Mitsou
Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:BLP sources Template:Infobox musical artist
Mitsou Annie Marie Gélinas (born September 1, 1970, in Loretteville, Quebec) is a Canadian pop singer, businesswoman, television and radio host, and actress. She is credited as Mitsou Gélinas when acting, but records simply as Mitsou (the French spelling of Mitsu, which means honey in Japanese).
BiographyEdit
Born in Loretteville, Quebec, Mitsou is the granddaughter of Quebec actor and playwright Gratien Gélinas. She got involved in acting and modelling as a child notably in the French-Canadian soap opera Terre humaine,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but also began to pursue singing in her teenage years.
In 1988, she signed with Canadian independent Isba Records and released her first single, "Bye Bye Mon Cowboy" (composed and produced by Jean-Pierre Isaac), which became a pop hit across Canada, an extremely rare feat for a francophone song, in 1989.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later that year, she followed with her debut, multicultural-themed album, El Mundo which also spawned the singles "La Corrida" and "Les Chinois".
In 1990, she released her follow-up album, Terre des hommes. Ivan Doroschuk of Men Without Hats wrote the title track, in addition to her first English-language song "A Funny Place (The World Is)". The first single, "Mademoiselle Anne", comes as a surprise, as Mitsou appears as a man in the video. In 1991, the second single, "Dis-moi, dis-moi", put Mitsou back in the spotlight with a controversial video that showed her and several male and female models nude in a shower room. T
The video, which was released only a few months after Madonna's "Justify My Love", was banned from regular rotation by MuchMusic as the Madonna video had been – technically, the video was not fully banned from the network, as the programming committee ruled that the late-night program City Limits was allowed to play it, but as a mainstream pop song incompatible with the show's alternative rock format, the program refused to do so.<ref>"English Canada: 'Show them a breast and they freak". Montreal Gazette, April 14, 1991.</ref>
Notably, the video for "Dis-moi, dis-moi" was not banned on Much's French-language sister station MusiquePlus, but in fact was placed in heavy rotation;<ref>"Latest by siren Mitsou too racy for MuchMusic". Vancouver Sun, April 11, 1991.</ref> Mitsou's manager Pierre Gendron attributed the difference to English Canada being more prudish than French Canada.<ref>"Mitsou's manager assails 'prudishness': MuchMusic defends rejection of Quebec pop star's video". The Globe and Mail, April 11, 1991.</ref>
Having banned two high-profile pop videos within a few months of each other, MuchMusic created a new occasional late-night series, Too Much 4 Much, on which they would play banned videos along with forum and panel discussions on the controversies these videos raised.<ref name=citizen>"MuchMusic to play two racy videos only once". Ottawa Citizen, April 26, 1991.</ref> Due to the controversy, Mitsou's single was played across Canada even though the lyrics (which Mitsou co-wrote) were exclusively in French.
Her 1992 follow-up EP, Heading West, was a collection of past hits and new material in English and French. Despite a title track co-written by Cyndi Lauper, and the radio and video play given the dance-driven single "Deep Kiss", it failed to generate a substantial pop hit. In 1993, she followed it up with her first full-English album Tempted.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although the lead single was written by RuPaul ("Everybody Say Love"), the album again failed to give her a significant hit. The video for "Everybody Say Love" featured nudity (as well as homosexuality) but failed to stir any media attention.Template:Citation needed
Subsequently, she returned to recording primarily French-language material for her 1994 album Ya Ya (with the track "Ya Ya", a Lee Dorsey cover) which included cover versions of songs popular in Quebec in the '60s and '70s, such as the title track and "Comme j'ai toujours envie d'aimer" (a Marc Hamilton cover). She also released a Christmas album entitled Noel in 1995 that included some Quebec holiday classics.Template:Citation needed
After a hiatus, her next album, Mitsou (Éponyme) (1999), featured hip-hop-influenced beats and a street-oriented rock sound. She also co-wrote and co-produced all the tracks. A club-oriented EP Vibe followed in 2002. It features remixes of previous material such as "Bye Bye Mon Cowboy" (which was re-recorded and released as a single) and "Money Penny".Template:Citation needed
Other achievementsEdit
Mitsou acted in a number of Quebec films, most recently in Denys Arcand's Academy Award-winning Les invasions barbares. She was top billed in 1992's Coyote, which was a major release in Quebec (released during her popularity as a singer, she was billed as simply Mitsou for this release). She wrote the song "Le Toucher" for the film The Bone Collector.Template:Citation needed
In 2000, Mitsou joined C't’encore drôle, the morning show on Énergie 94.3 FM in Montreal. She was an instant hit, as evidenced by the show's high ratings and enormous popularity with 18- to 34-year-olds who have made it the number one morning show for 10 years straight. By June 15, 2012, Mitsou left the morning show of the station after 12 years. On August 20, 2012, Gélinas revealed that she signed on to join the rival CFGL-FM as the drive home co-host but won't begin her duties until November.Template:Citation needed
Since 2001, she has been the editor of a Quebec fashion magazine for young women, Clin d'Œil. In 2005, she hosted the show Au Courant on CBC Newsworld, an English-language program that focuses on "what's hot and happening in French Canada."<ref>[1] Au courant – synopsis. CBC.ca Program Guide; retrieved February 22, 2010.</ref> In 2006, the show was nominated for a Gemini Award in the Best Talk Series category.
