# Francis Cabrel

Francis Christian Cabrel (French pronunciation:; born 23 November 1953) is a French singer-songwriter, composer and guitarist. Considered one of the most influential French musical artists of all time, he has released a number of albums falling mostly within the realm of folk, with occasional forays into blues or country. Several of his songs, such as "L'encre de tes yeux", "Je l'aime à mourir", "Petite Marie", "La Dame de Haute-Savoie", "Encore et encore", "Il faudra leur dire", "Sarbacane", "C'est écrit", "Je t'aimais, je t'aime, je t'aimerai" and "La corrida", have become enduring favourites in French music. Since the start of his career, Cabrel has sold over 25 million albums.
His first hit song was "Petite Marie" in 1974, which was about the woman who soon became his wife, Mariette. His song "Je l'aime à mourir" was covered by Shakira; this version, both sung in French and Spanish, became a major hit single. His song Edition Spéciale was featured in the 1987 film Broadcast News starring Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks and William Hurt.
Although Francis Cabrel is best known as a French-speaking singer, he also sings in Spanish ("La quiero a morir", "Vengo a ofrecer mi corazón"), and even a little in Occitan ("Giors", "Rockstars du Moyen Âge") and Italian.
An unauthorised biography was published in 2015. Cabrel, who is one of the most private French singers, attempted to have the book suppressed.

## Biography

Francis Cabrel was born in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne into a modest family of Venetian Veneto descent. His father was a labourer in a biscuit factory and his mother a cashier in a cafeteria. He has a sister, Martine, and a brother, Philippe. He spent his childhood in Astaffort, in Lot-et-Garonne.

## Albums
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales |
| Title | Album details | FRA | BEL (Fl) | BEL (Wa) | CAN | QUE | ROD | SWI | Certifications | Sales |
| Les Murs de poussière | Released: 1977 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | FRA: Platinum | |
| Les Chemins de traverse | Released: 1979 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | FRA: 2× Platinum | |
| Fragile | Released: 20 May 1980 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | FRA: Diamond | |
| Carte postale | Released: 14 September 1981 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | FRA: 2× Platinum | |
| Quelqu'un de l'intérieur | Released: 25 August 1983 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | FRA: 2× Platinum CAN: Gold | |
| Photos de voyages | Released: 9 October 1985 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD | 6 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | FRA: 2× Platinum CAN: Gold | |
| Sarbacane | Released: 21 February 1989 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | FRA: Diamond CAN: 2× Platinum SWI: Platinum | WW: 2,000,000 |
| Samedi soir sur la Terre | Released: 3 April 1994 Label: Columbia Format: LP • cassette • CD • MiniDisc | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | FRA: Diamond BEL: 4× Platinum CAN: 2× Platinum SWI: 2× Platinum | |
| Hors-saison | Released: 29 March 1999 Label: Columbia Format: LP • cassette • CD • digital download | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | FRA: Diamond BEL: 2× Platinum CAN: Gold SWI: Platinum | |
| Les Beaux Dégâts | Released: 17 May 2004 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • SACD • digital download | 1 | 75 | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | 3 | FRA: 2× Platinum BEL: Gold SWI: Gold | |
| Des roses et des orties | Released: 31 March 2008 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • digital download | 1 | 81 | 1 | 5 | 3 | — | 3 | FRA: Diamond BEL: 2× Platinum SWI: Platinum | FRA: 800,000 |
| Vise le ciel ou Bob Dylan revisité | Released: 22 October 2012 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • digital download | 1 | 63 | 1 | — | 14 | 3 | 10 | FRA: 2× Platinum BEL: Gold | FRA: 120,000 |
| In extremis | Released: 27 April 2015 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • digital download | 1 | 81 | 1 | 5 | 3 | — | 3 | FRA: 3× Platinum BEL: Platinum | FRA: 300,000 |
| À l'Aube revenant | Released: 16 October 2020 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • digital download | 1 | 49 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||||||||

### Live albums

List of live albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales |
| Title | Album details | FRA | BEL (Fl) | BEL (Wa) | CAN | QUE | ROD | SWI | Certifications | Sales |
| Cabrel Public | Released: 16 November 1984 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | FRA: 2× Platinum CAN: Platinum | |
| D'une ombre à l'Autre | Released: 30 September 1991 Label: Columbia Format: LP • cassette • CD | — | — | — | — | 33 | — | — | FRA: 2× Platinum | |
| Double Tour (Électrique & Acoustique) | Released: 16 October 2000 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • digital download | 2 | — | 15 | — | 43 | — | — | FRA: 2× Gold | |
| La tournée des Bodegas | Released: 21 November 2005 Label: Columbia Format: LP • CD • CD/DVD • digital download | 15 | — | 21 | — | — | — | 63 | FRA: Gold | |
| L'In Extremis Tour | Released: 14 October 2016 Label: Sony Format: LP • CD • CD/DVD • digital download | 4 | 110 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 16 | FRA: Gold | |
| Trobador Tour | Released: 3 December 2021 Label: Sony Format: LP • CD • CD/DVD • digital download | 16 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||||||||

### Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales |
| Title | Album details | FRA | BEL (Fl) | BEL (Wa) | CAN | QUE | ROD | SWI | Certifications | Sales |
| Canta en Español | Released: 1985 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | |
| Cabrel 77-87 | Released: 17 November 1987 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD | 28 | — | 12 | — | 19 | — | — | BEL: 2× Platinum FRA: Diamond CAN: Gold SWI: Platinum | |
| Algo más de amor (1990) | Released: 1990 Label: CBS Format: LP • cassette • CD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | |
| Algo más de amor (1998) | Released: 6 April 1998 Label: Colombia Format: LP • cassette • CD | — | — | — | — | 27 | — | — | | |
| L'Essentiel 1977–2007 | Released: 1 June 2007 Label: Colombia Format: LP • CD • CD/DVD • digital download | 44 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 13 | 13 | FRA: Platinum BEL: Platinum CAN: Gold SWI: Gold | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||||||||

### Box sets

List of box sets, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales |
| Title | Album details | FRA | Certifications | Sales |
| Les Murs de poussière / Les Chemins de traverse / Fragile | Released: 4 November 1996 Label: Columbia Format: CD | — | FRA: Platinum | |
| Carte postale / Quelqu'un de l'intérieur / Photos de voyages | Released: 4 November 1996 Label: Columbia Format: CD | — | | |
| Cabrel Public / Sarbacane / Samedi soir sur la Terre | Released: 7 October 2002 Label: Sony Format: CD | 193 | | |
| Collection 1977-1989 | Released: 20 November 2015 Label: Sony Format: CD | — | | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||

