Sine
Three years later, in 1993, she unveiled her debut album 'Sine,' a project that had taken at least five years to materialize. Sonically and aesthetically, 'Sine' ventured into an underground, cold-techno territory, drawing inspiration from the whimsy of children's fairytales juxtaposed with the stark, urban, and otherworldly imagery.
During this period, her career witnessed memorable collaborations, including a partnership with the visionary French director Michel Gondry for the futuristic 'Les Jupes' music video. She also lent her delicate voice to several tracks on Jean-François Coen's inaugural album, notably 'La Tour de Pise,' for which Michel Gondry once again directed the music video. Furthermore, she shared the stage with Cohen for a captivating live performance of 'La Tour de Pise' on the popular French TV show 'Taratata.'
Celle qui tue & Unutma
In September 2002, Robert unveiled her third album, 'Celle qui tue,' featuring a collection of 14 songs. This album showcased a distinct shift in style, embracing a more electronic sound and symbolizing Robert's transformation from a princess-like persona into an artistic representation resembling a witch or siren. Notably, Amélie Nothomb contributed lyrics to six of the songs in 'Celle qui tue' and also authored The Book of Proper Names' a romantically embellished biography of Robert.
In 2004, 'Unutma (N'oublie pas)' emerged as a compilation comprising both old and three new songs, including the Turkish-language track 'Unutma.' A specific song from Robert's prior studio album, 'Le Prince bleu,' captured the attention of American actress Majandra Delfino, who expressed a desire to collaborate with the artist. Subsequently, Robert visited California in 2003 to record a new version of the song, which ultimately found its place in 'Unutma.' This collaboration gave birth to a computer-animated video that garnered numerous awards on a global scale. Additionally, 'Nickel' underwent a remix by Romain Tranchartin 2003.
In 2005, Robert released her inaugural live DVD, capturing the artistically acclaimed performance from her 2004 show at La Cigale.
Six pieds sous terre
In November 2005, Robert embarked on the recording of her fourth album, 'Six pieds sous terre,' which introduced a more pronounced presence of acoustic instrumentation, including the (harpsichord, clarinet, harp, violins, and flute. This album also brought forth a heightened sense of drama and a fairy-like atmosphere compared to her previous works. Comprising eleven songs penned by Robert herself, the album also featured a cover of Marie Laforêt's 'Prière pour aller au paradis' and a duet titled 'Histoire du loup' with actor Sacha Bourdo. Notably, renowned French film director Gabriel Aghion directed his first-ever music video for the album's inaugural single, 'Personne.'
On 5 February 2006, Robert graced the legendary Olympia music hall with a performance, marking a significant milestone in her sixteen-year career. The 2007 re-release of the album saw the addition of two new songs, including 'Cold Earth,' an adaptation of Henry Purcell's 'Cold Song,' made famous by Klaus Nomi's interpretation.
Recent career
In November 2006, Robert signed a contract with a new distributor, Rue Stendhal. As part of this deal, all her albums were re-released in January 2007, making them available again after being out of stock for many years. Additionally, in early 2007, she released 'Princess of Nowhere,' a compilation featuring some of her older songs, along with two newly re-orchestrated tracks, 'Mike' and 'Fatal,' all adapted and sung in English. In October 2007, a DVD of her recital 'Haute Couture' at Espace Pierre Cardin in Paris was also made available.
A year later, in late 2008, she recorded her new studio album titled 'Sourde et aveugle,' once again collaborating with her husband Mathieu Saladin, and also with Austyn, a young French blues musician with whom she sang 'Le jardin des roses.' The album embraced the fusion of acoustic guitars with her delicate, often childlike ethereal voice, defining a new sound for her.
In 2009, Givenchy selected Robert to provide the soundtrack for the TV commercial promoting their latest fragrance, 'Ange ou Démon le secret.' Directed by the renowned Indian director Mira Nair and featuring Uma Thurman, the ad aired worldwide in September 2009. The song was also featured in one of Michelle Phan's videos.
