Francis Cabrel

Francis Christian Cabrel (; born 23 November 1953) is a French singer-songwriter, composer and guitarist. Considered one of the most influential French musical artists of all time, he has released a number of albums falling mostly within the realm of folk, with occasional forays into blues or country. Several of his songs, such as "L'Encre de tes yeux", "Je l'aime à mourir", "Petite Marie", "La Dame de Haute-Savoie", "Encore et encore", "Il faudra leur dire", "Sarbacane", "C'est écrit", "Je t'aimais, je t'aime, je t'aimerai" and "La corrida", have become enduring favourites in French music. Since the start of his career, Cabrel has sold over 25 million albums.

His first hit song was "Petite Marie" in 1974, which was about the woman who soon became his wife, Mariette. His song "Je l'aime à mourir" was covered by Shakira; this version, both sung in French and Spanish, became a major hit single. His song "Edition Spéciale" was featured in the 1987 film Broadcast News, starring Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks and William Hurt.

Although Francis Cabrel is best known as a French-speaking singer, he also sings in Spanish ("La quiero a morir", "Vengo a ofrecer mi corazón"), and even a little in Occitan ("Giors", "Rockstars du Moyen Âge") and Italian.

An unauthorised biography was published in 2015. Cabrel, who is one of the most private French singers, attempted to have the book suppressed.

Cabrel brings support, with the song "Un gramme de terre" with multilingual interpreters, to accompany the documentary Une langue de plus.

Biography Francis Cabrel was born in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France, into a modest family of Venetian Veneto descent. His father was a labourer in a biscuit factory and his mother a cashier in a cafeteria. He has a sister, Martine, and a brother, Philippe. Cabrel spent his childhood in Astaffort, in Lot-et-Garonne.

Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales FRA BEL(Fl) BEL(Wa) CAN QUE ROD SWI Les Murs de poussièreReleased: 1977 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette — — — — — —FRA: Platinum Les Chemins de traverseReleased: 1979 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette 2 — — — — —FRA: 2× Platinum Carte postaleReleased: 14 September 1981 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette — — — 15 — —FRA: 2× Platinum SarbacaneReleased: 21 February 1989 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD 1 — — 1 — —FRA: Diamond Samedi soir sur la TerreReleased: 3 April 1994 Label: Columbia Format: LP • cassette • CD • MiniDisc 1 1 — 1 — —FRA: Diamond CAN: 2× Platinum Hors-saisonReleased: 29 March 1999 Label: Columbia Format: LP • cassette • CD • digital download 1 — 1 — 1 — —FRA: Diamond CAN: Gold SWI: Gold SWI: Platinum Vise le ciel ou Bob Dylan revisitéReleased: 22 October 2012 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • digital download 1 63 1 — 14 3 10FRA: 2× Platinum FRA: 120,000 FRA: 300,000 À l'Aube revenantReleased: 16 October 2020 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • digital download 1 49 1 — — — 1 "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums + List of live albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales FRA BEL(Fl) — 7 — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums + List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales FRA BEL(Fl) BEL(Wa) CAN QUE ROD SWI Canta en EspañolReleased: 1985 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD — — — — — — Cabrel 77-87Released: 17 November 1987 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD 28 — 12 — 19 — —BEL: 2× Platinum FRA: Diamond

As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumFRA BEL(Wa) "La complainte de la butte" (with Patrick Bruel) 2002 48 — Entre deux "Tout reste à faire" (with Souad Massi) 2010 — 15 Ô houria "Petite Marie" (with Umberto Tozzi) 2012 — 25 Yesterday: The Best of 1976-2012 "Sueno" (Gipsy Kings featuring Francis Cabrel) 2014 — — Savor Flamenco "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Other charted songs + List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumFRA BEL(Wa) "Madame n'aime pas" 2009 — 12 Des roses et des orties "Les filles à quoi ça sert" (with Bénabar, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Alain Souchon) 2011 — 3 Titeuf "Lucie" (with Nolwenn Leroy) 2014 193 — Kiss & Love "Mademoiselle l'aventure" 2015 150 — Des roses et des orties "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Videography Sarbacane tour (1989)

Footnotes