Nouvelle Chanson

Nouvelle Chanson is a music genre or style concept for the comeback of the French chanson before and after the turn of the millennium. The word " Nouvelle " has one hand out the tradition in which are most of the artists of nouvelle chanson. On the other hand, it emphasizes the fact that since the 1990s a new, musically independent generation of French song -oriented artist has established.

Definition, characteristics and subgenres

About the question, at which time the revival of French chanson just began and how it differs from traditional chanson, there are different views. While some music journalists the beginning of Neochanson wave in the success of Nantes scene moor in the early nineties, take other the success of new artists in the new millennium as a landmark and quote the beginning of the shaft about the years 2002 and 2003. Too, vary the terms. Other names for the same phenomenon: Nouvelle Scene Francaise, new song, neo- chanson and New Chanson.

Common feature of the artist, which is to be subsumed under the label " Nouvelle Chanson " that they sell far more or less of the established chanson - Stars of the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. The relationship with the generation of Edith Piaf, Juliette Greco, Michel Polnareff and Gilbert Becaud is quite ambivalent. Many representatives of the nouvelle chanson engage fully aware on older traditions back - about the Sixties pop appeal by Françoise Hardy and Jane Birkin or the artistic existentialism of Serge Gainsbourg, Georges Brassens and Jacques Brel. Also reminiscent of other veterans such as Charles Trenet, Charles Aznavour and Jacques Dutronc are quite common.

Similarly ambivalent is differentiation from contemporary trends of French pop music - about the area Dance & Disco - Pop ( Alizée, In-Grid ), alternative rock ( Noir Désir ), Political and Folk Punk ( Manu Chao ), Hip Hop (MC Solaar ) and reggae. Between discrimination and creative crossover seem to move the relationship to the Anglo-American pop music singer of one hand reactivate Nouvelle Chanson specifically French traditions. On the other hand, do not pursue a few bilingual music career - by interpreting both English and French titles. Overall, the scene is heavily influenced by musical variety. The main directions are:

  • Electronic Music, Trip Hop and Drum and Bass: subsumption can be under this direction, the electro tango band Gotan Project, DJ Alex Gopher and - to a lesser extent - the composer and musician Yann Tiersen ( The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie ), and Émilie Simon and ( with some of their publications ) the ex -Nouvelle Vague singer Camille.
  • Bossa Nova, Easy Listening, Lounge and Pop: you can subsuming under this group, the artist Olivia Ruiz, Coralie Clément, Benjamin Biolay, Emily Loizeau and Les Blaireaux. The New Wave cover band Nouvelle Vague as well as some of its members ( Mélanie Pain, Barbara Carlotti, Camille ) are quite close to this tradition.
  • Updated neo- chanson. The third group uses more or less clearly the classic chanson tradition again. A frequently recurring feature here is the classical reduced instrumentation, are often in the solo guitar and / or piano in the foreground. In addition to some musicians from the new generation ( Agnès Bihl, Juliette, Marianne Feder, Thierry Stremler, Bastien Lallemant and Bertrand Burgalat ) can also subsume more established singers such as Bénabar, Thomas Fersen, or Carla Bruni under this direction.
  • Folk, Singer- songwriter and alternative. You can include this direction, among others: Keren Ann, Pauline Croze, Françoiz Breut, Philippe Katerine, Constance Amiot, who lives in the USA singer Marianne Dissard, the Canadian folk song band DobaCaracol, the French folk song band Felipecha and the group Mickey 3D, Louise Attaque and Poney Express.
  • Mix with elements of Latin, Afro-beat and reggae: Please make sure that especially the interpreters O -shen, Cibelle and Amel Bent. Strong with music elements from the Arab world works the singer Sapho, which, however, had her career zenith in the late eighties and early nineties.

It should be noted that many artists are not clearly attributable to one of the disciplines listed, but prefer their own mix of styles. Common features are: Voice ( mainly ) in French, important role of traditional song form and text, similar to the Anglo-Saxon singer- songwriters and a more or less pronounced reference to the tradition of French chanson.

