Belgian singer Stromae got popular in 2009 when his song Alors on danse became an overnight hit. He now knows international recognition for his music, which he has described as having an American style with a European twist, and being influenced by congolese rumba and salsa.
Here are six Stromae covers that went viral !
Jannine Weigel is a German-Thai 15 year old who has earned more than one and a half million subscribers on YouTube thanks to her covers of popular songs in various languages (she speaks five !). Her Papaoutai cover is the first in French on her channel, and we are hoping to see more !
The Formidable cover in Arabic bears its title well. Shot on a Montreal rooftop with a view, Nadia Essadiqi’s – a.k.a. La Bronze – rendition is striking and full of vulnerability. While most of the lyrics are sung in Arabic, a few passages are sung in the original French version, one of them condemning the ambient notion that femininity is fleeting, and that an older woman has lost something of her womanliness.
The French band Elijay (L.E.J) stands out by putting an emphasis on vocals and cello. In this classical rendition of the song Tous les mêmes, the artists clap on the beat. The band, which earned its recognition by uploading covers online, seems to have made a conscious choice in opting for a D.I.Y. video, where musicality takes center stage. The trio knows how to make itself heard, for the cover has three million views and counting!
Lisa Spindler is used to sharing the spotlight with her twin sister Pauline – with whom she has done numerous cover songs – but what is proposed here is a solo and mellow rendition of Papaoutai. The singer plays acoustic guitar throughout, and a fan said of the cover that it’s his baby’s favorite lullaby !
Marina d’Amico’s cover of Papaoutai has more than two million views and is as straightforward as it gets: shot in one take with a blue backdrop, d’Amico accompanies herself on piano. The highly charismatic rendition made its way to her fans’ heart – who she affectionately calls Amico’s.
The Dutch band CUT_ proposes an alternative and bilingual version of Papaoutai, which becomes Where Are You Papa. The performance takes place in a cold, industrial décor, in which two expressionless characters – which we take to be the band members – evolve, before appearing under a projector light, dancing. The combination of warm vocal arrangements and minimalist visuals is uncanny, and hints at a similar sense of distress as the original version.
What’s your favorite cover ?
