Brigitte Fontaine

Brigitte Fontaine (born in 1940 with Morlaix) is a Chanteuse, Auteur-compositeur-interprète, writer, Comédienne, Dramaturge, French Romancière and Poète.

Artistic course

Girl of teachers, Brigitte Fontaine very early develops her taste for the writing and the comedy. Its childhood, which she declares overall happy, proceeds in small communes of Finistere, then in Morlaix. Its literary vat out of pocket (with 18 in philosophy), it assembles to Paris at 17 years, to become actress. One will in particular see it playing Théâtre of Huchette in the Professional singer bald person of Eugene Ionesco.

Theater with the song, and conversely (1963 - 1968)

In 1963, it turns to the song and occurs in several Parisian rooms by interpreting its own texts. Since 1964, it makes the first part of Barbara and Georges Brassens, in Bobino. She does not give up therefore the comedy. With Jacques Higelin and Rufus, with the Old woman-Grid, then with the Theater of the Fields-Elysées, it creates the part Maman I am afraid , which meets a critical success and public so important that it remains more than two seasons to the poster in Paris and gives place to a European round.

In 1965 then in 1968, it makes appear two albums of invoice pop jazzy then It starts in 1969 a long collaboration with the musician kabyle Areski Belkacem. With this last and in company of Higelin, she imagines for the scene of Lucernaire Niok , an innovative spectacle, between theater and song. Soon, Brigitte Fontaine writes a series of texts in free verse and prose which compose the show As with the radio, presented with the Old man-Dovecote before becoming a disc. Recorded with the Art Together off Chicago, this album marks a frank rupture with the traditional French song, by throwing the first bridges of the world-music. Extracted the disc, Lettre with Mister the station master of the Tower of Carol will be in addition the first French title diffused in the Pop radiophonic club of Jose Artur, contributing to the success of the album - which in addition receives the following year the price Charles Cros.

In margin of the hit-parades (1969 - 1979)

Brigitte Fontaine becomes a figure impossible to circumvent then French underground (cf Yann Plougastel, the world song since 1945 , Bordas editions). In a half-dozen of albums published for the majority by the independent label Saravah, Brigitte Fontaine explores, without worrying about the hit-parades, various worlds poetic. Renonçant with rhymes, using sometimes of talk-over, it records then, with very little of means and often on two tracks, of songs which approaches with humor or gravity, according to mood, of the topics as various as death ( Dommage which you would have died ), the life ( the summer, the summer ), alienation ( As with the radio ), the madness ( Ragilia ), love ( I will love you ) or the social injustice ( It is normal ), the inequality of the sexes ( Patriarcat ) and racism ( Y' has bacon ). She can however also make fun of itself ( the Inn (Revolution) ).

Because they sail between pop, folk, electro and world music, the albums " The incendie" and " You and nous" tandem Areski-Fountain appear among the most unclassable discs of the French scene. Nearly thirty years later, the international audience of these 33-turns (republished since out of CD, and from now on downloadable on Internet) is comparable with the disc-worship of Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier, Histoire of Melody Nelson, in particular thanks to the enthusiastic remarks which on their subject in the Anglo-Saxon press the members of the group Sonic Youth will make.

The exile? (1980 - 1990)

The Années 1980 are for Brigitte Fontaine and her husband Areski Belkacem one period of silence discographic. Far from the studios of recording, it is devoted then to the writing and the theater. Always activates, it occurs on scene in Quebec, plays its part " Act 2" in a great round through the francophonie, " interprets; Bonnes" of Jean Genet in Paris, a novel (" publishes; Paso doble") as well as a collection of shorts stories (" News of the exil"). In 1984, it records 45-turns (" Girls of aujourd'hui"), which will almost not be diffused with the radio but which is worth to him to take part in the emission " the Academy of the nine " , where it petrifies the organizer by its direction of derision.

After having given a series in concerts to Tokyo and in more the big cities of the Japanese archipelago, it is necessary for him to wait nearly five years so that a French company distributes its new album " French corazon" (written and composed since 1984 but left in 1988 in Japan, thanks to the support of the journalist Reiko Kidachi). Diffused in particular on M6, the clip of pataphysic the Nougat , realized by the dessinatrice of cartoon Olivia Clavel, the public with the great return of the singer prepares on the French scenes who starts by an event-driven concert in 1993, to Bataclan, in a " setting in pli" of Jacques Higelin.

