During his thirty year career, from bell bottoms to Indian scarf to today, Michel Fugain has never lost any of his original Big Bazar enthusiasm. His fans would be content if he went on singing "Fais comme un oiseau" or "Une belle histoire" forever, but he carries on producing new material regardless… It isn’t easy to get rid of such a glorious past !
Michel Fugain was born on May 12th 1942 in Grenoble in the French Alps. His father, who was in the Resistance during the Second World War, was a doctor, and Michel, despite his mediocre secondary studies, attempted to follow in his footsteps. However, aged 21, he gave up his medical school for his real passion, the cinema.
Thanks to a friend of his father, he began working as an assistant director, but his friendship with a young actor, Michel Sardou, soon caused his career to take an entirely different turn. Fugain wrote four songs for Sardou’s audition for the famous French record label, Barclay, after which he began to write regularly for other artists such as Hugues Aufray, Hervé Vilard, Dalida, and later, Marie Laforêt, whose producer signed him to record his first disc.
A four track EP which included "Un pas devant l’autre", it was released in 66. But following the success of "Prends ta guitare", it was in fact with "Je n’aurais pas le temps" that Fugain had his first real hit in 67, as a result of which he was asked to compose the official song of the Grenoble Winter Olympics in 1968. Despite this, he was ill at ease as a singer and still envisaged returning to the cinema. In 69, after appearing top of the bill at the Olympia, he took his first break in his career. The Big Bazar Years
Michel Fugain returned to the limelight in 1970 with the musical comedy "Un enfant dans la ville", followed by the album and then the film.
In 72, at the height of the post-68, "baba-cool" (French Hippie) period, he started the Big Bazar troupe, comprised of eleven singer-dancer-musicians and a back-up personnel of fifteen. Until the end of 76, they toured all over France and several of their huge hits – "la Fête", ‘Fais comme un oiseau", "Tout va changer" and "les Acadiens" – are now French standards.
The beginning of the decade, with its celebration of community values and hard work, was euphoric; in the second half of the seventies, the advent of Punk and "no future", created a new musical landscape and changed mentalities. Big Bazar now appeared out of touch and outdated, a feeling shared by the majority of the troupe, who decided to disband.
In 77, with several ex-Big Bazar members, Michel Fugain embarked on another large-scale project, "Juin dans la rue", a street festival in Le Havre in Normandy. A total of 800 artists performed to 50.000 people and a live album was recorded which included the now famous track, "Chiffon rouge". He prolonged this experience for two more years with "Compagnie Michel Fugain".
In 79, a little fed up, Michel Fugain decided to go and live in Nice, where he started a studio-school in the La Victorine film studios to help young artists and develop their potential.
Two years later, without abandoning this work with young artists, he presented the weekly TV show, "Fugue à Fugain", an experience he has not kept a pleasant memory of. The Doldrums
In 82, Michel Fugain gave up teaching at the La Victorine studios and his television work and took another break to "get some air" and rethink his career options. He travelled, took it easy, and lived in the United States for a while.
In most people’s minds, he was still the leader of the Big Bazar. Fugain found this image difficult to shake off and it weighed on him and constantly held him back. He was considered by people in the business as an outdated singer.
Short of money, he made a come-back in 85 with the hit single "la Fille de Rockfeller". The following year, he met Nicolas Dumeyer, the producer who was to help him get back to the top and win back his fans. In 88, Michel Fugain brought out a new album, "Des Rêves et du vent", which included "Viva la vida", written by a young songwriter, Brice Homs. The album sold more than 100.000.
Inspired by this artistic regeneration, Michel Fugain followed up this success up the following year with another album, "Un café et l’addition", entirely written by Brice Homs.
His show at the Olympia in 88 was, Fugain himself admits, a failure due to its omnipresent references to Big Bazar. It was not until his next concert at the Olympia in 90 that he was able to present a new stage show, much appreciated by fans and which he took on tour in France. Comeback
In 92 Fugain brought out a new album "Sucré-salé". The music was composed by himself and the lyrics were again written entirely by Brice Homs. It has several different moods and is considered the album in which he reached musical maturity: "Forteresse", illustrates his talent for beautiful clear melodies. The following year, he was on stage again at the Olympia (his favourite venue) from March 2nd to 20th. In April he performed at the Printemps de Bourges festival during an arduous 150 date French tour.
In 95, Michel Fugain signed a new contract with the multinational label EMI, with whom he released "Plus ça va". Produced and recorded in the Basque Country and featuring leading songwriters including the ever-faithful Claude Lemesle and Brice Homs but also newcomer Sylvain Moraillon and the talented Kent, the album was nevertheless very personal: "les Ronciers" is a song about Fugain’s youth and "Je et moi" and "la Bête immonde" are political statements.
As enthusiastic a live performer as ever, Michel Fugain embarked on a 200 date tour which included the Francopholies festival in La Rochelle in July, where he recorded a live CD featuring, among others, the singer Maurane. In October 96 he played for six weeks at the Casino de Paris.
In May 98 Fugain released his 17th album, "De l’air", enlisting the aid of the group of loyal songwriters and musicians who have accompanied him for several years now. As Fugain said himself, it was the convivial atmosphere that reigned in this group that inspired him to record his new album. Following the release of the single "2000 ans et un jour", Fugain embarked upon an extensive tour, stopping off at the legendary Paris music venue, L'Olympia, to perform a series of concerts (13th-25th October).
After composing Michel Sardou’s album, ‘Français’, last year, Fugain, who is now fifty-eight, released a new album of his own in 2001. Produced in his studio, ‘Encore’ (‘Again’) features no less than eleven tracks. Fugain wrote the score for all of them and asked some very talented songwriters to contribute to the lyrics. Claude Lemesle wrote the single ‘Encore’ and Brice Homs penned ‘L’eau qu’on boit’ (‘The Water We Drink’), a track tinted with the Brazilian rhythms Fugain is so fond of. This rather classical 18th album is very true to Fugain’s usual musical repertoire, which should suit his many faithful followers.
In May 2002, Michel Fugain underwent a very traumatic period in his personal life, losing his daughter, Laurette, to leukaemia at the age of 21.
In November 2005, the singer re-emerged on French television screens taking part in a reality TV show. Viewers were to follow the behind-the-scenes adventures as he launched a stage musical, "Attention Mesdames et Messieurs." However, the project was dropped soon after it began as it failed to take off with the viewing public. 2007: "Bravo et merci"
Michel Fugain finally made a comeback on the recording front in February 2007, releasing a new album entitled "Bravo et merci." Feeling himself to be suffering from a severe lack of inspiration after his daughter's death, the singer called on the services of his songwriting "colleagues" to pen the lyrics for the album which he then set to music himself. The impressive list of songwriting credits on the album included a host of French chanson stars such as Charles Aznavour ("Je parlerai de toi"), Louis Chédid ("La vie"), Claude Nougaro ("La terre est servie"), Allain Leprest ("Les imbéciles heureux") and Maxime Le Forestier ("J'ai chanté"). After the release of "Bravo et merci", Fugain admitted he had greatly enjoyed working on the music for his album, assuring fans it had helped him recover his motivation.
February 2007
Source: http://www.rfimusic.com/artist/chanson/michel-fugain/biography
