Daniel Balavoine was born February 5, 1952 in Alencon in
Normandy. The young man spent his childhood in Bordeaux, Biarritz and Dax. So
he just sixteen, the student revolt of May 68 starts. He is actively involved,
from the city of Pau, where his family lives. He even wrote his comrades a
small white paper on education reform. In this general enthusiasm, he plans to
become an MP. But his ambition was quickly challenged as his disillusionment is
great when the movement stops. The following year, he performed as a singer
with various groups such as Memphis, Shade’s, or clock with which he moved to
Paris in 1970. The result is not conclusive and training dissolves. Daniel
Balavoine then finds a place in the Presence group. Success is not to go but it
allows him too many galas Province and is lapped.
Attendance records two tracks at Vogue but the disc goes
completely unnoticed. Finally, the group broke up. In 72 Balavoine attempts a
solo career and recorded a 45 with no success. The following year, converted
into a singer, he has with his brother Guy at the hearing of a musical. It is
then engaged to sing in the “French Revolution” at the Palais des Sports in Paris.
Despite an unexpected distribution of the Martin Circus Chariot through the
singer Antoine, the show - whose songs are composed by Claude- Michel Schonberg
- did not have the expected success.
Continuing his journey, he became the singer Patrick Juvet
at 74. It provides for him the highest marks because his voice can reach heights.
The singer very popular at that time , preparing the album " Chrysalis
" and gives a chance to apprentice singer Daniel Balavoine allowing him to
insert a song " Fall Color " in his record .
When Leo Missir, artistic director of the label Barclay
intends Balavoine sing on this album, he decided to commit and make him sign a
contract. So he proposes, to make a concept album, as the Anglo-Saxons can do.
In 75, released “From you to it through me “, whose main theme is the woman,
universal subject, if any. Success is mixed but Leo Missir is still as enthusiastic
and continues to support his protege.
After a trip to Eastern Europe, Daniel Balavoine released in
77, a second album entitled “The Adventures of Simon and Gunther. Stein.” Impressed
by the Berlin Wall, and the consequences of its existence, the singer is the
main topic of the disk, containing the promising title “Lady Marlene “. But
again, all this remains confidential.
In fact, his career really took off when michel berger
offered him the role of the young hoodlum Johnny Rockfort for studio recording
of " Starmania " rock opera which he composed and Luc Plamondon made
the booklet. The character suits him well because he is not far from the
ubiquitous revolt displayed by the hero. “Starmania " mounted the
following year at the Palais des Congres in Paris. Balavoine found alongside a
roster of French artists of his generation like France Gall, Diane Dufresne and
Fabienne Thibeault. The success is phenomenal. Balavoine deep marks this
production.
Meanwhile, he locks himself in the studio and prepares what
will be the first hit of his career, “the” Singer I m'presente I called Henry
" are the first words of the song that the whole of France." “Sings
at the time. On the album of the same name, there is also “Lucy" which
only confirms its growing success. Again in the studio, he produced the album “face
love, bitter face." musicians, encountered during recordings with Patrick Juvet,
are closely associated with the project. Daniel Balavoine no hesitation to put
forward when needed.
With his first four albums, he went on stage at the Olympia
for three days from January 31, 80. There is evidence of energy and superb
punch way for him to thank the public for some years now buys his records. An
event will make it a special figure of the song: 20 March of that year, he
participated in the second newspaper chain French TV alongside François
Mitterrand, Socialist candidate then and future President of the Republic. Sanitized
debate about the singer cause in a fit of rage, which proclaims: “Youth is in despair,
she no longer believes in French politics." Suddenly became spokesman of
the same youth, Balavoine expressed by a ras-le -bol against the indifference
shown by the political leadership to the next generation. And oddly enough the
anti -political art in fact a protest singer a true orator.
"Another World” is the name of his fifth album released
in 80. He conquers the charts with his song cry " My son my battle"
and said with rage that he knows “I’m not a hero” another tube from the album.
Johnny Hallyday resumes later this title that seems to stick to his character.
Daniel Balavoine occurs again on the stage of the Olympia in Paris on March 81,
and moves on to a tour of the provinces. One is recorded live and released in September.
At 82, he received the Diamond Award French song for the
album “Sellers of Tears" recorded in Ibiza in the Balearic Islands. "Living
or survive " is the extract chosen for radio. In June, he attacked the
Palace of Sports (as before him, Johnny Hallyday), one of the largest venues in
Paris this time. His show is placed under the sign of rock. Variety of popular
singer Daniel Balavoine considers that there is a barrier between the two
fictional genres.
An avid car and speed, passionate man, the singer decided to
participate in the 83 edition of the Paris-Dakar rally. Thus the beginning of January,
it acts as a co-pilot Thierry Deschamps in a Japanese car. Unfortunately the
adventure turns running after mechanical problems. Taking advantage of this unexpected,
he moved to the discovery of West Africa. He came back very impressed with in
his luggage, the material for a new album. It is “out of sight of the
West" and the single “For the widow who wakes up." Humanist and sensitive
album, it unfortunately does not have the expected success.
When issuing "Seven out of seven” on the first French
chain, again very virulent, he launched into a diatribe against some veterans. Recognizing
later that his intervention had probably been misinterpreted, he did not suffer
less negative repercussions, especially when some hostile demonstrations took
place at the entrance of his concerts. This does not prevent him from up on
stage at the Palais des Sports in Paris from 21 to 30 September 84 concert the
subject of a double live album.
The following year, Balavoine enters its second “Paris -Dakar”
and this time, the end to an honorable place. In July, he attended the concert “Band
Aid “at Wembley in England, intended to raise funds for the fight against
famine in Ethiopia. The same type of event takes place in France in La
Courneuve October 16, 85, where many artists including hexagonal Daniel
Balavoine, are adding their support to this cause.
Thereafter, aware of the humanitarian issues, he founded the
association with Michel Berger “Action Schools “in the fight against hunger in Africa.
Political sensitivities push it to engage. The past thirty, he is chastened and
now wishes to engage in more constructive in accordance with its humanistic ideas.
At 85, he published a new album titled "Saving love." For the title
track , " L'Aziza " a tribute to his wife , Jewish Moroccan and
denouncing a roundabout all forms of intolerance and racism way , he was
awarded the " SOS Racisme " hands Harlem Desir , president of the
association.
For a long time, he plans to set up "Operation Water
Pumps for Africa” enjoying the fame and media coverage of the rally “Paris
-Dakar “. On January 86, he went to Africa and follows the route of the famous
pumps for local populations. January 14, during a helicopter flight with the
race director, Thierry Sabine, a sandstorm rises and the accident is
inevitable. The helicopter crashed on a dune in Mali with five passengers,
Daniel Balavoine.
Today, an organization named after the singer and continuing
the work he had undertaken. It disappears when he was probably a lot of
upcoming projects, both in song and in the humanitarian commitment. His strong
personality made him irritating for some, but for the audience, his
high-pitched voice is irreplaceable.
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