Jimmy's legend...

Nostra Dam
Jul 17, 2020
14 min read

Updated: Jul 29

Renaud Hantson is a French singer-songwriter who can claim to have won a drum excellence award from the age of 16.

It was in 1988 that he experienced his first solo successes with the titles "Voyeur" and "C’est du sirop", extracted from his second album "Briseur de coeurs".

While being part of the troop which takes up the mythical rock opera by Michel Berger "Starmania".

In 1990, he released his third album on the one hand and also obtained the main role in the new musical still by the same Michel Berger, namely "The legend of Jimmy".

It was necessary to wait two years and the year 1992 to see the release of his new Single "A.M.O.U.R. "And again two years and the year 1994 to see the release "Apprendre à vivre sans toi".

His last major album "Only Human" was released in 1997.

This didn't stop him from returning on numerous occasions, either solo or with the bands Furious Zoo and Satan Jokers, in a musical style radically different from his solo career.

A career continuity that clearly demonstrates the artist's many talents.

To discover or rediscover...

Discography (among others ...) :

80s Decade :

Les fils du Métal (Satan Jokers) 1983
Tokyo Geisha (Satan Jokers) 1983
En partance pour l'enfer (Satan Jokers) 1983
Pas fréquentables (Satan Jokers) 1984
Adrien (Satan Jokers) 1984
Trop fou pour toi (Satan Jokers) 1984
Justice (Satan Jokers) 1985
Pas de solution (Satan Jokers) 1985
Sorcier (Satan Jokers) 1985
Ta voix sur le répondeur 1986
Ne plus dire qu'on est seul 1987
Y’a pas d’mystères 1987
Le temps n'attend personne 1987
Voyeur 1988
C’est du sirop 1988
Le blues du briseur de cœur 1988
Sans amour 1988
La chanson de Ziggy (Starmania) 1988
Un enfant de la pollution (Starmania) 1988

90s Decade :

Silverscreen (La légende de Jimmy) 1990
Géant (La légende de Jimmy) 1990
Corrida (La légende de Jimmy) 1990
Petit homme 1990
Ne dis pas you love me 1990
Elle reste seule 1990
A.M.O.U.R. 1992
Danse nouveau monde 1992
Don't you wanna rock (Furious Zoo) 1992
Sex on the telephone line (Furious Zoo) 1992
Magic Tokyo girl (Furious Zoo) 1992
Ça n'suffit pas toujours 1993
Il faut donner 1993
Apprendre à vivre sans toi 1994
Quatre saisons 1994
Si tu te bats 1996
Féminin singulier 1997
Puisque c'est ainsi 1997
Seulement humain 1998

2000s Decade :

Je pers le Sud 2002
Un plus un 2002
Un monde à elle 2002
What you are to mee (Furious Zoo) 2005
Love can break your heart (Furious Zoo) 2005
Everytime (Furious Zoo) 2005
Groovin' with J (Furious Zoo) 2006
Feeling low (Furious Zoo) 2006
I love you (Furious Zoo) 2006
The furious zoo (Furious Zoo) 2008
No more (Furious Zoo) 2008
Dangerous game (Furious Zoo) 2008
Tu me manques 2008
Retrouve moi 2008
Comme on nait 2008
Silicone baby (Satan Jokers) 2009
Ma guitare (Satan Jokers) 2009

2010s Decade :

Tied up (Furious Zoo) 2010
Insomnia (Furious Zoo) 2010
Heal me (Furious Zoo) 2010
L'envie d'aimer 2011
La peine maximum 2011
Mourir comme lui 2011
Lune 2011
Dealer (Dr Vice) (Satan Jokers) 2011
Substance récompense (Satan Jokers) 2011
Euphorie (Satan Jokers) 2011
Eighteen (Furious Zoo) 2012
I don't wanna lose you (Furious Zoo) 2012
Fool (Furious Zoo) 2012
Et bien dansez maintenant 2013
Amour agonie 2013
Poudre aux yeux 2013
Serial killer (Satan Jokers) 2013
Panique hystérique (Satan Jokers) 2013
Camisole chimique (Satan Jokers) 2013
The witch blues (Furious Zoo) 2014
My heart reminds me (Furious Zoo) 2014
What about me (Furious Zoo) 2014
Préliminaires à l'infini (Satan Jokers) 2014
Sexhaolic (Satan Jokers) 2014
Promis (Satan Jokers) 2014
Heaven (Furious Zoo) 2016
Don't let me be lonely tonight (Furious Zoo) 2016
Breathing (Furious Zoo) 2016
Je serai une rock star 2017
Manager 2017
Puisque c'est ainsi 2017
Rêver au delà 2017
Strong (Furious Zoo) 2018
Now he has gone (Furious Zoo) 2018
Voice of my silence (Furious Zoo) 2018
Quand les héros se meurent (Satan Jokers) 2018
Justice (Satan Jokers) 2018
Ma vie sans (Satan Jokers) 2018
Little by little (Summer Storm) 2018
Whoever you are (Summer Storm) 2018
Life is too short (Summer Storm) 2018

