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Matthieu Chedid

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"-M-" redirects here. For the musical project, see M (band). For other uses, see M (disambiguation).

Matthieu Chedid
-M-
Chedid at Eurockéennes 2013
Chedid at Eurockéennes 2013
Background information
Birth nameMatthieu Chedid
Also known as-M-
Born (1971-12-21) 21 December 1971 (age 52)
Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Bass guitar
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • drums
  • kazoo
  • vocals
Years active1978–present
Labels
Websitelabo-m.net

Matthieu Chedid (born 21 December 1971) is a French multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter.

Chedid began his career as a session musician playing both acoustic and electric guitar. In the late 1990s, he rose to fame as a singer-songwriter and musician under the alias M (often stylized as -M-), blending Nouvelle Chanson, electronic and rock music. In studio, he experiments with various instruments and electronic music, while on tour as -M- he mostly plays the guitar, and is known for his eccentric outfits and dramatic live performances, sometimes including special effects.

Chedid has also performed in the 2005 stage musical Le soldat rose and is part of French-Malian band Lamomali. Since 2018, he has been the most awarded artist at the Victoires de la Musique Awards with 13 awards, tied with Alain Bashung.

Biography

[edit]

Matthieu Chedid was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. His father Louis Chedid is a singer from a family of Lebanese and Syrian extraction, of Maronite and Greek Orthodox Christian background.[1][2] Louis Chedid's mother Andrée (née Saab) was an Egyptian-born French writer and poet, who has written lyrics for Matthieu Chedid's songs. Matthieu Chedid's sisters are the music video and concert director Émilie Chedid (born in 1970) and French singer Anna Chedid (born in 1987), also known by her stage name Nach. His brother Joseph "Selim" Chedid (born in 1986) is also a French singer and a guitar and drums player.

Chedid took an interest in music early on. In 1978, at the age of six, Chedid lent his voice to the chorus of his father's hit song T'as beau pas être beau alongside older sister, Émilie. During his teenage years and early twenties, Chedid was part of short-lasting groups such as Tam Tam , Les Bébés fous and Les Poissons Rouges with Mathieu Boogaerts, as well as Julien Voulzy and Pierre Souchon (respectively the sons of singers Laurent Voulzy and Alain Souchon) who went on to form the duo Les Cherche Midi.

He has collaborated with a number of artists, both on stage and in the recording studio. Early into his solo career, Chedid was the opening act for Texas concerts. He has recorded with NTM, Sinclair, Billy Ze Kick, Brigitte Fontaine, Sean Lennon, Vanessa Paradis, and Johnny Hallyday.

Until 2008, Chedid was in a relationship with French actress Audrey Tautou.[3][additional citation(s) needed]

-M-

[edit]

Chedid performs and records under the stage name -M-. Chedid created -M- as means of overcoming his shyness on stage and also as a way of distancing his work from that of his father and grandmother. The pseudonym comes from Chedid's first initial but also refers to the similar-sounding French word aime, meaning love. The character -M- is a superhero, noted for having a playful nature, and recognized for his flamboyant costumes (primarily monochrome suits with slim trousers and long jackets with upward pointed collars) and hair styled into the shape of an M.[citation needed]

In 1997, -M- released his first solo album Le Baptême. During this time; he played mainly solo or with the cellist Vincent Ségal. The album received overall positive critical reception, but public recognition only came a few months later, with the release of the single "Machistador".[citation needed]

Je dis aime

[edit]
Chedid performing in 2014

In 1999, -M- published his second album, Je dis aime a title that puns 'aime' (like/love) with 'M'. A few months later, the album was 11th on the French Charts, with more than 500,000 albums sold, thanks to a number of successful songs ("Je dis aime", "Onde Sensuelle", "Monde Virtuel", "Le complexe du corn-flakes", "Mama Sam").

Live, -M- played with Cyril Atef, Vincent Segal and DJ Shalom for the samples on some songs. He still works with his sister Emilie Chedid for the realisation of the clips. His live performance largely contributed to his success, playing on his character of -M- to transform every concert into a show. He won his first Victoire de la Musique awards for Male Artist of the Year and Concert of the Year.

