Laurent Boutonnat
Encyclopedia
Laurent Pierre Marie Boutonnat (born June 14, 1961 in Paris
) is a French
composer
and film
and music video director
, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer
and the director of moody, provocative and literature-inspired music videos.
In 1984, having composed a song called "Maman a tort
" with Jerome Dahan for which they needed a female singer, they started auditioning, and Mylène Farmer
, a young student in acting, eventually showed up. Boutonnat and Farmer then started an artistic collaboration which goes on to this day. While Farmer had limited songwriting input on her first album, she thereafter took the habit of writing all the lyrics while Boutonnat composes the music and arranges it.
Boutonnat also took up Farmer's visual image. He started directing long, big-budget, literature-inspired music videos that took more the shape of short films. His style was widely recognized, especially thanks to the videos "Libertine
" and "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
" in which the action takes place during the eighteenth century. Other videos like those of "Ainsi soit je...
" were appreciated for their simplicity and their visual language. Whether they were big productions or simple projects, all of Boutonnat's videos that he created during that time contained many references to literature and art, like Farmer in her lyrics. Boutonnat is sometimes considered to have revolutionized French music videos, including art and cinematic imagery in them and therefor not limiting them to simple commercial tools.
Boutonnat's videos for Farmer contained many nude and sexual provocative scenes which forced the TV stations to ban them from airplay. In the early 90's, at the end of the promotion of Farmer and Boutonnat's hugely successful album L'Autre...
, Farmer decided to start working with different music video directors. Boutonnat remained her songwriting partner. The last video he directed for her at that time was "Beyond My Control
", banned from daytime TV airplay for violence and sex.
in 1994, Boutonnat directed his first feature film, Giorgino
, based on an idea he had had for many years. Starring Farmer, Jeff Dahlgren
and Joss Ackland
, the film was a major critical and commercial flop at the time, even if more recent reviews of the film are less hostile with the film after it achieved cult status with its DVD release. Personally shaken by the disaster, Boutonnat and Farmer decided to part ways. Farmer exiled herself in the USA where she started writing new lyrics and discovering new music. Shortly afterwards, she reconciled with Boutonnat when she asked him to join her to write the music. The resulting album was a success. The corresponding music videos were not directed by Boutonnat as agreed by both.
After a string of hugely successful albums, Farmer and Boutonnat wrote the first two hugely successful albums of Alizée
, the first of them beating sales records. Boutonnat also directed her videos, which were far more commercial and TV-friendly than those he usually directs.
In 2001, Boutonnat directed his first video for Farmer since "Beyond My Control
", her hit single "Les Mots" that she recorded with Seal
. The video contains many references to Le radeau de la méduse, the famous painting by Géricault.
In 2007, Boutonnat finally directed Jacquou le Croquant
, his first feature film since 1994. The film received mixed reviews and met a modest commercial success, but it was nonetheless nominated for the César of the Best Costumes. As for Farmer, she recorded the theme song, "Devant soi", for the end credits.
The songwriting partnership between Farmer and Boutonnat is still going strong, with each of their albums having huge success in French-speaking countries.
In December 2010, Farmer releases her eighth album, Bleu Noir
, without the collaboration of Boutonnat. The album marks the first time that Farmer and Boutonnat do not work together in Farmer's music career.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and film
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and music video director
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer, , born Marie-Hélène Jeanne Gautier, , , is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author....
and the director of moody, provocative and literature-inspired music videos.
Career
Laurent Boutonnat directed his first film, Ballade de la Féconductrice, at the age of 17, while the film itself is rated 18. It would later be screened off competition at the Festival de Cannes. The movie contains multiple graphic elements that would characterize Boutonnat's provocative style.In 1984, having composed a song called "Maman a tort
Maman a tort
"Maman a tort" is a 1984 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the debut single from Farmer's first studio album Cendres de Lune, and marked the beginning of her collaboration with her long-time composer, Laurent Boutonnat. With lyrics by Jérôme Dahan, who also helped compose the...
" with Jerome Dahan for which they needed a female singer, they started auditioning, and Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer, , born Marie-Hélène Jeanne Gautier, , , is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author....
, a young student in acting, eventually showed up. Boutonnat and Farmer then started an artistic collaboration which goes on to this day. While Farmer had limited songwriting input on her first album, she thereafter took the habit of writing all the lyrics while Boutonnat composes the music and arranges it.
