He is undeniable in the hearts of the French. Jean-Jacques Goldman was elected again, for the fourteenth timefavorite personality of the French in 2024, according to the Ifop ranking published in the JDD. Omar Sy and Teddy Riner complete the podium.
Goldman's reign therefore continues as the singer hasn't released an album in over twenty years. The last one dates from 2001 and his last concert was in 2004 at the Francofolies in La Rochelle before his retirement announced in 2016.
In the shadows, Jean-Jacques Goldman continues to shine through his pen from which he makes the voices of others benefit. He also wrote a song for a teacher for a school fair, or even a show The Goldman Legacy. His discography continues to live on since his titles resonate on average 80 times a day on the radio. His discretion over two decades is astonishing in the industry and humble after 30 million albums sold, but it is perhaps this secret and hidden life that pleases the French so much.
“He wrote the playlist of our lives”
The singer confided to RTL, twenty years ago, that he no longer felt in the game: “I know when I make a song that I like, but I don't know at all if it will please the media or not . Before I lived with Sardou, with Johnny, Renaud or Francis Cabrel…. Now, when we're on the radio, we live with Kyo, Carla Bruni, or with rappers. It's very difficult and then, I'm almost 52 years old, that's a big impact.” Despite everything, his popularity is intact after almost twenty years of silence, there is even talk of the “Goldman mystery”.
The historian Ivan Jablonka devoted a book to the singer soberly entitled Goldman. For him, his notoriety is based on his own reputation and fans who are as loyal as ever: “There is the unity of a man, of an artist, of a work, of ethics, and also of a commitment . He is an artist who wrote the playlist of our lives. His songs accompany each and every person step by step. There are Goldman songs that are played at many people's funerals because he follows us until the end, and the same in moments of happiness. He is everywhere yet invisible.”
Songs for Celine Dion in 2025?
Goldman, elected favorite personality of the French, this was already the case ten years ago, and he reacted to the microphone of RTL: “I don't know if the French like famous people very much. People's love spheres are especially around of them, they love their family and their friends, that's still a step below. It makes me really happy because I don't do much to make people like meit's touching.” The singer is reportedly writing a few songs for Céline Dion, even if nothing is certain. All it takes is a sign.
Note that several personalities from the M6/RTL group are part of the ranking, including Karine Le Marchand, in fifteenth place, who is the third woman in the ranking. In the Top 50, Cyril Lignac, Philippe Etchebest and Faustine Bollaert were also acclaimed.
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