Mylène Farmer
Encyclopedia
Mylène Farmer, milɛn faʁmœʁ, born Marie-Hélène Jeanne Gautier, milɛn gotje, (born 12 September 1961), is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author.
She has sold more than 30 million records and is among the most successful recording artists of all time in France. She holds the record for the most number one hits in the French charts, with twelve to date, nine of which were consecutive.
, Canada. Her parents moved from France in the late 1950s as Farmer's father, Max, pursued an engineering contract on a dam. Her family returned to France when she was eight, settling in the Parisian suburb of Ville d'Avray. In her teenage years, Farmer was passionate about horse-riding, qualifying as a riding instructor at the equestrian centre in Saumur. At the age of 17, however, Farmer discovered acting and she abandoned the stables to take a three-year course at the Cours Florent
, a drama school in Paris. Changing her name to Mylène Farmer as a tribute to her idol, 1930s Hollywood actress Frances Farmer
, she began to earn a living as a model acting in several TV ads.
In 1984, Farmer met Laurent Boutonnat
, a young film student, after replying to a newspaper ad for an actress for a small film he was working on. Farmer and Boutonnat became friends and forged a creative partnership, writing and producing the music. Boutonnat, whose ambition was to become a film director, was the force behind Mylène’s videos.
Farmer gained fame with songs featuring shocking yet poetic lyrics, and explicit music videos: "Maman a tort
" was about the love of a young girl for her female hospital nurse. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
" contains hints of sodomy
; the video, set in the 18th century, featured a caning. "Libertine
" is said to feature the first full frontal nudity appearance by a singer on a major music video. "Que mon cœur lâche
" was about love with condoms in the age of AIDS; the video for the song features a scene in which God tells Jesus he will not send him to Earth again because the last time "was a disaster". The videos for "Beyond My Control
" and "Je te rends ton amour
" were censored because of their sexual and violent content; later released in a video single, the latter one became the highest selling release of that kind in France.
Her most well-known songs include "Désenchantée
", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
", "Sans contrefaçon
", "Libertine
", "California
", "C'est une belle journée
", "Rêver
", "XXL
", "Les Mots" and "Oui mais... non
".
" (one of the few songs not to be written by Farmer herself), which was released to good success in March 1984. The video cost the modest sum of 5000 FR but caused a stir in the music world. However, the following single, "On est tous des imbéciles
", was met with little praise.
Despite the mitigated success of her first two singles, Farmer, helped by Boutonnat, started working on her first album. Even if this album was almost entirely written and composed by Boutonnat, it was then that it was decided that Farmer would write the lyrics of her songs and Boutonnat would compose the music and direct the videos. "Libertine
", the album's lead single, was released in March 1986 and set the tone for Farmer's musical style. The sensual, romantic lyrics were inspired by 19th-century literature. As for the video, which had a running time of more than 10 minutes, Boutonnat was inspired by the film Barry Lyndon
and the novels of the Marquis de Sade
, thus giving the video a cinematic style. Farmer, lit by candlelight, is shrouded in mystery and sexual ambiguity, it also was the very first video in which a French female singer appeared full frontal naked. The following single, "Tristana
", also met success and the video also had a cinematic approach that impressed the audience. Meanwhile, another single from the album, Plus grandir
, also shot in cinematic 35 mm, was released.
In 1988, Boutonnat and Farmer began work on her next album, Ainsi soit je...
(a play on the French expression ainsi soit-il, meaning "so be it" or "amen"). This album, infused with a much darker atmosphere, is more sexually ambiguous than her previous one, featuring songs inspired by Mylène’s favourite authors, including the French romantic poet Charles Baudelaire
and the American horror writer Edgar Allan Poe
. The album sold 1.8 million copies on the back of the Nº2 hit "Sans contrefaçon
" as well as the first Nº1 hit of her career, "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
". The other singles, "Sans logique
" and title song
were also hits in France, while the Juliette Gréco
cover "Déshabillez-moi
" became a fan favourite. Ainsi soit je... was the best-selling female album in France of the 1980s.
In spite of her drama courses, Farmer found it difficult to overcome shyness when in front of an audience. It was only after hesitation that she agreed to make a concert tour in 1989. After singing in a small venue in Saint-Étienne
as a test, the singer came to Paris to perform at the Palais des Sports for a week in May. Following the positive response of the audience, she agreed for a full-scale 52-date tour through francophone Europe. A live album documenting the tour was released at the end of the year, titled En Concert, also containing a new song, "A quoi je sers", in which she questions the future of her career. The costumes of the tour were designed by the French designer Thierry Mugler
.
It was also during this period that it was noticed that Farmer rarely gave interviews or appeared in public, even if she is now even less inclined to public exposure than at the time.
, and single "Désenchantée
" that she became iconic. The album, released on 8 April 1991, displayed a new image to her audience: more mature, more confident, with very short hair and a more defiant attitude (as evidenced in the videos for "Désenchantée
" and particularly "Je t'aime mélancolie
", in which Farmer plays a professional boxer fighting a male opponent). The music had also evolved in comparison to her previous records. The lyrics now approached a larger scope of subjects such as religion ("Agnus Dei"), politics ("Désenchantée") and press criticism ("Je t'aime mélancolie").
"Désenchantée
", the album's lead single, became a phenomenon in French pop music, striking a universal chord with its political lyrics. The song hit Nº1 in France, remaining 9 weeks atop of the chart. At the time, it went on to become the best selling French single of all time (both in country and around the globe), according to Guinness Book of World Records. It also spent 6 weeks at Nº1 in Belgium, and made the Top 10 in Canada and the Top 20 in Austria and the Netherlands. It is considered by many to be Farmer's signature-song. It was accompanied by an epic video, in which Mylène plays a rebelling prisoner in a facility which resembles a concentration camp or gulag
.
Following the phenomenal success of "Désenchantée
", Farmer released three more very successful singles from the album: "Regrets
", a gold-selling Nº3 duet performed with Jean-Louis Murat
, "Je t'aime mélancolie
" (Nº3) and "Beyond My Control
" (Nº8), the latter having a blood-and-sex-charged video that was banned from airplay. The success of the singles helped its parent album sell close to 2 million copies in France alone, having been certified Diamond. It spent a then-record 20 weeks at the pole position of the French charts, as well as topping the chart in Belgium and making top 10 in Canada. It has become Farmer's best selling studio album.
Prior to the release of the album's third single, on 14 November 1991 a disturbed man who had been stalking Farmer entered the Polydor Records
headquarters in Paris and held employees at gunpoint demanding to talk to her. The man had previously written the singer some fan mail, which she did not respond to. He killed the receptionist. Following this occurrence, Farmer shunned media attention and left France to live in Los Angeles for a few weeks.
In late 1992, she released the remix album Dance Remixes
, a two-disc set containing 14 remixes of the singer's greatest dance hits plus a new song : the single "Que mon cœur lâche
". As usual, Farmer did not shy away from controversy; "Que mon cœur lâche", a song dealing with AIDS and sexual relations, is accompanied by a video directed by Luc Besson
(the first time in the singer's career that a video wasn't directed by Boutonnat) in which Farmer plays an angel sent down to earth by God (who refuses to send Jesus again, stating that "last time it was a disaster") to save mankind from itself. The imagery in the clip references pop stars, condoms, prostitution, homosexuality and drug use. The single was also recorded in an English version, "My Soul Is Slashed
".
