Starmania
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Starmania is a French / Québécois musical written in 1976 with music by Michel Berger and lyrics by Luc Plamondon.
Some of its songs have passed into mainstream Francophone pop culture.
In 1978, its first recording was released (in French), sub-titled Starmania, ou la passion de Johnny Rockfort selon les évangiles télévisés ("Starmania, or the Gospel of Johnny Rockfort according to the TV evangelists") with the leading roles filled by Daniel Balavoine, Claude Dubois, Diane Dufresne, Nanette Workman, France Gall, and Fabienne Thibeault.
In 1979 the show was given its theatrical debut in Paris, starring Balavoine, Étienne Chicot, Dufresne, Gall, and Thibeault, with popular revivals following in 1989 and throughout the 1990s.
In 1992, the show was made into an English version with the release of the album Tycoon, with lyrics by Tim Rice, and starring Céline Dion, Nina Hagen, Cyndi Lauper, Willy Deville, and Tom Jones in the principal roles.
For the 25th anniversary, in November 2004, a concert version was produced in Montréal. In January 2005, the same version was produced in Paris (with a French orchestra and chorus, but with a Québécois conductor and soloists).
Brief plot outline
The story of Starmania is tricky to summarise due not only to the range of themes introduced throughout the show, but also due to the changes that were made between successive productions. Set in the near future, where the Western world has become a single country, Starmania recounts three love stories set in parallel, touching also on themes of terrorism, totalitarianism, and an individual's right to decide his own destiny.
Notable songs
- French version:
- "Quand on arrive en ville"
- "Le blues du businessman"
- "Besoin d'amour"
- "La complainte de la serveuse automate"
- "Les uns contre les autres"
- "Le monde est stone"
- English version:
- "Ziggy"
- "The World Is Stone"