"Croire"
250px
Eurovision Song Contest 1988 entry
Country	Luxembourg
Artist(s)	Lara Fabian
Language	French
Composer(s)	Jacques Cardona
Lyricist(s)	Alain Garcia
Conductor	Régis Dupré
Finals performance
Final result	4th
Final points	90
Appearance chronology
◄ Amour Amour (1987)
Monsieur (1989) ►

"Croire" (English translation: "Believing") was the Luxembourgish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, performed in French by Belgian singer Lara Fabian, an at the time 18 year old up and coming artist, and some twenty years later an established performer in all of Europe, the U.S. and Canada, South America and Japan.

The song is a ballad, with Fabian singing that she wants to believe in the good of humanity, rather than its dark side. She sings that "we have love within us", which is her central belief. Fabian also recorded the song in English and German language versions, as "Trust" and "Glaub'" respectively.

The song was performed seventeenth on the night (following Belgium's Reynaert with "Laissez briller le soleil" and preceding Italy's Luca Barbarossa with "Vivo (Ti scrivo)"). At the close of voting, it had received 90 points, placing 4th in a field of 21.

It was succeeded as Luxembourgish representative at the 1989 Contest by Park Café with "Monsieur". In 1999 "Croire" was included as a bonus track on Lara Fabian's eponymously titled debut album, originally released in 1991.

Sources and external links[link]

• Official Eurovision Song Contest site, history by year, 1988
• Detailed info & lyrics, The Diggiloo Thrush, "Croire".
• Allmusic.com, Lara Fabian biography.

This Luxembourg-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

v t e Eurovision Song Contest 1988   Countries Final Iceland Sweden Finland United Kingdom Turkey Spain Netherlands Israel Switzerland (winner) Ireland Germany Austria Denmark Greece Norway Belgium Luxembourg Italy France Portugal Yugoslavia   Artists Final Beathoven Tommy Körberg Boulevard Scott Fitzgerald MFÖ La Década Prodigiosa Gerard Joling Yardena Arazi Céline Dion Jump The Gun Maxi & Chris Garden Wilfried Hot Eyes Afroditi Frida Karoline Krüger Reynaert Lara Fabian Luca Barbarossa Gérard Lenorman Dora Srebrna Krila   Songs Final "Þú og þeir (Sókrates)" "Stad i ljus" "Nauravat silmät muistetaan" "Go" "Sufi" "La chica que yo quiero (Made in Spain)" "Shangri-La" "Ben Adam" "Ne partez pas sans moi" "Take Him Home" "Lied für einen Freund" "Lisa Mona Lisa" "Ka' du se hva' jeg sa'?" "Clown" "For vår jord" "Laissez briller le soleil" "Croire" "Vivo (Ti scrivo)" "Chanteur de charme" "Voltarei" "Mangup" (Note: All information are in order of appearance)

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Lara Fabian
Background information
Birth name	Lara Crokaert
Born	(1970-01-09) January 9, 1970 (age 42)
Origin	Etterbeek, Belgium
Genres	Pop, French pop, pop rock, adult contemporary, acoustic, dance
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, musician, actress
Instruments	Vocals, piano, keyboards
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Polydor Sony Music Universal Music Group
Website	www.larafabian.com

Lara Fabian (born Lara Crokaert, January 9, 1970) is a Belgian-Italian international singer who holds Canadian citizenship. Multilingual, she sings in French, Italian and English. She has also sung in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Hebrew, Greek, and German.

She has sold over 10 million records worldwide.^{[citation needed]} She is a lyric soprano with a vocal range that spans four octaves from E-flat 3 to G#6 in live performances, and has reached up to A5.^[1]

Early life[link]

Born to a Belgian father and a Sicilian mother in Etterbeek, Belgium, Fabian spent her first five years in her mother's hometown of Catania in Sicily, before moving back to Brussels, Belgium. She began singing, dancing and taking piano lessons at a young age, and began formal music lessons at age eight. She began writing and performing her own songs during her ten years of formal music study. Fabian's songs were influenced by her classical vocal and music theory training, and by contemporary artists such as Barbra Streisand and Queen.^{[citation needed]}

Music career[link]

1986-1993: Early music career[link]

During the 1980s, Fabian entered a number of European competitions and won several prizes. She released her first single, "L'Aziza est en pleurs" / "Il y avait" in 1986. Both songs were written by the Belgian composer Marc Lerchs as an homage to Daniel Balavoine.

