Orelsan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orelsan
Orelsan in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Aurélien Cotentin
Also known as	Orel Aurél RaelSan Jimmy Punchline
Born	(1982-08-01) 1 August 1982 (age 43) Alençon, Normandy, France
Origin	Caen, Normandy, France
Genres	French hip hop
Occupations	Rapper songwriter record producer actor director
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2002–present
Labels	7th Magnitude Wagram

Aurélien Cotentin (born 1 August 1982), known by his stage name Orelsan, is a famous French rapper, songwriter, actor, and director. He is one of the most popular and important musicians of his generation in France.

Orelsan is known for his clever lyrics that mix humor and irony with serious topics. This unique style helps him connect with people of all ages, not just rap fans. He has released four hit studio albums: Perdu d'avance (2009), Le chant des sirènes (2011), La fête est finie (2017), and Civilisation (2021).

He is also part of the hip hop group Casseurs Flowters with his friend Gringe. Together, they have released two albums and starred in their own movie.

His third album, La fête est finie, was a huge success, selling over one million copies in France. His fourth album, Civilisation, was the best-selling album in France for two years in a row (2021 and 2022). In 2022, the French government honored him for his contributions to art and culture.

Life and Career

1982–2003: How It All Began

Aurélien Cotentin was born in Alençon, a town in the Normandy region of France. His father was a middle school principal and his mother was a teacher. As a kid, he loved rock music, manga, and comic books. He started to love rap music thanks to friends he made while playing basketball.

After high school, he went to a business school in the city of Caen, graduating in 2004. In college, he became friends with the music producer Skread, who would later help produce his albums. He also started making music with his friend Gringe. Together, they formed the group Casseurs Flowters.

Orelsan also spent a year studying in Florida, in the United States. This experience inspired him to write one of his early songs. When he returned to France, he worked night shifts at a hotel, which gave him plenty of quiet time to write lyrics.

2004–2010: Starting a Music Career

Orelsan in 2009.

In 2004, Orelsan and Gringe formed the hip hop group Casseurs Flowters. They released a mixtape together before deciding to focus on their solo careers.

Orelsan began sharing his music online. In 2006, he uploaded his first music video, "Ramen," to YouTube. He followed it with a funny song about Valentine's Day that became very popular. This success encouraged him to share more of his work online.

In 2008, a record label called 3^e Bureau noticed his talent and offered him a record deal. His first official single was called "Changement". On 16 February 2009, he released his first album, Perdu d'avance (which means Lost in Advance). The album was produced by his friend Skread and had 14 songs.

The album was a success. In 2009, Orelsan won an MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Act, beating many other famous artists.

2011–2012: Becoming a Star

Orelsan in 2012.

Orelsan's second album, Le chant des sirènes (The Song of the Sirens), came out on 26 September 2011. It was an even bigger hit than his first one. The album sold so well that it was certified gold in just one month. It later became double platinum, meaning it sold over 200,000 copies in France.

Popular songs from the album included "La terre est ronde" (The Earth is Round) and "Ils sont cools" (They Are Cool), which featured Gringe. The album reached the top of the music charts in France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

In 2012, Orelsan's hard work was recognized at the Victoires de la Musique, which is like the French version of the Grammy Awards. He won two major awards: "Urban Album of the Year" and "New Artist of the Year."

2013–2017: Team Projects and a Huge Hit

In 2013, Orelsan and Gringe got back together as Casseurs Flowters. They released their first official studio album, Orelsan et Gringe sont les Casseurs Flowters. The album was very popular and was certified gold in France.

Two years later, in 2015, Orelsan and Gringe starred in their own movie called Comment c'est loin (How Far It Is). Orelsan also co-directed the film. They released a soundtrack album for the movie, which was also a big success and was certified platinum.

After these projects, Orelsan began working on his third solo album. On 20 October 2017, he released La fête est finie (The Party Is Over). The album was a massive success. It was certified gold in just three days and platinum in a week. It eventually sold over 1,000,000 copies, earning a double diamond certification. In 2018, Orelsan won three more Victoires de la Musique awards for the album and its lead single, "Basique".

2021–Present: The Civilisation Era

Orelsan's fourth album, Civilisation, was released on 19 November 2021. The album was produced by Skread and featured guest artists like Gringe and the American duo The Neptunes.

Civilisation broke sales records in France. It sold more copies in its first week than any other album that year. It was the best-selling album in France in both 2021 and 2022. The album was certified diamond in just five months, the fastest in French rap history. Popular songs from the album include L'odeur de l'essence (The Smell of Gasoline) and La quête (The Quest).

In 2021, a documentary series about Orelsan's life and career was released. It was directed by his younger brother, Clément Cotentin.

Between 2022 and 2023, Orelsan won six more Victoires de la Musique awards for his music, music videos, and his concert tour. With a total of twelve wins, he has won more of these awards than French music legends like Johnny Hallyday.

Discography

Orelsan with Gringe and Ablaye at a festival in 2014

Studio albums

• Perdu d'avance (2009)
• Le chant des sirènes (2011)
• La fête est finie (2017)
• Civilisation (2021)
• Civilisation perdue (2022)

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Orelsan para niños