Renaud Séchan
Encyclopedia
Renaud Pierre Manuel Séchan, known as Renaud, born in Paris on 11 May 1952, is a popular French singer, songwriter and actor. His characteristically 'broken' voice makes for a very distinctive vocal style. Several of his songs are popular classics in France, including the sea tale "Dès que le vent soufflera", the irreverent "Laisse béton
", the ballad "Morgane de toi
" and the nostalgic "Mistral gagnant
". However, with the possible exception of a franglais
recording of It is not because you are, his work is almost unknown outside the French-speaking world.
and was invited to join the company of the comedy theatre Café de la Gare
, which had recently been founded by Patrick Dewaere
, Coluche
, and Miou Miou
.
His early work is characterized by a volatile temperament, innovative use of French, and edgy, dark, left-wing social and political themes. Raised in an educated milieu, the son of an intellectual, Renaud adopted the looks and attitude of working-class youth in the 1970s, and reflected this in his lyrics. A recurrent theme is his disgust for the average French people with petit-bourgeois
preoccupations and right-wing leanings (see beauf
).
His music focuses on the disparity between classes, the abuse of political power, overbearing authority and disgust for the military, with rare glimpses of tenderness for his fellow humans, the planet earth, and art.
for whom he wrote the tribute "Putain de camion" ("Bloody Lorry") after Coluche's death in a road accident. He has also ventured into regional music and language, such as the language of Marseille in La Belle de Mai, the north with Renaud cante el' Nord and even Corsican polyphonics in "Lolito lolita".
. That album's iconic hit was "Manhattan-Kaboul
", a powerful duo with Axelle Red
which tackled current issues by drawing a parallel between a victim of the 9-11 attacks in New York and an Afghan girl, both victims of a war they don't understand.
In 2009 Renaud released Molly Malone – Balade irlandaise his long awaited album of classic Irish balads. Produced by ex-Boomtown Rats bassist Pete Briquette
, the album was commercially successful (certified double-platinum in just over a month) but the singer's feeble, often out-of-tune vocals caused some negative reviews.
was a prize-winning novelist and popular children's writer, born to a Protestant Languedoc family from the Cévennes
and Montpellier
. He taught German language in a secondary school of Paris.
The director Edmond Séchan is his uncle.
His grandfather was the famous scholar and Hellenist Louis Séchan, who taught in the Sorbonne
. His ancestors were pastors. His mother is the daughter of a coal miner from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. Renaud dedicated part of his work to his familial roots, singing traditional songs in the regional picard language
and acting in Germinal
, a film based on the famous Emile Zola
novel, in the part of Étienne Lantier.
In 2006 Renaud married Romane Serda, the mother of his son Malone. In 2007, he announced to the press his intention to move his family to London citing a love for British society and expressing disillusionment at the current state of France. In 2009 Renaud's daughter, writer Lolita Séchan, married French acoustic singer-songwriter Renan Luce
.
, son of a teacher for German language.
• 1968 Crève salope! First successful song—among the students.
• 1980 August: Birth of his daughter Lolita.
• 1985 Moscow
: Déserteur; All the spectators leave spontaneous the concert hall.
• 1986 Advertising for the brewer Kanterbrau™
• 1992 (-1993) Contributor for the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo
: Renaud bille en tête.
• 1993 He plays the part of ‚Étienne Lantier‘ in the film Germinal
of Claude Berri
.
• 1995 (-1996) Contributor again for Charlie Hebdo
: Envoyé spécial chez moi.
• 1999 Abandoned by his wife Dominique.
• 2005 2nd marriage (whith the Singer Romane Serda); Birth of his son Malone.
• 2006 Les Bobos | The Bobos Satire on the Parisian lower bourgeoisie.
• 2011 August 3: Birth of his grand daughter ( daughter of his daughter Lolita Séchan )
• 2011 2nd divorce.
