Sébastien Tellier
Encyclopedia
Sébastien Tellier is a French
singer, songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
. He is currently signed to Record Makers, a French independent record label. He sings in English
, French
and Italian
.
(The Incredible Truth), was released in 2001. Tellier went on tour with Air in support of the album and was joined on stage by world-renowned theremin
player Pamelia Kurstin
. L'incroyable Vérité is a pop album featuring styles from lo-fi electronica to bizarre cabaret tunes. Its sleeve featured Tellier in full evening dress on the front, while the back of jacket had a shot of him cavorting in a playboy's pool. He instructed listeners only to listen to the album by candlelight.
Tellier followed L'incroyable Vérité with his second studio album Politics (2005). A particularly popular song from Politics was "La Ritournelle
", a string-led tune, which featured Nigerian drummer, Tony Allen
of Fela Kuti
fame. "La Ritournelle
" was remixed by various artists, notably in Britain by Metronomy
.
Since the release of Politics, Tellier has also recorded an acoustic album of his more popular songs, Sessions (2006). The album was repackaged for the British market as Universe (2006), to include both highlights from the French CD, as well as compositions from Tellier's score for the film Narco. This compilation included a cover of La Dolce Vita, a song originally by French singer Christophe
.
His third studio album Sexuality
was produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
of Daft Punk
. Like his previous album Politics, Tellier used a single term as title and theme of the album. Tellier's label Record Makers collaborated with retailer American Apparel
for an exclusive three month pre-release of the album, whilst American Apparel
sold limited edition versions of the Sexuality CD, LP and "Divine" 7" and 12" single through their North American stores and website.
On 7 March 2008, it was announced by Bruno Berberes, head of EBU delegation in France, that Tellier would represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
. It was held in Belgrade on 24 May 2008. Tellier sang "Divine
". This was the first time in the history of the contest that the nominated French entry was to be performed largely in English
, which caused controversy, leading to Tellier pledging to increase the amount of French in the song prior to the competition itself. In total, the entry received 47 points.
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...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
. He is currently signed to Record Makers, a French independent record label. He sings in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
.
Biography
Tellier's first album, L'incroyable VéritéL'incroyable Vérité
L'incroyable Vérité is the debut album of Sébastien Tellier, released in 2001. The music was written by Tellier with lyrics by Mathieu Tonetti and Tellier. With material from the album, Tellier joined the band Air in their United States tour in the summer of 2001. The song "Universe" from the album...
(The Incredible Truth), was released in 2001. Tellier went on tour with Air in support of the album and was joined on stage by world-renowned theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
player Pamelia Kurstin
Pamelia Kurstin
Pamelia Kurstin is a theremin player who has performed and recorded with artists such as David Byrne, Richard Cheese, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and Ulver and has performed on the television show Saturday Night Live...
. L'incroyable Vérité is a pop album featuring styles from lo-fi electronica to bizarre cabaret tunes. Its sleeve featured Tellier in full evening dress on the front, while the back of jacket had a shot of him cavorting in a playboy's pool. He instructed listeners only to listen to the album by candlelight.
Tellier followed L'incroyable Vérité with his second studio album Politics (2005). A particularly popular song from Politics was "La Ritournelle
La Ritournelle
"La Ritournelle" is a song by Sébastien Tellier from his 2004 album Politics. It was released as a single on September 26th 2005, and along with the original, this included remixes by Mr. Dan, Jim Noir and Jake Bullit....
", a string-led tune, which featured Nigerian drummer, Tony Allen
Tony Allen (musician)
Tony Oladipo Allen is aNigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. He is currently writing his autobiography "Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat" with author/musician Michael E...
of Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti , or simply Fela , was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.-Biography:...
fame. "La Ritournelle
La Ritournelle
"La Ritournelle" is a song by Sébastien Tellier from his 2004 album Politics. It was released as a single on September 26th 2005, and along with the original, this included remixes by Mr. Dan, Jim Noir and Jake Bullit....
" was remixed by various artists, notably in Britain by Metronomy
Metronomy
Metronomy are an electronic music group formed by Joseph Mount in Totnes, Devon, England in 1999. The current band consists of Joseph Mount , Anna Prior , Oscar Cash and Gbenga Adelekan...
.
Since the release of Politics, Tellier has also recorded an acoustic album of his more popular songs, Sessions (2006). The album was repackaged for the British market as Universe (2006), to include both highlights from the French CD, as well as compositions from Tellier's score for the film Narco. This compilation included a cover of La Dolce Vita, a song originally by French singer Christophe
Christophe (singer)
Christophe is a French singer and songwriter. He was born Daniel Bevilacqua on 13 October 1945 in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne to Italian parents....
.
His third studio album Sexuality
Sexuality (album)
Sexuality is the third studio album by French artist Sébastien Tellier, released on 25 February 2008. The album was produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who is best known as one of the members of Daft Punk.-Conception:...
was produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Guillaume Emmanuel "Guy-Manuel" de Homem-Christo; is a founding member of the French house music duo Daft Punk, along with Thomas Bangalter. He has also produced several works from his record label Crydamoure with label co-owner Éric Chedeville. He and Chedeville formed the musical duo Le Knight...
of Daft Punk
Daft Punk
Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
. Like his previous album Politics, Tellier used a single term as title and theme of the album. Tellier's label Record Makers collaborated with retailer American Apparel
American Apparel
American Apparel is a clothing manufacturer in the United States. It is a vertically integrated clothing manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer that also performs its own design, advertising, and marketing...
for an exclusive three month pre-release of the album, whilst American Apparel
American Apparel
American Apparel is a clothing manufacturer in the United States. It is a vertically integrated clothing manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer that also performs its own design, advertising, and marketing...
sold limited edition versions of the Sexuality CD, LP and "Divine" 7" and 12" single through their North American stores and website.