(1994). The film, shot in English, was a huge critical and commercial flop. Budgeted at 80 million Francs, it was seen by only 60 000 people and recovered only 1% of its budget. One of the main reasons for the film's flop was its 3-hour-plus length. According to Farmer herself, the bad reception of Giorgino was particularly hard on Boutonnat, who was directing his first feature film, something he would not do again for 13 years until the release of Jacquou le Croquant
in 2007. Following the lukewarm reception of the film, Farmer decided to leave France to take a long break in the USA.
. The album was launched by "XXL
", a rock song with blasting electric guitars, and a video directed by Marcus Nispel
featuring Mylène strapped to the front of a moving train. The single became her first to debut at Nº1. Anamorphosée
debuted at Nº2 in the album charts and sold half a million copies in 3 months. The album continued to sell well with the release of "L'Instant X
", "California
" (a jazzy-pop ballad bolstered with bass guitar featuring a highly acclaimed video directed by Abel Ferrara
), "Comme j'ai mal
" and "Rêver
", which helped the album reach Nº1 in January 1997 – 16 months after its release – becoming Diamond. The album is the first to contain music written by Farmer ("Tomber 7 fois...").
In summer 1996, Farmer embarked on her second concert tour which met with huge success. The corresponding live album, Live à Bercy
, is currently the best-selling French live album ever. During the tour, Farmer sang a Raï
version of Michel Polnareff
's La Poupée qui fait non
with Khaled
, which was released as a promotional single from the live album and became a Top 10 hit in France.
. The lead single "L'Âme-stram-gram
" was a futuristic up-tempo techno-ballad with erotic lyrics accompanied by a Chinese-themed video in which Farmer commits suicide to save her twin. Both the single and the album went straight to #2 on the charts. The album is certified Diamond in France.
The video for the second single, "Je te rends ton amour
", sparked controversy because of its religious blasphemy being condemned by the Catholic Church and banned by many networks. Despite this, Farmer released a video single, which became the highest selling release of that kind in France.
In late 1999, Farmer embarked on her third concert tour, the Mylenium Tour
, which set the record of the highest grossing tour by a non-English speaking artist. The stage of the show featured a huge pharaonic statue at the center of the stage from which she emerged and flew before being carried down by the hand of this very statue. During the tour, Farmer released the album's third and fourth singles: "Souviens-toi du jour
" and "Optimistique-moi
".
After "Innamoramento", the last single of the album, she recorded "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...
" for the animated film Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
, and released her third live album and DVD documenting the Mylènium Tour along with "Dessine-moi un mouton
", the promotional single for the live CD of the show.
, a contestant on the French television show Graines de stars. They wrote and produced Alizée's albums Gourmandises
and Mes courants électriques
. Alizée's biggest hit, "Moi... Lolita
" reached the top of the charts and she became the most successful French singer that year. In 2001, Le Figaro announced Farmer as top earning French entertainer of the year thanks, in part, to her writing, recording, and producing credits of Alizée's music, which earned 10.4 million €.
Alizée's image was crafted by Farmer and Boutonnat; she was allowed a few interviews of no more than 20 minutes and a limited number of promotional appearances. In 2005, after two successful albums and a concert tour, Alizée amicably parted ways with the duo to meet different songwriters and producers.
, became an enormous hit. The music video of the song was the first one directed by Boutonnat since "Beyond My Control
", and borrowed many influences from art. Les Mots was the Nº1 selling album of 2001 and 2002, and remains the best selling greatest hits album in France with more than 1.5 million sold. The album also featured the new tracks and singles, including Top 10 hits "C'est une belle journée
" and "Pardonne-moi
".
, and the single "Fuck Them All
" as well as a special 13-night concert engagement at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
in January 2006. This era featured no further promotion, and marked a new level of reclusivity for the star, who simply stated : "What I have to say is in my music". She also announced her new series of concerts in Paris-Bercy, a show designed by Mark Fisher
. She explained that she could not tour due to the complex sets of the performances of the show, which featured two stages, a mobile bridge to link the two stages and a curtain of words written with water.
The album debuted and spent several weeks at Nº1, selling nearly a million copies and going multi-platinum, although its commercial success is considered inferior to her previous albums because she made little if no effort to promote it. Nonetheless, all five singles became Top 10 hits in France, while the single "L'amour n'est rien...
" became a very big success in Russia.
As announced in her press conference, she returned to the stage in January 2006 for 13 dates in Paris-Bercy. A live album and concert DVD, Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
were released in December 2006. Within months, the DVD became the best-selling music DVD in France ever.
After her concerts in Bercy, electronic musician Moby
invited her to record a duet with him. Choosing "Slipping Away", Farmer translated the lyrics herself to French, and the resulting single became a phenomenal success in French-speaking countries, becoming her 4th No.1 single in France.
In 2007, Farmer's long-time songwriting partner, Laurent Boutonnat
, directed his second feature film, Jacquou le Croquant
. Farmer recorded the theme song of the film, "Devant soi", for the end credits. During that period, she also worked on the French version of Luc Besson
's animated feature Arthur and the Minimoys, lending her voice to Selenia, the character voiced by Madonna
in the international version. The movie was a box-office hit.
. The record's lead single, "Dégénération
", had a minimal electronic music while its video marked the singer's return to the scripted videos of the beginning of her career. The song became Farmer's 5th No.1 single.
The album, Point de Suture
, released in stores on 25 August, followed suit debuting at Nº1 with over 100 000 copies sold in its first week in France. The electronic-driven album continues in the vein of Farmer's previous work, featuring a mix of ballads and upbeat, synth-driven pop songs.
Farmer's next four singles from the album, "Appelle mon numéro
", "Si j'avais au moins...
", "C'est dans l'air
" and "Sextonik
", all became No.1 hits in France, Farmer beating her own record. Farmer then had a record of nine No.1 hits in France, more than any other artist in French music history. It is also the first time that all five singles from her album became No.1 hits.
Meanwhile, in 2008 Farmer announced a new protégée in the vein of Alizée: Lisa, Farmer's niece. Her lead single, "Drole de creepie", was released in September 2008, produced and written by Boutonnat and Farmer. The song accompanied the hit children's series, Growing Up Creepie
, and the video depicts Lisa dressed as Creepie Creecher. Unlike Farmer & Boutonnat's previous side-projects, Lisa is marketed primarily to children.
Farmer's sold-out tour began in May 2009 in Nice and ended in September 2009 in Brussels, gathering extremely positive response from the critics. She also gave two concerts at the Stade de France
, as well as other concerts in Russia, Belgium and Switzerland. The show was designed by Mark Fisher
.
A new live album documenting her 2009 tour, N°5 on Tour
, was released on 7 December 2009 and hit No.1 position in the charts, becoming double-platinum in its first week of release. A DVD of her Stade de France concerts followed on 12 April 2010, becoming instantly Diamond.
and Ben Harper
in their respective new releases. After thirty years of absence, Line Renaud released her new album in November 2010, which contains "C'est pas l'heure," a duet with Farmer, written by Farmer and Boutonnat. Also in November, Australian band INXS released the album Original Sin as a tribute to the late Michael Hutchence
. Farmer covered "Never Tear Us Apart
" with Ben Harper, featuring new lyrics in French written by Farmer.
It was announced surprisingly on 27 September 2010 that Farmer would be releasing a new single "Oui mais... non
" to lead her next album. Unlike all the previous musical works by Farmer, Boutonnat was not included in the production or composition. Instead Farmer hired RedOne
, known for his work with Lady Gaga
to produce and write the music for the single. "Oui mais... non
" was released to digital downloading markets on 11 October and hit No.1 on the French charts. Considering the music market crisis, it's her most successful single since 2002. The following singles, "Bleu Noir
" and "Lonely Lisa", hit the top of the charts too, expanding her record with twelve No.1 singles.
