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FRANCO CHART-TOPPERS December 2003
Quebec Leads The Way
Paris
03/12/2003 -
Quebec has proved to be a hotbed of musical talent in recent years and November found them waving the flag for Francophone sounds in the international charts. Firmly at the helm of Quebec's chart onslaught, Céline Dion affirms her status as one of the world's best-selling Francophone artists with her latest album, Une fille et quatre types. Released on the Columbia label in October, Céline's new venture with four male musicians and songwriters recently rocketed to the no.1 spot in France, Wallonie and Greece. Meanwhile, the album is also doing well in the charts in Flanders (no.11), Switzerland (no.4), Canada and Poland (no.7), Finland (no.9), Estonia (no.13), Austria (no.27), the Netherlands (no.39) and Germany (no.53). However, Une fille et quatre types appears to have had a much slower take-off in the UK than its multi-platinum-disc-winning French predecessors, D’eux and S’il suffisait d’aimer.
Rushing into the breach opened up by La Dion, a number of Quebecois music stars have launched an offensive on the international charts this autumn. First and foremost among these is Natasha St-Pier whose new album, L’Instant d’après (released on Columbia), shot straight to no.6 in Wallonie, no.14 in Switzerland and no.46 in her native Canada. Meanwhile, Lynda Lemay is also back in the music spotlight with Les Secrets des oiseaux (WEA), an album which reached no.7 in Wallonie, no.13 in Switzerland and no.23 in Canada last month. Sticking up for the male of the species, Roch Voisine has also re-emerged in the charts twelve years after his classic Hélène. Je te serai fidèle (released on the BMG label) has proved Roch still has a loyal following of fans. The album (according to figures from Ultratop) reached no.25 in the Wallon charts and no.42 in Switzerland.
Anniversaries and Comebacks
Who would ever have believed Etienne Daho, the boy-faced king of French pop, had a 25-year career behind him? To celebrate this milestone Daho is currently back in the music news not with some commonplace greatest hits compilation, but with a brand new album entitled Réévolution. Recently released on Virgin, Daho's latest offering has attracted rave reviews from the critics. Fans in Belgium and Switzerland also appear to have appreciated it as Réévolution currently stands at no.2 in the charts in Wallonie and no.56 in Switzerland. Meanwhile, veteran crooner Henri Salvador is enjoying a major comeback in the media and in record stores. The 87-year-old re-emerged in the charts two years ago with Chambre avec vue which proved to be the best-selling album of his (extraordinarily long) career. The 'golden granddad' phenomenon looks set to continue, too. Salvador's new album Ma chère et tendre (only just released on the Source label) has already rocketed to no.1 in Wallonie and no.29 in Switzerland.
Live Albums and Greatest Hits
With Christmas only three weeks away, live albums, compilations and Star Academy offerings are hitting the stores with a vengeance! Laurent Voulzy's compilation Saisons (RCA), featuring his greatest hits from the past 25 years, has already made an impact in French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland (reaching no.8 and no.46 in the respective charts). Leading the pack on the live front is French rock veteran Johnny Hallyday. Fans who flocked to see Johnny's 60th birthday concert at the "Parc des Princes" will be rushing out to buy the CD version which has already made it to no.5 in the charts in Wallonie and no.40 in Switzerland. Meanwhile, another French music veteran, Renaud, is currently enjoying the fruits of the comeback he made in 1998 touring the live circuit in France and his best-selling 2002 album Boucan d’enfer (which has sold a staggering 1.5 million copies and spawned a chart-topping duo with Axelle Red). Highlights of Renaud's tour are now available on the album Tournée d’enfer (Virgin) which recently reached no.21 in Wallonie and no.94 in Switzerland. As for Lara Fabian, she maintains her live reputation with the acoustic strains of En toute intimité, currently holding on at the no.3 spot in Wallonie and no.34 in Switzerland.
Christmas is a time when Star Academy products sell like hotcakes in French-speaking Europe - and this year looks set to be no exception to the rule! Heading the bill are two albums from the 2003 Academy (the third on French TV to date). La Star Academy fait sa surprise party (covers of 60s hits) has reached no.5 in the charts in Wallonie and no.21 in Switzerland, while La Star Academy chante Elton John has crept up to no.9 in Wallonie and no.25 in Switzerland. A number of pupils from past editions of Star Academy have gone on to launch fully-fledged careers such as Jérémy Chatelain (recently seen in a wide selection of gossip mags with French pop Lolita, Alizée, on his arm). His album, entitled simply Jérémy Chatelain, recently reached no.41 in the charts in Wallonie. Meanwhile, Jessica Marquez prolongs the success of her summer single hit, Maria Magdalena, with the album A fleur de peau (AZ), which recently made it to no.31 in Wallonie's album chart.
Nostalgia Reigns
While Star Academy continues to churn out the young hopes of tomorrow many stars of yesteryear are still going strong. French 'chanson' star Charles Aznavour, who will soon be celebrating his 80th birthday, is currently enjoying success with Lo Mejor de 40 grandes exitos. The compilation, released on the EMI label, recently made it to no.6 in Chile (in the chart compiled by the Feria Del Disco stores). Meanwhile, Jacques Brel continues to enjoy posthumous success with his greatest hits compilation Infiniment. Released on the Barclay label, Infiniment recently climbed to no.3 in Wallonie, no.7 in Flanders, no.21 in Portugal, no.26 in the Netherlands, no.32 in Switzerland and no. 79 in Canada.
Surprise Hit of the Month
Hands up who remembers Lizzy Mercier Descloux! The French singer emerged in 1981 with a kooky hit entitled Où sont passées les gazelles?, but Lizzy faded from the spotlight soon afterwards. Lizzy has not been idle over the years, though. It turns out she had been sending demo tapes to French record labels (sadly to no avail). But LMD has finally resurfaced in the East. Her new album, Press Color, is only available in Japan where it has already made it to no.100 in HMV's Top 200. Does this herald a future Lizzy Mercier Descloux return in France, we wonder?
In conclusion, Francophone albums may be suffering from a general recession in the record industry and a lack of releases by big-name acts such as Era and Daft Punk, but November's round-up proves that there's still a place for artists singing in French – especially in Europe!
Gilles Rio
06/11/2003 -
