STROMAE

Paul Van Haver, better known as Stromae, was born on March 12^th ,1985 in Brussels. He was born to a Belgian mother and a Rwandan father. Stromae is a Belgian singer and songwriter but also producer of hip-hop, electronic music. The style of his music is hip-hop, electronic and new beat.

He plays the drums and musical keyboard. He worked 1 year for Quick to finance his studies at a film school. Then, he enrolled at INRACI film section, he studied to be a sound engineer.

At the age of 18, he founded a rap group called « Suspicion », along with rapper JEDI in Eichof. They produced the song and music video « Faut que t'arrête le Rap... », though later, JEDI decided to leave the rap duo.

In 2000, he appeared as a rapper called Opmaestro, though he later changed his stage name to Stromae.

In 2009, he brought out his first single named « Cheese ». This is where he made himself known to the public with the song « Alors on danse ». In 2013, he had an enormous success with these songs : Papaoutai, Formidable and Tous les mêmes which are in the album « Racine carrée ». Stromae takes up contemporary and serious subjects.

• In Papaoutai, he speaks of an absent father because his father was mostly absent during his childhood.
  Papaoutai « Papa, où es-tu ? », in English this sentence translates into « Dad, where are you ? »
• In Moules frites, he speaks of VIH (sickness).
• In Formidable and Tous les mêmes, he speaks about couple problems.
  ...

In 2013, he won, at NRJ Music Awards 2014, the Francophone Male artist award of year and the Francophone song award of year with Formidable.

In 2014, he received, at Victoires de la musique, the title of :

.victory for best male performer artist

.victory for best video clip

.victory for best album songs

I appreciate this singer because I love the style of his music. I like his quirky side for example in his clip « Tous les mêmes » where he interprets a boy and a girl at the same time. But also his voice because we don't often hear this style of voice.

Questions :

What was his first known song ? ( In his first album)

Who was his partner in his former duo ?

Written by Léa B.