The album Bleu Noir
was released on 6 December 2010, produced by Farmer, RedOne
, Moby
and Archive
. It entered the French album chart at No.1 and remained at the top for three consecutive weeks. It topped the 9th position in the French 2010 charts, with more than 300,000 copies sold in three weeks. It has sold so far over 600,000 copies, reaching Diamond status, within three months of its release. It also broke the record for best debut in the Downloads Chart with 9,000 copies sold.
, Marcus Nispel, Abel Ferrara
, H. R. Giger
and Paco Rabanne
. They also organised a fan tour in which several members attended concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
She has sold more than 30 million records and is among the most successful recording artists of all time in France. She holds the record for the most number one hits in the French charts, with twelve to date, nine of which were consecutive.
Early years
Mylène Farmer was born in Pierrefonds, QuebecPierrefonds, Quebec
Pierrefonds was a city on the Island of Montreal. It ceased to exist on January 1, 2002. The city was located along the Rivière des Prairies at the western end of the island...
, Canada. Her parents moved from France in the late 1950s as Farmer's father, Max, pursued an engineering contract on a dam. Her family returned to France when she was eight, settling in the Parisian suburb of Ville d'Avray. In her teenage years, Farmer was passionate about horse-riding, qualifying as a riding instructor at the equestrian centre in Saumur. At the age of 17, however, Farmer discovered acting and she abandoned the stables to take a three-year course at the Cours Florent
Cours Florent
The Cours Florent is a private French Drama school created in 1965 by François Florent.The school is currently located on three nearby sites in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France: rue Archereau, rue Mathis and Avenue Jean-Jaurès, further along which is located the Conservatoire national...
, a drama school in Paris. Changing her name to Mylène Farmer as a tribute to her idol, 1930s Hollywood actress Frances Farmer
Frances Farmer
Frances Elena Farmer was an American actress of stage and screen. She is perhaps better known for sensationalized and fictional accounts of her life, and especially her involuntary commitment to a mental hospital...
, she began to earn a living as a model acting in several TV ads.
In 1984, Farmer met Laurent Boutonnat
Laurent Boutonnat
Laurent Pierre Marie Boutonnat is a French composer and film and music video director, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer and the director of moody, provocative and literature-inspired music videos.- Career :...
, a young film student, after replying to a newspaper ad for an actress for a small film he was working on. Farmer and Boutonnat became friends and forged a creative partnership, writing and producing the music. Boutonnat, whose ambition was to become a film director, was the force behind Mylène’s videos.
Farmer gained fame with songs featuring shocking yet poetic lyrics, and explicit music videos: "Maman a tort
Maman a tort
"Maman a tort" is a 1984 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the debut single from Farmer's first studio album Cendres de Lune, and marked the beginning of her collaboration with her long-time composer, Laurent Boutonnat. With lyrics by Jérôme Dahan, who also helped compose the...
" was about the love of a young girl for her female hospital nurse. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" is a 1988 synthpop song by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je..., it was released on 12 September 1988. Very provocative, the song deals with sodomy and enjoys a very long music video which contains sexual and...
" contains hints of sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
; the video, set in the 18th century, featured a caning. "Libertine
Libertine (song)
"Libertine" is a 1986 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her first studio album Cendres de Lune and was released on 1 April 1986. It was particularly known for its huge music video, produced as a film and which contains explicit sexual and violent scenes. It...
" is said to feature the first full frontal nudity appearance by a singer on a major music video. "Que mon cœur lâche
Que mon cœur lâche
"Que mon cœur lâche" is a 1992 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The single was released on 23 November 1992 to promote Farmer's compilation album Dance Remixes. Farmer also recorded an English language version of the track, entitled "My Soul Is Slashed" which was...
" was about love with condoms in the age of AIDS; the video for the song features a scene in which God tells Jesus he will not send him to Earth again because the last time "was a disaster". The videos for "Beyond My Control
Beyond My Control
"Beyond My Control" is a 1991 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fourth single from her third studio album L'Autre... and was released in May 1992. The song probably remains well known for its music video that caused controversy and was censored at the time because...
" and "Je te rends ton amour
Je te rends ton amour
"Je te rends ton amour" is a 1999 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The second single from her fifth studio album Innamoramento, it was released on 8 June 1999...
" were censored because of their sexual and violent content; later released in a video single, the latter one became the highest selling release of that kind in France.
Her most well-known songs include "Désenchantée
Désenchantée
"Désenchantée" is a 1991 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. First single from her third studio album L'Autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved a great success in France, topping the chart for more than two months...
", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" is a 1988 synthpop song by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je..., it was released on 12 September 1988. Very provocative, the song deals with sodomy and enjoys a very long music video which contains sexual and...
", "Sans contrefaçon
Sans contrefaçon
"Sans contrefaçon" is a 1987 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was released on 16 October 1987 as the first single from her second studio album, Ainsi soit je.... It was a big hit in 1987 and is one of her three best-selling singles. It became a very popular song in France over the...
", "Libertine
Libertine (song)
"Libertine" is a 1986 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her first studio album Cendres de Lune and was released on 1 April 1986. It was particularly known for its huge music video, produced as a film and which contains explicit sexual and violent scenes. It...
", "California
California (Mylène Farmer song)
"California" is a 1995 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her fourth studio album, Anamorphosée, and was released on 26 March 1996. The song marked the only collaboration with American movie screenwriter and director Abel Ferrara who directed the very...
", "C'est une belle journée
C'est une belle journée
"C'est une belle journée" is a 2001 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the second single from her best of Les Mots and was released on 16 April 2002. The song deals with suicide on a dance music and was illustrated by a cartoon video produced by Farmer's boyfriend...
", "Rêver
Rêver
"Rêver" is a 1995 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fifth single from her fourth album Anamorphosée and was released on 16 November 1996...
", "XXL
XXL (Mylène Farmer song)
"XXL" is a 1995 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The song was the lead single from her fourth studio album Anamorphosée and was released on 19 September 1995. It marked an important change in the singer's career, with more rock sonorities, easier lyrics to understand and a...
", "Les Mots" and "Oui mais... non
Oui mais... non
"Oui mais... non" is a 2010 song by French pop musician Mylène Farmer. It is the leading single to her eighth studio album Bleu Noir, released in December 2010. The single was released to radio stations on 29 September, then available for pre-order on 11 October in the digital music market, and on...
".
Debut (1984–1989)
Boutonnat and a young songwriter, Jérôme Dahan, had written a song, and were auditioning to find a singer to record it. Farmer was eventually chosen and recorded the song, "Maman a tortMaman a tort
"Maman a tort" is a 1984 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the debut single from Farmer's first studio album Cendres de Lune, and marked the beginning of her collaboration with her long-time composer, Laurent Boutonnat. With lyrics by Jérôme Dahan, who also helped compose the...
" (one of the few songs not to be written by Farmer herself), which was released to good success in March 1984. The video cost the modest sum of 5000 FR but caused a stir in the music world. However, the following single, "On est tous des imbéciles
On est tous des imbéciles
"On est tous des imbéciles" is a 1984 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was released in February 1985 as her second single after "Maman a tort" and its English-translated version "My Mum Is Wrong". Although the song was provocative and rather critical of the show business, it was...
", was met with little praise.
Despite the mitigated success of her first two singles, Farmer, helped by Boutonnat, started working on her first album. Even if this album was almost entirely written and composed by Boutonnat, it was then that it was decided that Farmer would write the lyrics of her songs and Boutonnat would compose the music and direct the videos. "Libertine
Libertine (song)
"Libertine" is a 1986 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her first studio album Cendres de Lune and was released on 1 April 1986. It was particularly known for its huge music video, produced as a film and which contains explicit sexual and violent scenes. It...
