The various artists tribute to Johnny Hallyday has emerged - just in time for Christmas - featuring a
number of younger artists taking on their versions of classics by Le Rocker National.
On a tous quelque chose de Johnny, released last week, includes contributions from Benjamin Biolay, Nolwenn Leroy and Garou, with 16 tracks, all of which are so well known in France that they have become of standards.
You'll hear then on TV talent shows, and they're regularly covered by other French artists, and it remains a source of bewilderment to many in France that the songs popularised by Johnny are not better known to the Anglophone music world.
Johnny is again fighting serious health problems, but remains indefatigable. 2017 saw a tour with les Vieilles Canailles, and he's recording a new album with Yodelice and Yarol Poupaud, the team behind his most recent studio collection De l'amour.
That 2015 album - his 50th studio album - was a number one seller in France, and went on to pick up the Best Chanson award at the Victoires de la musique 2016 ceremony.
There's also the prospect of a 2018 tour by Johnny on the horizon.
In the meantine, the new collection puts the focus on new interpretations of his work
Louane, who is currently the number one selling album artist in France, has a version of Toute la musique que j'ame. It's a very bluesy take of the song and while she might not have the power of Johnny's voice, she makes it very much her version of the track.
So after my predictions last week, how did this year's Victoires de la Musique awards play out at the weekend?
I was - of course - mostly wrong. I did get a few right as well, so at the end of the day much the same as previous years.
Debate will continue about the choices. Too many TV show winners taking the awards? Too many acts that appeared on the show picking up trophies? Too much Johnny Hallyday? Not enough?
There were of course some memorable performances during the evening, from emerging acts to some of the biggest established names.
So who won what, and how did this compare to my predictions?
Male Artist
Vianney
I did suspect it might have gone to Dominique A, but a memorable performance by Monsieur A more than made up for my prediction being off the mark.
Female Artist
Yael Naim
A worthy winner without a doubt, given the event's focus on the November terrorism attack victims. Naim's singing Brel's Quand on n'a que l'amour alongside Nolwenn Leroy and Camelia Jordana at the commemorative event following the attack was an appropriate tribute. I went for Zaz in my predicion, her collection of songs in praise of Paris taking on a new dimension in light of last year's tragic events.
Breakthrough album
Louane: Chambre 12
Another feather in the cap of an artist who has had an incredible time over the last 18 months, the biggest selling album of the year and a César award being previous steps leading to this. It would have been churlish at the end of the day to overlook France's biggest young pop star for a breakthrough album award.
I called this one right, although with the comment that my personal choice would have been for Jeanne Added. However, a performance by Jeanne Added was probably one of the highlights of the evening.
Breakthrough Act
Hyphen Hyphen
No strangers to this blog, an infectious and modern-edged act who have delivered a first class album, and who exude the confidence of an act who will be around for a while.
My choice was Feu! Chatterton, an act who ticked this blog's critical boxes last year with their debut album receiving this blog's best release of 2015 accolade. Again, a dazzling performance on the night was some compensation for my malfunctioning crystal ball.
Chanson album
Johnny Hallyday - De l'amour
I was pretty sure Johnny would not be going home empty handed this year, the album - his 50th - which dropped in the middle of the tour he was undertaking for its predecessor catching both critics and fans by surprise. A quality release, with everything from a sprightly rockabilly title track to appropriately reflective work commemorating the Charlie Hebdo attack in January.
With the caveat that it was a difficult award to call, I did go for Frero Delavega in this category, reckoning Johnny for a different award.
Rock album
Les Innocents - Mandarine
Les Innocents seem to have set the trend for bands who have been absent from the scene making a sccessful reappearance, with Louise Attaque and Téléphone both re-emerging in 2016 for major tours and releases.
My pick for winner was Lou Doillon, but again noting that it was going to be a difficult choice to select the winner in this section.
Urban album
Nekfeu - Feu
I called this one right, with the new(ish) voice of the three on the shortlist taking the prize. Again, an artist who has made a significant impact in a short period of time, an award that suggests he'll be around as long as the likes of Booba.
World Music Album
Hindi Zahra: Homeland
Always a difficult category to make any kind of predicion in, but Hindi Zahra just seemed to be the right album at the right time. I called this one right as it just seemed to have the outlook that critics and listeners were looking for in difficult times.
