Mylène Farmer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mylène Farmer
Farmer in 2019
Born	Mylène Jeanne Gautier (1961-09-12) 12 September 1961 (age 63) Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada
Citizenship	France Canada
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1984–present
Awards	9 NRJ Music Awards 2 World Music Awards
Musical career
Genres	French pop rock dance electronic
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Polydor Sony Music
Associated acts	Laurent Boutonnat Alizée Seal Sting LP

Mylène Jeanne Gautier (born 12 September 1961), known professionally as Mylène Farmer, is a famous French singer and songwriter. She has sold over 30 million records around the world. This makes her one of the most successful music artists ever in France.

Mylène Farmer holds the record for the most number one hit songs in France, with twenty-one. Eight of these songs reached number one one after another.

She was born in Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada, to French parents. Her family soon moved to Chaville, near Paris, France. There, Farmer started a career in modeling and acting. She became well-known as a singer with her first song, "Maman a tort", released in 1984.

In 1988, she released her second album, Ainsi soit je..., which sold 1.5 million copies in France. This album included her first number one song on the French charts, "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces". Her third album, L'autre..., sold two million copies, becoming her best-selling album so far. Its main song, "Désenchantée", became her most successful single and is often called her signature song.

Mylène Farmer changed her music style with her fourth album, Anamorphosée, in 1995. This album, recorded in the United States, used more live instruments and showed influences from rock and R&B music. Her fifth album, Innamoramento, released in 1999, had more electronic sounds. In the 2000s, Farmer continued to explore different music styles.

In 2010, Farmer released her eighth album, Bleu noir. This album brought back the dark synth-pop and Europop sounds of her earlier works. The main song, "Oui mais... non", sold over 130,000 copies in France. In 2015, her tenth album, Interstellaires, reached number one in France. It featured the song "Stolen Car", a duet with Sting, which also hit number one. Her eleventh album, Désobéissance, released in 2018, also debuted at number one.

Besides her singing career, Farmer also wrote songs for French singer Alizée. She also helped manage Alizée's public image. Alizée's first song, "Moi... Lolita", co-written by Farmer, became a number one hit in several European countries. Farmer also acted in films, making her debut in Giorgino in 1994. In 2018, she starred in the English-language horror film Ghostland.

Throughout her career, Farmer has set many records. She is the best-selling French singer since 1984. She is also the only artist to have a "diamond album" (meaning it sold over 500,000 copies) in four decades in a row. Her 2001 greatest hits album, Les Mots, sold over two million copies. It is the highest-selling collection of songs by a French artist.

Mylène Farmer's Life and Career

Early Years and Beginning Her Career

Mylène Farmer's family moved to France when she was eight years old. She took speech classes because her Canadian accent was considered "improper" in France. At 17, Farmer became interested in acting. She took a three-year course at a drama school in Paris.

She changed her name to Mylène Farmer to honor her favorite 1930s Hollywood actress, Frances Farmer. Mylène started working as a model and appeared in several TV commercials. She also acted in a local play.

In 1984, Farmer met Laurent Boutonnat, a young film student. They became friends and started working together on music. Boutonnat, who wanted to be a film director, created Farmer's music videos. In 1984, Farmer released her first song, "Maman a tort". The three continued to work together on Farmer's first album.

First Albums: Cendres de lune, Ainsi soit je... and L'autre...

Farmer's first album, Cendres de lune, came out in 1986. During its creation, they decided Farmer would write the lyrics and Boutonnat would write the music and direct the videos. "Libertine" was the first song from the album. Its music video was like a short film, inspired by old literature.

In 1988, Boutonnat and Farmer began working on her second album, Ainsi soit je.... This album sold 1.5 million copies in France. It gave Farmer her first number one song in France, "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces". The album also included "Sans contrefaçon" and a cover of "Déshabillez-moi". Ainsi soit je... was the best-selling album by a female artist in France during the 1980s.

After successful small concerts, Farmer went on a 50-show tour in 1989. She performed in arenas across French-speaking Europe. The tour featured dancers and outfits designed by French fashion designer Thierry Mugler. A live album from the tour, En Concert, was released later that year.

Farmer released the song "Désenchantée" in March 1991. This upbeat pop song talked about a generation feeling disappointed. The song became a huge hit, staying at number one on the French singles chart for nine weeks. It was also very popular in Belgium and other European countries. Its music video, filmed in Budapest, showed Farmer as a rebellious prisoner.

Because of the success of "Désenchantée", her album L'autre... was released in April 1991. The album stayed at the top of the French album charts for twenty weeks in a row. It became Farmer's best-selling studio album, selling two million copies. To promote the album further, songs like "Regrets" and "Je t'aime mélancolie" were released.

In 1992, a remix album called Dance Remixes was released. It featured the song "Que mon cœur lâche", which discussed important health topics. The video for this song was directed by Luc Besson.

