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1990-1999
1990 : 8th album "Trouble" During the Winter, Alain Chamfort, Marc Moulin and Jacques Duvall went together to spend several weeks working in the States, in New Orleans and especially in New York. Interested by the New-Yorker rap music trend, Alain decided to use the latest innovatory techniques of sampling for his new album. The recording took place in ICP, Synsound and Excelsior studios in Brussels. Five tracks ("Souris puisque c'est grave", "Gare de l'Est", "Mama gri-gri", "Sapho and Sophie" "L'amour Samplé") were mixed in the "New-Yorker" way. This new album was called "TROUBLE" and contained 10 songs : all the lyrics were written by Jacques Duvall and music composed by Alain Chamfort and Marc Moulin. On May 23rd, 1990 the album "TROUBLE" was released together with the single "SOURIS PUISQUE C'EST GRAVE". A video clip was made. "Souris puisque c'est grave" stayed in the top 50 chart from the end of August 90 until the end of October 90. In December a second single was issued : "L'amour samplé" illustrated by an original video widely broadcast in which Claire, Alain's wife, appeared.
1991 : "Ce ne sera pas moi" In Spring, the third extract of the album was released : the single "Ce ne sera pas moi". A very nice video was shot off the Eastern coast of the States.
1992 : Record "Urgence" and meeting with Steve Nieve On May 25, 1992 the double CD "Urgence" "27 artists for research against AIDS" was released. Alain sang "Maladie d'amour" by Henri Salvador. In 1992, the C.B.S company became SONY Music and Alain Chamfort signed an recording contract with Epic. In the Autumn, Alain played as an actor in a TV film "Une femme pour moi" with Amanda Lear, Tom Novembre and Valérie Bruni-Tedeschi. In December 1992, Alain Chamfort recorded several of his oldest songs in an acoustic version with the excellent English pianist Steve Nieve who made new arrangements for piano and organ.
1993 : 9th album "Neuf" and show at the Opéra Comique and Bouffes du Nord in Paris In March, a mini promotional CD of 5 songs titles called "Alain Chamfort and Steve Nieve, songs for four hands" was sent to the media. This CD included five acoustic versions of : "J'entends tout", "Chasseur d'ivoire" "L'infidèle", "Sophie et Sapho" and "Palais Royal". On 5th and 8th April 1993, Alain and Steve Nieve performed these songs in an acoustic style at the Opéra Comique. These two concerts were also the opportunity for Alain to announce to the medias and to his public that he had joined the Epic company, as well as to celebrate twenty years of his career. Since the beginning of 1993, Alain and Marc Moulin had been in Brussels to record their new album. This album contained 10 new songs all co-composed by Alain Chamfort and Marc Moulin, 7 texts were written by Jacques Duvall : "L'ennemi dans la glace", "La mélodie du malheur", "Les paroles dans le vide", "Mens", "Quand vas-tu te décider à me décevoir", "Bon anniversaire", and "Clara veut la lune". Three texts were written by Didier Golemanas : "L'homme qui te veut du bien", "Les violons n'étant plus ce qu'ils sont" and "Que ce soit clair". On October 19th, 1993 the 9th album "NEUF" was officially released, supported by the single "L'ENNEMI DANS LA GLACE" On October 30th, 1993 a variety TV program ("Taratata") "Special Alain Chamfort" was broadcast. From 23rd to 28th November, Alain performed a set of 6 acoustic concerts at the Bouffes du Nord. Alain Chamfort was at synthesizer and Steve Nieve at piano and organ.
1994 : Nationwide tour and "Clara veut la lune" rewarded During the 9th "Victoires de la Musique" (French Music Awards), a tribute was paid to Léo Ferré, Alain sang live "Avec le temps". In the course of this celebration, the music victory for "the best video of the year" was awarded to Jean-Baptiste Mondino for his clip "L'ennemi dans la glace" where he used the "morphing" technique (the face of Alain was transformed into a woman's face which appeared to be the face of his wife Claire Delhens). In February, Alain toured the acoustic version of his songs all over France and Belgium. In April, May and July, he took part in several tours ("le printemps de Bourges", "le festival de la côte d'Opale", etc ..). On July 12th, on the occasion of the 10th Francofolies of La Rochelle, Alain performed an acoustic concert with Steve Nieve at the theatre of La Rochelle. In the evening, he sang "Bahia" (a song of Véronique Sanson) on the big stage of the Esplanade. In Autumn also, the first "song book" of Chamfort containing the scores of 16 songs was published. On December 19th, the National Union of lyricists and composers awarded the Oscar of the French song to Alain Chamfort, Marc Moulin and Jacques Duvall for :"CLARA VEUT LA LUNE
1995 : "Entre sourire et larmes" and "Sol en si" In 1995, Alain Chamfort performed a concert in Mexico in the aid of the Red Cross at the suggestion of a Mexican painter friend. In Autumn, the record "ENTRE SOURIRE ET LARMES" ("Between smile and tears") was released, 13 artists sang songs written by people suffering from the AIDS virus. This record was sold to benefit of associations bringing assistance to the seriously ill. Alain sang the previously unreleased song "VU DU CIEL" composed by Alain Chamfort and Jean-Noël Chaléat and written by Lionel Florence. This song was recorded with the chamber choir of Ile de France. At the end of 95, the release of the new album SOL EN SI "Solidarité Enfants Sida" ("Solidarity Children AIDS") took place; Chamfort and Zazie sang a duo : "Dodo, rémi".
