Bernard Brumberg " Michel Polnareff "

Michel Polnareff is a singer-songwriter French, born July 3, 1944 at Nerac. Most of his songs were a great success. Pianist and melodic pop, he cultivates a singular appearance.

Michel Polnareff spent his childhood in music. His father Leo Poll wrote for Edith Piaf and Mouloudji. It was also at Leib Polnareff that we owe the French adaptation of the Russian song "The Galerius. Polnareff started piano at 4 years and gets to 11 and a half years the first prize in music theory at the Conservatoire de Paris. At 20, he left the family nest it considers stifling. He settled on the steps of Sacred Heart with a guitar bought with his savings from Beuscher. His first notes are those of the doll that is not.

Gérard Woog, a childhood friend, insists the present Lucien Morisse, patron of Europe and a future manager. Michael agrees to sign on the label AZ provided to record in London with Jimmy Page on guitar and John Paul Jones on bass (future Led Zeppelin). To his surprise, the record label agrees. The doll that is not released May 26, 1966 and has a true triumph and will be repeated by many artists.

Polnareff leaves no one indifferent with his Anglo-Saxon (as Gainsbourg and Dutronc ), his melodies sometimes following a classic (as cuddly Soul), her androgynous look (which is still evolving), or his lyrics. The press does not let go and sees it as a symbol of the decadence of youth, because of his effeminate look judged (in common with David Bowie) and his lyrics that shock. Love with you (taken by Etienne Daho in 1989) is also forbidden to air until 22h.

It then connects the tubes, the lament Love Me Please Love Me (Golden Rose Festival d'Antibes) in Gothic Ball Laze through the existential Under what star am I born? or the electrical and vengeful king of the ants. Polnareff is experimenting with a system for quadraphonic disc Polnareff's (also used by the Beatles and Gainsbourg for example).

In 1967, he staged for the first time in Olympia. He continues to follow up the successes in the empty house or All birds, all the boats ... In 1970, he returned to Olympia and began a tour. On stage, it is innovative.

Also in 1970, he reply to any criticism on his appearance and lifestyle with the song I'm a man. In 1971 he toured again and then will join Johnny Hallyday at the Sports Palace in September 1971 as a pianist for his show. It was at this concert he will appear with his new look: he wears glasses now big dark glasses and big white frames. It will not change style.
 

In 1971, he composed the soundtrack it can not happen Nadine Trintignant and film The Madness of quantities of Gerard Oury with Louis de Funès and Yves Montand . Recorded at Abbey Road with a surround sound system, orchestras are directed by A. King, B. Sheperd, or Polnareff itself. We also find Herbie Flowers, bassist Lou Reed (also present on the other major French record of those years, "Melody Nelson" with Jane Birkin Serge Gainsbourg).

In 1972 he wrote The Fly, Holidays and all will be in paradise. It is also the year of Polnarévolution concert at the Olympia. The 6000 poster for this concert will also revive the scandal because Polnareff, disguised for the occasion, decided to show her buttocks. The criminal court to condemn the molestation to pay 10 francs per poster (6000 posters were raised, a fine of 60,000 francs).

Returning from an international tour in the summer of 1973, he discovered that his bank deficit is calculated in millions of francs. His trusted man has cheated. He went into exile, October 10, 1973, the United States aboard the liner France, which is one of the last trips. He finally settled in Los Angeles.

In 1975, he signed very quickly on the Atlantic label and goes to fashion fame entirely in English. On this disc are of big names such as Lee Ritenour, Lee Sklar and Jim Gordon (musician of the Beatles or Clapton). Polnareff also surrounded by ropes. Jesus for the title tonight is ranked 3rd in the Billboard magazine. He then organizes a very big tour in the land of the rising sun and a concert at Forest National in Brussels, unable to set foot on French soil.

In 1976, he wrote the soundtrack to the movie Lipstick to be ranked number one in the United States and many other countries.

