2000–2002: Désirs Contraires, Chrysalis, Open Hearts and the collaboration era
In 1999, Anggun ended her seven-year marriage to Michel Georgea. Then, in September 2000, she released her second French album, Désirs Contraires.[7] It was considered a remarkable artistic departure from Au nom de la lune, experimenting with electronic pop and ambient elements as well as R&B music. Erick Benzi again produced the album, and this time around, the album featured Anggun's musical compositions (although Benzi wrote the lyrics). Due to poor promotion, it eventually failed to repeat even a fraction of the success of Au nom de la lune. Only two singles were released off the album: the tropical-sounding "Un geste d'amour" and the R&B-influenced "Derrière la porte". Both singles failed to achieve commercial success, although "Un geste d'amour" reached number 62 on the French Singles Chart.
It was the English version of the album that enjoyed more success. Chrysalis, the English-language version of Désirs Contraires, was released nearly a month prior to its French version. It was a huge artistic growth for Anggun, having co-written the entire album. It also did not feature any adaptations from its French counterpart, meaning that both albums have different lyrical themes, even though the music is almost entirely the same. This album was released in 15 countries in Europe and Asia.[7] Despite the rumor that the album would be released in the US around 2001, it was never released there, although the album's single, "Still Reminds Me", received some airplay in clubs across the region. Through Chrysalis, Anggun also began to develop a fan base in Latin America, particularly in Brazil.
It was the English version of the album that enjoyed more success. Chrysalis, the English-language version of Désirs Contraires, was released nearly a month prior to its French version. It was a huge artistic growth for Anggun, having co-written the entire album. It also did not feature any adaptations from its French counterpart, meaning that both albums have different lyrical themes, even though the music is almost entirely the same. This album was released in 15 countries in Europe and Asia.[7] Despite the rumor that the album would be released in the US around 2001, it was never released there, although the album's single, "Still Reminds Me", received some airplay in clubs across the region. Through Chrysalis, Anggun also began to develop a fan base in Latin America, particularly in Brazil.
"Still Reminds Me"
Sample of Anggun's hit single from album Chrysalis. This single was successful in several countries across Europe and Asia.
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The album spawned another huge single, "Still Reminds Me", which received high airplay across Asia and Europe, also becoming her third Top 20 single in Italy. This single was also a Top 5 single in the Music & Media European Borders Breaker Charts. However, its second single, "Chrysalis", failed to gain as much success (despite reaching the Top 40 in Italy). She also released a single specially for the Indonesian market, "Yang Ku Tunggu" (the Indonesian version of "Un geste d'amour"), which became a significant hit there.
Chrysaliswent Gold in Italy in just one week and reached multi-Gold and multi-Platinum status in numerous countries across Asia. Anggun also received in the same year the "Cosmopolitan Asia Woman Award", and later in 2002, the "Women Inspire Award", in recognition of her status as a solo singer who has given inspiration to Asian women through her career as an Asian singer with international success.
At the end of 2000, Anggun received an invitation from the Vatican, asking her to appear at a Christmas concert alongside Bryan Adams and Dionne Warwick. For the event, she gave her renditions of "Have Yourself a Little Merry Christmas" as well as "Still Reminds Me". Her performance was also included on the "Noel au Vatican" disc compilation. In recent years, Anggun has completed an impressive international promotion schedule (World Music Awards, MTV Awards, Top of the Pops, Silver Screen Awards, Women Inspire Awards, etc.). In 2000, she also obtained French citizenship, despite this causing controversy in her home country. In the spring of 2001, Anggun toured across Asia and Europe, with her first concert in France at Le Bataclan on 1 February 2001. The tour ended on 30 April, with her final concert at the Kallang Theatre in Singapore.
During this period, Anggun also did a string of collaborations, soundtrack projects and charity albums. These included a collaboration with DJ Cam on "Summer in Paris" (which later became a club hit in Europe and Asia for both artists) on his 2002 album, "Soulshine"; an Indonesian-English song with Deep Forest on "Deep Blue Sea" on their 2002 album, "Music Detected"; and three collaborations in 2003, including with Piero Pelù (an Italian rock star), Serge Lama and Tri Yann. She also participated in several charity projects such as Echoes of the Earth in 2000, Les voix de l'espoir in 2001 and Gaia in 2002 (featuring a duet with Zucchero on the song "World", which was also released as a single).
Sample of Anggun's hit single from album Chrysalis. This single was successful in several countries across Europe and Asia.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.
The album spawned another huge single, "Still Reminds Me", which received high airplay across Asia and Europe, also becoming her third Top 20 single in Italy. This single was also a Top 5 single in the Music & Media European Borders Breaker Charts. However, its second single, "Chrysalis", failed to gain as much success (despite reaching the Top 40 in Italy). She also released a single specially for the Indonesian market, "Yang Ku Tunggu" (the Indonesian version of "Un geste d'amour"), which became a significant hit there.
Chrysaliswent Gold in Italy in just one week and reached multi-Gold and multi-Platinum status in numerous countries across Asia. Anggun also received in the same year the "Cosmopolitan Asia Woman Award", and later in 2002, the "Women Inspire Award", in recognition of her status as a solo singer who has given inspiration to Asian women through her career as an Asian singer with international success.