"Belleville Rendez-vous" and Qui de nous deux

[edit]

-M- gained international exposure through his recording of the song "Belleville Rendez-vous" for the soundtrack of the 2003 Sylvain Chomet animated film The Triplets of Belleville in both French and English. The song, with lyrics by Chomet and music by Benoit Charest, was nominated for a 2003 Academy Award. The music video for "Belleville Rendez-vous" uses both a live-action depiction of -M- and an animated depiction incorporated into footage from the film.

In autumn 2003, he released his 3rd album Qui de nous deux (Which one of us two) with the singles "Qui de nous deux", "La bonne étoile", "Mon ego". Softer, this album saw the birth of his first daughter, Billie, for whom an all-pink guitar was built by instrument-maker Cyril Guérin. A pink guitar can be seen in the video for "Qui de nous deux".

In 2007, he worked once again with Vanessa Paradis on her album Divinidylle, released in September 2007.

Mister Mystère

[edit]

Rumors circulated before the release of his 2009 studio album, Mister Mystère, that Chedid had decided to drop the character -M- to record and perform under his given name.[4] The album, however, was released under the name -M- but included photographs of the singer without the wild costumes and hair associated with the -M- character. The music video for the first single, "Le Roi des ombres", showed Chedid burning a tiny effigy of his alterego.[5]

Louis, Matthieu, Joseph et Anna Chedid

[edit]

Chedid was part of the musical group Louis, Matthieu, Joseph et Anna Chedid with several members of his family. They began with a tour in 2015, which was followed by a studio recording.

Îl, Lamomali, and Lettre infinie

[edit]

In autumn 2012, he released the album, Îl, played with Lawrence Clais and Brad Thomas Ackley.

He worked with Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki Diabaté on a collective album, Lamomali, released in March 2017[6] The album also features many well regarded names from the world music scene, such as Philippe Jaroussky, Oxmo Puccino, Youssou N'Dour, Seu Jorge, and Fatoumata Diawara, lending a mesmeric world music flavour to it that celebrates cultural diversity and world peace. The album "showcases musical stylings from across the planet, whilst at its core it contains a traditional West African rhythm".[7]

In 2019, he released the studio album, Lettre infinie, featuring collaborations from Thomas Bangalter and Phillipe Zdar.[8] His album Rêvalité was released in June 2022.[9]

Public image

[edit]
Chedid performing as -M- in 2022

Chedid is mostly known for his on-stage persona -M- whose signature hairstyle is reminiscent of the letter M and was initially achieved using hair wax.[4][10] According to Chedid, the hairstyle was inspired by the ear tufts of certain species of owls, from a lithography of an owl given by his grandmother Andrée.[11] The letter M also appears as a pattern in the character's clothes, in music videos and stage sets. With his energetic personality, eccentric outfits and hairstyle, the character has drawn comparisons with English musician David Bowie's stage persona Ziggy Stardust.[12][13][14] Besides Matthieu Chedid, the character -M- has also been portrayed by actor Vincent Lindon in the music video for Chedid's song La bonne étoile.[15] In promotional material and music videos for his 2009 album Mister Mystère, Chedid is seen with natural hair instead of the signature M-shaped hairstyle.[16] The lyrics of some of the songs, and the music video of Le Roi des Ombres ending with Chedid burning a tiny effigy of the -M- character, led to speculation about whether he would abandon his alter ego.[4][5] Chedid eventually kept performing the character, showing his natural hair or wearing M-shaped wigs or helmets.[17]

Awards

[edit]

Matthieu Chedid holds the gold place in number of Victoires de la Musique awards, with 13 awards[18]

