Despite having a specialized music education behind his shoulders and years of musician’s career, this young man from Belgium entered the world music stage quite all of a sudden and conquered people’s affection with his first really popular single “Alors on Danse” (fr. “and then we dance”).
Paul van Haver (Stromae’s real name) switched from rap to electro and pop to “evolve”, according to his words. And he did, changing his stage name from ‘opsmaestro’ to ‘stromae’ (inversion) and soon becoming a real stylish 'Paris Dandy' singing about what moved people deep in their hearts. I’ve always been into classical kind of stuff, particularly music but I do find the creative work of this man interesting and not devoid of a new exquisite flair.
Unfortunately, today’s Pop music genre has widely turned into a “I-love-you-do-do-do” empty-ish kind of thing that doesn’t have much about it except the catchy music that is soon forgot. Good lyrics and pop music is not a combo commonly met. After getting acquainted more with Stromae’s work I quite liked the idea behind his music. He calls himself artistically a pessimist but the idea is to talk about the worse and expect the best to come, maybe that’s why the topics raised in his songs usually touch the most controversial themes of the society. They are like life lessons that are taught through music. Thus, matters hit are violence, peace, family break-up, despair, life losses, child’s up-bringing. All that is something that relates to people, as they faced some of that in their lives. “Papaoutai” song (fr. “Dad where are you”) quite particularly touched me, the more effect when you watch a video to it. A boy trying to communicate with his motionless mannequin-like father but in the end becoming as rigid as he is. The background of the song is quite sad, it did consider Paul’s own father who was Rwandan and was killed during the genocide.
All of Stromae’s songs bear that meaningful accent and are small masterpieces in themselves. I do wish this man further inspiration for creation such wonderful music works.
 |
| Stromae (Paul van Haver) |
Unfortunately, today’s Pop music genre has widely turned into a “I-love-you-do-do-do” empty-ish kind of thing that doesn’t have much about it except the catchy music that is soon forgot. Good lyrics and pop music is not a combo commonly met. After getting acquainted more with Stromae’s work I quite liked the idea behind his music. He calls himself artistically a pessimist but the idea is to talk about the worse and expect the best to come, maybe that’s why the topics raised in his songs usually touch the most controversial themes of the society. They are like life lessons that are taught through music. Thus, matters hit are violence, peace, family break-up, despair, life losses, child’s up-bringing. All that is something that relates to people, as they faced some of that in their lives. “Papaoutai” song (fr. “Dad where are you”) quite particularly touched me, the more effect when you watch a video to it. A boy trying to communicate with his motionless mannequin-like father but in the end becoming as rigid as he is. The background of the song is quite sad, it did consider Paul’s own father who was Rwandan and was killed during the genocide.
All of Stromae’s songs bear that meaningful accent and are small masterpieces in themselves. I do wish this man further inspiration for creation such wonderful music works.