Laisse béton
French singer-songwriter Renaud's second unnamed studio album is commonly known as Laisse béton, although it is sometimes referred to as Place de ma mob after the wall inscription on the album cover...
", the ballad "Morgane de toi
Morgane de toi
Morgane de toi is the sixth studio album from French artist Renaud, recorded in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, with American session musicians...
" and the nostalgic "Mistral gagnant
Mistral gagnant
Mistral gagnant is a studio album from French artist Renaud on the Virgin France label, now part of EMI, released in 1985.The first song, Miss Maggie, made Renaud a controversial character in the United Kingdom because the song praises women for their non violence and honesty with the exception of...
". However, with the possible exception of a franglais
Franglais
Franglais , a portmanteau combining the French words "français" and "anglais" , is a slang term for an interlanguage, although the word has different overtones in French and English....
recording of It is not because you are, his work is almost unknown outside the French-speaking world.
Early work
Fresh out of school, Renaud was determined to become an actor. By chance he met the actor Patrick DewaerePatrick Dewaere
Patrick Dewaere was a French film actor. He was born in Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-d'Armor, son of French actress Mado Maurin. His five siblings, Jean-Pierre Maurin , Yves-Marie Maurin , Dominique Maurin , Jean-Francois Maurin and Marie-Veronique Maurin Patrick Dewaere (26 January 1947 – 16 July 1982)...
and was invited to join the company of the comedy theatre Café de la Gare
Café de la Gare
The Café de la Gare is a dinner theater located at 41, rue du Temple in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. It lies in a square hidden between Notre Dame de Paris and the historic Marais district. It was originally created in 1968 by a close-knit group of comedy actors who fixed up an old factory...
, which had recently been founded by Patrick Dewaere
Patrick Dewaere
Patrick Dewaere was a French film actor. He was born in Saint-Brieuc, Côtes-d'Armor, son of French actress Mado Maurin. His five siblings, Jean-Pierre Maurin , Yves-Marie Maurin , Dominique Maurin , Jean-Francois Maurin and Marie-Veronique Maurin Patrick Dewaere (26 January 1947 – 16 July 1982)...
, Coluche
Coluche
Michel Colucci , better known as Coluche, was a French comedian and actor, famous for his irreverent sense of humour....
, and Miou Miou
Miou Miou
Miou Miou is an East Bohemia indie pop band formed in the spring of 2003. Miou Miou’s music is characterized by girlish vocals in French, catchy lyrics, playfulness, repetitive elements, dynamic contrasts and searching for new sounds...
.
His early work is characterized by a volatile temperament, innovative use of French, and edgy, dark, left-wing social and political themes. Raised in an educated milieu, the son of an intellectual, Renaud adopted the looks and attitude of working-class youth in the 1970s, and reflected this in his lyrics. A recurrent theme is his disgust for the average French people with petit-bourgeois
Petite bourgeoisie
Petit-bourgeois or petty bourgeois is a term that originally referred to the members of the lower middle social classes in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
preoccupations and right-wing leanings (see beauf
Beauf
Beauf [pronounced /bof/] is a French term describing a person thought to be a combination of vulgar, unsophisticated, unintelligent, arrogant, uncaring, and chauvinistic, without any taste for etiquette or good manners...
).
His music focuses on the disparity between classes, the abuse of political power, overbearing authority and disgust for the military, with rare glimpses of tenderness for his fellow humans, the planet earth, and art.
Middle period
In the later 1980s and 1990s Renaud's work was distinguished by "softer" subjects such as his wife (later ex-wife) Dominique, his daughter Lolita and his friends, as well as the late comedian and singer ColucheColuche
Michel Colucci , better known as Coluche, was a French comedian and actor, famous for his irreverent sense of humour....
for whom he wrote the tribute "Putain de camion" ("Bloody Lorry") after Coluche's death in a road accident. He has also ventured into regional music and language, such as the language of Marseille in La Belle de Mai, the north with Renaud cante el' Nord and even Corsican polyphonics in "Lolito lolita".