New Sounds: Anamorphosée and Innamoramento

In 1994, Farmer starred in the film Giorgino, directed by Boutonnat. The film did not do well. After this, Farmer moved to Los Angeles.

While in the U.S., Farmer and Boutonnat started her fourth album, Anamorphosée. This album was a big change for Farmer. She moved from her earlier synth-pop music to pop rock, R&B, and new jack swing styles. The album began with "XXL". Its music video showed Farmer on the front of a moving train. Other songs like "California" and "Rêver" were also released. The video for "California" was directed by American filmmaker Abel Ferrara.

In summer 1996, Farmer went on her second concert tour. She performed 21 shows in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. She sang most of the songs from Anamorphosée and some from her older albums. A live album, Live à Bercy, was released in May 1997.

Farmer released her fifth album, Innamoramento, in 1999. It started with "L'Âme-stram-gram", an upbeat techno song. Both the song and the album reached number two on the French charts. The music video for the second song, "Je te rends ton amour", caused some discussion because of its strong imagery. The profits from its video release were given to a charity supporting HIV/AIDS research.

In late 1999, Farmer began her third concert tour, the Mylenium Tour. The stage had large structures and a statue. Farmer performed 42 shows, including her first concerts in Russia. The tour ended in March 2000.

Collaborations and Greatest Hits

In 2000, Farmer and Boutonnat started working on songs for a younger singer. They found Alizée Jacotey on a French TV show. Farmer and Boutonnat wrote and produced Alizée's albums Gourmandises (2001) and Mes courants électriques (2003). Alizée's first song, "Moi... Lolita", written by Farmer, became a number one hit in several European countries. In 2005, Alizée decided to work with other songwriters.

In 2001, Farmer recorded "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." for the animated film Rugrats in Paris: The Movie. Later that year, Universal released Farmer's first collection of greatest hits: Les Mots. This album was the best-selling album of 2001 and 2002. It remains the best-selling greatest hits album in France, with over 1.5 million copies sold. The album also had new songs, including the title track, a duet with British singer Seal.

After a four-year break, Farmer announced her new album, Avant que l'ombre..., in 2005. She also announced 13 special concerts in Paris in January 2006. The concerts featured a complex stage design with two stages and a water curtain. A live album and DVD from these concerts were released in December 2006.

After this, Farmer worked with American electronic musician Moby. They created a French version of Moby's song "Slipping Away". In 2007, Farmer recorded a song for the film Jacquou le Croquant. She also voiced Princess Selenia in Luc Besson's animated film Arthur and the Minimoys. Farmer later voiced the character again in the film's two sequels.

New Albums and Stadium Tours

Farmer's seventh album, Point de Suture, was released on 25 August 2008. It debuted at number one on the French album chart. The album had more electronic sounds and mostly upbeat songs. Other popular songs from the album included "Appelle mon numéro" and "C'est dans l'air".

Farmer on stage at Stade de France during her 2009 concert tour.

After the album, Farmer went on her fifth concert tour. For the first time, she performed in stadiums, including the Stade de France. A live album, N°5 on Tour, was released in December 2009.

Farmer recorded a song with French singer Line Renaud called "C'est pas l'heure". In November 2010, Farmer sang on a cover of "Never Tear Us Apart" with Ben Harper for the band INXS's album Original Sin.

2010 also saw the release of Farmer's eighth album, Bleu noir. It was produced by RedOne, Moby, and Archive. It reached number one on the French album chart and stayed there for three weeks. It was one of the best-selling albums in France that year.

Farmer's second greatest hits collection, 2001.2011, was released in late 2011. It included all her songs released after 2001's Les Mots, plus a new song called "Du temps".

In early 2012, Farmer announced she was recording a new album. The first song, "À l'ombre", was played on the radio in October 2012. The album, Monkey Me, reached number one in France in December 2012.

Farmer performing with Gary Jules in 2013

To support Bleu noir and Monkey Me, Farmer started the Timeless 2013 concert tour in September 2013. More than 500,000 people attended the tour across France, Belgium, Switzerland, Belarus, and Russia. A live album and film of the tour were released in December.

Recent Works and Tours

In 2015, Farmer worked with photographer Sylvie Lancrenon on a book called Fragile. It featured 90 photos of Farmer.

In August 2015, Farmer announced new music. The first song was "Stolen Car", a duet with Sting. This song reached number one in France and Belgium. It also topped Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. Her album, Interstellaires, was released on 6 November 2015. It became Farmer's 12th number one album in France.

In 2017, Farmer signed a new record deal with Sony Music Entertainment France. In January 2018, she released the song "Rolling Stone". This was her first release with the new label. It was followed by a duet with American singer-songwriter LP, called "N’oublie pas". The video for this song was filmed in Iceland and marked the return of her long-time collaborator, Laurent Boutonnat. Farmer's eleventh album, Désobéissance, was released in September 2018. It was very successful, reaching number one in its first week.