Boutonnat also took up Farmer's visual image. He started directing long, big-budget, literature-inspired music videos that took more the shape of short films. His style was widely recognized, especially thanks to the videos "Libertine
Libertine
A libertine is one devoid of most moral restraints, which are seen as unnecessary or undesirable, especially one who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behavior sanctified by the larger society. Libertines, also known as rakes, placed value on physical pleasures, meaning those...
" and "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
Pourvu qu'elles soient douces
"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" is a 1988 synthpop song by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je..., it was released on 12 September 1988. Very provocative, the song deals with sodomy and enjoys a very long music video which contains sexual and...
" in which the action takes place during the eighteenth century. Other videos like those of "Ainsi soit je...
Ainsi Soit Je...
Ainsi Soit Je... is the second album by Mylène Farmer, released in April 1988. It contains the hit singles "Sans contrefaçon", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" and "Sans logique"...
" were appreciated for their simplicity and their visual language. Whether they were big productions or simple projects, all of Boutonnat's videos that he created during that time contained many references to literature and art, like Farmer in her lyrics. Boutonnat is sometimes considered to have revolutionized French music videos, including art and cinematic imagery in them and therefor not limiting them to simple commercial tools.
Boutonnat's videos for Farmer contained many nude and sexual provocative scenes which forced the TV stations to ban them from airplay. In the early 90's, at the end of the promotion of Farmer and Boutonnat's hugely successful album L'Autre...
L'Autre...
L'Autre... is the third studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 9, 1991. It contains the singer's biggest hit, "Désenchantée", which was number-one in France for nine weeks, and other three top ten hits...
, Farmer decided to start working with different music video directors. Boutonnat remained her songwriting partner. The last video he directed for her at that time was "Beyond My Control
Beyond My Control
"Beyond My Control" is a 1991 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fourth single from her third studio album L'Autre... and was released in May 1992. The song probably remains well known for its music video that caused controversy and was censored at the time because...
", banned from daytime TV airplay for violence and sex.
in 1994, Boutonnat directed his first feature film, Giorgino
Giorgino
-Presentation:* Title : Giorgino* Direction : Laurent Boutonnat* Screenplay : Laurent Boutonnat, Gilles Laurent* Production : Laurent Boutonnat* Music : Laurent Boutonnat* Photo : Jean-Pierre Sauvaire* Film editing : Laurent Boutonnat, Agnès Mouchel...
, based on an idea he had had for many years. Starring Farmer, Jeff Dahlgren
Jeff Dahlgren
Jeff Dahlgren is American guitarist and producer.In 80's Jeff Dahlgren was frontman of punk band Wasted Youth.In 1994 he was main actor in French movie Giorgino,directed by Laurent Boutonnat....
and Joss Ackland
Joss Ackland
Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland CBE , known as Joss Ackland, is an English actor who has appeared in more than 130 films and numerous television roles.-Early life:...
, the film was a major critical and commercial flop at the time, even if more recent reviews of the film are less hostile with the film after it achieved cult status with its DVD release. Personally shaken by the disaster, Boutonnat and Farmer decided to part ways. Farmer exiled herself in the USA where she started writing new lyrics and discovering new music. Shortly afterwards, she reconciled with Boutonnat when she asked him to join her to write the music. The resulting album was a success. The corresponding music videos were not directed by Boutonnat as agreed by both.
After a string of hugely successful albums, Farmer and Boutonnat wrote the first two hugely successful albums of Alizée
Alizée
Alizée Jacotey is a French singer, known professionally by her given name Alizée She was discovered by Mylène Farmer, following her winning performance in the talent show, Graines de Star, in 1999...
, the first of them beating sales records. Boutonnat also directed her videos, which were far more commercial and TV-friendly than those he usually directs.
In 2001, Boutonnat directed his first video for Farmer since "Beyond My Control
Beyond My Control
"Beyond My Control" is a 1991 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fourth single from her third studio album L'Autre... and was released in May 1992. The song probably remains well known for its music video that caused controversy and was censored at the time because...
", her hit single "Les Mots" that she recorded with Seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
. The video contains many references to Le radeau de la méduse, the famous painting by Géricault.
