in Marseilles. They also were able to perform with the legendary French folk group Tri Yann
at the Saint-Renan
festival in Brittany.
The chart-topping trio had become a chart-topping duo. But this didn't seem to bother the fans, as they kept coming out in droves to cheer on Martial and Cédric.
.
The success was not what was expected, but still enormous. The departure of RV was noticeable on this album. The style was more blues
/jazz
and less Celtic, but not to the extent of that of the next album on peut tous rever, in which they tried a more commercial style of rap/hiphop.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group formed in 1998, known for their fusing of traditional Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
melodies with modern hip hop beats. It was initially composed of Martial Tricoche, Cédric Soubiron, and R.V. (Hervé) Lardic until R.V.'s departure and replacement by Gregor Gandon. Although the band is currently based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, all of the members can trace their roots back to Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. The group's name comes from the old Gaelic name for the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.
The beginning
In 1988, Martial and Cédric began hosting a radio show on a local FM station, with Martial rapping in the show and Cédric as DJ. The show ended in two years and built up a following of fans. When the show ended, Cédric managed to get a job at the radio station SkyrockSkyrock
Skyrock.com is a social networking site offering its members a free web space where they can create a blog, add a profile, and exchange messages with other registered members...
.
Several years later, Cédric met R.V., who had come into the station to perform a live session with his group MeanWhile
Meanwhile
Meanwhile may refer to:*"Meanwhile" , a 1999 song by George Strait* Meanwhile , 1991* ...Meanwhile, a 1992 album by British pop band 10cc...
. R.V. had just finished seven years of schooling at the prestigious Paris Conservatoire, and was now able to play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, and keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. Cédric and R.V. hit it off immediately and began talking about making a group.
Meanwhile, Martial had been developing a career as a song-writer. One of his brother's friends had introduced him to the joys of Celtic culture, and he picked up on it immediately, discovering the work of Breton folk stars such as Dan Ar Braz
Dan Ar Braz
Dan Ar Braz, born Daniel Le Bras , is a French guitarist and the founder of Héritage des Celtes.- The apprenticeship years :...
, Yann-Fanch Kemener
Yann-Fañch Kemener
Yann-Fañch Kemener is a traditional singer from Britanny, born in Sainte-Tréphine , France.He took part in reviving Kan ha diskan in the 1970s and 1980s, especially with Erik Marchand...
and the group Tri Yann
Tri Yann
Tri Yann is a French band from Nantes , who play folk rock music drawing on traditional Breton folk ballads.The band was founded in 1970 by Jean Chocun, Jean-Paul Corbineau and Jean-Louis Jossic – all of whom remain members – hence the suggested name of Tri Yann an Naoned , Jean and Yann being...
. Martial's early songs were also greatly influenced by Jean Markale
Jean Markale
Jean Bertrand' directs here. You may have been looking for the Haitian politician Jean-Bertrand Aristide.Jean Markale was the pen name of Jean Bertrand, a French writer, poet, radio show host, lecturer and high school French teacher who lived in Brittany.He published numerous books about Celtic...
's novel L'épopée Celte, an amazing account of ancient Celtic folklore, peopled with Druids and Celtic warlords.
Formation as a group
Shortly after Cédric and R.V.'s meeting, they teamed up with Martial to form the group Manau. They set to work on a unique fusion of Celtic rhythms and rap beats. One of their demo tapes landed on the desk of the creative director at Polydor. Impressed by their highly original sound, he immediately offered them a recording contract.The band set to work on their new single, "La Tribu de Dana
La Tribu de Dana
"La Tribu de Dana" is a 1998 song recorded by the French hip hop band Manau, available on their debut album, Panique celtique, on which it features as second track...
" and it was released in May 1998. The song rocketed to the top of the charts, selling a huge 1.7 million copies to date, 1.5 million of them in the first few months after its release. "La tribu de Dana" means "the tribe of Dana," and is the name of a group of figures in Irish mythology, also described in L'épopée Celte. For further information see Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
.
Although the song was very popular, it sounded very familiar to older music fans. And with good reason. The chorus of Manau's single was actually a cover of the melody line from Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell is a Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the celtic harp who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music.- Background: learning Breton music and culture :Alan was born in the Auvergnat town of Riom...
's famous 1970s folk hit Tri Martolod. Stivell promptly sued the group. Manau maintains that the song was simply a baseline, and was modified enough to not be considered plagiarism.
Success
Marketing directors at Polydor were encouraged by the single's success and asked the band to create a debut album. Although they had an extremely tight deadline, Manau set to work. They enlisted the help of Loïc Taillebrest, a well-known folk musician renowned for his performances on the bagpipesBagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
and the bombarde.
