Brigitte Fontaine, (born 24 June 1939) is a singer of
avant-garde music
Avant-garde music is music that is considered to be at the forefront of innovation in its field, with the term "avant-garde" implying a critique of existing aesthetic conventions, rejection of the status quo in favor of unique or original eleme ...
. She has employed numerous unusual musical styles, melding
rock and roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm ...
,
folk,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
,
electronica
Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to ...
,
spoken word poetry
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
, and
world
In its most general sense, the term "world" refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the worl ...
. She has collaborated with
Stereolab,
Michel Colombier,
Jean-Claude Vannier
Jean-Claude Vannier (born 1943) is a French musician, composer and arranger. Vannier has composed music, written lyrics, and produced albums for many singers.
Vannier is regarded as an important musician in his native country; music critic Andy ...
,
Areski Belkacem
Areski Belkacem (born 23 January 1940), also known simply as Areski, is a French singer, multi-instrumentalist, comedian and composer.
Biography
Areski grew up in Versailles, where his parents, of kabyle (Berber) descent, were welcoming Alge ...
,
Gotan Project,
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of t ...
,
Antoine Duhamel
Antoine Duhamel (30 July 1925 – 11 September 2014) was a French composer, orchestra conductor and music teacher.
Life and career
Born in Valmondois in the Val-d'Oise département of France, Antoine Duhamel was one of the three sons of the Fre ...
,
Grace Jones
Grace Beverly Jones (born 19 May 1948) is a model, singer and actress. Born in Jamaica, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York, when she was a teenager. Jones began her modelling career in New York state, then in Paris, working for ...
,
Noir Désir,
Archie Shepp,
Arno
The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.
Source and route
The river originates on Monte Falterona in the Casentino area of the Apennines, and initially takes a ...
, and
The Art Ensemble of Chicago.
She is also a novelist, playwright, poet, and actress.
Early life
The daughter of two teachers, Brigitte Fontaine developed her taste for writing and drama very early. She spent her childhood in small villages of
Finistère
Finistère (, ; br, Penn-ar-Bed ) is a department of France in the extreme west of Brittany. In 2019, it had a population of 915,090. , then in
Morlaix. At 17 years old, she moved to Paris to become an actress.
In 1971, she was one of the women who signed the
Manifesto of the 343, publicly admitting to having an abortion at a time when it was illegal in France.
[Le manifeste des 343](_blank)
Artistic overview
1963–1968
In 1963, she turned to singing and appeared in several Parisian theatres, interpreting her own works. In 1964, she opened for
Barbara and
George Brassens's show at the
Bobino. Even so, she did not give up theatre. With
Jacques Higelin and actor
Rufus, she created the play ''Maman j'ai peur'' ("Mom I am afraid"), which played first at the Vieille-Grille theatre, and then at the
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées () is an entertainment venue standing at 15 avenue Montaigne in Paris. It is situated near Avenue des Champs-Élysées, from which it takes its name. Its eponymous main hall may seat up to 1,905 people, while ...
. It met with such a critical and popular success that it stayed in Paris for more than two seasons and toured throughout Europe.
In 1965 and then in 1968, she made two albums, one jazz and one avant-pop, as well as two 45s with Jacques Higelin. In 1969, she began what would be a long collaboration with
Kabyle musician
Areski Belkacem
Areski Belkacem (born 23 January 1940), also known simply as Areski, is a French singer, multi-instrumentalist, comedian and composer.
Biography
Areski grew up in Versailles, where his parents, of kabyle (Berber) descent, were welcoming Alge ...
. With Belkacem and in the company of Higelin, she conceived ''Niok'', an innovative spectacle of theatre and song, for the Lucernaire theatre. Soon after, Fontaine wrote a series of works in free verse and prose which comprised the show ''Comme à la radio'' at the
Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier before being turned into an
album of the same name. Recorded with the
Art Ensemble of Chicago, this album marks a clean break with traditional French songs, building the first bridges to
world music.
1969–1979
Brigitte Fontaine became a major figure in the French underground. In a half-dozen albums, the majority of which were released through the independent label Saravah, Fontaine explored different poetic worlds. She renounced the use of rhyme, and using talk-over sometimes, she recorded, with very little means and often on two tracks, songs which addressed topics with humour or gravity, according to the mood, as various as death ("Dommage que tu sois mort"), life ("L’été, l’été"), alienation ("Comme à la radio"), madness ("Ragilia"), love ("Je t’aimerai"), social injustice ("C’est normal"), the inequality of the sexes ("Patriarcat") and racism ("Y' a du lard"). However, she also knew how to make light of herself ("L'Auberge (Révolution)").