In 1988, the RTL TV channel in Luxembourg invited Fabian to represent the country at the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest, held that year in Dublin, Ireland. The song was a composition of Jacques Cardona and Alain Garciac entitled Croire (Trust) which reached a respectable fourth place. The single became a hit in Europe, selling nearly 500,000 copies.^{[citation needed]}

In 1990, Fabian and musical collaborator Rick Allison moved to Montreal, Canada to embark on a career in North America. They began their own music label and publishing company, Productions Clandestines.

In August 1991, the self-titled, French-language, debut album, Lara Fabian, was released in Canada and sold over 100,000 copies. The album went gold in 1993, and platinum the following year. The success of upbeat Dance-pop singles such as "Le jour où tu partira", "Les murs", and "Qui pense à l'amour" gave Fabian the radio exposure she needed. She received several nominations at the 1993 ADISQ awards, and a poll published around that time^[when?] voted her Quebec's most promising singer.

[edit] 1994-1996: Breakthrough album: Carpe diem

Constant touring in Quebec helped Fabian's 1994 album Carpe diem become her breakthrough album. The album went Gold three weeks after its release, and spawned three hit singles: "Tu t'en vas", "Si tu m'aimes", and "Leïla". The following year, the album went Triple Platinum.

The success of Carpe diem was recognized at the 1995 ADISQ gala. Fabian received two Félix awards: Best Show Of The Year and Best Female Singer Of The Year (a category that is voted for by the public).

In 1996, Walt Disney Studios asked Fabian to voice the character of Esmeralda in the French version of the animated feature The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Disney also included Fabian's French version of the song "Que Dieu aide les exclus" (God Help The Outcasts) on the film's English soundtrack album beside Bette Midler's version.

[edit] 1997-1999: Mainstream international success: Pure and Live

After the success of Carpe diem, Fabian signed a contract with the French Polydor label for several albums and Pure was released in June 1997. Pure sold over two million copies in France alone^{[citation needed]} and the album went platinum in less than two weeks, and spawned several hit singles: "Tout", "Je t'aime", "Humana", each of which sold more than a million copies, and the anti-homophobia anthem "La Différence". The album won a Félix for Popular Album Of The Year at the 1997 ADISQ gala and was nominated for two Juno Awards in the Best Selling French Album category, and for Fabian as Best Female Singer.

In February 1998, Fabian received the Discovery Of The Year award during the Victoires de la Musique Gala. Also in 1998, Polydor released Carpe diem in Europe, securing her international popularity. In November 1998, she received the Félix Award for Artist With The Most Recognition Outside Quebec at the 'ADISQ Gala'. In December, she was voted Revelation Of The Year by Paris Match, which put her on its cover to mark this occasion.

In March 1999, Fabian released her first live album, simply named Live, which debuted at #1 on the French charts. This helped seal an international recording contract with Sony Music. In May 1999, Fabian was honoured at the World Music Awards in Monaco, where she received Best Selling Record for the Year 1998 for her album Pure. In July 1999, with over six million records already sold across Europe, Polydor rereleased Fabian’s self-titled debut album.

[edit] 1999-2001: Extension of success to the US and Latin America: Lara Fabian

In the summer of 1999, Fabian recorded her first English-language album, Lara Fabian, in New York and San Francisco for the Sony label. The songs were written and produced with Rick Allison and Dave Pickell, Walter Afanasieff, Glen Ballard and Patrick Leonard.

The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 'Heatseekers' album chart, reached #1 on the French album chart and #2 on the Belgian album chart. For the Asian version of the album, Fabian collaborated with American-Taiwanese pop star Leehom Wang on the song "Light of My Life".

The Dance-pop song, "I Will Love Again", her first English single, reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play, and peaked #32 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 Adult Contemporary, as well as appearing in several international charts. This included the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #63.^[2] The follow-up ballad, "Love By Grace", entered the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at #24. In February 2001, "Love By Grace" became the theme song of the lead couple in the Brazilian soap opera Laços de Família, broadcast by TV Globo in Brazil and Portugal. For several weeks, the song was number 1 on most Brazilian and Portuguese radio stations. The third single, Dance-pop song "I Am Who I Am", remixed by Hex Hector, became an underground club hit, but did not chart. In Europe, the single "Adagio" charted at #5 on the French singles chart and #3 on the Belgian singles chart.

During this period, Fabian recorded songs for several Hollywood motion picture soundtracks, including "The Dream Within" for the Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within soundtrack, and "For Always" for the AI:Artificial Intelligence soundtrack, which contained both a solo version and a duet with Josh Groban.

[edit] 2001-2003: O Canada 2001 and return to French roots: Nue, Live 2002 and En toute intimité

Nue (Naked), Fabian's fourth French album, was released in the Fall of 2001 in both Québec and France. Nue is a documentation of her emotional ride in the preceding few years caused by the success of the pervious album, and as such is more vulnerable and fragile. The album reached #1 in Belgium and #2 in France but had little impact in Québec. The album was also released in Portugal and reached the top 10 on the album charts during the Fall of 2001.

