Bénabar
Actor
Born June 16, 1969 in Thiais, Val-de-Marne, France
Bruno Nicolini (born 16 June 1969), better known by his stage name Bénabar, is a French songwriter and singer, who could be compared to Vincent Delerm and other singers from his generation. As many of them he was influenced by Georges Brassens, Renaud, Jacques Higelin and also Tom Waits. His songs describe day-to-day life events with humour and a tender cynicism. His songs are influenced by French chanson and a heavy influence is placed on the piano or the accordion and on typical French fanfare (brass band) for the most upbeat of them. This genre of music is very typically French and differs from most in that emphasis is placed on appreciation of the lyrics and that it is linked to a specific culture of modern "guinche" (slang for "guinguette") appreciated a lot by Bobos among others. Bénabar began his career in the cinema, working as an assistant on Le Brasier (1991) before directing three short subjects: Nada Lezard (1991), José Jeannette (1992) and Sursum corda (1994). He then turned to music, working for some time with his friend Patchol who gave him his nickname (Bénabar being the "verlan" of Barnabé, the name he was using on stage). With "Les associés" he sang for several years in small places in France, Belgium, and Switzerland before the release of Bénabar (2001), which raised his profile sufficiently to make him the opening act for Henri Salvador. He was nominated as a Revelation for the "Victoires de la musique 2003" but did not win it. In 2004, after the successful release of Les risques du métier, he won the award for "album "chanson/variété" of the year". His next album Reprise des négociations sold better than the previous ones: according to Le Figaro, Bénabar reached number 4 for CD sales in France, with 2.18 million euros sales in 2006. In 2007 he won the awards for "Male group or artist of the year" and "original song of the year" (for Le dîner).
Filmography
La belle histoire de la chanson française
Self
La fête de la chanson française - 20 ans d'émotions
Self : Guest
Les Enfoirés 2026 - La Ballade des Enfoirés
Self
11e edition de La Nuit de la Deprime aux Folies Bergère
La Grande Soirée du 31 de Paris
Self : Guest
Le Grand Concert de la Francophonie célèbre Jean-Jaques Goldman
Self : Guest
Serge Lama, le dernier rappel
Self
Vos 40 chansons préférées des Enfoirés
Self (archive footage)
La Grande Fête de Carcassonne
Self
Laurent Gerra, l'anniversaire-événement
Self
Chez Lolo
Ici Nougaro ! Le concert évènement
Self
Taratata fête les 40 ans de Bercy
Self
Éternel Aznavour : le concert événement
Self : Guest
Indochine, une révolution musicale
Self
Renaud, souvenirs, souvenirs
Self
Tété à la Cigale : À la faveur des rencontres
Self
The Grand Restaurant IV
Tous Inconnus
("Perdu de recherche" segment)
The Unexpected Getaway
Self
Corsu Mezu Mezu, le concert
Self
Bénabar - Tournée des indociles
Joyeux anniversaire Renaud
Self
They Love Each Other... Well, Almost!
Hypolite
Les Enfoirés 2022 - Un air d'Enfoirés
Le bal des Bodin's
Self - Chanteur
Un monde, un regard
Jean-Jacques Goldman : la grande soirée anniversaire / la soirée continue
Self
Good Singers
Les plus belles comptines d'Okoo
La Boîte à secrets
Self
My Out-Laws
Harold Becker
Victor & Célia
Max
Les Enfoirés 2019 - Le Monde des Enfoirés
Basique, le concert
Self
Les Enfoirés 2018 - Musique !
Taratata fête ses 25 ans 100% live au Zénith
Self
Les Enfoirés 2017 - Mission Enfoirés
Je vous écoute
Les Enfoirés 2016 - Au rendez-vous des Enfoirés
Self
Le Secret d'Élise
Jean-Pierre Letilleul - 1969
Folie passagère
Self
Capitaine Marleau
Yannick Murat
The Night Watchmen
Pedro
Les Enfoirés 2015 - Sur la route des Enfoirés
Les copains d'abord font du ski
Self
Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui
Open Bar
Self
Les Enfoirés 2014 - Bon anniversaire Les Enfoirés
Bénabar : Bien l'bonsoir m'sieurs dames
Self
Les Enfoirés 2013 - La Boîte à Musique des Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés 2010 - Les Enfoirés... la Crise de Nerfs
The Great Restaurant
Michel - un client du restaurant
Incognito
Lucas
Les Enfoirés 2008 - Les secrets des Enfoirés
Michel Delpech &... live at the Grand Rex, Paris
Self
The Pink Soldier
Le Petit Chimiste
Bénabar - Tournée 2006
Self
On n'est pas couché
Self - Guest
Infrarouge
Self
La chanson de l'année
Self
Madame Edouard
Bénabar - Live au Grand Rex
Self
Burger Quiz
Self
H
Vivement dimanche
Self
Taratata
Self
Victoires de la musique
Self
Champs-Elysées
Self