Zazie
Encyclopedia
Zazie is a French singer and songwriter. Zazie co-produces all her albums.
novel, Zazie dans le metro. Her mother was a music teacher and her father, Hervé de Truchis de Varennes, an architect. At home, they listened to Georges Brassens
, Jacques Brel
and Barbara, as well as classical music.
Zazie practiced the violin for ten years, as well as the piano and guitar. Her attraction to writing grew gradually. At the age of four she wrote her first song, and her first play at eight.
in 1991. In 1992 she released Je, tu, ils, her first album recorded in the studios of Peter Gabriel
. She collaborated for the first time with Pascal Obispo
on the song "Un, deux, trois, soleil". She wrote almost all the tracks of the album and participated in the composition. The album had minor success, and the single "Sucré salé" was ranked #46 on the Top 50 (French SNEP Singles Chart). The following year, Zazie was awarded 'Best New Female Pop Artist of the Year' (révélation variétés féminine de l’année) at the Victoires de la musique
. The other two singles from the albums were much less successful, but the singer's career was launched. Her record label
agreed to sign for a second album.
Her songs range from upbeat rock or pop songs to languid down tempo tunes and are characterised by the wit of their lyrics based on puns, alliterations, homophonies
and double entendres.
's MuchMusic
TV program Too Much 4 Much
due to its controversial content. Ultimately, the discussion panel deemed the video okay for audiences. In the video, a group of four smitten women, including Zazie, follow a pair of men down to a lake. There, the two men strip off their clothes and swim in the water. Zazie fantasizes about undressing one of the men and kissing him. However, her fantasies are spoiled as the two men kiss each other.
In 1997, Pascal Obispo
and Zazie released the single "Les meilleurs ennemis".
Her 1998 album Made in Love was co-produced by Ali Staton, Pierre Jaconelli, and herself. The album photos were taken by fashion designer Jean-Baptiste Mondino
. The songs "Ça fait mal et ça fait rien", "Tous des anges", and "Tout le monde" were released as singles. This album was followed by a live album, Made in Live, the next year. In 1999 she also wrote a song for Jane Birkin
.
In 2001, Zazie teamed up with Axel Bauer
on the single "À ma place". It was her most successful single in France, reaching number four on the French charts.
Zazie once again addressed homosexuality on her 2002 single "Adam et Yves" from her 2001 album La Zizanie. This album was produced solely by Pierre Jaconelli. Other singles included "Rue de la paix" and "Danse avec les loops". In 2003, she released another live album, Ze Live.
Her 2004 album Rodéo was co-produced with Jean-Pierre Pilot and Philippe Paradis
. The video for the single "Excuse-moi" features Zazie playing the role of an Indian woman who leaves her cheating husband. She followed this album up with a live album, Rodéo Tour in 2006.
Her sixth album, Totem, was released in February 2007. Like her previous album, it was co-produced with Jean-Pierre Pilot and Philippe Paradis
. The "Totem Tour" began on 1 July.
Also in 2007, she wrote several songs for Christophe Willem
's album, Inventaire.
She is noted for her playful use of language, which has led to the coining of the French word zazisme, or "Zazie-ism".
June 2010 saw the release of a new single "Avant l'amour" (Before Love). This is the first single from a forthcoming album, "Za7ie". To date, it has reached #54 on the French SNEP radio airplay chart. "Za7ie" is not just an album, it's a project. There will be 49 songs. A shorter version with 14 songs will be released in late September, with the 49 song project to be released in late November.
1 Reached #1 on the French compilations chart.
A Promotional release only.
Early life
She was nicknamed "Zazie" in reference to the title character of the Raymond QueneauRaymond Queneau
Raymond Queneau was a French poet and novelist and the co-founder of Ouvroir de littérature potentielle .-Biography:Born in Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Queneau was the only child of Auguste Queneau and Joséphine Mignot...
novel, Zazie dans le metro. Her mother was a music teacher and her father, Hervé de Truchis de Varennes, an architect. At home, they listened to Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier...
, Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
and Barbara, as well as classical music.
Zazie practiced the violin for ten years, as well as the piano and guitar. Her attraction to writing grew gradually. At the age of four she wrote her first song, and her first play at eight.