The first single, released in the summer of 2001, was the anthem "J'y crois encore" was a top 20 French hit. Other singles followed, including Fabian's personal favourite "Immortelle", "Aimer Déjà" and in 2002 "Tu es mon autre" (a duet with fellow Belgian, Maurane which was nominated for song of the year and reached the top 5 in France).

Also in 2001, she collaborated with David Foster and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to record the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, in an English version, a French version, and a bilingual (French/English) version, for a promotion of the Government of Canada.

In 2002, Fabian contributed to the World Soccer Championship CD release, with the song World At Your Feet written and produced by Gary Barlow.

Towards the end of 2002, Fabian released her second live album, Live 2002, from her latest tour, together with a DVD showcasing concerts recorded in December 2001 in Belgium at the Forest National and at Le Zénith in Paris.

Her 2003 stint at the Casino de Paris every Monday night were intimate concerts which were released as a live CD and DVD at the end of 2003, under the title En toute intimité.

[edit] 2004: Second English language release: A Wonderful Life

In 2004, Fabian released her second English album, A Wonderful Life.

The project was commercially unsuccessful but critically praised. The more organic sound on the album is attributed to the work of French guitarist Jean-Félix Lalanne, and producers such as Desmond Child, Anders Bagge and the British team True North (composed of Take That singer Gary Barlow and Elliot John Kennedy). The centrepiece, "Review My Kisses" was written by Desmond Child was first recorded by LeAnn Rimes in 2002 for her album Twisted Angel.

The first single released for radio was "The Last Goodbye" in the US and most other countries (except France). In France the song "No Big Deal" was the first single. Neither of the songs achieved success and the album was not promoted; and its release was cancelled in the United States.

In Brazil, the song "I Guess I Loved You" achieved moderate success when included on a soap opera. The song also gained some popularity in Portugal, for the same reason, though it was never officially released or promoted.

[edit] 2005-2006: A new musical direction: 9 and Un Regard 9

After a sabbatical in 2004, Fabian returned to the music scene spring of 2005 with her fifth French album, 9. It marked a different direction in Fabian's musical and personal life. The album is performed differently, with smoothness, serenity and with a lot of joy, far from the in-depth and dramatic vibes of earlier recordings.

9 yielded the hit single "La Lettre", a song co-written with her new partner, Jean-Félix Lalanne, with whom she produced the album's 11 tracks. Other singles released included "Ne lui parlez plus d'elle", "Un Ave Maria", "Il ne manquait que toi" and the gospel-infused "L'homme qui n'avait pas de maison".

In October 2006, Fabian released a CD and DVD of this associated tour, both titled Un regard 9 Live and recorded during the 29 March 2006 concert at Le Zénith in Paris. The CD presents 15 live performances plus a brand new song, "Aime", recorded in a studio in Montreal.

2006-2007: An Italian collaboration and live concerts in Europe[link]

Fabian's next studio album was to be her first Italian-language project, and in June 2007 she worked in Rome and Los Angeles to record sessions for it. No further details have been revealed.

In the meantime, the single "Un Cuore Malato" (with Gigi D'Alessio) reached the top of the Italian charts and #16 in France.

In Los Angeles, Fabian worked with Dave Stewart on a "multilingual" album, reputed to include songs in English, Spanish, French, Italian and a few other languages. This album is expected to be released in late 2008.^{[dated info]}

Also in 2007, Fabian was in Québec to perform a two night concert at the Olympia de Montreal. On 14 October 2007, Fabian was a surprise guest at the only concert Gigi D'Alessio gave in France at the Olympia in Paris, just a few days before the birth of her daughter.

[edit] 2009: Return to the music scene: Toutes les femmes en moi

A few months after her daughter's birth in 2007, Fabian carried out a tour of Ukraine, Russia and Greece. She also made a few TV appearances (such as 60th Anniversary of Israel where Fabian performed a Hebrew song and duetted with Israeli singer Noa).

During 2008, Fabian was in Belgium preparing to record a French album with pianist Mark Herskowitz, who had composed and arranged the hidden instrumental track featured on the 2001 album Nue. The album will be partly recorded in Montreal, Canada. The album, Toutes les femmes en moi, was released on May 26, 2009.

The first single, Soleil, Soleil, is a cover of the Nana Mouskouri song. The second single wsa Toutes les Femmes en moi, the only original song on the album.