Pink period (1990-2000)

In the decade of the Years 1990, Brigitte Fontaine approaches the universes of Björk and Massive Attack by trying out new forms musical, more electric and, especially, more electronic than before. Its texts mark as for them a return towards a more traditional versified form. The publication of the album Mankind , in 1995, meets a nice success, as well near the criticism as of the general public, with titles surprising like Conne (produced by Etienne Daho), lyric as the Woman with barb or poetic as It mingles with all that …

In 1997, whereas it publishes a new novel ( blue Lemonade ), it records " Palaces" and its title-headlight Ah which the life is beautiful! . The album, accommodated very well by the press, is enriched by collaborations by faithful Areski Belkacem, of the large-brother of heart Jacques Higelin and a new accomplice of play: Alain Bashung. Especially, the songs reveal a renewed, less abstract inspiration and nevertheless quite as poetic.

Gold discs (2001 at our days)

Gold discs, its albums Kékéland (2001) and " Street Saint-Louis in île" (2004) profited from prestigious collaborations (Noir Desire, Sonic Youth, archie Shepp, - m, Gotan Project, Zebda, etc). In 2005, after having given a series concerts with its usual group, but also with the Campagnie of the musics with ouïr, it publishes at Flammarion a new novel, the curious Animal , whose erotic environment announces a little the tonality of its sixteenth album, " Libido" (2006). This new disc very joins again with the alive energy in its concerts in an environment " baroque' roll" , where are convened Therese d' Avila, soufis, films Hollywood, Melody Nelson, and much of paradoxes… Only collaborations for this album: Jean-Claude Vannier and - m which makes its third appearance in the odd universe of the Reine of Kékés .

In October 2006, Fontaine appears in Barbican Theater of London at the sides of Jarvis Cocker, Badly Drawn Boy and some other singers English, for the first interpretation as a public of mythical the " History of Melody Nelson ". In January 2007, it occurs on the scene of the Theater of Angouleme with the draftsman Blutch at the time of the International festival of the cartoon. March 29th of the same year, it invests the Olympia, surrounded by her friends Jacno, Arthur H, Christophe, Anaïs, Jacques Higelin, Maya Barsony and Jean-Claude Vannier. In April, she plays Printemps of Bourges and takes part, with the Cigale (Paris), with a concert of her Québécois admiror Pierre Lapointe for a resumption in duet of " The symphony pastorale". After having given throughout September a series in intimate concerts on a barge accosted under the Bridge of arts, Brigitte Fontaine leaves in round through all France. Between two concerts, it enters in studio with Olivia Ruiz to record an individual new of which it wrote the words: " To leave or rester" … The audience of Brigitte Fontaine notably widened since the beginning of the years 2000, and its televisual appearances are never banal. Disturbing and subversive, Brigitte Fontaine is also since always in her engagements, like when it signs the Manifeste of the 343 in 1971, expresses itself (since 1990) against the wars in Iraq and supports “without-papers”.

Discography

declining and phantasmagoric Songs , LP, Discs Jacques Canetti - 48.815,1965, (arrangements of Jimmy Walter).
Mom, I am afraid (with Jacques Higelin), EP, Disques Jacques Canetti - 27.271,1966 (arrangements of Michel Colombier).
encircled the (with Jacques Higelin), EP, Disc' AZ - 1190, then Saravah - SHB 516X, 1968 (arrangements of Jean-Claude Vannier).
Brigitte Fontaine is… , LP, Saravah - HS 10.001,1968 (arrangements of Jean-Claude Vannier)
tar/the beautiful animals , S, Saravah - HS 40.008,1969
As with the radio , LP, Saravah - HS 10006,1970 (with Art Together off Chicago).
Brigitte Fontaine (3) (with Julie Dassin and Areski Belkacem), LP, Saravah - HS 10034,1972
I do not know this man (with Areski Belkacem and Antoine Duhamel), LP, Saravah - HS 100 41,1973
When all the ghettos burn, that will make a hit , S, Byg Records - 129052,1974 (arrangements of Jean-Claude Vannier)
the Fire (with Areski Belkacem), LP, Byg Records - 529026,1974
Happiness (with Areski Belkacem), LP, Saravah - HS 10.059,1975
You and us (with Areski Belkacem and Antoine Duhamel), LP, Saravah/RCA - RSL 1071,1977
the wild roses are perhaps formidable , LP, Saravah/RCA - RSL 1081,1980
the inconciliabule , S, Saravah/RCA - RSB 499,1980
the girls of today , S, Carrère-Celluloid - CA171, 1984
French corazon , LP, Midi Inc., 1988
Mankind , CD, Virgin - 724384050023,1995 (with the collaboration of Valentins and Etienne Daho for four titles)
Supermarket , S, (Virgin Aimed 3537)
the de luxe hotels , CD, Virgin - 724384510626,1997
Dressing , S, Virgin, 1999
Kékéland , CD, Virgin - 724381066119,2001 (with the collaboration of Sonic Youth, Jean-Claude Vannier, of Valentins, - m and of Noir Desire)
Vintage of choice, CDS 3 titles, Virgin SA 6839,2001 (Including 2 english language versions: As with the radio, I have 26 years)
Rue Saint Louis in the island , CD, Virgin - 72434732362,2004 (with the participation of - m, Mouss and Hakim of Zebda and Gotan Project)
Libido , CD, Polydor - 984.322 0,2006 (with the participation of - m and Jean-Claude Vannier)

