Singer Zaho de Sagazan rewarded at the Victoires de la Musique, February 9, 2024 at the Seine Musicale, in Boulogne-Billancourt (AFP / Bertrand GUAY)
The quadruplet of the revelation Zaho de Sagazan and the allegiance to rap/r’n’b, with the coronation of Aya Nakamura and the tie of Gazo and Vianney, marked Friday the Victoires de la musique, criticized until ‘here for their archaism.
The triumph was announced. Nominated in five categories, Zaho de Sagazan, 24, won four: album, original song, stage revelation and female revelation.
The artist, driven by her first album “La symphonie des éclairs”, notably paid tribute to “caregivers”, the first activity she held before throwing herself into music. “But who is hacking the thing? Is it my mother behind all that?”, the native of Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) joked on stage, overcoming the emotion of this quadruplet.
Unknown a year and a half ago, her schedule is already full and the size of the speakers has changed in 2024, with a tour of Zenith-type venues, including the one in Paris in mid-March, already sold out. The others (Marseille, Lille, etc.) will follow in November. Until then, the young woman with peroxided hair will be exported, with Quebec, Switzerland and Belgium on the program.
His universe revolves around skin-deep writing, an incarnation of Brel and Barbara, all served by an electro atmosphere.
– “Victory of sharing” –
The other highlight of the evening was therefore the place given to rap/r’n’b, star genres on musical platforms hitherto snubbed by the Victoires.
If a mainstream rapper like OrelSan has already collected 12 victories in his career, he was the tree that hid the forest of diversity in French-speaking rap.
The rapper Gazo and the singer and composer Vianney during the Victoires de la musique at the Seine Musicale, February 9, 2024 in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Parise de Boulogne-Billancourt, in Hauts-de-Seine, February 9, 2024 ( AFP / Bertrand GUAY)
Gazo is emblematic of artists especially popular with young audiences and his prize for male artist tied with Vianney is a strong sign of the Victories. This is his first trophy at 29 years old. The third for Vianney, 32, who hailed “the Victory of Sharing”.
And what about the Female Artist Victory for Aya Nakamura? The queen of r’n’b, praised by the children of Madonna, the most listened to French-speaking singer in the world, had until now only collected an additional reward from the Victoires. This time, here is a crown worthy of his career, at 28 years old. The Franco-Malian was, however, not present to receive her.
For Gazo, it’s a great revenge on life. The artist was born in Châteauroux (Indre), from a large family of Guinean ancestry.
Arriving as a child in the Paris region, the nightmare began between dropping out of school early and being placed in a home or foster family. Then came the squats and illegal schemes in the majority.
Gazo even said he had been in prison. Rap saved him with two solo albums “Drill FR” (2021) and “KMT” in 2022.
– Tears of Lavilliers –
As a symbol, the first Victory of the evening, that of the music video, was given to a rapper, Shay (for the video for “Commando”).
And it was the rapper Damso who won the concert. Yamê, at the crossroads of rap-r’n’b-song, has been designated a male revelation.
Director Guillaume Doubet wins the prize for best audiovisual creation for the clip “Commando” of the song by rapper Shay at the Victoires de la Musique, February 9, 2024 in Boulogne-Billancourt (AFP / Bertrand GUAY)
The creation last year of the Flammes, a ceremony dedicated to rap and its trends, therefore “moved the industry a little and, this year, the nominees for the Victoires are much more representative of what works in France”, analyzed for AFP Nicolas du Roy, editorial director of Spotify France.
We also detect the reforming touch of Vincent Frèrebeau, new president of Victoires, returning to a rotating position already occupied in 2005-06 and 2012-13.
Composer and singer Bernard Lavilliers at the Seine Musicale concert hall in Boulogne-Billancourt, in Hauts-de-Seine, February 9, 2024 (AFP / Bertrand GUAY)
The first tears of the evening were shed by Bernard Lavilliers, 77 years old. After singing a medley of his successes with several artists – including Catherine Ringer and Jeanne Cherhal – the singer received a Victoire d’Honneur from the hands of actress Sandrine Bonnaire.
“There are three kinds of people: the dead, the living and those who are at sea. For the moment, I am at sea”, declared the interpreter of “On the road again” on the microphone.