She has no musical education, she did not attend famous conservatories and did not take lessons from recognized music teachers. But this did not stop her from making a brilliant career. Patricia Kaas, amazing and at the same time mysterious, delights with the power of her voice. Hoarse notes, like an echo of the inimitable Edith Piaf, with whom Kaas is constantly compared, made her recognizable and famous. And you even wonder: where does such a fragile, short woman get such a strong and colorful voice? Talent, natural abilities that make millions of fans go crazy.
Read a short biography of Patricia Kaas and many interesting facts about the singer on our page.
Brief biography
The small town of Forbac is located in northeastern France. The journey to Paris is long - 340 km, but Germany is just a stone's throw away. On the other side of the border lies the land of the Saarland. It was here, at the junction of two countries, that the future parents of Patricia Kaas met. French citizen German origin Joseph and the German woman Irmgard met their eyes at one of the folk festivals and fell in love with each other. Well, the result of their ardent passion was seven children, five boys and two girls. Patricia was the last born on December 5, 1966.
While her father worked in the mine and her mother took care of the house, the little girl grew up and learned about the world around her. Angular, somewhat reminiscent of a boy in her behavior, Patricia began to discover music. Hearing her daughter sing, Irmgard was very happy - at least someone from a poor family could be freed from the bonds of poverty. Therefore, she began to encourage independent studies music and without hesitation enrolled her daughter in the “Citywide Competition of Young Talents.” Such events were rare for Vorback. Missing such a chance is an unforgivable mistake.
Constant rehearsals ended with the 10-year-old appearing on stage. Even then, she was able to excite the audience by wearing men's pants and a cap instead of the expected dress with ruffles. But the most interesting thing began later. A strong, hoarse and emotional voice sang in German and delighted everyone sitting in the hall. This was her first victory.
Her vocal abilities were noticed and they began to invite her to various events. Ambitious Patricia could not help but take advantage of this offer. And she began to sing. At folk festivals, in cabarets and even at beer festivals. I even had to quit school, with my mother’s permission, of course.
The constant performances did not go unnoticed. At the age of 13, her voice conquered a German blues group. Without a shadow of hesitation, the group's producer offered to conclude a contract and sing for the talented person in a series of concerts at the Rum River club in the capital of the Saarland. The city of Saarbrücken was not distinguished by luxury and wealth. Despite this, the young singer was very pleased with the new turn in her work.
One evening Bernard Schwartz stopped by the Rum River. A forced stop in this city forgotten by the world did not inspire the French producer for long gatherings. But Patricia’s performance changed everything. Appearing on stage, she performed a song by Liza Minnelli and... received an invitation to conquer Paris. So, the 19-year-old aspiring singer left her native place and began to be inspired by the romance of the Parisian streets.
The first single “Jealous” did not bring the expected success and surge in fame. Bernard constantly compared her to Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich, predicting popularity for the young lady. But such comparisons only angered Patricia and forced her to work even harder to prove that she was different. And she did it. The single “Mademoiselle Sings the Blues” discovered a new talent in France - Patricia Kaas, and the album of the same name reached platinum status in three months. It’s a pity that my mother, Irmgard, did not live to see this moment and could not share her daughter’s success.
The universal love of the public grew like a snowball. Patricia enjoyed her fame and strived for new horizons. At the age of 21, she also conquered the Olympia, the main concert hall in Paris. The audience saw her off with thunderous applause and threw hundreds of bouquets at her feet. This was the moment she lived for.
A little later, Pat terminated her contract with Bernard Schwartz, purchased luxury housing in an elite area of Paris and changed in appearance. Now a daring, sexy and temperamental woman appeared on stage. Her new appearance, combined with her characteristic voice, made hearts beat faster and forget about everything in the world.
Patricia became the darling of France. At the end of 1990, she was chosen as “Voice of the Year” and dedicated an entire program on one of the channels. She was a dizzying success and relied on endless tours, which were popular. In 2009, Patricia represented France at Eurovision in Moscow. Her composition “Et s`il fallait le faire” scored 107 points during the voting and took 8th place. For France it was a success.
Platinum discs, victory in the “Best Performer of the Year” nominations, high album sales - this is the result of endless dedication to the music world. Patricia lived by songs and the powerful energy of her fans. Career overshadowed everything, even my loved one and the desire to start a family. The Belgian composer Philip Bergman, with whom she spent unforgettable years, could not completely melt the heart of this outwardly cold and unapproachable woman. He wanted children, she could not even imagine a break from creativity. Loneliness once again covered her...
Patricia continues to sing, create new compositions and tour. And let the twinkle of loneliness still be visible in her eyes. Perhaps this is what makes her exactly the Patricia Kaas who is listened to and admired.
Interesting facts
The singer received her name in honor of actress Grace Patricia Kelly. Her mother, Irmgard, admired her talent.
Until the age of 6, almost until school, Kaas spoke a German dialect. This was normal for the area where she lived.
Patricia's repertoire during the years of popularity in her native Forbak consisted of songs Dalida , Mireille Mathieu and Liza Minnelli. The girl, according to those around her, managed to sing no worse than pop stars, and sometimes better.
The singer released 7 studio and 5 live albums, which sold well around the world, especially in French and German speaking countries.
At the age of 16, she got a job in a modeling agency.
The first single, called “Jealous,” for Patricia was sponsored by Gerard Depardieu. The actor’s wife, Elizabeth, also took part in the creation of the song. Departier helped the talented singer with the release of her first album.
Temperamental Patricia won the heart of Alain Delon in the late 80s of the last century. He came to her concert to find out who all of Paris admired, and was fascinated. They began to communicate, dine together in restaurants and share their innermost thoughts. Like old friends. But the singer herself broke off the relationship; she did not want the famous actor to ruin her career: while he publicly confessed his love to Patricia, his pregnant girlfriend was waiting for him at home. To cool the ardor of Delon in love, Pat releases the disc “I call you by you...”.
The singer considers her mother’s engagement ring, the person who always believed in and supported her, to be her amulet. She also has a teddy bear with whom she not only goes on stage, but also sleeps. She bought this toy in Berlin for her mother, who at that time had cancer.
Patricia loves to treat herself to expensive things. Walking through boutiques gives her pleasure, as do evenings near the fireplace, surrounded by lit candles and relaxed music.
Sophisticated and beautiful face Patricia was attracted by the famous cosmetics company "L" Etoile. For 5 years she advertised their products. The singer's advertising activities also include a commercial for Lipton tea.
In 2003, Patricia received the German order. Thus, her contribution to the development of Franco-German relations was appreciated.
Patricia feels a special attachment to Berlin. This city evokes delight and love in her. Asia also attracts her with its mystery and mystery, where she tours with pleasure. Thailand, Korea, Vietnam are a small part of the Asian countries where the singer has visited.
Kaas spent a long time trying to guess the Russian public. The heavy, dry and serious atmosphere at concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg irritated her. How so: pay a considerable amount for a ticket and show no emotion! Over time, she realized that the front rows were usually occupied by the impenetrable privileged ranks, and her real admirers were crowded into the back. Patricia was outraged by this “mess” and during the next concert she walked past the front rows and began to sing to those who had actually come to listen to her. The top officials did not like this so much that they demanded that the singer’s planned performances be cancelled.
Patricia gave concerts in other Russian cities: Tyumen, Irkutsk, Barnaul. She also pleased the audience with her Russian-language performance of the famous song “Black Eyes” and a composition from the film “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath.” The collaboration with the group “Uma2rman” was no less stunning. They sang the song “You Won’t Call” in Russian, although the first verse was still in French.
Costumes for going on stage, as well as everyday wardrobe, are completely selected by Kaas. The singer's style is a separate topic for discussion. Despite the strong sexuality, there is no hint of vulgarity in it. All images are distinguished by femininity and sophistication. The artist’s makeup harmoniously complements the created set: gloss instead of lipstick, which Kaas doesn’t like, and smoky eye makeup.
Not long before her 50th birthday, Patricia released an autobiographical book, “The Shadow of My Voice,” in which she revealed her deepest secrets and thoughts.
Kaas's first tour lasted 16 months. She traveled to 12 countries, receiving the title of one of the popular performers. This was in 1990.
Placido Domingo, Alejandro Fernandez - Pat has worked with such famous tenors.
This is not to say that she was always accompanied by success. There were also failures. Thus, the album “Sexe Fort” did not evoke much inspiration among fans. After touring in favor of the disc, Kaas took a break, which lasted almost two years.
Before one of the concerts, the singer posted a post on a social network where she asked fans not to film the concert. No, it's not star fever. Kaas just wanted to see the faces of the people who came to listen to her, and not smartphones.