Her debuts
Zazie starred in a Broadway play called "Le Petite Fille". While a music producer James B. Biega was in the audience, he signed her directly after her musical number. After, she recorded many of her hits that year.1993: the first album
In 1990, Zazie tried to start a musical career. She signed a contract with PhonogramPhonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
in 1991. In 1992 she released Je, tu, ils, her first album recorded in the studios of Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. She collaborated for the first time with Pascal Obispo
Pascal Obispo
Pascal Michel Obispo is a French singer/songwriter.Pascal Obispo started singing in 1980. He got his first record deal in 1990, Le long du fleuve. With his second album, Plus que tout au monde, selling over 2 million albums, his songs became a popular success...
on the song "Un, deux, trois, soleil". She wrote almost all the tracks of the album and participated in the composition. The album had minor success, and the single "Sucré salé" was ranked #46 on the Top 50 (French SNEP Singles Chart). The following year, Zazie was awarded 'Best New Female Pop Artist of the Year' (révélation variétés féminine de l’année) at the Victoires de la musique
Victoires de la Musique
Victoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
. The other two singles from the albums were much less successful, but the singer's career was launched. Her record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
agreed to sign for a second album.
Her songs range from upbeat rock or pop songs to languid down tempo tunes and are characterised by the wit of their lyrics based on puns, alliterations, homophonies
Homophone
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning. The words may be spelled the same, such as rose and rose , or differently, such as carat, caret, and carrot, or to, two, and too. Homophones that are spelled the same are also both homographs and homonyms...
and double entendres.
From 1995: Success
In 1995, she released her second album Zen, which was co-written by and co-produced with Vincent-Marie Bouvot. The album produced the singles "Zen" and "Homme sweet homme". Her 1996 single "Un point c'est toi" from the same album was discussed on CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
TV program Too Much 4 Much
Too Much 4 Much
Too Much 4 Much was a Canadian television series, which aired on MuchMusic. The series, which aired after midnight Eastern time, played controversial videos which had, for one reason or another, been banned from regular rotation on the network, and featured panel discussions on the issues raised by...
due to its controversial content. Ultimately, the discussion panel deemed the video okay for audiences. In the video, a group of four smitten women, including Zazie, follow a pair of men down to a lake. There, the two men strip off their clothes and swim in the water. Zazie fantasizes about undressing one of the men and kissing him. However, her fantasies are spoiled as the two men kiss each other.
In 1997, Pascal Obispo
Pascal Obispo
Pascal Michel Obispo is a French singer/songwriter.Pascal Obispo started singing in 1980. He got his first record deal in 1990, Le long du fleuve. With his second album, Plus que tout au monde, selling over 2 million albums, his songs became a popular success...
and Zazie released the single "Les meilleurs ennemis".
Her 1998 album Made in Love was co-produced by Ali Staton, Pierre Jaconelli, and herself. The album photos were taken by fashion designer Jean-Baptiste Mondino
Jean-Baptiste Mondino
Jean-Baptiste Mondino is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Les Rita Mitsouko...
. The songs "Ça fait mal et ça fait rien", "Tous des anges", and "Tout le monde" were released as singles. This album was followed by a live album, Made in Live, the next year. In 1999 she also wrote a song for Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin
Jane Mallory Birkin, OBE is an English-born actress and singer who lives in France. In recent years she has written her own album, directed a film and become an outspoken proponent of democracy in Burma.- Early life :...
.
In 2001, Zazie teamed up with Axel Bauer
Axel Bauer
Axel Bauer is a French singer.In 2001, his duet with French singer Zazie, "À ma place", reached number four on the French charts.-Biography:...
on the single "À ma place". It was her most successful single in France, reaching number four on the French charts.
Zazie once again addressed homosexuality on her 2002 single "Adam et Yves" from her 2001 album La Zizanie. This album was produced solely by Pierre Jaconelli. Other singles included "Rue de la paix" and "Danse avec les loops". In 2003, she released another live album, Ze Live.
Her 2004 album Rodéo was co-produced with Jean-Pierre Pilot and Philippe Paradis
Philippe Paradis
Philippe Paradis is a Canadian major junior ice hockey player currently with the P.E.I. Rocket of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . He was drafted 27th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2009 NHL Entry Draft....
. The video for the single "Excuse-moi" features Zazie playing the role of an Indian woman who leaves her cheating husband. She followed this album up with a live album, Rodéo Tour in 2006.
Her sixth album, Totem, was released in February 2007. Like her previous album, it was co-produced with Jean-Pierre Pilot and Philippe Paradis
Philippe Paradis
Philippe Paradis is a Canadian major junior ice hockey player currently with the P.E.I. Rocket of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . He was drafted 27th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2009 NHL Entry Draft....
