Faudel
Faudel
- Full name: Faudel Belloua
- Born: June 6, 1972 in Mantes-la-Jolie, France
- Occupation: Singer, songwriter, actor
- Genre: Raï, pop, world music
- Years active: 1990–present
- Labels: Barclay, Mercury Records, Universal Music France
- Notable awards: Victoires de la Musique Award for Best Male Artist (1998), NRJ Music Award for Best Male Francophone Artist (1999)
Faudel is a French singer, songwriter, and actor. He is best known for his raï music, a genre of Algerian folk music. Faudel has released eleven studio albums, and has sold over 10 million records worldwide. He has also won numerous awards, including a Victoires de la Musique Award for Best Male Artist in 1998.
Faudel was born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, to Algerian parents. He began singing at a young age, and was inspired by the music of Cheb Khaled and Rachid Taha. In 1990, Faudel released his debut album, "Baïda". The album was a success in France, and helped to popularize raï music in the country.
In 1992, Faudel released his second album, "Samra". The album was an even greater success than his debut, and helped to establish Faudel as a major star in France. Faudel continued to release successful albums throughout the 1990s, including "Mektoub" (1994), "1, 2, 3 Soleils" (1998), and "Si Tu Savais" (1999).
In the 2000s, Faudel began to experiment with different genres of music, including pop, reggae, and soul. He also began to act, appearing in several French films and television shows. In 2006, Faudel released his eighth studio album, "Un Autre Monde". The album was a commercial failure, and led to Faudel being dropped by his record label.
In 2009, Faudel released his ninth studio album, "L'Amour et la Vérité". The album was a more traditional raï album, and was a critical and commercial success. Faudel continued to release albums throughout the 2010s, including "Faudel" (2012), "Paroles" (2015), and "Allal N'Ga" (2018).
Faudel is a talented and versatile artist who has made a significant contribution to French music. He is one of the most popular raï singers in the world, and his music has been praised by critics for its beauty and authenticity.
