The article discusses the resurgence of musicals in cinema and on stage, highlighted by the upcoming movie “The Sun King,” set for release in 2025. It reminisces about the success of the musical “Roi Soleil” from the 2000s, which featured acclaimed performances and helped launch the careers of artists like Christophe Maé and Emmanuel Moire. While Maé enjoys ongoing chart success, Moire promotes his new single and participates in various projects, illustrating the varied trajectories of these former musical stars.
Musicals are experiencing a renaissance in today’s entertainment landscape. With memorable performances like Lady Gaga in a new Joker film setting the stage, theaters are also buzzing with productions like 10 Commandments and La Haine. Just 11 days after the latter’s debut, exciting news emerged – the acclaimed musical The Sun King is set to return, crafted by the notable Kamel Ouali and Dove Attia, and slated for a cinematic release in 2025.
The musical scene thrived in the 2000s, evidenced by 380 performances attracting over 1.6 million spectators between 2005 and 2007, marking it as one of the biggest hits of that decade. This production paved the way for a number of artists, including Christophe Maé and Emmanuel Moire, who portrayed Louis XIV and Philippe de France, respectively. Emmanuel Moire’s iconic song ‘Je fais de toi mon essentiel’ also emerged from this musical. Other notable talents like Merwan Rim and Anne-Laure Girbal also gained significant recognition. But what paths have these artists carved out since?
Christophe Maé: A Journey of Hits
Following the conclusion of the Roi Soleil tour, Christophe Maé launched into a series of chart-topping successes. His album ‘Mon Paradis’ achieved remarkable sales. Known for his catchy singles like ‘On s’attache’, ‘Belle demoiselle’, and ‘Parce qu’on sait jamais’, he continued his winning streak with another successful album. ‘On trace la route’ garnered millions of streams on platforms like Spotify, featuring hits such as ‘Dingue Dingue Dingue’ and ‘J’ai laissé’. The track ‘Je veux du bonheur’, complemented by ‘Tombé sous le charme’, maintained his popularity.
Despite facing challenges such as the notorious ‘curse of the fourth album’ and shifts in the music industry, Christophe’s 2016 hit ‘Il est où le bonheur’ reaffirmed his appeal. Although album sales have fluctuated, he continues to captivate audiences through extensive concerts throughout France. His 2019 release, ‘Des gens heureux‘, achieved an impressive 16.6 million listens on Spotify. For his most recent 2023 album, he collaborated with artists like Ceujany and Angélique Kidjo. Christophe is happily married to Nadège Sarron, and together they have two sons: Jules (born March 11, 2008) and Marcel (born August 16, 2013).
Mixed Fortunes for Others
For Emmanuel Moire, the musical Roi Soleil remains his signature work. He has since released several albums, including L’équilibre (2009), Le chemin (2013), La rencontre (2015), and L’odyssée (2019). He also recorded an album during the Roi Soleil tour. In 2009, Emmanuel publicly came out in an interview with Têtu magazine, and he gained recognition for his outstanding performance on Danse Avec Les Stars, winning the competition in 2012 alongside Fauve Hautot. This victory helped promote his album featuring the song ‘Beau Malheur’.
Currently, Emmanuel Moire is actively promoting his latest single ‘Sois un homme’, which blends contemporary pop sounds. The music video premiered last April. In addition to his music career, he portrays a French teacher in the series demain nous appartient and features in La Nuit D’Hestia, a short film showcased at the Nikon Film Festival.
Meanwhile, Merwan Rim has continued his journey in musicals, showcasing his talents in productions such as ‘Les Dix Commandements’, ‘Spartacus le Gladiateur’, and ‘Mozart, l’Opéra Rock’. While his solo album, L’Échappée, featured the single ‘Vous‘, he also contributes his voice to charity tracks, including those for UNICEF. Merwan is a proud father of two sons and remains active on social media, keeping his fans engaged through his Instagram updates.