In 2007, Boutonnat finally directed Jacquou le Croquant
Jacquou le Croquant
Jacquou le Croquant is a 2007 French historical film, based on the novel by Eugène Le Roy. Set in the Dordogne during the Bourbon Restoration, it tells the story of a young peasant who leads a revolt against an evil nobleman. It was nominated for two César Awards in 2008.-Plot:1815. Jacquou, a...
, his first feature film since 1994. The film received mixed reviews and met a modest commercial success, but it was nonetheless nominated for the César of the Best Costumes. As for Farmer, she recorded the theme song, "Devant soi", for the end credits.
The songwriting partnership between Farmer and Boutonnat is still going strong, with each of their albums having huge success in French-speaking countries.
In December 2010, Farmer releases her eighth album, Bleu Noir
Bleu Noir
-Formats:* CD - Jewel box* CD - Digisleeve Limited Edition with 24 page insert* Double Vinyl LP* Collector's edition box: CD, pen, bottle of ink, and individual sheets of pictures & lyrics.-Release history:-Peak positions:-Year-end charts:...
, without the collaboration of Boutonnat. The album marks the first time that Farmer and Boutonnat do not work together in Farmer's music career.
Theatrical movies
- Ballade de la Féconductrice (1978)
- GiorginoGiorgino-Presentation:* Title : Giorgino* Direction : Laurent Boutonnat* Screenplay : Laurent Boutonnat, Gilles Laurent* Production : Laurent Boutonnat* Music : Laurent Boutonnat* Photo : Jean-Pierre Sauvaire* Film editing : Laurent Boutonnat, Agnès Mouchel...
(1994) - Jacquou le CroquantJacquou le CroquantJacquou le Croquant is a 2007 French historical film, based on the novel by Eugène Le Roy. Set in the Dordogne during the Bourbon Restoration, it tells the story of a young peasant who leads a revolt against an evil nobleman. It was nominated for two César Awards in 2008.-Plot:1815. Jacquou, a...
(2007)
Music videos
- Mylène Farmer - Maman a tortMaman a tort"Maman a tort" is a 1984 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the debut single from Farmer's first studio album Cendres de Lune, and marked the beginning of her collaboration with her long-time composer, Laurent Boutonnat. With lyrics by Jérôme Dahan, who also helped compose the...
(1984) - Mylène Farmer - Plus grandirPlus grandir"Plus grandir" is a 1985 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer and is the first song written by the singer. It was released twice: first, on 25 September 1985 in a studio version as second single from Farmer's debut album Cendres de Lune, then on 12 May 1990 in a live mix version...
(1985) - Mylène Farmer - LibertineLibertine (song)"Libertine" is a 1986 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her first studio album Cendres de Lune and was released on 1 April 1986. It was particularly known for its huge music video, produced as a film and which contains explicit sexual and violent scenes. It...
(1986) - Mylène Farmer - TristanaTristanaTristana is a 1970 Spanish film directed by Luis Buñuel. Based on the eponymous novel by Benito Pérez Galdós, it stars Catherine Deneuve and Fernando Rey and was shot in Toledo, Spain. The voices of French actress Catherine Deneuve and Italian actor Franco Nero were dubbed to Spanish...
(1987) - Mylène Farmer - Sans Contrefaçon (1987)
- Mylène Farmer - Ainsi soit je...Ainsi Soit Je...Ainsi Soit Je... is the second album by Mylène Farmer, released in April 1988. It contains the hit singles "Sans contrefaçon", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" and "Sans logique"...
(1988) - Mylène Farmer - Pourvu qu'elles soient doucesPourvu qu'elles soient douces"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" is a 1988 synthpop song by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je..., it was released on 12 September 1988. Very provocative, the song deals with sodomy and enjoys a very long music video which contains sexual and...
(1988) - Mylène Farmer - Sans LogiqueSans logique"Sans logique" is a 1988 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was released on 20 February 1989 as the fourth and last single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je.... The song deals with schizophrenia, death, love and religion and was accompanied by a cinematic video...
(1988) - Mylène Farmer - A quoi je sers...À quoi je sers..."À quoi je sers..." is a 1989 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The single was a new song when it was released in July 1989, being not available on Farmer's studio albums, but only in a live version on En Concert...
(1989) - Mylène Farmer - AllanAllan-Places:* Allan, Saskatchewan, Canada* Allan, the Allaine river's lower course, in France* Allan, Drôme, town in France- People :* James Allan * Keith Allan * Lewis Allan, pseudonym of American lyricist Abel Metropolitan...
