Anggun
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Anggun Cipta Sasmi (born April 29, 1974, in Jakarta) is an Indonesian singer/songwriter. Her name means "Grace born out of a dream" in Indonesian. Anggun is also the highest-selling Asian artist outside Asia and made a history for being the first Asian artist to break into international music scene. She is best known in Europe, particularly in France and Italy, as well as in several parts of Asia.
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[edit] Biography
At a young age, Anggun decided to follow in her father, Darto Singo's footsteps, and become an entertainer. During her early years, she was influenced by rock sounds of native Javanese artists and the rock & roll icon, Elvis Presley. She was educated in Catholic schools because her father wanted Anggun to have a high quality education, although she is a Muslim. Anggun began performing at age 7 and recorded her first album two years later. By the time Anggun was 17, she was a successful national rock star.
Anggun began to feel unsatisfied with her success in Asia and, at 19, she left Indonesia in hopes of breaking through in the European music charts. With her first husband, she moved to London and then Paris, where she met music producer Erick Benzi, who had produced music for stars such as Celine Dion, and Johnny Hallyday, a popular French singer. Benzi was quite impressed by Anggun's talent and immediately offered to work with her on her new album. Benzi persuaded Anggun to move away from her original rock influences and experiment with a more sensual and romantic sound. Anggun's smooth new style would prove an immediate success in France. Her first French album, Au Nom de la Lune (titled Anggun for Indonesia and Japanese market and Snow On The Sahara in other 13 countries including the US) not only skyrocketed Anggun to fame in France, the album was also a major hit in her native country, Indonesia. Her second album Desirs Contraires (Chrysalis in foreign and US markets) proved to be a worldwide hit as well.
In 1998, Anggun toured in Lilith Fair with Sarah McLachlan and other female musicians. In 2000, Anggun received an invitation from the Vatican asking her to perform at a Christmas concert where she sang her rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for the Pope, John Paul II. In 2000, she was also granted French citizenship.
Her duet with an Italian rockstar, Piero Pelù, entitled L'amore Immaginato reached #1 in the National Italian Airplay Charts for over two months. Anggun was also part of the charity driven project Gaia.
Anggun also performed a duet with Gildas Arzel in the song "C'est le debut", which sounds nearly identical to Donna Lewis's collaboration with Richard Marx in "At the Beginning".
Anggun has been known for her artistic music videos. Many of her videos use special effects, creating beautiful, evocative imagery (most notably "A Rose in the Wind").
Besides Indonesian, her native language, Anggun is fluent in French and English. She currently splits her time between Montreal and Paris.
In 2005 a new album, titled Luminescence, was released. In a departure from her previous two studio albums, the English, French, and international versions had the same titles. The album were also re-released as special edition version.
Being an artist as well as a fashion trendsetter, Anggun worked closely with famous European couturiers. Among designers who have worked with her for the previous albums include Frenchman Azzedine Alaïa who exclusively designed her outfit for Au Nom de la Lune/Snow on Sahara; the Italian duo Dolce & Gabbana for Chrysalis/Désirs Contraires and Roberto Cavalli for Luminescence.
She is now busy promoting the re-release of her new album with releasing a fourth single, "Garde-Moi/A Crime" and will release a "Best-Of" album at the end of the year.
Through the years, she has a few hits singles across the Europe and the Asia. Among her hit songs include "Snow On The Sahara/La Neige Au Sahara", "A Rose In The Wind/La Rose De Vents", "Still Reminds Me/Derriere La Porte", "Chrysalis/Tu Mens", "In Your Mind/Entre Une Femme", "Saviour/Cesse La Pluie", and "I'll Be Alright/Juste Avant Toi"
[edit] Recognition
Anggun has been involved with several charities and received some awards, including:
- Awarded by the France's Culture Minister the prestigious distinction of "Chevalier des Arts et Lettres" for her worldwide achievements and her support to the French culture.
- Accepted the role of Spokesperson for the United Nations "International Year of Microcredit" to create awareness and help people in poverty all over the world.
- Appointed as the ambassador of Audemars Piguet.
- Awarded "Best International Artist" at 2006 Indonesian Music Awards.
[edit] Covers
Anggun's songs that have been covered by other artists include:
- Céline Dion covered "Tu Nages" on her French album "1 fille & 4 types"
- Sarah Brightman covered Anggun's "Snow on the Sahara" as a bonus track on her album "Live from Las Vegas."
