Mylène Farmer

Mylène Farmer , of her true name Mylène Gautier , born the September 12th 1961 with Pierrefonds, with the Canada, is a French Chanteuse .

She has remained for 20 years the most important saleswoman of discs in France, but is also an important success out of the borders, in particular in Russia and in the Pays of the East.

Biography

Born parents French the September 12th 1961 with Pierrefonds (close to Montreal), Mylène Gautier passes his childhood to the Quebec with his/her three brothers and sister. She says to have only few memories of this period. At the beginning of the Années 1970 it moves in with City-with Avray, in Banlieue Paris ienne. Rather solitary teenager, it leaves the Lycée at the end of the years 1970 and moves with Paris where it follows a theatrical formation to the Cours Florent. She wants to then become Comédienne. She connects several odd jobs then, in particular in the Mannequinat for catalogs or publicities.

Beginnings

Mylène Farmer makes her beginnings in the song in 1984, following a Casting organized by Laurent Boutonnat, eager to find an interpreter for her song Maman wrongly . She chooses her name of scene in homage to Frances Farmer, actress American of the years 1930 with the tragic destiny. With the assistance of a young person ambitious manager, Bertrand the Page, the song gradually becomes one of the large tubes of the summer 1984, then giving to Mylène the opportunity to appear already in many television programs of the time, thus tasting with the first steps of a mediatization and a notoriety which will be growing.

After two 45 turns in 1985 which do not gain discounted success, follows its first album, Cendres of the moon in 1986. It is the title Libertine , a great success, supported by a video clip inspired of Barry Lyndon in which it appears naked, which offers its noble letters to him. It is on this occasion that it adopts the russet-red hair, which contributes to dissociate it singers of the time. Mylène Farmer between for the first time at the new whole Signal 50, system which it has then tendency to criticize for its too industrial character.

Birth of a star

It connects the tubes between 1986 and 1992 with in particular TRISTANA , Provided that they are soft , Without counterfeit , Regrets or Désenchantée , extracted the albums Cendres of the moon , Ainsi is I… (1988) and the Other… (1991), these two last bordering each one the two million sold specimens. Its image and its sales record transform it into true social phenomenon ( Provided that they are soft is torn off with 100.000 specimens per week, Désenchantée is the largest success of the year 1991), it becomes the first woman to receive a Diamond Disc, and multiplies the rewards: Victories of the Music (Artist of the year 1988), World Music Awards (Better French artist)…

Its first concert in May 1989, conceived by Laurent Boutonnat, offers a “show to American” choreography, concept up to that point little used by French artists. After one week with the Sport hall and about fifty French-speaking dates, it finishes its round by two evenings with closed counters with Bercy, presented in CD and it video In concert .

The Farmer style

She collaborates as of her beginnings with Laurent Boutonnat, who composes not only his music but carries out also his videos clip. The texts of Mylène Farmer are impregnated recurrent themes like the sex, death, the religion or the love and often contain reminiscences of certain writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Luc Dietrich, Pierre Reverdy, Francesco Alberoni, Oscar Wilde, or Charles Baudelaire. Its music has usually a tonality pop, sometimes accentuated rates/rhythms more Dance/électro or Rock.

The Clip S of the singer are true court-measurings: Provided that they are soft exceeds even the 17 minutes. It however happened that the television channels truncate or censure certain clips with the contents considered to be too explicit, like Beyond my control or I return your love to you. This last, interdict of diffusion, left thereafter in the kiosks to the profit the fight against AIDS.

In a few years, Mylène Farmer became an alive myth, to which the fans dedicate true a Culte… worship which can sometimes transfer with obsession: in 1991, a fanatic wanting absolutely to meet his idol, keep silent the receptionist of his recording company of a rifle shot. It is at that time that the singer will take distance with respect to her public figure, while being done increasingly discrete in the media.

Giorgino

In 1994 Laurent Boutonnat carries out his dream: its first Feature film, Giorgino , of which Mylène divides the poster with a young unknown, Jeff Dahlgren. The film has evil to compete with competition “general public” ( Forrest Gump , Leon or Pulp Fiction ) and will be large commercial but such a critical failure, the film being often judged like a " length clip" (it lasts indeed nearly three hours). After having repurchased the rights in order to avoid any televised diffusion, the realizer finally agrees to leave it in DVD at the end of 2007.