The best songs of Patricia Kaas
Probably Patricia’s most popular composition can be called “ Mon mec a moi" This song was recorded in 1987, and the next year it entered the top five. What is it about? About love, lies and life. Like all the singer’s work. Although her latest compositions are devoted to a topic that is not customary to talk about out loud - domestic violence. Fans greeted the new songs well and approved of the singer’s courage.
“Mon mec a moi” (listen)
Single " Mademoiselle Chante le Blues"or "Mademoiselle Sings the Blues", released in 1987, became the breakthrough of the aspiring singer. It was with this composition that Kaas made her debut in the French charts. The song spent 18 weeks in the top ten.
"Mademoiselle Chante le Blues" (listen)
« Il me dit que je suis belle?"is a touching composition that evokes pleasant feelings and immerses you in personal memories.
“Il me dit que je suis belle?” (listen)
Song " If You Go Away", despite the English name, has French roots. This is a rehash famous composition Jacques Brelet "Ne me quitte pas" 1959. Not only Patricia, but also other performers, including Russian ones, included it in her repertoire.
“If You Go Away” (listen)
« Et s'il fallait le fair" - the same song with which Pat performed at Eurovision. The melody truly contains notes characteristic of French culture, which makes it memorable.
“Et s’il fallait le fair” (listen)
Films about Patricia Kaas and with her participation
Talk about life inner world The singer was decided by director Horst Muhlenbeck. An autobiographical film produced in Germany was filmed in 2009. In it, Patricia is shown alive, real, with her feelings and experiences.
The French performer's spectacular appearance and artistry did not go unnoticed by the directors. In 2002, Kaas made her debut as an actress. She played in the film by Claude Lelouch “And Now, Ladies and Gentlemen...” / “And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...” At the same time, she got one of the main roles - the beautiful Jane, singing the blues. The film intertwines love and crime lines. Pat also worked with Claude Lelouch in 2010 on the chronicle “Woman and Men” / “Ces amours-là”.
In 2012, she played the role of Katie, a grief-stricken mother, in the crime drama Assassinée. The film was directed by Thierry Binisti.
The performer also tried herself in TV series, although in them she plays herself. She can be found in the episodes "Long Live the Show", "Day to Day", "Champs Elysees" and "Cologne Meeting".
Criticism of the famous Frenchwoman is ambiguous. Some admire her talent, transformation, ability to show sincere feelings, others do not see acting in her. In any case, everyone draws their own conclusions.
A strong voice, with hoarse notes, sensual and soulful... It accompanies many films, including television series. Here are several films where Patricia Kaas' compositions serve as the soundtrack.
|
Movie |
Composition |
|
"Bait" (1995) |
"Space in my heart" |
|
"Innocent Lies" (1995) |
“Que Reste-t-il de nos Amours?” |
|
"Train to Hell" (1996) |
"Mon Mec a Moi" |
|
"Help! I am a fish" (2000) |
"Close your eyes" |
|
"Samedi soir on chante Goldman" (2013) |
"Il me dit que je suis belle" |
|
"Die Harald Schmidt Show" (2013), TV series |
"Avec Ce Soleil" |
Features of the musical direction of Patricia Kaas
According to music experts, Patricia managed to renew interest in French chanson in the early 90s of the last century. But classify it as a classic chanson difficult. This classification is given to her due to the fact that she sings in the language of her country. And as you know, all French-speaking performers are classified as chanson.
In fact, Pat's style has hints of Anglo-American pop music, as well as jazz and blues. This mix of directions is entirely in keeping with her gruff voice, from alto to mezzo-soprano. Critics also note a certain rhythmicity and melody in her singing: it is pleasant to listen to her in both French and German.
Patricia Kaas about herself, her life and work
Looking at photographs of Pat from different times, you involuntarily pay attention to her eyes. A beautiful cut, rich blue color and constant sadness that is visible even through a smile. Patricia calls herself melancholic and says that there is nothing to be surprised about. At the age of 20, losing your mother, and after a while your father... After such events, it is not difficult to become melancholic and depressed in your thoughts, because we are talking about the closest people.
Loneliness... another feeling that permeates her life. Even while in the arms of a multimillion-dollar audience, Patricia never lost the feeling that she was alone. This is also typical for her personal life. Each novel ended with loneliness, a feeling of sadness and melancholy. One day she even hated men, until... she met a new prince. Now her life is brightened up by a cute dog named Tequila. It’s so nice to pat him behind the ear, bury himself in soft fur and feel that someone is waiting for you at home and does not demand anything in return.
Uncertainty... always accompanies her. Either too thin, or too plump - various doubts about herself and her beauty are constantly hovering in her head. And this comes from a woman whose appearance is admired by others! But Kaas learned to cope with her own negativity and accept herself.
Career... always comes first and is always a priority. This is her life. Despite the critical acclaim and love of fans, she does not believe that she is doing anything supernatural. Pat is modest about his achievements, which captivates the audience even more. Ambassador of French Music is an imposed title that is not recognized by Patricia. She believes that she is bringing her music to the masses.
“I’m so spoiled,” Kaas replies when asked by a journalist about his dreams. The singer does not hide her passion for expensive things and a luxurious life, but she also does not flaunt it as some kind of achievement. It is difficult to surprise her, although gifts from fans always delight her.
Patricia Kaas combines talent, charm and mystery. You want to listen to her, you want to watch her, you want to admire her. Fans note that she has become different. And it’s not only about the music, but also about the inner world. Despite this, they remain faithful to her, which proves the correctness of her chosen path in life.
Video: listen to Patricia Kaas
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Biography, life story of Patricia Kaas
Date of birth: December 5, 1966
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Place of birth: Forbach (Lorraine, France)
Place of residence: Paris (France)
Family: her father, the Frenchman Joseph, was a miner; her mother, Irmgard, is from Germany. Patricia is the youngest child in large family(5 brothers and a sister).
Childhood: she spent it in a friendly family. She had a very close and trusting relationship with her parents. They always protected and supported her.
Education: Patricia stopped her studies after the 9th grade. Singing took a lot of time and later she would prefer it to studying at school. For some time, Patricia worked as a fashion model.
Languages: German, French, English
Basic qualities: independence, will, honesty, sincerity and romance
Weakness for: Fashion and fashionable clothes
Pet: Tequila, a Maltese given by Claude Lelouch.
Debut on stage: at the age of 8, Patricia won a singing competition; At the age of 13 she signed a contract with the German cabaret Rumpelkammer (Saarebrücken), where she performed as a singer for 7 years.
First success: December 5, 1987, on her birthday (21 years old), Patricia performed on the stage of the Paris Olympia in the first part of the Julie Pietri concert.
First single: vinyl record Jalouse (Jealous), financed by Gerard Depardieu
First platinum disc: Mademoiselle chante... (Mademoiselle sings...)
Total CD sales: To date, Patricia Kaas has released seven studio and five live albums, as well as the compilations Les Indispensables and Best of, totaling more than 15 million copies sold worldwide.
First film role: in 2001, Patricia received the lead female role in the film by Claude Lelouch And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen, in which she played alongside Jeremy Ironson and Claudia Cardinale. The film was released on May 29, 2002.
Tour: 6 world tours - more than 900 concerts. The stage always remains her greatest passion, and the audience remains her greatest love!
CONTINUED BELOW
The voice... so captivating and melodic. A voice whose elusive intonations sometimes express suffering and pain, and sometimes hope and love. It seems to burst out from the depths of the soul and captures us entirely, without a trace. The voice of Patricia Kaas, which has become so dear and familiar to us, is unique and inimitable.
Patricia Kaas was born on December 5, 1966 in the small town of Forbach in eastern France near the German border. The singer's father, the Frenchman Joseph, went to work in the mines every morning, while Irmgard, Patricia's mother, who was German by birth, was raising the children.
The youngest in the Lorraine family, Patricia was a very modest and reserved girl. Her large family was neither poor nor rich. Patricia's parents, sister and five brothers had enough family happiness and their cozy small house. “I was raised in a family whose core values were love and honesty.”
WITH early childhood The little girl loved to sing. It was on stage that she felt at ease, participating in various competitions and all kinds of city festivals. When Patricia was barely 8 years old, she took to her first stage during a carnival in her hometown. At the age of 9, Patricia became a singer in the group Black Flowers, where she performed popular songs in the disco style. Every minute of her performance, Patricia felt the support of her mother, who never ceased to believe in her daughter’s success. At the age of thirteen, Patricia won a competition and signed a 7-year contract with the Rumpelkammer cabaret club in the German city of Saarbrücken. From that moment on, the singer’s professional career began. Her repertoire consisted of songs popular at that time by Liza Minelli, Dalida, and Edith Piaf. All that remained was to wait for a sign of fate...