On 7 March 2008, it was announced by Bruno Berberes, head of EBU delegation in France, that Tellier would represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...
. It was held in Belgrade on 24 May 2008. Tellier sang "Divine
Divine (Sébastien Tellier song)
"Divine" is a song by Sébastien Tellier from his 2008 album Sexuality. The song represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The song is in English, with a few verses in French...
". This was the first time in the history of the contest that the nominated French entry was to be performed largely in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, which caused controversy, leading to Tellier pledging to increase the amount of French in the song prior to the competition itself. In total, the entry received 47 points.
Use of Tellier's songs
- The track "Fantino" from L'incroyable VéritéL'incroyable VéritéL'incroyable Vérité is the debut album of Sébastien Tellier, released in 2001. The music was written by Tellier with lyrics by Mathieu Tonetti and Tellier. With material from the album, Tellier joined the band Air in their United States tour in the summer of 2001. The song "Universe" from the album...
was chosen by Sofia CoppolaSofia CoppolaSofia Carmina Coppola is an American screenwriter, film director, actress, and producer.In 2003 she received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Lost in Translation, and became the third woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Directing...
for the soundtrack to her 2003 film Lost in TranslationLost in Translation (film)Lost in Translation is a 2003 American film written and directed by Sofia Coppola; her second feature film after The Virgin Suicides and it stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson...
. Coppola also used the song "Look" from his SexualitySexuality (album)Sexuality is the third studio album by French artist Sébastien Tellier, released on 25 February 2008. The album was produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who is best known as one of the members of Daft Punk.-Conception:...
album in her 2010 film SomewhereSomewhere (film)Somewhere is a 2010 American drama film that was written and directed by Sofia Coppola. The film follows Johnny Marco, a newly famous actor, as he recuperates from a minor injury at the Chateau Marmont, a well-known Hollywood retreat. Despite money, fame and professional success, Marco is trapped... - The songs "Look" and "La RitournelleLa Ritournelle"La Ritournelle" is a song by Sébastien Tellier from his 2004 album Politics. It was released as a single on September 26th 2005, and along with the original, this included remixes by Mr. Dan, Jim Noir and Jake Bullit....
" were featured in Ugly BettyUgly BettyUgly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
's episodes "Crush'd" and "Dressed for success", respectively. - The song "Universe" from the album L'incroyable VéritéL'incroyable VéritéL'incroyable Vérité is the debut album of Sébastien Tellier, released in 2001. The music was written by Tellier with lyrics by Mathieu Tonetti and Tellier. With material from the album, Tellier joined the band Air in their United States tour in the summer of 2001. The song "Universe" from the album...
is featured in the film Daft Punk's ElectromaDaft Punk's ElectromaDaft Punk's Electroma is a 2007 film by French duo Daft Punk. The plot revolves around the quest of two robots to become human. The music featured in this film is not by Daft Punk, which is a first for the duo after their previous film and home video releases, D.A.F.T. and Interstella 5555...
. - "Divine" (as remixed by DangerDanger (musician)Franck Rivoire, known by his stage name Danger, is a French electronic musician residing in Paris.-History:Rivoire's musical history started an early age, when his parents introduced him to the piano and saxophone. Growing up, he played in both jazz and punk bands, and other interests included...
) was used in the 2009 racing game Gran TurismoGran Turismo (PSP)# is a PlayStation Portable game developed by Polyphony Digital. The game was announced at the E3 Sony press conference on May 11, 2004, the same conference where Sony announced the original PSP. Following five years of delays and speculation, it made a reappearance at E3 on June 2, 2009 in a...
for the PSPPSPPSP most commonly refers to the PlayStation Portable, a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.PSP may also refer to:-Computing and programming:*Corel Paint Shop Pro, a graphics editor...
.
Discography
- L'incroyable VéritéL'incroyable VéritéL'incroyable Vérité is the debut album of Sébastien Tellier, released in 2001. The music was written by Tellier with lyrics by Mathieu Tonetti and Tellier. With material from the album, Tellier joined the band Air in their United States tour in the summer of 2001. The song "Universe" from the album...
(2001, Record Makers) - Politics (2004, Record Makers)
- Narco, Original Soundtrack (2004, Record Makers)
- Sessions (2006, Record Makers) - a collection of previous songs recorded with new arrangements
- Universe (2006) - compilation album featuring tracks from Sessions and Narco albums
- SexualitySexuality (album)Sexuality is the third studio album by French artist Sébastien Tellier, released on 25 February 2008. The album was produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who is best known as one of the members of Daft Punk.-Conception:...
(2008, Record Makers) - Sexuality Remix (2010, Record Makers)
Collaborations
- Tellier sang on the track "A Mountain For President" by Principles of GeometryPrinciples of GeometryPrinciples of Geometry is the duo of Guillaume Grosso and Jeremy Duval, an electronic music band from Lille, France.- Albums :* Principles Of Geometry * Lazare -Singles, 12" and 7":...
for their 2007 album Lazare. - In 2007, Tellier contributed songs to and collaborated with Mr. OizoMr. OizoMr. Oizo is the stage name of French electronic musician and film director Quentin Dupieux. His pseudonym is a corruption of the French , meaning "bird". He is currently signed to French electro record label, Ed Banger Records.-Beginning:...
for the soundtrack of Oizo's feature film directorial debut, SteakSteak (album)Steak: Music From The Motion Picture is a 2007 album by Sébastien Tellier, Mr Oizo and SebastiAn. It is the soundtrack to the film directed by Quentin Dupieux .-Track listing:# SebastiAn - Arrival# Mr. Oizo - Skatesteak...
.