Jean-Louis Murat, whose real name is Jean-Louis Bergheaud, was a French singer-songwriter who really started his artistic career by forming the group “Clara”. Group he founded with some friends from Clermont-Ferrand.
The group will meet on their way a certain… William Sheller. Who takes them at first to ensure several of his first parts. Then as musicians in a second.
The group eventually split up and Sheller then offers Murat the opportunity to record a first 45 RPM which will be titled "Suicidez-vous le peuple est mort". We are then in 1981 and the singer is then 27 years old.
Unfortunately, the title is censored by the radios which find it too dark and can have a bad impact on the youth. It's a fail.
New attempt a year later in 1982 with a mini album and another failure. Ditto for the album "Passions privées" which was released in 1984.
It will take him three years and the year 1987 to see his efforts finally rewarded with the title "Si je devais manquer de toi". This time, the success is indeed at the rendezvous. The artist’s rating is soaring.
Success was confirmed two later in 1989 with the album "Cheyenne autumn" carried in part by the title "Te garder près de moi".
But it was with a woman that he would experience his greatest success. A magical duo recorded in 1991 with a certain… Mylène Farmer. The dark and magnificent Single "Regrets" will sell more than 300,000 copies and explode the notoriety of the singer.
In the process, he released his album "Le manteau de pluie" which inevitably benefits from the fallout from this notoriety at its zenith. The Singles “Col de la Croix-Morand” and “Sentiment nouveau” were a great success.
Notoriety which unfortunately will decline slowly but surely over the years. The opuses that will be released subsequently will no longer find the same echo among the public as in previous years. An audience disconcerted by the singer's increasingly obscure and tormented personality and a musical orientation more and more out of step with his time.
Astonishing artist who will leave us on May 25, 2023 at the age of 71.
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others ...) :
80s Decade :
Suicidez vous le peuple est mort 1981
Murat 1982
Les hanches de daim 1982
L'étrangère 1983
Pourquoi n'as tu pas dis je t'aime 1984
Johnny Frenchman 1984
Si je devais manquer de toi 1987
On n'attend que ça 1987
Le garçon qui maudit les filles 1988
So sorry, Petra Marendossa 1988
L'ange déchu 1989
Paradis perdu 1989
Amours débutants 1989
90s Decade :
Te garder près de moi 1990
Le berger de Chamablanc 1991
Col de la Croix Morand 1991
Regrets 1991
Sentiment nouveau 1992
Maitresse 1992
Cours dire aux hommes faibles 1992
Qu'est-ce que tu voulais ? 1992
Le lien défait 1993
Tout est dit 1993
En amour 1993
Le matelot 1994
Par mégarde 1994
J'ai pas sommeil 1994
Le monde carressant 1995
Fort Alamo 1996
Bénito 1996
Le train bleu 1996
A quoi tu rêves 1997
Jim 1999
Au Mont Sans Souci 1999
Oiseau de paradis 1999
2000s Decade :
L'amour qui passe 2002
L'au-delà 2002
Foule romaine 2002
Le cri du papillon 2003
La maladie d'amour 2003
Zibeline tang 2003
Mashpotétisés 2004
Mirabelle Mirabeau 2004
Le temps qu'il ferait 2004
La fille du Capitaine 2005
Ce que tu désires 2005
Buddy 2005
Caillou 2006
Taormina 2006
Au-dedans de moi 2006
Sépulture 2007
L'examen de minuit 2007
A une mendiante rousse 2007
Tel est pris 2008
L'amour en fuite 2008
Mousse noire 2008
Lady of Orcival 2009
Taïga 2009
Chanter est ma façon d'errer 2009
2010s Decade :
Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire 2011
Sans pitié pour le cheval 2011
Rémi est mort ainsi 2011
Il neige 2013
Over and over 2013
Belle 2013
J'ai fréquenté la beauté 2014
Dans la direction du Crest 2014
Tout m'attire 2014
French lynx 2016
La chanson du cavalier 2016
Morituri 2016
Travaux sur la N89 2017
Dis le le 2017
Garçon 2017
Hold up 2018
La treizième porte 2018
Je me souviens 2018
2020s Decade :
Si je m'attendais 2020
Ca c'est fait 2020
Reason why 2020
L'arc en ciel 2021
Que dois-je penser 2021
Nana (Je vois ton ombre) 2021
Chacun sa façon 2021
Tracks :
1981 ... the first steps of an alien who will become one of the biggest musical UFOs of the 1980s on the french side...
1982...a first opus which shows obvious potential but where certain titles also border on caricature. There is still work to be done in depth, that's clear...
1982...afterwards, you have to start well one day and nothing is perfect from the start. We'll give time to time as it should...
1983... the rise in power is slow but certain. It now remains to produce THE title that will finally be able to bring him from shadow to light...
1984 ... the sound evolves with this new opus but there is still a long way to go before he can hope to fight on equal terms with the competition ...