History

The new French chanson art has developed a decentralized and away from the usual centers. An important role was played by the label lithium in the western French city of Nantes. Regarded as milestones for the development of a new, independent chanson scene appeared in 1992 albums by Dominique A and Philippe Katerine (whose spouse Helena Noguerra also embarking on a musical career ). As Dominique piece Le Courage des oiseaux, a mix of electro pop and traditional songs, became a classic of the scene. A common feature of many lithium - productions was the certain mixture of slimmed - unperfekter production and dedicated singer-songwriter behavior of the performer. As another added moment came grooming a savvy club scene and corresponding appearances in public. Style - etiquette as nouvelle chanson, Nouvelle Scène Française de came, similar to the concept Hamburg School, later in fashion. The Berlin daily newspaper raised in a post 2002, the close cooperation between the different musicians out: " The close collaboration between the musicians is one of the hallmarks of the Nouvelle Scène Française '. Hardly a production is in France to market without Dominique A, Tiersen, Burgalat and Katerine it would have their fingers in the pie. The best example of this synergy is the solo career of Monsieur Anés ex-girlfriend Françoiz Breut whose bittersweet songs were composed almost exclusively of the four men in the background. "

International greater attention was the new French scene at the beginning of the new millennium. In Germany, among others, the film saw The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie for a stronger interest in the current music from France. Film composer Tiersen, who is also the soundtrack for the German audience success Good Bye, Lenin! wrote, worked together with many musical artists of nouvelle chanson - wave. To rising interest in contemporary pop music from France, also contributed to the international success of the New Wave cover band Nouvelle Vague and the solo activities of the band members. The diversity of current French pop music was in Germany also widely perceived by the activities of the Cologne-based label Le Pop. The label founder Oliver Fröschke and Rolf Witteler published until 2010 not only a total of six compilations, but organized under the label label " Le Pop " some tours with current stars and newcomers to the scene - 2009 among other Françoiz Breut and Marianne Dissard.

For additional perception finally saw the reports in the feuilleton of established media. There was also a variety of cultural events where French Neochanson interpreters were able to play their music in front of a live audience. Example: the Fête de la Musique, an annual summer beginning to take -find street music festival, which takes place not only in France, Belgium and Switzerland, but also several German cities. According to the appreciated in France and other countries, has joined the now arrivierten musicians of the genre a vast number of (relatively) unknown new musicians, singers and groups. Be counted on music websites and the relevant press as a promising talents among other things: Constance Amiot, Vincent Delerm, Julie B. Bonnie and Fredda.

A closely interconnected with the Nouvelle Chanson phenomenon is the increasing internationalization in the field of singer- songwriting. In 2006, a tribute Of compilation in honor of the late French composer and singer Serge Gainsbourg - including Gainsbourg interpretations of Franz Ferdinand, Portishead, Marc Almond, Cat Power, Carla Bruni and Marianne Faithfull. A number of performing artists of nouvelle chanson operates aware of two or more languages ​​. A mixed repertoire with English-and French-speaking parts are about the singer Keren Ann, Émilie Simon and Constance Amiot. In the Berlin-based band Stereo Total of speech and music crossover with German, English and French texts is an integral part of the band concept. Increasing borrowing from French chanson are some international performers determine - for example with Ana Silvera from the UK, the Nordic musicians Ane Brun, Anna Ternheim and Emilíana Torrini and the Canadian duo CocoRosie.

