Belgian real name singer Stromae sounds like: Paul Van Aver. And his nickname is pretty interesting meaning is a deliberately mangled word Maestro (which needs no translation). French youth often use this type of slang in conversations - they swap syllables in familiar words and the resulting word forms are often quite firmly fixed in youth speech.
Interestingly, at the beginning of his career (in 2000), Paul chose stage name Opmaestro, however, soon came across an artist with a very similar pseudonym. I had to urgently change 🙂
Childhood
Paul was born on March 12, 1985 in the small town of Etterbeek, on the outskirts of Brussels (Belgium), in big family(Paul has 4 brothers and a sister). His father, who gave him dark color skin, originally from Rwanda (central Africa), and the mother Belgian origin. Unfortunately, Paul's father left the family when the boy was still very young and only his mother was engaged in raising him, who tried her best to give the children a decent education. As a result, the boy studied at the prestigious St. Paul boarding school in the city of Godinne (Saint-Paul de Godinne). Perhaps this fact indirectly influenced the creation of one of Paul's hits (Papaoutai).
Stromai admits that he always loved music and was the only one of his peers who enjoyed solfeggio lessons. When the mother (confident that every child should master music) suggested that Paul choose musical instrument to his liking, he settled on drums, and achieved in mastering drum set good results.
Musical debut
Stromay's musical career began at the age of 18, it was then that he made his debut with the track (and video) "Faut que t'arrête le Rap", which he recorded in a duet with his school friend, rapper JEDI. Unfortunately, this was the only track that the guys managed to record together, after which they parted ways.
Paul manages to combine studies at the National Institute of Cinematography and Radio Electronics (INRACI) at the Faculty of Sound Engineering, with work in a restaurant fast food, and invests all the money earned in music. Due to the heavy workload, creativity has to be done exclusively in the evenings and nights.
On the way to success
Stromai recorded his first album (EP) “Juste un cerveau, un flow, un fond et un mic…” in 2006 with his own money. The album of a talented boy was heard and Paul began to receive the first invitations to cooperate. As a result, he managed to work with such musicians as Melissa M (Melissa M), Anggun (Anggun) and Kerry James (Kerry James).
Stromae willingly and with pleasure talks about how he creates his music. One of his projects was a youtube channel called " Les lecons de Stromae", which is dedicated detailed description the process of working on some hits. Stromae is used to creating with extremely limited funds and wrote many of his hits on a regular household computer. He gladly shares his experience with his subscribers, and also introduces them to his new works.
By this time, Paul completes his studies and defends his diploma, and also gets an internship at NRJ radio. His Internet channel is gaining popularity and the first fans.
The arrival of popularity
Work on the radio allowed Stromay to put his tracks in rotation. That's how the whole world heard "Alors on danse". In the summer of 2009, this composition sounded on every corner, from every radio and in every cafe around the world. She actually became calling card performer. The success of this composition made him famous in Russia, France, Germany and others. European countries, and the track itself firmly settled in the top of all world charts.
At that time, Stromae had no producer at all, and did everything with his own hands, from recording tracks to promoting them.
In 2010, "Alors on danse" won the title of track No. 1 in several European countries, Stromai received the Award NRJ, and Keni West ( Kanye West) makes a remix for the song, after which there is not a single person left in the world who has not heard this hit. At the annual music award Music Industry Awards (MIA) the song is declared "Hit of 2010".
Talent confirmation
In 2013, the second album of the musician "Racine Carre" was released and in the first week it occupied the top lines in the charts of Switzerland, France and Belgium. The single "Papaoutai" from this album made a real sensation among music lovers and Stromae reappeared on the TV screen and on the covers of glossy magazines. On International festival cinema on French in the city of Namur (Festival international du film francophone de Namur), the Papaoutai clip was awarded the "Best Clip" award.
Another track from this album, "Tous les Memes", raises the problem of relations between a man and a woman and, better than any psychoanalyst, shows the only Right way solving these problems - just look at the situation through the eyes of another person (your opponent) and everything will fall into place. The elegance with which Stromae presented this composition instantly doubled his popularity among fans of both sexes.
