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
Mna Na H-Eireann
Nolwenn Leroy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is tá bean in Éirinn is ba bhinne léithe mo ráfla ceoil
Ná seinm théad; atá bean in Éirinn is níorbh fhearr léi beo
Mise ag léimnigh nó leagtha I gcré is mo thárr faoi fhód
Tá bean in Éirinn a bheadh ag éad liom mur' bhfaighfinn ach póg
Ó bhean ar aonach, nach ait an scéala, is mo dháimh féin leo;
Tá bean ab fhearr liom nó cath is céad dhíobh nach bhfagham go deo
Tá bean a déarfadh dá siulfainn léi go bhfaighinn an t-ór,
Is tá bean 'na léine is is fearr a méin ná na táinte bó
Le bean a bhuairfeadh Baile an Mhaoir is clár Thír Eoghain,
Is ní fheicim leigheas ar mo ghalar féin ach scaird a dh'ól
The lyrics to Nolwenn Leroy's song Mna Na H-Eireann express admiration for the women of Ireland. The first stanza speaks of a woman in Ireland who could provide the singer with wealth and pleasure from her company. However, there is another woman in Ireland who is more enamored by the beauty of the music and singing than material gain. The singer is willing to dance or lie flat on the ground, admiring this woman, who values life above all else. In the second stanza, the singer imagines a woman who would value a kiss more than any gold, who would prefer to spend time with the singer than attending a market. The final verse describes a woman who can cure any ailment but the singer's obsession with her beauty. Collectively, these verses suggest that the women of Ireland are unique and possess a depth of character.
Nolwenn Leroy's song Mna Na H-Eireann was originally written in the Irish language and composed by poet Seán Ó Riordáin and composer Peadar Ó Riada. It was first performed in an episode of a television program called “Ós Ceann an Gleanna” in 1967. The song became a symbol of Ireland's unique cultural identity and was popularized by performances like Alan Stivell's version in 1971. Here are some interesting facts about this song:
Line by Line Meaning
Tá bean in Éirinn a phronnfadh séad domh is mo sháith le n-ól
There is a woman in Ireland who would buy me jewels and content me with drink.
Is tá bean in Éirinn is ba bhinne léithe mo ráfla ceoil
And there's a woman in Ireland to whom my music is sweeter than any composed by another.
Ná seinm théad; atá bean in Éirinn is níorbh fhearr léi beo
Not a note would I play, were there in Ireland a woman who did not prefer me alive.
Mise ag léimnigh nó leagtha i gcré is mo thárr faoi fhód
I'd be leaping, or lying in the clay, with my shroud upon me, under the sod.
Tá bean in Éirinn a bheadh ag éad liom mur' bhfaighfinn ach póg
There's a woman in Ireland I'd be jealous of, if I didn't get a kiss from her.
Ó bhean ar aonach, nach ait an scéala, is mo dháimh féin leo;
From the woman at the fair, no news could keep me away, and my wealth in my own possession.
Tá bean ab fhearr liom nó cath is céad dhíobh nach bhfagham go deo
The woman I love best, even despite a hundred battles, is one I'll never get.
Is tá cailín spéiriúil ag fear gan Bhéarla, dubhghránna cróin.
And there's a spirited girl with an Englishman, a dark frown on her.
Tá bean a déarfadh dá siulfainn léi go bhfaighinn an t-ór,
There's a woman who would say, were I to walk with her, that I'd find the gold.
Is tá bean 'na léine is is fearr a méin ná na táinte bó
And there's a woman in her shift who is finer of appearance than the dairy-maids.
Le bean a bhuairfeadh Baile an Mhaoir is clár Thír Eoghain,
For the woman who would bother Ballymagorry and the County of Tyrone,
Is ní fheicim leigheas ar mo ghalar féin ach scaird a dh'ól
I see no cure for my own complaint, except a drink from a glass.
