Lara Fabian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lara Fabian
Fabian in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert
Born	(1970-01-09) 9 January 1970 (age 55) Etterbeek, Belgium
Genres	French pop pop rock acoustic dance-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Polydor Sony Universal Warner

Lara Fabian, born Lara Sophie Katy Crokaert on January 9, 1970, is a famous singer and songwriter from Belgium and Canada. She has sold more than 20 million albums around the world. This makes her one of the top-selling Belgian artists ever!

Lara was born in Belgium. Her father was Belgian, and her mother was Italian. In 1991, she moved to Quebec, Canada. Since 1995, she has been a citizen of both Canada and Belgium. She lived in Belgium for some years to be near her family. In 2017, she moved back to Montreal, Quebec, to live with her family there.

Early Life and Musical Talent

Lara Fabian is the only child of Pierre Crokaert and Maria Luisa Serio. Her parents noticed her singing talent very early. When she was eight years old, they enrolled her in the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. She studied music there for 10 years.

Lara is amazing because she can sing in many different languages. She sings in French, English, Spanish, Italian, Flemish, German, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Russian.

Lara Fabian's Music Career

Starting Her Music Journey (1986–1993)

In the 1980s, Lara Fabian took part in many music competitions in Europe. She won several awards for her singing. Her very first song, "L'Aziza est en pleurs" / "Il y avait", came out in 1986.

In 1988, a TV channel from Luxembourg asked Lara to represent their country. This was for the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, a big music competition. She sang a song called Croire (Belief) and finished in fourth place. This song became a hit in Europe, selling almost 500,000 copies!

In 1990, Lara and her music partner, Rick Allison, moved to Montreal, Canada. They wanted to start their music career in North America. They even created their own music company called Productions Clandestines.

In 1991, Lara released her first French album, Lara Fabian, in Canada. It sold over 100,000 copies. Songs like "Le jour où tu partira" and "Qui pense à l'amour" became popular on the radio. In 1993, she was nominated for several awards. People in Quebec even voted her the most promising singer!

Breakthrough with Carpe Diem (1994–1996)

Lara Fabian toured a lot in Quebec. This helped her 1994 album, Carpe diem, become a huge success. The album became "Gold" (meaning it sold many copies) just three weeks after it was released. It had three hit songs: "Tu t'en vas", "Si tu m'aimes", and "Leïla". The next year, the album sold even more, becoming "triple platinum".

In 1995, Lara won two Félix awards. These awards are for music in Quebec. She won for Best Show Of The Year and Best Female Singer Of The Year.

In 1996, Walt Disney Studios chose Lara to be the voice of Esmeralda. This was for the Canadian French version of the movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Disney also put Lara's French song, "Que Dieu aide les exclus", on the film's English soundtrack.

Since 1996, Lara Fabian has been a citizen of both Canada and Belgium.

International Success with Pure and Live (1997–1999)

After Carpe diem did so well, Lara signed a contract with Polydor. Her album Pure came out in 1997. Pure sold more than two million copies in France. It became platinum in less than two weeks! Many songs from it were big hits, like "Tout", "Je t'aime", and "Humana".

In 1998, Lara won the Discovery of the Year award in France. Polydor also released her album Carpe diem in Europe. She won another award for being the Artist with the Most Recognition Outside Quebec.

In 1999, Lara released her first live album, Live. It went straight to number one in France. This success helped her get a big international record deal with Sony Music. In May 1999, she won the Best Selling Record for the Year 1998 at the World Music Awards.

Reaching the US and Latin America (1999–2001)

In 1999, Lara recorded her first English album, Lara Fabian, in the US. She worked with famous producers and songwriters.

This album became number one on the Billboard 'Heatseekers' chart in the US. It also topped the French album chart. For the Asian version of the album, Lara sang with pop star Leehom Wang.

Her first English song, "I Will Love Again", became number one on the US Billboard dance chart. It also appeared on charts in other countries. Another song, "Love By Grace", became a theme song for a popular TV show in Brazil and Portugal.

Lara also recorded songs for Hollywood movies. These included "The Dream Within" for Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within and "For Always" for AI:Artificial Intelligence. She sang "For Always" by herself and as a duet with Josh Groban.

Back to French Music (2001–2003)

Nue, Lara's fourth French album, came out in 2001. It showed her feelings and experiences since her last album. It reached number one in Belgium and number two in France.

The first song from the album, "J'y crois encore", was a top 20 hit in France. Other popular songs included "Immortelle" and "Tu es mon autre". The latter was a duet with another Belgian singer, Maurane.

In 2001, Lara also recorded the Canadian national anthem, O Canada. She sang it in English, French, and a mix of both.