Because they sail among pop, folk, electro and world music, the albums ''
L'Incendie'' and ''
Vous et Nous'' by the Areski-Fontaine duo figure among the most unclassifiable records of the French scene. Almost thirty years later, the international audience of these LPs (since re-edited for CD) is comparable to that of the cult record ''
Histoire de Melody Nelson
''Histoire de Melody Nelson'' is a 1971 concept album by French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Produced by Jean-Claude Desmarty, the album was released on March 24, 1971 through Philips Records. Its narrative follows an illicit romance which devel ...
'' by
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg (; born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French musician, singer-songwriter, actor, author and filmmaker. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provoc ...
and
Jean-Claude Vannier
Jean-Claude Vannier (born 1943) is a French musician, composer and arranger. Vannier has composed music, written lyrics, and produced albums for many singers.
Vannier is regarded as an important musician in his native country; music critic Andy ...
, notably due to the enthusiastic remarks made by members of the band
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of t ...
in the English-speaking press.
1980–1990
The 1980s were a period of silence, musically speaking, for Brigitte Fontaine and her partner
Areski Belkacem
Areski Belkacem (born 23 January 1940), also known simply as Areski, is a French singer, multi-instrumentalist, comedian and composer.
Biography
Areski grew up in Versailles, where his parents, of kabyle (Berber) descent, were welcoming Alge ...
. Far from the recording studio, she devoted herself to writing and the theatre. Always active, she appeared onstage in Quebec, she performed her play ''Acte 2'' in a grand tour of the French-speaking world, interpreted ''Les Bonnes'' by
Jean Genet
Jean Genet (; – ) was a French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. In his early life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but he later became a writer and playwright. His major works include the novels '' The Thief ...
in Paris, and published a novel (''Paso doble'') as well as a collection of short stories (''Nouvelles de l’exil''). In 1984, she recorded a single ("Les Filles d’aujourd’hui").
After having given a series of concerts in Tokyo and other large Japanese cities, she had to wait about five years for a French company to distribute her new album ''
French corazon'' (written and composed in 1984 but released in 1988 in Japan). Having been broadcast notably on French television, the video for the single "Le Nougat", directed by comics artist Olivia Tele Clavel, prepared the public for the big return of the singer to the French stage which commenced with a concert in 1993 at the
Bataclan
Bataclan may refer to:
*''Ba-ta-clan'', a 1855 operetta by Jacques Offenbach
*Bataclan (theatre), a theatre in Paris named after the operetta
**Bataclan theatre massacre, November 2015 Paris attacks
Music
*''Bataclan 1989'', by Maxime Le Forestie ...
.
1990–2001
In the 1990s, Brigitte Fontaine moved closer to the musical worlds of
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
and
Massive Attack by testing new, more electric musical forms and, especially, more electronic forms than before. Her lyrics mark a return to a more classical, versified form. The release of her album ''
Genre humain'', in 1995, met with great success (more so on the part of the critics than the general public) with surprising titles like "Conne" (produced by
Étienne Daho), lyric titles like "
La Femme à barbe" (produced by Les Valentins), and poetic ones like "Il se mêle à tout ça" (produced by Yann Cortella and Areski Belkacem).
In 1997, while she published a new novel (''La Limonade bleue''), she recorded ''
Les Palaces'' and its landmark track "Ah que la vie est belle!". The album, very well received by the press, is enriched by the collaboration of
Areski Belkacem
Areski Belkacem (born 23 January 1940), also known simply as Areski, is a French singer, multi-instrumentalist, comedian and composer.
Biography
Areski grew up in Versailles, where his parents, of kabyle (Berber) descent, were welcoming Alge ...
,
Jacques Higelin and
Alain Bashung
Alain Bashung (, born Alain Claude Baschung; 1 December 1947 – 14 March 2009) was a French singer, songwriter and actor. Credited with reviving the French chanson in "a time of French musical turmoil", he is often regarded in his home country a ...
.
2001–present
Her albums ''
Kékéland'' (2001) and ''
Rue Saint Louis en l'Île'' (2004) benefited from prestigious collaborations with artists such as
Noir désir (with whom she also co-wrote and recorded the 23-minute track ''L'Europe'' on
des Visages des FiguresL'Europe lyrics, Noir Desir & Brigitte Fontaine
/ref>), Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of t ...
, Archie Shepp, - M-, Gotan Project, Zebda, etc. In 2005, after having given a series of concerts with her usual band (but also with La Compagnie des musiques à ouïr), she published a new novel, ''La Bête curieuse'', whose erotic ambiance somewhat foretold the tonality of her sixteenth album, '' Libido'' (2006). This new album renewed her concerts with a lively energy and gave them a very "baroque 'n' roll" ambiance, in which Teresa of Avila, Sufis, Hollywood films, and Melody Nelson
''Histoire de Melody Nelson'' is a 1971 concept album by French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Produced by Jean-Claude Desmarty, the album was released on March 24, 1971 through Philips Records. Its narrative follows an illicit romance which develop ...
are invoked.
