For Slimane's admirers, the 35-year-old is first and foremost a voice and emotion. Maëlle, a 25-year-old student, is formal. “ I discovered Slimane with his song Paname. I was immediately hooked by his tone of voice, the emotion that emanates from it, everything that we feel there. It has a deep tone. We feel that he sings about things that he has surely experienced, and we can transpose them to stories of love and friendship. ».
Same observation for Pauline, a 34-year-old university professor. “ He has a voice of beauty that will make you cry! Many people sing well, but there is something about him that is overwhelming. Since his beginnings, he has also had a piercing look, a dark side that we also see with his rings and his tattoo. He is more complex than the artists that reality TV generally offers us “. Because Slimane made himself known by winning the fifth season of the French edition of The Voice, in 2016. A show followed by millions of spectators, who often become fans of their favorite artist.
The immediate success of his first album, At the end of dreams, attests to this. From the first week of its release, the record was ranked number 1 in album sales in France, Belgium and French-speaking Switzerland. A craze which, in retrospect, does not surprise Michèle, 65 years old. “He’s handsome, he’s nice, he sings well. Me, I am The Voice from the beginning. I love talent shows and this is the first time my favorite has won. So, obviously, I am! ». Slimane — currently on tour throughout France, he is also a great stage presence. “ I was shocked when I saw him on stage, his way of occupying the stage, I've never seen that! » tells us Anaïs, 37 years old.
A sincere artist close to people
Despite these exceptional artistic qualities, one of the keys to Slimane's success therefore also rests, paradoxically, on his “Mr. or Madam Everybody” side who faces trials and fragilities, without complaining about them. Victim of racism on the networks because of his North African origins, the artist deplores it, but does not respond to the hatred.
He is also a happy father of little Esmeralda whose premature birth forced her to stay two months in the neonatal hospital. Here again, Slimane attracts empathy. “ Poor guy, it touched me so much when I learned about his little girl! Slimane, he seems so nice! “, remembers Alyssa.
Finally, in the midst of controversy due to a recent complaint of sexual harassment filed against him by one of his former technicians, it was an upset Slimane who interpreted My love at the NRJ Music Awards, on November 1, 2024, before asking forgiveness from his audience, upset by these revelations.
In another register, Slimane does not display a perfect body. Even more, the artist, who admits to having weight problems since adolescence, advocates self-acceptance on his Instagram account. A plus for fans who are sometimes uncomfortable in their skin and who find in Slimane a star in their image.
It is also his origins that often bring him closer to his admirers. Coming from a modest Algerian family, Slimane grew up in a city in the Paris region. A childhood where, he explains, he knew from the age of five that you could die by stepping on a syringe. Far from denying his origins, the singer shows that we can get through it and find glory.
He is friends and collaborates with women
It may be a small detail for some, but for many fans it means a lot. Two years later The Voice France where he distinguished himself by his cover of the Vitaa song On the flower of youSlimane joins the members of the jury of the Belgian edition of the show. The singer is one of them. A great friendship is born. And a great artistic experience.
Vita invites him on her album J4M pour I give it to you. Its success led them to make an album together, reissued twice. On Versus (2019), including It goes, it comes which will earn both artists a Victoire de la Musique. This album will be awarded a double Diamond Disc. A success which can certainly be explained by the complicity and talent of the tandem, but also by their ability to surround themselves with other artists. Amel Bent, Gims, Camélia Jordana and Kendji Girac appear on this disc.
Will follow VersuS : Chapter II (2020) et VersuS : The Final Chapter (2021) and numerous concerts (including a memorable one at the Accor Arena in Paris). A collaboration that delights admirers of both. “ I really discovered Slimane thanks to Vitaa. I'm a fan of hers basicallyexplains Jade, 25 years old. I loved what they did together, honestly it was a change “. If the duo separated, they met again during Slimane's first solo concert at the Paris Arena—moved to tears, in March 2024.
From Eurovision to conquering the world
With My love, Slimane managed to give France a fourth place during the last edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. An unpredictable failure for her admirers, Maëlle tells us. “ I have friends from the Czech Republic who wrote to me to tell me that they were sure he was going to win! I believed it. And it hurt me because he could easily have been the first », she remembers with emotion.
Is it really a defeat? The day after his appearance at Eurovision, My love is listened to on Spotify more than 2 million times worldwide in just 24 hours, becoming the most streamed song in history. And suggests that Slimane seems well on his way to an international career if no legal case comes to prevent him.
Slimane Essentials (Capitol) 2024
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