[edit] 2010: "Tour Les Femmes Font Leur Show", Mademoiselle Zhivago and her first "Best of" album

This section may be confusing or unclear to readers. Please help clarify the section; suggestions may be found on the talk page. (January 2012)

Throughout the first half of 2010, Fabian embarked on a European tour of concerts specially throughout France, Switzerland and Belgium incorporating the main repertoire of her last album "Toutes Les Femmes En Moi" alongside some classic and fan favourites. She also had the chance of once again performing in Eastern Europe, with a more acoustic set (piano-voice). This time also including some of the English recording from the English album Every Woman In Me. In September 2010 she finally released her 2009 album "Toutes Les Femmes En Moi" in Québec, following a week of promotion. There is a new version on the album for "Nuit Magique" which was recorded as a duet with Canadian singer Coral egan.

Later in 2010, she released an concept album in Russia and Ukraine called Mademoiselle Zhivago. It features 11 songs in different languages by Russian composer Igor Krutoy. Mademoiselle Zhivago tells the story of a woman who crosses different lives over the years and centuries, having a special personal bond to Fabian's origins and family. The whole project is not only musical one, but also cinematographic one, as for all 11 songs different videos were shot, which as a whole creating one big film, produced and directed by Ukrainian film producer Alan Badoev. The album itself, containing a CD and a DVD, was first released in Ukraine on October 25th. 2010 and in Russia on November 19th. 2010. An international release date is yet to be confirmed.

The whole set of songs composed by Fabian with Igor Krutoy is in English, French, Italian, Spanish and also in Russian. Fabian first introduced one of these songs in 2009 during the New Wave Festival in Latvia, performing "Demain n'existe pas". Later on in 2010 she returned to that same stage performing new songs from the already finalized project. Fabian has been promoting this project in both countries on television but also by performing a series of concerts presenting the new songs live to the eastern European public. Ever since Fabian has established herself as a huge superstar in Russia and the Ukraine. Fabian was a guest performer on 30 October show of the Ukrainian X Factor singing "Mademoiselle Hyde" and "Demain N'Existe Pas" taken from the album and also her longtime classic "Adagio".

Discography[link]

Awards[link]

• Etoile Cherie FM:
  • 2005 - Best Female Star of the Year - WON

• Félix Awards:
  • 1993 - Francophone Artist with Biggest Succes in Quebec
  • 1994 - Francophone Artist Achvieving Biggest Succes in Quebec
  • 1995 - Best Selling Album of the Year - Carpe Diem
  • 1995 - Best Show of the Year - Songwriter/Performer - WON
  • 1995 - Female Vocalist of the Year - WON
  • 1995 - Most Popular Song of the Year - Leila
  • 1995 - Popular Album of the Year - Carpe Diem
  • 1996 - Best Selling Album of the Year - Carpe Diem
  • 1997 - Best Selling Album of the Year - Pure
  • 1997 - Best Show of the Year - Songwriter/Performer
  • 1997 - Female Vocalist of the Year
  • 1997 - Most Popular Song of the Year - Tout
  • 1997 - Popular Album of the Year - Pure - WON
  • 1998 - Artist with most Recognition Outside of Quebec - WON
  • 1998 - Female Vocalist of the Year
  • 1998 - Most Popular Song Of the Year - Je T'Aime
  • 1999 - Female Vocalist of the Year
  • 1999 - Quebecian Artist Achieving Biggest Succes Outside of Quebec
  • 2000 - Artist with most Recognition Outside of Quebec
  • 2000 - Quebecian Artist Having Biggest Succes in other Language then French - WON
  • 2002 - Popular Album of the Year - Nue
  • 2006 - Best Concert DVD of the Year - Un regard 9 Live

• IFPI Platinum Europe Award:
  • 1999 - Award for Sales Over 2 Million Units - WON

• Victoires de la Musique:
  • 1998 - Original Song of the Year - Tout
  • 1998 - Revelation of the Year - WON
  • 1999 - Best Female Artist
  • 2003 - Original Song of the Year - Tu es mon autre (with Maurane)

• Women To Women Without Borders:
  • 2000 - GOLD

• World Music Awards:
  • 1999 - Best Selling Benelux Recording Artist of the Year - WON
  • 2001 - Best Selling Benelux Artist of the Year - WON

• Juno Award Nominations:
  • 1996 - Best New Solo Artist of the Year
  • 1996 - Best Selling Francophone Album of the Year - Carpe Diem
  • 1998 - Best Female Vocalist of the Year
  • 1998 - Best Selling Francophone Album of the Year - Pure
  • 2001 - Best Female Artist

Writing for other artists[link]

Fabian has written for other artists such as French female singers Chimène Badi, Nolwenn Leroy and Myriam Abel. She also composed for Daniel Lévi and is said to be currently working with a former contestant from "Nouvelle Star 3", Roland. She has often praised the voice and talent of successful female singer Amel Bent, who was also a contestant on that show.