And this day came in the spring of 1983, when a certain Bernard Schwartz looked into the famous Rumpelkammer. “When I entered the club, I didn’t notice her right away. I only heard a strong, hoarse voice. Then I turned around and, of course, expected to see a black woman, but not a fragile blond girl.” Fascinated by Patricia's talent, Bernard Schwartz decides to give the young singer a chance.
When the phone rang in Patricia's house, she thought it was a joke: Gerard Depardieu himself wanted to talk to her! He became the producer of the debut album Jalouse (Jealous). Unfortunately, the song did not bring the expected success, but despite everything, Patricia decides to gather her strength to achieve her goal.
At the beginning of 1987, Bernard Schwartz and Patricia entered into a contract with the recording company Polydor, which in April of the same year would release the world-famous song Mademoiselle chante le blues (Mademoiselle sings the blues). On December 5, 1987, on her birthday, the singer climbed onto the stage of the most prestigious hall - the Paris Olympia, where such great stars as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, as well as Edith Piaf and Yves Montand performed. Thunder of applause and the audience is captivated!
1988 promises to be full of new events. First, Patricia moves to the capital and chooses an apartment in the Saint-Germain des Pres quarter. She then returns to the studio to work on recording the album. In October, Patricia begins to receive her first Victoires de la Musique awards in the category Best Female Debut of the Year, as well as the SACEM and Radio-France (RFI) awards. November 1988 was marked by the release of the debut album Mademoiselle chante... (Mademoiselle sings...), which turned out to be phenomenally successful. In April 1989, the young singer gave several concerts in Europe and the USSR. On January 12, 1990, the first grand tour began, later called Carnets de scène (Stage Diary), which will last 16 months in 12 countries around the world in front of 750,000 spectators! In February, Patricia presents her concert program in New York and Washington. Soon the album Mademoiselle chante... becomes a Diamond disc. As a result, 3 million albums sold worldwide! She turned out to be one of the few French performers who broke the very famous and at the same time difficult to penetrate Anglo-Saxon markets.
On April 10, 1990, the second album Scène de vie (Scene of Life) was released. Bernard Schwartz gives way to a more professional manager - Cyril Prieur. In December, Patricia is chosen as the Voice of the Year by the audience of RTL and FR3. The latter, in turn, devotes an entire program to her with the participation of Alain Delon. The French press compares the young singer to Edith Piaf.
On January 26, 1991, the first part of the tour ends after eight triumphant concerts in Russia (15,000 spectators in Moscow and Leningrad), six in Germany, eleven in Canada and five in Japan. At the end of November, Patricia gives three concerts in Moscow in a hall with 18,000 seats, one of which is broadcast on television and radio throughout Russia.
After a short rest, in October 1992, Patricia began recording a new album in London at Pete Townshend's Eal Pie Studio. This time it is produced by Robin Miller. And a month later, on April 8, the singer’s third album Je te dis vous (I’m telling you) is released in 44 countries. In England and the USA the album is released under the title Tour de charme (Tour of Charm). “It took me two years to imagine this new album, more personal than the others. It meets my feminine expectations, talks about love and friendship. I have changed a lot and gained confidence in myself.” At the end of September 1993, the second giant world tour was launched, including 150 concerts in 19 countries (France, Australia, Germany, Japan, Russia, England, USA, Austria, etc.). By March 1994, the album Je te dis vous received a Diamond Disc (about 1 million copies sold in France and more than 2 million worldwide). Patricia becomes the first French singer whose first three albums sold more than 1 million copies! During May 1994, the singer presented her concert program Tour de charme on the Asian continent (Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand). Patricia becomes the first Western singer to visit Genoa.
In June 1994, director Stanley Donen decides to make a film about Marlene Dietrich and offers Patricia main role in a project called Falling in love again. Unfortunately, the director's idea did not come true.
On May 1, 1995, together with other artists, Patricia Kaas performs at a charity concert in front of 15,000 spectators in the city of Slavutich (Ukraine), a few kilometers from the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl. In the same month, in Monaco, Patricia is awarded the World Music Award in the category of Best French-Speaking Performer of the Year.
In June 1996, Patricia again assembled her star team in New York to work on the next album. After almost 3 years of waiting, which seemed endless for fans, the fourth studio album Dans ma chair (In my flesh) is released. The singer dedicates the album to her parents. Against the dark red background of the disc cover, the singer appears before us in a light scarlet blouse. “I agree that my appearance has changed. But every woman is influenced to some extent by new fashion trends.” The album's producer, Phil Raymond, who has worked with such world-class stars as Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, gives Patricia the opportunity to act as a co-producer. She has a really clear idea of each song and is directly involved in creating the arrangements.
In January 1998, the singer's third world tour began in Orleans. 120 concerts in 23 countries will be held under the name Rendez-vous (Date). In February, Patricia performs for the first time at the Salle de Bercy in Paris for three unforgettable evenings. In the summer of 1998, Patricia gives a free concert in Romania in front of 200,000 spectators. On the eve of Christmas 1998, Patricia receives an invitation from tenor Placido Domingo to participate in the classical concert Christmas in Vienna.
Meanwhile, Patricia is in the studio working on recording a new album under the auspices of Pascal Obispo. “I was impressed by Pascal's ability to work long and hard. Our work took place in an atmosphere of trust. He gave me clear ideas, but I always had the last word.” On May 18, 1999, the fifth studio album, Le mot de passe, was released in 40 countries. Keyword). For the first time, the singer’s strong and hoarse voice is accompanied by symphony orchestra under the leadership of Ivan Kassar. Le mot de passe can rightly be called classic work, in which intertwine eternal themes the inexorability of the current time, nostalgia, the complexity of love. Jean-Jacques Goldman's talent finds expression in the touching song Une fille de l'Est (Girl from the East) about Patricia's native land.
In June 1999, Patricia was invited by Michael Jackson to Seoul (South Korea) for a charity concert Michael Jackson and Friends. Unique among French performers, Patricia performs on the same stage with such world stars as Mariah Carey, Vanessa Mae, Status Quo, Boyzon, etc. By invitation American actress Vanessa Redgrave, Patricia goes to Kosovo and gives a free concert with other stars. True to her humanitarian ideals, she takes the opportunity to support the French soldiers.
In October 1999, the fourth world tour begins. Patricia sings at the Paris Zenith before heading to Las Vegas, where she was invited to the opening of the famous Paris casino hotel. The new performance, called Ce sera nous (It will be us), takes place in the atmosphere of the East. 120 concerts will take place not only throughout France, but also in Germany, Belgium, Russia, America, Finland, Canada... Patricia sings a duet with José Carerras on a television show in Leipzig. In May 2000, Patricia was awarded the National Order of Merit. On June 21, the singer takes part in a music festival at the Necker Hospital (Paris) for sick children. On October 18 in Berlin, the singer receives the Charles de Gaulle-Konrad Adenauer Prize, symbolizing the friendly relations between France and Germany.
At this time, French director Claude Lelouch, known throughout the world for the film Un homme et une femme (A Man and a Woman), after a long search for a suitable candidate for the main female role of the singer Jane, invites Patricia to try herself as an actress in the film And Now... Ladies & Gentlemen (And now... Ladies and Gentlemen). In January 2001, the entire French press wrote about Patricia's film debut. Home male role will be performed by British actor Jeremy Irons. At this time, Patricia returns to the studio and works with producer Robin Miller on songs for the film And Now... Ladies & Gentlemen with music by Michel Legrand.
On October 29, 2001, the first Best Of collection was released, summing up the singer’s 14-year career. More than 600 concerts around the world, about 14 million albums sold, the status of the most beloved singer of the French, starting with her debut on stage...
On April 16, 2002, Patricia’s discography was replenished with a new album, Piano Bar by Patricia Kaas, which consists of cover versions of famous French songs of the last century. The album is a delightful soundtrack to the film And Now... Ladies & Gentlemen, which includes songs by Jacques Brel, Gilbert Becaud, Charles Trenet, superbly performed by Patricia in English.
The release of the film and the debut in the cinema become a real event. On May 26, the film And Now... Ladies & Gentlemen was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in the “out of competition” category. On May 29, a new film by Claude Lelouch will be released on the big screen in France.
True to her personal desire, in September 2002, Patricia decides to go on a new world tour to pay tribute to the French song. The concert program consists of tracks from the album Piano Bar by Patricia Kaas, as well as other equally famous songs by Edith Piaf, Claude Nougaro, Dalida, Leo Ferré...
On January 23, 2003, Patricia Kaas, together with the President of France, Jacques Chirac, was present as a guest of honor at the celebrations marking the opening of the French Embassy in Berlin.
