Christophe Willem

Biography

Christophe Frédéric Durier (French pronunciation: [kʁistɔf fʁedeʁik dyʁje]; born 3 August 1983), better known by his stage name Christophe Willem (French: [kʁistɔf wilɛm]), is a French singer and the winner of the fourth edition of Nouvelle Star (French version of Pop Idol) in 2006.

Early life

Willem spent most of his life in Deuil-la-Barre (Val-d'Oise), where his parents run a driving school. As a child, he learned figure skating and to play the piano. Later he learned to sing as part of a gospel choir "Young Voices". He also was composing songs at the age of fourteen.
Before deciding to study to become a lawyer and calculus professor, he continued to practice music and in 2004 he appeared in a Richard Anconina film, Alive, where he played the role of Henri, a young man with a golden voice who is, nevertheless, not considered suitable for the lead role in a musical. Since his film career continued after this, he returned home, where he studied communication while working a number of part-time jobs, such as babysitting and helping in a theatre.

Nouvelle Star

Pushed by his family and friends, he decided to try out for the 2006 edition of Nouvelle Star. With an initial audition performance of Strong Enough by Des'ree, he surprised the judges, who did not expect such a quality voice from an admittedly ungainly-looking man. Nicknamed "La Tortue" (The Turtle) by Nouvelle Star judge Marianne James, he proved to be a popular contestant, and on 8 June, was crowned the fourth Nouvelle Star.

Performances

Top 24 : "Le jour s'est lève (Jean-Louis Aubert)
Top 22 : "Strong enough" (Des'ree)
Top 19 : "Être à la hauteur" (Le Roi Soleil/Emmanuel Moire)
Top 14 : "Sunny×Sunny7 July 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Sunny3:312Can You Feel It3:523Sunny (version acoustique)3:09" (Boney M)
Top 11 : "Où sont les femmes" (Patrick Juvet)
Top 10 : "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper)
Top 9 : "Ça plane pour moi" (Plastic Bertrand)
Top 8 : "I Am What I Am" (Gloria Gaynor)
Top 7 : "New York, New York" (Frank Sinatra)
Top 6 : "Goodbye Marylou" (Michel Polnareff), "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston)
Top 5 : "My Heart Will Go On" (Céline Dion), "Stayin' Alive" (Bee Gees)
Top 4 : "Memory" – (Barbra Streisand), "I Want You Back" (The Jackson Five)
Top 3 : "I'm Still Standing" (Elton John), "Pour ne pas vivre seul" (Dalida)
Top 2 : "Born to Be Alive" (Patrick Hernandez), "La chanson des vieux amants" (Jacques Brel), "Last Dance" (Donna Summer)
Top 1 : "Someone New" (Eskobar)

Career

His debut album Inventaire×Inventaire16 April 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Jacques a dit3:492Quelle chance4:153Élu produit de l'année3:164Double je3:185Chambre avec vue4:316Le Lycée3:227Intemporel3:598Safe text3:599Kiss the Bride3:5310Pourquoi tu t'en vas ?3:2611Demain3:1912La Tortue2:5313Bombe anatomique3:0714Double je (original)3:3915Jacques a dit (remix)3:56 was released on 16 April 2007, while the first single, Élu produit de l'année premiered in March.
In May 2007 he released the second single Double Je, which went directly on the #1 in France and Belgium. The third single, Jacques A Dit came out in autumn 2007. The album was well received and sold double platinum in France and gold in Belgium and Switzerland. So far, the album has sold over 1 million copies. Willem started his first tour on 15 November 2007 and it ended on 20 July 2008. He toured France, Belgium, Switzerland and the Overseas departments and territories of France, such as Réunion, Mauritius and even New Caledonia. He also sang several times in Paris at L'Olympia and Zenith, which are the most prestigious concert halls in Paris.
In 2007 Christophe Willem appeared on the list of the 10 musicians who earn the most in France (including income, record sales, concerts and contract). Christophe Willem was in 6th place and earned a total of 1.22 million euros in 2007.
He joined artists such as Tears for Fears, Lara Fabian, and Murray Head on the Night of the Proms tour 2007.
His second album, Caféine×Caféine25 May 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Ouverture0:392L'Homme en noir4:303Sensitized3:464Berlin3:135La Demande3:396Entre nous et le sol3:587Plus que tout3:448Coffee3:409Fragile3:2610Trash3:5711Tu te fous de nous4:3612Heartbox3:5313Yaourt et lavabo4:0514Si je tombais4:58, was published on 25 May 2009 and the album's first single was Berlin×Berlin20 March 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Berlin3:15. The second single was Plus Que Tout and the third Heartbox.
Caféine went immediately to #1 in France.
In 2010, he joined the jury of French version of X Factor.
His third album, entitled Prismophonic×Prismophonic21 November 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Starlite3:222Cool3:133L'amour me gagne4:134Si mes larmes tombent3:555Indélébile3:456Jamais dû3:327Ennemis in L.O.V.E.3:428Automatik3:499Pas si loin3:0810Je rejoins la scène3:4611Le Temps qu'il reste4:0312Falling5:26 was released a month and a day (21 November 2011) after the first single Cool (20 September 2011). The second single from the album is called Si Mes Larmes Tombent (January 2012)
In 2018, he served as one of the domestic judges for Destination Eurovision, the French national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. He will also join the French commentary team for the contest, teaming up with André Manoukian for the semifinals, as well Stéphane Bern and 2017 French representative Alma for the final.

Philanthropy

Willem is a member of the Les Enfoirés charity ensemble since 2008.

DVD

2008 : Fermeture pour rénovation (#1 in France and #1 in Belgium)