Resonance in the media

Accompanied positively From the outset the new Chanson wave had the music magazine Les Inrockuptibles, founded in 1986 and based in Paris. Even in the international and German music trade press, the creation of the French Neochanson musician with interest and curiosity was being followed. Striking occasions to report on the Scène Nouvelle de Francaise, were in Germany, among others, the success of the movie The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain (2001), the continued success of the New Wave cover band Nouvelle Vague, different CD compilations with old and new Chanson titles as well as the ever increasing number of live acts that were seen in clubs, festivals and events. About music magazines, the Nouvelle Chanson found a wide echo in the arts section of the established print media. The F.A.Z. commended in 2002 in a contribution from the Sunday edition of the independent - easygoing attitude of the French artist against the U.S. way of life in culture and politics: "France is not only politically, but also aesthetically on the way back a counter-proposal to the alleged ubiquity of U.S. style to become pop culture - and this counter-proposal is more than a desert attack on the American neo-liberalism. One of Breuts best songs is called, Portsmouth ', one of Biolay, Los Angeles '. And just where the American Dream finds its resonance in the body of the French language, falls apart and re- amalgamated, you realize how the present can sound at best. "

With all the elegance and lightness of a certain smoothness stated in 2003, however, the Handelsblatt: "The new song is versatile, offers something that without the political seriousness of the past for everyone. Benjamin Biolay, Carla Bruni or originating from Belgium Karin Clercq correspond with their songs masterfully melancholic tendencies a rich, young middle class. " An in total rather traditional image of women stated the author and musician Birgit Louise Michlmayer. Overall, they drew a rather mixed picture of the scene: " So while partially held a return to the songs of the 1950s and 1960s, can the young chanson scene influence of the English singer- songwriter tradition. The protagonists are usually brought out of smaller, independent labels. Many have studied ( humanities). Critical or at least provoking lyrics (à la Gainsbourg ) are in the nouvelle chanson yet completely out. With a few exceptions: Mickey 3D about, or Agnès Bihl which dedicated for their ( feminist ) and ironically cheeky lyrics with Rio Reiser and the Frenchman Renaud is compared. "

2004 From plurilingual repertoires Berlin cabaret, theater and club artists knew eventually to report in the online edition of the world. Author Guido Schirrmeier wrote: " But even in the Berlin song milieu a lot has happened since the French military from the Tegeler Quartier Napoléon has moved away. Dominik Horwitz thrilled with his Brel interpretations and louder chansonettes, granddaughters of Piaf conquer the cabarets. Corinne Duarre has her fine debut, Virages ' brought out with electronics, Anouk Plany interpreted tirelessly Serge Gainsbourg. The Südfranzösin Bérangère Palix not only sings Aznavour. And Nadia Zetzer by the Association for the Promotion of French chansons in Germany interpreted Barbara. Accordionist Jean Pacalet accompanied Barbara Thalheim. Elke Brauweiler, singer Paula, looking for a record company for their French classics, while Monsieur le DJ Olaf dog rocks around the houses. "

Labels

  • Lithium ( Nantes): applies in the scene commonly referred to as the pioneer label. The label publications include albums by Dominique A, Françoiz Breut and Jérôme Minière.
  • Tôt Ou Tard (Paris): Originally an offshoot of Warner, Tôt Ou Tard operates since 2002 as Intependent label. Subcontract include: Françoiz Breut, Mathieu Boogaerts, Constance Amiot and Thomas Fersen.
  • B, B pourquoi? (Lille ): a small label that mainly produces artists from Northern France
  • Le Pop ( Cologne): The Cologne label featurete the new French pop music with various music compilations and organized tours of French Nouvelle Chanson Acts in Germany

Discography

  • Various: Le Pop 1-5 (Le Pop / Groove Attack, 2002-2010 )
  • Various: Le Pop - Les Filles (Le Pop / Groove Attack, 2008)
  • Various: Rendez -vous en France ( mineral Records, 2009)
  • Various: Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited ( Verve, 2006). Tribute -of album with mostly Anglo-Saxon artists
Juliette Gréco Hip hop music Downtempo Lounge music Nouvelle Vague (Band) Folk music Latin American music Afrobeat Hamburger Schule Portishead (band) American way Dominique Horwitz
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