Not stopping there, in the fall of 2003, Patricia returned to the studio and began recording her seventh studio album, Sexe fort (Stronger Sex) in Brussels. Jean-Jacques Goldman, Pascal Obispo, Francis Cabrel, Patrick Fiori, and many other composers work with her. Since mid-October, the new song Où sont les hommes (Where are the men?) has been playing on the radio. December 1, 2003 - release of the new long-awaited album Strong Sex. It is the modern independent woman who is the stronger sex, according to Patricia. The tour of the same name begins in June 2004 and will continue until October 2005 - a total of 165 concerts in 25 countries and more than 500,000 spectators. For the first time, more than twenty concerts will be held in cities of Russia and the CIS from Kyiv to Irkutsk. Domestic media devote the front pages of news to the singer. On January 31, 2005, the live album Toute la musique... (All the Music) was released, inspired by rock melodies. The bonus track of the album was a song on German Hers eines Kämpfers (The Heart of a Fighter), written by Peter Plate from the group Rosenstolz.
The singer's European tour ends on August 29 in Paris Olympia, where a grandiose 4-hour concert takes place. The singer is celebrating 20 years of artistic activity. At the end of 2005, Patricia decides to take a vacation. The release of the new album and the start of a world tour are scheduled for November 2008.
At the beginning of 2008, Patricia Kaas recorded a duet and starred in a video with the Russian group Umaturman for the song You Will Not Call. And already in March of the same year, the singer signed a contract and became the “face” of the L'Etoile company, the largest Russian chain of perfume and cosmetics stores.
Awards and prizes
Victoires de la Musique
October 1988: Best Female Debut of the Year
February 1990: Singer of the Year and Best Selling Album Abroad
February 1991: Singer of the Year and Best Selling Album Overseas
February 1992: Best selling album abroad
1993: Best selling album abroad
1994: Best selling album abroad
1995: Best selling album abroad
March 1998: Nominated Female Performer of the Year
2000: Nomination Performer of the Year
Other awards
April 1988: Two Oscars SACEM - Best Female Performer of the Year and Best Song of the year for D´Allemagne
October 1988: Radio-France (RFI) Trophy for the song Mon mec à moi
March 1989: Charles Cros Academy Award for Best Debut Album
September/October 1989: Diamond Award for the song Mon mec à moi (Belgium)
April 1990: Golden Europa, Singer of the Year and Franco-German Prize (Germany)
December 1990: Voted Voice of the Year by the audience of FR3 and RTL (France)
May 1991: World Music Award - Best French-Speaking Female Performer of the Year (Monaco)
October 1991: Golden Felix - Most Outstanding Female Artist of the French Speaking Countries (Canada)
November/December 1991: Bambi Award - Singer of the Year (Germany)
May 1992: Echos Music Award - Singer of the Year (Germany)
1994: World Music Award - Best French-language performer of the year (Monaco)
June 1994: SACEM Award - Best Song of the Year for Il me dit que je suis belle (France)
June 1994: SACEM Medal - Voice and Spirit of the Year for an outstanding career in France and abroad
September 1994: Oscar de la musique IFM (Türkiye)
September 1994: Radio-France - Singer of the Year and Dauphin de Cristal
January 1995: Exceptional Woman Award in the category Artist of the Year (France)
May 1995: World Music Award - Best French-speaking Female Performer of the Year (Monaco)
May 2000: National Order of Merit (France)
17 October 2000: Title of godmother of the 3rd Hussars (Müllheim, Germany)
18 October 2000: Charles de Gaulle - Konrad Adenauer Prize
2001: NRJ Music Awards - nomination in the category Singer of the Year of French-speaking countries
July 2002: Golden Europa - International Singer of the Year (Saarbrücken, Germany)
8 December 2003: The Officer's Cross of Merit was awarded to Patricia Kaas by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany - Johan Rau for his activities in strengthening friendly relations between Germany and France. Patricia Kaas also became the godmother of twin avenues - Champs Elysees (Paris) and Kurfürstendamm (Berlin).
April 2004: Radio Regenbogen Award - Singer of the Year (Germany)
Notes:
1. The French equivalent of a Grammy
2. After 1995, the category Best Selling Album Abroad no longer exists.
Books about Patricia
Tour de charme
Place of publication: France
Language: French
Year: 1994
Photo: Claude Gassian
Sayings collected by Gilles Medioni
Diffusion Hachette
Regie Productions
Description:
The book contains wonderful photographs and comments from Patricia Kaas about the album Je te dis vous and the Tour de charme.
Patricia Kaas
Ombre et lumière
Place of publication: France
Language: French
Year: 1994
Author: Bernard Pascuito
Publisher: Michel Lafon
Description:
Unofficial biography of Patricia Kaas. Contains 300 pages and several photographs.
Patricia Kaas
Place of publication: France
Language: French
Year: 1994
Author: Didier Romand
Publisher: Lattes
Description:
This publication is an unofficial biography. Contains 138 pages and several photographs.
Patricia Kaas
La fille de l'Est
Place of publication: France
Language: French
Year: 2000
Author: François Bruneau
Publisher: La Mascara
Description:
The publication contains 48 pages, several photographs and a poster.
Livret Collector Sexe Fort
Place of publication: France
Language: French
Year: 2003 - Solo editions
Author of texts and interviews: Rémi Bouet
Artistic Director: Matthieu Rondeau
Design: Michel Duplessier
Photo: private collection, P. Moulaire, A. Rau, C. Furhman,
P. Ravazzani, G. Gorman, D. Isserman, André D., C. Godly,
F. Folcher, K. Browar, C. Bellaiche, S. Lancrenon.
Description:
Book (~14×12cm) contains 52 pages, illustrated various photos. The publication was included only in the Collector Sexe Fort (COL 513 407-5) Limited Edition collection.
Table of contents:
- Preface (pp. 2-5)
- Biography (pp. 6-27)
- Summary (pages 28-29)
- Exclusive interview (pp. 30-48)
Interview from Livret Collector Sexe Fort
It was in April 1987, when you were 21, that your first record, Mademoiselle chante le blues (Mademoiselle Sings the Blues), was released, which brought you your first success. Behind 15 years of career. Are you one of those people who looks back and looks at the journey you've made?
Yes and no, because I am rather one of those who lives for today and looks forward. And at the same time, when my best of came out, it was as if I opened an album with photographs and said to myself: Oh, Lord, and I sang all these songs! But looking back, I realize that I was very lucky because in the end, even if I had to go through difficult moments in my life, I always did what I loved and did it with passion. Maybe my luck is that from the age of eight I learned what the stage and communication with the public is. I never felt afraid of meeting the public, and my strength helped me move forward without thinking about success or failure. The most interesting thing is that after 15 years, I have the impression that more and more people want to write songs for me, and this is motivated on their part. I was so spoiled by authors and composers, and I think that thanks to this I have the incentive to strive forward.
Without a doubt, as time goes on I get better and better at identifying what works for me. I trust myself in my choices. If someone wants to offer me a song without me saying my opinion about it, I can tell them no. I need to discuss the meaning of the song in order for it to suit me. In my new album there is a song “Je ne veux plus te pardonner” (I don’t want to forgive you anymore). At the beginning it was called Je suis venue t'offrir mon coeur (I came to give you my heart). At the age of 20, I could tell someone: Since everything has one end, that nothing belongs to us, I came to give you my heart... But this fragility now will not be real.
Let's go back to your childhood. When you sang in dance halls, cabarets. Did you have a premonition that this would become your profession?
I just had a desire to sing. For me, being a singer is what I did, i.e. sang with the group on Saturday evenings. Then there are certain moments at the age of 9-10 when you start to dream. And this is perhaps dangerous, because what television shows us, especially nowadays, is false. We are shown the life of the stars, which is a cliche. Now this can make me laugh, because I know that it is possible to live simply. But I worry about young performers who want to master this profession, and who are given the idea that being a star means surrounding yourself with brilliance, forgetting that it is the passion for singing that should be the dominant one. As a child, when I wanted to become a singer, I knew that I had to devote myself to the task without reserve. I wanted to sing, but not be a star! The most important thing today is that I am surrounded by people I love, and I am confident in what they really think... Well, if I were not currently a singer, I would probably be a saleswoman or cashier, but I would sing on Saturday nights, because I love contact with the public, I love to share, I love to give. This is my way of expressing myself. If you want to scream into a microphone, you can. In life, I am more of those people who, instead of getting nervous, try to discuss the problem. Thus, singing songs helps relieve stress.
Have your parents always supported you in your hobby?
My mother played in the theater for some time. But she became pregnant at 19, and her theater dreams ended. I was lucky to have parents who never forced me or forbade me to do anything, no matter what it was. My mom was the person I trusted the most, she was mine best friend, she was everything! That is why when she passed away, I lost more than just my mother. For a long time I strived forward for her sake. I knew this was exactly what she wanted. In 1990, I went on a tour that lasted a year and a half. I was exhausted, but it was a way to continue living. It was these difficult moments that helped me become famous.
In each of your albums there is a feeling of new maturity, which path leads you further?