Anamorphosis

After a media pause favourable with an exile California N, it returns in 1995 with the album Anamorphosée , recorded with Los Angeles, with sonorities plus rock'n'roll and electric. The change of style risky but, is carried by titles like XXL , Moment X (a version " personnelle" of Dad Christmas ), California or To dream , the album exceeds in its turn the bar of the million sales, and will become even the French album more exported year 1996.

1996 is the year of the second round of Mylène Farmer, who bases himself on a show with American inspired by the largest international artists (pyrotechnical giant screens and effects). CD in the concert, Live in Bercy , will become the album Live more sold in France, with close to: 900000 past specimens.

Mylenium

In 1999, the album Innamoramento is a new triumph: diamond disc, NRJ Music Awards, M6 Awards, money discs for the individual extracts… Marking the return to musical environments of the first albums, it is followed of a series in concerts, the Mylenium Tour , with the presence on scene of a statue of 9 meters inspired by the goddess Isis.

The round is an enormous success and many dates are added, including three with Moscow and with Saint-Pétersbourg. The Mylenium Tour ratifies the scenic popularity of the singer near the French public, and will obtain the NRJ Music Award of the best international show (vis-a-vis, inter alia, Robbie Williams, Jamiroquai, Cher, or Whitney Houston).

The Geostrophic one

In 2000, Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat decide to produce young artists and launch the singer Alizée, by writing its first album Gourmandises to him. It is in this disc that is the title Me… Lolita , which makes it possible young Corsica to become very popular, and to carry out the exploit to be classified in the first places of the charts to the four corners of planet, Mexico in Japan, while passing by Russia, England, Spain or HongKong.

After several successes ( the Trade wind , Delicacies , I have enough of it , I am not twenty years old etc), its mentors work on the design of its first spectacle in 2003, just after the exit of its second album My electric currents . In two albums, young Corsica will have sold more than 6 million discs.

Words of Mylène

In November 2001 off leaves first Best Mylène Farmer, the words , gathering the whole of individual of its career and three news of which the words (in Duo with Seal) and It is a beautiful day , which will become both gold Discs. Better sale of the year 2001 and 2002, this compilation is, still to date, the " Best Of" more sold France with: 1500000 specimens sold in the Hexagon

Two years later, in bookstore its first book appears: LISA-Wolf and the storyteller , a philosophical tale illustrated by the singer.

Before shade…

After having received the Victoire of the Music of " the Artist of these 20 last années" , it is in February 2005 which Mylène Farmer breaks her media silence with individual the Fuck Them All , prelude to the exit of the new album Before shade… which, in spite of the crisis of the disc and the quasi-non-existent promotion of the singer, will reach them: 800000 specimens. This album confirms also the success of the singer abroad, particularly in the countries of the East and in Russia ( the Love is nothing… was the title more diffused on the Russian waves in 2006).

Its last spectacle, a series in thirteen concerts given to the General sports Palate of Paris-Bercy from January 13rd to 29th 2006, joined together: 170000 spectators. The infrastructure of the spectacle being untransportable in other rooms, the show could not be presented in province, but will be available later a few months out of CD and DVD. The DVD of this spectacle will make it possible the singer to obtain a new record, since this last will become in a few months the DVD in concert more sold France.

In September 2006, the singer records Slipping Away (To shout the life) , duet with the singer and American DJ Moby, which will be its 4th individual N°1 in France.

Cinematographic return

After Giorgino (1994), the singer again seems to be interested of close with the cinema: she took part in last film of Luc Besson, Arthur and Minimoys , by ensuring the doubling of the voice of one of the main characters of film, the Sélenia princess, which will be worth the NRJ to him Ciné Award of best doubling.

She is also interfered with the film adaptation with the novel Nathalie Rheims, the Shade of the Others , in which she will incarnate Tess, enquiring in medicine of the 19th century confronted with paranormaux phenomena.

Lastly, she interprets the song of the credits of end of the film Jacquou Crunching it Laurent Boutonnat. The title In front of oneself is available on the original soundtrack of film.

The icon

The “strategy of the silence” of Mylène Farmer lengthily was evoked by the media these last years, particularly in the press people. Indeed, since 2001 the artist granted only two interviews and reduced the number of his appearances considerably on television. A media discretion that the interested party justifies by evoking her natural deep .

