Leroy's parents left Saint-Renan when she was four years old. Read Full BioNolwenn Leroy, (born 28 September 1982 in Saint-Renan, Finistère, Brittany), is a French singer and songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the second series of the French television reality show, Star Academy. She has since recorded four studio albums and scored two number one singles, "Cassé" and "Nolwenn Ohwo!", on the French charts. In 2012, her album, Bretonne, was certified Four times diamond for sales exceeding Two million copies.
Leroy's parents left Saint-Renan when she was four years old. After living in Paris, Lille, and Guingamp, her mother, Murielle, and her younger sister, Kay, settled with Leroy's grandparents in Saint-Yorre. Her mother divorced from her father, professional footballer Jean-Luc Le Magueresse, in 1993.
Nolwenn studied at the "Collège des Célestins" in Vichy. When Leroy was eleven, her music teacher noticed her musical talents and encouraged her to learn the violin. At the age of thirteen she won "Les écoles du désert", a contest sponsored by the Cora supermarket chain, which allowed her to travel with a humanitarian mission from Gao to Timbuktu, Mali; she later claimed this had a profound influence on her.
In July 1998, Leroy was awarded a scholarship by the Vichy Rotary Club to travel to Hamilton, Ohio, as an exchange student. While attending Hamilton High School, she took music lessons at the Performing Arts School and became fluent in English during her stay there.
When she returned to France, she began classical singing classes at the Vichy music conservatory.
In 2001, she enrolled in the University of Clermont-Ferrand to study law for a potential alternative career to music.
2002: Star Academy
After watching the first series of the television reality show, Star Academy, in 2001, Leroy was impressed by Armande Altaï, one of the show's judges, and decided to join Altaï's singing classes.[citation needed] In 2002, Nolwenn was selected for the second season of the show. She was declared the overall winner, ahead of her fellow finalist, Houcine,in December 2002.
2003–2004: Eponymous debut album
Leroy's first album, Nolwenn, was released in March 2003 and was certified platinum by November for sales exceeding 600,000 copies. In 2006, the album was certified two times platinum by the Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique for more than 800,000 copies sold. Four songs from the album, "Cassé", "Une Femme cachée", "Suivre une étoile" and "Inévitablement" were released as singles. Leroy went on tour in France, Belgium and Switzerland in late 2003 to promote songs from the album.
2005–2008: Histoires Naturelles
Leroy's second album, Histoires Naturelles, was produced by Laurent Voulzy. Five singles were released from the album. "Nolwenn Ohwo!", written by Alain Souchon and Voulzy, topped the French music charts.[7] The second single was the title track, "Histoire Naturelle". Music videos were made for both songs; the video for "Histoire Naturelle" expressed the main theme of the album with Leroy being portrayed as natural history museum exhibits. Of the other single releases, "Mon Ange" was distributed digitally while "J'aimais tant l'aimer" and "Reste Encore" were promotional-only. Songs from Histoires Naturelles and Nolwenn were performed on Leroy's second tour entitled "Histoires Naturelles Tour", which started in September 2006. Leroy's first live album was subsequently released in late October 2007.
2009–2010: Le Cheshire Cat & Moi
Le Cheshire Cat & Moi was a project that began in 2007, co-written by Leroy and Teitur Lassen, with contributions from Jonatha Brooke, Michelle Featherstone, Mike Errico and Rupert Hine. It was arranged and produced by Lassen, and recorded in Sweden and the Faroe Islands. Leroy was observed to feature "a lighter sound than on previous releases"and the album gave the opportunity for her to write all the lyrics.The album was released in December 2009. A tour entitled "Le Cheshire Cat & Vous" to promote the record was held in 2010.
2010–2012: Bretonne
Leroy performing at the 2010 Francofolies in Spa (Belgium).
Leroy released a fourth studio album, Bretonne, on 6 December 2010. Cover versions of traditional celtic songs such as "Mná na h-Éireann", and contemporary songs such as Christophe Miossec's "Brest" were included on the album. Most of the songs related to Brittany, the singer's birthplace, four sung in Breton. Leroy collaborated with Jon Kelly for the musical arrangements. The album topped the French album charts for 9 weeks.
The album was re-released in November 2011 as a Deluxe Edition which added 7 English language tracks, including "Amazing Grace", "Scarborough Fair" and two Mike Oldfield tracks, "Moonlight Shadow" and "To France".
2012–present: Ô Filles de l'Eau
Nolwenn Leroy will release her new album on the 26th of November 2012. In December 2012, as it sold more than 300,000 albums Ô Filles de l'Eau.
Leroy's music was studied for its neurological impact in geriatric populations. Researchers found that Leroy's recordings might have a more beneficial effect than other music, noting that: "the music of Nolwenn Leroy was found to be significantly superior to other music tested". To describe the phenomenon they coined the term the Nolwenn Effect, saying: "the music of Nolwenn Leroy appears to have a different effect on brain-based modulation of gait and stance than other music tested to date".
