
Renaud Séchan, known as Renaud, born in
Paris on May 11, 1952, is a popular French singer.
His early work is characterized by a volatile temperament, innovative use of French, and edgy, dark, left-wing social and political themes. Raised in an educated milieu, the son of an intellectual,
Renaud adopted the looks and attitude of working-class youth in the 1970s, and reflected this in his lyrics. A recurrent theme is his
disgust for the average French
people with petit-bourgeois preoccupations and right-wing leanings (see beauf).
His music focuses on the disparity between classes, the abuse ofpolitical power, overbearing authority and
disgust for the military,with rare glimpses of tenderness for his fellow humans, the planetearth, and art. His song Miss Maggie praised the kindness of women with the markedly ironic exception of Margaret Thatcher.
Renaud's later work is
distinguished by "softer" subjects such ashis wife (later ex-wife) Dominique, his daughter
Lolita and hisfriends, as well as the late comedian and singer
Coluche for whom he wrote the tribute "Putain de camion"("Fucking Truck", after Coluche's
death in a road accident. He has alsoventured into regional music and language, such as the language ofMarseille in La Belle de Mai, the north with
Renaud cante el'
nord and even Corsican
polyphonics in "Lolito lolita". After a dry spell marked by an addiction to alcohol, he made a comeback hit with his album "Boucan d'enfer"in
2002. He also tackled current issues by drawing a parallel between avictim of the 9-11 attacks in New
York and an Afghan girl,
both victimsof a war they don't understand "Manhattan-Kaboul" (in duo with Axelle Red).
Several of his songs
can be classified as long-lasting hits inFrance, including the sea tale "Dès que le
vent soufflera", theirreverent "Laisse béton", the ballad "Morgane de toi" and thenostalgic "Mistral gagnant". With the possible exception of franglais recording of It is not because you are, his work is almost
unknown outside the French-speaking world.
In 2006
Renaud married
Romane Serda, the mother of his son Malone.In 2007 he announced to the press his intention to move his family toLondon citing a
love for British society and expressing disillusionmentat the current state of France.
beuss2000 - 2008-07-24 09:06
Très bons albums jusqu'à "Mistral Gagnant", après ça se gate un tantinet avec uniquement quelques titres interressant par album. Mais bon ça reste un des incontournables du paysage musical français.