So some can see a commercial step there (soft food of the mystery), this assumption is certainly to draw aside, promotion being the main motor of music industry and the sales of Mylène Farmer fluctuating with the liking of her rare televisual appearances. On the other hand, this absence can find its explanation in a more ambitious artistic project.

Since her beginnings, Mylène Farmer crosses the limits of the field to which it seems dedicated. If all turns around the song, its creativity leads it to develop a whole universe which goes beyond the musical production and from its trade of singer. It expresses through fields like cinema (clips scenarized, filmed in 35mm), scenography (creation of a “scenic bubble” with a behavior which seems sometimes surjoué), the writing (with a very personal style, it is also the author of a tale), photography (where it is often represented in a theatrical way), painting and the drawing (author itself of tables and illustrative drawings) and in a more traditional way for the singers of the pop music: choreography, clothing, design… Always with an extreme preoccupation with a its image.

All these means of communication were put at the service not only of its universe but also - particular fact - to the service of its character himself, contributing to his deification. The ambivalence of its texts, the many faces and the many roles which Mylène Farmer has covered for 25 years, often tinted mystery or of exoticism, contributed to give an impression of all the more sharp ubiquity as the artist is absent from public life. It is in this context that it is advisable to replace its media silence.

The écrivaine Amélie Nothomb entrusts: to have côtoyé Mylène, I think that it cultivates the inaccessibility which characterizes it. But I also believe that a share escapes to him. I could see me that, when it is cordial, and it can undoubtedly the being, one feels nevertheless, some share, an ice barrier. It would seem that it can nothing there. Attention, far from me the idea to introduce Mylène Farmer like a victim. But this ice barrier, undoubtedly, makes it captive of something .

Perfectionism and the constancy of which it shows since its beginnings in the development a universe even religious symbolic system, gradually brought it to the statute of icon near an impassioned public which gave him the nickname of “russet-red Angel”. Sometimes admiration that the fans dedicate to the singer seems to be connected with the religious worship. In 2001, in one of its last interviews she entrusts as for her silence: I did not make this trade to be known but to be recognized .

Point of view

Since its beginnings in 1984, Mylène Farmer and its songs, often considered to be sibylline, do not cease making debate.

The first shifted enough steps of the singer (musical environment and innovative texts for the time) are generally perceived positively by the press. But its character considered to be too commercial (important sales, grandiloquent clips, advantage growing of the press people…) quickly made catch up with the singer and holds it in low regard near the intellectual press.

Its sometimes obscure texts, often based on symbolism, make debate: so some see a true talent of writing there, others consider them pseudo-intellectualists. The first concerts, led like shows to American, do nothing but reinforce this impression: the singer is then accused of megalomania. In addition, the mystery which it maintains by its media absence is regarded as an operation with commercial aiming. But, parallel to that, of many critics recognize the musical quality of its albums: Anamorphosée (1995) and Before the shade (2005) seem to leave the batch.

For a few years, the perception which the press has of Mylène Farmer has gradually changed. The time and the uninterrupted success of the singer seem to have given him a certain credibility and its work is considered less severely or simply ignored. Its discretion is respected and sometimes even greeted. Certain formerly caustic newspapers even became laudators, like Le Monde : its last series in concerts Before shade… In Bercy (2006) was very appreciated when the preceding ones were severely criticized (“paste board Mythology” had said Le Monde Mylenium Tour (1999)). However, other media, in front of its perpetual refusal of interview, decide as of 2005 to multiply papers assassins on the singer ( Télé Star, Paris Match, France Soir, Platine …), and even to boycott it ( Europe 2, M6 …).

In I love you melancholy (1991) Mylène Farmer had answered indirectly criticisms, sometimes sour: I have as a desire/to see my life in the air/Each time one says to me/It is bad grass/And me I say: /That a savage born/Is worth well to be estimated/After all it often makes screws it/With the " too much bien" cultivated, and fake! All in all it is that: /To like jealous/It is necessary to be been unaware of

Discography

See principal article: Discography of Mylène Farmer (albums, individual, sales, classifications, rewards…)

Mylène Farmer produced six albums " studio" , four albums recorded in concert (for each one of its rounds), two compilations of remixes and a best off. 42 songs acted as individual.

