Rose Laurens
Rose Laurens, previously billed as Rose Merryl (born Rose Podwojny; 4 March 1951 – 29 April 2018), was a French-Polish singer-songwriter, known for her 1982 single "Africa", a top-three hit in several European countries. She was also famous for portraying the character of Fantine, on the original 1980 French concept album of Les Misérables, singing "L'air de la misère" and "J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie" two songs later adapted into English as "On My Own" and "I Dreamed a Dream" respectively.
Also recorded as Rose Merryl
Rose Laurens
ManoSolo13241324 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Rose Laurens
- Birth Name
- Rose Podwojny
- Born
- 4 March 1951
- Died
- 29 April 2018
- Place of death
- Paris
- Occupation
- Singer, songwriter
- Full name
- Rose Podwojny.
- Nationality
- France.
- Fields
- pop music.
- Education
- Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales.
- Known for
- Africa.
- Languages
- French.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Rose Laurens, previously billed as Rose Merryl (born Rose Podwojny; 4 March 1951 – 29 April 2018), was a French-Polish singer-songwriter, known for her 1982 single "Africa", a top-three hit in several European countries. She was also famous for portraying the character of Fantine, on the original 1980 French concept album of Les Misérables, singing "L'air de la misère" and "J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie" two songs later adapted into English as "On My Own" and "I Dreamed a Dream" respectively.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q431103 · wikipedia · Rose Laurens
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Rose Laurens • Birth Name — Rose Podwojny • Born — 4 March 1951 • Died — 29 April 2018 • Origin — Paris • Place of death — Paris • Genre — Pop • Occupation — Singer, songwriter • Years Active — 1976–2018 • Label — Flarenasch
Albums
Albums
• 1972: Sandrose with Jean-Pierre Alarcen's eponymous band, one of the first and best French progressive-rock albums • 1980: Les Misérables ("L'air de la misère", "J'avais rêvé d'une autre vie"...) • 1982: Déraisonnable • 1983: Vivre ("Mamy Yoko", "Zodiacale", "T'envole pas sans moi", "Esméralda", "Chasseur d'images"...) • 1984: Africa – Voodoo Master ("Magic and music", "Misunderstanding", "I Need to Give", "Living in Your Song"...) • 1986: Écris ta vie sur moi ("Quand tu pars", "La Nuit", "Je me jette à l'eau", "Profession reporter"...) • 1990: J'te prêterai jamais • 1995: Envie • 2001: L'ombre d'un géant • 2015: DNA
Compilations
Compilations
• 1986: Rose Laurens – Compilation ("Quand tu pars", "Africa", "Mamy Yoko", "Vivre", "Je me jette à l'eau", "Profession reporter"...) • 1991: 17 Grands Succès de Rose Laurens (Quebec) • 1996: "The Very Best of Rose Laurens" ("Partir", "La Négresse blanche", "Écris ta vie sur moi", "Le Cœur chagrin", "Africa"...)
Singles
Singles
• 1976: "In Space" (under the name Rose Merryl) • 1977: "L'Après amour" (under the name Rose Merryl) • 1978: "Je suis à toi" (under the name Rose Merryl) • 1979: "Survivre" (#45 in France) • 1979: "À deux" • 1980: "J'vous aime les oiseaux" • 1980: "L'Air de la misère" • 1981: "Pas facile" • 1982: "Africa" (#1 in France) • 1983: "Africa (Voodoo Master)" (export) (#1 in Austria, No. 2 in Switzerland, No. 2 in Norway, No. 3 in West Germany) • 1983: "Mamy Yoko" (#10 in France) • 1983: "Mamy Yoko" (export) (#37 in West Germany) • 1983: "Vivre" (#18 in France) • 1984: "Danse moi" (#66 in France) • 1984: "Night Sky" (export) (#12 in Sweden) • 1985: "Cheyenne" (#75 in France) • 1985: "Quand tu pars" (written by Francis Cabrel, No. 41 in France) • 1986: "American Love" (export) • 1986: "La Nuit" (#53 in France) • 1987: "Où vont tous ceux qu'on aime?" • 1989: "Africa – Mégamix 89" • 1990: "J'te prêterai jamais" (#96 in France) • 1991: "Il a les yeux d'un ange" • 1994: "Africa – Remix 94" (Germany) • 1995: "Nous c'est fou" • 2001: "Pour aimer plus fort" (#40 in France) • 2015: "Si j'pars sur une île"
Collaborations
Collaborations
• 1994: Yves Duteil – Entre Elles et Moi – Song "Écris ta vie sur moi" in duet with Yves Duteil • 1995: Gay Anthems – U.S. Compilation – Song "American love"
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2018
Rose Laurens died in 2018 at 3rd arrondissement of Paris.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
4th arrondissement of Paris.
Birth place
3rd arrondissement of Paris.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Rose Laurens”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q431103: Rose Laurens
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Lieux de naissance et décès trouvés dans la base MatchId des fichiers de décès en ligne du Ministère de l'Intérieur avec les données INSEE (consultation 12 janvier 2020)
- 2.Télé 7 jours, , semaine du au , pages 20 et 21, article de Colette de Portefaix : « Rose Laurens : à 8 ans je chantais déjà… ».
- 3.La première Fantine est partie. Regard en Coulisse. 2018-04-30.
- 4.Rose Laurens Les Miserables Drucker - 30-12-2007 - Vidéo Dailymotion. Dailymotion.
- 5.Classements de Rose Laurens
- 6.Écris ta vie sur moi : le single écarté. Rose Laurens Souvenirs. 2022-07-01.
- 7.Rose Laurens, la chanteuse du tube des années 80 "Africa", est décédée. La Croix. 30 avril 2018.
- 8.Laurens Rose (Rose Podwojny : 1953-2018). www.landrucimetieres.fr.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
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 18 August 2026.
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