At the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes,
The temperature rises a notch on the floors of the Palais des Festivals. The boxes come alive and tempers heat up. We hear loud voices and applause. There are hugs. Slimane has just fallen into Vitaa’s arms. And their staff are in a trance. The singer, who will represent France at Eurovision next year, has just won the NRJ Music Award for “French-speaking male artist of the year”. A little earlier, his accomplice was already crowned in the other queen category of the ceremony, this Friday in Cannes. A full box.
A double blow for the former pair, hand in hand from 2018 to 2022 with the album Versus. A consecration for the one who had been revealed by her duo with Diam’s, Night confessions. And who has already had a long career. “I came here for the first time in 2007,” she recalled on stage, her voice troubled by emotion. And it was in 2007 that I met my audience, who supported me, who understood me straight away and who allow me to still be here sixteen years later.” Slimane, (only) has had a string of hits since 2016 and his victory at The Voice. Everyone celebrates their new trophy.
And ten for BigFlo & Oli, who never stop “enjoying”
Away for this Friday evening. They will not answer questions from journalists immediately, their record company said. Oli, without Big Flo, already gone to catch a plane, willingly goes along after several trips between the stage and the backstage of the Croisette convention center, his arms loaded with two golden statuettes. Two more. They already had eight.
The Toulouse brothers who fill the stadiums have once again won the prizes for “French-speaking group of the year” and best video. That of Last, filmed with a (nice) lineup of high-level athletes, hit the mark. “We gave Antoine Dupont a big kiss [le capitaine de l’équipe de France de rugby, occitan lui aussi] because he’s in it,” laughs Oli.
The duo, who think about each of their videos, are having a blast. In the time. “We have been lucky enough to be rewarded for several years. All this seemed far from our world, however, we, the two brothers from Toulouse, in front of our TV, says Olivio [son vrai prénom]. We went to the other side of the screen. And, today, we are still trying to realize how lucky we are to make a living from music with a market that is nonetheless special. The longer it lasts, the more you enjoy it.”
Santa in the air and the social media generation in the spotlight
Like the spectators of the ceremony, comfortably seated in the seats of the Grand Auditorium in Cannes. They were able to enjoy the three hours of the TF1 show in advance this year. The show, broadcast this Friday from 9:10 p.m. on the front page, was recorded “in live conditions” a little earlier in the afternoon. The option chosen for this 25th edition was to allow the production to avoid certain inconveniences in the current security context. No matter, the viewers will have seen nothing but fire.
The aerial number of Santa – the voice (Nice) of the group Hyphen Hyphen, put on Wednesday evening, the fiery performances of the Swedish Loreen and the Italians of Maneskin, the gentleness of Louane, on the piano for her Secretcrowned “French Song of the Year”, video messages from the international winners (big up to Diddy, Puff Daddy for the oldest, recipient of an honorary NRJ Music Award)… The ceremony, more focused than ever on Europe, “quite a few people having decided not to travel” in “this somewhat anxiety-provoking context”, as explained to 20 minutes the event coordinator, touched everything.
With a focus on this young generation of artists, increasingly driven by social networks. The NRJ Music Award for “French-speaking revelation of the year” went to the Swiss Nuit incolore, real name Théo Marclay, himself discovered on the platforms during confinement. Joseph Kamel, also in the running in this category, left empty-handed. 20 minutes found him on one of the terraces of the Palais des Festivals, getting some fresh air after his performance on The one who leaves. Even before the verdict, he predicted the victory of his Swiss colleague. Nothing serious. “Singing in this ceremony, being nominated, it’s already incredible,” he confided. See you next year ?
The entire list
French-speaking female artist of the year: Vitaa
International Female Artist of the Year: Dua Lipa
French-speaking male artist of the year: Slimane
International Male Artist of the Year: Ed Sheeran
French-speaking song of the year: Secret, Louane
International Song of the Year: Flowers, Miley Cyrus
French-speaking clip of the year: Last, BigFlo & Oli
International music video of the year: Flowers, Miley Cyrus
French-speaking collaboration of the year: Slimane & Claudio Capéo, Chez toi
International collaboration of the year: Rosalia & Rauw Alejandro, Beso
DJ of the year: David Guetta
French-speaking group/duo of the year: BigFlo & Oli
International Group/Duo of the Year: Imagine Dragons
Cover/Adaptation of the year: Barbie Girl (Tiësto remix), Aqua
French-speaking revelation of the year: Colorless Night
International revelation of the year: Loreen
Social hit: Makeba, Jain
French-speaking tour of the year: M Pokora
Most broadcast artists on radio in 2023: Maneskin
NRJ Music Honorary Award: Diddy