©Marcel Hartmann
In the pantheon of French pop culture, few names reverberate with the same impact and timeless allure as Mylène Farmer. An enigmatic powerhouse, she is not merely a singer—she is a cultural symbol, both for her music and her visual iconography over the years. Born in Quebec but forever entwined with the French music scene, Farmer has been making her mark since the late ‘80s, becoming a defining figure of an entire era. Her meteoric rise in the ‘90s cemented her status as an icon, crafting a musical repertoire that would shape the soundtrack for generations to come. To anyone born in the ’90s, she is more than a voice; she is a cultural reference point, whose relevance transcends the decades.
It’s only fitting, then, that Schön! was invited to witness her latest tour, for her NEVERMORE tour at the Stade de France in Paris—a three-night, sold-out extravaganza that felt more like a ritual than a mere concert. What unfolded was nothing short of an operatic spectacle: a fever dream of grandiose visuals, shadowy aesthetics, and a sonic palette as dark as it was dazzling. The stage opened with an explosion of gothic drama as Farmer’s silhouette emerged against a backdrop of a murder of crows. The crowd erupted as she launched into Du temps, Peut-être toi, and the rebellious Libertine. The latter was a notable feminist anthem, an ode to women’s desires and emancipation when it came to sex. As the show morphed from brooding atmospherics into a kaleidoscopic second act, the energy soared. Choreographic flourishes—a signature of Farmer’s aesthetic—burst forth, conceived alongside acclaimed movement masters Christophe Danchaud, Aziz Bouki, and the legendary Parris Goebel, enveloping the stadium in high-octane energy.
The ocean-like crowd went wild for the track C’est une belle journée, another iconic song from 2001. A highlight – and certainly a suprise – was the appearance of Seal to perform their track Les Mots. Continuining the gothic narrative Mylène Farmer was elevated to great heights on a platform, as if held by the 20 metre something figure that looked like the grim reaper, to sing Que je devienne.
©ROBIN
The concert closed with a spectacular rendition of Désenchantée, a track which has lived several lives, imbued with collective importance, as the soundtrack for many different generations. Speaking of disenchantment and the feeling of collective solitude, meaningless, it has been a rallying call for years, of solidarity, unity and general empathy towards one another. Which is why, as anthemic as it has become, when you have a stadium full of people singing the song in unison, the beauty of the career of such an artist, really comes to life. There was a communion-like quality to the concert —an affirmation of why, for so many, Mylène Farmer will forever be the heartbeat of French pop.
Mylène Farmer’s album NEVERMORE is out now.
words. Patrick Clark
photographs. Courtesy of Production, ©Marcel Hartmann ©Claude Gassian ©ROBIN