Yes. The turning point coincided with the release of my 4th album Dans ma chair (In my flesh) in March 1997. I wanted to go to the end. I broke the image of a young girl, a girlfriend, both in the choice of songs and in the choice of photographs. I planned a colder, more reserved look. But I can't do it any other way. I need to change.
It seems that you are becoming more and more responsible in your choices.
This also comes with self-belief, or lack thereof. I'm not one of those people who is 100% confident in myself. But I try to get involved in all aspects of my profession. As for the stage, for example, I always wanted to be involved in all the decisions. I choose the decorations, I am also interested in the song arrangements and lighting.
It is a great responsibility for an artist to carry the entire team on his shoulders. Isn't it sometimes tedious to bring everyone else up to speed?
There are situations when the shoulders on which you lean do not seem so broad to me, even if I am one of those who takes on the heaviest things. I remember when I did Claude Lelouch's And Now... Ladies & Gentlemen, I thought it was wonderful. I was told what I needed to do. I had to know the dialogue and not worry about anything else. Claude then guided me and I felt very relaxed. But still, I like to decide for myself. I prefer to decide for myself and take full responsibility if I'm wrong!
You are an independent woman. Could this position of an artist interfere with a woman’s life?
Yes, this is exactly what is difficult in my personal life. When you become as independent as I am, it can be scary. And at the same time, I can’t do anything about my personality. The main thing depends on where you are from. I come from a family of seven children, modest and loving family. The basis of my character and my independence comes precisely from this love, from this strength.
Let's talk about your profession. Is the stage still the place where you feel best?
This is the most important thing for me. When you're in the studio, it's exciting, something new appears, you're always searching, but nothing can replace the stage. However, this may seem funny, but until now I have never been shy before going on stage, but now, maybe this is exactly the age when such excitement appears? But the truth is that I love the contact with the public. I love to give because I know what I will receive in return. However, I shouldn't say this, but I prefer a concert with a challenging audience. I tell myself: I have to go! And when at the end they are happy, I think: It was hard, but I gave them what they were waiting for! And then, the stage is also a means to escape from everyday life. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I say to myself like everyone else: Lord, what a headache! I'm not in shape, but when evening comes, I get up on stage and it's wonderful!
When you experience huge success and as quickly as you do, don’t moments arise when you forget about the real world?
No, really, I have to say no, because for me victory has always been an incentive to continue my journey. On the other hand, I consider myself very lucky because from the very beginning I was able to surround myself with good people.
Is it easy for you to maintain relationships with friends and family?
For me, family has always been something very important. We see each other several times a year. For my mother, it was very important to maintain the family spirit. Often I feel the responsibility of an older sister, a real gendarme who grumbles to gather everyone, despite the fact that I am the youngest.
Listening to your new album, I tell myself that your voice is becoming more and more sonorous and voluminous. Is it just an impression or are you releasing more energy?
I feel like I sing in the same manner, but a lot depends on the songs. I won’t lie, there are several songs in this album that I sang with a broken voice. And we kept this technique, as my voice takes on greater fullness in the song. But the truth is that the new songs are full of energy, more “electric”, and I can give 100% to them.
How are you feeling about the release of the new album? Do you feel afraid of future bets?
Everything goes well during recording. Fear comes when you appear on screens. And then, everything quickly disappears, because I am very proud of my albums and will protect them with all my heart!
You spend your life on the road all over the world. Is it easy to remain truly attached to something?
It's true that sometimes when I'm on tour I wake up at night and wonder where I am. You lose your bearings a little. On the other hand, when I perform at Olympia or Zenit for several days in a row, I have only one desire - the desire to move and hit the road! Touring is exactly the moment when you don't have to think about anything other than singing. It's a kind of freedom. And then, there is this little animal I adore, Tequila, who follows me everywhere! She is my reference point. I currently live in Zurich. This is a great place to relax fresh air. There is one more advantage. When I come to Paris, I meet my friends and I have to go out a lot. And when friends come to visit me, they can stay for several days, and we see each other a lot more than when I lived in Paris. But, frankly, right now I don’t feel like I’ve settled well enough in my new place.
French singer Patricia Kaas is one of the most popular Western pop singers in Russia. The genre of music performed by the singer is a mixture of jazz and pop music. The formula for her success is constant tours around the world.
Patricia Kaas was born on December 5, 1966 in France into a mining family, which, in addition to her, had six more children. The girl was the last child after the birth of five older brothers and a sister. The large family of miner Joseph and housewife Irmgard lived in the province not far from the German-French border. This was a German family with French citizenship. Before school, the children spoke German, which was not uncommon in Lorraine.
As a child, Patricia loved music and singing, her mother encouraged it. The schoolgirl's repertoire consisted of songs and. She also sang foreign hits of Liza Minnelli. The youngest Kaas began her career early: from the age of 9 she performed on dance floors and festivals as part of the group Black Flowers, and at the age of 13 she signed a contract with the Rumpelkammer cabaret club in Saarbrücken.
At 16 he worked at a modeling agency in Metz. Her fees become the main source of family income. Patricia's childhood ended early.
Music
It was not possible to reach musical heights at a young age; the producers did not need a second Mireille Mathieu. She managed to reach Olympus at the age of 19. She was noticed by the architect Bernard Schwartz, who liked her performance at the club. Schwartz invites the girl to Paris and introduces her to songwriter Francois Bernheim. On his recommendation, he takes her patronage himself.
Video by Patricia Kaas “Mademoiselle chante le blues”The first single for Patricia was written by the songwriter together with Elizabeth, Depardieu’s wife. The composition “Jalouse” (“Jealous”) was not a success. A song written by Didier Barbelivien, entitled “Mademoiselle chante le blues,” becomes a hit. It appeared on air at the end of 1987 and took fourteenth place in the hit chart.
The album under the same name was released in January 1988 and ended up in 2nd position. It went gold, and after a while, platinum in France, Belgium and Switzerland. Three million discs were distributed around the world. It was not easy for the young debutante at that time: her mother became seriously ill, and in 1989 she passed away.
Video by Patricia Kaas “Les Hommes Qui Passent”A year later, the French performer goes on a long tour of countries for 1 year and 4 months. Kaas is invited to the Parisian halls where pop stars and legends of French chanson have performed. Cooperation with the recording company CBS Records begins, Scène de vie is released, presented in thirteen countries, including Japan and the USSR. In 1990, the singer released a black and white video for the song “Les Hommes Qui Passent”. Later, a video appears for another hit - “Mon mec a moi”.
In 1991, Patricia was awarded the World Music Awards. In the competition for the title “Best International Singer”, in which she participated with, and, the Frenchwoman receives a “bronze” prize. “Je te dis vous” was recognized as the best album in the German-speaking world.
Video by Patricia Kaas “Mon mec a moi”The performer's tours cover more and more countries, and her fame is gaining momentum. She is the first of the singers to go on tour to Vietnam after the end of the bloody war there. Tours cover almost all of Asia, including Korea, Thailand and Cambodia. In 2001, he released a collection of hits, “The Best of the Best.”
The same year he starred in Claude Lelouch’s film “And Now, Ladies and Gentlemen.” He became her partner in the film. Hand in hand, he and Mademoiselle Patricia Kaas walked along the red carpet of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on May 25, 2002. There were rumors that they were having an affair, and someone even caught the couple in a lingering kiss. But they did not receive development. Most likely, the affair was orchestrated by Lelouch to add spice to the film.
New albums are being released, millions of fans applaud Kaas at concerts in France and during tours around the world. The singer takes third place in the Marianna competition and performs with the famous tenor Alejandro Fernandez. There were also failures - the album “Sexe Fort” was not popular. After the presentation of the disc, the singer takes a time out for two years.
He tours and performs a lot in Russia: in March 2005 - a concert in Irkutsk, in 2006 - in Tyumen, October 18, 2009 - in Barnaul. In 2008, Kaas sang a duet with the group. They performed the song “You Won’t Call” in Russian. The first verse was sung in French. At one time the song was at the top of the charts in Russia. This was the first modern Russian-language song; previously, “Black Eyes” and “I like that you are not sick with me” were performed in Russian.
Patricia Kaas and the group “Uma Thurman” “You Won’t Call”In the same year, the album “Kabaret” was released, selling over 90 thousand copies. In France, sales amounted to more than 200 thousand copies of discs. The tour in its support, including solo concerts by the singer, was successful and took place in many countries.
In January 2009, it became known that Patricia Kaas would represent the country at Eurovision 2009. The management of the France 2 channel asked her about this. Its final took place in Moscow on May 16. Patricia performed the song “Ets`ilfallaitlefaire”.
Patricia Kaas at EurovisionThe performance on this day was the most difficult for her, as it coincided with the date of her mother's death. During the voting, the French singer scored 107 points and took 8th place.