In February 2009, it was announced that Mitsou would become the "beauty ambassador" for Lise Watier, a Canadian-based cosmetics and skincare product line, and would subsequently appear in the company's advertising campaigns.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} "Mitsou Gélinas is the New Face of Lise Watier Cosmétiques." Lise Watier press release, February 25, 2009; retrieved February 21, 2010.</ref>
In 2009, she hosted Comment va ta famille?, a documentary series that portrays the state of the family in Quebec in 2008–09, and television magazine La liste, produced by Marie-France Bazzo for ARTV. She also joined the cast of The Child Prodigy (L'Enfant prodige), a movie about pianist André Mathieu, in which she played Vivianne Jobin, one of Mathieu's mistresses.Template:Citation needed
In fall 2009, she began serving as a presenter for the TV program Kampaï! À votre santé, a show on healthy cooking and dining, alongside chef Stefano Faita, for Radio-Canada.<ref>[2] Kampaï! À votre santé – synopsis. Radio-Canada website; retrieved February 21, 2010.</ref>
In August 2010, Mitsou married her partner of 15 years, Iohann Martin, in a "surprise wedding" that he had organized without her knowledge for her 40th birthday. They are the parents of two daughters.<ref>"Mitsou a dit oui". canoe.ca, August 27, 2010.</ref> They split apart in 2020 but remain business partners.
Mitsou will begin releasing new singles via her website as the inspiration strikes her. The first of these is a collaboration between Mitsou and Creature entitle "On vole", and was released in 2011.Template:Citation needed
In 2017, she hosted Canada Day in Ottawa with actress Sandra Oh, attended by Justin Trudeau, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, as well as Bono and The Edge.
In 2019, she hosts the documentary series Mitsou et Léa, with Léa Clermont-Dion, broadcast on TVA until 2021. This bold, contemporary documentary series spotlights unique women. In each episode, they meet unique women and present two realities of the same theme.
In 2021 she appeared as a guest judge in a second season episode of Canada's Drag Race.<ref>Pierre-Luc Houle, "Mitsou Gélinas sera juge à Canada's Drag Race". HollywoodPQ, September 29, 2021.</ref> Her 1993 single "Everybody Say Love", originally written by RuPaul, was used as the Lip Sync for Your Life number.<ref>Kevin Ritchie, "Canada’s Drag Race: Adriana is happy to play the villain". Now, December 4, 2021.</ref>
In 2022, Mitsou co-wrote with her sisters, Abeille and Noémie, the book Bien-être inspiré - Trouver l'harmonie Corps, Coeur, Esprit.
A year later, she returned to her first love, collaborating with singer Laurence Nerbonne. The country-rap song Cowgirl is a nod to her mega-success Bye bye mon cowboy and a hymn to girl power.
Also in 2023, Pierre Lapointe invited her to take part in his Chansons hivernales tour of Christmas shows across Quebec, alongside other guest artists.
The following year, she launched the first issue of Mitsou Cuisine, published by Éditions Pratico-Pratiques, featuring gourmet, well-balanced recipes. In autumn 2024, a second issue appeared, this time devoted to soups.
In June 2024, she takes part in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste show on the Plains of Abraham.
In March 2025, the docu-reality series Trois sœurs et un chalet begins airing on Canal Vie and Crave, in which Mitsou and her sisters renovate the chalet bequeathed to them by their father Alain.
BusinessEdit
In 1997, she co-founded Dazmo Musique with Andrew Lapierre and Iohann Martin. This SME specializes in the creation, realization and production of soundtracks for commercials, films and television programs. They then created Vidéo Assist and Vidéo M.T.L., which became Grandé Studios in 2016. The company specializes in film and TV studio service and rental, camera and lighting rental, and post-production services. The popular program En direct de l'univers is filmed in the Gratien-Gélinas studios.
In 2022, Mitsou and her partner acquire the Ray-On music services company.
Since the turn of the millennium, Mitsou has had an online presence, starting with a site with a name that reflects the times, CyberMitsou.com, which later became Mitsou.com. In 2010[8], she launched her current bilingual website, Mitsou Magazine, which publishes articles on topics ranging from fashion and decor to beauty, cooking, wellness and culture. She is also present on social networks.
DiscographyEdit
AlbumsEdit
- El Mundo (Isba) 1988 (Platinum)
- Terre des Hommes (Isba) 1990 (Gold)
- Heading West (Isba) 1992
- Mitsou (Hollywood Records) 1992 (U.S. compilation)
- Tempted (TOX) 1993
- Ya Ya (TOX) 1994
- Noël (TOX) 1995
- La Collection (Unidisc) 1997 (compilation)
- Mitsou (Dazmo) 1999
- Vibe EP (Dazmo) 2002
SinglesEdit
- "Bye Bye mon Cowboy" (Isba) (1988) Canada No. 63 / Québec No. 1 (6 weeks)
- "Les Chinois" (Isba) (1989) Québec No. 2
- "La Corrida" (Isba) (1989)
- "Mademoiselle Anne" (Isba) (1990)
- "Dis-moi, dis-moi" (Isba) (1991) Canada No. 63
- "Lettre à un Cowboy" (Isba) (1991) Québec No. 1
- "A Funny Place (The World Is)" (Isba) (1991)
- "Deep Kiss" (Isba) (1992)
- "Heading West" (Isba) (1992)
- "Everybody Say Love" (1993)
- "Le Yaya" (1994)
- "Comme j'ai toujours envie d'aimer" (1994)
- "Ouvre-moi" (1999)
- "Si tu m'aimes encore" (1999)
- "Les Ronces" (1999)
- "La Vie Sera" (1999)
- "A Toi (You and I)" (2002)
- "Bye Bye Mon Cowboy (vibe mix)" (2002)
- "Mon Roi" (2002)
- "On vole" (2011)
- "Cowgirl" (2023)
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Official site
- [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0350750
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