Alizee Biography, Pictures and News

Alizee Biography

Alizée Jacotey was born on 21 August 1984 in Ajaccio, Corsica, and she is a French singer. Born in Ajaccio, Corsica, she goes by the stage name Alizée — the feminine form of alizé, the trade wind. She was discovered by Mylène Farmer, following her winning performance in the talent show, Graines de Star, in 1999. While collaborating with Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat, Alizée released two albums — both of which were hits inside and outside of France.

Alizée entered the music business in 2000. She has since released three studio albums — first two of which were composed by Laurent Boutonnat and written by Mylène Farmer. Her first album was Gourmandises, which received Platinum certification within three months of release. Gourmandises was a success both in France and abroad — after it had its international launch in 2001 — earning Alizée the distinction of being the highest selling female French singer in 2001. The album featured her most successful single “Moi… Lolita” which reached number one in several countries in Europe and East Asia. Gourmandises was followed by a second studio album Mes Courants Électriques in 2003, which was also quite successful, though not as big a hit as Alizée’s debut album. Following its release, Alizée toured France during the fall of 2003, performing in 43 concerts throughout France, along with Belgium and Switzerland.

Alizée married fellow French singer Jérémy Chatelain in late 2003. Following her marriage, she took a hiatus from singing before returning with a new album, titled Psychédélices, on 3 December 2007. Her fourth album titled Une Enfant Du Siècle was released on 29 March 2010 and showcases her new mature persona, while distancing herself from her earlier lolita figure.

Also known by her nickname “Lili”, Alizée started dancing early in her life, and by age four was already proficient. A year later, she was enrolled in Corsica’s renowned dance school, École du Spectacle de Monique Mufraggi, and trained there until she was 15. In 1995, at the age of eleven, she won a coloring competition organized by Air Outre Mer, a former French airline now partly acquired by Swissair. Her design won first prize and was reproduced on the cabin of one of the airline’s aircraft. The aircraft was subsequently named after her, and Alizée won a trip to the Maldives for her efforts.

In 1999, she appeared on the TV talent show “Graines de Star”, broadcast on Métropole 6. She initially intended to sign up for the programme’s dance contest. However, the dance category was reserved for groups only. Alizée therefore participated in the singing category instead, performing the song Ma Prière (a single released by Axelle Red in 1997). She went on to win the “Meilleure Graine” award for most promising young singing star of tomorrow.
Her winning performance was seen by veteran Canadian-born French pop diva Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat, who were looking for a young, fresh voice to partake in their new project. They approached Alizée, and she was selected after studio auditions. The duo arranged her debut with a meticulously orchestrated launch, controlling her image and public appearances. In 2000, they produced her maiden album, Gourmandises which was a great success in France, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. The first single was “Moi… Lolita”, which some say portrayed Alizée as a Lolita who was capable of “melting the hearts of the local male population”. Others recognized her great variation in tone and artistic talent. Alizée won the M6 award in 2000. She returned with a follow up album, Mes Courants Électriques, in 2003. This second album was also quite successful, though not to the same extent as Gourmandises. It was followed up with a live album of her countrywide tour.
Even though the albums have portrayed her in a sexy, Lolita-like image, Alizée had a “squeaky-clean public image as the perfect teenager” during her teens. Though described as a very shy and a reserved person, she likes performing in front of audiences. Although she has a singing career, Alizée prefers dancing, and is quite proficient in classical dance, jazz, Italy style ballet, tapand flamenco. Alizée also likes soccer. She is a supporter of AC Ajaccio (Corsica), and was once invited to kick off one of their matches.

Alizée is actively involved in charity work through Les Enfoirés, a group of French celebrities who organize fund-raising concerts every year. The proceeds from these concerts go to Les Restaurants du Coeur. The organization, set up by French comedian Coluche, helps feed the poor. Alizée participated in these concerts in 2001, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Alizée married fellow French singer Jérémy Chatelain in late 2003. She also has a child, Annily.

Despite marketing hype and commercial success, there were mixed critical responses to the launch of Moi… Lolita, Alizée’s first single. The critics felt that the similarity in style to that of Mylène Farmer was too striking. Some felt that her Lolita image overshadowed her singing prowess—describing her as “desperately trying to be sexy”, and many were ready to write her off. Some of her songs have been described as “sweeping, atmospheric ballads” whose “melodies are so sparkling and beguiling”, and from which Alizée manages to “squeeze more emotion than the usual pop package”.Alizée’s three albums include a wide range of songs, from catchy pop tunes to soulful ballads. Radio France Internationale featured Gourmandises as their CD of the week, stating:

“The ten songs on Alizée’s debut album, Gourmandises (Goodies), have all been expertly manufactured by the Farmer hit-machine. Sweet syrupy pop ditties are wrapped in silky synths, violins and catchy techno beats and judging by the success of Alizée’s sexily alliterative second single, L’Alizé, the Farmer team have hit upon a winning formula.

Alizee Pictures