At the end of 2000, Anggun received an invitation from the Vatican, asking her to appear at a Christmas concert alongside Bryan Adams and Dionne Warwick. For the event, she gave her renditions of "Have Yourself a Little Merry Christmas" as well as "Still Reminds Me". Her performance was also included on the "Noel au Vatican" disc compilation. In recent years, Anggun has completed an impressive international promotion schedule (World Music Awards, MTV Awards, Top of the Pops, Silver Screen Awards, Women Inspire Awards, etc.). In 2000, she also obtained French citizenship, despite this causing controversy in her home country. In the spring of 2001, Anggun toured across Asia and Europe, with her first concert in France at Le Bataclan on 1 February 2001. The tour ended on 30 April, with her final concert at the Kallang Theatre in Singapore.
During this period, Anggun also did a string of collaborations, soundtrack projects and charity albums. These included a collaboration with DJ Cam on "Summer in Paris" (which later became a club hit in Europe and Asia for both artists) on his 2002 album, "Soulshine"; an Indonesian-English song with Deep Forest on "Deep Blue Sea" on their 2002 album, "Music Detected"; and three collaborations in 2003, including with Piero Pelù (an Italian rock star), Serge Lama and Tri Yann. She also participated in several charity projects such as Echoes of the Earth in 2000, Les voix de l'espoir in 2001 and Gaia in 2002 (featuring a duet with Zucchero on the song "World", which was also released as a single).
Her collaboration with Deep Forest became a radio hit in Indonesia, while her duet with Piero Pelù on "Amore Immaginato" became a hit for both artists in Italy. The song spent a month at the top of Italian Airplay Chart and reached the Top 20 on Italian Singles Chart, establishing Anggun's fame in Italy.Anggun also participated in a Scandinavian movie project, Open Hearts. Anggun released the soundtrack album Open Hearts in 2002. She co-wrote three tracks on this album, alongside Jesper Winge Leisner and Niels Brinck. The album was released in the United States in February 2003 with different works and became her second album (so far, the final) to be released there. The album produced a single, "Open Your Heart", which was nominated as Best Film Song at 2003 Danish Movie Awards. "Counting Down" was also released for radio and became a modest airplay hit in Europe and Asia.
In January 2003, Anggun met France's Culture Minister and received, at Midem, the international exhibition of the music industry, a prestigious Diamond Award for sales outside France reaching more than 1.2m copies, making her one of the best selling French music export success stories ever, among artists like Daft Punk, Air and Manu Chao.
Album information
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| International Studio Album |
Following the success of her international breakthrough album,
Snow on the Sahara, in 1998, Anggun returned to prominence with her
second international album entitled Chrysalis. The album was released
shortly after its French version, Désirs Contraires. As the title
suggests, the album shows Anggun's growth—both personally and
musically—as prior to the release of the album, she divorced her husband
of seven years, Michel de Gae. The divorce presumably inspired Anggun
to write songs like "Still Reminds Me" and "Broken Dream," among others,
on the album. The album also marked Anggun's artistic development, as a
departure from Snow on the Sahara where she only co-wrote one song, on
Chrysalis she co-wrote every song with Erick Benzi with exceptions of
"Rain," "Tears of Sorrow," and "Non Angelical," (co-written with Cathy
Grier and Erick Benzi) and "Comme un privilege" (co-written with Erick
Benzi and Nicolas Mingot). Anggun's songwriting varies from heartbroken
("Still Reminds Me," "Broken Dream"), love-longing ("Breathing," "Signs
of Destiny"), humanity ("Tears of Sorrow," "How the World...") even
spirituality ("A Prayer") and a fan's obsession ("Want You to Want Me").
 |
| French Studio Album Version |
The music is also a departure from the highly ethnic-influenced Snow on the Sahara to more Euro-pop/electro sounds. This evident is clear on songs like "Rain", "Signs of Destiny," and "Forbidden Love." Meanwhile, her pop/world trademark can also be found on "How The World...". The album also features some acoustic ballads (accompanied with piano only), in songs like "Want You to Want Me" and "Broken Dream."
Another thing, the album has a lot simpler production compared to Snow on the Sahara, as the sounds are mainly based on synth and computer programming. Only two instruments were used: electric guitar and keyboards. Like her debut album, the music on the English version is the same as the French one, but this time around, the lyrics are different (on Chrysalis, Anggun wrote all the lyrics by herself except for four songs and on Désirs Contraires, Erick Benzi took a sole songwriting part). There are two songs in the French version which are not available on the English version ("Marcher sur la mer" and "Brume"). Instead, they are replaced with two original songs in English ("A Prayer" and "Forbidden Love").
The album has sold 1.2 million copies worldwide, repeating the sales of Snow on the Sahara. However, it was only certified in two countries: Italy (Gold) and Indonesia (3x Platinum). It spawned a hit single "Still Reminds Me" which received heavy airplay in Asia and Europe. The second single, "Chrysalis," did not match the success of the first.
This album is regarded to be Anggun's most personal work to date by fans.
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