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
Indonesian Albums:
- Dunia Aku Punya (1986)
- Anak Putih Abu-Abu (1991)
- Nocturno (1992)
- Anggun C. Sasmi... Lah!!!(1993)
- Yang Hilang (1994)
- Best-Of (2006)+
Albums for French Europe:
- Au Nom De La Lune (1997) (#34 France)
- Desirs Contraires (2000) (#48 France)
- Luminescence (2005)* (#16 France, #91 Switzerland)
Albums :
- Anggun (1997, Japan)
- Snow on the Sahara (1998, International--except for Indonesia and Malaysia, titled Anggun) (#1 Indonesia; #3 Malaysia; #7 Italy)
- Snow on the Sahara (1998, US-only) (#23 Billboard Heatseekers Chart US)
- Chrysalis (2000) (#1 Indonesia; #10 Italy; #60 Switzerland)
- Open Hearts: Original Soundtrack (2002) (from the Danish movie Open Hearts)
- Luminescence (2005)* (#1 Indonesia)
- Best-Of (2006)+
- *Both versions share the same title and were later re-released as Special Editons, with new tracks.
- +The album is an Indonesian-only release with a collection of her past hits from her Indonesian albums as well her English albums.
[edit] Singles
French Singles:
- La Neige au Sahara (1997) (#16 France)
- La Rose des Vents (1997) (#49 France)
- Au Nom de La Lune (1997) (#60 France)
- La Ligne des Sens (1997)
- Un Geste D'Amour (2000) (#62 France)
- Derriere La Porte (2000)
- Être Une Femme (2004) (#16 France, #58 Switzerland)
- Cesse la pluie (2005) (#22 France, #65 Switzerland)
- Juste Avant Toi (2006) (#28 France)
- Garde-Moi (2007)
International Singles:
- Snow on the Sahara (1997/1998) (#1 Indonesia Airplay Chart; #1 Italy; #20 Finland; #24 Switzerland; #55 Germany; #2 Asia United Chart; #16 Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart US; #22 Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart US)
- A Rose in the Wind (1998) (#17 Italy)
- Kembali (Indonesia and Malaysia Only) (1998) (#1 Indonesia Airplay Chart)
- Dream of Me (Japan Only) (1998)
- Life On Mars (US Promotional Single Only) (1998)
- Still Reminds Me (2000) (#1 Indonesia Airplay Chart; #1 Asian United Chart; #17 Italy)
- Chrysalis (2000) (#39 Italy)
- Tears of Sorrow (Non-commercial single) (2001)
- Yang Aku Tunggu (Indonesia and Malaysia Only) (2001) (#1 Indonesia Airplay Chart)
- Counting Down (Radio only) (2002) (#6 Indonesia Airplay Chart)
- Open Your Heart (2002)
- Summer in Paris with DJ Cam (2002)
- Deep Blue Sea with Deep Forest (2002)
- Undress Me (Radio only) (2005) (#6 Indonesia Airplay Chart; #13 Italy; #1 Turkey)
- In Your Mind (2005) (#1 Indonesia Airplay Chart - 4 weeks,#13 Bulgaria)
- Saviour (2005) (#35 Italy)
- Mantra (Indonesia Only) (2005)
- I'll Be Alright (2006) (#1 Indonesia Airplay Chart)
- A Crime (2006) (#2 Indonesia Airplay Chart)
- Mimpi (New Version) (Indonesia Only) (2007) (#1 Indonesia Airplay Chart - 4 weeks)
[edit] Music Videos
- Sang Penari
- Snow on the Sahara
- La Neige au Sahara
- A Rose in the Wind
- La Rose des Vents
- Au Nom de la Lune
- Still Reminds Me--222.124.53.42 11:01, 4 April 2007 (UTC)
- Derrière la Porte
- Un Geste d'Amour
- Chrysalis
- L'amore Immaginato Duet with Piero Pelù
- Deep Blue Sea with Deep Forest
- Être Une Femme
- Cesse la Pluie
- Savior
- Juste Avant Toi
- I'll be Alright
- Summer in Paris with DJ Cam
- Qui Sait? with Peter Gabriel, Patrick Bruel, Lââm, Stephan Eicher, Faudel, Lokua Kanza, Youssou N'Dour, Axelle Red, Zucchero
