Isabelle Boulay

Isabelle Boulay
Isabelle Boulay, March 2008
Isabelle Boulay, March 2008
Background information
Birth nameIsabelle Boulay
Born (1972-07-06) 6 July 1972 (age 51)
OriginSainte-Félicité, Quebec, Canada
GenresFolk, country, pop music
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1993–present
LabelsPolydor, Universal Music Group, Audiogram
Websiteisabelleboulay.com

Isabelle Boulay, CQ (born 6 July 1972) is a French Canadian singer.

Biography

Born in Sainte-Félicité, Quebec, where her parents owned a restaurant, Boulay moved to the nearby city of Matane at the start of her adolescence, and studied literature at Cégep Limoilou. In 1988, her friends signed her up, without her knowledge, for a singing contest in Matane, where she made the acquaintance of Josélito Michaud, who later became her agent. In 1990, at the Petite-Vallée song festival, she won an award for her performance of "Les gens de mon pays" (Gilles Vigneault). The following year, in 1991, she won the Granby song festival for her rendition of "Amsterdam" (Jacques Brel) and "Naufrage" (Dan Bigras). She was also invited to take part in the festival Les FrancoFolies de Montréal. In 1992, she performed in France at Théâtre Dejazet, introducing Bill Deraime. In 1993, she represented Radio Canada at the "Truffe de Périgueux" festival held in Périgord, France, and was awarded the prize for Best Singer in the "chanson francophone" category.

Following Boulay's success in France, she was noticed by songwriter Luc Plamondon, who was looking for emerging talents to perform in a new production of his rock opera Starmania. There, Boulay portrayed the role of Marie-Jeanne from 1995 to 1998. She also provided the singing voice for Quebec singer Alys Robi in the TV miniseries of the same name, adding to her popularity in Quebec.

In 1996, Boulay released her debut album, Fallait pas, written and produced by Daniel DeShaime. She also participated again in Les FrancoFolies de Montréal. She began recording her second album, États d'amour, in 1997; it was released in Quebec February 1998 and sold well, being certified as gold by September. The album was released in France in November. In 1998 she was also nominated for four Félix Awards but failed to win any. In 1999, the single "Je t'oublierai, je t'oublierai" from États d'amour peaked at No. 33 on the French charts. Boulay made a number of media appearances in France in 1999, and, in the summer, sang again in the FrancoFolies de Montréal, where the live album Scènes d'amour was recorded. She also performed with Serge Lama at the Olympia, and introduced Francis Cabrel on tour, as well as introducing Julien Clerc during his tour in Montreal. In October, she was given the Félix award for female singer of the year.

Since then, she has had considerable success both in Quebec and in Europe. Her biggest-selling album in France was the 2000 release Parle-moi. On 14 February 2008, she was presented with the medal of the National Assembly of Quebec by the mayor of her hometown, in recognition of her contribution to the arts.

She has been a coach on La Voix for its second, third, and fifth edition, respectively.

In March 2019, she was one of 11 singers from Quebec, alongside Ginette Reno, Diane Dufresne, Céline Dion, Luce Dufault, Louise Forestier, Laurence Jalbert, Catherine Major, Ariane Moffatt, Marie Denise Pelletier and Marie-Élaine Thibert, who participated in a supergroup recording of Renée Claude's 1971 single "Tu trouveras la paix" after Claude's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease was announced.

Personal life

In October 2008, Boulay and her producer Marc-Andre Chicoine, had their first child together, Marcus Andrew.

She is in 2020 living with the French minister of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti.

Awards and recognition

Isabelle Boulay receiving the National Order of Quebec.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Certification
(France)
Certification
(Canada)
Peak positions
FR
FR (DD) BE (WA)
SWI CAN
1996 Fallait pas
1998 États d'amour Gold (2002) Platinum (1999) 60
2000 Mieux qu'ici-bas Diamond (2002) 6 4 65 4
2004 Tout un jour 2xGold (2004) Gold (2004) 4 3 11 2
2007 De retour à la source Platinum (2007) 87 32 65 2
2008 Nos Lendemains Gold (2009) 7 4 7 22 1
2009 Chansons pour les mois d'hiver Gold (2010) 173 6
2011 Les grands espaces Platinum (2012) Gold (2012) 12 16 69 9
2014 Merci Serge Reggiani Gold (2015) 5 8 40
2017 En vérité 8
5 16 9
2019 En attendant Noël 71
5
2023 Boulay chante Bashung 88
35 73

Live albums

Year Title Certification
(France)
Peak position
FR
FR
(DD)
BE (WA) SWI CAN
2000 Scènes d'amour 9
2002 Au moment d'être à vous Platinum (2004) 4 5 8 7
2005 Du Temps pour toi 16 7 7 42

Compilations

Year Title Peak position
CAN
2002 Ses plus belles histoires 10
2012 Master série

Soundtracks

Year Title
1995 Alys Robi
2002 Séraphin: un homme et son péché

Singles

Year Title Certification
(France)
Peak position Album
FR
BE (WA) SWI
1996 "J'enrage" Fallait pas
"Et mon cœur en prend
plein la gueule"
"Un peu d'innocence" 41
1998 "Je t'oublierai, je t'oublierai" 33 États d'amour
"Le Saule"
"La Lune"
"États d'amour"
2000 "Parle-moi" Gold (2000) 2 1 Mieux qu'ici-bas
2001 "Un Jour ou l'autre" 31 22
"Quelques pleurs"
"Jamais assez loin"
"Mieux qu'ici-bas"
2002 "Sans toi" (live) Au moment d'être à vous
2003 "Depuis le premier jour" Séraphin: un homme et son péché
2004 "C'est quoi, c'est l'habitude" Tout un jour
"Tout au bout de nos peines" Silver (2004) 3 7 23
2005 "Une Autre Vie" Du temps pour toi
2008 "Ton Histoire" 14 39 Nos Lendemains
2009 "Chanson pour les mois d'hiver" Chansons pour les mois d'hiver
2011 "Fin octobre, début novembre" 78 44 Les grands espaces
2014 "Il suffirait de presque rien" 165 Merci Serge Reggiani

External links


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