Third album recorded after “ Fresh » (1998) et « Slaï » (2002), « Anthology », released in 2004 by Sony Music, is undoubtedly the album which made Slaï’s musical career take off by conquering the charts and hearts thanks to titles which have become great classics like “ Flame », « The Last Dance (Don’t Go Home Tonight) » « Tonight or never » or « After the storm “. An album which was crowned double gold disc and sold more than 250,000 copies, including 210,000 for the single “ Flame » and 120,000 for “ The last dance ».
Suffice it to say that “ Anthology » enjoyed a success that transcended the traditional boundaries of zouk and spread outside the Caribbean to reach more varied audiences. The richness of Caribbean sounds combined with the pop influences contained in this album have undoubtedly contributed to this achievement.
An accomplished artist who counts on the zouk scene
Slaï could have been intoxicated by this unexpected success and slept on his laurels, instead, the songwriter, performer and producer instead got back to work. While touring on stages in the Antilles-Guyana, the Indian Ocean, Africa and Canada, via Paris where he performed twice at La Cigale in 2005, he tried to confirm by releasing in 2008 ” Caribbean », son 4th album, including the lead single “ Private lessons » will be recorded at Columbia. An opus which will be nominated in the best albums in the category “world music » during “ Music Victories » 2009. The same year, he filled the legendary room of the “ Bataclan », in Paris.
In 2011, he put on his producer costume to sign the album “ Stopover » which includes in particular the titles “ It doesn’t suit me » et « If you hate me ». Slaï is now an accomplished artist who is on the zouk scene and who is regularly called upon for collaborations. Thus, in 2013, he participated in the multi-artist album “ Tropical Family » which will be certified platinum album.
Constant evolution
In 2014, he signed a new opus « Double six », son 6th album still in the zouk register, but with forays into electro and urban worlds, thus testifying to its constant evolution. After a beneficial recording break during which he continued to tour festivals, concerts, shows of all kinds on the stages of the Antilles-Guyana, France or the world (Africa, Canada, Belgium), he begins his return with the single “Our idyll » in 2022, then with the title “ In the veins » in September of the same year. But, it’s the single Get up » with more African sounds in 2023 which marks its real return to the recording landscape.
Today, 20 years later Anthology », his founding and emblematic album, decisive in his career, Slaï offers us a special reissue. An album enriched with a new version of “ Flame » in feat with Emma’a, a Gabonese singer from the new generation of the urban scene. This reissue includes a complete remastering of the original titles offering very good sound quality.
Furthermore, to celebrate this event, this twentieth anniversary, Slaï will be in concert on November 11 at La Cigale, in Paris. There is no doubt that the return of “ Flame » from this singer who left his mark on an entire generation with his unique style combining zouk, pop and Caribbean rhythms, will be welcomed with shared happiness.
E.B.
Slaï
20 years of Florilège
November 11, 2024
La Cigale -Paris
120 Boulevard Marguerite de Rochechouart
75018 Paris
Information: Tel: 01 49 25 89 99
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