Paul Michiels
Encyclopedia
Paul Michiels is a Belgian singer and songwriter
who became popular for his work with the Belgian music group Soulsister
. He has earned the nickname Polle Pap, a name he inherited from a childhood job as a milkman in his hometown of Heist-op-den-Berg
, where he was born.
Paul started out with a small band called Purple Bus. From 1974 until 1980, he played keyboards
for a British
-Belgian band called Octopus
. After Octopus broke up, Paul then went solo under the name P.P. Michiels. Under that name, he became famous in his home country for a single titled "Females," which notoriously became popular because it was accompanied by a seducing music video
.
In 1986, Paul teamed up with Belgian singer Jan Leyers
to form the group The Soul Sisters. They released three very popular singles: "You Get to Me," "Talk About It" and "Like a Mountain." In 1988, they changed their name to Soulsister and hit it big time with the soulful, Motown-sounding song "The Way to Your Heart" on their first album, It Takes Two. The band changed their name again in 1990, this time to Leyers, Michiels, and SoulSister, and released Heat. They released two more studio albums and a live album, and released a "Very Best Of" compilation in 1997 following their split.
After splitting away, Paul returned to his solo career. In 1998, he released The Inner Child, which included the hit "One Day at a Time." In 2001, Paul released a personal compilation titled Forever Young, which included the title song by Alphaville
(which Paul sang for the 2000 Belgian movie Team Spirit) as well as pieces by Eddie Cochran
, Jacques Dutronc
, Donovan
, Dionne Warwick
, The Wallace Collection, Easybeats, Eddie Floyd
, and other artists from Europe and North America.
Paul refrained from releasing another album too soon, but stayed on tour with the "Big M's," the name of his band. In 2006, he released a third solo album, Magic in the House. The album featured the singles "If I Live, If I Breathe" and "The Light," the latter being released as both a standard and instrumental
piece.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
who became popular for his work with the Belgian music group Soulsister
Soulsister
SoulSister was a Belgian music band consisting of musicians Jan Leyers and Paul Michiels. SoulSister is another term used for black women in new orleans...
. He has earned the nickname Polle Pap, a name he inherited from a childhood job as a milkman in his hometown of Heist-op-den-Berg
Heist-op-den-Berg
Heist-op-den-Berg is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the villages of Booischot , Hallaar, Heist-op-den-Berg proper , Itegem, Schriek and Wiekevorst.-History:The 48-meter-high hill on which Heist would...
, where he was born.
Paul started out with a small band called Purple Bus. From 1974 until 1980, he played keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
for a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-Belgian band called Octopus
Octopus (band)
Octopus were a Britpop band from Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland formed in 1995. They had three hit singles before splitting up in 1997.-History:...
. After Octopus broke up, Paul then went solo under the name P.P. Michiels. Under that name, he became famous in his home country for a single titled "Females," which notoriously became popular because it was accompanied by a seducing music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
.
In 1986, Paul teamed up with Belgian singer Jan Leyers
Jan Leyers
Jan Leyers is a singer, songwriter, and television personality. He was a member of the group Soulsister and later became a solo musician and host of various television series.-Music career:...
to form the group The Soul Sisters. They released three very popular singles: "You Get to Me," "Talk About It" and "Like a Mountain." In 1988, they changed their name to Soulsister and hit it big time with the soulful, Motown-sounding song "The Way to Your Heart" on their first album, It Takes Two. The band changed their name again in 1990, this time to Leyers, Michiels, and SoulSister, and released Heat. They released two more studio albums and a live album, and released a "Very Best Of" compilation in 1997 following their split.
After splitting away, Paul returned to his solo career. In 1998, he released The Inner Child, which included the hit "One Day at a Time." In 2001, Paul released a personal compilation titled Forever Young, which included the title song by Alphaville
Alphaville (band)
Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
(which Paul sang for the 2000 Belgian movie Team Spirit) as well as pieces by Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
, Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc
Jacques Dutronc is a French singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and actor. He has been married to singer Françoise Hardy since 30 March 1981 and the two have a son . He also has been a longtime songwriting collaborator with Jacques Lanzmann...
, Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
, Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, The Wallace Collection, Easybeats, Eddie Floyd
Eddie Floyd
Eddie Lee Floyd is an American soul/R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his work on the Stax record label in the 1960s and 1970s and the song "Knock on Wood".-Biography:...
, and other artists from Europe and North America.
Paul refrained from releasing another album too soon, but stayed on tour with the "Big M's," the name of his band. In 2006, he released a third solo album, Magic in the House. The album featured the singles "If I Live, If I Breathe" and "The Light," the latter being released as both a standard and instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
piece.