Victoires de la Musique: The 2023 nominees

The nominations for this year's Victoires de la Musique awards have been confirmed, with some of the 

biggest names in French music on this year's shortlist.

There are four nominations for Stromae;  best male artist, best album, best original song and best audiovisual creation, and three nominations for Orelsan; best original song, concert of the year and best audiovisual creation

For the best male artist, Stromae is up against Bigflo and Oli and Grand Corps Malade, Ben Mazué and Gaël Faye. The best female artist will be either Angèle, Izïa or Pomme.

The four competing for the breakthrough male artist are Pierre de Maere, Jacques, Lujipeka and Tiakola, while the breakthrough female artist is between Mentissa, November ultra and Emma Peters.

Album of the year features three female artists out of the five nominees, Jeanne Added's By Your Side, Pomme's Consolation, Angèle's Nonante-cinq as well as Stromae's Multitude and Éphémère by Grand Corps Malade, Ben Mazué and Gaël Faye.

Five songs are nominated for the best original song, Clara Luciani's Coeur, Juliette Armanet's Flamme, Stromae's L'enfer, Orelsan's La Quête and Pierre de Maere's Un jour je marierai un Ange.

Concert of the year again includes a female-dominated shortlist, featuring Juliette Armanet, Clara Luciani and Orelsan. 

The shortlist for audiovisual creation of the year features Bigflo and Oli feat. Julien Doré (Coup de Vieux), Stromae (Fils de joie) and Orelsan (La Quête ). Meanwhile, Angèle and Ninho are competing for the most streamed album of the year.

The 38th annual Victoires de la Musique Awards ceremony takes place on Friday, February 10 at La Seine Musicale and is broadcast on France 2 and France Inter.

 

Angèle feat. Roméo Elvis: Tout Oublier

Another memorable video and song from Angèle, coinciding with the release of her debut album Brol earlier this month.

Angèle has emerged as an interesting voice in French rap, bringing some humour and a unique style. You get the feeling she doesnt take herself too seriously and is enjoying what she does.

Her songs are great, and there's a playful wit at work here that suggests she's smart operator.

Anglophone critics might compare her to Lily Allen, but tshe's probably got more in common with fellow Belgian Stromae.

She plays a showcase in-store performance at FNAC in Paris Les Halles on October 11, and has live shows across France and Belgium scheduled until February.

Festival Fnac Live

More details have emerged of the line up for this summer's Festival Fnac Live in Paris next month.

The event, a series of free shows in front of the Hotel de Ville in the city centre, already confirmed Sting and Shaggy, Petit Biscuit and Feder on the bill, and more names have been added.

Among them are Belgian rapper Angèle, whose Je veux tes yeux featured on this blog in February. She's the sister of  Roméo Elvis, and her debut single from last year, La loi de Murphy, got a huge amount of interest.

Elsewhere, major French electro artist Vitalic takes to the stage as does Ibeyi, the Diaz sisters having made a massive impression at Coachella earlier this summer.

Dominique A, Jeanne Added. and Voyou are among the other acts playing outside or playing inside the Hotel de Ville.

Last year around 90, 000 people attended, and the event has in the past attracted the likes of Christine and the Queens, Julien Doré and Benjamin Biolay, some of the most significant names in French music. Two more acts are expected to be added to the bill later this month.

Festival Fnac Live takes place over July 5, 6 and 7

Angèle: Je veux tes yeux

A striking video by for the track Je veux tes yeux by Belgian singer Angèle.

It follows her debut releae La loi de Murphy which emerged in October last year, a slice of electro pop that attracted considerable attention as much for its franco-english Lily Allen stylings as for its equally memorable video clip.

Angèle, who is the sister of Belgian rapper Roméo Elvis, is currently working on her debut album, which if the strength of her two singles so far is any measure, will be one of 2018's most anticipated releases.

The video for Je veux tes yeux was directed by photographer Charlotte Abramow

Angèle spent much of the closing months of 2017 touring in France and Belgium, and has her first ever show in Paris at Le Trianon on May 22.