For months, Gims has been unbeatable in the top 10 most listened to songs in Belgium. With “Don’t be shy”, a track that is both catchy and personal, the singer enjoys one of the greatest successes of his career. A look back at the story behind this hit and the great comeback of an essential artist.
Released this summer, “Don’t be shy” has never left the Spotify top 10 in Belgium. An impressive performance for Maître Gims, who we now call Gims, who returns to the forefront with new hits.
In the song, Gims tells the story of a guy who walks on the Paris ring road, driving in a luxurious car and trying to impress a pretty passerby by going on a chase with his friends. But this story is not totally fictitious, since in real life, the pretty girl in question is his wife!
Since 2005, he has been married to a French woman of Malian origin, Adja-Damba Dante, nicknamed Demdem. The singer obviously draws his inspiration from their private life. And the title of the song, “Don’t be shy”, subtly refers to the discreet character of Demdem, rarely present in the media. However, it was she who gave the green light to the single…
Wearing a boubou, she arrived in the studio to listen to the track for the first time and she started dancing in front of everyone, something she had never done. It was at that moment that Gims said to himself that he had his next single. However, this song almost never saw the light of day, deemed “too personal” by Gims. Fortunately, his wife's enthusiasm overcame his doubts.
A big comeback for Gims
After a few lackluster years, Gims found his audience again. His last albums had less impact, far from explosive successes like “Sapés comme Jam”, which will soon celebrate its 10th anniversary. With “Don't be shy” and “Spider”, the artist returns to a popular formula: a mixture of rap and pop universes, capable of bringing together a large audience.
And the success doesn't stop at Spotify: Gims is preparing to ignite Forest National this weekend, November 23 and 24, with two highly anticipated concerts. Faced with demand, an additional date is already planned for February 20.
Gims singer Music