'Nuit Gravement' is the title of her sixth studio album, recorded in Transylvania. For the first single, she collaborated with the French actor Anthony Delon, and the video was directed by Italian choreographer Giuliano Peparini.
In 2017, she divorced Mathieu Saladin, her former composer and musician, and launched her new independent label, 'Légendaire.'
In 2021, she released her first album under 'Légendaire,' titled 'Le chant des égarés,' featuring design and illustrations by Sauveur Carlus.
Mylène Jeanne Gautier, known professionally as Mylène Farmer, is a Canadian-born French singer, lyricist, writer, and entrepreneur. Having sold more than 30 million records worldwide, she is among the most successful recording artists of all time in France. She holds the record for the most number one hit singles in the French charts, with twenty-one to date – eight of which were consecutive.
Elisa Tovati born Elisa Touati is a French singer, actress and television personality.
Laurent Boutonnat is a French film composer and music video director, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer and the director of several groundbreaking music videos.
"Redonne-moi" is a 2005 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. This pop ballad was the third single from her sixth studio album, Avant que l'ombre..., and was released on 2 January 2006. Like all other tracks of the parent album, it was written by Farmer and the music was composed by Laurent Boutonnat. The song has poetic lyrics and a melancholy music, and is about death, memory, and hope. About three months before the release, Farmer exceptionally accepted to perform the song in a television show, which she did not for other singles from Avant que l'ombre.... The accompanying music video, filmed by François Hanss and broadcast from 11 January 2006, shows Farmer singing in a sculpture workshop. In spite of being a top ten hit in France, "Redonne-moi" became the less-selling single from the album, with rather disappointing sales figures.
"Peut-être toi" is a 2005 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the fifth single from her sixth studio album, Avant que l'ombre..., and was released on 21 August 2006. The music video was produced as an animated feature and the lyrics deals with a love relationship. It was a top three hit in France, but its sales were rather modest.
"Q.I" is a 2005 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the second single from her sixth studio album, Avant que l'ombre..., and was released on 4 July 2005. Like all other tracks from the album, the lyrics were written by Farmer and the music was composed by Laurent Boutonnat. The primary meaning of the song is the attraction to one's partner's intelligence, but the lyrics are ambiguous enough to allow a more sexual interpretation. The accompanying music video was filmed by Benoît Lestang in Budapest and starred Rafael Amargo and Farmer, performing soft erotic scenes in a bedroom; however, the video was not well received. Variously received by the media, the song became a top ten hit in France and Belgium (Wallonia).
"Fuck Them All" is a 2005 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. Released on 14 March 2005, it was the lead single from her sixth studio album, Avant que l'ombre.... Like all tracks from the album, the lyrics were written by the singer with music composed by Laurent Boutonnat. "Fuck Them All" combines pop music elements with acoustic guitar, electronic beats and synths, with a musical bridge sung as a rap in English. As a result, it is often compared to Madonna's early 2000s songs. Using both crude and colorful lyrics, including sex and vulgarity, the song deals with the war between the sexes and was often considered a feminist plea in which women are presented as warriors.
"L'amour n'est rien..." is a 2005 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The song was released as the fourth single from Farmer's sixth studio album Avant que l'ombre... on 27 March 2006. "L'Amour n'est rien..." was illustrated by a music video which was perhaps one of the simplest in singer's career, and in which she performs a striptease. The song had some success in France, where it reached the top ten, but was especially successful in Russia where it was often aired on the radio.
"Avant que l'ombre..." is a song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer in a studio version in 2005 and in a live version at the time of her 2006 concerts at Bercy (Paris). It was the first single from her fourth live album, Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy, and was released on 26 November 2006. It achieved a moderate success in terms of sales, although it reached the top ten in France.