In February 2010, Patricia, together with Russian pop stars and others, successfully performed in the Kremlin. The concert was broadcast on Channel One of Russian television on International Women's Day.
In 2012, the new album and program “Kaas Sings Piaf” were popular in Europe, the USA, Japan and Canada. Concerts using the great hits are held in many countries and cities. On February 26-March 2, 2013 performances took place in Olympia - concert hall in Paris. On December 3, 2013, the singer performs a program at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, and on December 9 at the Kyiv National Opera.
In 2012, Kaas starred in the film “Assassine” by Thierry Binisti. The actress thought for a long time about participating in the film, since her character over the years of her creative career had been tempered and became decisive. Patricia faced any disappointment in life without tears, with a firm understanding of how to solve the problem. In the film she had to play a mother whose daughter one day disappeared. From grief and misunderstanding, the heroine fell into despair and cried a lot. The role helped Patricia Kaas feel like a weak woman again.
In November 2016, her tenth studio album with the Warner label in her solo discography was released. The disc was called "Patricia Kaas". According to the singer, musical material The disc expresses the thoughts and emotions that Patricia has been experiencing in recent years. The album is dedicated to free, strong women experiencing spiritual rebirth. This album and the thirtieth anniversary musical activity the singer dedicated a big tour.
Patricia Kaas not only performs songs that become hits, but also stars in commercials. The L'Etoile company invited her to become the face of a cosmetic campaign. The singer advertised the products from March 2008 to the end of 2013. At the end of the summer of 2009, an advertisement for Lipton tea with the participation of Kaas appeared on television screens.
Patricia Kaas in an advertisement for L'EtoilePeru Patricia Kaas owns a book about her biography, “Patricia Kaas: A Life Told by Herself: The Shadow of My Voice.” The singer hesitated for a long time to have a frank conversation with fans, but the artist’s friends advised her to treat writing the book as a course of psychotherapy. A journalist helped Patricia work on her memoirs. The artist tried to convey the smallest details of her life, which sometimes even relatives and friends did not know about. The narrative is permeated with nostalgia and slight sadness. According to Kaas, she shed many tears while writing the book. In Russia, the memoirs of the French singer were published in translation in 2012.
Personal life
Compared to her career, the personal life of petite Patricia (the artist’s height is 165 cm, her weight is 50 kg) did not develop as she would like. An example of a successful marriage for her was her own family and parents with family holidays and their quiet, measured life, filled with worries about children and each other. Even in her youth, doctors reported that Patricia would not have children. This was a real blow for her.
IN early years she had feelings for Bernard Schwartz, but unrequitedly. She then had a relationship with her manager, Cyril Priyer, but he never became her husband. If we talk about novels, there were a lot of them, but it never came to marriage. Among her boyfriends was also, but the singer herself denies this, calling their relationship friendship. This may be true, but beautiful courtships, romantic dates with luxurious bouquets of roses and declarations of love took place in plain sight. They also walked the red carpet together at the Cannes Film Festival.
Then she had a relationship with a guy named Philip. For her sake, he, already an accomplished composer, moved from Belgium. The couple was going to get married, but Patricia was too busy with her career, and it never came to a wedding. When they separated, he laid claim to Kaas’s property, which was a real blow for her. Another passionate romance was with chef Yannick Alleno, but it also did not end in marriage.
Judging by the photo from “ Instagram” and the singer’s official website, at her age she remains the same elegant and fragile woman. Support the beautiful physical fitness The artist is helped by diet and cosmetic procedures, which the star rarely, but still turns to. After 40 years, Kaas decided to have a nose job. The operation was successful, and the artist’s new look turned out to be gentle and harmonious. To maintain weight, the artist resorts to a time-tested five-day diet, during which she loses from 2 to 4 kg. For five days, Patricia does not eat sweets, baked goods, or strong coffee. The French woman also limits herself in salt consumption.
Patricia Kaas lives in Paris in a cozy apartment, the interior design of which she did herself.
Patricia Kaas now
Now Patricia continues to be a musical icon for her many fans. The public loves her not only for her powerful voice, but also for her strength of personality.
Patricia Kaas in the show “Evening Urgant”As part of the regular tours with which Patricia Kaas visits Russia, the singer in 2017 became the heroine of the TV show “Evening Urgant”, where she talked with. For example, the artist said that when she was just starting her creative career and making her first trips to the Russian Federation, she used her status to smuggle caviar across the border to friends. And once again, the artist visited a Russian fan who won a meeting with her idol in a competition. The singer has not forgotten this incident and even keeps the teddy bear that the woman gave her.
Patricia Kaas remains a great patriot. Speaking to reporters, the artist said that she would support the French national football team during the 2018 World Cup. Patricia Kaas is confident that the team will be among the best, as it is famous for its strong players.
Discography
- 1987 – “Mademoiselle chante...”
- 1990 – Scene de vie
- 1993 – “Je te dis vous”
- 1997 – “Dans ma chair”
- 1999 – “Le mot de passe”
- 2002 – “Piano Bar”
- 2003 – “Sex fort”
- 2008 – “Kabaret”
- 2009 – “19”
- 2012 – “Kaas Chante Piaf”
- 2016 – “Patricia Kaas”
Patricia Kaas is the youngest child in the family. Has five brothers and one sister. The Kaas family lived near Vorbach, Moselle department, Lorraine region, France, near the German border. Her father is a miner Joseph (Josef) Kaas - a German-Lorraine with French citizenship, and her mother Irmgard is a German from the Saarland. Kaas grew up in Steering-Wendel, which is located between Vorbuck and Saarbrücken. Until the age of six she spoke only the German dialect Platt (Saarländischer Dialekt). Kaas's French-German heritage has led to her continued interest in improving relations between the two countries.
Kaas's passion for singing was encouraged by her mother from an early age. At the age of eight, Kaas was already singing songs by Sylvie Vartan, Dalida, Claude François and Mireille Mathieu, as well as English-language songs such as “New York, New York.” Her first big success came when she won a prize in a song competition. Already during these years, Kaas sang with her characteristic “husky” voice, which would later be compared with the voices of Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich.
Kaas took her first step into the professional music business at the age of 13, when, with the help of her brother Egon, she signed a contract with the Saarbrücken club Rumpelkammer. Kaas took the pseudonym "Pady Pax". At the age of 16, she accepted an invitation from a modeling agency in Metz. Kaas makes his first attempts to break into the music business, which, however, lead nowhere; the producers believed that the world did not need a second Mireille Mathieu. But a producer was found - it was the architect Bernard Schwotz. It is he who will lead Kaas to her first great successes.
Jalouse (1985-87)
In 1985, 19-year-old Kaas found a producer in the person of French actor Gerard Depardieu. He noticed the singer in the Saarbrücken “Rumpelkammer” and introduced her to songwriter François Bernheim. Bernheim worked with her and, convinced of her talent, recommended Depardieu to sponsor her.
Depardieu sponsored Kaas's first single "Jalouse" (literally: "Jealous"), the lyrics to which were written by Bernheim and Depardieu's wife Elisabeth. The single was released by EMI but was a failure. However, working with Depardieu was one of the most important events at the beginning of Kaas's artistic career.
Mademoiselle chante le blues (1987-90)
After the release of "Jalouse", the French composer and poet Didier Barbelivien became the new author of Kaas' lyrics. His song “Mademoiselle chante le blues” (literally: “Mademoiselle sings the blues”) became the singer’s first major hit. The recording was released by Polydor in December 1987. The song took 14th place in the French hit parade. The following year, Kaas’s second single, “D’Allemagne” (literally: “From Germany”), was released. The lyrics were written by Barbelivien and Bernheim.
On January 18, 1988, Kaas’s first album “Mademoiselle chante...” was released. The album peaked at number 2 on the French Albums Chart and stayed there for two months, remaining in the top ten for 64 weeks and in the top 100 for 118 weeks. Soon after the album's release, it was certified gold in France (more than 100,000 copies sold), and three months later it was declared platinum (more than 350,000 copies sold). The album was also certified platinum in Belgium and Switzerland, and gold in Canada. More than 3 million copies have been sold worldwide. "Mademoiselle chante..." In the same year, at the annual Victoire de la Music ceremony, Kaas won the most important music award in France in the Discovery of the Year category.
In 1989, Kaas suffered severe mental trauma - her mother died of cancer. Teddy bear- Kaas's gift to her mother - today Kaas accompanies her everywhere as a talisman.
Best of the day
In 1990, Kaas began her first world tour, which lasted 16 months. She gave 196 public concerts in 12 countries total number at 750,000 viewers. Kaas' week-long concerts took place at Olympia and Zenith, prestigious Parisian concert halls. Tickets sold out four months before the performances began. Kaas also held successful concerts in New York and Washington, USA. By the end of the tour, the album “Mademoiselle chante...” had sold 1 million copies in France alone and received diamond status. Kaas was awarded the Golden Europa - one of the most significant music awards in Germany.
