Corneille (singer)

Corneille
Corneille photo session, by Victor Diaz Lamich
Background information
Born	24 March 1977 (1977-03-24) (age 34) Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Origin	Rwanda
Genres	Soul, Rhythm and Blues
Website	http://www.corneillemusic.com/

Cornelius Nyungura (born 24 March 1977)^[1] is a singer who performs under the name Corneille. He was born in Germany to Rwandan parents, though he currently holds a Canadian passport and sings in French and English. His work is greatly influenced by American funk and soul music; among those he admires are Prince, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

Biography

Early life

Corneille was born in Freiburg, Germany where his parents were studying, though he spent most of his childhood in Rwanda. He discovered his passion for music in 1993, and so joined an R&B group, who won the Découverte 1993 competition. This also introduced him to songwriting and musical composition. However, his life changed after the genocide in 1994. His father, Émile Nyungura, was a leader of the political party (PSD); as a result, his parents and some of his relatives were killed in the Genocide. Corneille fled to Germany, where some of his parents' friends took him in.^[2]

Career

In July 1997, Corneille decided to leave Germany in order to pursue studies in communication, and moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada to attend Concordia University. During this time, he founded O.N.E., an R&B band, with Pierre Gage and Gardy Martin, whom he had met shortly after arriving in Quebec. Zoukin, one of the group's songs written by Corneille, rose to first place in Canadian airplay. Then, at the beginning of 2001, Corneille left the group, wishing to pursue a solo career. He began to center his songs on his past.

During 2002, Corneille worked on various projects. He wrote and composed the songs "Ce soir" for the Cocktail R&B 2 compilation (Ghetto R&B, Sony Music) and "Si seulement on s'aimait" for Hip Hop Folies (Sony Music). Invited by Dave Stewart, he performed at his first showcase at the Réservoir in Paris, and had the chance to sing with Jimmy Cliff. In January 2003, he was invited to perform the first part of Cunnie Williams at Olympia. His first public concert at Opus Club followed shortly thereafter.

Corneille's first album, the Canadian version of Parce qu'on vient de loin, was released on 10 September 2002. It was little known. The French version, which included numerous bonuses on the second disc, was released on 20 October 2003. It quickly became successful. To date, the album sold more than a million copies.

In April 2003, Corneille sang with Craig David, repeating a verse in French in the song Rise and Fall. He underwent his first tour during May 2003, receiving a full house in Paris, Marseilles, Lyon and Bordeaux. In March 2005, the singer participated in the concert Africa Live, which was organised to fight against (malaria) paludism. This is the first time that he has returned to his home continent since the genocide.

Les marchands de rêves, Corneille's second album, was released in November 2005.

Corneille is working with the Canadian Red Cross to raise awareness of children who are victims of war. He finished recording his first English-language album, The Birth Of Cornelius, which was released in July 2007. The first single is called "Back To Life".

Personal life

Corneille officially became a Canadian citizen on 8 November 2004.

He married Sofia de Medeiros (see External Link), his girlfriend of four years, on 9 September 2006 in a small and private ceremony by the lake at the Quintessence hotel, 130 km north of Montreal. She is a model and actress of Canadian and Portuguese parentage.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

• 2002: Parce qu'on vient de loin
• 2003: Parce qu'on vient de loin (édition deluxe) (two discs)
• 2005: Les marchands de rêves
• 2007: The Birth of Corneillius
• 2009: Sans titre
• 2011: Les inséparables

Live albums & DVDs

• 2005: Live (double album) - Also a DVD

Singles

• 2004: "Parce qu'on vient de loin"
• 2004: "Rêves de star"
• 2004: "Ensemble"
• 2004: "Avec classe"
• 2004: "Seul au monde"
• 2004: "Comme un fils"
• 2005: "Le bon Dieu est une femme"
• 2006: "Les marchands de rêves"
• 2011: "Co-Pilot" (French Version) with Kristina Maria
• 2011: "Le jour après la fin du monde"
• 2011: "Des pères, des hommes et des frères" feat. La Fouine

[1]

Awards

• NRJ Music Awards (le VIe)
  • Clip de l'année with Parce qu'on vient de loin (2005)
• MSSC Awards 2004

See also

• List of Francophone male singers
• Virginie Pouchain, who represented France at the Eurovision singing competition of 2006, where she finished in 22nd place on 24 with Il était temps, a song written by Corneille.

References

1. ^ "Official North American Corneille Website". http://www.corneille.ca. Retrieved 5 March 2009. 
2. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: Corneille". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p648209. Retrieved 4 May 2010. 

External links

• News and discussions on Corneille
• Corneille's official website
• Sofia de Medeiros official website
• (French) CorneilleZone Unofficial Fan Site
• (French) Corneille Online
• (French) Audio Interview
• (French) Red Cross Article – Corneille et des jeunes du secondaire mobilisent les élèves de l’école Le Carrefour en faveur des enfants victimes de conflits armés

Persondata
Name	Corneille
Alternative names	Nyungura, Cornelius
Short description	Singer
Date of birth	24 March 1977
Place of birth	Freiburg, Germany
Date of death
Place of death