"Maman a tort" is a 1984 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the debut single from Farmer's first studio album Cendres de Lune, and marked the beginning of her collaboration with her long-time composer, Laurent Boutonnat. With lyrics by Jérôme Dahan, who also helped compose the song with Boutonnat, the song was first released in March 1984. Initially, Boutonnat and Dahan held auditions to find a performer for the song, which ultimately led to Farmer being chosen. An English-language version, titled "My Mum Is Wrong" and produced by F. R. David, was released in September 1984.
"Sans logique" is a 1988 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was released on 20 February 1989 as the fourth and last single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je.... The song deals with schizophrenia, death, love and religion and was accompanied by a cinematic video which shows a human corrida. The single became a top ten hit in France.
"California" is a 1995 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her fourth studio album, Anamorphosée, and was released on 26 March 1996. The song marked her only collaboration with American movie screenwriter and director Abel Ferrara, who directed the very expensive music video in which Farmer appears both as a bourgeois woman and a prostitute. A tribute to California, the song is generally deemed one of Farmer's signature songs and has been performed during most of the singer's subsequent tours. It has met with relative success in France and Belgium, and became one of her hits in Russia.
"Allan" is a 1988 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer from her second album, Ainsi soit je... It was the first single from her first live album, En Concert, released in December 1989. The lyrics clearly refer to a fairy tale by Edgar Allan Poe, mentioning one of his characters. Although the single met with success in discothèques, its sales remained relatively low in comparison with Farmer's other singles.
"Tristana" is a 1987 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Fourth single from her first studio album Cendres de Lune, the song was released in February 1987. As for the previous single "Libertine", the music video was produced as a film, with many extras and a huge budget. First song entirely written by the singer herself, it enjoyed an intense promotion on television and met a great success in France, reaching the top ten.
Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy is the fourth live album by Mylène Farmer, released on 4 December 2006.
"Libertine" is a 1986 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her first studio album Cendres de lune and was released on 1 April 1986 and met success on the French chart, becoming Farmer's first big hit. The long form music video, produced as a short film, contains explicitly sexual and violent scenes. In 2002, the song was successfully covered by Belgian singer Kate Ryan, who reached the top 20 in several European countries.
"On n'oublie jamais rien, on vit avec" is a 2003 song recorded by French artist Hélène Ségara and Italian singer Laura Pausini. It was the third single from Ségara's third studio album, Humaine, on which it features as ninth track. Released in November 2003, the song was a success in France, Belgium and Switzerland, remaining to date one of the most successful single of both singers in terms of chartings.
"Lonely Lisa" is a 2010 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It is the third single from her 2010 eighth album Bleu Noir and was released digitally on 16 May 2011, then it was released physically on 4 July. As "Oui mais... non", the lead single from the album, The lyrics were written by Farmer with the music composed by RedOne. The song title comes from a female character created by Farmer which was already used in her 2002 music video for "C'est une belle journée" and served as trademark for one of her commercial companies. Musically, the song has electro and dance sonorities. It was generally praised in the media and reached number-one on the French Singles Chart.
Mylène Farmer 2019 is a concert residency by French recording artist Mylène Farmer, launched in support of her tenth and eleventh studio albums, Interstellaires and Désobéissance. It began on 7 June 2019 and concluded on 22 June 2019 at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France. It is Farmer's second residency after Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy in 2006, and her seventh series of concerts, 30 years after her first tour in 1989.
L'Emprise is the twelfth studio album by French recording artist Mylène Farmer, released on 25 November 2022 by Stuffed Monkey. The album was produced by Yoann Lemoine, AaRON and Moby, among others. Described as a return to the darker instrumentation of her earlier records, L'Emprise is a concept album which deals with a person who is under psychological manipulation and breaks free from it. In Farmer's words: "Who has not crossed the path of a so-called narcissistic pervert? Who has not one day been under the influence ("l’emprise") of such a person? Feminine or masculine, it doesn't matter. Ultrasensitive beings inhabited by doubts that gnaw at them are ideal prey. The important thing is to identify it and try to combat this grip. It's a theme that upsets me and often puts me in a black rage."