Year Catégorie des Victoires de la musique Result
1999 Best new artist[19] Nominated
Best music video : Machistador (réal. Émilie Chedid)[19] Nominated
2000 Male artist of the year[20][21] Won
Tour of the Year (Je dis aime à l'Elysée Montmartre et en tournée)[20][21] Won
Album pop-rock of the year (Je dis aime)[20][21] Nominated
2004 Male artist of the year[22] Nominated
Tour of the Year (L'Avantour à l'Elysée Montmartre)[22] Nominated
2005 Male artist of the year[23][24] Won
Album of the year (Qui de nous deux?)[23][24] Won
Tour of the Year (M à l'Olympia et en tournée)[23][24] Won
Best music videos on DVD : Les Leçons de musique de -M- (réal. : Émilie Chedid]])[23][24] Won
Best music video (Ma Mélodie, réal. : Cyril Houplain)[23][24] Nominated
2006 Best music video (La Bonne Étoile, réal. : Laurent Seroussi)[25] Nominated
Best music video (Est-ce que tu aimes ? par Arthur H et -M-, réal. : Rodolphe Pauly)[25] Won
2007 Best music videos on DVD (tournée En tête à tête, réal.: Thierry Gautier et Sylvain Leduc)[26][27] Nominated
Best score soundntrack of the year (B.O. de Ne le dis à personne)[26][27] Won
2010 Album of the year (Mister Mystère)[28] Nominated
Tour of the Year (M à la Cigale - Auguri Productions)[28] Nominated
2011 Tour of the Year (-M- au château de Versailles - Auguri Productions)[31] Won
2012 Best music video (La Seine par Vanessa Paradis et -M-, réal. : Bibo Bergeron)[32][33] Won
Best music videos on DVD (Les Saisons de passage, réal. : Laurent Thessier)[32][33] Won
2013 Male artist of the year[34] Nominated
Album of the year (Îl)[34] Nominated
Best music video (Mojo, réal. : Beryl Koltz)[34] Nominated
2014 Tour of the Year (Îl(s) - Labo M / Auguri Productions)[35] Won
2016 Tour of the Year (Louis, Matthieu, Joseph et Anna Chedid à l'Olympia, à l'Opéra Garnier et en tournée - Auguri Productions)[36] Nominated
2018 World music album of the year (Lamomali avec Toumani et Sidiki Diabaté, Fatoumata Diawara)[37] Won

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Matthieu Chedid during a concert with Vanessa Paradis at Châteauroux in November 2007

Studio albums

Year Album Peak positions Certifications
FRA
[38] 		BEL
(Wa)
[39]
 SWI
[40]
1997 Le Baptême 35  –  –
1999 Je dis aime 11  –  –
2003 Labo M (instrumental) 27  –  –
Qui de nous deux 1 4 76
2009 Mister Mystère 1 3 16
2012 Îl 4 9 39
2019 Lettre infinie 1 7 11
2022 Rêvalité 2 9 27

Collaborations

Year Album Peak positions Certifications
FRA
[38] 		BEL
(Wa)
[39]
 SWI
[40]
2015 Louis Matthieu Joseph & Anna Chedid
(Louis Matthieu Joseph & Anna Chedid) 		3 10 24
2017 Lamomali
(with Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki Diabaté) 		2
[41] 		22 31
Lamomali Airlines
(with Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki Diabaté) 		35
[42] 		 –  –

Live albums

Year Album Peak positions Certifications
FRA
[38] 		BEL
(Wa)
[39] 		SWI
[40]
1997 Le tour de -M- 3  –  –
2005 -M- au Spectrum  –  –  –
En tête à tête 2 26 93
2010 Les saisons de passage 14 76  –
2013 Îl(s) 27 145  –
2017 Lamomali Live 92
[43] 		 –  –
2019 Le grand petit concert 24
[44] 		 –  –

Soundtracks

Year Album Peak positions Certifications
FRA
[38] 		BEL
(Wa)
[39] 		SWI
[40]
2007 Ne le dis à personne
(soundtrack) 		103  –  –
2011 Un monstre à Paris
(soundtrack by Vanessa Paradis & -M- / Patrice Renson) 		7 10  –