1986 - Ashes of the moon ( Libertine, Mom wrongly, TRISTANA, to grow More )
1988 - Ainsi is I… ( Without counterfeit, Provided that they are soft, Ainsi is I…, Without logic )
1989 - In concert
1991 - the other… ( Désenchantée, Regrets, I love you melancholy, Beyond my control )
1992 - Dance Remixes
1995 - Anamorphosée ( California, Rêver, XXL, Moment X, Like Ibadly have )
1997 - Live in Bercy
1999 - Innamoramento ( the Heart-Stram-Gram, I return your love, Souviens the day, Optimistique me, Innamoramento, Dessine to you me a sheep )
2000 - Mylenium Tour
2001 - the Words (Best off) ( Words, It is a beautiful day, Pardonne me )
2003 - RemixeS
2005 - Before the shade… ( Fuck Them All, Q.I, the love is nothing…, Peut-être you, Redonneme , Before shade… )
2006 - Before shade… In Bercy

Concerts

Mylène Farmer, discrete in the media, is as much with the scene: it to date carried out only four series in concerts into 1989,1996,1999 and 2006, all available in video. Its concerts, true shows with American, with the amazing budgets, are famous for their gigantism which is worth their principal criticisms to them. It what the interested party answers that “one can create intimacy in the vastness”. Assisted of her fellow worker Laurent Boutonnat, Mylène Farmer leaves with the spectacles a dominating place with the symbols and the mystery, her trademarks.

Round 1989

Budget: approximately 6 million euros
Many spectators: approximately: 300000
Produces by Laurent Boutonnat and Thierry Suc
Conçu by Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat
Costumes: Thierry Mugler
Album live sold with: 600000 specimens - Double Platinum disc
live sold with: 150000 specimens (video K7/video CD/interactive CD) - Video of Diamond

Live in Bercy (Turn 96)

Budget: approximately 12 million euros
Many spectators: approximately: 300000
Produces by Tuxedo Tour in agreement with Thierry Suc
Conçu by Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat
Costumes: Paco Rabanne
Album live sold with: 500000 specimens
live sold with: 350000 specimens (video DVD/K7/video CD) - Diamond DVD & Video

Mylènium Turn

Budget: 20 million euros
Many spectators: approximately: 460000
Produces by Thierry Suc
Conçu by Mylène Farmer
Conception of the decoration: Guy-Claude François (decoration of scene created starting from table # 218 (c) 1973 H.R. Giger)
Costumes: Live Dominique Borg
Album sold with: 700000 specimens - Double Platinum Disc
live sold with: 400000 specimens (Video DVD/) - Diamond DVD & Video

Before shade… in Bercy

It is in large pump that Mylène Farmer announces in December 2004 her return to the stage, at the time of the first press conference of its career. The spectacle was carried out specifically for the infrastructure of the room of Bercy and was thus not presented in province.

Budget: 10 million euros
Many spectators: : 170000
Produces by Thierry Suc for TS3
Conception and artistic director: Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat
Design of the decorations: Mark Fisher
First part and design of the images of scene: Alain Escalle
Costumes: Franck Sorbier
Album live sold with: 150 000 specimens - gold Disc in 2 weeks
live sold with: 350000 specimens - triple DVD of Diamond

Videotex

See principal article: Videotex of Mylène Farmer.

Records

Mylène Farmer is the artist having classified the most individual in the Signal 10 French (33 titles, including 18 consecutive of the Heart-Stram-Gram in March 1999 with Déshabillez me (live) in March 2007). *
Record of sale of musical DVD for an artist ( Before shade… in Bercy , for 500.000 sales) *
Record of sale of " best of" ( the Words sold with: 1500000 of specimens in France) **
Record of live sale of double album ( Live in Bercy for more than 900.000 sold specimens) **
Record of the number of Diamond Discs for a French singer (five albums exceeded the million sold specimens) *
Record of profits for a French singer in 2001,2002,2005 and 2006
Records of budget for French clips ( the Heart-Stram-Gram : 900.000 €; California : 600.000 €; Provided that they are soft : 450.000 €) **
Record of budget for a French round ( Mylenium Turn , 20 Million euros) **
Record of duration for a French clip ( Provided that they are soft : 17 minutes)
Record of the number of trophies NRJ Music Awards (seven trophies to date)
French Artist the most exported in 2002/2003 with Me… Lolita (interpreted by Geostrophic) and 2004 with Disillusioned

Source: * SNEP; ** UniversalMusic

Random links: