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Matthieu Chedid

 
Artist: -M-
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Similar Artists:

Gomo, Jeanne Cherhal
  • Active: '90s, 2000s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Arranger, Guitar
  • Representative Albums: "Je Dis Aime", "Le Bapteme", "Qui de Nous Deux

Biography

-M- was the alias of French pop enigma Mathieu Chédid, an uncommonly idiosyncratic and far-ranging talent best known on North American shores for his contributions to the animated cult favorite Les Triplettes de Belleville. Born December 21, 1971, in Boulogne-Billancourt, Chédid was the son of French pop icon Louis Chédid (on whose 1978 hit "T'a Beau Pas Être Beau" the six-year-old made his recorded debut) and the grandson of renowned poet and novelist Andrée Chédid. As a teen Chédid collaborated with fellow pop scions Pierre Souchon and Julien Voulzy (children of the legendary songwriting duo Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy) in a series of short-lived groups like Les Bébés Fous and Les Poissons Rouges. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, he also emerged as an in-demand session player, contributing to recordings headlined by Philippe Chatel, NTM, and Billy Ze Kick. Upon completing his debut solo LP, 1997's Le Baptême, Chédid adopted the alias "-M-," abbreviating his first name while also playing on the pronunciation of "aime," the French word for "love." Developing a vividly theatrical stage show complementing his playful melodies and operatic vocals, -M- completed his transformation with both a guitar and a coiffure in the shape of his one-letter persona (to picture the latter, imagine a younger, space-age Grandpa Munster). After winning the prestigious Prix Félix Leclerc for his songwriting prowess, -M- began work on his 1999 follow-up, Je Dis Aime. Another commercial and critical success, it set the stage for a sold-out tour and Victoires de la Musique awards in the categories of Best Male Singer and Best Concert. While taking an extended break from recording to raise his first child, -M- in 2001 issued a live LP, Le Tour de -M-. Its 2003 follow-up, Labo -M-, was little more than a hodgepodge of instrumentals, demos, and outtakes, although his imaginative title theme for Sylvain Chaumet's acclaimed feature Les Triplettes des Belleville was itself highly regarded as well. Finally, at year's end -M- resurfaced with a new studio effort, Qui de Nous Deux?, a record that eschewed the flamboyance of his previous music in favor of a more personal and mature sensibility. The subsequent world tour yielded the double live release En Tête à Tête, issued in late 2005. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Matthieu Chedid
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
-M- redirects here. For the British musician, see Robin Scott.
-M-

Background information
Birth name Matthieu Chedid
Born 21 December 1971 (1971-12-21) (age 37)
Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Genres Chanson
Rock
Funk
Occupations French singer-songwriter
Instruments bass guitar
guitar
keyboards
drums
kazoo
vocals
Years active 1978 - present
Labels Delabel
Website qui2nous2 <FR>

Matthieu Chedid (also known as -M-) (born 21 December 1971, in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine) is a French rock singer-songwriter and guitar player.

Contents

Biography

Matthieu Chedid is of Lebanese descent through his paternal grandmother. He is the son of French singer Louis Chedid, and the grandson of the Egyptian-born French writer and poetess of Lebanese descent Andrée Chedid who has written lyrics for him. His sister is the music video and concert director Émilie Chedid.

Chedid, a talented multi-instrumentalist, took an interest in music early on. In 1978, at the age of six, Chedid lent his voice to the chorus of his father's hit song T'as beau pas être beau alongside older sister, Émilie. During his teenage years and early twenties, Chedid formed a few short-lasting groups such as Mat Mat (Checkmate Checkmate), Les bébés fous (The crazy babies) and Les poissons rouges (The "red fish," a French phrase equivalent to the English "goldfish") with Mathieu Boogaerts and with the sons of Laurent Voulzy and Alain Souchon, Julien Voulzy and Pierre Souchon. He has collaborated with a number of artists, both on stage and in the recording studio. Early into his solo career, Chedid was the opening act for Texas concerts. He has recorded with NTM, Sinclair, Billy Ze Kick, and more recently with Brigitte Fontaine,Sean Lennon, and Vanessa Paradis.

-M-

Chedid performs and records under the stage name -M-. Chedid created -M- as means of overcoming his shyness on stage and also as a way of distancing his work from that of his father and grandmother. The pseudonym comes from Chedid's first initial but also refers to the similar sounding French word aime, meaning love. The character -M- is a superhero, noted for having a playful nature, and recognized for his flamboyant costumes (primarily monochrome suits with slim trousers and long jackets with upward pointed collars) and hair styled into the shape of an M.

Rumors circulated before the release of his 2009 studio album, "Mister Mystère", that Chedid had decided to drop the character -M- to record and perform under his given name;[1] The album, however, was released under the name -M- but included photographs of the singer without the wild costumes and hair associated with the -M- character. The music video for the first single, "Le roi des ombres", showed Chedid burning a tiny effigy of his alterego.

Awards

In 2000, -M- won two Victoires de la musique awards

  • Male artist of the year
  • Best concert

In 2005, he won four Victoires de la musique awards

  • Male artist of the year
  • Pop album of the year for Qui de nous deux
  • Best tour
  • Best music DVD for Les leçons de musique, directed by Émilie Chedid

In 2006, he won one Victoires de la musique award (and a César Award)

Discography

  • Le Baptême (1997)
  • Je dis aime (1999)
  • Le tour de -M- (live, 2001)
  • Labo M (instrumental, 2003)
  • Qui de nous deux ? (2003)
  • -M- au Spectrum (live, 2005)
  • En tête à tête (live, 2005)
  • Ne le dis à personne (soundtrack, 2006)
  • Mister Mystère (2009)

Promotional singles

  • Le baptême / La grosse bombe (inédit) (1997)
  • Au suivant (1998)
  • Je dis aime (1999)
  • Le complexe du corn flakes (2000)
  • Mister Mystère (2009)

References

  1. ^ 7sur7 Article "Matthieu Chédid range le gel et tue -M-" (French)

External links

Preceded by
Alain Bashung		 Victoires de la Musique
Male artist of the year
2000		 Succeeded by
Henri Salvador
Preceded by
Calogero		 Victoires de la Musique
Male group or artist of the year
2005		 Succeeded by
Raphaël

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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