Mozart and Dutch and French singers were tested; only Mozart and Leroy's music were specified. The U.S. study was completed in February 2008, but no substantial results appear to be published
Tri Martolod
Nolwenn Leroy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Tri martolod yaouank o voned da veajiñ
Tri martolod yaouank (tra la la, la la la la)
Tri martolod yaouank o voned da veajiñ
O voned da veajiñ ge, o voned da veajiñ (bis)
Gant avel bet kaset (tra la la, la la la la)
Gant avel bet kaset betek an Douar Nevez
Betek an Douar Nevez ge, betek an Douar Nevez
E-kichen Maen ar Veilh (tra la la, la la la la)
E-kichen Maen ar Veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
O deus mouilhet o eorioù ge, o deus mouilhet o eorioù
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se (tra la la, la la la la)
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
E oa ur servijourez ge, e oa ur servijourez
Hag e c'houlenn ganin (tra la la, la la la la)
Hag e c'houlenn ganin pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
Pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs ge, pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
E Naoned, er marc'had (tra la la, la la la la)
E Naoned, er marc'had hor boa choazet ur walenn
Hor boa choazet ur walenn ge, hor boa choazet ur walenn
Gwalenn ar bromesa (tra la la, la la la la)
Gwalenn ar bromesa, ha par omp da zimeziñ
Ha par omp da zimeziñ ge, ha par omp da zimeziñ
- Ni 'zimezo hon-daou (tra la la, la la la la )
Ni 'zimezo hon-daou, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
Ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj ge, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
- Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez (tra la la, la la la la )
Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
N'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes ge, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
- N'hon eus na ti na plouz, (tra la la, la la la la)
N'hon eus na ti na plouz, na gwele da gousket en noz
Na gwele da gousket en noz ge, na gwele da gousket en noz
N'eus na liñser na lenn, (tra la la, la la la la )
N'eus na liñser na lenn, na pennwele dindan ar penn
Na pennwele dindan ar penn ge, na pennwele dindan ar penn
N'hon eus na skubell na loa, (tra la la, la la la la )
N'hon eus na skubell na loa, na dañvez d'ober bara
Na dañvez d'ober bara ge, na danvez d'ober bara
- Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar (tra la la, la la la la )
Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar, ni 'gousko war an douar
Ni 'gousko war an douar ge, ni 'gousko war an douar
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg, (tra la la, la la la la )
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
Pa sav an heol 'ya da redek ge, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
Echu eo ma jañson, (tra la la, la la la la)
Echu eo ma jañson, an hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
An hini 'oar 'c'hontinui, an hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
The song "Tri Martolod" by Nolwenn Leroy tells the story of three young sailors who travel together and come across various experiences. The title translates to "Three Young Sailors" and the song is in Breton, a Celtic language spoken in the Brittany region of France. The chorus repeats the opening line, with the phrase "tra la la" added for emphasis. The first verse describes the sailors as they set off on their voyage. The second verse tells of their journey across the sea and their arrival at a new land. The third verse introduces a female servant who works on a farm and helps the sailors. In the fourth verse, the narrator is asked where they have been and they respond that they have been to Nantes, where they purchased a woolen blanket. The fifth verse describes the blanket as promising warmth and comfort in the coming winter. The final line of each verse repeats the phrase "ge" to emphasize the end of that section.
Overall, the song chronicles the journey of these young sailors through various situations and introduces a variety of characters along the way. The lyrics highlight the beauty of the Breton language and the culture of France's Brittany region.
Line by Line Meaning
Tri martolod yaouank
Three young sailors
(tra la la, la la la la)
Tri martolod yaouank o voned da veajiñ
Three young sailors who want to sail
O voned da veajiñ ge, o voned da veajiñ (bis)
Wishing to go sailing, wishing to go sailing (repeat)
Gant avel bet kaset
Carried by the wind
Gant avel bet kaset betek an Douar Nevez
Carried by the wind until the New Land
Betek an Douar Nevez ge, betek an Douar Nevez
Until the New Land, until the New Land
E-kichen Maen ar Veilh
Near Maen ar Veilh
E-kichen Maen ar Veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
Near Maen ar Veilh they've sharpened their oars
O deus mouilhet o eorioù ge, o deus mouilhet o eorioù
They've sharpened their oars, they've sharpened their oars
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se
And inside that ship
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
And inside that ship there was a serving-girl
E oa ur servijourez ge, e oa ur servijourez
There was a serving-girl, there was a serving-girl
Hag e c'houlenn ganin
And she asked me
Hag e c'houlenn ganin pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
And she asked me where I come from
Pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs ge, pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
Where I come from, where I come from
E Naoned, er marc'had
In Nantes, at the market
E Naoned, er marc'had hor boa choazet ur walenn
In Nantes, at the market, we chose a dress
Hor boa choazet ur walenn ge, hor boa choazet ur walenn