2020s Decade :

Sacred land (Summer Storm) 2020
Tatoués à jamais 2020
Tout roule 2020
L'évidence 2020
Sans voir les nuages 2020
Troll 2022
Dépendant affectif 2022
Sans foi ni loi 2022
Merci 2022
Essentiel 2022
What is life (Furious Zoo) 2023
The day of reckoning (Furious Zoo) 2023
Didn't I (Furious Zoo) 2023
Tous mes héros sont morts 2023
Si je pouvais 2024
Le soir tombe 2024
Et nulle part ailleurs 2024

Tracks :

1983...who would imagine for a single moment that in a few years we'd find this band's young drummer in Michel Berger's masterpiece ? Not many people, that's for sure...

1983...because we're light years away from Starmania if we compare the two musical styles, that's clear. And yet...

1983...but you have to start somewhere, as they say, and for young Renaud, it's going to be in supercharged mode, to say the least...

1984...a particularly spirited musical style that he proudly proclaims and in which he will continue to excel in the years and especially the decades to come...

1984...and yet it is not in this particular field that he will be noticed but in a clearly more pop musical mode...

1984...but that's not happening anytime soon. For now, he's trying to make a name for himself in a musical field that's, at least, a bit unfamiliar to the public...

1985...the shift towards a more pop-rock sound will take place from the middle of the 80s. An evolution which will allow him to emerge somewhat from the crowd...

1985...a salutary evolution which reveals another side of the artist, clearly more in line with the expectations of the general public...

1985...it's clear that this evolution will inevitably open doors for him. And we'll quickly see that it's not just any doors that will open...

1986...the Intimist and particularly successful solo debut of a youngster whose talent was just waiting to be expressed. And now it's done !

1987 ... an Intimist domain which he particularly likes at first sight. And my faith, the result is pretty good every time !

1987 ... a nice first Dance title but which shows all the same that in this field, he still has a little work, it is clear ...

1987...what is certain in any case is that the potential of this singer is real and just waiting to be expressed. This bodes well for what comes next...

1988...it was the providential encounter with Michel Berger that would change the artist's destiny for good. It must be said that the opposite would have been surprising...

1988...a bunch of artists who participated in Michel Berger's Masterpiece saw their careers take a very favorable turn and he was one of them...

1988...a parallel solo effort that also bore fruit. The proof is in this new Dance track, much more accomplished and allowing him to demonstrate a now evident versatility. A versatility that allows him to showcase several facets of a talent just waiting to explode...

1988 ... shattering return to the Intimist with this title which will surely remain as one of its most inspired. A sumptuous track that literally floats in the air. MA-GIC !

1988...not all the tracks from this new opus will be officially released as Singles, but it would have been a shame to overlook some of them...

1988...so we might as well bring as many of them back into the spotlight as possible, since they truly deserve it. It's only fair, as they say...

1990...as their first collaboration had been a real success, the composer and the singer decided to do it again...

1990...unfortunately, it didn't quite go as planned. This musical comedy didn't find its audience and would remain one of Berger's very - rare - failures...

1990... which proves that, even for one of the most gifted composers of his generation, nothing is ever a given. The proof...

1990...rhythmic, light and airy, all the basic ingredients are here to make the title work. Great work for this solo comeback !

1990...after a most encouraging start to his career and a most favorable end to the 80s, it now remains to be seen what the 90s have in store for him...

1990...it's clear that at this point there's not much to worry about regarding him. So what comes next should be very interesting...

1992 ... this time, we went well in the following decade. We almost come to regret its kitsch side ...

1992...afterwards, you have to try to move with the times, and who could blame him, frankly. Not us, that's for sure...

1992...you can't change your nature. After years spent in the pop-rock genre, he's back to his roots...