", the album's lead single, was released in March 1986 and set the tone for Farmer's musical style. The sensual, romantic lyrics were inspired by 19th-century literature. As for the video, which had a running time of more than 10 minutes, Boutonnat was inspired by the film Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon is a 1975 British-American period romantic war film produced, written, and directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray which recounts the exploits of an 18th century Irish adventurer...
and the novels of the Marquis de Sade
Marquis de Sade
Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer famous for his libertine sexuality and lifestyle...
, thus giving the video a cinematic style. Farmer, lit by candlelight, is shrouded in mystery and sexual ambiguity, it also was the very first video in which a French female singer appeared full frontal naked. The following single, "Tristana
Tristana (song)
"Tristana" is a 1987 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Fourth single from her first studio album Cendres de Lune, the song was released in February 1987. As for the previous single "Libertine", the music video was produced as a film, with many extras and a huge budget...
", also met success and the video also had a cinematic approach that impressed the audience. Meanwhile, another single from the album, Plus grandir
Plus grandir
"Plus grandir" is a 1985 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer and is the first song written by the singer. It was released twice: first, on 25 September 1985 in a studio version as second single from Farmer's debut album Cendres de Lune, then on 12 May 1990 in a live mix version...
, also shot in cinematic 35 mm, was released.
In 1988, Boutonnat and Farmer began work on her next album, Ainsi soit je...
Ainsi Soit Je...
Ainsi Soit Je... is the second album by Mylène Farmer, released in April 1988. It contains the hit singles "Sans contrefaçon", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" and "Sans logique"...
(a play on the French expression ainsi soit-il, meaning "so be it" or "amen"). This album, infused with a much darker atmosphere, is more sexually ambiguous than her previous one, featuring songs inspired by Mylène’s favourite authors, including the French romantic poet Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire was a French poet who produced notable work as an essayist, art critic, and pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, Les Fleurs du mal expresses the changing nature of beauty in modern, industrializing Paris during the nineteenth century...
and the American horror writer Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
. The album sold 1.8 million copies on the back of the Nº2 hit "Sans contrefaçon
Sans contrefaçon
"Sans contrefaçon" is a 1987 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was released on 16 October 1987 as the first single from her second studio album, Ainsi soit je.... It was a big hit in 1987 and is one of her three best-selling singles. It became a very popular song in France over the...
" as well as the first Nº1 hit of her career, "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" is a 1988 synthpop song by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je..., it was released on 12 September 1988. Very provocative, the song deals with sodomy and enjoys a very long music video which contains sexual and...
". The other singles, "Sans logique
Sans logique
"Sans logique" is a 1988 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was released on 20 February 1989 as the fourth and last single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je.... The song deals with schizophrenia, death, love and religion and was accompanied by a cinematic video...
" and title song
Ainsi soit je... (song)
"Ainsi soit je..." is a 1988 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The song was released as a single twice: as the second single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je... on 4 April 1988, and as the second single in a live version from her second live album Live à Bercy on 20...
were also hits in France, while the Juliette Gréco
Juliette Gréco
Juliette Gréco, — also Michelle – is a French actress and popular chanson singer.-Early life and family:Juliette Gréco was born in Montpellier to a Corsican father and a mother who became active in the Résistance, in the Hérault département of southern France. She was raised by her maternal...
cover "Déshabillez-moi
Déshabillez-moi
"Déshabillez-moi" is a 1967 song first recorded by French singer Juliette Gréco, by Patti Layne in 1987, then by Mylène Farmer in a studio version in 1988 and in a live version during her 2006 concerts at Bercy . This live version was the second single from Farmer's fourth live album, Avant que...
" became a fan favourite. Ainsi soit je... was the best-selling female album in France of the 1980s.
In spite of her drama courses, Farmer found it difficult to overcome shyness when in front of an audience. It was only after hesitation that she agreed to make a concert tour in 1989. After singing in a small venue in Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
as a test, the singer came to Paris to perform at the Palais des Sports for a week in May. Following the positive response of the audience, she agreed for a full-scale 52-date tour through francophone Europe. A live album documenting the tour was released at the end of the year, titled En Concert, also containing a new song, "A quoi je sers", in which she questions the future of her career. The costumes of the tour were designed by the French designer Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler
Thierry Mugler is a French fashion designer and creator of several perfumes.-Childhood:Mugler was born in Strasbourg, France on 21 December 1948. His passion led him to focus more on drawing than on school and at the age of 9, he began to study classical dance...
.
It was also during this period that it was noticed that Farmer rarely gave interviews or appeared in public, even if she is now even less inclined to public exposure than at the time.
L'Autre... and "Désenchantée" (1990–1992)
By the turn of the decade Farmer was a full-blown superstar in France, but it wasn't until the release of her third album, L'Autre...L'Autre...
L'Autre... is the third studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 9, 1991. It contains the singer's biggest hit, "Désenchantée", which was number-one in France for nine weeks, and other three top ten hits...
, and single "Désenchantée
Désenchantée
"Désenchantée" is a 1991 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. First single from her third studio album L'Autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved a great success in France, topping the chart for more than two months...
" that she became iconic. The album, released on 8 April 1991, displayed a new image to her audience: more mature, more confident, with very short hair and a more defiant attitude (as evidenced in the videos for "Désenchantée
Désenchantée
"Désenchantée" is a 1991 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. First single from her third studio album L'Autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved a great success in France, topping the chart for more than two months...
" and particularly "Je t'aime mélancolie
Je t'aime mélancolie
"Je t'aime mélancolie" is a 1991 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her third studio album L'Autre..., the song was released in December 1991...
", in which Farmer plays a professional boxer fighting a male opponent). The music had also evolved in comparison to her previous records. The lyrics now approached a larger scope of subjects such as religion ("Agnus Dei"), politics ("Désenchantée") and press criticism ("Je t'aime mélancolie").
"Désenchantée
Désenchantée
"Désenchantée" is a 1991 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. First single from her third studio album L'Autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved a great success in France, topping the chart for more than two months...
", the album's lead single, became a phenomenon in French pop music, striking a universal chord with its political lyrics. The song hit Nº1 in France, remaining 9 weeks atop of the chart. At the time, it went on to become the best selling French single of all time (both in country and around the globe), according to Guinness Book of World Records. It also spent 6 weeks at Nº1 in Belgium, and made the Top 10 in Canada and the Top 20 in Austria and the Netherlands. It is considered by many to be Farmer's signature-song. It was accompanied by an epic video, in which Mylène plays a rebelling prisoner in a facility which resembles a concentration camp or gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
.
Following the phenomenal success of "Désenchantée
Désenchantée
"Désenchantée" is a 1991 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. First single from her third studio album L'Autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved a great success in France, topping the chart for more than two months...
", Farmer released three more very successful singles from the album: "Regrets
Regrets (song)
"Regrets" is a 1991 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer as duet with musician Jean-Louis Murat. The song was released on 29 July 1989 and was the second single from her third studio album L'Autre.... The music video was shot in a cemetery in Budapest, as the song deals with a...
", a gold-selling Nº3 duet performed with Jean-Louis Murat
Jean-Louis Murat
Not to be confused with Jean-Paul MaratJean-Louis Murat is the pseudonym of the French singer / songwriter Jean-Louis Bergheaud. He spent much of his childhood with his grandparents in Murat-le-Quaire.- Albums :...