1984... there will be no take-off in this year 1984 but it could be that the sequel changes the situation somewhat. And in a good way !
1987...after the production of several titles without a future, the singer prefers to let a few years pass before returning to the front of the stage. A withdrawal for the less salutary which allows him to come back in force in this year 1987 and which especially allows him to sign here a HUGE title which literally explodes his notoriety. There is talent in this man there, it is clear !
1987... as much as the previous title will not go unnoticed, this one will not pass somewhat under the radar. Frankly a shame because it is far from undeserving...
1988...unfortunately, the singer cannot ride the wave of success as he should have. Then you have to give time to time as they say...
1988...given the quality of what he continues to offer, we can't imagine for a single second that he won't be able to produce at least another BIG title...
1989 ... few titles to chew on each year, but in this case, rarity means certain quality. Here he signs an excellent title which allows him to end the decade in style and above all to stay in the race...
1989...a musical universe which really clashes with the rest of the competition and which will always remain its main strength. As its main weakness paradoxically...
1989 ... a particularly inspired year 1989 which saw him release 3 very large caliber titles. At the best of its form and its art !
1990 ... we may change the decade, the quality remains. It is rather reassuring, you will tell me. Let's see more ...
1991... finesse and lightness are more and more appropriate and we can only rejoice. After alternating styles does not harm, he must not forget it...
1991... we switch more and more to the Intimist register. A musical orientation which undoubtedly made him one of the very best in this field at that time...
1991 ... the improbable duo which nevertheless will give birth to one of the most beautiful titles of the decade, even of the end of the XXth century. A WONDER, captivating wish and which dedicates 2 of the best artists of the moment. MAS-TER-FUL !
1992 ... a title that flows naturally, very simple but with a remarkable melody. First-rate Intimist dynamics !
1992...he really impresses with his mastery of the 'emotional' register at the very beginning of the 90s. Let's hope it lasts...
1992...and still in this unclassifiable, unique and very personal style. He has no equivalent in terms of competition at this time and he will not necessarily complain about it...
1992 ... we will have to face the facts, the 90s will not be as favorable to him as the 80s. But the adventure is well worth it to be pushed a little further...
1993 ... a decade of 90 incontestably and irremediably under the sign of the register 'With emotions'. We are far from the top of the Charts but each title is a real revelation !
1993 ... even if the tempo re-accelerates a little, we remain in the most perfect fluidity. A partly unknown discography which nevertheless conceals real treasures !
1993...this duo of shock and charm will not succeed as much as the previous one, but that in no way affects the intrinsic quality of the title, that's for sure...
1994 ... the sailor .... From Kersauson ... A physical resemblance to that most astonishing time. Surely unwanted but the parallel makes you smile ...
1994...it is clear that the gap with the competition increases year after year in terms of style and sound. Afterwards there is room for everyone as they say...
1994...here he is in soundtrack mode for the film 'J'ai pas sommeil'. A film that will not stay in history as a masterpiece, hence a soundtrack that will go unnoticed to say the least...
1995 ... a new ballad of great beauty, all in finesse. A title that floats in the air for our greatest pleasure necessarily...
1996 ... a career that takes place completely outside the standards of the time. A bias displayed and claimed. But there is a price to pay ...
1996...he pursues his career outside of any commercial consideration and success at all costs. One of the few who can afford it...
1996...a title which will not be released as a Single but which deserved to be. Light and airy, like the clip that illustrates it, everything to please what...
1997... here he is and gives us a more playful title and which contrasts especially with the previous productions. Nice flashback and especially a nod to the 80s...
1999...a 90s decade that saw him manage to stay afloat without too much worry. Certainly far from the first places of the podium but the adventure continues in any case...
1999... after now remains to know how he intends to approach the new decade 2000. Continuity or questioning, it is the future which will tell us...
1999... what is certain in any case is that he is still there while others who started at the same time as him have already disappeared...
2002... what is also certain is that he produced more albums during the 90s than during the 80s. Surprising...
2002...and it could be that the 2000s will be even more productive than the 90s. Will the quality follow, good question...
2002...the style and sound changed little at the beginning of the 2000s, it is clear. He will therefore do more in continuity than anything else...
2003...what really impresses is his ability to believe in it against all odds. He traces his path as he sees fit and no matter what we think of him...
2003...afterwards it is clear that staying off the beaten path does not help attract the general public. And even less the younger generations...
2003... what is also certain is that his base of fans remains stable since he hardly evolves on his musical fundamentals...
2004...it's still a real feat to manage to resist time and fashions. A bunch of other artists couldn't do it...
2004...not only does he resist, but what he continues to produce is far from devoid of interest. Here he is once again in duet mode of shock and charm, duets that he particularly likes...
2004... there it is downright an almost complete album of duets, duets which work my faith very well. Anyway, we'll be happy with that...
2005...a 2000 decade that will see him produce almost one album a year ! Record productivity for an artist who already has 2 decades of career behind him...
2005... not only is there an album every year but the titles that are part of it are of quality, which does not spoil anything, quite the contrary...
2005...it's the grassroots fans who are in heaven with such a level of productivity. Every year they are entitled to a new opus, what more could you ask for !
2006...he still doesn't stick to the latest standards of the moment, but he doesn't care. The important thing for him is to take pleasure in what he does and no matter the rest...
2006...an adventure that has lasted nearly 25 years and that is not ready to stop at first sight. In any case, he does not intend to stop there in any case...
2006...it's clear that as long as he has things to offer and especially things to sing about, there's no way he'll stop there...
2007...and one more album, one ! He decides to revisit Léo Ferré here while including texts by Charles Baudelaire, a astonishing mix...
2007 ... it is certain on the other hand that it is not with this kind of opus that he risks capturing the young generations. It is certainly fun but there is a price to pay in these cases...
2007... he pays homage through this opus to disappeared people of whom he is a fan but not easy to bring back into fashion in this decade 2000 these 2 disappeared men and with very clear personalities...
2008...a level of productivity that does not weaken and which allows him to continue to exist in a way that is impressive to say the least...
2008...every time we say to ourselves that this title may be the last and each time he returns faithful to the post. An exceptional longevity...
2008...especially since at first sight the adventure is far from over. He will go as far as he can and no matter if he succeeds or not...
2009...nine albums will be produced during this 2000 decade, who would have thought that possible ? Not many people, that's for sure...
2009...and still this level of inspiration which still manages to maintain itself at a surprising level to say the least. Hope it lasts...
2009...a pity that his rebellious and sometimes disturbing personality did not allow him to be as visible as he should have been to the general public...
2011... then was he really looking for recognition at all costs ? At the beginning maybe but surely not on the 2nd part of his career, that's for sure...
2011 ... anyway he begins his 4th decade of career here which is not nothing. Because he is still there and not necessarily all those who started at the same time as him...
2011... he will never have adhered to the unbridled system of show biz but he can at least look at himself in the class without owing anything to anyone...
2013...we feel that music for him is vital and that he will produce it until his last breath. Impressive philosophy of life...
2013... what is also certain is that he will have been present for 4 decades and in a very good way. Which is not the case for everyone, far from it...
2013... who could have imagined in any case when he started in 1981 that he would be able to last so long. Not many people, that's for sure...
2014... he will have produced 9 albums during the 2000 decade and he will produce no less than 6 during this new decade. A real feat...
2014...how did so many albums go under the radar so much ? A question whose answer lies in the totally atypical management of his career by the singer…
2014...he will have always lived on the fringes of the system and this positioning will have necessarily penalized him to the highest point in terms of promoting his albums...
2016...afterwards he will have perfectly assumed this bias from start to finish. A truly astonishing artist who will have sacrificed part of his career to remain free both in gestures and in thought...
2016...an artist whom we hope time will restore to its rightful place in contemporary musical history. It can not be otherwise...
2016...often more people are recognized as dead than alive. Let's hope this is the case for him, which would only be a fair reward for all of his work...
2017...he was not very visible to the general public because he hardly released any more Singles. But when you see the total number of albums produced, that makes it a bunch of potential Singles that should have been released...
2017...never really trendy, never really outdated, he will have succeeded in this extreme feat of never being fashionable while being so in his own way...
2017...very few artists who have had such a career can boast of this kind of prowess, that's for sure. Which further reinforces its truly atypical side...
2018...the last album of the decade. In the end, 3 albums during the 80s, 4 during the 90s, 9 during the 2000s and 6 during the 2010s. Who says better ?
2018...and as always it is the grassroots fans who rejoice at the height of its ability to last and produce. And who necessarily ask for more...
2018...now remains to be seen whether he intends to attempt the transition to the decade or take a well-deserved retirement ? Only him has the answer to this question...
2020...and here is precisely the answer : the adventure will indeed continue ! Here he begins his 5th decade of career with the firm intention of never giving up as always...
2020...are we back to a full decade of album production like the previous decades ? Good question again...
2020... it is above all his age that will condition the answer to this question. That the mental holds, it is a fact on the other hand remains to be seen what it is about the physical...
2021... for the moment in any case it holds! He continues to unroll quietly but surely and does not really ask existentialist questions about the sequence of events concerning him...
2021... each new title in any case is a victory over time and physical and moral wear. A beautiful life lesson as they say...
2021... the last opus but he doesn't necessarily know it yet. Or if he knows he must necessarily tell himself that given what he has managed to accomplish the job is done as they say !
2021... the end of an incredible adventure for an exceptional artist from all points of view and who will not have been able - or wanted - to find his place in the system as he should have. But who would blame him ?
Clips :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :
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