. The "Totem Tour" began on 1 July.
Also in 2007, she wrote several songs for Christophe Willem
Christophe Willem
Christophe Willem , born on 3 August 1983 in Enghien-les-Bains, Val-d'Oise, is a French singer and the winner of the fourth edition of Nouvelle Star in 2006.-Early life:...
's album, Inventaire.
She is noted for her playful use of language, which has led to the coining of the French word zazisme, or "Zazie-ism".
June 2010 saw the release of a new single "Avant l'amour" (Before Love). This is the first single from a forthcoming album, "Za7ie". To date, it has reached #54 on the French SNEP radio airplay chart. "Za7ie" is not just an album, it's a project. There will be 49 songs. A shorter version with 14 songs will be released in late September, with the 49 song project to be released in late November.
Other Activites
Zazie made her acting debut in the 1998 film by Didier Le Pêcheur "J'aimerais pas crever un dimanche" (Don't Let Me Die on a Sunday).,Studio albums
| Year | Album | FR France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
BE Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
SWI Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Je, Tu, Ils | 173 | – | – | France:- |
| 1995 | Zen Zen (Zazie album) Zen is a 1995 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her second studio album and was released on 7 January 1995. The album achieved success in francophone countries and provided five singles : "Larsen" , "Zen" and "Un point c'est toi" .-Recording:The vast majority of the... |
8 | 15 | – | France: Gold (300,000+) |
| 1998 | Made in Love Made in Love Made in Love is a 1998 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her third studio album and was released on 11 May 1998. It achieved success in francophone countries, although it was not as so successful as Zazie's next albums... |
3 | 17 | – | France: Gold (345,000) |
| 2001 | La Zizanie La Zizanie La Zizanie is a 2001 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her fourth studio album and her fifth album overall. It was released on 16 October 2001 and achieved success in francophone countries... |
1 | 1 | 28 | France: Platinum (447,600) |
| 2004 | Rodéo Rodéo (album) Rodéo is a 2004 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her fifth studio album and her seventh album overall. It was released on 22 November 2004 and achieved success in francophone countries... |
2 | 2 | 45 | France: Platinum (315,600) |
| 2007 | Totem | 1 | 1 | 10 | France: Platinum (327,400) |
| 2010 | Za7ie Za7ie Za7ie is a multi-release musical project, by French singer-songwriter Zazie. The project, themed by days of the week consists of seven titles per day of the week, for a total of 49 new recordings..... |
1 | 1 | 28 | France: Platinum (120,000) |
Live albums
| Year | Album | FR France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
BE Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
SWI Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Made In Live | 30 | 39 | – | France: Silver (75,000) |
| 2003 | Ze Live!! | 3 | 6 | 47 | France: Gold (120,000) |
| 2006 | Rodéo Tour | 12 | 7 | 79 | France: 26,000 |
Best of
| Year | Album | FR France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
BE Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
SWI Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Zest of Zest of Zest of is a 2008 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her first best of and her tenth album overall. It was released on 17 November 2008 digitally and under physical formats and achieved success in francophone countries... |
