Christine and the Queens

Christine and the Queens
Christine and the Queens performing at Webster Hall in 2015
Background information
Birth name Héloïse Letissier
Born (1988-06-01) 1 June 1988
Nantes, France[1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active 2010–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website christineandthequeens.com

Héloïse Letissier (born 1 June 1988), known professionally as Chris (and, until 2017, as Christine and the Queens), is a French singer, songwriter and producer.

Born in Nantes, France, Letissier studied theatre before forming her solo musical group Christine and the Queens. Letissier has been signed to the independent record label Because Music since 2012.

Her work combines music, performance, art videos, drawings and photography.[6]

Early life

Letissier was born on 1 June 1988. Her father, Georges Letissier, teaches English at the University of Nantes and specializes in Victorian era literature.[7] Her mother teaches both French and Latin at a local middle school.[8]

Her parents recommended writers such as Sarah Waters and Judith Butler, whose works served both as inspiration and reference in Letissier's youth.[8]

Career

Letissier studied theatre at École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS Lyon), moving to Paris in 2010, where she concluded her studies. When she visited London in 2010, she was inspired by the work of local drag queen musicians, including Russella,[9][10] who accompanied her in one of her early concerts. They then became her "Queens" as a backing band. She dedicated many of her creations to them and to all transgender individuals, describing her genre as "freakpop".[5]

She adopted the name Christine and the Queens releasing her debut EP Miséricorde independently followed by another EP in 2012 called Mac Abbey with the minor hits "Narcissus is Back" and "Christine". In 2012, she was the opening act for Lykke Li, The Dø and Woodkid as well as for Lilly Wood and the Prick in 2013. Her third release was an EP titled Nuit 17 à 52 which garnered her first charting on the official French Albums Chart SNEP with the help of its title track.

In 2012, Christine and the Queens won the Best Discovered Act known as Découverte du Printemps de Bourges and also the Adami Premières Francos 2012 award.

The single "Tilted", translated from "Christine", was released in February 2015 in the United States as an introduction to her first English EP Saint Claude. Edited by Neon Gold Records, the band toured North America with Marina and the Diamonds as promotion for the release. The song was released in the UK in 2016 and charted on the UK Singles Chart. In 2016, Christine and the Queens put together a cover of Beyoncé's "Sorry" in the BBC Live Lounge, the cover was named as one of the "6 Best New Songs of the Week."[11]

She appeared on Jools' Annual Hootenanny on 31 December 2016 – 1 January 2017.

"iT" was used as the soundtrack for the closing scenes and credits on the episode "Old Loves" during season 5 of Girls shown on 13 March 2016.

In 2016, she was chosen as one of BBC's 100 Women.[12]

In the Season 2 finale of Better Things on the FX Network, Sam, her younger daughters, and mother recreate the video of "Tilted" as a graduation gift to oldest daughter Max. The episode aired on 16 November 2017.[13]

In 2018, she announced a new tour planned for autumn and a new album. Two versions of the first single were released: "Damn, dis-moi" (French version) and "Girlfriend" (English version) on 17 May 2018.[14][15] [16] The album, titled Chris, was released on 21 September 2018.[3]

Personal life

In 2014, Letissier identified herself as pansexual.[17]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales[18]
FRA
[19]		 AUS
[20]		 BEL
(WA)
[21]		 IRL
[22]		 NL
[23]		 NZ
[24]		 SCO
[25]		 SWI
[26]		 UK
[27]		 US
Rock
[28]
Chaleur humaine[upper-alpha 1] 281125827248
Chris
  • Released: 21 September 2018
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 2
[36]		—[upper-alpha 2]112
[38]		32—253—

Extended plays

Title Details Peak chart positions
FRA
[19]
Miséricorde[39]
  • Released: 11 March 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD
 —
Mac Abbey[40]
  • Released: 16 January 2012
  • Label: Remark Music
  • Formats: CD
 —
Nuit 17 à 52[41]
  • Released: 30 May 2013
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 130
Christine and the Queens[42]
  • Released: 2 June 2014
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 —
iTunes Session[43]
  • Released: 9 February 2015
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: Digital download
 39
Saint Claude[44]
  • Released: 14 April 2015
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 —
Intranquillité[45]
  • Released: 8 June 2015
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 —
Les Inédits[46]
  • Released: 6 November 2015
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
FRA
[19]		 AUS
[20]		 BEL
(FL)
[47]		 BEL
(WA)
[21]		 ICE
[48]		 NL
[23]		 NZ
[49]		 SCO
[25]		 SWI
[26]		 UK
[27]
"Nuit 17 à 52" 2013 75——[upper-alpha 3]——————— Chaleur humaine /
Christine and the Queens
"Saint Claude" 2014 4——[upper-alpha 4]8————60—
"Christine" / "Tilted" 35411341—[upper-alpha 5]183220
"Paradis perdus" 2015 19——[upper-alpha 6]39——————
"No Harm Is Done"
(featuring Tunji Ige)		 118—————————
"Jonathan"
(featuring Perfume Genius)		 120———[upper-alpha 7]——————
"Here"[52]
(featuring Booba)		 2016 52————————— Non-album single
"Damn, dis-moi" / "Girlfriend"[16][53]
(featuring Dâm-Funk)		 2018 7—217———31
[54]		—85 Chris
"Doesn't Matter (Voleur de Soleil)" / "Doesn't Matter"[55] 50—————————
"5 dols" / "5 Dollars"[56] 83——[upper-alpha 8]—[upper-alpha 9]———55——
"La marcheuse" / "The Walker" [57] 14—————————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Promotional singles