Rereleases

Year Album Peak positions
FRA
[38]
2002 Le Baptême / Je dis aime 127
2004 Le Baptême / Je dis aime / Labo M 166
Le tour de M / Qui de nous deux 130
2005 Qui de nous deux / Je dis aime / Le Baptême 92
2008 Je dis aime / Qui de nous deux 78

Singles

[edit]

As main artist

[edit]
Single Year Peak positions Album
FRA
[38] 		BEL
(Fl)
Ultratip
[45]
 BEL
(Wa)
Ultratop
[39] 		BEL
(Wa)
Ultratip
[39] 		SWI
[40]
"Machistador" 1998 83  –  –  –  –
"Onde sensuelle" / "Je dis aime" 2000 46  –  –  –  –
"Qui de nous deux" 2004 40  –  – 3 83
"À tes souhaits" 78  –  – 16  –
"Ma mélodie" 67  –  – 12  –
"La bonne étoile" 2005 50  –  –  –  –
"Mister Mystère" 2009  –  –  –  –  – Mister Mystère
"Le roi des ombres"  –  – 28  –  –
"Est-ce que c'est ça?"  –  –  – 20  –
"Amssétou" 2010  –  –  – 20  –
"Tu peux compter sur moi"
(with Louis Chedid) 		 –  – 8  –  – On ne dit jamais assez aux gens qu'on aime qu'on les aime
"La Seine"
(with Vanessa Paradis) 		2011 9 37 3  –  – Un monstre à Paris
"Mojo" 2012 27  – 27  –  – Îl
"Baïa" 137  –  – 31  –
"Océan" 2013  –  –  – 16  –
"Superchérie" 2018 113  –  – 29  – Lettre infinie
"Grand petit con" 2019  –  –  –  –  –
"Thérapie"  –  –  –  –  –
"Massaï"  –  –  –  –  –

Collaborations

[edit]
Year Single Peak positions Album
FRA
[38] 		BEL
(Wa)
Ultratip
[39]
2001 "Y'a des zazous"
(Brigitte Fontaine & -M-) 		50  –
2007 "L'éclipse"
(Sean Lennon & -M-) 		 – 8
2015 "F.O.R.T." 98 28 Louis Matthieu Joseph & Anna Chedid
"On ne dit jamais assez aux gens qu'on aime qu'on les aime" 132  –
2016 "Baby That's You" 151  –
"Bal de Bamako"
(-M-, Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté feat. Fatoumata Diawara & Oxmo Puccino) 		140 41
2017 "Cet air"
(-M-, Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté feat. Fatoumata Diawara) 		 – Tip

Other hits

[edit]
Year Single Peak positions Album
FRA
[38] 		BEL
(Wa)
Ultratip
[39]
1997 "Le baptême" / "La grosse bombe" (limited release)  –  –
1998 "Au suivant"  –  –
2000 "Le complexe du corn flakes"  –  –