The third track from the album was the stunning track "Formidable". The release of the clip was preceded by the scandalous appearance of the “drunk Stromay on the board” at one of the tram stops in Brussels, filmed on Cell phones several eyewitnesses, and raised a wave of indignation on the Internet for the unworthy behavior of the star. However, a few days later, Stromai presented to the public his new clip, with footage of his "drunken performance". The audience had no choice but to pay tribute to the ability of the master to surprise his audience.
Personal life
Paul's modesty is his second distinguishing quality (after the obvious musical talent). It is known that he does not take his popularity seriously, and in his statements the idea that his musical craft comes through. Despite his wild fame, we know almost nothing about him, and his few interviews practically do not touch on personal topics.
Stromai says that the popularity that has fallen on him only distracts him and interferes with his creative work. He calls sparsely populated Brussels his favorite city, where it is always quiet, and sometimes even boring.
It is known that he is married to his stylist, Coralie Barbier (Coralie Barbier) and tries to avoid discussion of this topic.
It is also known that he released his clothing line, which combines European style with bright colors of African motifs. Indeed, talented people are not limited to one area of activity, but show their talent in everything.
I will be very pleased if you share this article with your friends 😉
Today, March 12, was born stromae- the "giant" of European pop music, who gained popularity with tracks "Alors on Dance" And "Papaoutai". However, despite the widespread fame of his compositions, he himself remains a “dark horse”: few people know who he is and how his nickname is still pronounced. Let's get to know him better!
1. His pseudonym is not just a set of letters.
Actually his name is Paul Van Aver, but the stage name, which is pronounced as stromai, is the word "maestro" in verlane, French youth slang. Verlan used to be considered a secret language in which syllables or sounds go backwards. Change the syllables in a word maestro places and get stromae- our hero will appear before us.
2. Motherland: Flanders and Rwanda.
The musician was born in Brussels, his mother is a native of Flanders, and his father (who was always busy) is an architect from Rwanda. In 1994, my father died during the Rwandan genocide. It was the difficult relationship with dad and his subsequent death that formed the basis of the emotional track "Papaoutai".
3. The track "Alors on Danes" became for Stromae wonderful debut.
The artist began his musical career in the early 2000s in a small hip-hop community in Belgium. At some point, he decided to experiment with dance music own composition and wrote "Alors on Dance"- a track about the fact that dancing, you can forget about all your problems. The song became a super hit very quickly, and even Kanye West remixed it.
4. His tracks are very explicit.
Forbidden topics for stromae no, and he doesn’t go into his pocket for a word. His tracks touch on rather dark social problems(he himself jokingly calls his music " suicidal dances”), however, this does not scare the fans, but, on the contrary, attracts them. French newspaper Le Monde described the singer as an antenna: " it transmits signals about the crisis, AIDS, environment chauvinism, Twitter and false wealth from his Brussels control tower».
5. He erases gender differences.
In the video clip for the track "Tous les Memes" from his last album Racins Carree, stromae looks at the relationship from both sides: dressed half man, half woman. Combined in the clip great idea, beautiful choreography and stylish costumes, and the artist himself perfectly gets used to the role of an androgyne.
6. Stromae has a distinct style.
He calls him "dandy swag": bright butterflies and cardigans, small prints on shirts, high knee socks and pleated trousers perfectly suit his physique. He even launched his own clothing brand. Mosaert, in which styles of the English school meet, psychedelic prints and warm colors of Africa.
7. He is not too fond of art.
Despite the fact that his musical style combines hip-hop, europop, French folk, African rhythms and even Cuban rumba, he does not want his tracks to be classified as art. " Until some time there was only art, and this is a complete crap. It's useless, you know? And compared with the father, with the baker, with what the workers do, art is not a necessity. And this is a great lesson for me.».
8. He thinks love is like Twitter.
« In the opera Carmen, love is compared to a bird. In my remix, I compared love to the blue bird of Twitter: you fall in love for 48 hours or something, and I wrote about it. I'm not against Twitter at all, but I think it's sometimes dangerous to believe that Twitter is real life.».
9. He hates being famous.
« I think people understand very well that I don't want to be disturbed. People recognize you, but no one goes crazy and no one screams. Silence. Maybe that's why I love Brussels. 'Cause it's a boring city and I'm proud that it's boring».
