Clémentine is a French singer and songwriter based in Japan. She debuted in France in 1988 with the single, "Absolument Jazz". In addition to many releases as a singer, she has appeared regularly on the entertainment segment for

NHK Educational TV , abbreviated on-screen as NHK E, is the second television service of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). It is a sister service of NHK General TV, showing programs of a more educational, cultural or intellectual nature, periodically also s ...

"French TV". Collaborates frequently with other artists, mostly in Japan. Recently she has often collaborated with her daughter, Solita, who is also a singer.

History

Born in Paris but traveled widely as a child. With her father transferring first to Mexico and later around the world, she grew in touch with

Bossa Nova Bossa nova () is a style of samba developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is mainly characterized by a "different beat" that altered the harmonies with the introduction of unconventional chords and an innovativ ...

and other local flavors of music. Returned to France and started Piano lessons at age 10 and Jazz school at age 12. Started her professional career in 1987 by sending a demo tape to Jazz greats

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

and

Ben Sidran Ben Hirsh Sidran (born August 14, 1943) is an American jazz and rock keyboardist, producer, label owner, and music writer. Early in his career he was a member of the Steve Miller Band and is the father of Grammy-nominated musician, composer an ...

, and was subsequently given an opportunity to record several songs with them. In 1988 released her first single, "Absolument Jazz" with CBS France. Signed a contract with

Sony Music Entertainment Japan , often abbreviated as SMEJ or simply SME, and also known as Sony Music Japan for short (stylized as ''SonyMusic''), is a Japanese music arm for Sony. Founded in 1968 as CBS/Sony, SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Group Corporation and is oper ...

in 1990, and released many singles and albums. From 2003 to 2005 switched to the

Epic Records Japan Epic Records Japan is a Japanese record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Its founder was Shigeo Maruyama. Between 1978 and 1988 the label operated as a wholly owned subsidiary: Epic/Sony Inc. () was established in August 1978

label, and from 2005 to 2008 to

Toshiba EMI , formerly , was one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. on June 30, 2007, after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. Its CEO and president was Kazuhiko Koike. W ...

. Returned to Sony Music Entertainment in 2008.

Discography

Singles

*"Absolument Jazz" (1988) ; vinyl CBS-651456 *"A St Tropez" (1992.6.21) ; SRDS-8234 *"Pillow Talk Re-Mix" (1992.11.21) ; SRCS 6569 *"Jérie Boit Du Caffè Latte" (1993.3.21) ; SRDS-8252 *"Un Homme et Une Femme" (1994.9.7) ; SRCS-7447 *"L'étoile Du Bonheur" (1994.12.21) ; SRCS-7562 *"It's a shame" (1997.7.18) ; SMA 664602 1 (France) *"Poisson Lune" (1997.10.22) ; SRCS-8465 *"La Fete" (1998.10.28) ; SRCS-8794 *"Un Dia De Estos" (1999.1.27) ; SRCS-8875 *"Couleur Café" (1999.6.19) ; SRCS-8959 *"Collines Violettes" (2000.3.8) ; SRCS-2233 *"二人でゆっくり ~Tous deux tout doux~" (2001.11.21) ; AICL-1356 **Clémentine with

Jinsei Tsuji is a Tokyo-born Japanese writer, composer, and film director. In his film and singing work he uses the name Jinsei Tsuji, an alternative reading of the Japanese writing of his name. He debuted as a writer in 1989. His books and stories have bee ...

*"Tenohira wo taiyouni" (2004.9.15) ; ESCL-2582 **Duet with daughter Solita

Albums

*''Spread Your Wings'' (1989) ; vinyl, cassette & CD in France only **Clémentine and

(1991.11.21); SRCS-5689 **later release (2002.3.6) ; SICP-5029 *''Continent Bleu'' (1989.11.11) ; CSCS-5026 *''Nes Nuits, Mes Jours'' (1990.11.21) ; CSCS-5332 *''En Privé'' (1992.7.1) ; SRCS-5898 *''Long Courrier'' (1993.7.1) ; SRCS-6760 *''Clémentine Sings Ben Sidran'' (1993.11.18) ; SRCS-6887 **later release (2002.3.6) ; SICP-5030 *''Ils et elle'' (1994.9.21) ; SRCS-7458 *''Solita'' (1997.5.1) ; SRCS-8284 *''Heure D'Ete'' (1998.11.6) ; SRCS-8793 *''Couleur Café'' (1999.7.1) ; SRCS-8957 *''Les Voyages'' (2000.9.27) ; SRCS-2337 *''Continent Bleu'' (2000.11.22) ; SRCS-9628 *''Café Aprés-midi'' ompilation(2001.7.18) ; SRCS-2503 *''Lil' Darlin (2001.12.12) ; SICP-4 *''30 °C'' (2002.8.7) ; SICP-190 *''Clé'' (2003.6.4) ; ESCL-2409 *''Soleil'' (2004.7.7) ; ESCL-2687 *''Made in France'' (2005.6.20) ; TOCP-67700 *''Lumiere'' (2006.6.14) ; TOCP-67976 *''Chocolats et Sweets'' (2008.7.23) ; SICP-1922 *''Sweet Rendez-vous'' (2008.9.24) ; SICP-1954 *''Sweet Illumination'' (2008.11.26) ; SICP-2077 *''Animentine~Bossa du Animé'' (2010.7.21) ; SICP-2770

"Best-of" albums

*''A Suivre...～The Very Best of Clementine～'' (1996.11.11) ; SRCS-8166 *''Clémentine de Best'' (2004.11.26) ; SICP-641

Tribute albums

*''Clementine Sings Disney'' (2014.11.26) ; AVCW-63038

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Clementine 1963 births Living people Anime musicians Singers from Paris 20th-century French women singers 21st-century French women singers