Angèle Joséphine Aimée van Laeken (French: [ɑ̃ʒɛl vɑ̃ lakɛn], Flemish: [ɑ̃ːˈʑɛːlə vɑn ˈlaːkə(n)]; born 3 December 1995), known mononymously as Angèle, is a Belgian singer and songwriter. She was one of 2018's biggest breakout acts in French and Belgian pop music,[1] breaking Stromae's record for weeks at the top of the Belgian singles charts with her 2018 single "Tout oublier" which features her brother, Roméo Elvis.[2]

Angèle
Angèle in June 2022
Born
Angèle Joséphine Aimée van Laeken

(1995-12-03) 3 December 1995 (age 29)
Uccle, Belgium
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • producer
  • actress
  • model
Parents
RelativesRoméo Elvis (brother)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2015–present
LabelsInitial Artist Services

Early life

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Van Laeken was born on 3 December 1995, in Uccle, Brussels-Capital Region, the daughter of singer Marka and actress Laurence Bibot [fr]. Her brother is the rapper Roméo Elvis.

Her father encouraged her from an early age to learn the piano, which inspired her musical career.[3]

Angèle spent a difficult adolescence in a strict Catholic school before attending the Decroly School. The artistic options at this high school helped develop her musical skills.[4] She then enrolled in the Jazz Studio Antwerp for a jazz education before joining her father's band.[5]

Career

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2015–2017: Career beginnings

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Angèle gave her first performances in streets around Brussels, most notably at the restaurant Le Delecta, in Ixelles, now closed.[citation needed]

She was first noticed for her cover of Dick Annegarn, "Bruxelles",[6] and on Instagram videos where she mixed singing and comedy. In 2017, she was the support act for Ibeyi and the Belgian rapper Damso, whom she also accompanied in his album Lithopédion.

Her first single, "La Loi de Murphy", was released in late 2017 and received millions of views on YouTube.

2018–2020: Brol

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Angèle at the 2018 Vieilles Charrues Festival

A second single "Je veux tes yeux"[7] was released in early 2018. The two video clips were directed by the Belgian photographer Charlotte Abramow.[8]

In May 2018, she performed her first Parisian concert at the Trianon accompanied by MC Solaar on her cover of his song "Victime de la mode". She performed in several summer festivals[9] in Belgium, France and Switzerland such as Les Ardentes, Dour,[10] Garorock, and Rock Werchter.[11] In 2018, Angèle released her third single, "La Thune".[12]

In August 2018, she announced the tracklist of her first album Brol on the Initial label.[1] The album was released on 5 October 2018, the same day as her single duet with her brother, Roméo Elvis. This album was successful and resulted in Angèle invitation to perform on various French TV shows. The single, "Tout oublier", spent nine weeks at number 1 on the Ultratop charts, breaking the record for a Belgian artist formerly set by Stromae.[2]

 
Angèle at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival

In 2019, Angèle became one of the most sought for artists in France and Belgium and affirmed her feminism with the song "Balance ton quoi" in reference to the French #metoo movement, Balance ton porc. Pierre Niney makes an appearance in the video alongside some of Angèle's friends to talk about struggles her female friends have encountered with men. Angèle became an ambassador for Chanel afterwards.[13]

In April 2020, Angèle performed for One World: Together At Home, a global broadcast and digital special to support front-line healthcare workers and the WHO during the COVID-19 pandemic, hosted by Lady Gaga.

In October 2020, Angèle was pictured alongside London singer Dua Lipa on the set of a music video. A collaboration with the latter was later announced and would feature on the reissue of Lipa's new album Future Nostalgia. "Fever" was released on 30 October 2020. The music video was released a week later on 6 November 2020 on YouTube. Before the release of the video, Lipa announced on social media that Angèle will be appearing as a special guest on her live stream concert Studio 2054 on 27 November 2020.[14]

2021–2024: Nonante-Cinq

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In 2021 Angèle made her film debut in Annette, directed by Leos Carax. Her second studio album, Nonante-Cinq was released on 3 December 2021, her 26th birthday.

In 2022, Angèle featured in "Sunflower" from Tamino Amir's sophomore album, Sahar.