Acting career[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2008)

• 2004: in the MGM film De-Lovely ^[3][4] the singer performed the numbers "Another Openin', Another Show" (with chorus) and "So in Love" (with Mario Frangoulis) from the Cole Porter musical Kiss Me, Kate.

Personal life[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2008)

Fabian and French singer Patrick Fiori began a relationship at the start of 1998.^[5]

On November 20, 2007 Belgian singer Maurane, revealed, during her concert at the Cirque Royal, that "...little Lou was born this morning!" referring to Fabian's first child, a girl named Lou, born at the Edith Cavell Hospital in Uccle, Belgium.

See also[link]

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of awards received by Lara Fabian

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Web Site (available in French, English and Italian)
• Biography of Lara Fabian, from Radio France Internationale
• Lara Fabian News (in English, Portuguese and French)
• Last.fm - Lara Fabian
• All Lara Fabian's career
• English translations of Lara Fabian's songs
• Singing Je T'Aime with Stunning Audience Interaction

Martin Deschamps (born June 23, 1970)^[1] is a Canadian rock singer from Quebec. He records and performs both as a solo artist and as the lead vocalist for the reunited Offenbach.

Young age[link]

Deschamps was born with congenital deformities of all four limbs; he is missing both his left arm and right leg, and has only two fingers on his right hand.

At the age of 9, his family moved to Rawdon, Quebec. During his youth, his handicap was not mocked in school. He entertained his student friends in class and maintained good enough grades to be the first of his class.^[1]

He started playing the drums when he reached 11 years of age, and by the age of 15, he was playing bass guitar and started singing. From 1989 to 1995 he was a graphic designer for Bell company. The first band he played in was called Any Way, as their drummer. Knowing he wanted to become a band leader, he formed his own group called Deep Freeze.^[1]

Career[link]

Martin Deschamps performing at the Opening ceremony for the 2010 Paralympics.

Opening ceremony, 2010 Paralympics.

His musical career began in 1996 when, with that group, he was named best vocalist in the L'Empire des futures stars competition. He was subsequently invited to join rock band Offenbach on a reunion tour as the replacement for the late Gerry Boulet, and immediately departed on a 50-show tour. He then released his own solo debut, Comme je suis, in 2000. Selling 60,000 copies in Quebec, the album spawned three hit singles and was nominated for three Félix Awards, for best new artist, best rock album and best single ("Quand").

For his second album, 2001's Différent, he donated a portion of the profits to Montreal's Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, and subsequently became a spokesperson for the province's Semaine des personnes handicapées.

He subsequently recorded two songs for the soundtrack to Denise Filiatrault's film L'Odyssée d'Alice Tremblay and a duet with Lynda Lemay, and mounted a successful concert tour in France.

His third album, Le Désert, was released in 2003. That album's single "Vérité" spent five weeks at #1 on Quebec's pop charts.

Offenbach subsequently released the album Nature in 2005, and Deschamps toured with the band that year.

He performed during the 2010 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony.

He performed at the state funeral for Jack Layton, deceased leader of the New Democratic Party, on August 27, 2011.

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• (French) Official site

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2008)

Robert Campeau (born in Chelmsford, Ontario on August 3, 1923) is a Canadian financier and real estate developer.

Early years[link]

His formal education ended in grade eight, at the age of 14. He talked himself into jobs at Inco as a general labourer, carpenter and machinist. In 1949 he entered the residential end of the construction business. His first project was a single home constructed in partnership with his cousin in Ottawa, Ontario.

Real estate development[link]

In Ottawa, Campeau was able to construct both office complexes and residential subdivisions to accommodate Canada's rapidly expanding civil service. Campeau frequently found himself at odds with Ottawa mayor Charlotte Whitton over planning decisions. Whitton was quoted as saying, "when I look at his (Campeau's) houses, I think perhaps nuclear bombardment might not be such a terrible thing after all."^[1] His Campeau Corporation had two main rivals in the residential housing market: Assaly Construction Limited and Minto Developments Inc., the latter owned by the family of future Ottawa mayor Lorry Greenberg. Despite opposition from Whitton, Campeau developed a reputation as a high-quality builder and became the most successful in the city. A street is named after him in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata, much of which he developed.