10. He thinks that language is not important.
« No one in Belgium understands a word of English, but everyone listens to songs in English - because you can understand the feeling, understand the groove, and it is quite enough to dance to the music or feel it».
Currently gaining more and more popularity musical groups and performers who harmoniously combine various styles in their work. One such talented singer is Stromae. Biography of some contemporary artists contains certain events that influenced the choice future profession. Others were born knowing what they were meant to be. Precisely to last category and the hero of our story refers.
Childhood and passion for music
Talented vocalist from Belgium, songwriter and composer - this is Stromae. Biography young man originates in Brussels. It was there that Paul van Haver was born on March 12, 1985. This is the real name of the world-famous performer.
His parents separated very early. The father, who was originally from Rwanda, did not pay due attention to his son, and he grew up under the direct care of his mother, a Belgian by birth. The craving for music manifested itself in Paul at a very young age. loving mother did not resist the impulse of the soul of the child, and after a while the de Jette Music Academy accepted into their penates the future popular artist Stromae. The biography of this stage of the boy's life is saturated with the sounds of drums and various kinds he gave his preference to these musical instruments.
Debut
The debut took place as a performer with the pseudonym Opmaestro. This happened in 2005. However, he soon changed it to Stromae. Playing with combinations of the letters of the word "Maestro", the young man found the option that he liked the most. This pseudonym brought him unprecedented success.
In the same 2005, a group called "Suspicion" ("Suspicion") appeared on the stage for the first time, of which Stromae was a member and founder. The biography of this hip-hop group is short and not particularly impressive. In a duet with rapper J.E.D.I. they release only one song, called "Faut kt" arretes le'Rap. After the release of the video for this song, his partner leaves the group.
Solo career
Stromae starts solo career combining it with study. cramped in cash, the singer is forced to look for a part-time job. The National Institute of Radio Electronics and Cinematography has become the very "ticket to life" that Stromae's work has acquired. With the money earned in this institution, the performer releases his first debut album“Juste uncerveau, unflow, unfond et unmic...” And immediately blows up all charts. His sparkling style, a harmonious combination of hip-hop with a polished house sound and other areas of electronic and dance music, instantly singled out the performer from the crowd of singers.
It was then that all the youth of the world began to look in a nervous state for any possible information about Stromae. The biography, personal life and environment of the singer were under the scrutiny of reporters and fans. However, the most grandiose breakthrough in the artist's work to this day is 2009. It was then, while working at a radio station, that he recorded the single "Alors on dance". Moreover, the equipment for this was a home computer and ... that's all. The station manager was great impression from this composition and allowed to put it into rotation. The unprecedented response that this song found became a stepping stone to cooperation with Polygram Records. Kenye West recorded a remix of this song, and in a duet with Stromae. "Papaoutai" is another single by the singer, which was written in 2013 and for a long time topped the Ultratop chart (Belgium). The public recognizes this bright young performer not only in the style of music: his "crown" feature is a bow tie around his neck.
At present, musical groups and performers are often becoming popular, combining a variety of musical styles. One such musician is a popular Belgian musician, songwriter and singer-rapper. Paul Van Aver(better known by his stage name). He was born in Brussels (Belgium) on March 12, 1985.His parents are the most ordinary people. The boy's father is a native of Rwanda, his mother is Belgian by origin. It so happened that when Paul was young, his parents had to divorce. The mother was engaged in further education, devoting the boy all her time.
Interest in music in the future Stromae manifested itself at a very early age
He took his first lessons at the age of eleven. In 2003, at the age of eighteen, Paul begins his musical career in a duet with rapper JEDI, with whom he only made a video and recorded the song “Faut kt" arretes le'Rap. Soon JEDI decided to leave the duet. From that moment his solo begins musical career Stromae, as well as creative activities.Paul made his debut in 2005 under the pseudonym Opmaestro. But since his pseudonym was too similar to others, then combining into different combinations letters and syllables of the word "Maestro" he swaps the first and last syllable and chooses the Stromae option. This option turned out to be happy for him.
Over the next years, he is gaining momentum to the top. 
IN 2006
year, the singer performed in the Hip-Hop Family.