Charity

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Les Âmes de Mogador (2003), with Patrice Renson : tribute to Essaouira (Maroc). A CD of ten unreleased tracks is included.
  • -M-, qui de nous deux (2004), with Claude Gassian : book produced during the recording of the album Qui de nous deux
  • -M- de A à Z (2005), by Mathias Goudeau
  • Le monde de -M- (2005), with Marianne Chedid, Sonia Rachline and Sophie Laurent : insight on his career, with a lot of pictures
  • -M- le mot dit : esthétique d'un funkistador by Marc Borbon: analysis of M's world through a fan's own experience
  • Le Livre Extraordinaire de -M- by Lisa Roze: package of an archival photographs, unpublished shootings, a book, postcards, a pop-up, a new song (Si Si No No), etc.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ BRETON, Benoit LE (23 May 2013). "Le chanteur M fait un triomphe à Villejean". Ouest-France.fr (in French). Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ^ Chedid, Andrée (1990). The Prose and Poetry of Andrée Chedid: Selected Poems, Short Stories, and Essays. Summa Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-0-917786-78-5.
  3. ^ "Audrey Tautou est en couple" [Audrey Tautou is in a relationship]. LaLibre (in French). 27 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Matthieu Chédid range le gel et tue -M-". 7sur7.be (in French). 26 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b Review on 2yeuxet1plume / Autour de Matthieu Chedid Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (French)
  6. ^ Lamomali, futur album à la croisée des mondes, par 2yeuxet1plume / Autour de Matthieu Chedid (French)
  7. ^ Wiser, Danny (8 July 2020). "MALI/FRANCE: Lamomali - Toumani Diabaté, Sidiki Diabaté & -M-". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Thomas Bangalter a co-produit un titre avec Matthieu Chedid". TSUGI (in French). 23 November 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  9. ^ "-M- Matthieu Chedid on Instagram: "R Ê V A L I T É nouvel album le 03 juin 2022 💜✨ . Photo/artwork: @yannorhan pour Slo Slo"". Instagram. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  10. ^ Matthieu Chédid donne le secret derrière sa coupe de cheveux ! // Extrait archives M6 Video Bank. YouTube (in French). M6 Video Bank. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Matthieu Chedid en dix mots qu'il M". L'Express (in French). 5 September 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  12. ^ "En images : le concert onirique de Matthieu Chedid au Zénith". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 22 April 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  13. ^ Jonathan, Stéphane C. (5 May 2010). "Le retour de Matthieu Chedid sur les scènes de la région". Sud Ouest (in French). Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Upclose with -M-". South China Morning Post. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  15. ^ -M- La bonne étoile (Making of). YouTube (in French). 100% Chanson Française. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  16. ^ De la Haye, Fleur (7 September 2009). "Un joli M". Radio France Internationale (in French). Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  17. ^ Volders, Géraldine (20 December 2009). "M se démasque : magique - La DH/Les Sports+". La Dernière Heure (in French). Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Victoires de la musique 2018 : découvrez les principaux lauréats". francetvinfo.fr. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 1999". evenements.francetv.fr.
  20. ^ a b c "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2000". evenements.francetv.fr.
  21. ^ a b c "COUP DE JEUNE SUR LES VICTOIRES 2000" (in French). 13 March 2000. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2004". evenements.francetv.fr.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2005". evenements.francetv.fr.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Victoires de la musique : sous le signe du M". Le Monde.fr (in French). 6 March 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  25. ^ a b "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2006". evenements.francetv.fr.
  26. ^ a b "22èmes Victoires de la Musique 2007 - SNEP" (in French). 12 November 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2007". evenements.francetv.fr.
  28. ^ a b c "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2010". evenements.francetv.fr.
  29. ^ "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2011". evenements.francetv.fr.
  30. ^ "Victoires 2011: M dédie son prix à Andrée Chedid, partie à la fin de l'aventure..." (in French). 1 March 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Palmarès des Victoires de la Musique - Edition 2011". evenements.francetv.fr.
  32. ^ a b "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2012". evenements.francetv.fr.
  33. ^ a b "Le palmarès des Victoires de la musique 2012" (in French). 3 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  34. ^ a b c d "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2012". evenements.francetv.fr.
  35. ^ "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2014". evenements.francetv.fr.
  36. ^ "Qui sont les nommés aux Victoires de la Musique 2016 ?". huffingtonpost.fr. 12 February 2016.
  37. ^ "Les Victoires de La Musique - Palmarès 2018". evenements.francetv.fr.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h LesCharts.com: M [FR] discography
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h Ultratop 50 (Wallonia): M [FR] discography
  40. ^ a b c d e HitParade.ch: M [FR] discography
  41. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 15, 2017)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 18 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
  42. ^ "M, TOUMANI DIABATÉ & SIDIKI DIABATÉ FEAT. FATOUMATA DIAWARA - LAMOMALI AIRLINES (ALBUM)" (in French). lescharts.com. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  43. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 48, 2017)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  44. ^ "Top Albums (Week 48, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  45. ^ Ultratop 50 (Flanders): M [FR] discography
[edit]
Preceded by Victoires de la Musique
Male artist of the year
2000 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Victoires de la Musique
Male group or artist of the year
2005 		Succeeded by
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