Participations

Amore 529 (1992, collective album " An instantaneous drama/Blow-up" Operation;)
the caravan (1997, collective album " Jazz with Saint-Germain")
Calimero (1998, individual recorded with Stereolab)
Underture (2000, new recorded with Sonic Youth)
Lady Macbeth (2000, new recorded with Sonic Youth)
Europe (2001, album Of the faces of the figures of Black Desire)
Sharp customers (2005, with Khan, collective album Disko-Cabin )
Red Light (2005, album the tremors immobilizes Québécois group Karkwa and in concert with the Old Plow 2006).

Recoveries

the King Renaud (1968, in concert only)
One does not kill his next I love you (1996, collective album Route Manset )
me either (1997 and 2007, in concert only and duet with Arthur H)
Paroles, words (1997, in concert only and duet with Arthur H)
the silly things (1998, on France Inter)
Zazous (2001, album Kekeland )
the silk workers (2001, 2004 and 2007, in does concert in Lyon only)
the Song of the partisans (2002, in duet with Bertrand Cantat in Francofolies of the La Rochelle)
Âme remember? (2003, album homage to Léo Ferré With Léo )
the Man with the motor bike (2003, album homage to Edith Piaf the Anthem with the kid )
the night I lie (2005, in concert only and duet with Alain Bashung)
That I love you (2005, in concert only with the Campagnie of the musics with Ouïr)
Bang (January 2006, for television, in duet with Doc Gynéco)
Valse of Melody (October 21st, 2006, in concert live History of Melody Nelson , directed in Barbican Theater of London by Jean-Claude Vannier)

Songs written for other interpreters

"You and your sax" for Zizi Jeanmaire
" I want coupables" and " Rififi" for Jacques Higelin
" The brouillard" , " Song for its mère" , " With each tournant" , " Bali" , " The dragon" , " Borgia" , " Murailles" , " The head bandée" , " A soleil" , " The vache" , " Pif" , " Salomé" , Stops dorée" , " Brigand" for Areski Belkacem
" Jungle pulse" and " You, Never Toujours" for Etienne Daho
" Barbarians attraits" for Maurane
" Irrésistiblement" for Vanessa Paradis
" The beuglante" for Maya Barsony

Let us specify for the anecdote that the song " The engourdie" (on the album " The incendie") had been initially written and composed for Francoise Hardy, who interpreted it forever. Of the same " Half-clocharde" in the beginning had been written for Jane Birkin, and " Mother-of-pearl and the porphyre" for Alain Bashung. More recently, Brigitte Fontaine also wrote still new texts for Matthieu Chedid, Mouss and Hakim of the ex and future Zebda, Alain Bashung and Christophe: perhaps these songs will appear in the current of the year 2008. She would also like to collaborate with Arno, Marianne Faithfull and some others…

Songs taken again by other interpreters

; In studio

" The gods are dingues" by Christine Sevres (1968, LP " Christine Sevres " , CBS)
" Mom, I have peur" , " Beautiful the cancer" and " Like Rimbaud" by Christine Sevres (1970, 2nd LP " Christine Sevres " , CBS)
" As with the radio" by Aut' Thing (1975, LP " One night like another " , CBS)
" It's a pity that you would be mort" by Etienne Daho (1992, LP collective " Urgency " , Virgin)
" The cow enragée" by Philippe Katerine (1997, LP " Selected Pieces " of The Recyclers, Rectangle)
" Letter with Mister the station master of the Tower of Carol" and " Encore" by Sasha (1997, LP " Selected Pieces " of The Recyclers, Rectangle)
" Eternal" (English adaptation of " Eternelle") by Faun Fables (2004, LP " Family Album " , Drag City Records)
" The grippe" by Etienne Daho and Jane Birkin (2004, LP " Go " of Jane Birkin, EMI Music)
" This child that I had you fait" by Francoise Hardy and Rodolphe Burger (2006, LP " Brackets " of Francoise Hardy, EMI Music)

; On scene

" Stars and cochons" by Dominique has
" Hollywood" by Arthur H
" Hollywood" by Christophe
" Rififi" by Babx
" The symphony pastorale" by Pierre Lapointe
" It pleut" by Jerome Mine
" Clicquot" widow; by Maya Barsony
" It's a pity that you would be mort" by Florent Marchet and Franck Monnet