Resurgence
After an unproductive period marked by alcohol addiction, he made a very significant comeback with his 2002 album Boucan d'enferBoucan d'enfer
Boucan d'enfer is a studio album from French artist Renaud. It was released in 2002 and published by Virgin Records. It was Renaud's first production with original material since 1994's À la belle de mai....
. That album's iconic hit was "Manhattan-Kaboul
Manhattan-Kaboul
"Manhattan-Kaboul" is a French song written by Renaud and composed by Jean-Pierre Bucolo, sung by Renaud in duo with Axelle Red, in the album Boucan d'enfer, released in 2002. It was written in the aftermath of the incidents of September 11, 2001 and the War in Afghanistan...
", a powerful duo with Axelle Red
Axelle Red
Axelle Red is a Belgian singer-songwriter.-Biography:She was born at Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium, the daughter of Roland Demal, a solicitor in Hasselt and Councillor for the Flemish Liberals and Democrats in the City Council.Nowadays a committed artist and a militant humanist, back in 1993 Axelle...
which tackled current issues by drawing a parallel between a victim of the 9-11 attacks in New York and an Afghan girl, both victims of a war they don't understand.
In 2009 Renaud released Molly Malone – Balade irlandaise his long awaited album of classic Irish balads. Produced by ex-Boomtown Rats bassist Pete Briquette
Pete Briquette
Pete Briquette is the stage name of Patrick Cusack . His pseudonym refers to the fact that he hails from the Irish countryside; peat briquettes are a type of refined turf burned in fires instead of coal.-Boomtown Rats:He was the bass guitarist, backing vocalist, occasional songwriter, and sometime...
, the album was commercially successful (certified double-platinum in just over a month) but the singer's feeble, often out-of-tune vocals caused some negative reviews.
Personal life
Renaud's father Olivier SéchanOlivier Séchan
Olivier Séchan was a French writer. He was born in Montpellier and died in Paris at the age of 95. He was the son of Louis Séchan and brother of Edmond.-Life and work:...
was a prize-winning novelist and popular children's writer, born to a Protestant Languedoc family from the Cévennes
Cévennes
The Cévennes are a range of mountains in south-central France, covering parts of the départements of Gard, Lozère, Ardèche, and Haute-Loire.The word Cévennes comes from the Gaulish Cebenna, which was Latinized by Julius Caesar to Cevenna...
and Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. He taught German language in a secondary school of Paris.
The director Edmond Séchan is his uncle.
His grandfather was the famous scholar and Hellenist Louis Séchan, who taught in the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. His ancestors were pastors. His mother is the daughter of a coal miner from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. Renaud dedicated part of his work to his familial roots, singing traditional songs in the regional picard language
Picard language
Picard is a language closely related to French, and as such is one of the larger group of Romance languages. It is spoken in two regions in the far north of France – Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy – and in parts of the Belgian region of Wallonia, the district of Tournai and a part of...
and acting in Germinal
Germinal (1993 film)
Germinal is a 1993 French epic film based on the novel by Émile Zola. It was directed by Claude Berri, and stars Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou and Renaud...
, a film based on the famous Emile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
novel, in the part of Étienne Lantier.
In 2006 Renaud married Romane Serda, the mother of his son Malone. In 2007, he announced to the press his intention to move his family to London citing a love for British society and expressing disillusionment at the current state of France. In 2009 Renaud's daughter, writer Lolita Séchan, married French acoustic singer-songwriter Renan Luce
Renan Luce
Renan Luce is a French singer and songwriter. His songs are inspired by the 20th century singer and songwriter Georges Brassens and depict everyday life with a dose of humour and poetry.- Biography and musical career :...
.
