A case for Stromae
Racine Carée (“Squared Root” in French) is the most recent album by Belgian musical performer Stromae. Released in August 2013, Racine Carrée took Europe by storm, quickly jumping to the top of the charts in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Students who’ve studied abroad since the album’s release are sure to have heard hit singles like “Papaoutai” (Papa, where are you?) and “Tous les mêmes” (All the same) in clubs and on the radio. In the United States the album has not had as strong of a presence, most likely due to its exclusively French lyrics. However, he has done multiple remixes with English-speaking performers like Kanye West, Will.I.Am and Angel Haze. This summer, however, he’s going coast to coast on the American leg of his international tour.