(Live) (1989) - Mylène Farmer - Plus Grandir (Live) (1990)
- Mylène Farmer - DésenchantéeDésenchantée"Désenchantée" is a 1991 song recorded by the French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. First single from her third studio album L'Autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved a great success in France, topping the chart for more than two months...
(1991) - Mylène Farmer - Regrets (1991)
- Mylène Farmer - Je t'aime mélancolieJe t'aime mélancolie"Je t'aime mélancolie" is a 1991 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her third studio album L'Autre..., the song was released in December 1991...
(1991) - Mylène Farmer - Beyond My ControlBeyond My Control"Beyond My Control" is a 1991 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fourth single from her third studio album L'Autre... and was released in May 1992. The song probably remains well known for its music video that caused controversy and was censored at the time because...
(1992) - Nathalie Cardone - Hasta SiempreHasta Siempre"Hasta Siempre, Comandante, or simply "Hasta Siempre", is a 1965 Spanish song by Cuban composer Carlos Puebla. The song's lyrics are a reply to revolutionary Che Guevara's farewell letter when he left Cuba, in order to foster revolution in the Congo and later Bolivia, where he would be captured and...
(1997) - Nathalie Cardone - PopulairePopulaireLe Populaire was the press organ of the French Section of the Workers' International party.The Populaire was a French automobile manufactured only in 1899. A light rear-engined voiturette, it featured three-seater bodywork....
(1998) - Nathalie Cardone - ...Mon Ange (1999)
- Nathalie Cardone - Baila Si (2000)
- Alizée - Moi... LolitaMoi... Lolita"Moi... Lolita" is a song by French singer Alizée, which was released as her debut single and the first from her debut album Gourmandises when she was 16...
(2000) - Alizée - Parler tout basParler tout bas"Parler tout bas" is the third single by Alizée released in April 2001. It featured an instrumental rendition of the song in addition to Alizée's solo rendering.-Music video:...
(2001) - Mylène Farmer - Les Mots (2001)
- Mylène Farmer - Pardonne-moiPardonne-moi"Pardonne-moi" is a 2001 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer, with lyrics written by herself and music composed by Laurent Boutonnat. It was the third and last single from Les Mots, and was released on 21 October 2002...
(2002) - Alizée - J'ai pas vingt ansJ'ai pas vingt ans"J'ai pas vingt ans" is the sixth single by Alizée, released in June 2003. The single featured, in addition to the solo version of the song, an instrumental version as well as "I'm Fed Up!", which is the English version of "J'en ai marre!". The English version of "J'ai pas vingt ans" is "I'm Not...
(2003) - Kamal Kacet - Ifkis (2004)
Albums
Laurent Boutonnat works as composer and producer on all the listed albums- Mylène Farmer - Cendres de Lune (1986)
- Mylène Farmer - Ainsi soit je... (1989)
- Mylène Farmer - L'autre... (1991)
- Mylène Farmer - Dance Remixes (1992)
- Mylène Farmer - Anamorphosée (1995)
- Nathalie Cardone - Album éponyme (1999)
- Mylène Farmer - Innamoramento (1999)
- Alizée - Gourmandises (2000)
- Mylène Farmer - Les Mots (2001)
- Alizée - Mes courants électriques... (2003)
- Mylène Farmer - Avant que l'ombre... (2005)
- Mylène Farmer - Point de Suture (2008)
Movie soundtracks
- GiorginoGiorgino-Presentation:* Title : Giorgino* Direction : Laurent Boutonnat* Screenplay : Laurent Boutonnat, Gilles Laurent* Production : Laurent Boutonnat* Music : Laurent Boutonnat* Photo : Jean-Pierre Sauvaire* Film editing : Laurent Boutonnat, Agnès Mouchel...
(1994) - Le Pèlerin (1995)
- Jacquou le CroquantJacquou le CroquantJacquou le Croquant is a 2007 French historical film, based on the novel by Eugène Le Roy. Set in the Dordogne during the Bourbon Restoration, it tells the story of a young peasant who leads a revolt against an evil nobleman. It was nominated for two César Awards in 2008.-Plot:1815. Jacquou, a...
(2006)
External links
- Official website for the movie Giorgino
- Official website for the movie Jacquou le croquant
- french website about Laurent Boutonnat
- German website about the 1994 movie Giorgino