For many years it was city policy that buildings in the downtown core not be taller than the Peace Tower of the parliament buildings. Campeau found this rule to be unnecessary and was drawn into conflict with city council over large high-rise developments such as Place de Ville.^[2]

Due to his relationships with many civil servants and ministers, he was able to have most of his projects approved. He counted amongst his personal friends politicians like Jean Chrétien, Jean Marchand, André Ouellet, Marc Lalonde, and Michael Pitfield. Campeau's real estate development success soon spread outside Ottawa. In Toronto his developments included Scotia Tower (the city's second tallest skyscraper) and the Harbour Castle Hotel (now part of the Westin Hotels chain).

Corporate take-overs[link]

In the 1980s Campeau embarked on a series of leveraged buyouts (LBOs), first bidding unsuccessfully on the Royal Trust company (now part of the Royal Bank).

As his business expanded, Campeau ventured into the United States, looking for acquisitions that would add shopping mall real estate to his portfolio of assets. Through junk bond LBOs which were at their most popular in the mid 1980s, his Campeau Corporation gained control of Allied Stores and Federated Department Stores, owner of Bloomingdale's. Campeau retained famous banker Bruce Wasserstein to assist with the transactions. However, the debt obligations that needed to be covered following the merger were too large and exacerbated by a market downturn that hurt retail sales; Campeau Corporation was unable to meet its debt obligations. Federated and Allied eventually filed for bankruptcy reorganization. The company was eventually acquired by the Reichman brothers who went bankrupt themselves and Campeau Corporation ceased to exist.

"Any corporate executive can figure out how to file for bankruptcy when the bottom drops out of the business. It took the special genius of Robert Campeau, chairman of the Campeau Corporation, to figure out how to bankrupt more than 250 profitable department stores. The dramatic jolt to Bloomingdale's, Abraham & Straus, Jordan Marsh and the other proud stores reflects his overreaching grasp and oversized ego"^[3]

Personal life[link]

Campeau resided in a lakeside castle in Austria and he became involved in some real estate projects, including developing a large subdivision in Teltow (former GDR) near Berlin, Germany. That project failed and Campeau's company went bankrupt 2001. The funds of the charitable foundation (Robert Campeau Family Foundation) used in his business were lost.

In 1996, Campeau and his wife Ilsa, mother of 3 of his children separated. While she stayed in Austria, he first lived in Berlin (presidential suite of Four Seasons Hotel) with Christel Dettmann, a former East German politician, and then he returned to live in Ottawa in 2001 together with Christel.

The divorce proceedings went on for many years, Ilsa's pleadings were struck and in the end, an Ontario judge, ruled in his favour.

Bibliography[link]

• Babad, Michael; Mulroney, Catherine.Campeau- The Building of an Empire,1989, ISBN 0-385-25208-0
• Rothchild,John.Going for broke: How Robert Campeau bankrupted the retail industry, jolted the junk bond market, and brought the booming eighties to a crashing halt,1991, ISBN 0-14-017316-1

References[link]

1. ^ Roussopoulos, Dimitri (1981-12-01). CITY AND RADICAL SOCIAL CHANGE. Black Rose Books. pp. 308. ISBN 0-919618-82-0. 
2. ^ Keshen, Jeff; Nicole St-Onge (2001-05-02). Ottawa: Making a Capital - Constuire une capitale. University of Ottawa Press. pp. 465. ISBN 0-7766-0521-6. 
3. ^ THE NEW YORK TIMES "The Grotesque Campeau Failure", Jan 17, 1990

Kery James
Show in France, in Rennes (2008)
Background information
Birth name	Alix Mathurin
Born	(1977-12-28) December 28, 1977 (age 34) Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, West Indies
Genres	French rap, hardcore rap, conscious rap
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter, dancer, record producer, philanthropist
Years active	1992–present
Associated acts	Mafia K'1 Fry, Idéal J
Website	keryjames-officiel.skyrock.com

Alix Mathurin (born, December 28, 1977) better known as Kery James, is a French rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer and record producer, who was born in West Indies from Haitian parents. His mother raised him in Orly, a suburb of Paris. Nowadays with his three solo albums, he is one of the most respected French rappers. The media labelled him "the rapper repented through Islam". Kery James is aware of it, he really assumes this image. " I prefer to be the one who hold this role rather than somebody else. Numerous young Muslims are tempted to be intolerant or extremist. If I can open their eyes it is a good thing for them."

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Kery James arrived in continental France at the age of seven. He started at a young age to rap, dance, and write his own texts. The famous MC Solaar noticed him when he was only 10 years old in a cité (suburban housing estate) of Paris. He described the setting as "A place where the Islamic faith was omnipresent. All my friends in , and the symbols of the religion.