11 | 1 | 39 | France: 152,650+ |
1 Reached #1 on the French compilations chart.
Singles
| Year | Single | FR France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
BE Top Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... |
BE Tip | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Sucré, salé" | 46 | - | - | Je, Tu, Ils |
| "Je, tu, ils"A | - | - | - | ||
| "Un petit peu amoureux"A | - | - | - | ||
| 1995 | "Larsen" | 38 | - | - | Zen Zen (Zazie album) Zen is a 1995 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her second studio album and was released on 7 January 1995. The album achieved success in francophone countries and provided five singles : "Larsen" , "Zen" and "Un point c'est toi" .-Recording:The vast majority of the... |
| "Zen" | 23 | - | - | ||
| 1996 | "Un point c'est toi" | 24 | - | - | |
| "Homme sweet homme" | - | - | - | ||
| 1997 | "Les meilleurs ennemis" (with Pascal Obispo Pascal Obispo Pascal Michel Obispo is a French singer/songwriter.Pascal Obispo started singing in 1980. He got his first record deal in 1990, Le long du fleuve. With his second album, Plus que tout au monde, selling over 2 million albums, his songs became a popular success... ) |
39 | 20 | - | Superflu (Obispo Pascal Obispo Pascal Michel Obispo is a French singer/songwriter.Pascal Obispo started singing in 1980. He got his first record deal in 1990, Le long du fleuve. With his second album, Plus que tout au monde, selling over 2 million albums, his songs became a popular success... album) |
| 1998 | "Tous des anges" | 87 | - | - | Made in Love Made in Love Made in Love is a 1998 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her third studio album and was released on 11 May 1998. It achieved success in francophone countries, although it was not as so successful as Zazie's next albums... |
| "Ça fait mal et ca fait rien" | 75 | - | - | ||
| "Tout le monde" | 23 | 34 | - | ||
| "Made In Love"A | - | - | - | ||
| "Chanson d'ami"A | - | - | - | ||
| 1999 | "Cyber"A | - | - | - | Made in Live |
| 2001 | "À ma place À ma place "À ma place" is a 2001 pop song recorded as a duet by French singers Zazie and Axel Bauer. It was the second single off Bauer's album Personne n'est parfait and was released on 7 May 2001. It became a smash hit in France and Belgium where it reached the top five.-Song information:The song was... " (with Axel Bauer Axel Bauer Axel Bauer is a French singer.In 2001, his duet with French singer Zazie, "À ma place", reached number four on the French charts.-Biography:... ) |
4 | 1 | - | Personne n'est parfait (Bauer Axel Bauer Axel Bauer is a French singer.In 2001, his duet with French singer Zazie, "À ma place", reached number four on the French charts.-Biography:... album) |
| "Rue de la paix" | 11 | 11 | - | La Zizanie La Zizanie La Zizanie is a 2001 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her fourth studio album and her fifth album overall. It was released on 16 October 2001 and achieved success in francophone countries... |
|
| 2002 | "Adam et Yves" | 22 | - | 2 | |
| "Sur toi"A | - | - | - | ||
| 2003 | "Danse avec les loops" | 53 | - | 7 | |
| 2004 | "Rodéo"A | - | - | - | Rodéo Rodéo (album) Rodéo is a 2004 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her fifth studio album and her seventh album overall. It was released on 22 November 2004 and achieved success in francophone countries... |
| "Toc, Toc, Toc"A | - | - | - | ||
| "Excuse-moi"A | - | - | - | ||
| "Oui"A | - | - | - | ||
| 2007 | "Des rails" | - | 25 | - | Totem |
| "Je suis un homme Je suis un homme "Je suis un homme" is a 2007 pop song recorded by French singer Zazie. It was the second single from her sixth studio album Totem and was released in early October 2007... " |
7 | 7 | - | ||
| "J'étais là"A | - | - | 23 | ||
| 2008 | "Flower power" | - | - | - | |
| "FM Air" | 8 | 19 | - | Zest of Zazie Zest of Zest of is a 2008 album recorded by French pop singer Zazie. It was her first best of and her tenth album overall. It was released on 17 November 2008 digitally and under physical formats and achieved success in francophone countries... |
|
| 2010 | "Avant l'amour" | - | 8 | - | Za7ie Za7ie Za7ie is a multi-release musical project, by French singer-songwriter Zazie. The project, themed by days of the week consists of seven titles per day of the week, for a total of 49 new recordings..... |
| "Etre et avoir" | - | - | - | ||
| 2011 | "Chanson d'amour" | - | - | - | |
A Promotional release only.
Awards
- Victoires de la musiqueVictoires de la MusiqueVictoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...
:- Musical show, tour or concert of the year (2006)
- Female group of artists of the year (2002)
- Female artist of the year (1998)
- Music video of the year: Larsen, directed by Philippe Andre; (1996)
- Popular music Female révélation of the year (1993)
- NRJ Music AwardsNRJ Music AwardsThe NRJ Music Awards, created in 2000 by the radio station NRJ in partnership with the television network TF1 takes place every year in mid-January at Cannes as the opening of MIDEM...
:- Best French language song (2002) with Axel BauerAxel BauerAxel Bauer is a French singer.In 2001, his duet with French singer Zazie, "À ma place", reached number four on the French charts.-Biography:...
for À ma place
- Best French language song (2002) with Axel Bauer
Personal life
Zazie and her former partner, Fabien Cahen, have a daughter, Lola, who was born on 16 August 2002.External links
Official site- Biography of Zazie from Radio France InternationaleRadio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
Zazie le Zite, unofficial website - Zazie's UK Label Le Site des Anges, unofficial website