## Singles
### As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | FRA | BEL (Wa) | QUE | Sales | Album |
| "L'instant d'amour" | 1977 | — | — | — | | Francis Cabrel |
| "Petite Marie" | 1977 | 137 | — | — | | Francis Cabrel |
| "Pas trop de peine" | 1978 | — | — | — | | Francis Cabrel |
| "Les Murs de poussière" | 1978 | — | — | — | | Francis Cabrel |
| "Je l'aime à mourir" | 1979 | 1 | — | — | FRA: 600,000 | Les Chemins de traverse |
| "Je rêve" | 1979 | 15 | — | — | FRA : 100 000 | Les Chemins de traverse |
| "L'Encre de tes yeux" | 1980 | 5 | — | 13 | FRA : 400 000 | Fragile |
| "Je pense encore à toi" | 1980 | 18 | — | — | FRA : 150 000 | Fragile |
| "La dame de Haute-Savoie" | 1981 | — | — | — | | Fragile |
| "Carte postale" | 1981 | — | — | — | | Carte postale |
| "Répondez-moi" | 1982 | — | — | — | | Carte postale |
| "La fille qui m'accompagne" | 1983 | — | — | — | | Quelqu'un de l'intérieur |
| "Saïd et Mohammed" | 1984 | — | — | — | | Quelqu'un de l'intérieur |
| "Question d'équilibre" | 1984 | — | — | 2 | | Quelqu'un de l'intérieur |
| "Encore et encore" | 1985 | 14 | — | 4 | FRA : 250 000 | Photos de voyages |
| "Tourner les hélicos" | 1985 | — | — | 17 | | Photos de voyages |
| "Je te suivrai" | 1986 | — | — | — | | Photos de voyages |
| "Il faudra leur dire" (Cabrel and the children) | 1986 | 2 | — | 1 | FRA : 500 000 | Cabrel 77-87 |
| "Sarbacane" | 1989 | 30 | — | 1 | | Sarbacane |
| "C'est écrit" | 1989 | 6 | — | 4 | FRA : 200 000 | Sarbacane |
| "Animal" | 1989 | 31 | — | 1 | | Sarbacane |
| "Tout le monde y pense" | 1990 | 19 | — | — | FRA : 60 000 | Sarbacane |
| "Petite Marie" (live) | 1990 | 5 | — | 8 | FRA : 100 000 | D'une ombre à l'autre |
| "Je t'aimais, je t'aime, je t'aimerai" | 1994 | 78 | — | 1 | | Samedi soir sur la Terre |
| "La cabane du pêcheur" | 1994 | — | — | 1 | | Samedi soir sur la Terre |
| "La Corrida" | 1994 | 7 | — | 3 | FRA : 75 000 | Samedi soir sur la Terre |
| "Octobre" | 1995 | 88 | — | 1 | | Samedi soir sur la Terre |
| "Samedi soir sur la Terre" | 1995 | — | — | 14 | | Samedi soir sur la Terre |
| "Vengo a ofrecer mi corazón" (with Mercedes Sosa) | 1997 | — | 39 | — | | Algo más de amor (1998) |
| "Presque rien" | 1999 | — | — | 8 | | Hors-saison |
| "Le reste du temps" | 1999 | — | — | 1 | | Hors-saison |
| "Hors-saison" | 1999 | 133 | — | — | | Hors-saison |
| "Le monde est sourd" | 2000 | — | — | 2 | | Hors-saison |
| "Ma place dans le trafic" (live) | 2000 | — | — | — | | Double Tour |
| "Bonne nouvelle" | 2004 | — | — | 7 | | Les Beaux Dégâts |
| "Qu'est-ce que t'en dis?" | 2004 | — | — | 9 | | Les Beaux Dégâts |
| "Tu me corresponds" | 2004 | — | — | — | | Les Beaux Dégâts |
| "Les gens absents" | 2005 | — | — | 15 | | Les Beaux Dégâts |
| "Je pense encore à toi" (live) | 2005 | — | — | — | | La tournée des Bodegas |
| "Gardien de nuit" | 2006 | — | — | 40 | | Le Soldat Rose |
| "Le gorille" | 2007 | — | — | — | | L'Essentiel 1977-2007 |
| "La robe et l'échelle" | 2008 | — | 2 | 11 | | Des roses et des orties |
| "Le chêne liège" | 2008 | — | 31 | 34 | | Des roses et des orties |
| "Des hommes pareils" | 2009 | — | 22 | 21 | | Des roses et des orties |
| "Né dans le Bayou" | 2009 | — | — | 23 | | Des roses et des orties |
| "Les cardinaux en costume" (live) | 2009 | — | 17 | — | | — |
| "Comme une femme" | 2012 | 130 | 5 | — | | Vise le ciel ou Bob Dylan revisité |
| "Je te veux" | 2012 | — | 26 | — | | Vise le ciel ou Bob Dylan revisité |
| "Partir pour rester" | 2015 | 42 | 39 | — | | In extremis |
| "Dur comme fer" | 2015 | — | 13 | — | | In extremis |
| "À chaque amour que nous ferons" | 2015 | 141 | — | — | | In extremis |
| "Le pays d'à côté" | 2016 | — | 28 | — | | In extremis |
| "Te ressembler" | 2020 | 25 | — | — | | À l'Aube revenant |
| "Peuple des fontaines" | 2021 | 144 | — | — | | À l'Aube revenant |
| "À l'Aube revenant" | 2021 | 88 | — | — | | À l'Aube revenant |
| "Rockstars du Moyen Âge" | 2021 | 98 | — | — | | À l'Aube revenant |
| "Un morceau de Sicre" | 2023 | — | — | — | | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||||

### As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | FRA | BEL (Wa) | Album |
| "La complainte de la butte" (with Patrick Bruel) | 2002 | 48 | — | Entre deux |
| "Tout reste à faire" (with Souad Massi) | 2010 | — | 15 | Ô houria |
| "Petite Marie" (with Umberto Tozzi) | 2012 | — | 25 | Yesterday: The Best of 1976-2012 |
| "Sueno" (Gipsy Kings featuring Francis Cabrel) | 2014 | — | — | Savor Flamenco |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||

## Other charted songs

List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | FRA | BEL (Wa) | Album |
| "Madame n'aime pas" | 2009 | — | 12 | Des roses et des orties |
| "Les filles à quoi ça sert" (with Bénabar, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Alain Souchon) | 2011 | — | 3 | Titeuf |
| "Lucie" (with Nolwenn Leroy) | 2014 | 193 | — | Kiss & Love |
| "Mademoiselle l'aventure" | 2015 | 150 | — | Des roses et des orties |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |||||

## Videography

* Sarbacane tour (1989)

## Footnotes

* ↑ Les Murs de poussière was originally released as Francis Cabrel.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 These songs did not enter the Ultratop 50 (Walloon), but rather the sales chart Ultratip 50.