Bénabar
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. 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.
Also recorded as Bruno Nicolini · Benabar
Bénabar

Georges Biard · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Bénabar
- Birth Name
- Bruno Nicolini
- Born
- 16 June 1969
- Occupation
- Singer, songwriter
- Nationality
- France
- Fields
- chanson
- Honours
- Prix Raoul-Breton · Victoires de la Musique – Male artist of the year · Victory of the album of chansons and variety
- Languages
- French
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
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. 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.
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- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
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- Admitted assertions
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- Open conflicts
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Authority files
gnd · 135308941 · museum · 93942b87-215a-4626-b5ec-bf129d9fa2f6 · wikidata · Q555311 · wikipedia · Bénabar
In this article
Biography
Biography
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.

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Eddy BERTHIER from Brussels, Belgium · Bénabar @ Brussels Summer Festival 2012 Uploaded by High Contrast

Bénabar, le 13 mars 2012 à Paris.
Nicolas Richoffer
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bénabar • Birth Name — Bruno Nicolini • Born — 16 June 1969 • Origin — Thiais, France • Instrument — Vocals • Genre — Chanson • Occupation — Singer, songwriter • Years Active — 1997–present • Website — benabar.com
Biography
Biography
• Illustration — Bénabar performing in Paris on Bastille Day 2011. 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 in 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).
Personal life
Personal life
He has two brothers named Patrick and Sébastien. He has a son born in 2004 named Manolo and a daughter born in 2009.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy
Bénabar has been a member of the Les Enfoirés charity ensemble since 2007.
Studio albums
Studio albums
• Year — Album — FRA — BEL (Wa) — SWI — Sales • 1997 — La p'tite monnaie Bénabar et associés — 194 — — — — • 2001 — Bénabar — 20 — — — — — France: Platinum (510,100) • 2003 — Les risques du métier — 6 — 31 — 40 — France: Platinum (569,300) • 2005 — Reprise des négociations — 1 — 5 — 25 — France: Diamond (1,045,400) • 2008 — Infréquentable — 1 — 1 — 6 — France: Platinum (200,000) • 2011 — Les bénéfices du doute — 4 — 5 — 23 — France: Platinum (200,000) • 2014 — Inspiré de faits réels — 2 — 2 — 9 • 2018 — Le début de la suite — 3 — 4 — 9 • 2021 — Indocile heureux — 1 — 6 — — • On lâche pas l'affaire — 30 — 53 — 37
Live albums
Live albums
• Year — Album — FRA — BEL (Wa) — SWI — Sales • 2004 — Live au Grand Rex — 10 — 28 — 41 — France: Gold (173,100) • 2012 — Bien l'bonsoir m'sieurs-dames — 26 — 23 — —
Compilations
Compilations
• Year — Album — BEL (Wa) — SWI — Sales • 2004 — Couche-tard et lève-tôt (Quebec release) — — — — • 2007 — Best Of — 5 — 53 — France: Gold (75,000)
Singles
Singles
• Year — Single — FRA — BEL (Wa) Ultratop — BEL (Wa) Ultratip — SWI — Album • 2003 — "L'itinéraire" — — — — — — — — — Les risques du métier • "Dis-lui oui" — — — — — — — — • "Je suis de celles" — — — — — — — — • 2005 — "Le dîner" — — — — — — — — — Reprise des négociations • "Maritie & Gilbert Carpentier" — — — — — — — — • "Quatre murs et un toit" — — — — — — — — • 2008 — "L'effet papillon" — 169 — 4 — — — 65 — Infréquentable • 2009 — "À la campagne" — — — — — 12 A — — • "Une petite cantate" (with Keim, Jenifer and Raphaël) — — — 29 — — — — — 2009: Les Enfoirés font leur cinéma (Various Artists) • "Pas du tout" — — — — — 22 A — — — Infréquentable • "Infréquentable" — — — — — 24 A — — • 2011 — "Politiquement correct" — 75 — 28 — — — — — Les bénéfices du doute • 2012 — "Les râteaux" — — — — — 12 A — — — Bien l'bonsoir m'sieurs-dames • "L'agneau" — — — — — 9 A — — • 2014 — "Paris by Night" — 142 — — — — — — A Chart peak for Ultratip. Other singles • Year — Single — FRA — Album • 2013 — "Un arc en ciel" (Téléthon 2013) (Bénabar, Bruel, Cali & Marina) — 1
Filmography
Filmography
• 2009: Incognito • 2011: Cars 2 - sings during a montage of Paris • 2015: The Night Watchman • 2019: Beaux-parents
Identity
Identity
Bénabar is recorded with the occupation singer-songwriter. Recorded with the occupation recording artist. Recorded with the occupation screenwriter. Recorded with the occupation chansonnier. Recorded with the occupation director. Recorded with the occupation actor. Classed in the genre chanson. Recorded as having received Prix Raoul-Breton, Victoires de la Musique – Male artist of the year and Victory of the album of chansons, variety. Recognition and collections. Bénabar received Prix Raoul-Breton, Victoires de la Musique – Male artist of the year and Victory of the album of chansons, variety.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1969
Bénabar was born on 16 June 1969.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q555311: Bénabar
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “Bénabar”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Institutional database
- MusicBrainz artist record for Bénabar
Scholarly · MetaBrainz Foundation
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 135308941, Bénabar.
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
MusicBrainz artist record for BénabarMetaBrainz Foundation
Verifiedauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 135308941, Bénabar.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q555311: BénabarWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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