Stromae: Papaoutai in New York City

A version of Papaoutai by Stromae in New York, introducing him to the US audience in his own unique way.

His album Racine Carrée has been an unprecedented success in Europe becoming one of the biggest selling albums in recent years. He's supported this with memorable TV appearances and extensive touring.

While he might not (yet!) have had the same level of commercial success in the USA, he's attracted the attention of some of the country's most significant artists, with the likes of Madonna and Kanye West voicing their support.

Stromae plays at Madison Square gardens on October 1st 2015 as part of a North American tour that gets under way on September 12 in Miami.

Stromae: Carmen

Another track from Stromae's Racine carrée getting released with a striking new clip.

The track Carmen features a video directed by  Sylvain Chomet.

Chomet's a serious director, whose work is amongst the best known French animation in recet years, including the films the Illusionist and The Triplets of Belleville (also titled Belleville Rendez-vous), a film that was nominated for two Oscars.

I'm sure the  video could be used to educate folk about social media use.

The song was co-written with rapper Orelsan.

Since Racine Carrée was release in 2013, its success has been almost unprecedented for a French language act. It has spawned three number one singles in France so far, and a number one album in most coutries in Europe as well as sales of close to two million in France.

It's sometimes hard to believe it is only Stromae's second album.

Stromae at Glastonbury 2014

This weekend saw the Glastonbury Festival take place in Somerset in England, probably the UK's most significant annual music event.

While the likes of headliners Kasabian, Arcade Fire and Metallica get a huge amount of exposure, there are bands playing on different stages throughout the weekend, and while there is a crowd of 135,000 at the event, the showcase nature of the event means a set at Glastonbury can mean a big step up for any act, wherever they are on the bill.

While not troubling the BBC coverage of the event,  watching it this weekend you'd be mistaken for thinking only the Black Keys, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding performed, Stromae took to the stage. For many it would be their first taste of the artist who is one of the biggest in Europe at the moment, and I'm sure he left with many more admirers.

His performance comes just after Stromae unveiled a new video, this time for the track Ta fête, which has a theme that coincides well with the World Cup, albeit taking a  somewhat different take on the event.

While Racine carrée might have come out a year ago, there's still an audience to be won over by its charms, and hopefully a performance at Glastonbury will help convince an English-speaking audience of the value of music outside their linguistic comfort zone.

Stromae: Tous les Memes (Aeroplane remix)

A new version of the Stromae hit Tous les mêmes has emerged, in a  new form remixed by Belgian DJ
Aeroplane.

The original version featured on Stromae's Racine Carrée collection, probably the most successful album in France last year in both commercial and critical terms.

It was a number one single in France, its video showing Stromae at times as a woman complaining about the men in the female Stromae's life.

Stromae announced the remix by saying on Twitter "What an honor to be remixed by @VitoAeroplane"

Aeroplane, known to family and friends as Vito de Luca, has previosuly remixed the likes of Grace Jones, Friendly Fires, Cassius and We Were Evergreen.

It certainly adds a new level to the track.

Vive le Roq's French video of the year

I've been increasingly consuming music through channels like YouTube, so I thought I'd take account of this
and give a 'best music video' award this year to a well-deserved winner.

Stromae's Formidable was without a doubt my favourite French music clip this year. And yes, I do know he's Belgian.

Like the best music videos, it's a simple idea, done perfectly. It compliments the song, and is one of those rare clips that is never forgotten once it is seen.

Stromae comes across wonderfully, as both the witty prankster and as the vulnerable human being, so convincing is his performance. But above all it makes him appear likeable.

 I wonder how it would have played out in the UK or elsewhere. Would a member of the public have helped him off the tram track? How would the police have reacted here?

With over 51million views on YouTube, a thumbs-up from Vive le roq is hardly going to make his career, but hats off to the MaeStro.

Stromae: Tous les mêmes

A new clip by Stromae is something that we're always going to mention here, on account of him being
probably this year's biggest Francophone music star and also for being an innovator with his video
.
Tous les mêmes is the third single from  Racine carrée, his second album, which was released earlier this year.

The previous singles, Papaoutai and Formidable were among this year's biggest sellers and the album has been at the number one position in France for over a month.

The success of the album and singles have confirmed Stromae's place as the most popular rapper in the Francophone world, and a star whose work goes beyond appealing simply to fans of the genre.

The album showed him to be an intelligent and witty commentator, as well as a fabulous entertainer.

He's been playing live extensively around France, and has more dates in the spring of 2014, including shows at the Zémith in Paris on April 9, 10 and 11. Two shows in November 2014 at Bercy in Paris have already sold out.

Live in London: Stromae

Belgian rapper Stromae takes to the stage in London on December 11, with a sold-out show at the Scala
venue.

The London show comes as Stromae prepares for the release of the third single from his album Racine Carrée, one of the year's biggest selling albums in France.

This time it is the song Tous les mêmes.

The new single follows Papaoutai and Formidable, both massive hit sings and both with memorable videos.
The  Belgian rapper, best known in the UK for his single Alors on danse, a massive hit around Europe and a reasonable success in Britain, has sold out the Scala for what is his debut London performance.

Friday night saw him play at the Les Rencontres Trans Musicales in Rennes, where he was probably the act that most people who attended the event wanted to see live.

He's set to play in London again in February next year, although this too has also already sold out.

EXCLU VIDEO : le clip "Tous les mêmes" de Stromae sur WAT.tv  

Stromae: Formidable in Montreal

A video's emerged of Belgian rapper Stromae in Montreal, reprising his performance in the video for the song Formidable, this time in a Montreal metro train.

Stromae's original ground-rbeaking video saw him acting drunk in the streets of Brussels, the situation and ye reactions of passers-by - including police officers - caught on hidden camera.

His album Racine Carrée has been one of this year's biggest sellers, with the tracks Formidable and Papaoute giving him even greater success than Alors on Danse did from his debut album.

I'm surprised that other artist's haven't 'been inspired by' (ie ripped off) the Formidable video, but in the meantime, Stromae himself does a pretty good job of it.