Written works

Chronic of happiness , editions of the women, 1975
Madelon: Alchemy and ready-made clothes , account, Seghers editions, 1979
Inconciliabule , editions Third, 1980
Paso doble , novel, editions Flammarion, 1985
New of the exile , editions HMSO, 1988, and editions Flammarion, 2006
Mankind , Christian Pirot editor, 1996
the blue Lemonade , editions Scarlet, 1997
Art gallery in Kekeland , gallery of portraits, editions Flammarion, 2002
the Curious Animal , novel, editions Flammarion, 2005
Await me under the obelisk , texts, editions Threshold-Archimbaud, 2006
Dollies , novel, Flammarion editions (to be appeared)
Nothing , text, Archimbaud editions (to be appeared)

Theater

Maman I am afraid (Co-writing with Rufus and Jacques Higelin), 1966
Niok , partially impromptu spectacle (in collaboration with Jacques Higelin and Areski Belkacem), 1969
Encore, still and still , 1969
the children are all insane (Co-writing with Rufus), 1969
Acte 2 , adaptation of Inconciliabule , 1980
the godmothers of God (Co-writing with Léïla Derradji), 1983
Antonio , 1989
Stroke in Fougère (Co-writing with Thierry Brout), 1993
Montana-Split (Co-writing with Thierry Brout), 1994

Radiophonic work

Olympic Games of the orgasm (Co-writing with Léïla Derradji), 1983

Quotations

“Peace in Switzerland! ” ( Europe )
“If you do not include/understand anything any more with nothing, think of another thing. ” ( the wild roses are perhaps formidable )
“the day of the Occident is the night of the East. ” ( Europe )
“do we all Somme to choose our prisons here? ” (" Vergers" , in Happiness )
“do not take your desires for banalities. ” ( the wild roses are perhaps formidable )
“I am enough old to be my mother. ” ( Chronic of happiness )
“the small employers make the large diamond rivi2eres. ” ( Europe )
“Nobody is nobody. ” ( the wild roses are perhaps formidable )
“We are nests of dust, the moon and pole star. We are the wire of the Phoenix mislaid in series X.” (" The Woman with barbe" , in Mankind )
“It does not have there a man of the left, when it acts women. ” (" Patriarcat" , in You and us )
“Forgets to be right and you will include/understand all…” (" Patriarcat" , in You and us )
" The contagion, that does not exist: it is each one its turn which exists! " ( the children all are insane )
" One cannot lock up everyone, it is already fait." ( the wild roses are perhaps formidable )
" The splendor of the nights of stars is in the heart of chacun." (" Mother-of-pearl and the porphyre" , in Libido )
“It rains. It is all that it can do. ” (" It pleut" , in Brigitte Fontaine is… )
“If you think of having found the solution, eh well, a good night of sleep and it does not appear to with it any more. ” ( the wild roses are perhaps formidable )
“I am a small middle-class woman frightened by the horrors of capitalism and of the Communist parties, I am an infantile disease, I am a woman who does not take the elevator, I am a child who is afraid the night, I am a factory where the life is crushed, I am a tamed bitch which trick and which lies, and you made me sorrow. ” ( Chronic of happiness )
“It makes cold in the world. And there are fires which ignite at certain places, because it is too cold. Translators, translate. ” ( As with the Radio )
“If you cannot avoid yourself being afraid, is turned over towards it and passes to him a lasso. ” ( Chroniques of happiness )
“They speak about me as if I had died and buried and that I could not answer any more. They come to spit on my tomb of my alive and that, that does not go. ” ( Paso doble )
“In fact, I can never really do what one awaits from me, then I am constrained but, at the bottom, it is that which one awaits from me, then one does not want me too much. Only, if I cease being constrained, one will want me, then it is awkward. ” ( Madelon )
“Me, I do all with a certain imperfection, it is what enables me to remain modest. Modesty is a marvellous quality… You noticed? You noticed? ” ( the wild roses are perhaps formidable )
“When an Algerian marries a Frenchwoman, it is kabyle, she is Breton. ” (interview of 1988)
“a song is an artistic act where it must do without the million things in two minutes. People receive it in thousand different ways, as that arranges them! They can decide that it is that or not. To listen to the words the ones behind the others is not so important for them. What imports, it is to receive a breath, a perfume…” (interview of 1969)
“There are today an afflicting conformism and an imitation of each one by each one. A true alienation. Many artists are caught for someone else, rather than to cultivate what makes them single…” (interview of 1985)

External bond

Official site of Brigitte Fontaine (it plug-in Flash requires)

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