, "Je t'aime mélancolie
Je t'aime mélancolie
"Je t'aime mélancolie" is a 1991 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her third studio album L'Autre..., the song was released in December 1991...
" (Nº3) and "Beyond My Control
Beyond My Control
"Beyond My Control" is a 1991 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fourth single from her third studio album L'Autre... and was released in May 1992. The song probably remains well known for its music video that caused controversy and was censored at the time because...
" (Nº8), the latter having a blood-and-sex-charged video that was banned from airplay. The success of the singles helped its parent album sell close to 2 million copies in France alone, having been certified Diamond. It spent a then-record 20 weeks at the pole position of the French charts, as well as topping the chart in Belgium and making top 10 in Canada. It has become Farmer's best selling studio album.
Prior to the release of the album's third single, on 14 November 1991 a disturbed man who had been stalking Farmer entered the Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor 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...
headquarters in Paris and held employees at gunpoint demanding to talk to her. The man had previously written the singer some fan mail, which she did not respond to. He killed the receptionist. Following this occurrence, Farmer shunned media attention and left France to live in Los Angeles for a few weeks.
In late 1992, she released the remix album Dance Remixes
Dance Remixes
Dance Remixes is the first remix album by Mylène Farmer, released on November 23, 1992.- Background, writing and release :This album was made to make the fans wait until the following album, postponed because of the Giorgino 's shooting....
, a two-disc set containing 14 remixes of the singer's greatest dance hits plus a new song : the single "Que mon cœur lâche
Que mon cœur lâche
"Que mon cœur lâche" is a 1992 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The single was released on 23 November 1992 to promote Farmer's compilation album Dance Remixes. Farmer also recorded an English language version of the track, entitled "My Soul Is Slashed" which was...
". As usual, Farmer did not shy away from controversy; "Que mon cœur lâche", a song dealing with AIDS and sexual relations, is accompanied by a video directed by Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
(the first time in the singer's career that a video wasn't directed by Boutonnat) in which Farmer plays an angel sent down to earth by God (who refuses to send Jesus again, stating that "last time it was a disaster") to save mankind from itself. The imagery in the clip references pop stars, condoms, prostitution, homosexuality and drug use. The single was also recorded in an English version, "My Soul Is Slashed
Que mon cœur lâche
"Que mon cœur lâche" is a 1992 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The single was released on 23 November 1992 to promote Farmer's compilation album Dance Remixes. Farmer also recorded an English language version of the track, entitled "My Soul Is Slashed" which was...
".
Giorgino (1992–1994)
"Que mon cœur lâche" would be the last single released by Farmer in 3 years. In the meantime the singer would star in a movie, as her longtime collaborator had written a script he had wanted to direct for a long time. The result was the ill-fated GiorginoGiorgino
-Presentation:* Title : Giorgino* Direction : Laurent Boutonnat* Screenplay : Laurent Boutonnat, Gilles Laurent* Production : Laurent Boutonnat* Music : Laurent Boutonnat* Photo : Jean-Pierre Sauvaire* Film editing : Laurent Boutonnat, Agnès Mouchel...
(1994). The film, shot in English, was a huge critical and commercial flop. Budgeted at 80 million Francs, it was seen by only 60 000 people and recovered only 1% of its budget. One of the main reasons for the film's flop was its 3-hour-plus length. According to Farmer herself, the bad reception of Giorgino was particularly hard on Boutonnat, who was directing his first feature film, something he would not do again for 13 years until the release of Jacquou le Croquant
Jacquou le Croquant
Jacquou le Croquant is a 2007 French historical film, based on the novel by Eugène Le Roy. Set in the Dordogne during the Bourbon Restoration, it tells the story of a young peasant who leads a revolt against an evil nobleman. It was nominated for two César Awards in 2008.-Plot:1815. Jacquou, a...
in 2007. Following the lukewarm reception of the film, Farmer decided to leave France to take a long break in the USA.
Anamorphosée (1995–1997)
During her time in California, Farmer started to write her fourth studio album, AnamorphoséeAnamorphosée
Anamorphosée is the fourth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on October 17, 1995. Led by the number-one single "XXL", the album was something of a departure from her previous work...
. The album was launched by "XXL
XXL (Mylène Farmer song)
"XXL" is a 1995 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The song was the lead single from her fourth studio album Anamorphosée and was released on 19 September 1995. It marked an important change in the singer's career, with more rock sonorities, easier lyrics to understand and a...
", a rock song with blasting electric guitars, and a video directed by Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel is a German–American feature film director and producer, and formerly a director of television commercials and music videos. Many of his films have been remakes, all of which have met with a negative critical reception....
featuring Mylène strapped to the front of a moving train. The single became her first to debut at Nº1. Anamorphosée
Anamorphosée
Anamorphosée is the fourth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on October 17, 1995. Led by the number-one single "XXL", the album was something of a departure from her previous work...
debuted at Nº2 in the album charts and sold half a million copies in 3 months. The album continued to sell well with the release of "L'Instant X
L'Instant X
"L'Instant X" is a 1995 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the second single from her fourth album Anamorphosée and was released on 12 December 1995. Directed by Marcus Nispel in New York, the music video depicts with humour the apocalypse and shows Farmer bathing in the foam...
", "California
California (Mylène Farmer song)
"California" is a 1995 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her fourth studio album, Anamorphosée, and was released on 26 March 1996. The song marked the only collaboration with American movie screenwriter and director Abel Ferrara who directed the very...
" (a jazzy-pop ballad bolstered with bass guitar featuring a highly acclaimed video directed by Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara is an American film screenwriter and director. He is best known as an independent filmmaker of such films as The Driller Killer , Ms. 45 , King of New York , Bad Lieutenant and The Funeral .-Early life:Ferrara was born in the Bronx of Italian and Irish descent...
), "Comme j'ai mal
Comme j'ai mal
"Comme j'ai mal" is a 1995 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. Fourth single from her fourth album Anamorphosée, it was released on 1 July 1996...
" and "Rêver
Rêver
"Rêver" is a 1995 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fifth single from her fourth album Anamorphosée and was released on 16 November 1996...
", which helped the album reach Nº1 in January 1997 – 16 months after its release – becoming Diamond. The album is the first to contain music written by Farmer ("Tomber 7 fois...").
In summer 1996, Farmer embarked on her second concert tour which met with huge success. The corresponding live album, Live à Bercy
Live à Bercy
Live à Bercy is the second live album by Mylène Farmer, released on May 21, 1997. It was also produced as a video.-Background:After the successful concerts tour of 1996, whose shows were spread out from May 25 to December 15, a live album was recorded and produced by Thierry Suc, and sponsored by...
, is currently the best-selling French live album ever. During the tour, Farmer sang a Raï
Raï
Raï is a form of folk music that originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Spanish, French, African and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s....
version of Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff, born in Nérac on 3 July 1944, is a French singer-songwriter who was very popular from the mid-1960s until the early 1980s...
's La Poupée qui fait non
La Poupée qui fait non
"La Poupée qui fait non" is a 1966 song written by Franck Gérald and originally recorded by the French singer/songwriter Michel Polnareff...
with Khaled
Khaled (musician)
Khaled Hadj Ibrahim , better known as Khaled, is a raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Sidi El Houari in Oran Province of Algeria...
, which was released as a promotional single from the live album and became a Top 10 hit in France.
Innamoramento and Mylènium (1998–2000)
Farmer returned in spring 1999 with her 5th studio album InnamoramentoInnamoramento
Innamoramento is the fifth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 7, 1999.-Background and release:By 1999, Farmer had barely appeared in the media since her 1996 concerts at Paris-Bercy...