Studio albums
- 1975: Amoureux de PanameAmoureux de PanameAmoureux de Paname is the title by which the unnamed debut album from French singer-songwriter Renaud is commonly known. It was released in 1975 by Polydor Records, and while not a commercial success, anti-bourgeoisie songs like "Hexagone" caused considerable public interest and provided Renaud a...
(PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
) - 1977: Laisse bétonLaisse bétonFrench singer-songwriter Renaud's second unnamed studio album is commonly known as Laisse béton, although it is sometimes referred to as Place de ma mob after the wall inscription on the album cover...
(Polydor) - 1979: Ma gonzesseMa gonzesseMa Gonzesse is the name by which the third untitled studio album of French singer-songwriter Renaud is commonly referred to. It was released in 1979 by Polydor Records...
(Polydor) - 1980: Marche à l'ombreMarche à l'ombreMarche à l'ombre is the fourth studio album by French singer-songwriter Renaud, released in 1980 by Polydor Records. It is the first of Renaud's album that officially has a title, his three first albums being unnamed....
(Polydor) - 1981: Le Retour de Gérard LambertLe Retour de Gérard LambertLe Retour de Gérard Lambert is the fifth studio album by French singer-songwriter Renaud. It was released in 1981 by Polydor Records. In Renaud's overall discography the album was released between two live albums, Un Olympia pour moi tout seul and Le P'tit Bal du samedi soir et autres chansons...
(Polydor) - 1983: Morgane de toiMorgane de toiMorgane de toi is the sixth studio album from French artist Renaud, recorded in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, with American session musicians...
(Polydor), sold over 1,500,000 copies - 1985: Mistral gagnantMistral gagnantMistral gagnant is a studio album from French artist Renaud on the Virgin France label, now part of EMI, released in 1985.The first song, Miss Maggie, made Renaud a controversial character in the United Kingdom because the song praises women for their non violence and honesty with the exception of...
(VirginVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
), selling over 2,000,000 copies it was Renaud's most successful album until 2002's Boucan d'enfer. - 1988: Putain de camionPutain de camionPutain de camion is a studio album from French artist Renaud, released in 1988 by Virgin France.The first song, Jonathan, refers to white South African musician Johnny Clegg who became a friend of Renaud. Rouge-gorge was dedicated to Robert Doisneau and Allongés sous les vagues is a song deriding...
(Virgin) - 1991: Marchand de caillouxMarchand de caillouxMarchand de cailloux is a studio album from French artist Renaud. It was released in 1991 and seen as a return to form after the less positive reviews for the previous album, Putain de camion.In this album Renaud again takes up socio-political themes...
(Virgin) - 1992: Renaud cante el' NordRenaud cante el' Nord"Renaud cante el' Nord" is a studio album by Renaud.It consists of songs in the Picard language of the northern French region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais.Some of the songs were composed by Edmond Tanière and Simon Colliez.-Track Listing:#Tout in haut de ch'terri...
(Virgin) – traditional folk songs from the north of France - 1994: À la Belle de MaiA la belle de maiÀ la Belle de Mai is a studio album from French artist, Renaud. It was released in 1994 by Virgin Records and was awarded a platinum disc for sales in France...
(Virgin) - 1996: Renaud chante BrassensRenaud chante Brassens"Renaud chante Brassens" is an album by French singer Renaud featuring cover versions of the songs of Georges Brassens. The original songs date from between 1952 and 1961. Public reaction to Renaud's reprises was generally positive even from Brassens fans...
(Virgin) – interpretation of songs by Georges BrassensGeorges BrassensGeorges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier... - 2002: Boucan d'enferBoucan d'enferBoucan d'enfer is a studio album from French artist Renaud. It was released in 2002 and published by Virgin Records. It was Renaud's first production with original material since 1994's À la belle de mai....
(Virgin), selling over 2,200,000 copies the most successful Renaud album to date. - 2006: Rouge sangRouge sangRouge Sang is a studio album by French singer Renaud released in 2006. It gained particular media attention for the song Elle est facho which portrays a female Front National voter. The song brought about a controversy because of its last verse à la facho.....