In 2002, Lara released her second live album, Live 2002. It came with a DVD of her concerts. In 2003, she performed a series of smaller concerts. These were later released as a live CD and DVD called En toute intimité.

Second English Album: A Wonderful Life (2004)

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

This album had a different, more natural sound. The first song released was "The Last Goodbye". In France, the first song was "No Big Deal". Neither song became a big hit.

However, in Brazil, the song "I Guess I Loved You" became popular. It was used in a well-known TV show called "Senhora do Destino".

In 2004, Lara also sang in the MGM movie De-Lovely. She performed songs from the musical Kiss Me, Kate.

New Musical Style: 9 and Un Regard 9 (2005–2006)

After taking a break in 2004, Lara returned to music in 2005. She released her fifth French album, 9. This album showed a new style for Lara. It was smoother and more joyful, different from her earlier dramatic songs.

9 included the hit song "La Lettre". Lara wrote this song with her new partner, Jean-Félix Lalanne. They worked together on all 11 songs on the album.

In 2006, Lara released a CD and DVD from her tour for this album. They were both called Un regard 9 Live. The CD had 15 live songs and a new studio song called "Aime".

Italian Collaboration and European Concerts (2006–2007)

In 2007, Lara worked in Rome and Los Angeles on her next album.

Her song "Un Cuore Malato" with Gigi D'Alessio became a top hit in Italy. It also reached number 16 in France.

In Los Angeles, Lara worked with Dave Stewart on an album with songs in many languages. This album was planned for release in 2008.

Lara also performed concerts in Quebec and was a guest at a concert in Paris. Soon after, her daughter was born.

Return to Music: Toutes les femmes en moi (2009)

A few months after her daughter was born, Lara toured Ukraine, Russia, and Greece. She also appeared on TV, including a performance of a Hebrew song for Israel's 60th Anniversary.

In 2008, Lara prepared a new French album in Belgium. The album, Toutes les femmes en moi, was released in May 2009. The first song, "Soleil, Soleil", was a cover of a Nana Mouskouri song. The second song, "Toutes les Femmes en moi", was the only new song on the album.

Tours and Mademoiselle Zhivago (2010)

In 2010, Lara toured Europe, including France, Switzerland, and Belgium. She sang songs from her album "Toutes Les Femmes En Moi" and some of her classic hits. She also performed in Eastern Europe with a simpler, acoustic show.

Later in 2010, Lara released a special album in Russia and Ukraine called Mademoiselle Zhivago. It sold over 800,000 copies in Russia! The album had 11 songs in different languages by Russian composer Igor Krutoy. Each song told a story about a woman experiencing different lives. Eleven music videos were made for the songs, creating a full-length film. Lara became a superstar in Russia and Ukraine because of this project.

Le Secret (2013)

Lara Fabian released her new album Le Secret on April 15, 2013. It had 17 brand new songs. On the same day, she performed her new songs at the Théâtre de Paris. Her first song from the album was "Deux ils, Deux elles". This song talks about love between two men and two women. It shares a message of tolerance and acceptance, similar to her earlier song "La Différence".

"Make Me Yours Tonight" (2014)

Lara had to cancel some tour dates and delay recording in 2014. This was because she was recovering from ear damage. In August, she released a duet with Turkish artist Mustafa Ceceli. The song was called "Make Me Yours Tonight" in English and "Al Götür Beni" in Turkish. It became number one in physical sales in Turkey.

Sanremo Festival and Ma vie dans la tienne (2015)

In December 2014, it was announced that Lara Fabian would perform at the Sanremo Music Festival 2015 in Italy. This was a big music competition. She sang her new song "Voce" for the Italian market. This song was included in a new greatest hits album called Essential Lara Fabian.

During the festival, she also sang "Sto male", an Italian version of her famous song "Je Suis Malade". She dedicated her performance to her mother.

In November 2015, Lara released her ninth studio album, Ma vie dans la tienne ("My Life In Yours"). She co-wrote and co-composed the songs with David Gategno and Elodie Hesme. The album was very successful, selling over 150,000 copies worldwide. It became "Platinum" in France and "Gold" in Belgium.

Camouflage and World Tour (2016–2018)

Fabian performing in 2018

In 2016, Lara started working on a new English album called Camouflage. It was released in 2017. The album had 12 songs. The first song, "Growing Wings", came out in August 2017.

The Camouflage World Tour started in Miami in February 2018. Lara toured all over the world, performing 40 shows. The tour ended in Paris in June 2018. During concerts in Russia, her producer insisted on keeping the song "La Différence" in the show. This song includes images of same-sex couples. This caused some issues with Russian authorities.

