Marie Laforet, whose real name is Maïtena Douménach, was a French singer who, long before starting her artistic career, had as a first vocation the desire to return to...orders.
She really started her artistic career at the age of 20 by winning in 1959 the "Naissance d'une étoile" competition organized by the radio station Europe 1. A service that did not go unnoticed since it also interested some directors including Louis Malle but also, and above all, René Clément. Which gives her a role of choice in his film 'Plein Soleil'. A film that allows the young debutante to share the poster with Maurice Ronet and Alain Delon, just that !
The first steps in the song take place a year later in 1960 when she interprets the soundtrack of the film 'Saint-Tropez blues'. Title which will unfortunately go somewhat unnoticed.
This is not the case with the following one, a 45 rpm called "Vendanges de l'amour" which came out in 1963. The title was a real success in France and propelled the young artist to the front of the scene in a sensational way.
The successes will follow one another throughout the 1960s with “Viens sur la montagne” and “La tendresse” in 1964, “A demain my darling” in 1965, “Marie douceur, Marie colère” and “Manchester and Liverpool” in 1966 , “Mon amour mon ami” and “Ivan Boris et moi” in 1967, “Que calor la vida” in 1968. Among others…
A success story that stalls at the end of the decade when she decides to take charge of her career and no longer necessarily follow the tastes of the public. Serious error which saw her deliver titles which would meet only a very limited success and which above all made her gradually disappear from the radar.
Change of label at the beginning of the 1970s, a salutary change which saw her return to the race in an impressive way with titles such as "Viens, rire" in 1973 and "Cadeau" in 1974. With the fireworks "Il a neigé sur Yesterday ”, a tribute to the Beatles and which will undoubtedly remain as one of the most striking titles of her career.
Flagship title which was to be her last notorious success since she decided to step outside the star system at the end of the 1970s and moved to Switzerland.
A voluntary retirement that will allow her to write several books while also allowing her to land a few major roles in the cinema. But she will never return to the front of the stage on the song side, despite an attempt during the 1990s.
A great adventure that will end for good on November 2, 2019, when she passed away after a long illness at the age of 80.
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others ...) :
60s Decade :
St Tropez blues 1960
Les vendanges de l’amour 1963
Qu'est-ce qui fait pleurer les filles ? 1963
Viens sur la montagne 1964
La tendresse 1964
A demain my darling 1965
Marie douceur, Marie colère 1966
Manchester et Liverpool 1966
Mon amour, mon ami 1967
Ivan Boris et moi 1967
Que calor la vida 1968
La ballade de Clérambard 1969
70s Decade :
La cavale 1971
Ay tu me plais 1972
Viens, viens 1973
Tant qu'il y aura des chevaux 1973
Cadeau 1974
Love 1974
Emporte moi 1975
Maine Montparnasse 1976
Il a neigé sur Yesterday 1977
Harmonie 1978
Moi, je voyage 1979
80s Decade :
Parlez moi d’amour 1980
Y’ pas d’raison 1983
L’Aviva 1988
90s Decade :
Richard Toll 1993
Déjà vu 1993
Tracks :
1960 ... beginnings to say the least confidential. Who would imagine at this stage the enormous career that awaits the young singer in the years that will follow ...
1963 ... it only took 3 more years for her to obtain her first classified title. A title that throws her in a shattering way on the front of the stage and makes her one of the biggest phenomena of the moment in France. HU-GE !
1963 ... a dazzling success that she cannot confirm with this title. But given what is on the horizon, no reason to worry ...
1964 ... it didn't take a long time to make talk about her again at the highest level. Here she obtains a new success of very high caliber which confirms her status as a phenomenon of the moment
1964 ... another strong deceleration on this track. The singer is yo-yo for success in the charts but that does not affect her level of popularity ...
1965 ... for the year 1965, it is with this title that she will know the favors of the public. With one big success per year since the beginning of her career, the least we can say is that things are going in the best possible way ...
1966 ... a year 1966 placed under the sign of luxury covers. After taking over the flagship title of Simon and Garfunkel 'The sound of silence', she covers here the title of the Rolling Stones 'Paint it black'. And the copy is successful to say the least !
1966 ... she constantly alternates between mainstream titles and much more offbeat titles. This title would rather be part of the 2nd category ...
1967 ... it's clear that her style will never be like any other. A strength which will be as much a weakness and which will always see her on the fringes of the star system ...
1967 ... a light and playful title which will undoubtedly remain as one of her most emblematic titles. Like what, when she wants, she can do in the festive too !
1968 .... new luxury cover this time of Raymond Frogatt's title 'Callow la vita' dating from the same year. And remarkably, the copy will almost surpass the original in terms of quality ...
1969 ... the end of the sixties which saw her somewhat with difficulty. There is the quantity side titles may the quality, it, leaves something to be desired ...
1971 ... in a style still so inimitable, the singer begins the decade 70 as she finished the previous decade, that is to say somewhat with the pain. It's nice but nothing more ...
1972 ... the year 1972 will still not see her return to the leading pack. We will therefore have to be a little more patient to hope to see her take off again ...
1973 ... it is THIS title that will make her take off again. After years of musical wanderings, she finally returns to success, the real one. It was time !
1973 ... a year 1973 which will undoubtedly remain as one of its best vintages. Inspiration is back, the real one !
1974 ... a mid-1970s which saw her inspired as never before and which saw her above all succeed as never before. There are times like this !
1974 ... she delivers here a very fine title to illustrate the soundtrack of the film 'Robin des Bois'. Everything fits together in an ideal way and it is far from over !
1975 ... the singer is at the height of her art and quality is omnipresent on all the songs that come out year after year. Who would complain !
1976 ... at the rate of one title per year, it is clear that the singer is rather rare. But given the qualitative level served, we will largely be satisfied with it !
1977 ... then THIS title comes ! The singer reaches here the culmination of her career thanks to this astonishing tribute to the Beatles. A sumptuous tribute smoothly declined and which will undoubtedly remain as its most beautiful title. MAS-TER-FUL !
1978 ... who would have imagined that she would bow to this disco fashion which ravages everything in its path, she who until then refused all the standards that were imposed on her. Like what, in the song, you must never say never ...
1979 ... from one extreme to the other. The Dance parenthesis having been closed as quickly as it was opened, we find the singer in a register much more usual for her. It has never been as effective as in the 'emotional' register ...
1980 ... the 1980s were unfortunately not going to be favorable to her. Lassitude then voluntary retirement will be the key words for the rest of the adventure and nothing, and no one, will be able to change anything ...
1983 ... and yet the little she continues to offer is far from ridiculous, far from it. The proof with this nice Intimist title which works perfectly and which shows that everything was still possible. But the game is over, nothing is going as they say ...
1988 ... a title which will go out in general indifference and this in spite of an obvious quality. Like a wasted feeling that the 80s when she showed one of the most interesting side of her but which no longer interested many people ...
1993 ... the decade too many. How to hope for a miracle when it has not already taken place during the previous decade. Impossible mission...
1993 ... an adventure that ends smoothly with this new high-quality Intimist title. An Intimist area where she has always excelled, whatever the times !
Wiki :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :