Daniel Balavoine

Personal Info

Known For Actor

Gender Male

Birthday 1952-02-05

Deathday 1986-01-14 (33 years old)

Place of Birth Alençon, Orne, France

Daniel Balavoine

Biography

Daniel Xavier-Marie Balavoine (5 February 1952 – 14 January 1986) was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world in the early 1980s; he inspired many singers of his generation such as Jean-Jacques Goldman, Michel Berger, who was his closest friend, as well as the Japanese pop-rock group Crystal King. Balavoine was a part of the original cast of the rock opera Starmania in 1978, which was written by Berger. Balavoine also took part in motorsports and French political life; he is known for a 1980 televised verbal confrontation with then-Socialist presidential candidate François Mitterrand. In the French music business, he earned his place with his powerful voice, wide range and recognisable lyrics, which were full of sadness and revolt. His songs dealt in themes of despair, pain and death, although hope was present as well. Balavoine was born on 5 February 1952 in Alençon, France. He was the youngest in a family of six children. He had two sisters and three brothers. His father, Emile, was an urban engineer and worked for the Reconstruction Ministry. His mother was an antiques wholesaler. In 1959, his father relocated to Algeria, while Daniel moved to southern city of Pau and attended a boarding school, an experience he clearly didn't appreciate. When he was eleven, he heard "She Loves You" by The Beatles which sparked his taste in music. In 1968, while attending high school, he was one of the many youth who supported the nationwide strikes. Having fully decided to make a living in music, he began to perform as a ballroom singer in Pau, covering Bob Dylan songs. In 1971, he moved to Paris but was disappointed and returned to Pau. Soon afterwards, he answered an audition in Paris to join a hard rock band, Présence, whose singer had just left. Another future singer, Laurent Voulzy, was his main competition for that position. Ultimately, Balavoine was chosen and went into the studio. The band soon released an album which wasn't a big success. Despite that, they toured all over France. In 1972, the band signed a contract with Warner Music Group but Balavoine quit the group. In 1973, while he was working as a record dealer, The Vogue studios, which produced Présence, contacted him and offered to support him in a solo career. His first Vogue record "Viens vite" was released, but suffered poor sales. Balavoine then became a background vocalist alongside his brother, Guy. Soon afterwards, they starred in a pop musical La Révolution Française. In 1974, Patrick Juvet, one of the biggest performers in France at the time, offered him the opportunity to be the opening act on his next tour. Balavoine wrote a song for him, "Couleurs d'Automne", which appeared on Juvet's following album. While attending a show, Léo Missir, vice president of Barclay Records, was impressed by Balavoine's aura and signed him immediately to a 3-year deal which ended up lasting far longer. His first record, "De vous à elle en passant par moi", was released in 1975, but again resulted in disappointing sales. ... Source: Article "Daniel Balavoine" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Known For

Actor

2022
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

as Self (archive footage)

2015
Je m'présente, je m'appelle Daniel

as Self (archive footage)

2012
Les Enfants de la Pop 80's

as Self (archive footage)

2010
Daniel Balavoine - Le chanteur

as Self (archive footage)

1985
Victoires de la musique

as (Album of the Year)

1985
Victoires de la musique

as Self (archive footage)

1982
1982
1982
Champs-Elysées

as Self (archive footage)

1980
Alors... Heureux ?

as Le brancardier

1979
Starmania

as Johnny Rockfort

1978
Starmania 78 - le best of

as Johnny Rockfort

1977
Fan School

as Self

1975
Numéro un

as Self

1975
Numéro un

as Self - Host

1975

Sound

1980