2024 Paris Olympics

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In 2024, Angèle performed "Nightcall" alongside Kavinsky and Phoenix as part of the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.[15] As a result, Nightcall became the most searched-for song in a single day and in a single minute on the musical search site Shazam.[16]

Musical influences

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Angèle is a fan of Ella Fitzgerald and Hélène Ségara.[17] She is inspired by many musical genres from French songs to electronic music and rap, which she disliked as a teenager. She became influenced by rap, particularly while performing with her brother Romeo Elvis and the rappers Caballero and JeanJass.[18]

Personal life

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From 2017 to 2019, she dated French dancer and choreographer Léo Walk. She wrote the song "Perdus" which is about the end of their relationship, linked to her new notoriety.[19]

In August 2020, Angèle announced on Instagram that she was dating French actor Marie Papillon, while coming out.[20][21] They separated the following year. Photos of them were previously published by French tabloid Public in 2019, then discussed in the talk show Touche pas à mon poste !, without Angèle’s consent and outing her.[22] In her 2021 self-titled Netflix documentary, Angèle confirmed her bisexuality. Later, in May 2023, Angèle came out as pansexual. In an interview with the French talk show France 2, she said that "[she] can fall in love with a boy, a girl, a non-binary person, or a transgender person." She added that "the feeling of love, having butterflies in your stomach, whether with a girl or a boy, is the same for [her]."[22]

Tours

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Angèle in 2022

Headlining

Opening act

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
BEL
(WA)

[23]
BEL
(FL)

[24]
FRA
[25]
SWI
[26]
Brol
  • Released: 5 October 2018
    • Re-released: 8 November 2019 (Brol La Suite)
  • Label: Angèle VL, Initial Artist
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming, box set
1 1 1 7
Nonante-Cinq
  • Released: 3 December 2021
  • Label: Angèle VL, Initial Artist
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
1 3 2 6
  • BEA: 2× Platinum[29]
  • SNEP: 3× Platinum[28]

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, certifications and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
BEL
(WA)

[23]
BEL
(FL)

[24]
CAN
[30]
FRA
[25]
GER
[31]
IRL
[32]
POR
[33]
SWI
[26]
UK
[34]
WW
[35]
"La Loi de Murphy" 2017 5 22 42 Brol
"Je veux tes yeux" 2018 16 25 60
"La Thune" 9 39 15
"Jalousie" 12 26
"Tout oublier"
(featuring Roméo Elvis)
1 6 1 55
"Balance ton quoi" 2019 1 13 2 33
"Flou" 2 20 34
"Perdus" 10 65 8 58 Brol La Suite
"Oui ou non" 2 9 3 11
"Ta reine" 2020 25 16 Brol
"Fever"
(with Dua Lipa)[note 1]
1 1 49 1 85 36 104 9 79 69 Future Nostalgia
"Bruxelles je t'aime" 2021 1 3 8 50 Nonante-Cinq
"Démons"
(featuring Damso)
2 5 31
"Libre"[42] 2022 3 19 31 85
"Amour, haine et danger"[note 2][43] 8 45 82
"Évidemment"
(with Orelsan)
10 4 65 Civilisation
"Le temps fera les choses" 2023 30 188 Nonante-Cinq
"Plus de sens" 17 50
"Nightcall"
(with Kavinsky and Phoenix)
2024 15 32 3
[45]
Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that country.

Notes

  1. ^ Angèle is credited as a featured artist on the Austrian, German and Swiss release of "Fever".[40]
  2. ^ "Amour, haine et danger" is included on the re-issue of the digital version of Nonante Cinq.
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List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released, certifications and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
BEL
(WA)

[23]
FRA
[25]
ITA
[46]
"J'ai vu"
(Roméo Elvis x Le Motel featuring Angèle)
2017 79 164 Morale 2
"S'en aller"
(Swing featuring Angèle)
2020 156 Alt F4
"Sempre / Jamais"
(Mahmood featuring Angèle)
2024 12 167 85 Nei letti degli altri
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that country.

Other charted songs

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List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released, certifications and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[25]
SWI
[26]
"Silence"
(Damso featuring Angèle)
2018 3 48 Lithopédion
"Nombreux" 40 Brol
"Victime des réseaux" 58
"Les matins" 50
"Flemme" 63
"Insomnies" 2019 28 Brol La Suite
"Tu me regardes" 20
"J'entends" 31
"Que du love"
(featuring Kiddy Smile)
45
"On s'habitue" 2021 46 Nonante-Cinq
"Solo" 40
"Pensées positives" 53
"Taxi" 41
"Tempête" 49
"Profite" 61
"Mots justes" 76
"Mauvais rêves" 66
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that country.

