While Canada has foisted some questionable “talent” upon the world over the years (I’m not naming names), I’m delighted with the crop of French-language artists coming out of the Montreal scene. With her breakthrough debut album of French piano Pop, Quebec singer Coeur de Pirate (nee Beatrice Martin) made Chanson Française cool in Canada, where singing in English usually paves the way to success.
She also accomplished the rather rare feat of achieving mainstream success in France. That puts her on a very short list with exports like Celine Dion and Natasha St-Pier.
The singer/songwriter hails from a family of piano players, and she herself has been playing since the age of 3. A classically trained pianist, she played keyboard in a teen Punk band before being invited to join the Quebec indie band Bonjour Brumaire in 2007. She also became another MySpace success story, getting signed to a label as a solo artist after a song she posted online gained popularity.
Coeur de Pirate (debut album)
The singer released her eponymous debut album in 2008. With minimalist production, charming piano stylings and childlike vocals, Coeur de Pirate’s formula was a winner. (Granted, artists like Regina Spektor and Vanessa Carlton had already created a lane for her type of sound in the mainstream by the time Martin came along.)
With her unique talents and indie Rock cred, she quickly won over fans in her native country, where the album went platinum. She conquered France, too, with the her debut reaching number 2 on the charts on its way to going triple platinum.
She also won the Victoires de la Musique (French Grammy) for Song of the Year in 2010 for her first single, “Comme des Enfants.” Watch the video:
In a savvy bit of marketing, she recorded two versions of her duet and video, “Pour un infidèle” for both markets. The version for Quebec featured Canadian singer Jimmy Hunt, while the version for release in France featured recently crowned Nouvelle Star singing competition winner Julien Doré. The single went to number one in France, and helped fuel its success there.
“Francis” was another cute single from the album, and her single “Ensemble” became an internet sensation, when a father from Quebec used it for his viral “time lapse baby” video in 2009. Overall, it was a stellar effort from a not-so-newcomer who struck out on her own.
Download: The whole album is a must-have for French music fans.
Second Album
In 2011, Martin collaborated with the frontman of the Canadian band Bedouin Soundclash, Jay Malinowski, under the name, Armistice. Their five-song EP contains a song I recommend grabbing: “Mission Bells” is very ‘She & Him’, if you like that sound.
BlondeThat year, the singer also released her sophomore album, Blonde, which reached the top 5 in both Canada and France. With discernible 1950’s and 60’s underpinnings, it’s definitely of a different mood than her debut. “Ava” sounds like it’s straight out of a sock hop. “Les Amours Dévouées” and the single “Adieu” both have an Alt Country / Americana sound that conjures images of tumbleweed and high noon duels. “Danse et Danse” and “Verseau” are quintessential Yé-yé. “Cap Diamant” and “Saint-Laurent” are simple, stripped down showcases for Martin’s vocals.
Part sweeping orchestral number, part upbeat indie pop, the single “Golden Baby” layers an eclectic range of vintage and modern music beneath Coeur de Pirate’s youthful, yet slightly melancholy vocals. With all lyrics in French, save for a few utterances of the English title, the song seems happy, like it should accompany the young singer while she skips through the streets of Old Montreal. The rather atmospheric interludes are reminiscent of overtures from classic cinema that somehow blend seamlessly with the oft-digital sound of the rest of the recording.
Another single from the album was the tender piano ballad, “Place de la Republique,” which is more in step with the material from her first abum. And yes, she’s referring to THAT Place de la Republique in Paris, where the video was filmed. She co-directed this video, btw.
The album’s closing song, “La Petit Mort,” was featured in the Orphan Black season 1 finale. (I’m a new fan of the show, and heard it while binge-watching past episodes. Martin’s voice is unmistakable.)
Download: “Adieu,” “Place De La République,” “Ava,” “Cap Diamant,” “La Petit Mort”
More Music
Trauma soundtrack2014 has been a busy year for the singer. First, she recorded a soundtrack album for the Canadian drama, “Trauma.” For those of you have been wishing for an English Coeur de Pirate album, she delivers an ‘all-anglais’ collection of stripped-bare cover songs, including Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good.”
She also teamed up with the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra for the soundtrack to the video game Child of Light. Sometimes her piano skills can be overshadowed by her vocals, but they’re fully on display on this largely instrumental album.
This year, she also took part in La bande à Renaud, a tribute album of songs by the French singer Renaud. Similar to Generation Goldman, this album assembles a who’s who of musical stars to cover the artist’s greatest hits. Coeur de Pirate scored a top 20 hit with her interpretation of “Mistral Gagnant”:
Similar Artists: Emily Loizeau, Fanny Bloom, Chloe Lacasse
Are you a fan? What’s your favorite song by her? Leave a comment below.
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