Rose Laurens, previously billed as Rose Merryl (born Rose Podwojny; 4 March 1951 – 29 April 2018), was a French singer-songwriter, known for her 1982 single "Africa", a top-three hit in several European countries.
["Africa", in various singles chart]
Hitparade.ch
(Retrieved 13 October 2008) She was also famous for portraying the character of
Fantine
Fantine (French pronunciation: ) is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. She is a young '' grisette'' in Paris who becomes pregnant by a rich student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look after their chil ...
, on the original 1980 French concept album of ''
Les Misérables
''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...
'', singing "''L'air de la misère''" and "''J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie''" two songs later adapted into English as "
On My Own" and "
I Dreamed a Dream
"I Dreamed a Dream" is a song from the 1980 musical ''Les Misérables''. It is a solo that is sung by the character Fantine during the first act. The music is by Claude-Michel Schönberg, with orchestrations by John Cameron. The English lyric ...
" respectively.
Discography
Albums
* 1972 : '' Sandrose '' with Jean-Pierre Alarcen's eponymous band, one of the first and best French progressive-rock albums
* 1980 : ''
Les Misérables
''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...
'' ("L'air de la misère", "
J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie"...)
* 1982 : ''Déraisonnable''
* 1983 : ''Vivre'' ("Mamy Yoko", "Zodiacale", "T'envole pas sans moi", "Esméralda", "Chasseur d'images"...)
* 1984 : ''Africa – Voodoo Master'' ("Magic and music", "Misunderstanding", "I Need to Give", "Living in Your Song"...)
* 1986 : ''Écris ta vie sur moi'' ("Quand tu pars", "La Nuit", "Je me jette à l'eau", "Profession reporter"...)
* 1990 : ''J'te prêterai jamais''
* 1995 : ''Envie''
* 2001 : ''L'ombre d'un géant''
* 2015 : ''DNA''
Compilations
* 1986 : ''Rose Laurens – Compilation'' ("Quand tu pars", "Africa", "Mamy Yoko", "Vivre", "Je me jette à l'eau", "Profession reporter"...)
* 1991 : ''17 Grands Succès de Rose Laurens'' (Quebec)
* 1996 : "The Very Best of Rose Laurens" ("Partir", "La Négresse blanche", "Écris ta vie sur moi", "Le Cœur chagrin", "Africa"...)
Singles
* 1976 : "In Space" (under the name Rose Merryl)
* 1977 : "L'Après amour" (under the name Rose Merryl)
* 1978 : "Je suis à toi" (under the name Rose Merryl)
* 1979 : "Survivre" (#45 in France)
* 1979 : "À deux"
* 1980 : "J'vous aime les oiseaux"
* 1980 : "L'Air de la misère"
* 1981 : "Pas facile"
* 1982 : "
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
" (#1 in France)
* 1983 : "
Africa (Voodoo Master)" (export) (#1 in Austria, No. 2 in Switzerland, No. 2 in Norway, No. 3 in West Germany)
* 1983 : "Mamy Yoko" (#10 in France)
* 1983 : "Mamy Yoko" (export) (#37 in Germany)
* 1983 : "Vivre" (#18 in France)
* 1984 : "Danse moi" (#66 in France)
* 1984 : "Night Sky" (export) (#12 in Sweden)
* 1985 : "Cheyenne" (#75 in France)
* 1985 : "Quand tu pars" (written by
Francis Cabrel
Francis Christian Cabrel (; born 23 November 1953) is a French singer-songwriter, composer and guitarist. Considered one of the most influential French musical artists of all time, he has released a number of albums falling mostly within the real ...
, No. 41 in France)
* 1986 : "American Love" (export)
* 1986 : "La Nuit" (#53 in France)
* 1987 : "Où vont tous ceux qu'on aime ?"
* 1989 : "Africa – Mégamix 89"
* 1990 : "J'te prêterai jamais" (#96 in France)
* 1991 : "Il a les yeux d'un ange"
* 1994 : "Africa – Remix 94" (Germany)
* 1995 : "Nous c'est fou"
* 2001 : "Pour aimer plus fort" (#40 in France)
* 2015 : "Si j'pars sur une île"
Collaborations
* 1994 :
Yves Duteil
Yves Duteil (born 24 July 1949, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine) is a French singer-songwriter. He is the third child to be born in the family. Duteil is a noted proponent of the French language, the rights of children and the respect of ...
– ''Entre Elles et Moi'' – Song "Écris ta vie sur moi" in duet with Yves Duteil
* 1995 : ''Gay Anthems'' – U.S. Compilation – Song "American love"
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laurens, Rose
1951 births
2018 deaths
French singer-songwriters
French people of Polish descent
French women pop singers
Musicians from Paris