At around thirteen years old, he became a member of the group Idéal Junior (later abbreviated to Idéal J). They garnered a few singles with explicit titles like Hardcore, Pour une poignée de dollars and a first album titled Original MC’s sur une mission. In 1992, their single La vie est dure was released showing great promise though one of the talented artists, Alter, promptly left the group. In subsequent years while colleague Mehdi progressed as a prominent producer, Kery worked extensively on writing new material, his texts reflecting a life that involved altercations with the police, street rivalries and an omnipresent fear of death.

In 1996 the band's first album under the moniker Ideal J led the group to became renowned and respected as amongst the top French rappers with well-known singles like Ghetto français, Show business and, Je veux du cash. Ideal J multiplied their appearances on Maxis and as featured acts, reaching a surprising maturity with the single J'désole mes parents present on the compilation Nouvelle donne. However, Kery's career was put temporarily on hold in 1999 when his close childhood friend Las Montana was shot and killed. Kery took refuge in religious faith and took the name Ali as a symbol of his full conversion to Islam.

Solo career[link]

In October 2001 his solo album "Si c'était à refaire" with, among others, the tracks "28 décembre 1977", "Si c'était à refaire", "Soledad", "Y'a pas d'couleur". Released in 2001, this album is very personal and benefits from numerous collaborations: Nubians, Salif Keita... The rap is influenced by African, Arabic, Cuban musical influences, without forgetting the use of percussions and original instruments for this music style as the xylophone. He sings his African roots but also the problems of society like money, violence, and moral values. This album reflects the surprising maturity of Kery.

In 2004, Kery James' second album, Ma vérité continued to underline social and political militant messages taking positions on such subjects as the war in Iraq and on reality TV. However, at the same time, duets with very popular stars such as Diam's Mélanie Giorgadès and Amel Bent, started to distance him from his underground image.

In March 2008 this metamorphosis to mainstream popularity was underlined by a new album À l'ombre du show business whose title track was a collaboration with legendary French chanson star Charles Aznavour. Other tracks included Le combat continue part III, Banlieusards and Vrai Peura. On its first week of release the album reached third place on the French charts with 24,459 albums sold. For the music videos of this album, he worked with Luc Besson, Matthieu Kassovitz, J.G Biggs and Chris Macari.

Discography[link]

Albums and EPs[link]

Solo albums

• 2002 : Si c'était à refaire
• 2004 : Savoir et vivre ensemble
• 2005 : Ma vérité
• 2008 : À l'ombre du show business
• 2009 : Réel
• 2010 : À mon public (live album)
• 2012 : 92.2012

with Ideal Junior

• 1992 : La vie est brutale (Maxi-single)

with Ideal J

• 1996 : O'riginal MC's sur une mission
• 1998 : Le Combat Continue

with Mafia K'1 fry

• 1997 : Les liens sacrés
• 1999 : Légendaire
• 2003 : La cerise sur le ghetto
• 2007 : Jusqu'à la mort (+ reissue)

Singles[link]

Solo

• 2001: "Y'a pas d'couleur"
• 2004: "Relève la tête" (Kery James pres. Lino, AP, Diam's, Passi, Matt & Kool Shen)
• 2012: "Lettre à la République"

Collaborations[link]

1991

• MC Solaar feat. Raggasonic & Kery James - "Raggajam" on MC Solaar's album, Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo

1995

• Ideal J - Mauvais garçon on the soundtrack of Raï (1995)
• Ideal J - Ce soir, on est down on the soundtrack of Raï (1995)
• Ideal J - Orly City Bronx on the mixtape Orly City Bronx

1996

• Ideal J - Attaque/Contre attaque on the mixtape Invasion

1997

• Kery James feat. 113 & Rohff - "Dans Ta Race" on the compilation Mysta D. presents L'invincible armada
• Different Teep feat. Kery James - "Ras" on Different Teep's album, La rime urbaine
• Ideal J - "Cash Remix" on the compilation L 432

1998

• 113 Feat Kery James - Association sur le EP du 113, Ni Barreaux, Ni Barrières, Ni Frontières
• Manu Key Feat Lil Jahson & Kery James - "Triste point en commun" sur l'album éponyme de Manu Key
• Ideal J Feat 113 & Intouchable - "La voie que j'ai donnée à ma vie" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne

1999

• Alibi Montana Feat Kery James - "Le monde a cracké" sur l'album d'Alibi, T'as ma parole
• Prodige Namor Feat Kery James - "L'année de tous les dangers" sur l'album de Prodige Namor, L'heure de vérité
• Daomen Feat Kery James - "J'émerge" sur l'album de Daomen, Underground Classic
• Kery James Feat Rocca, Shurik'N & Hamed Daye - "Animalement votre" sur la mixtape Première classe vol. 1
• 113 Feat 113 Clan - Main Dans La Main sur l'album du 113, Les Princes de la ville