Scene de vie (1990-93)
In 1990, Kaas refused the services of the Polydor record company, choosing another - CBS Records. Cyril Prieur and Richard Walter, from the Parisian firm Talent Sorcier, replaced Bernard Schwotz as Kaas' manager. Prieur and Walter made a significant contribution to the singer's success. Kaas even called them “her family.”
With a new record company, she created the album “Scène de vie” (literally: “Picture of Life”) in 1990. The songs reached the top of the French charts and remained there for 10 weeks. This album repeated the success of “Mademoiselle chante...”, becoming “diamond”. On the song “Kennedy Rose,” Kaas again worked with Elisabeth Depardieu and Francois Bernheim; this project was more successful than "Jalouse": it took 34th place in the French chart. The song was dedicated to Rose Kennedy, the mother of the American president.
While touring with Scène de vie, the singer performed 210 concerts in front of 650,000 spectators in 13 countries, such as Japan, Canada and the USSR, where she sang in Moscow and Leningrad. At the end of 1991, her first live album “Carnet de scène” (literally: “Stage Diary”) was released, which became very popular not only among her fans. 13 years later, Sony released the album on DVD.
In 1991, Kaas received two more international awards. famous awards- World Music Awards and “Bambi”. The following year, at the ECHO competition held in Cologne, she took 3rd place in the category “Best International Singer”. At the same time, she competed with such famous performers as Cher (took first place), Tina Turner, Madonna and Whitney Houston.
Je te dis vous (1993-95)
Kaas's album "Je te dis vous", released in 1993, became another major achievement of hers on the international music scene. It sold approximately 3 million copies in 47 countries. The album was recorded at Pete Townshend's Eel Pie Studio in London by Robin Miller, who had previously worked with Sade and Fine Young Cannibals. In the US and UK, the album was released under the title "Tour de charme" (not to be confused with the live album of the same name). Kaas's first song on the album was the German song "Ganz und gar", written by the German poet Marius Müller-Westernhagen. The album also included three songs in English, including a cover of James Brown's "It's a Man's World". British rock musician Chris Rea accompanies Kaas on guitar on the songs "Out Of The Rain" and "Ceux qui n'ont rien".
"Je te dis vous" is still considered Kaas's most successful album among the German-speaking world, spending 36 weeks in the top 100 of the German charts. In Switzerland the album took 2nd place, in France 1st. This was Kaas’s third “diamond” album; no French singer had ever achieved this before. Currently, “Je te dis vous” is considered one of best albums among modern chanson, which presents the key features of this genre. With the song “Il me dit que je suis belle” (literally: “He tells me that I am beautiful”), Kaas entered the top ten singles in France. And the remix of “Reste sur moi” entered the top twenty of the American dance chart.
On her next world tour, Kaas visited 19 countries. She became the first Western singer to come to Hanoi (Vietnam) after the Vietnam War. Kaas also visited Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Thailand. During this tour, Kaas gave a concert to raise funds for the victims of the Chernobyl accident in front of an audience of 30,000 spectators. In total, 750,000 spectators saw her firsthand at 150 concerts. In 1994, her second live album “Tour de charme” was released. It was re-released on DVD in 2004.
Black Coffee (1995-97)
In the mid-90s, the album “Black Coffee” was recorded, a real mystery in Kaas’s career. In 1995, it was decided to create an album for the American market that would contain exclusively English lyrics, but rumor has it that it was never officially released. Sometimes the album appears in online auctions, but the authenticity of these recordings is questionable.
The album's title track is a cover version of a Billie Holiday song. With the same title, in 1997 it was included in the collection of demo recordings "Jazz à Saint-Germain". Other songs on the album include cover versions of classics such as Bill Withers' 1971 "Ain't No Sunshine" and Chicago's 1976 "If You Leave Me Now."
Dans ma chair (1997-99)
In 1997, the album “Dans ma chair” (literally: “In my body”) was released. It was created in New York by Kaas herself and Phil Ramone, who had previously worked with Ray Charles, Billy Joel and Paul Simon. This album was the second on which the singer officially worked with French author Jean-Jacques Goldman (they began collaborating back in 1993, when creating the song “Il me dit que je suis belle”). The collaboration with Goldman, which continues to this day, is one of the most important points in the Kaas quarry.
Contributed to the success of the album: American poet Lyle Lovet, with the song “Chanson simple”
(literally: “Simple Song”) and James Taylor, with the song “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,” in which he sang a duet with Kaas. The song "Quand j'ai peur de tout" (literally: "When I'm afraid of everything"), the lyrics to which were written by Diane Warren, was covered by the Sugababes in 2003. The song was called "Too Lost In You".
In 1998, after the "Dans ma chair" tour, a new live album and video (later DVD) entitled "Rendez-vous" were released. The album contains a song called "L'aigle noir" (literally: "The Black Eagle"). It was written by the famous French poet and singer Barbara, whom Kaas admired for a long time. Depardieu introduced Barbara Kaas even before she became famous.
In December 1998, Kaas sang with tenors Placido Domingo and Alejandro Fernandez at the Vienna City Hall, Austria. They were accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1999, this concert was recorded on CD and DVD under the title “Christmas In Vienna Vol. VI".
Le mot de passe (1999-2001)
In 1999, Patricia recorded another solo album entitled Le mot de passe, produced by Pascal Obispo. The album also included two compositions by Jean-Jacques Goldman entitled “Une fille de l’Est” and “Quand les chansons commencent”. The recording of the songs also featured singer Zazi and Swiss tenor Erkan Aki, with whom Kaas recorded the duet Unter der Haut. The single topped the national charts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland and Sweden.
In the summer of 1999, Patricia takes part in Michael Jackson's charity concert program in Seoul and Munich. In addition to Kaas, other famous artists also took part in the concerts, including Mariah Carey and the group Status Quo.
In the fall of 1999, Patricia Kaas became third in the Marianna competition, where national symbol France. Only the famous top models Laetitia Casta (first) and Estelle Halliday (second) were ahead of her. As a result of this competition, Kaas was recognized not only as the most best singer France, but also the most attractive among them.
In November 1999, Patricia Kaas again went on her tour. At major concerts in France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland, the famous singer was accompanied by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Kaas's performance with the orchestra can be heard on the concert disc Ce sera nous, which was released on September 10, 2000 and sold 700,000 copies.
In April 2001, Kaas took part in a concert dedicated to the Duke of Luxembourg. The performance of the popular French singer is supported by a classical orchestra.
In June 2001, Kaas released the disc “Best of the Best,” which includes her most famous and best compositions. New arrangements were invented for some old songs.
Piano Bar (2001-2003)
In September 2001, Kaas took part in Claude Lelouch's film "And Now, Ladies and Gentlemen", with the participation of the famous English actor Jeremy Irens. Patricia gets the main role of the mysterious singer Jane, who comes to Morocco to perform at a prestigious resort hotel, where she finds love. After finishing filming in January 2002, Patricia began recording her 6th solo album, “Piano-Bar”. For the first time in his career, Kaas is recording an album in English. The first single, entitled “If you go away,” was released in early October 2002, and the album itself was released on December 4, 2002. The success of the album was also facilitated by the release of the film “And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen” in cinemas in France and around the world. Since the beginning of 2003, Kaas has been touring with the new album in Europe, Scandinavia, the USA, Canada, Russia, Finland and Japan. Two concerts in London - in the legendary Covent Garden hall - were sold out. At the same time, the Kaas team and its management moved from Paris to Zurich, where Kaas settled.
Sexe fort (2003-2005)
At the beginning of December 2003, Kaas released her 7th studio album, Sexe Fort. In this disc, Kaas radically changes his performance style, making it more solid, with elements of rock. In July 2004, Kaas went on his new tour “Toute la musique”. Despite the rather weak sales of the Sexe Fort album, the tour in support of it was sold out. Kaas performed 10 concerts in the United States, 5 concerts in Canada, 50 performances in Europe and more than 11 performances in Asia, which included countries such as China, Korea and Japan. After finishing the tour, Kaas announced a two-year break.
Kabaret (2008-2010)
In the summer of 2007, Patricia Kaas began recording a new solo album. At the beginning of February 2008, Patricia released her first Russian-language duet, “You Will Not Call,” together with the famous Russian group UMA2RMAN. The single topped the Russian national charts within 2 weeks and remained in the top five for a long time. In November 2008, a new one was released in Russia, long-awaited album"Kabaret". The album title "Kabaret" is misspelled (in French the word "Cabaret" is spelled with a "C" - "Сabaret"). The initial letter "K" is a small hint of "Kaas". The album will be Kaas's first studio work in the last 5 years. The first edition of the disc was not available to the general public and was released as part of the L'Etoile advertising campaign in Russia. The official release of the disc in Russia and many EU countries took place in March 2009. The German edition of the disc was released in February 2009 in Germany. In support of the album, from the end of 2008 to 2009, Kaas will hold solo performances in various cities around the world, including Moscow and Khabarovsk. In addition to Russia, Kaas will give concerts in Ukraine, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Sweden, the Baltic states, Poland, Turkey, Israel and many other countries. In Russia, sales of the album “Kabaret” exceeded 90,000 copies. Over 200,000 copies were sold in France.