. The lead single "L'Âme-stram-gram
L'Âme-stram-gram
"L'Âme-stram-gram" is a 1999 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the lead single from her fifth studio album Innamoramento and was released on 9 March 1999. The lyrics were written by Farmer and the music was composed by Laurent Boutonnat...
" was a futuristic up-tempo techno-ballad with erotic lyrics accompanied by a Chinese-themed video in which Farmer commits suicide to save her twin. Both the single and the album went straight to #2 on the charts. The album is certified Diamond in France.
The video for the second single, "Je te rends ton amour
Je te rends ton amour
"Je te rends ton amour" is a 1999 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The second single from her fifth studio album Innamoramento, it was released on 8 June 1999...
", sparked controversy because of its religious blasphemy being condemned by the Catholic Church and banned by many networks. Despite this, Farmer released a video single, which became the highest selling release of that kind in France.
In late 1999, Farmer embarked on her third concert tour, the Mylenium Tour
Mylenium Tour
Mylènium Tour is the third live album by Mylène Farmer, released on December 5, 2000.-Background:After having ending her third successful tour whose last shows were held in Russia on March 7, 2000, Farmer rested, and then decided to release an album and a DVD retracing her concert...
, which set the record of the highest grossing tour by a non-English speaking artist. The stage of the show featured a huge pharaonic statue at the center of the stage from which she emerged and flew before being carried down by the hand of this very statue. During the tour, Farmer released the album's third and fourth singles: "Souviens-toi du jour
Souviens-toi du jour
"Souviens-toi du jour" is a 1999 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her fifth studio album Innamoramento and was released on 2 September 1999. Inspired by Primo Levi's book If This Is a Man, the song deals with the theme of the Holocaust...
" and "Optimistique-moi
Optimistique-moi
"Optimistique-moi" is a 1999 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The fourth single from her fifth studio album, Innamoramento, it was released on 22 February 2000...
".
After "Innamoramento", the last single of the album, she recorded "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...
L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...
"L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." is a 2001 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was one of the singles from the album Les Razmokets à Paris , a soundtrack from the movie of the same name...
" for the animated film Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, also known as The Rugrats Movie 2: Rugrats in Paris and Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - Rugrats II, is 2000 American animated film, and the sequel to the 1998 film The Rugrats Movie that follows the continuing adventures of the Rugrats. In the film, Chuckie Finster takes...
, and released her third live album and DVD documenting the Mylènium Tour along with "Dessine-moi un mouton
Dessine-moi un mouton
"Dessine-moi un mouton" is a 1999 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer, first in a studio version, then in a live version during her 1999 concert Mylenium Tour. The song was the only single from her third live album Mylenium Tour and was released on 5 December 2000...
", the promotional single for the live CD of the show.
Alizée (2000–2004)
In 2000, Farmer and Boutonnat had assembled songs and video ideas they felt appropriate for a younger, new star. They began the search for a female singer to break into the French charts – they found AlizéeAlizée
Alizée Jacotey is a French singer, known professionally by her given name Alizée She was discovered by Mylène Farmer, following her winning performance in the talent show, Graines de Star, in 1999...
, a contestant on the French television show Graines de stars. They wrote and produced Alizée's albums Gourmandises
Gourmandises
Gourmandises is the debut album by Alizée. It was released in France on 21 November 2000, followed by an international release on 13 March 2001, though the first single, "Moi... Lolita", was released in 2000 itself. The album was the result of a collaboration between Alizée, Mylène Farmer and...
and Mes courants électriques
Mes Courants Électriques
Mes Courants Électriques is the second album by Alizée. It was released in 18 March 2003. Though not as successful as her previous album, Gourmandises, this album still sold more than 200,000 copies in the first three months of its release...
. Alizée's biggest hit, "Moi... Lolita
Moi... Lolita
"Moi... Lolita" is a song by French singer Alizée, which was released as her debut single and the first from her debut album Gourmandises when she was 16...
" reached the top of the charts and she became the most successful French singer that year. In 2001, Le Figaro announced Farmer as top earning French entertainer of the year thanks, in part, to her writing, recording, and producing credits of Alizée's music, which earned 10.4 million €.
Alizée's image was crafted by Farmer and Boutonnat; she was allowed a few interviews of no more than 20 minutes and a limited number of promotional appearances. In 2005, after two successful albums and a concert tour, Alizée amicably parted ways with the duo to meet different songwriters and producers.
Les mots (2001–2003)
At the end of 2001, and seventeen years into her career, Universal issued Farmer's first greatest hits collection: Les Mots whose title track and lead single, a duet with SealSeal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
, became an enormous hit. The music video of the song was the first one directed by Boutonnat since "Beyond My Control
Beyond My Control
"Beyond My Control" is a 1991 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fourth single from her third studio album L'Autre... and was released in May 1992. The song probably remains well known for its music video that caused controversy and was censored at the time because...
", and borrowed many influences from art. Les Mots was the Nº1 selling album of 2001 and 2002, and remains the best selling greatest hits album in France with more than 1.5 million sold. The album also featured the new tracks and singles, including Top 10 hits "C'est une belle journée
C'est une belle journée
"C'est une belle journée" is a 2001 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the second single from her best of Les Mots and was released on 16 April 2002. The song deals with suicide on a dance music and was illustrated by a cartoon video produced by Farmer's boyfriend...
" and "Pardonne-moi
Pardonne-moi
"Pardonne-moi" is a 2001 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer, with lyrics written by herself and music composed by Laurent Boutonnat. It was the third and last single from Les Mots, and was released on 21 October 2002...
".
Avant que l'ombre... (2004–2006)
In December 2004, after a long period of silence, Farmer held a press conference announcing her new album, Avant que l'ombre...Avant que l'ombre...
Avant que l'ombre... is the sixth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 4, 2005. Mainly composed of acoustic ballads, this album produced five singles which were all top ten hits in France, including "Fuck Them All" and "L'amour n'est rien..."...
, and the single "Fuck Them All
Fuck Them All
"Fuck Them All" is a 2005 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the lead single from her sixth studio album, Avant que l'ombre..., and was released on 14 March 2005. Like all tracks from the album, the lyrics were written by the singer with music composed by Laurent...
" as well as a special 13-night concert engagement at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
Opened in 1984, Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, often abbreviated as POPB or Bercy, is an indoor sports arena on boulevard de Bercy located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris...
in January 2006. This era featured no further promotion, and marked a new level of reclusivity for the star, who simply stated : "What I have to say is in my music". She also announced her new series of concerts in Paris-Bercy, a show designed by Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher is a British Labour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent Central from 1983 to 2010 and Minister for the Arts between 1997-98.-Early life:...
. She explained that she could not tour due to the complex sets of the performances of the show, which featured two stages, a mobile bridge to link the two stages and a curtain of words written with water.
The album debuted and spent several weeks at Nº1, selling nearly a million copies and going multi-platinum, although its commercial success is considered inferior to her previous albums because she made little if no effort to promote it. Nonetheless, all five singles became Top 10 hits in France, while the single "L'amour n'est rien...
L'Amour n'est rien...
"L'amour n'est rien..." is a 2005 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The song was released as the fourth single from Farmer's sixth studio album Avant que l'ombre... on 27 March 2006...
" became a very big success in Russia.
As announced in her press conference, she returned to the stage in January 2006 for 13 dates in Paris-Bercy. A live album and concert DVD, Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy is the fourth live album by Mylène Farmer, released on December 4, 2006.- Background :Six years after her Mylenium Tour, Mylène Farmer came back on stage with a tour in 2006 which included 13 shows at Bercy, in Paris. This very successful series of concerts started on...
were released in December 2006. Within months, the DVD became the best-selling music DVD in France ever.
