Julien Doré once again revisits his song culture

Ua hair barrette, the only motif on the cover of the new album, released this Friday. A favorite barrette that has remained famous since the artist's appearance on the “Nouvelle Star” telecrochet show, which he won in 2007. Offbeat covers, a tangy sugar pop universe: one of the most striking candidates at the head of a fifteen-year career years set with six albums selling 2 million copies and lush tours at Arena and Zénith armored.

Before moving on to new personal compositions, here he covers 23 songs sweeping across all registers of popular music, without distinction.

Why this album now?

A first flash at the fifteen years of this “New Star” who changed my life. For several years in my phone, bits of covers sketched out on the piano or ukulele. And the idea of ​​doing it again with the same instinct of the time. Seventeen years later, I'm having as much fun as when we voted for a name by SMS. Not a day when it's not all fun.

You already offered covers during your last tour…

“Aimée” and its tour sealed the decision: the album bore the name of my mothers and grandmothers, I spoke of transmission, with songs dedicated to a child whose arrival I did not even know yet. During the months that followed, I became a father, I lost my mother and grandmother.

Rather than mentioning them in a less modest way, I needed to know differently where I was. And to look back for the first time on what gave birth to me in the eyes of those who have come and will come to see me. While having fun.

Until Philippe Risoli’s “Cuitas les bananas” anyway…

Yes. It's a big gap in which I built myself. From a childhood where Risoli was on TV at my parents' house, where we listened to Dalida on the radio. I also grew up with an infinite love for Hélène Ségara, and it was a joy to have sung “Sarà perché ti amo” with her.

And then also record “A Happy Man”, one of the most beautiful French songs. And don't forget that at the Beaux-Arts, I listened to Jean-Louis Murat who was very important in my way of writing. So I recorded “The Fallen Angel”, one of the six bonus tracks on the vinyl versions (1). Six that I didn't want to leave out after choosing 23 songs from the hundred at the start!

Did you have a specific musical angle to work on these covers?

Trying in sobriety… And is there anything happening? On “All the women in my life” by L5, it’s an electric guitar, the voice and immediately this “Thelma and Louise” atmosphere, very cinematic. On Farmer's “Pourvu qu'elles sont éclairs”, it's this progression where I feel that, stripped down, this song could be a crescendo of a calm voice towards a shouted finale. We wanted warm sounds, a Rhodes or Wurlitzer piano, enveloping guitar sounds for a cocoon, a refuge.

Why a duet with Cabrel on “A Happy Man”?

He's the one who made me want to pick up my grandfather's guitar, who made me want to make music. Seeing him agree to go into the studio with me to sing someone else's song was a joy.

How did the one with Sharon Stone on “Paroles, Paroles” come about?

In 2008, I did a mini-concert at the Cannes Film Festival… to general indifference. Sharon Stone arrives, sees me at the piano and comes to sit in front of me. I told it later, she heard it, sent me a message on Instagram. And when I'm in the studio with the desire to reverse the sexes of the Dalida-Delon duo, I think of her. “I like the idea,” she replied. An incredible recording day in Berlin where she exhibited her paintings.

“Die on stage” and “Moi… Lolita” are the only two covers of your career at “New Star”: why them?

Two vocal challenges. Finding the same tone on Dalida's song where I screamed the last words an octave above the rest. I wanted to know if I still knew how to do it! “Me… Lolita” where there are a lot more harmonies with only strings, I did it in a single take like in “New Star”, from the crooner to the scream.

What would you say today to this young guy from 2007 who is applying for the show's casting?

In an era where people want us to believe that the impossible is everywhere, that every dream is abandoned in a second, our lives can still change in a second. That we must give ourselves this chance. By being myself, by covering the songs I wanted in the way I wanted, I won even though I should have been the most self-effacing of the candidates, the one who probably believed in it the least.

What show will you get from this album?

It's going to be crazy in terms of staging, I've been working on it for a year! Don't worry: there will be my songs that we sing together, from “Paris-Seychelles” to “Porto-Vecchio” and like on the last tour, covers at surprising moments.

Will the people of Cutback still be on video?

Always ! What a meeting with Greg [Grégory Lecourt, NDLR] and his comrades… Working with people who have the heart of a child is a pleasure. You entrust them with your craziest ideas and they make them come true. I'll let you imagine the madness that will further fuel this new show.

In concert on Friday May 23 and November 28, 2025 at the Arkéa Arena Bordeaux-Floirac (€27 to 60), Friday to October 17 at the Zénith de Pau (€27 to 65) and Saturday October 18 at the Patio de Boulazac (24) (37 to 75 €).
(1) Other bonuses: “All the boys and girls my age” (Françoise Hardy), “Who will know” (Mike Brant), “I promise you” (Johnny Hallyday), “She is from elsewhere” (Pierre Bachelet) and “Make a place for me” (Julien Clerc)

Golden in dates

July 7, 1982 Born in Alès (Gard) 2002 Creation of his first group Dig up Elvis (“Dig up Elvis”) 2006 Second group: The Jean d'Ormesson June 13, 2007 Wins the 5th edition of the “New Star” June 2008 First album “Ersatz” October 2013 “Løve”, his third album sells more than 400 000 copies. February 2015 Victoire de la musique (male artist) 2017 Appearances in seasons 2 and 3 of the series “Ten pour cent”. September 4, 2020 5th album “Aimée”