Rose Laurens

Biography

Rose Laurens, previously billed as Rose Merryl (born Rose Podwojny; 4 March 1951 – 29 April 2018), was a French-Polish singer-songwriter, known for her 1982 single "Africa", a top-three hit in several European countries. She was also famous for portraying the character of Fantine, on the original 1980 French concept album of Les Misérables, singing "L'air de la misère" and "J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie" two songs later adapted into English as "On My Own" and "I Dreamed a Dream" respectively.

Albums

1972 : Sandrose with Jean-Pierre Alarcen's eponymous band, one of the first and best French progressive-rock albums
1980 : Les Misérables ("L'air de la misère", "J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie"...)
1982 : Déraisonnable
1983 : Vivre ("Mamy Yoko×Mamy Yoko1983 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Mamy Yoko3:172T'envole Pas Sans Moi3:20", "Zodiacale", "T'envole pas sans moi", "Esméralda", "Chasseur d'images"...)
1984 : Africa – Voodoo Master ("Magic and music", "Misunderstanding", "I Need to Give", "Living in Your Song"...)
1986 : Écris ta vie sur moi ("Quand tu pars×Quand tu pars1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAQuand tu pars (version courte)3:20BJe me jette a l'eau3:40", "La Nuit×La nuit1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1La Nuit3:152J'étais Au Rendez-vous3:40", "Je me jette à l'eau", "Profession reporter"...)
1990 : J'te prêterai jamais
1995 : Envie
2001 : L'ombre d'un géant
2015 : DNA

Compilations

1986 : Rose Laurens – Compilation ("Quand tu pars×Quand tu pars1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAQuand tu pars (version courte)3:20BJe me jette a l'eau3:40", "Africa", "Mamy Yoko×Mamy Yoko1983 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Mamy Yoko3:172T'envole Pas Sans Moi3:20", "Vivre×Vivre1983 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Vivre4:25A2Magique et musique5:00A3Les Stars du pouvoir3:40A4Esmeralda4:20A5Mamy Yoko3:30B1La Négresse blanche4:10B2T'envole pas sans moi3:40B3Zodiacale3:50B4Chasseur d'images4:30B5Une autre vie5:20", "Je me jette à l'eau", "Profession reporter"...)
1991 : 17 Grands Succès de Rose Laurens (Quebec)
1996 : "The Very Best of Rose Laurens" ("Partir", "La Négresse blanche", "Écris ta vie sur moi", "Le Cœur chagrin", "Africa"...)

Singles

1976 : "In Space" (under the name Rose Merryl)
1977 : "L'Après amour" (under the name Rose Merryl)
1978 : "Je suis à toi" (under the name Rose Merryl)
1979 : "Survivre×Survivre21 April 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Survivre3:132Ballade autour d’un café viennois2:12" (#45 in France)
1979 : "À deux"
1980 : "J'vous aime les oiseaux"
1980 : "L'Air de la misère"
1981 : "Pas facile×Pas facile21 April 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Pas facile3:502Artiste3:31"
1982 : "Africa" (#1 in France)
1983 : "Africa (Voodoo Master)×Africa (Voodoo Master)1982 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAfrica3:35BLe coeur chagrin3:45" (export) (#1 in Austria, No. 2 in Switzerland, No. 2 in Norway, No. 3 in West Germany)
1983 : "Mamy Yoko×Mamy Yoko1983 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Mamy Yoko3:172T'envole Pas Sans Moi3:20" (#10 in France)
1983 : "Mamy Yoko" (export) (#37 in West Germany)
1983 : "Vivre×Vivre1983 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Vivre4:25A2Magique et musique5:00A3Les Stars du pouvoir3:40A4Esmeralda4:20A5Mamy Yoko3:30B1La Négresse blanche4:10B2T'envole pas sans moi3:40B3Zodiacale3:50B4Chasseur d'images4:30B5Une autre vie5:20" (#18 in France)
1984 : "Danse moi×Danse moi1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Danse Moi3:252Kalimba4:10" (#66 in France)
1984 : "Night Sky×Night SkyApril 1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Night Sky3:402Zodiacale3:50" (export) (#12 in Sweden)
1985 : "Cheyenne×Cheyenne1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Cheyenne3:302Dis-moi3:40" (#75 in France)
1985 : "Quand tu pars×Quand tu pars1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAQuand tu pars (version courte)3:20BJe me jette a l'eau3:40" (written by Francis Cabrel, No. 41 in France)
1986 : "American Love×American Love24 January 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAmerican Love3:50BAmerican Love (instrumental)4:18" (export)
1986 : "La Nuit×La nuit1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1La Nuit3:152J'étais Au Rendez-vous3:40" (#53 in France)
1987 : "Où vont tous ceux qu'on aime×Où vont tous ceux qu'on aime1987 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAOù vont tous ceux qu'on aime3:50BTout pour lui3:05 ?"
1989 : "Africa – Mégamix 89"
1990 : "J'te prêterai jamais" (#96 in France)
1991 : "Il a les yeux d'un ange×Il a les yeux d'un angeSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Il a les yeux d'un ange4:312Il a les yeux d'un ange (version longue)6:40"
1994 : "Africa – Remix 94" (Germany)
1995 : "Nous c'est fou×Nous C'est Fou1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Nous C'est Fou4:272Jonathan S'en Va Ce Soir4:39"
2001 : "Pour aimer plus fort" (#40 in France)
2015 : "Si j'pars sur une île×Si J'Pars Sur Une île2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Si J'Pars Sur Une île2:58"

Collaborations

1994 : Yves Duteil – Entre Elles et Moi – Song "Écris ta vie sur moi" in duet with Yves Duteil
1995 : Gay Anthems – U.S. Compilation – Song "American love×American Love24 January 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAmerican Love3:50BAmerican Love (instrumental)4:18"