Papillon & World Tour (2018–2020)

In September 2018, Lara announced her new song, "Papillon". It was released in October 2018. This was the first song from her fourteenth album, also called Papillon, which came out in February 2019.

To support the album, Lara started the 50 World Tour. This tour celebrated her 50th birthday, her 30 years in music, and selling over 30 million albums. The tour visited over 20 places in the USA, Russia, and Europe. However, some concerts had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lockdown Sessions and Recent Work (2020–present)

In December 2020, Lara Fabian released a collection of 12 experimental songs. These songs were created during the COVID-19 lockdown. The album, called Lockdown Sessions, was a limited edition.

In 2021, she became the director of Star Académie, a TV show in Quebec. She has also acted in movies sometimes, like the 2022 film Arlette.

Lara Fabian's Singing Style

Lara Fabian is a soprano singer. This means she has a high vocal range. She can sing three octaves, from C3 to G5 in her live shows.

In the early 2000s, French media started calling Lara one of the "great Quebecois voices." This group of singers, including Isabelle Boulay and Céline Dion, shared a similar style. They often used expressive singing, focusing on their voice rather than just the words. They used different parts of their vocal range and added vocal decorations.

Besides her main languages, Lara has also sung in Azerbaijani, German, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish.

Writing Songs for Other Artists

Lara Fabian has also written songs for other singers. These include French female singers Chimène Badi, Nolwenn Leroy, and Myriam Abel. She also wrote music for Daniel Lévi.

She wrote "Dis-moi comment t'aimer" for Greek singer George Perris. The song "Imaginer" was first written in English by Lara and Walter Afanasieff. They rewrote the words in French for Jackie Evancho's album Dream with Me. The French version changed the song's meaning from sad love to a dream of a beautiful world without war or hunger. She also wrote the English words for the song "Your Love", which was sung by Dimash Qudaibergen.

Personal Life

Lara Fabian is a polyglot, meaning she speaks many languages. She grew up speaking Sicilian and Italian. She also learned French and some Flemish while living in Belgium. She studied English and Spanish in school.

Lara was in a relationship with Rick Allison for 14 years. They wrote many of her biggest hits together. They separated in 2003.

From 2006 to 2012, Lara was in a relationship with French director and composer Gérard Pullicino [fr ; it]. They have a daughter together, who was born in 2007.

In 2013, Lara married Sicilian magician Gabriel Di Giorgio.

Discography

• Lara Fabian (1991)
• Carpe Diem (1994)
• Pure (1996)
• Lara Fabian (1999)
• Nue (2001)
• A Wonderful Life (2004)
• 9 (2005)
• Toutes les femmes en moi (2009)
• Every Woman in Me (2009)
• Mademoiselle Zhivago (2010)
• Le Secret (2013)
• Ma vie dans la tienne (2015)
• Camouflage (2017)
• Papillon (2019)
• Lockdown Sessions (2020)
• Je suis la (2024)

Tours and Concerts

• En Toute Intimité (2003)
• Un regard 9 Live (2006)
• Tour Les femmes font leur show (2010)
• Greatest Hits Tour (2015)
• Ma vie dans la tienne Tour (2016)
• Camouflage World Tour (2018)
• 50 World Tour (2019–2020)
• The Best of Lara Fabian – World Tour (2022)
• Je T'Aime World Tour (2025–2026)

Awards and Recognitions

• Etoile Cherie FM Awards
  • 2005 – Best Female Star of the Year
• Félix Awards
  • 1995 – Best Show of the Year – Songwriter/Performer
  • 1995 – Female Vocalist of the Year
  • 1997 – Popular Album of the Year – Pure
  • 1998 – Artist with most Recognition Outside of Quebec
  • 2000 – Quebec Artist Having Biggest Success in a Language Other Than French
• IFPI Platinum Europe Awards
  • 1999 – Award for Sales Over 2 Million Units
• NRJ Music Awards Nomination
  • 2000 – Francophone Female Artist of the Year
• Victoires de la Musique
  • 1998 – Revelation of the Year
• Women to Women Without Borders
  • 2000 – Gold Medal
• World Music Awards
  • 1999 – Best Selling Benelux Recording Artist of the Year
  • 2001 – Best Selling Benelux Artist of the Year
• 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
• SOCAN Awards
  • 1995 – Pop/Rock Music – Il suffit d'un éclair
  • 1996 – Pop/Rock Music – Leila
  • 1998 – Pop/Rock Music – Humana
  • 2004 – International Achievement Award

See also

In Spanish: Lara Fabian para niños