In 1977, he composed Letter to France on a text by Jean-Loup Dabadie who expresses his longing for France. He decided at that time to stop his American career. Not for lack of success, but lack of desire. He is now attached to the comfort of living in California because of sport and new technologies, far from the glitz and bustle of constant controversy and political issues of Parisian life.

He broke his contract in 1978, returned to France for trial. He took the opportunity to get out Hey I revoilou but success is mixed. A "dirt album" according to the individual, recorded between London and Los Angeles.

In 1981, Polnareff experienced a triumphant return with the album bubbles, which sold nearly a million copies, containing among other hits like Tam Tam and Radio. FM sound sounds very Californian, very synths and drum machine. A disc well in phase with the time saved by night with Hans Zimmer in London.

In 1984, he wrote the soundtrack to The Revenge of the feathered serpent of Gerard Oury.

After months of hesitation, he had surgery for cataracts in both eyes brown by Dr. Alain Hagege October 17, 1994. Thanks to hypnotherapy, and despite the many risks involved that the transaction may cause irreversible and total cataract, Polnareff finally found the view.
Roxy at Bercy

In 1995, he prepared at the Peninsula Hotel in Los Angeles, a comeback. In September 1995, he performed in concert so on Sunset Boulevard in Room of the Roxy (which are produced David Bowie, Bob Marley, Frank Zappa, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and many others).

He surrounds himself likes of Dick Smith (guitarist of Earth, Wind and Fire and Aretha Franklin) or Alex Acuña (Weather Report percussionist, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson). The disc Live at the Roxy in 1996 and marks out the spirits with the rich reorchestrations.

Covers of his songs appear, including We all go to heaven for the movie of Dominique Farrugia Influence peddling, as interpreted by Arsenium, Bugsy and Jane Stomy Fostin. He opens his website in 1996. This site allows direct communication with his audience.

In 1999, released the single I dream of a world, ballad gospel of peace that obtains only limited success. Michel announced both a new album and a big concert in Paris. The first project was not followed to date.

The first half of the 2000s is also very quiet, despite the tributes and compilations and a cover of Paris Match in September 2004 when Michel Polnareff appears tanned and bodybuilder with his new companion, Danyellah.

On May 12, 2006, on the news of 20h TF1, Michel Polnareff announced that he goes on stage March 2, 2007 for a series of six concerts at the Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy. Nearly 40,000 tickets were sold in forty-eight hours.

In October 2006 a new single (the first seven years) entitled Hospital Beds hits the airwaves.

On March 2, 2007 at Bercy, Michel Polnareff returns after 34 years absence on the French stage. He goes 25 tracks. Michel Polnareff appears in silhouette, glasses hanging act as a giant screen, the huge arena composed of lights and screens are seen surrounded by planets and stars are discovering over the show. Michel is accompanied by seven American musicians all considered monsters of art such as Virgil Donati, Bunny Brunel (fretless bass Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock), Tony MacAlpine (guitar and keyboard player Steve Vai) or Mino Cinelu (percussionist Miles Davis, Weather Report and Sting).

Ze (re) Tour 2007 is one of the musical events of 2007, attracting over one million spectators with sixty days (not to mention the great concert July 14 at the Champ de Mars in front of more than 1 million people, at the request of the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, as well, "France rolls out red carpet to Michel Polnareff, tax exile, and exile all court8). On March 10, 2007, the victories of the music gave him the victory of honor for all his work. CD and DVD of the tour released December 7, 2007 Polydor.


In September 2010 we learned that Michel Polnareff will become for the first time dad. The singer had not yet experienced the joys of fatherhood.

Recovered from that wonderful emotion, 3 January 2011, the star answered questions exclusively to Marc-Olivier Fogiel, live from Los Angeles on Europe 1.

Asked about the possibility of a comeback, Michel Polnareff replied "Of course. I can assure you that around 2007 (date of his last tour), this is not the last time I set foot on boards, "he said