After her concerts in Bercy, electronic musician Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
invited her to record a duet with him. Choosing "Slipping Away", Farmer translated the lyrics herself to French, and the resulting single became a phenomenal success in French-speaking countries, becoming her 4th No.1 single in France.
In 2007, Farmer's long-time songwriting partner, Laurent Boutonnat
Laurent Boutonnat
Laurent Pierre Marie Boutonnat is a French composer and film and music video director, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer and the director of moody, provocative and literature-inspired music videos.- Career :...
, directed his second feature film, Jacquou le Croquant
Jacquou le Croquant
Jacquou le Croquant is a 2007 French historical film, based on the novel by Eugène Le Roy. Set in the Dordogne during the Bourbon Restoration, it tells the story of a young peasant who leads a revolt against an evil nobleman. It was nominated for two César Awards in 2008.-Plot:1815. Jacquou, a...
. Farmer recorded the theme song of the film, "Devant soi", for the end credits. During that period, she also worked on the French version of Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
's animated feature Arthur and the Minimoys, lending her voice to Selenia, the character voiced by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
in the international version. The movie was a box-office hit.
Point de Suture (2008–2010)
In March 2008, Universal confirmed Farmer would release her seventh studio album near the end of 2008, and embark on her fifth concert tour the following year, including two shows at the Stade de FranceStade de France
The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
. The record's lead single, "Dégénération
Dégénération
"Dégénération" is a 2008 electro / techno song by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the first single from her seventh studio album Point de Suture, and was released first digitally and on radio in June 2008, then in a CD in August 2008. The song marked an important musical change in...
", had a minimal electronic music while its video marked the singer's return to the scripted videos of the beginning of her career. The song became Farmer's 5th No.1 single.
The album, Point de Suture
Point de Suture
Point de Suture is the seventh studio album by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer, and her 14th album overall. Preceded by the lead single "Dégénération", it was released digitally on 20 August 2008, then on CD five days later...
, released in stores on 25 August, followed suit debuting at Nº1 with over 100 000 copies sold in its first week in France. The electronic-driven album continues in the vein of Farmer's previous work, featuring a mix of ballads and upbeat, synth-driven pop songs.
Farmer's next four singles from the album, "Appelle mon numéro
Appelle mon numéro
"Appelle mon numéro" is a 2008 song recorded by French singer Mylène Farmer. Released on 3 November 2008, it was the second single from her seventh studio album, Point de Suture. It received generally positive reviews from critics and was more aired on radio and television than Farmer's previous...
", "Si j'avais au moins...
Si j'avais au moins...
"Si j'avais au moins..." is a song recorded by French singer Mylène Farmer. This pop rock ballad was written by Farmer with music composed by Laurent Boutonnat. It was the third single released, from her eight studio album Point de suture , on 16 February 2009...
", "C'est dans l'air
C'est dans l'air
"C'est dans l'air" is a 2008 electronic dance song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It is the fourth single from her seventh studio album Point de suture. The CD single was released on 27 April 2009, then the other formats one week later...
" and "Sextonik
Sextonik
"Sextonik" is a 2008 song recorded by French singer Mylène Farmer. It is the fifth single from her seventh studio album Point de suture and was released on 31 August 2009...
", all became No.1 hits in France, Farmer beating her own record. Farmer then had a record of nine No.1 hits in France, more than any other artist in French music history. It is also the first time that all five singles from her album became No.1 hits.
Meanwhile, in 2008 Farmer announced a new protégée in the vein of Alizée: Lisa, Farmer's niece. Her lead single, "Drole de creepie", was released in September 2008, produced and written by Boutonnat and Farmer. The song accompanied the hit children's series, Growing Up Creepie
Growing Up Creepie
Growing Up Creepie was an animated television series made in the USA by Mike Young Productions and produced by Discovery Kids. In other countries the series was simply titled Creepie.- Premise :...
, and the video depicts Lisa dressed as Creepie Creecher. Unlike Farmer & Boutonnat's previous side-projects, Lisa is marketed primarily to children.
Farmer's sold-out tour began in May 2009 in Nice and ended in September 2009 in Brussels, gathering extremely positive response from the critics. She also gave two concerts at the Stade de France
Stade de France
The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
, as well as other concerts in Russia, Belgium and Switzerland. The show was designed by Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher (architect)
Mark Fisher OBE MVO is a British architect. He was born in Warwickshire, England.Fisher graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1971. He was a Unit Master at the AA School from 1973 to 1977. In 1984 he set up the Fisher Park Partnership with Jonathan Park...
.
A new live album documenting her 2009 tour, N°5 on Tour
N°5 on Tour
Nº5 on Tour is a double live album by French singer Mylène Farmer which documents her 2009 tour Mylène Farmer en tournée. It is her fifth live album and her 15th album overall. It was released on 7 December 2009, and it includes the standard set list that she sang during the indoor shows in France...
, was released on 7 December 2009 and hit No.1 position in the charts, becoming double-platinum in its first week of release. A DVD of her Stade de France concerts followed on 12 April 2010, becoming instantly Diamond.
Bleu Noir (2010 – present)
In the latter half of 2010, the media reported that Mylène Farmer would work with Line RenaudLine Renaud
- Early life :Line Renaud was born in Pont-de-Nieppe on 2 July 1928. Her mother Simone was a shorthand typist; her father was a truck driver during the week, but he played trumpet at the weekends, in a local brass band...
and Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
in their respective new releases. After thirty years of absence, Line Renaud released her new album in November 2010, which contains "C'est pas l'heure," a duet with Farmer, written by Farmer and Boutonnat. Also in November, Australian band INXS released the album Original Sin as a tribute to the late Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
. Farmer covered "Never Tear Us Apart
Never Tear Us Apart
"Never Tear Us Apart" is a single released by Australian rock group INXS in August 1988. It was also included on the band's sixth studio album, Kick. The music was written by Andrew Farriss, who recorded a blues-style demo and gave it to Michael Hutchence...
" with Ben Harper, featuring new lyrics in French written by Farmer.
It was announced surprisingly on 27 September 2010 that Farmer would be releasing a new single "Oui mais... non
Oui mais... non
"Oui mais... non" is a 2010 song by French pop musician Mylène Farmer. It is the leading single to her eighth studio album Bleu Noir, released in December 2010. The single was released to radio stations on 29 September, then available for pre-order on 11 October in the digital music market, and on...
" to lead her next album. Unlike all the previous musical works by Farmer, Boutonnat was not included in the production or composition. Instead Farmer hired RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
, known for his work with Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
to produce and write the music for the single. "Oui mais... non
Oui mais... non
"Oui mais... non" is a 2010 song by French pop musician Mylène Farmer. It is the leading single to her eighth studio album Bleu Noir, released in December 2010. The single was released to radio stations on 29 September, then available for pre-order on 11 October in the digital music market, and on...
" was released to digital downloading markets on 11 October and hit No.1 on the French charts. Considering the music market crisis, it's her most successful single since 2002. The following singles, "Bleu Noir
Bleu Noir (song)
"Bleu noir" is a 2010 song by French pop musician Mylène Farmer. It is the second single to her eighth studio album Bleu Noir, released in December 2010. The song was written and produced by Moby with lyrics by Farmer, and the music video produced by French film director Olivier Dahan. It was...
" and "Lonely Lisa", hit the top of the charts too, expanding her record with twelve No.1 singles.
