Stromae is one of those artists who knows how to use popular and commercial styles in an innovative way, combining sounds from different parts of the world. It’s also characteristic of him to have melancholic lyrics with cheerful and danceable rhythms. The contrast of this mixture is explored in his grand comeback, ‘Multitude,’ after years on hiatus. Working sporadically, the Belgian singer and rapper suffered from mental exhaustion and psychotic effects from mefloquine, an antimalarial drug he used during his tour in Africa in 2015.
The essential characteristics of the artist remain in ‘Multitude,’ but the multiplicity of life, with its ups and downs, is explored both in the lyrics and in the sound. There is a sense of pride and pleasure, but also of insecurity and suffering. Stromae still presents situations and their different perspectives with a good dose of irony, as in ‘Fils de joie,’ where he depicts actors in prostitution. The strength of the lyrics lies in bringing this contrast of ideas intelligently, without being confusing.
But what stands out the most – especially since the Belgian artist sings in his native French language – are the different instruments that sound distinct in each track. The Belgian National Orchestra blends with the rhythm of Rio funk and Caribbean music. To top it off, the renowned musician Guo Gan plays the Erhu, a Chinese stringed instrument. Other instruments, such as the Ney (Egyptian flute) and the Zurna (Turkish wind instrument), enrich the compositions and contribute to the artist’s message.
With so many references and heterogeneity, harmony is achieved through the combination of expressions from the same origin. There is a predominance of tropical genres, such as Latin and sub-Saharan African music, which not only contrast with darker themes but also manage to soften the message, as in the closing tracks of the album, ‘Mauvaise journée’ and ‘Bonne journée.’ Verses like “You’re afraid of being sad when you’re happy and want to be happy when you’re sad” carry the antithesis that we will always have good days and bad days, but because we are diverse beings in a complex world, we can face certain moments with different perspectives.
Favorite songs: All of them hahaha