Filmography

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Film

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Key
Denotes productions that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2019 Toy Story 4 Gabby Gabby (Voice) French dubbing
2021 Annette Six Accuser's member
Space Jam: A New Legacy Lola Bunny (Voice) French dubbing
Angèle Herself Documentary
2023 Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom Panacea (Falbala)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 La Flamme Anna 2 episodes
2021 Marie et les Choses Barmaid 1 episode

Awards and nominations

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Red Bull Elektropedia Awards

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Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2018 Artist of the year Herself Won [47]
Best Song Won [47]
Breakthrough Artist/ Producer Won [47]
Best Video "La loi de Murphy" & "Je veux tes yeux" Won [47]

D6bels Music Awards

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The D6bels Music Awards is a musical event organized by RTBF, a public radio and television service of the French Community of Belgium.

Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2018 Album of the year "Brol" Won [47]
Female solo artist Herself Won [47]
Chanson française Won [47]
Concert Nominated [48]
Musician Nominated [48]
Author/composer Nominated [48]
Videoclip "La thune" Nominated [48]
Hit "La loi de Murphy" Nominated [48]

MTV Europe Music Awards

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Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2018 Best Belgian Act Herself Nominated [49]
2020 Won [50]

Music Industry Awards

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The MIA's, in full Music Industry Awards, are Flemish music prizes that are awarded by the VRT in collaboration with Music Centre Flanders.

Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2018 Album "Brol" Nominated [51]
Artwork Won [52]
Author/composer Herself Nominated [51]
Breakthrough Won [52]
Female solo Won [52]
Pop Nominated [51]
Videoclip "La loi de Murphy" Nominated [51]
2019 Song of the year "Tout oublier" Won
Female solo Herself Won [52]
Pop Won
Live Act Won
Videoclip "Balance ton quoi" Won
2022 Hit of the Year 2020 "Oui ou non" Nominated [53]
Hit of the Year 2021 "Fever" (with Dua Lipa) Won [54]
Female solo Herself Won [citation needed]
Pop Won
Author/componist Nominated
Videoclip "Bruxelles je t'aime" Nominated
2024 Videoclip "Sunflower" (with Tamino) Won [55]

Victoires de la Musique

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Victoires de la Musique is an annual French award ceremony where the Victoire accolade is delivered by the French Ministry of Culture to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry that recognizes the best musical artists of the year. The awards are the French equivalent to the Grammy Awards and the Brit Awards for music, and it is one of the major awards in France.

Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2019 Album revelation "Brol" Won [56][57]
Audiovisual creation "Tout oublier" Won [56][57]
2020 Female artist Herself Nominated [58]
Concert "Brol Tour" Won [58]
Audiovisual creation "Balance ton quoi" Nominated [58]

NRJ Music Awards

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Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2019 Best French duo Angèle & Roméo Elvis Nominated (2nd place) [59]
Best French female Herself Won [59]
Best French song Tout oublier Won [59]
Best Music Video Nominated (2nd place) [59]