1992...we won't remake him again, as they say. It needs these imperative returns in a much more punchy mode, it's clear...

1992...a parallel career that will remain less well-known, except to insiders, of course. And ultimately, throughout his career, he produced as many titles in this very particular field as in any other...

1993 ... back to Intimist mode. He was one of the rare singers of this decade to navigate so much in the Intimist and each time with a more than obvious know-how !

1993 ... he resists and clings, unfortunately goodwill is not always enough. Difficult to resist in this decade of 90 to an increasingly ruthless competition ...

1994 ... which will surely remain his biggest success. A particularly inspired title which shows that nothing is ever finished and that you have to believe in it to the end !

1994 ... the rest will be a little less favorable unfortunately. He does not demerit, far from it but to fight on an equal footing with the competition becomes literally impossible ...

1996 ... he still believes in it but there is only him to believe in it. His level of play is really not enough to allow him a possible return to grace ...

1997...he still believes in it anyway, and it doesn't matter if the competition is now far ahead. In music, everything is always possible...

1997...and in principle, he's absolutely right to say that everything is still possible. It remains to be seen whether the future will prove him right or not...

1998...an adventure that draws to a close with this title, at least at the top level. An adventure that was nonetheless beautiful and productive. With the key to several very high-caliber titles of more than evident quality. That's already something !

2002...because the adventure is far from over for him ! He will continue it in his own way, at his own pace and alternating musical styles as always...

2002...and it doesn't matter whether he succeeds or not. If he succeeds, so much the better, if not, so much the worse, the main thing for him now is to enjoy what he does. Quite simply...

2002...what is certain in any case is that his level of inspiration remains sufficient in any case to produce titles of more than certain interest...

2005...a decade in the 2000s that saw him continue to alternate between pop-rock and metal. And it would be like that until the end, that's for sure...

2005...rare will have been the artists to alternate several careers in parallel especially with such different musical styles...

2005...a minority of which he is a part and which will always make him unique. Not to mention that he is good in both areas which doesn't hurt, quite the contrary...

2006...his productivity level continues to truly impress. But how does he manage to keep his inspiration so renewed...

2006...surprisingly, in his punch, he will be able to highlight his obvious talents in the Intimist domain. A real feat in itself...

2006...once again the proof with this new title. The Intimist has always been for him a playground in which he was able to give the best of himself...

2008...even though the best years are well and truly behind him, that doesn't stop him from continuing to believe in it. And who could blame him on principle ?

2008...certainly not its core fans in any case, who are always asking for more and more. So, just for them, he might as well continue the adventure as much as possible...

2008...every decade we wonder if it will possibly be the last, but each time he comes back anyway...

2008...so we imagine we'll probably see him again during the next one. And whether in group mode or solo mode like now...

2008...because it's clear that he hasn't said his last word yet, it's clear. He still has things to offer and especially to sing, that's clear...

2008...and as long as he maintains this level of quality, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. So we might as well accompany him as far as possible...

2009...one shot solo, one shot in a group, one shot solo, one shot in a group. He loves to mix things up...

2009...a truly astonishing career that few artists of his generation have managed to complete like him, that's for sure...

2010...so here he is, starting his 4th decade of career with the firm intention of not giving up as usual...

2010...a desire to believe until the end that undeniably commands respect, even if success is no longer necessarily an option...

2010...the main thing for him in any case is to continue to enjoy what he does and that seems to be the case, otherwise he would have thrown in the towel a long time ago...

2011...here he is, deciding to revisit some of the most iconic musicals from decades past...

2011...certainly its versions will not be able to equal the originals but they will not be without interest whatever happens...

2011...he will have at least tried to bring a vision and above all a different way of listening, which is already not bad in itself as they say...

2011...he will always amaze us with his ability to move from one musical world to another with disconcerting ease...

2011...and as always, back to the fundamentals, which were subsequently mastered. Fundamentals that would remain in his DNA until the end...

2011...he will always need to return to this darker and more tormented musical world, a world in which he feels particularly at ease...

2011...is also the opportunity to continue the adventure as far as possible with friends from the very beginning who share the same passions as him...

2012...because music is, above all, a question of sharing. Sharing between the musicians within the group and, above all, sharing with the public...

2012...and it's clear he's still hella eager to share, at first glance and in every way. A matter of survival...

2012...an adventure that continues to unroll as he sees fit, and above all, far from the dictates of the star system. A perfectly assumed decision at first glance...

2013...as always, being a free electron has a price and not wanting to obey the System marginalizes de facto...

2013...but that doesn't bother him at all, given how he continues to lead his career. A very personal career...

2013...now it remains to be seen how long he can hold out in these conditions. Only the future, and him of course, can answer this question...

2013...at least for now it's holding up. Here he is again in grouped mode to reassure his friends about what's next...

2013...we also feel that he is exorcising his own demons through his music and especially through the lyrics of his songs...

2013...the lyrics are full of meaning and allow the artist to say out loud what he can't say quietly. Like a form of self-psychoanalysis...

2014...many artists use music as an outlet and he will be neither the first nor the last in this field, wanting to convey messages...

2014...after the way of making them pass is somewhat violent by the musical field he chose. But we won't remake him again as they say...

2014...a musical domain that is as much his strength as his main weakness. He knows he's addressing a limited audience in these cases, but he can't do without it...

2014...once again the proof. Whether he sings in French or in English, the musical basis remains the same regardless...

2014...he will always amaze us with the fact that he is capable of producing very high caliber Intimist titles while switching directly to the Metal register...

2014...a mid-2010 decade which sees him continue on his merry way, quietly but above all surely...

2016...he tried the duo on this title to see if the story wouldn't be even better with two people. And in the end the result isn't that bad...

2016...when he can't do normal Intimist music, he loves to do some in the Metal genre. As always, the result is up to par...

2016...we're definitely asking for more. The years and decades may pass, but he hasn't lost any of his talent in this very special register...

2017...he will attempt an impossible adventure by creating a rock opera himself. A highly risky bet, to say the least...

2017...we would have honestly liked for him to have succeeded in his gamble, but it's mainly the public who won't follow. Cruel disappointment...

2017...it's not easy to make a name for yourself in musicals, to say the least. Few are chosen in the end...

2017... at least he tried, as they say. But it's never easy to bounce back when you were particularly keen on a project and it didn't produce the expected results...

2018...the only way to get back on your feet in these situations is to rely on the support of your friends. This time, it's done...

2018...fortunately for him, projects are jostling around in his head because that allows him to move on to something else very quickly...

2018...after this constant rush forward, it's dizzying and somewhat prevents him from working on the substance. A break might be welcome...

2018...we're not off to a great start at first glance. The albums continue to follow one another at an impressive pace, to say the least...

2018...nothing, and no one, seems able to stop his creative mania, it must be said. So to be continued once again...

2018...and as always, it's not the long-time fans who are going to complain, far from it. The more he produces, the more they're obviously thrilled...

2018...and one more side adventure ! He's always looking for something new and can't help but start something new whenever he can...

2018...but then, don't too many adventures kill adventures in the end ? Since he's everywhere and nowhere, we no longer know where he really is...

2018...that might not be his opinion at this point at first glance. But he might have to ask himself the right questions if he plans to move on to the next decade...

2020...a refocusing would surely be welcome, or at least desirable. Especially since the 2020s will allow former 80s stars to return to the race in a completely unexpected way...

2020...why wouldn't he be part of this revival of old stars from the past ? It's up to him anyway...

2020...but he'll have to take advantage of it quickly because the door is likely to close in the coming years. Something to think about...

2020...in any case, we feel that he's trying something, and in his own name. A return to the forefront may be within the realm of possibility...

2020...he has to work on it anyway because the planets are aligned again for those from the 80s who are still here today...

2022...we wish him well in any case. Now it's up to him to surround himself with the right people who can guide him as best as possible...

2022...a rapprochement with young artists of the moment could definitely benefit him. It's up to him to find them now...

2022...he will be able to bring them experience and inspiration and they will be able to tell him the current codes to use to reach a potential new audience...

2022...he also takes the opportunity to convey more personal messages that he considers imperative to convey at this stage of his life...

2022...artists love to take stock of their past lives at the end of their careers, and some even draw impressive strength from it...

2023...but not sure that doing it again with Furious Zoo is the best way to get back into the spotlight...

2023...it's good to think about friends but for the moment this Furious Zoo adventure hasn't allowed him to explode more than that...

2023...maybe he can find a new direction for this project in any case. One that is closer to the expectations of the majority of people...

2023...it's up to him to see how far he's willing to make concessions in this regard. In any case, taking a step back can't hurt, quite the contrary...

2024...but he's working on it at first glance, which can only reassure us about the possible continuation of the adventure. At least in a new form...