The album Bleu Noir
Bleu Noir
-Formats:* CD - Jewel box* CD - Digisleeve Limited Edition with 24 page insert* Double Vinyl LP* Collector's edition box: CD, pen, bottle of ink, and individual sheets of pictures & lyrics.-Release history:-Peak positions:-Year-end charts:...
was released on 6 December 2010, produced by Farmer, RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
, Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
and Archive
Archive (band)
Archive is a musical group based in London, England, whose music spans electronic, trip-hop, avant-garde, post-rock and progressive rock. Over their sixteen-year history, the band has released eight studio albums and enjoyed established success throughout Europe, while remaining little-known in...
. It entered the French album chart at No.1 and remained at the top for three consecutive weeks. It topped the 9th position in the French 2010 charts, with more than 300,000 copies sold in three weeks. It has sold so far over 600,000 copies, reaching Diamond status, within three months of its release. It also broke the record for best debut in the Downloads Chart with 9,000 copies sold.
Filmography
- GiorginoGiorgino-Presentation:* Title : Giorgino* Direction : Laurent Boutonnat* Screenplay : Laurent Boutonnat, Gilles Laurent* Production : Laurent Boutonnat* Music : Laurent Boutonnat* Photo : Jean-Pierre Sauvaire* Film editing : Laurent Boutonnat, Agnès Mouchel...
(1994 by Laurent Boutonnat) (portrayed Catherine Degrâce) - Arthur et les Minimoys (Arthur and the Invisibles) (2006 by Luc BessonLuc BessonLuc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
) (French voice of Princess Selenia) - Arthur et la Vengeance de Maltazard (2009 by Luc Besson) (French voice of Princess Selenia)
- Arthur et la Guerre des Deux Mondes (2010 by Luc Besson) (French voice of Princess Selenia)
Discography
- Cendres de LuneCendres de LuneCendres de Lune is the debut album by the French singer/songwriter Mylène Farmer, released on April 1, 1986. The album was precedeed by the hit single "Libertine", and the album was rereleased in 1987 preceded by the song "Tristana"...
(1986) - Ainsi soit je...Ainsi Soit Je...Ainsi Soit Je... is the second album by Mylène Farmer, released in April 1988. It contains the hit singles "Sans contrefaçon", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" and "Sans logique"...
(1988) - L'Autre...L'Autre...L'Autre... is the third studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 9, 1991. It contains the singer's biggest hit, "Désenchantée", which was number-one in France for nine weeks, and other three top ten hits...
(1991) - AnamorphoséeAnamorphoséeAnamorphosée is the fourth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on October 17, 1995. Led by the number-one single "XXL", the album was something of a departure from her previous work...
(1995) - InnamoramentoInnamoramentoInnamoramento is the fifth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 7, 1999.-Background and release:By 1999, Farmer had barely appeared in the media since her 1996 concerts at Paris-Bercy...
(1999) - Avant que l'ombre...Avant que l'ombre...Avant que l'ombre... is the sixth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 4, 2005. Mainly composed of acoustic ballads, this album produced five singles which were all top ten hits in France, including "Fuck Them All" and "L'amour n'est rien..."...
(2005) - Point de suturePoint de SuturePoint de Suture is the seventh studio album by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer, and her 14th album overall. Preceded by the lead single "Dégénération", it was released digitally on 20 August 2008, then on CD five days later...
(2008) - Bleu NoirBleu Noir-Formats:* CD - Jewel box* CD - Digisleeve Limited Edition with 24 page insert* Double Vinyl LP* Collector's edition box: CD, pen, bottle of ink, and individual sheets of pictures & lyrics.-Release history:-Peak positions:-Year-end charts:...
(2010)
Companies owned by Farmer
| Name | Immatriculation | Legal status | Activity | Headquarters | Capital | Trivia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 October 1989 | SARL Société à responsabilité limitée A Société à responsabilité limitée, also known by the acronym SARL , is a private limited liability corporate entity that exists in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Macau, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon and has commerce as its purpose.A SARL is a company whose liability is limited to the... |
Sound recording and music publishing | 15 Rue de Douai, Paris | 200 000 € | Co-directed by Laurent Boutonnat | |
| 13 December 1993 | SARL Société à responsabilité limitée A Société à responsabilité limitée, also known by the acronym SARL , is a private limited liability corporate entity that exists in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Macau, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon and has commerce as its purpose.A SARL is a company whose liability is limited to the... |
Sound recording and music publishing | 4 Rue de la Paix, Paris | 100 000 € | Staffings : 5 (Mylène Gautier, Paul Van Parys...) | |
| Innamoramento | 12 December 1997 | SARL Société à responsabilité limitée A Société à responsabilité limitée, also known by the acronym SARL , is a private limited liability corporate entity that exists in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Macau, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon and has commerce as its purpose.A SARL is a company whose liability is limited to the... |
Institutional and advertising films production | 4 Rue de la Paix, Paris | 45 000 € | |
| Dichotomie | 29 November 2000 | SARL Société à responsabilité limitée A Société à responsabilité limitée, also known by the acronym SARL , is a private limited liability corporate entity that exists in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Macau, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon and has commerce as its purpose.A SARL is a company whose liability is limited to the... |
Sound recording and music publishing | 4 Rue de la Paix, Paris | 8000 € | |
| Isiaka | 27 February 2002 | SARL Société à responsabilité limitée A Société à responsabilité limitée, also known by the acronym SARL , is a private limited liability corporate entity that exists in France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Macau, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon and has commerce as its purpose.A SARL is a company whose liability is limited to the... |
Sound recording and music publishing | 15 Rue de Douai, Paris | 8000 € | Co-directed by Laurent Boutonnat |
| SCI ML | 19 February 2003 | Civil society Civil society Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal... |
Rental of lands and other properties | 15 Rue de Douai, Paris | 225 000 € | Co-directed by Laurent Boutonnat |
Unofficial fanclub
The Mylène Farmer-International Fan Club (MFIFC) existed from 1995 to 2001. At its peak, it had over ten thousand subscribers in 37 countries. The club published subscriber-only fanzines, which included interviews with people who personally knew Mylène, including KhaledKhaled (musician)
Khaled Hadj Ibrahim , better known as Khaled, is a raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Sidi El Houari in Oran Province of Algeria...
, Marcus Nispel, Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara is an American film screenwriter and director. He is best known as an independent filmmaker of such films as The Driller Killer , Ms. 45 , King of New York , Bad Lieutenant and The Funeral .-Early life:Ferrara was born in the Bronx of Italian and Irish descent...
, H. R. Giger
H. R. Giger
Hans Rudolf "Ruedi" Giger is a Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and set designer. He won an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects for his design work on the film Alien.-Early life:...
and Paco Rabanne
Paco Rabanne
Francisco "Paco" Rabaneda Cuervo, more commonly known as Paco Rabanne is a Franco-Spanish fashion designer. He fled Spain for France with his mother when the Spanish Civil War broke out...
. They also organised a fan tour in which several members attended concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
See also
External links
- Listen to Mylène Farmer's discography
- Mylene Farmer's photos, videos, songs (English)
- Latin Mylene Farmer (Spanish and French)
- Mylene Farmer's Concerts, Tourdates, Bio, Songs, Videos, Lyrics, Awards, Filmograpy, Videography and Discography (English)
- Mylene Farmer Fan-Made French website and Forum (English/French)
- Mylene Farmer`s Photos archive
- Mylene Farmer México (Spanish)
- Mylene Farmer Romania (Romanian)
- Mylene Farmer Innamoramento.net Big Site (French)
- Mylene Farmer Mylene-01.com Fans portal (French)
- M.F. International: Mylène Farmer & General French Music Forum (English)