Title Year Album
"The Loving Cup"[58][59] 2013 Nuit 17 à 52
"Narcissus Is Back"[60] 2015 Chaleur humaine

Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
FRA
[19]
"Chaleur humaine" 2015 186 Chaleur humaine
"Intranquillité" 54 Intranquillité
"Amazoniaque" 178
"Safe and Holy" 188

Guest appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Second 2 None" 2017 Mura Masa Mura Masa

Music videos

Title Year Director(s)
"Narcissus Is Back" 2011 Héloïse Letissier, Thomas Aufort
"The Loving Cup" 2013 Ugo Mangin[61][62]
"Nuit 17 à 52"
"Saint Claude" 2014 J.A.C.K.[63]
"Christine"
"Tilted"
"No Harm Is Done" 2015 Héloïse Letissier
"Paradis Perdus" J.A.C.K.
"Jonathan" Héloïse Letissier
"Here" 2016 Arthur King, Feelings[64]
"Girlfriend / Damn, dis-moi" 2018 Colin Solal Cardo
"Doesn't Matter / voleur de soleil"
"5 Dollars"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2014MTV Europe Music AwardsBest French ActHerselfNominated
2015NRJ AwardsFrancophone Female Artist of the YearNominated
Francophone Song of the Year"Tilted"Nominated
Globes de Cristal AwardBest Female SingerHerselfNominated
MTV Europe Music AwardsBest French ActNominated
Antville Music Video AwardsBest Commissioning ArtistNominated
Best Performance"Christine"Nominated
Victoires de la musiqueFemale Artist of the YearHerselfWon
Original Song of the Year"Saint Claude"Nominated
Music Video of the YearWon
Album of the Year"Chaleur Humaine"Nominated
Musical Show, Tour or Concert of the YearAt La Gaîté lyrique, La Cigale and on tourNominated
2016BBC Music AwardsRadio 1 Live Lounge Performance of the Year"Sorry"Nominated
Victoires de la musiqueMusical Show, Tour or Concert of the YearTour of the Le ZénithWon
Music Video of the Year"Tilted"Won
Silver Clef AwardBest Live ActHerselfNominated
Q AwardsBest Breakthrough ActNominated
Best Album"Chaleur Humaine"Nominated
2017IMPALAAlbum of the YearNominated
Globes de Cristal AwardBest Female SingerHerselfNominated
Brit AwardsInternational Female Solo ArtistNominated
NME AwardsBest International FemaleWon
Best New ArtistNominated
Best Live BandNominated
Best Track"Tilted"Won
2018AIM Independent Music AwardsIndependent Track of the Year"Girlfriend"Nominated
Q AwardsBest TrackPending
Best Solo ArtistHerselfPending
UK Music Video Awards Best Artist Pending
Best Pop Video - International "Girlfriend" Pending
Best Choreography in a Video Pending
"Doesn't Matter" Pending
NRJ Awards Francophone Female Artist of the Year Herself Pending