Next 2007
participated in the Juste Debout Benelux festival. Being constrained in funds, combining with study singing career, Paul is looking for ways to earn extra money. The money earned at the National Institute of Radio Electronics and Cinematography helped him release his first album called "Juste uncerveau, unflow, unfond et unmic...". The popularity of this album allowed him to lead the European charts Alors on danse.
IN 2008
In the year Stromay recorded a single with Melissa M called “Cette fois interprete” in the album “Avec tout mon amour”, plus four songs” with Anggun, the single “Si je t" emmene "in the album of Kerry James called" A L "Ombre du show business.
After he was offered to work on creating music for Keri James, and the musician successfully completed the task, his status rises noticeably.
Having created in 2009
year composition " Alors on dance”, Paul began to improve in the style of hip-hop and electro. The unprecedented popularity of this music in Belgium and other European countries provided him with the opportunity to collaborate with Polygram Records. Song " Alors on dance" in France, Germany and other countries took first place in the top of the charts. This song is Stromae's calling card today.
spring 2010 of the year Stromae at Award NRJ receives the award. Another single from Stromae is " Papaoutai"created in 2013 year, for a long time was in the lead in the Belgian Ultratop chart. The second album "Racine Carre" was released by the musician in the summer of 2013. This album in the charts of Switzerland, France and Belgium took the top lines.
For these long years, the performer had to go through a lot, overcome a lot of things on his way and, most importantly, achieve recognition among viewers and listeners. Now, everything has changed fundamentally and Stromae takes far from last places in the charts, and also pleases its devoted fans with new compositions. He plans to write the next hits, release the next album and Once again please the listeners. It is possible that he can go on tour, but where and when remains unknown. One way or another, the audience will only be happy.
The real name of the artist is Paul Van ... Read all
Today, the popularity of the Belgian artist of Rwandan origin Stromae is at the zenith of fame. His song "Alors On Danse" tops all sorts of European charts and is a #1 hit in many countries. Who is this skinny Belgian guy with an appearance reminiscent of a young Barack Obama and making half of Europe dance to his "pipe"?
The real name of the artist is Paul van Haver (Paul van Haver), he was born on March 12, 1985 in the Belgian capital Brussels in international family: His father is Rwandan and his mother is Belgian. The boy's school was of little interest, but he devoted himself to music without limit. Already at the age of 11, Paul began to show a serious interest in music, attending classes at the Jette Academy of Music.
Fascinated by rap, Paul van Haver began performing under the name Opmaestro at various rap parties since 2000. In 2003, at the age of 18, along with the rapper "J.E.D.I." Paul creates the Suspicion rap group, but after recording several songs and filming a video clip for one of them, the duet breaks up.
At the same time, Paul changes his stage name to Stromae, which in the Verlan language (a game language, jargon of French youth, in which words are made up of mixed syllables), if you swap the letters, you get "maestro".
To somehow pay for their education in private school Van Haver has to work in fast food, which is very reflected in his academic performance. However, later Paul managed to enter the National Institute of Radio Engineering and Cinematography, where during his studies (in 2007) he released his first EP of four tracks with the long title "Juste un cerveau, un flow, un fond et un mic ..." (Just one brain, one flow, one beat and one microphone) that got him noticed in the music scene. Already in 2008, two recording companies signed a contract with van Haver.
However, another Stromae single, "Alors on danse" (And that's why we dance), produced the effect of a bombshell. Working at the NRJ radio station in Brussels, Stromae presented this track music editor radio stations to Vincent Verbelin. He was delighted and took the risk of putting the song on the air of the NRJ. Verbelin was not mistaken - in a few days the track "Alors On Danse" became a #1 hit in Belgium, and in May 2010 it was at the top positions in France, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Denmark. A mixture of hip-hop and electro music, a bewitching rhythm, intellectual text, and later a concept video filmed brought this work a well-deserved fame. Now "Alors On Danse" is in the TOP-100 of the best European tracks.
Stromae's debut full-length album entitled "Cheese" was released on June 21, 2010. It includes 11 tracks, among which, of course, the main one is "Alors on danse".
Stromae also composed several compositions for such artists as Anggun, Kery James.
