Thursday 13 September 2018

Julia: S.E.X.T.O.

A debut single by French teenage singer Julia, a graduate of The Voice Kids TV show, written by Mylène Farmer and her collaborator Laurent Boutonnat.

Farmer and Boutonnat were impressed by performances the youngster had posted on YouTube and decided to work with her, writing her debut single and overseeing the launch of her career.

Of course, the song's theme is meant to be a bit edgy and controversial for a 16-year-old female artist. All the more likely to get some attention. Maybe it's an echo of a modus operandi established by Serge Gainsbourg in the 60s although if you ask me old Serge had a bit more subtlety, wit and humour about his work.

If it all seems a bit familiar, maybe it is. Julia follows Alizée as a younger representative representative of Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat. Alizée also featured in a French TV show for kids - Graines de Star - in 1999 before releasing the similarly "edgy" single Moi...Lolita single in 2000.

It was a massive success, as was her debut album Gourmandises which sold over four million copies.
Farmer and Boutonnat wrote the songs on that dabut album and its follow up, overseeing the early years of her career until she was an established name in France and beyond.

Alizée's career continues, with her most recent album being 2014's Blonde. She's also a major star in France due to her appearances on France's Danse avec les stars TV show.

Given the immense popularity of the Farmer and Boutonnat brand in France, and their previous success with Alizée, they've not strayed too far from a successful formula.

As it coincides with the return of Mylène, Julia's debut release has emerged at just the right time to attract a huge amount of attention. Farmer and Boutonnat certainly know what they're doing.


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