It was his evening. Nominated in five categories, the female artist Zaho de Sagazan, 24, was the queen of the 39th edition of the Victoires de la Musique since she left the Seine Musicale with four trophies in her arms. The ceremony, which was held in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine) on Friday February 9, also crowned French-speaking rap and R&B, genres often forgotten in previous years. Several rappers, a musical movement that has become the most listened to in France, were rewarded, while Aya Nakamura, the most listened to French-speaking artist in the world, a key figure in R&B, was named female artist of the year. Franceinfo summarizes what you need to remember from this ceremony.
Almost total success for Zaho de Sagazan
Zaho de Sagazan made lightning speak by winning four trophies out of five nominations: female revelation of the year, scene revelation of the year, album and original song of the year for The Lightning Symphonies. Very moved during her first trophy, she assured that she was “very sensitive”. “I discovered music and I realized that crying on my piano did me a lot of good, it hurt no one and above all it made beautiful songs. What I thought was my biggest flaw was actually my greatest quality”she said.
On a little cloud with the sublime “Symphonie des Éclairs” by Zaho de Sagazan (@zahodesagazan) 🌩️ #Victoires2024 pic.twitter.com/gJ3HpK1iCS
— France tv (@FranceTV) February 9, 2024
Then returning to the stage three times, words almost failed him. “But who is hacking the thing? Is my mother behind all this?”the native of Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) joked on stage, overcoming the emotion of this quadruplet.
“I don’t realize it at all. I like these four Victoires. The one I prefer is still the song of the year.”
Zaho de Sagazan, artistat a press conference
She paid tribute by receiving her fourth trophy of the evening, that of female revelation, “to all the people who try to do good”. “There are the caregivers who fight every day, the firefighters, the teachers, they have no victories and well I’ll give it to you”she said.
“Congratulations to the people whose job it is to do good […] they have no Victory, well I’ll give it to you”
Zaho de Sagazan (@zahodesagazan) dedicates its Victory of Feminine Revelation to caregivers, firefighters…#Victoires2024 pic.twitter.com/sLrTn0AATf
— France tv (@FranceTV) February 9, 2024
Aya Nakamura finally crowned
It is the story of an oversight finally repaired. Aya Nakamura, the most listened to French-speaking singer in the world since Djadja, who has 950 million views on YouTube, won the title of female artist. Since its advent in 2017, notably with the title Behaviorthen the explosion on the national and international scene the following year with the album Nakamura, the 28-year-old singer had only won, until now, one title for the most streamed artist, an award that has now disappeared. Les Flammes, a ceremony dedicated to rap and its derivative genres, had however crowned her female artist of the year, from the first edition in 2023.
Last year, Aya Nakamura released her fourth album DNK, consolidating its status as an international star, who can deliver an interactive show at the end of 2022 in the video game Fortnite, a performance reserved for global megastars, such as American rappers Travis Scott, Eminem or footballer Neymar. Absent from the ceremony, she was not on stage to collect her trophy. It will be given to him “in person very soon”assured the hosts Léa Salamé and Cyril Féraud.
Aya Nakamura (@AyaNakamuraa) wins the Victory for Female Artist of the Year! #Victoires2024 pic.twitter.com/9SKIVT62Xm
— France tv (@FranceTV) February 9, 2024
Rap makes a place on the charts
The Victories were expected on this ground and the ceremony gave an important place to rap and its derivative genres. Generally snubbed, even if Orelsan has 12 victories, rap had a great evening and was able to forget years spent in the shadows. “It’s already a victory to be here, so it’s a second victory”savored Gazo receiving the trophy for male artist of the year, shared with Vianney. This is his first prize for the 29-year-old artist, born in Chateauroux (Indre), from a large family of Guinean ancestry. The third for Vianney, 32, who greeted “the Victory of sharing”.
RARE EVENT: Gazo (@GazoMlg) and Vianney (@VianneyMusique) both won the Victory for Male Artist of the Year! 🏆🏆#Victoires2024 pic.twitter.com/1V6r9xCETX
— France tv (@FranceTV) February 9, 2024
As a symbol, the first Victory of the evening, that of the music video, was awarded to the Belgian rapper, Shay, for the video of Commando, directed by Guillaume Doubet. Damso, another Belgian rapper, won the concert of the year with his “QALF Tour”. The artist notably managed to fill four Accor Hotel Arenas in a row. Finally, Yamê, at the crossroads of rap-r’n’b-song, was designated male revelation. His performance and entry on a Bike will have been one of the highlights of the evening. “I would like to thank my family (…) there are so many of us, it started as a little family affair and we are here, I am so proud of my team and of us”assured the 30-year-old artist whose name means “the verb” in the Mbo’ language.
Well yeah, Yamê (@Yame_Bantua) arrived in a “Bécane” on the scene of #Victoires2024 🏍️ pic.twitter.com/aMPoOfQh2z
— France tv (@FranceTV) February 9, 2024
Bernard Lavilliers honored
Bernard Lavilliers, 77, was awarded a Victory of Honor. Already a winner of a Victoire de la Musique in 2011 for his album Lost causes and tropical musicthe author ofOn the road again was honored by a medley produced by Terrenoire, Catherine Ringer, Olivia Ruiz, Jeanne Cherhal and Faada Freddy, who covered his classics. Actress Sandrine Bonnaire presented him with the award. Moved, the artist said little, because“[il] prefer to sing. “There are three kinds of people: the dead, the living and those at sea. For now, I am at sea”he said, with tears in his eyes.
“I want to hear you sing again and forever, hear your golden voice”
Sandrine Bonnaire’s surprise tribute to Bernard Lavilliers.#Victoires2024
LIVE 👉 https://t.co/FOHkn1fG5u pic.twitter.com/Wgsx6NjzCU
— France tv (@FranceTV) February 9, 2024
The complete winners of the 39th edition
Female Artist of the Year : Aya Nakamura
Male Artist of the Year : Gazo and Vianney, tied
Female revelation of the year : Zaho de Sagazan
Male revelation of the year : Yamê
Album of the year : The Lightning Symphoniesby Zaho de Sagazan
Original Song of the Year : The Lightning Symphoniesby Zaho de Sagazan
Revelation scene of the year : Zaho de Sagazan
Concert of the year : QALF Tour, from Damso
Audiovisual creation of the year : Commandoby Shay
Victory of honor : Bernard Lavilliers