2000

• Kery James - "J'émerge (remix)" sur la compile Nouvelle Donne Collector Vol.1
• Kery James - "Les frères ne savent pas" sur la compile Time Bomb Session Vol.1
• Kertra Feat Kery James - "Face à face" sur l'album de Kertra, Le labyrinthe

2003

• Mafia K'1 Fry Feat Kery James - "Nuage de fumée Part II" sur l'album de la Mafia, La Cerise Sur Le Ghetto

2004

• Rim'K Feat Kery James - "Intact" sur l'album de Rim'K , L'enfant du pays
• Kery James Feat Booba - "Chacun Sa Manière" sur la compile Street Lourd Hall Stars
• Rohff Feat Kery James - "Mal aimé" sur l'album de Rohff, La Fierté Des Nôtres
• Kery James - "Laissez" sur la compile Des 2 cotés

2005

• Kool Shen Feat Kery James & Sinik - "That's my people" lors du dernier concert de Kool Shen au Zénith de Paris
• Tandem Feat Kery James, Faf La Rage, Diam's, Tunisiano & Kazkami - "Le Jugement" sur l'album de Tandem, C'est toujours pour ceux qui savent
• Kery James - "Je N'crois Plus En L'illicite" sur la compile Illicite Projet
• Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Patrimoine Du Ghetto" sur la compile Patrimoine Du Ghetto
• Kery James Feat Manu Key & A.P. - "Humanity" sur la compile Zone Caraïbes
• Kery James - "Attention" sur la compile Rap Performance
• Samat Feat Kery James & Larsen - "Le repentir" sur le Street CD de Samat, Samat Feat Hip Hop de rue
• Kery James - "Outro" sur la compile De la poudre au Rap

2006

• Heckel & Geckel Feat Kery James - "Moins de 20 ans" sur l'album d'Heckel & Geckel, Street Show

OGB Feat Kery James - "Ninety Four Side" sur l'album d'OGB, Enfermé Dehors

• Mac Tyer Feat Kery James - "Suicide carcéral" sur l'album de Mac Tyer, Le Général
• Rim'K Feat Kery James - "T'as Le Choix" sur la compile Illegal Radio
• Apash Feat Kery James - "3 horizons Differents" sur le Street CD d'Apash, Du Bon Son Pour Une Bonne Cause

2007

• M. Toma Feat Kery James - "Ouvrir ton cœur" sur l'album de M. Toma, Identité
• Kery James - "Symphonie d'amour" sur la B.O. du film Taxi 4
• Kery James - "1 pour la cause" sur la mixtape Ghetto Truand & Associés
• Manu Key Feat Kery James, F.dy Phenomen, Die & Tiwony - "Babylon System" sur l'album de Manu Key, Prolifique Vol.2
• Melissa M Feat Kery James - "Lettre à la tristesse" sur l'album de Melissa M, Avec tout mon amour
• Kery James Feat K'libre 13 - "Avance" sur la mixtape Opinion sur rue 3
• Kery James Feat Heckel & Geckel, Youssoupha, Smoker, Kamel L'ancien, Ben-J, Pit Baccardi, Diam's, Kalash L'afro, Ikbal Vockal, Seth Gueko, Sear Lui Même, Baba, Dosseh, Salif, James Izmad, Despo Rutti, Mister C, Alibi Montana, Mr Toma & Mac Tyer - "On ne sait pas abandonner" en hommage à l'émission Couvre Feu sur Skyrock
• Rohff Feat Kery James & Dragon Davy - "9.4 Mental" sur le Street CD de Rohff, Le chauchemar du Rap français
• TLF Feat Kery James - "Le box" sur l'album de TLF, Rêves de rue
• Kamelancien Feat Kery James - "J'résiste" sur la réédition de l'album de Kamel L'ancien, Le charme en personne
• Bakar Feat Kery James - "N'incite pas" sur l'album de Bakar, La rose du béton
• Idjal Feat Kery James & Farenheit - "Victimes du passé" sur l'album d'Idjal, Enfant du monde
• Légende Urbaine Feat Kery James - "D'humeur guerrière" sur l'album de Légende Urbaine, L'école de ma rue

2008

• Grand Corps Malade feat Kery James & Oxmo Puccino - "À la recherche" sur l'album de Grand Corps Malade, Enfant de la ville
• Zap Mama feat Kery James - "Apres La Pluie," A L’Ombre Du Show Business

External links[link]

• (French) Site officiel, sur Skyrock.com
• (French) « J'aurais pu dire », version audio
• (French) « J'aurai pu dire », version vidéo
• (French) Biographie et airplays de Kery James