Stromae — Tiny Desk Concert (NPR), Washington, 2022

A Belgian singer-songwriter, Stromae (Paul Van Haver) has established himself as one of the most striking voices in modern French-language song, blending pop melodies, electronic rhythms and lyrics of rare social acuity. This live concert, filmed in 2022 for American radio NPR’s Tiny Desk series, captures him in a pared-down, intimate format, behind the famous desk cluttered with books and trinkets. Backed by the Bulgarian women’s choir Yasna Voices, Stromae performs four songs: “L’enfer,” a shattering admission about suicidal thoughts, “Santé,” a tribute to unseen workers, the timeless “Alors on danse” and “Mon amour.” A stripped-back live recording, the video lays bare the strength of his melodies and the precision of his singing, far from the stage machinery of his big shows. The globally followed Tiny Desk format underscores the universal dimension of his writing. An essential live concert for lovers of French chanson, lyric-driven pop and minimalist, intense performances.