(EMIEMI RecordsEMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
) - 2009: Molly Malone – Balade irlandaise (EMI)
Live albums
- 1980: Bobino (Polydor)
- 1981: Le P'tit bal du samedi soir et autres chansons réalistes (Polydor)
- 1982: Un Olympia pour moi tout seul (Polydor)
- 1989: Visage pâle rencontrer public (Virgin)
- 1996: Paris-Province (Virgin)
- 2003: Tournée d'enfer (Virgin)
- 2007: Tournée Rouge sang (Ceci-Celà)
Films
- GerminalGerminal (1993 film)Germinal is a 1993 French epic film based on the novel by Émile Zola. It was directed by Claude Berri, and stars Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou and Renaud...
(1993) as Étienne Lantier - Crime SpreeCrime SpreeCrime Spree is a 2003 film written and directed by Brad Mirman. It stars well known actors Gerard Depardieu and Harvey Keitel as well as french singers Johnny Hallyday and Renaud.- Plot :...
(2003) as Zéro
Awards
- 1993: Traditional music album of the year award for "Renaud cante el' Nord"
- 2001: Lifetime achievement award
- 2003: Three awards given for: Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year (for Manhattan-KaboulManhattan-Kaboul"Manhattan-Kaboul" is a French song written by Renaud and composed by Jean-Pierre Bucolo, sung by Renaud in duo with Axelle Red, in the album Boucan d'enfer, released in 2002. It was written in the aftermath of the incidents of September 11, 2001 and the War in Afghanistan...
with Axelle RedAxelle RedAxelle Red is a Belgian singer-songwriter.-Biography:She was born at Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium, the daughter of Roland Demal, a solicitor in Hasselt and Councillor for the Flemish Liberals and Democrats in the City Council.Nowadays a committed artist and a militant humanist, back in 1993 Axelle...
)
Chronology
• 1952 May 11 : born in ParisParis
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...
, son of a teacher for German language.
• 1968 Crève salope! First successful song—among the students.
• 1980 August: Birth of his daughter Lolita.
• 1985 Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
: Déserteur; All the spectators leave spontaneous the concert hall.
• 1986 Advertising for the brewer Kanterbrau™
• 1992 (-1993) Contributor for the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper, featuring cartoons, reports, polemics and jokes. It appeared from 1969 to 1981, when it folded, and was resurrected in 1992. The current editor is cartoonist Charb. His predecessors are François Cavanna and Philippe Val...
: Renaud bille en tête.
• 1993 He plays the part of ‚Étienne Lantier‘ in the film Germinal
Germinal
Germinal is the thirteenth novel in Émile Zola's twenty-volume series Les Rougon-Macquart. Often considered Zola's masterpiece and one of the most significant novels in the French tradition, the novel – an uncompromisingly harsh and realistic story of a coalminers' strike in northern France...
of Claude Berri
Claude Berri
Claude Berri , born Claude Berel Langmann, was one of the great all-rounders of French cinema: an actor, writer, producer, director and distributor. "Out of my failure as an actor was born my desire to direct. Then my relative failure as a director forced me to become a producer. In order to get my...
.
• 1995 (-1996) Contributor again for Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper, featuring cartoons, reports, polemics and jokes. It appeared from 1969 to 1981, when it folded, and was resurrected in 1992. The current editor is cartoonist Charb. His predecessors are François Cavanna and Philippe Val...
: Envoyé spécial chez moi.
• 1999 Abandoned by his wife Dominique.
• 2005 2nd marriage (whith the Singer Romane Serda); Birth of his son Malone.
• 2006 Les Bobos | The Bobos Satire on the Parisian lower bourgeoisie.
• 2011 August 3: Birth of his grand daughter ( daughter of his daughter Lolita Séchan )
• 2011 2nd divorce.
External links
Official site- Biography of Renaud, 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...