Lyrics © Global Talent Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ACUM Ltd., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mike Scott, Sean O'riada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ema Ouardi
Tá bean in Éirinn a phronnfadh séad domh is mo sháith le n-ól
Is tá bean in Éirinn is ba bhinne léithe mo ráfla ceoil
Ná seinm théad; atá bean in Éirinn is níorbh fhearr léi beo
Mise ag léimnigh nó leagtha i gcré is mo thárr faoi fhód
Tá bean in Éirinn a bheadh ag éad liom mur' bhfaighfinn ach póg
Ó bhean ar aonach, nach ait an scéala, is mo dháimh féin leo;
Tá bean ab fhearr liom nó cath is céad dhíobh nach bhfagham go deo
Is tá cailín spéiriúil ag fear gan Bhéarla, dubhghránna cróin.
Tá bean a déarfadh dá siulfainn léi go bhfaighinn an t-ór,
Is tá bean 'na léine is is fearr a méin ná na táinte bó
Le bean a bhuairfeadh Baile an Mhaoir is clár Thír Eoghain,
Is ní fheicim leigheas ar mo ghalar féin ach scaird a dh'ól
bigjohn697791
"Mná na h-Éireann" in Irish, Below is an English translation.
There's a woman in Erin who'd give me shelter and my fill of ale;
There's a woman in Ireland who'd prefer my strains to strings being played;
There's a woman in Erin and nothing would please her more Than to see me burning or in a grave lying cold.
There's a woman in Erin who'd be mad with envy if I was kissed By another on fair-day, they have strange ways, but I love them all;
There are women I'll always adore, battalions of women and more And there's this sensuous beauty and she shackled to an ugly boar.
There's a woman who promised if I'd wander with her I'd find some gold A woman in night dress with a loveliness worth more than the woman Who vexed Ballymoyer and the plain of Tyrone; And the only cure for my pain I'm sure is the ale-house down the road.
Christophe G.
La France est fière d'avoir une chanteuse comme toi . Poésie et mystère sont les mots de la belle Nolwenn !! ♥
gerard .gerard
Tu m'enlèves les mots de la bouche. C'est ouf à quel point elle déchire. Dans tout ce qu'elle fait. Quand je vais pas bien je l'écoute. C'est un cadeau du ciel cette meuf.
Dominique Quadflieg
Belge, 30 années de vacances.....30 années de Bretagne. J'ai l'impression " d'en être". J' apprend la langue Bretonne. J'y retourne ce 1/10 pour 1 semaine. Merci Nolwenn de faire connaître aux "non initiés" la "musique celte".(Même çi c'est du "commerciale"). Il faut bien commencer par quelque part. Les Bretons sont des gens magnifiques. Quelle chance d'avoir un passé, une histoire, une identité, une musique........ Je vous envie.
pierregot
Je ne suis pas Bretonne....... mais je suis fière d'être fan de cette splendide artiste à la voix hors du commun et qui sait nous proccurer des émotions quoi qu'elle chante et là , je dois dire que sa voix est particulièrement .....whaouhhhhhh!!!!!
gerard .gerard
A chaque fois que j’entends Nolwenn chanter, j’ai l’impression que mon cœur va exploser d’émotion. C’est incroyable ce que sa voix procure. Pas étonnant que des enfants soient soignés aux USA grâce à sa musique (c’est sur sa page wiki). Cette femme est un cadeau du ciel. Après une longue et dure dépression, je me sens revivre et aimer. Sa musique m’a aidé à me relever. Merci bel ange ❤
ETHEVE Lucie
cette voix elle chante tellement juste et cette chanson lui va parfaitement et en plus elle est belle
Klaus-Roger Benuar
Je crois que personne ne peut interpréter la chanson aussi belle que Nolwenn
MrRalphmalf
peut etre Sinead o connor....ou andrea Corr mais c'est vrai que ça mets des frissons avec Nolwenn Leroy!
mimi harab
ETHEVE Lucie prkw
Momo
Ma chanson préférée <3 Elle m'a bercée durant toute mon enfance et elle continuera de le faire jusqu'à mon enterrement.