In October 2006, Fontaine appeared at the Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is a performing arts centre in the Barbican Estate of the City of London and the largest of its kind in Europe. The centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhib ...
in London along with Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker (born 19 September 1963) is an English musician and radio presenter. As the founder, frontman, lyricist and only consistent member of the band Pulp, he became a figurehead of the Britpop genre of the mid-1990s. Following ...
, Badly Drawn Boy and other English artists, for the first public interpretation of the mythic "Histoire de Melody Nelson". In January 2007, she appeared onstage with graphic novelist Blutch at the Angoulême International Comics Festival. On 29 March 2007, she invested in the Olympia music hall, supported by her friends Jacno
Jacno (3 July 1957 in Paris – 6 November 2009) was a French musician.
Born as Denis Quilliard, he was a founding member of the first French punk band The Stinky Toys. In the early 1980s, after the group disbanded, he teamed up with former ...
, Arthur H, Christophe, Anaïs, Jacques Higelin, Maya Barsony and Jean-Claude Vannier
Jean-Claude Vannier (born 1943) is a French musician, composer and arranger. Vannier has composed music, written lyrics, and produced albums for many singers.
Vannier is regarded as an important musician in his native country; music critic Andy ...
. In April, she played at the Printemps de Bourges
Le Printemps de Bourges is an annual music festival that is held in Bourges, France, over the course of five days. It is now a major event in France and Europe.
History
The festival was created in 1977 (by , , and ). With its span of 35 years ...
music festival and participated in her Québécois admirer Pierre Lapointe
Pierre Lapointe (born 23 May 1981) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. His work largely follows in the tradition of French chanson, though he is influenced by modern pop music. Defining himself as a "popular singer", he has built an egocentric pe ...
's concert for a duo of "La Symphonie pastorale". After having given a series of intimate concerts all through September on a barge anchored under the Pont des Arts on the Seine
)
, mouth_location = Le Havre/ Honfleur
, mouth_coordinates =
, mouth_elevation =
, progression =
, river_system = Seine basin
, basin_size =
, tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle
, tributa ...
river in Paris, Fontaine toured throughout France. Between two concerts, she went into the studio with Olivia Ruiz
Olivia Blanc (born 1 January 1980), known as Olivia Ruiz, is a French pop singer of partial Spanish descent belonging to the nouvelle chanson genre. to record a new single, "Partir ou rester", for which she wrote the lyrics.
In February 2008, she published a new novel, ''Travellings'' by Flammarion Flammarion may refer to:
* Camille Flammarion (1842–1925), French astronomer and author
* Gabrielle Renaudot Flammarion (1877–1962), French astronomer, wife of Camille Flammarion
* Flammarion engraving by unknown artist; appeared in a book by C ...
, while Benoît Mouchart wrote a monograph on her life and work("Brigitte Fontaine, intérieur/extérieur"), published by Panama. A new album titled ''Prohibition
Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholi ...
'' and produced by Ivor Guest including collaborations with Grace Jones
Grace Beverly Jones (born 19 May 1948) is a model, singer and actress. Born in Jamaica, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York, when she was a teenager. Jones began her modelling career in New York state, then in Paris, working for ...
and Philippe Katerine
Philippe Blanchard (; born 8 December 1968), known professionally as Philippe Katerine, is a French singer-songwriter, actor, director and writer who began his career in 1991. Some of his popular singles include "Mon cœur balance", "Je vous em ...
was subsequently released in the fall of 2009. The lyrics of this new work mark the return of Brigitte Fontaine to an anti-authority political position.
In March 2011 she released a new album, also produced by Ivor Guest. It is called '' L'un n'empêche pas l'autre'', and consists primarily of duets, among others the dance track 'Dancefloor' with Grace Jones
Grace Beverly Jones (born 19 May 1948) is a model, singer and actress. Born in Jamaica, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York, when she was a teenager. Jones began her modelling career in New York state, then in Paris, working for ...
, which Polydor uploaded on their official site. In 2013, she released her latest album, named '' J'ai l'honneur d'être''. The video for the first single "Crazy Horse" has been directed by Enki Bilal.
List of works
References
Sources
* Benoît Mouchart, ''Brigitte Fontaine, intérieur/extérieur'', éditions Panama-Archimbaud, 2008
External links
Brigitte Fontaine on Europopmusic.eu
(English)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fontaine, Brigitte
1939 births
Living people
Avant-garde singers
People from Morlaix
French women poets
French women novelists
Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
French women dramatists and playwrights
French film actresses
20th-century French novelists
20th-century French poets
20th-century French dramatists and playwrights
20th-century French women writers
21st-century French novelists
21st-century French poets
21st-century French dramatists and playwrights
21st-century French women writers
21st-century French actresses
20th-century French actresses
French stage actresses
French women short story writers
20th-century French short story writers
21st-century French short story writers
20th-century French women singers
21st-century French women singers
Signatories of the 1971 Manifesto of the 343