On February 26-27, 2010, Patricia Kaas performed in Moscow with Russian artists in the State Concert Hall of the Kremlin. The concert was recorded by Channel 1 of Russian TV and broadcast on March 8, 2010.
Kaas chante Piaf (2012-2013)
On November 5, 2012, Patricia Kaas will present a new album and concert program entitled Kaas chante Piaf (Kaas sings Piaf) on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall in London. In addition to London, Kaas will give concerts in Germany, France, Ukraine, Canada, USA, Korea and other countries. On December 6, 2012, Patricia Kaas will perform the Kaas chante Piaf program in Moscow, at the Operetta Theater, and on December 9, in Kyiv, at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. T. G. Shevchenko. From February 26 to March 2, 2013, the singer will perform at the world-famous Paris concert hall - Olympia.
Eurovision 2009
On January 27, 2009, it became known that Patricia Kaas would represent France at the Eurovision 2009 music contest, the final of which took place on May 16, 2009 in Moscow. According to Kaas, the management of the French channel France 2 itself asked the singer to perform at this famous competition. As the Russian and French press claimed, Patricia performed the single “Et s`il fallait le faire” from her new disc “Kabaret”. In addition, Patricia stated that the performance on May 16th would be the most difficult for her in her entire career. musical career, since on this day Kaas’s mother died. Kaas had never given a concert on May 16 before. Having scored 107 points during the voting, Patricia Kaas only reached 8th place at Eurovision.
Work in Russia
On the stage
In 2008, Patricia Kaas, together with the Russian group Uma2rmaH, performed the song “You Can’t Call” in Russian, but the first verse is in French - her first modern Russian-language song; Previously, at her concerts, she performed the ancient song “Black Eyes” in Russian. She sang in Russian “I like that you are not sick with me,” a song from the film “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath.”
In addition to her musical work, she was the face of the cosmetics company L’Etoile, signing a contract in March 2008 and advertising the products until the end of 2009.
Kaas also signed a contract with Unilever for 2009 and starred in a Lipton tea commercial that aired on television in late summer 2009.
Childhood of Patricia Kaas
Patricia Kaas (in Russia her name is often written Patricia Kaas) became the seventh child in a large family. Father, Joseph Cass, was French by nationality and worked as a miner. Mother, Imgrad, was German and was a housewife.From an early age, Patricia was interested in music and singing. Already at the age of nine, she performed as part of the group Black Flowers on dance floors in local clubs and at festivals. At the age of 13, Patricia signed a contract with the Rumpelkammer cabaret club in the German city of Saarbrücken and performed there every Saturday for seven years under the pseudonym “Pady Pax.”
Her fees became the main source of income for a large family. In addition to performing in clubs, at the age of 16, Patricia began working in a modeling agency in the city of Metz in northeastern France. So her childhood ended very quickly.
Early success of Patricia Kaas
One day, during a performance at a club, the architect Bernard Schwartz drew attention to her; after meeting her, he invited the young singer to Paris and introduced her to songwriter Francois Bernheim from Phonogram Records. He was given a demo recording of her songs, which he really liked. Berheim convinced his friend Gerard Depardieu to sponsor the recording of Kaas's single entitled "Jalouse". In 1985, the single was published by EMI, the lyrics were written by Berheim and Depardieu's wife, Elizabeth. The song turned out to be a failure.In 1987, Patricia Kaas signed a contract with the recording company PolyGram Records. In the same year, the famous single Mademoiselle chante le blues ("Mademoiselle Sings the Blues") was released, the author of the song's lyrics was the French poet and composer Didier Barbelivien. The song took 14th place in the French hit parade and sold about four hundred thousand copies. On her birthday, December 5, 1987, Patricia Kaas performed on the stage of the Paris Olympia, the most prestigious hall in France.
UMA2RMAH & Patricia Kaas - You Won't Call
World famous Patricia Kaas
On January 18, 1988, Kaas released her first album, “Mademoiselle chante le blues,” which took 2nd place in the charts. Within three months, the album went platinum (more than 350,000 copies) in France, and later in Belgium and Switzerland. In the same year, the singer won France's most important music award, the Victoire de la Music, in the Discovery of the Year category. In 1989, Kaas gave several concerts in Europe and the USSR, and in 1990 she went on her first tour of 12 countries, which lasted 16 months.In April 1990, Kaas changed her record label to CBS Records and released her second album, Scène de vie. The songs on this album stayed at the top of the charts for ten weeks. After the release of the album, the singer went on tour, visited 13 countries and gave 210 concerts. She became one of the most popular performers in the world. In 1991, the singer received the world famous music awards World Music Awards and “Bambi”.
In April 1993, the third album “Je te dis vous” was released, which was recorded at the London Eel Pie Studio with the famous producer Robin Miller. “Je te dis vous” is considered the singer’s most successful album; it sold two million copies. On tour with this album, the singer gave 150 concerts in 19 countries.
The fourth album was “Dans ma chair” (“Inside me”) in 1997, recorded in New York with the famous American producer Phil Ramone. The album includes 50 songs by different authors. The singer dedicated it to her parents. The circulation of this album was 750,000 copies. After its release, Kaas went on another tour of 23 countries, during which she gave 120 concerts.
In 1999, Patricia released her next album, “Le mot de passe,” created under the guidance of producer Pascal Obispo. In November of the same year, the singer went on a world tour again.
Kaas currently
In October 2001, a collection of songs by Patricia Kaas Best Of was released, which included her best compositions.In 2002, Patricia Kaas made her acting debut in Claude Lelouch's film "And Now, Ladies and Gentlemen", in which she played the main female role - Jane Lester. Patricia recorded the soundtrack “Piano Bar” for this film, and an album with the same name was subsequently released. In 2003, the singer went on tour to Europe, Scandinavia, Finland, Canada, the USA, Russia and Japan. Two concerts took place at the Theater Royal, Covent Garden, London.
On December 1, 2003, the album “Sexe Fort” (“Strong Sex”) was released. In it, Patricia radically changed her performance style to a more solid one, with elements of rock. In June 2004, the singer began her next tour, which lasted until October 2005 and covered 25 countries. At the end of the tour, Patricia announced that she intended to take a two-year break.
Patricia Caass Les Hommes Qui Passent.
In the summer of 2007, Patricia began work on the new album “Kabaret”, and in February 2008 she recorded her first Russian-language song “You Will Not Call” in a duet with the famous Russian group UMA2RMAN. This song remained at the top of the Russian charts for a long time. In November, work on the album “Kabaret” was completed. The name is misspelled for a reason (in French it is written “Сabaret”), the letter “K” is an allusion to the surname Kaas. In support of the album, Patricia gave concerts in Moscow and Khabarovsk, as well as in 11 different countries. During the same period, the singer participated in the advertising campaign of Russia’s largest chain of perfume and cosmetics stores “L’Etoile”, becoming its “face”.
In May 2009, Patricia Kaas performed at the Eurovision 2009 music competition in Moscow, representing her home country, France. She performed the song “Et s`il fallait le faire” from the new album “Kabaret”. During the voting, she scored 107 points and took 8th place. On February 26 and 27, Kaas performed in Moscow, at the State Concert Hall of the Kremlin, along with other Russian performers.
The latest album to date, “Kaas chante Piaf” (Kaas sings Piaf), was released on November 5, 2012. On December 6, 2012, Patricia performed the program of this album in Moscow, at the Operetta Theater, and on December 9 at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev.
In 2012, Kaas played the main role in the film “Assassine” directed by Thierry Binisti. The singer often visits Russia and gives concerts in Moscow several times a year.
Personal life of Patricia Kaas
Patricia Cass's personal life was not as successful as her career. In her youth, she confessed her love to Bernard Schwartz, but he did not reciprocate her feelings, refusing her proposal to marry. She experienced a severe shock and even got into a motorcycle accident due to her worries. After which she focused on her career. 
At the age of 21, after the death of her mother, Patricia began dating her manager Cyril Prieur. Their relationship lasted three years. According to the singer, she had no luck with men; she had many affairs, but they never ended in marriage. She dated for some time famous actor Alain Delon. Currently, the singer has been living with a man named Philip for more than 4 years, with whom they have complete understanding, they plan to get married and have a child.