We chose a dress, we chose a dress
Gwalenn ar bromesa
The promise ring
Gwalenn ar bromesa, ha par omp da zimeziñ
The promise ring, and we agree to marry
Ha par omp da zimeziñ ge, ha par omp da zimeziñ
And we agree to marry, and we agree to marry
- Ni 'zimezo hon-daou
- We'll marry each other
Ni 'zimezo hon-daou, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
We'll marry each other, even if there's no advantage
Ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj ge, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
Even if there's no advantage, even if there's no advantage
- Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez
- Your mother is your own
Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
Your mother is your own, you don't care who's in trouble
N'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes ge, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
You don't care who's in trouble, you don't care who's in trouble
- N'hon eus na ti na plouz,
- We don't have a house or a farm,
N'hon eus na ti na plouz, na gwele da gousket en noz
We don't have a house or a farm, nowhere to sleep at night
Na gwele da gousket en noz ge, na gwele da gousket en noz
Nowhere to sleep at night, nowhere to sleep at night
N'eus na liñser na lenn,
No bed, no blanket,
N'eus na liñser na lenn, na pennwele dindan ar penn
No bed, no blanket, nothing to lay our heads on
Na pennwele dindan ar penn ge, na pennwele dindan ar penn
Nothing to lay our heads on, nothing to lay our heads on
N'hon eus na skubell na loa,
No spoon, no bowl,
N'hon eus na skubell na loa, na dañvez d'ober bara
No spoon, no bowl, nothing to make bread with
Na dañvez d'ober bara ge, na danvez d'ober bara
Nothing to make bread with, nothing to make bread with
- Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar
- We'll sleep on the ground
Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar, ni 'gousko war an douar
We'll sleep on the ground, we'll sleep on the ground
Ni 'gousko war an douar ge, ni 'gousko war an douar
We'll sleep on the ground, we'll sleep on the ground
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg,
We'll sing like the lark,
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
We'll sing like the lark, when the sun rises
Pa sav an heol 'ya da redek ge, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
When the sun rises, when the sun rises
Echu eo ma jañson,
My song is finished,
An hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
The one that lasts forever
An hini 'oar 'c'hontinui, an hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
The one that lasts forever, the one that lasts forever
Contributed by Claire R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Garabella
Tri martolod yaouank... la la la...
Tri martolod yaouank i vonet da veajiñ (bis)
E vonet da veajiñ, gê!
E vonet da veajiñ (bis)
Gant 'n avel bet kaset... la la la...
Gant 'n avel bet kaset beteg an Douar Nevez (bis>
Beteg an Douar Nevez, gê!
Beteg an Douar Nevez (bis)
E-kichen mein ar veilh... la la la...
E-kichen mein ar veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù (bis)
O deus mouilhet o eorioù, gê!
O deus mouilhet o eorioù (bis)
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se... la la la...
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez (bis)
Pelec'h on-oa konesañs, gê!
Pelec'h on-oa konesañs (bis)
En Naoned er marc'had... la la la...
En Naoned er marc'had on-oa choajet ur walenn
Satori
"Three young sailors... la la la… Three young sailors went traveling
Went traveling! Went traveling
And the wind pushed them… la la la... The wind pushed them to Newfoundland
All the way to Newfoundland! All the way to Newfoundland
Next to the windmill stone… la la la... Next to the windmill stone, they dropped anchor
They dropped anchor! They dropped anchor
And in that windmill… la la la... And in that windmill was a servant girl
There was a servant girl! There was a servant girl
'Where have we met before? Where have we met before?'
In Nantes at the market… la la la... In Nantes at the market, we chose a ring"
It's hopeless, you can't go anywhere w/o bumping into one of your exes...
Halo Optional
J'adore Nolwenn, je suis irlandaise et je tente d'apprendre ces belles chansons celtiques vivre la Bretagne et la Celtisme! <3
slbreizh
C'est un album de reprises
nathan Al brezhon
She isn't from brittany tho
Artichaut Mécontent
Yes she is
nathan Al brezhon
Artichaut Mécontent nope she is from alsace
nathan Al brezhon
And the song talk about three young sailors and so where are they where s the ocean
toughcookie128
Très belle voix, lâchez pas les bretons soyez fiers, Mme Leroy est une bonne ambassadrice de la Bretagne, je ne savais pas que la Bretagne formait une nation au sein de la France avec sa propre langue et culture. De la part d'un Québecois.
toughcookie128
LoarwennBZH C'est votre opinion et je ne peux pas parler pour les Bretons, mais ce que je peux dire par contre c'est qu'elle a piqué ma curiosité sur la culture bretonne que je ne connaissais pas du tout. Cela m'a mené vers Alan Stivell que j'ai commencé à écouter avec grand plaisir. Si vous avez d'autres artistes qui chantent en langue bretonne à suggérer, n'hésitez pas svp!
toughcookie128
LoarwennBZH Merci!
bies jean-françois
LoarwennBZH malheureusement je ne connais pas tout les noms d'artiste que tu as donné, à part Alan Stivell que j'aime beaucoup qui passé souvent à une certaine époque sur les antennes il y a de nombreuses années et c'est comme cela que j'ai découvert la musique bretonne: Je ne sais pas si je vais pouvoir trouver des CD, mais cette liste que je vais garder me permettra peut être de rencontrer la vrai musique bretonne...Merci