They went on to finish their debut album, Panique celtique
Panique celtique
Panique celtique is the debut album recorded by French hip hop act Manau. It was released in July 1998. It achieved success in France and Belgium where it hit respectively #1 for several weeks and #2...
, after just a few weeks' work in the studio. The album was released in July 1998 and, as expected, it soared to the top of the French album charts, selling over 500,000 copies almost immediately and reaching the one million mark a year later.
Manau's popularity increased exponentially. They were soon invited to several music festivals, including the famous 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...
, and the annual music festival in Marseilles. They also were able to perform with the legendary French folk group Tri Yann
Tri Yann
Tri Yann is a French band from Nantes , who play folk rock music drawing on traditional Breton folk ballads.The band was founded in 1970 by Jean Chocun, Jean-Paul Corbineau and Jean-Louis Jossic – all of whom remain members – hence the suggested name of Tri Yann an Naoned , Jean and Yann being...
at the Saint-Renan
Saint-Renan
Saint-Renan is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Saint-Renan are called Renanais.-References:** -External links:* *...
festival in Brittany.
Changes
The group embarked upon a major national tour at the beginning of 1999 and, right in the middle of the tour, received the award for Best Rap/Groove Album of the year at Victoires de la Musique (the annual French Music Awards) held in Paris in February. Shortly afterward, Hervé decided to leave the group and devote himself to his old band MeanWhile.The chart-topping trio had become a chart-topping duo. But this didn't seem to bother the fans, as they kept coming out in droves to cheer on Martial and Cédric.
Further albums
Manau came storming back into the French music news in the autumn of 2000 with a second album entitled Fest Noz de Paname. Manau spent a year in the studio perfecting their sound and, after eight months of practically non-stop touring, their sound had matured considerably. Moving away from the "Celtic rap fusion" style which had made their name, the group began experimenting with new genres and working with different artists. Their second album includes two "duets" with Maurane and Dee Dee BridgewaterDee Dee Bridgewater
Dee Dee Bridgewater is an American Jazz singer. She is a three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, as well as a Tony Award - winning stage actress and host of National Public Radio's syndicated radio show JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater...
.
The success was not what was expected, but still enormous. The departure of RV was noticeable on this album. The style was more blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
/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...
and less Celtic, but not to the extent of that of the next album on peut tous rever, in which they tried a more commercial style of rap/hiphop.
Singles
- "La Tribu de DanaLa Tribu de Dana"La Tribu de Dana" is a 1998 song recorded by the French hip hop band Manau, available on their debut album, Panique celtique, on which it features as second track...
" (1998) (single) (The Tribe of Dana) - "Mais qui est la belette ?Mais qui est la belette ?"Mais qui est la belette ?" is a 1998 song recorded by French hip hop act Manau. It was the third single from its album Panique celtique and was released in December 1998...
" (1998) (single)
Albums
- Panique celtiquePanique celtiquePanique celtique is the debut album recorded by French hip hop act Manau. It was released in July 1998. It achieved success in France and Belgium where it hit respectively #1 for several weeks and #2...
(1998) (English: Celtic Panic) - Fest Noz de Paname (2000)
- On Peut Tous Rêver (2005) (English: We can all dream)
Other Celtic or Irish-styled Hip Hop artists
- Ashley MacIsaacAshley MacIsaacAshley Dwayne MacIsaac is a Canadian professional fiddler from Cape Breton Island.His album Hi™ How Are You Today?, featuring the hit single "Sleepy Maggie", with vocals in Scottish Gaelic by Mary Jane Lamond was released in 1995...
- Black 47Black 47Black 47 are a New York City based celtic rock band with Irish Republican sympathies, whose music also shows influence from reggae, hip hop, folk and jazz...
- Beltaine's FireBeltaine's FireBeltaine's Fire is a five-member Hip Hop/Folk-Rock/Celtic Fusion collective from the San Francisco Bay Area in California fronted by Emcee Lynx. Their music has evolved considerably over the years...
- Emcee LynxEmcee LynxLynx, or Emcee Lynx is an anarchist hip hop artist in Vallejo, California who has achieved significant popularity and name-recognition in the West Coast hip hop and underground hip hop scenes and among anarchists and other radicals around the world...
- House of PainHouse of PainHouse of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
- MarxmanMarxmanMarxman were a four-piece Marxist hip-hop group with two MCs formed in London in 1989.Their lyrics expounded socialism and an end to economic and social injustice...
- Seanchai & the Unity Squad
- Zoey Benjamin Joseph Harris
External links
- Manau's Official Site
- Fan Site (last updated in 2006)
- Manau Biography