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The album is self-titled as Christine and the Queens in the United States and various other English-speaking territories.[29][30][31]
  2. ↑ Chris did not enter the ARIA Albums Chart, but peaked at number 17 on the ARIA Digital Albums Chart.[37]
  3. ↑ "Nuit 17 à 52" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 11 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[47]
  4. ↑ "Saint Claude" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number six on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[47]
  5. ↑ "Titled" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 1 on the NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart.[49]
  6. ↑ "Paradis perdus" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 29 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[47]
  7. ↑ "Jonathan" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 26 on the Wallonie Ultratip chart.[21]
  8. ↑ "5 Dollars" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 23 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.[47]
  9. ↑ "5 Dollars" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number two on the Wallonie Ultratip chart.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Kourles, Gia Christine, a Pop Star Who Sings With Her Muscles New York Times. October 7, 2016
  2. 1 2 Collar, Matt. "Christine and the Queens Bio". AllMusic. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Blais-Billie, Braudie (5 July 2018). "Christine and the Queens Announces New Album Chris, Shares Song and Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Snapes, Laura. "Christine and the Queens Can't Stop Googling Weird Diseases". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  5. 1 2 Le Monde: Christine & the Queens: "amener un peu de fantaisie ou de bizarre" dans le genre populaire (in French)
  6. ↑ François Alvarez. "Christine and the Queens biographie". Music-story.com (in French). Archived from the original on 2014-10-28.
  7. ↑ LETISSIER, Georges. "Université de Nantes – UFR Langue et Cultures Étrangères – LETISSIER Georges". Flce.univ-nantes.fr (in French). Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  8. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (2016-09-04). "Christine and the Queens: 'I just want to shatter everything'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  9. ↑ Van Renterghem, Marion (23 Nov 2016). "Les confessions de Christine and the Queens". Vanity Fair.
  10. ↑ Medioni, Par Gilles (13 Feb 2015). "VIDEOS. La voix royale de Christine and the Queens". L'Express.
  11. ↑ "6 Best New Songs of the Week". Vulture.com. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  12. ↑ 2016, BBC, Retrieved 24 November 2016
  13. ↑ FX Networks (17 November 2017). "Better Things - Season 2 Ep. 10: The Dance Scene - FX". YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Christine and the Queens : son deuxième album sortira en 2018". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  15. ↑ "Christine and the Queens Announce Fall Tour". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  16. 1 2 ""Damn, dis-moi" : Christine and the Queens signe un délicieux retour funk". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  17. ↑ Laurent Ruquier with Natacha Polony & Aymeric Caron (14 June 2014). Christine and the Queens est pansexuelle – On n'est pas couché (in French). fr:Studio Gabriel, Paris: ONPC, France Télévisions. Christine and the Queens is pansexual
  18. 1 2 3 "Christine and the Queens prolonge sa tournée et ajoute six concerts en France". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Discographie Christine and the Queens". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  20. 1 2 Peak positions in Australia:
    • For all except noted: "Discography Christine and the Queens". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
    • For "Tilted": "CHART WATCH #377". Auspop.com.au. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Christine And The Queens Discographie". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  22. ↑ "TOP 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 21 July 2016". Irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  23. 1 2 "Discografie Christine and the Queens". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  24. ↑ "Discography Christine and the Queens". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  25. 1 2 Peak positions for albums and singles in Scotland:
    • "Tilted": "Chart Archive > 29 July 2016 - 13 October 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
    • Chaleur homaine: "Chart Archive > 22 July 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
    • Chris: "Chart Archive > 28 September 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
    • "5 Dollars": "Chart Archive > 28 September 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  26. 1 2 "Discographie Christine and the Queens". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  27. 1 2 "Christine and the Queens". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  28. ↑ "Billboard Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  29. ↑ Matt Collar. "Christine and the Queens". AllMusic.
  30. ↑ "Christine and the Queens on Apple Music". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  31. ↑ "Christine and the Queens on Apple Music". iTunes Store (NZ). Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  32. ↑ "Les Certifications – Notre Base de Données". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  33. 1 2 "BPI Awards - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Christine and the Queens" and select "Search by Keyword"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  34. 1 2 "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community (Christine and the Queens)". IFPI Switzerland. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  35. ↑ ""Damn, dis-moi" : Christine and the Queens signe un délicieux retour funk". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  36. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 39, 2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  37. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  38. ↑ "Villagers claim highest new entry on Official Irish Albums Chart with The Art of Pretending to Swim". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  39. ↑ "Miséricorde". Sens Critique. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  40. ↑ "Mac Abbey". Spotify. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  41. ↑ "Nuit 17 à 52". iTunes. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  42. ↑ "Christine and the Queens". iTunes. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  43. ↑ "iTunes Session". iTunes. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  44. ↑ "Saint Claude". iTunes. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  45. ↑ "Intranquillité". Sens Critique. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  46. ↑ "Chaleur Humaine (Les Inédits)". iTunes. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 "Christine And The Queens Discografie". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  48. ↑ "Tilted". RÚV. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  49. 1 2 "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  50. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2016". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  51. ↑ "Goud/Platina – NVPI Audio" (To access, enter the search parameter "Christine & The Queens" and select "Search") (in Dutch). NVPI. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  52. ↑ "Here (feat. Booba)". iTunes. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  53. ↑ Trendell, Andrew. "Christine & The Queens teases new song 'Girlfriend' – coming tonight". NME. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  54. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  55. ↑ ""Doesn't Matter" : Christine and the Queens chavire dans un clip brut et puissant". Chartsinfrance.net (in French). Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  56. ↑ "Christine and the Queens - 5 dollars (single)". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  57. ↑ "Christine and the Queens - La marcheuse (single)". Chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  58. ↑ "Christine & the Queens – The Loving Cup: New music from France". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  59. ↑ "Christine and the Queens – The Loving Cup". TKaltblut Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  60. ↑ "Song premiere: christine and the queens' 'Narcissus is Back'". Nylon Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  61. ↑ "Christine and The Queens". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  62. ↑ "Ugo Mangin on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  63. ↑ "Caviar". Caviar.tv. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  64. ↑ "360 Creative". 360creative.net. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
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