1996 : "Vu du ciel" rewarded On May 31st, the SACEM (collective administration company of music royalties) awarded the "Rolf Marbot" prize to Alain Chamfort, Jean-Noël Chaléat and Lionel Florence for the song "Vu du ciel". On July 24th, in Royan Alain took part in a free cultural event which offered thousands of people the chance to listen to a selection of the main operatic arias. A variety singer was also usually invited to perform and on this occasion, the organisers chose Alain Chamfort. So Alain sang "Le temps qui court" and "Palais royal" with the Paris Opera orchestra. 1997 : 10 th album "Personne n'est parfait" At the beginning of 1997, Alain worked on new songs together with Jean-Noël Chaléat, Marc Moulin and Jacques Duvall. The work in studio took place in London, but the main part of the album was recorded in Brussels. This album was entitled "PERSONNE N'EST PARFAIT" and included 12 songs. All the songs words were written by Jacques Duvall. 7 songs were composed by Alain Chamfort and Marc Moulin : "Contre l'amour", "Ma faiblesse est la plus forte", "Si tu t'en allais", "Notre histoire", "Ce piano est à vendre", "La plainte du blessé léger", "Ce n'est que moi". 5 songs are composed by Alain Chamfort and Jean-Noël Chaléat : "Qu'est ce que t'as fait d'mes idées noires ?", "Aucune différence", "Tombouctou", "Plus douce sera ma chute", "Les majorettes". The 10th album "Personne n'est parfait" was released on September 2nd, 1997. It was praised by critics and very positive articles were written about it in the press. The pilot single was : " QU'EST-CE QUE T'AS FAIT D'MES IDEES NOIRES ?" On September 24rd, 1997, Tess (Alain's second daughter) was born. In Autumn, the new version of the musical tale by Philippe Chatel "Emilie Jolie" was released. Philippe Chatel asked Alain to sing "Le petit caillou", which he did. At the end of the year, the second single from the album, was released :" TOMBOUCTOU"
1998 : "Les majorettes" On April 22nd, for a TV show "Sidaction 98", Alain sang a trio with Axelle Red and Jane Birkin : "Ma préférence" by Julien Clerc. In Spring 1998, a new extract from the album was released : the single "LES MAJORETTES" was widely publicised. It was a new version of this song, remodeled and remixed by Bob Kraushaar and Steve Robson usually in charge of production and mixing for the Pet Shop Boys. In Autumn, the album "A la légère" by Jane Birkin was issued. The first song of her album was : "Les clés du paradis" : the music was composed by Alain Chamfort and Jean-Noël Chaléat, the song words were written by Jacques Duvall. On November 24th, 1998, it was the official release of the record "ENSEMBLE - 42 chanteurs contre le sida"" ("TOGETHER – 24 singers against AIDS"), the profits of which were given to the association "Ensemble contre le sida" ("Together against AIDS"). Alain took part in the song "SA RAISON D'ETRE" (Music : Pascal Obispo – words : Lionel Florence) as well as in the video.
1999 : "Ca ne fait rien" On February 20th, the 14th "Victoires de la musique" took place at l'Olympia and this program was broadcast on the 2nd national TV channel. At the very beginning, Zazie and Alain Chamfort sang a live duet "Paradis". Then they hosted the show, introducing each singer nominated in the "revelation" category. Before Summer, Véronique Sanson asked Alain to do vocals for a Michel Berger song : "Le paradis blanc". This song was the first extract from Véronique's new album :" D'un papillon à l'autre". It was also in 1999, that Alain Chamfort recorded a new song : "CA NE FAIT RIEN" composed by Alain Chamfort and Jean-Noël Chaléat, written by Jacques Duvall and arranged by Nick Ingman. This song would be the new track in the following year's "Best of". A video was also shot by Patrice Leconte (a famous film director) in the Paris metro Alain acting in it.
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