Success in Canada is no guarantee of stardom in France. Only a few have made the leap across the Atlantic in any significant way. Veteran singer Natasha St-Pier is one of the precious few.
St-Pier endeared herself to Canadian audiences on the Quebec televised talent competition “Le pouvoir de la chanson” in 1993, making it to the finals at just 12 years old. She soon followed with her first album at 15.
She won over French audiences when she represented France and placed 4th in the long-running Eurovision Song Contest in 2001. (Another famous French-Canadian singer took a similar path to international stardom: Celine Dion.) France tightened its embrace of her when she was awarded the Victoire de la musique for Best New Artist in 2003.
Stylistically, she’s sort of a Celine Dion for a younger generation. She has a crystal clear, angelic voice, and her power ballads would be right at home on your local “Lite FM” station, or on a playlist alongside “My Heart Will Go On.”
Tu trouveras. . . 10 ans de succès
Her career includes a decade of hits like “Tu trouveras,” “Nos rendez-vous,” “Un Ange Frappe A Ma Porte” and “Tant que c’est toi,” and over 2 million albums sold. (Those are big numbers in France and Canada markets.) If you’re interested in her back catalog, check out her best albums, De l’Amour le Mieux and Longueur d’ondes, or her “best of” album, Tu trouveras. . . 10 ans de succès.
Here’s her Top 5 single “Tu Trouveras” with an appearance by her longtime collaborator and producer, Pascal Obispo:
I have a selfish reason for liking St-Pier — Canadian French singers tend to enunciate harder, so the French words are easier to understand. Also, if you like your French singers full-throated — rather than wispy and airy — then you’ll really enjoy her music.
Bonne NouvelleIn 2012, the New Brunswick native released her sixth album, Bonne Nouvelle, which is full of feel-good acoustic Pop that’s the perfect soundtrack for a summer day at the beach. The album features a cute duet with French heartthrob Mickael Miro called “Juste comme ça” (which doubled as the title track to HIS debut album).
I like the acoustic sound of “Ma meilleure idée,” which sounds almost Jason Mraz-ish. In other places, she delivers notes in a way that reminds me of Sarah McClachlan. “Même pas peur” and “Pour ne jamais t’oublier” have a bit of Reggae beat. In any case, you’ll find lots of happy, radio-ready Pop on this album.
Watch the very upbeat video for the title track.
The singer’s latest triumph is the album Thérèse, Vivre d’amour which sets the religious poems of the French nun Saint Thérèse to music. The project features St-Pier along with Angunn, Sonia Lacen and Elisa Tovati, and music by Gregoire. “Vivre D’Amour,” featuring her and Angunn, reached the top of the French charts in 2013.
Similar Artists: Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Garou
What do you think of this French singer?
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Absolutely beautiful! Just what I’m looking for. Hoping to find the album on iTunes.
Hi Donna. I don’t know where you’re located, but you shouldn’t have a problem finding it in the English language iTunes stores (U.S., UK, Canada). The iTunes button in the article will take you right to it.