To promote her albums, Farmer performed a nine-show concert series called Mylène Farmer 2019 in June 2019. A live album, Live 2019, was released in October that year.

In 2020, Farmer and Boutonnat started working with new French singer Julia. Julia's album Passe... comme tu sais was released in June 2020. It featured songs written by Farmer and produced by Boutonnat.

2020 also saw the release of Mylène Farmer - L'Ultime Création, a documentary about her 2019 concerts. To promote the documentary and a new greatest hits album called Histoires de, a new song "L'âme dans l'eau" was announced. Histoires de debuted at number two on the French charts in December 2020.

In 2021, Mylène Farmer was a member of the jury at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Recent Projects: Nevermore Tour and L'Emprise

The Nevermore 2023 tour was announced in July 2021. It included thirteen stadium concerts in France, Switzerland, and Belgium in June and July 2023. Plans for concerts in Russia were canceled in March 2022.

On 13 May 2022, Farmer's manager announced she was working on a new album. Musicians like Woodkid, AaRON, Moby, and Archive were involved. The first song from the album, "À tout jamais", was released on 26 August. The music video came out on 12 September. In October, the album's name, "L'Emprise", was revealed. The album was released on 25 November and reached the top of the charts in France, Wallonia, and Switzerland. Other songs from the album included "Rayon Vert" (with AaRon) and "Rallumer Les Etoiles" (composed by Moby). "L'Emprise" is described as a return to the darker sounds of her earlier music.

In December 2022, the English rock band Muse released a special version of "Ghosts (How Can I Move On)". It featured Mylène Farmer singing with Matthew Bellamy. The song was played on radio stations in many countries and briefly topped the French singles chart.

The song "L'Emprise" was used in the French version of the film "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves". Farmer created a music video for the song that included parts of the film.

Farmer also contributed to Moby's album "Resound NYC". She recited an introduction for the song "Hyenas". The album was released on 12 May 2023.

Mylène Farmer performing "Que je devienne…" at the King Baudouin Stadium.

The Nevermore 2023 stadium tour began in Lille on 3 June. Some concerts in Paris were canceled due to events in the city. These shows were rescheduled for September and October 2024. The long delay was because the stadium was busy with the 2024 Summer Olympic games and other events.

Remix XL was released on 19 April 2024. It has 20 remixes of her songs, both old and new. It includes a new remix of "Désenchantée" by DJ Feder. Farmer also re-recorded her voice for some songs on the album.

On 13 May 2025, Farmer honored director David Lynch at the Cannes Film Festival. She sang "Confession", a new song dedicated to him.

Mylène Farmer's Artistic Style

Influences and Songwriting

Mylène Farmer gets ideas from musicians, actors, and writers. She chose her stage name to honor Hollywood actress Frances Farmer. She also admires Greta Garbo and Michelle Pfeiffer. Musically, she is inspired by bands like Depeche Mode and singers like Kate Bush. Many French artists have been influenced by Farmer's work.

Farmer is known for her poetic songwriting. Her lyrics often include deep ideas, symbols, and religious images. She also uses alliterations (words starting with the same sound) and new words. Her songs often talk about love and other big topics. She is inspired by writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson.

Music Style

Mylène Farmer's music is usually described as pop and French pop. However, she changes her style with almost every album. All her albums between 1984 and 2008 were produced by her friend, Laurent Boutonnat. Her first albums had dark synth-pop and new wave sounds.

In 1995, Anamorphosée came out, showing more pop rock and R&B influences. Innamoramento and Avant que l'ombre... mixed acoustic instruments with electronic beats. Farmer then tried electronica and club music on her 2008 album Point de suture.

In 2010, Farmer released her first album without Laurent Boutonnat, Bleu noir. It was produced by RedOne, Moby, and Archive. This album brought back the darker synth-pop and Europop sounds of her early career. For Monkey Me in 2012, Farmer worked with Boutonnat again.

Interstellaires, her tenth album, had pop rock and adult contemporary styles. On Désobéissance, Farmer worked with French DJ Feder and others, returning to electronic dance music. For L'Emprise, Farmer worked with Woodkid to create a "confidant and very intimate" album. It mixes orchestral music, industrial rhythms, and electropop. Moby, AaRON, and Archive also helped with this album.

Mylène Farmer's Filmography

Movies

Web Series

Mylène Farmer's Albums

Mylène Farmer's Concert Tours

Concert tours

• Mylène Farmer en concert (1989)
• Tour 1996 (1996)
• Mylenium Tour (1999–2000)
• Mylène Farmer en tournée (2009)
• Timeless (2013)
• Nevermore (2023–2024)

Concert residencies

• Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (2006)
• Mylène Farmer 2019 (2019)

Awards and Achievements

See also

In Spanish: Mylène Farmer para niños