UK Music Video Awards

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Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2021 Best Color Grading in a Video "Fever" (with Dua Lipa) Nominated [60]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Angèle : la jeune chanteuse belge est la sensation musicale du moment". RTL. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Angèle détrône Stromae". La Libre Belgique. 18 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Angèle : l'interview "première fois" | JACK". 3 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Angèle, ou comment cesser d'être "la soeur de" Romeo Elvis". Greenroom. 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  5. ^ Bonne, Laura (21 March 2018). "Angèle klaar voor grote doorbraak". De Tijd. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  6. ^ "En une seule chanson, la jeune Angèle est déjà pressentie comme le phénomène de l'année 2018". France Inter. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Angèle – Je veux tes yeux [CLIP OFFICIEL]". 31 January 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "La photographe Charlotte Abramow nous parle d'Angèle, de féminisme et de spaghettis". Les Inrockuptibles. Retrieved 20 September 2018.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "On y était : Angèle, la révélation pop, charme son public parisien au Trianon". France Info. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Dour Festival". Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Rock Werchter 2018". Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Angèle se dépense sur La Thune". Moustique. 22 June 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Angèle Is The New Face of Chanel's 2021 Eye Makeup Campaign". V Magazine. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  14. ^ Dua Lipa [@DUALIPA] (5 November 2020). "I'm so excited to announce @angele_vl as the first of many special guests joining me for Studio 2054! FEVER VIDEO OUT TOMORROW UK: 1PM FR: 2PM // Get ur tickets now!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Et soudain, dans une combinaison façon Catwoman, Angèle envoûte la cérémonie de clôture des Jeux de Paris". Madame Figaro (in French). 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  16. ^ "French song 'Nightcall' by Kavinsky breaks two world records after Paris Olympics closing ceremony". 14 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Angèle, l'onde pop venue du plat pays". 20 Minutes. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Angèle, la sœur de Roméo Elvis, nous parle de "J'ai vu", leur featuring familial". Konbini. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Angèle séparée de Léo Walk : elle ne regrette pas d'avoir exposé leur couple". Pure People. 3 January 2020.
  20. ^ "La chanteuse Angèle officialise son couple avec Marie Papillon". 20 minutes. 10 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Angèle fait son coming out sur Instagram". Têtu. 10 August 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Angèle revient sur son coming out "volé" par Hanouna dans son documentaire Netflix". HuffPost. 11 November 2021.
  23. ^ a b c "Angèle Van Laeken". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Angèle Van Laeken". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  25. ^ a b c d "Discographie Angèle". Lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  26. ^ a b c "Angèle". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  27. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "French certifications – Angèle" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  29. ^ Hung Medien. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2022". Ultratop. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  30. ^ Peak chart positions on the Canadian Hot 100:
  31. ^ "Discographie von Angèle" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Discography Angèle". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  33. ^ "portuguesecharts.com - Discography Angèle". portuguesecharts.com. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  34. ^ Peak chart positions on the UK Singles Chart:
  35. ^ "Angèle Chart History: Billboard Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  36. ^ a b c d "ultratop.be – ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  37. ^ a b "ultratop.be – ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Ultratop. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  38. ^ "Angèle – Balance ton quoi – ultratop.be". Ultratop.
  39. ^ a b "ultratop.be – ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". Ultratop. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  40. ^ Citations regarding the Austrian, German and Swiss release of "Fever":
  41. ^ a b c "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2022". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  42. ^ Mier, Tomás (26 April 2022). "Belgian Superstar Angèle Gains Powers (and Freedom) From a Magical Pizza Slice in 'Libre' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  43. ^ de Meersman, Manon (24 September 2022). "Angèle s'apprête à sortir un nouveau single". Flair.be (in French). Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  44. ^ "Goud en platina — Singles 2023". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  45. ^ "Top Singles (Week 39, 2024)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Discographie Angèle (Singles)". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g "D6bels Music Awards: Angèle récompensée trois fois, Mustii repart bredouille" (in French). 25 January 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  48. ^ a b c d e "La tornade Angèle aux nominations des D6bels Music Awards" (in French). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  49. ^ "Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike zijn MTV Best Belgian Act 2018!" (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 November 2020.[permanent dead link]
  50. ^ "Angèle is MTV Best Belgian Act 2020" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  51. ^ a b c d "De MIA's – Music Industry Awards – De Genomineerden" (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  52. ^ a b c d "Dit zijn de winnaars van de MIA's 2018!" (in Dutch). 7 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  53. ^ "Kroont Angèle zich opnieuw tot koningin van de MIA's, met 6 nominaties? Ontdek hier alle genomineerden" (in Dutch). 1 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  54. ^ "Angèle, Metejoor win big at Music Industry Awards". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  55. ^ "Pommelien Thijs grote winnaar van MIA's 2023 met 5 awards".
  56. ^ a b "Victoires de la Musique 2019 : Les nominés sont..." (in French). 23 January 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  57. ^ a b "34e Victoires de la musique : Jeanne Added et Bigflo & Oli sacrés artistes de l'année" (in French). 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  58. ^ a b c "Victoires de la Musique 2020 : Les nominés sont..." (in French). 13 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  59. ^ a b c d "NRJ Music Awards 2019 : Angèle et Roméo Elvis dominent les nominations". 30 September 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  60. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2021 nominations revealed". shots.net. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
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