Urban/Electronic album
The Avener - The Wanderings of The Avener
A correct prediction for this win, but to be honest not a surprise at all. The album has been a massive commercial success, as well as being the kind of release that has endured repeaetd listening since it came out.
Original Song
Maitre Gims: Sapés Comme Jamais
Some surprise at this choice, but a reminder at the massive popularity of rap in France cannot be underrated. A public vote for this winner, so a reminder that what the public like isn't always what the critics (this one included) reckon. I went for Johnny Hallyday in this category, reckoning the vote for a rap act might be spilt between Gims and Nekfeu.
Musical show/Tour/Concert
Christine and the Queens
Another victory for Christine and the Queens, following on from their overwhelming success at the awards last year. Looks like the success she enjoyed in 2015 will be continuing for the forseeable future.
I suggested it would go to Louis, Matthieu, Joseph and Anna Chedid, but Christine and the Queens are still the act of the moment.
Video clip
Christine and the Queens: Christine
Again, a close category, and again one I called wrongly suggesting it would go to Stromae. It was to be Christine again, another win for an act going from success to success.
Friday February 12 sees this year's Victoires de la Musique award take place in Paris. It's the 31st time the event's been held, the ceremony being the French equivalent of the Grammy Awards in the US or the Brit Awards in the UK.
It's prestigious and a big spectacle, and while it's easy to criticise the relevance of awards in a field like music, there's little doubt that the expose an act can get as a result of a win can establish careers.
Like last year, I thought I'd take a look at the short list, and throw in my predictions. Last year I got some right, some wrong, but it was fun to take an in-depth look at the event.
Male Artist
Dominique A
Kendji Girac
Vianney
My money here would be on Dominique A on the strength of his Éléor album. He's an artist who has created some great work over the years, his most recent album certainly is as good as anything he's previously done.
Female artist
Yael Naim
Veronique Sanson
Zaz
I think Zaz might pick this one up. Another great year for a singer who has become for many an ambassador for French music internationally and her Paris album released at the end of 2014 took on a different meaning in the light of events in the French capital in 2015.
My personal favourite here would be Jeanne Added, but I think this award will go to Louane, a pop star of the truest sense, going from winner of The Voice to top of the charts via a César award. Breakthough act
Faada Freddy
Feu! Chatterton
Hyphen Hyphen
While all worthy winners, surely this must go to Feu!Chatterton, worthy winners of this blog's best release of last year award. Chanson album
Frero Delavega - Des ombres et des lumieres
Johnny Hallyday - De l'amour
Yael Naim - Older
Difficult one to call, with three releases that are all strong and deserving of the award. I'd be surprised of Johnny goes home empty handed, but I do think this might go to Frero Delavega.
Rock album
Lou Doillon: Lay Low
Les Innocents:Mandarine
Rover: Let it Glow
Again, another difficult selection here. Lou Doillon's won before, but it would not surprise me if she picked up this award.
Urban album
Booba: D.U.C.
Nekfeu: Feu
Youssoupha: NGRTD
Some hugely popular acts, arguably at the top of their game. My money would go on Nekfeu, the youngest and least established of the three on the list.
World Music album
Tiken Jah Fakoly: Racines
Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal: Musique de nuit
Hindi Zahra: Homeland
A fine release by Hindi Zahra, which should hopefully see her pick up the award.
Electronic or Dance music album
St Germain: St Germain
The Avener: The Wanderings of the Avener
The Shoes: Chemicals
Some strong releases in this category, but my suspicions are The Avener will get this one, his work meeting with massive commercial and critical success since the album came out.
Original song
Johnny Hallyday: De l'amour
Louane: Avenir
Maitre Gims: Sapés comme Jamais
Nekfeu: On Verra
Some very varied work here, but I reckon this might be one for Johnny Hallyday. A surprisingly sprightly number from the veteran performer that took a lot of people, incuding Johnny's fans, by surprise.
Musical show/Tour/Concert
Louis, Matthieu, Joseph and Anna Chedid
Christine and the Queens
The Do
Another category where it would be no surprise whoever won, but I think the sheer likeable qualities of Louis, Matthieu, Joseph and Anna Chedid will win the day for them.
Video clip
Christine and the Queens: Christine
Stromae: Quand c'est
The Do: Miracles
Not a bad one on this list, all favourites of this blog. Christine won massively last year, Stromae is also no stranger to the awards. The Do picked up best rock album last year. But judging on the clip alone, it would have to be Stromae that gets my vote.
