Béatrice Bonifassi: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdydmy dates|date=MayOctober 20112023}}

| name background = Betty Bonifassiperson

| imagename = Beast Band = Betty.jpg Bonifassi

| captionimage = Bonifassi in Ottawa, Ontario,= Beast CanadaBand 2009Betty.jpg

| birth_name = Béatrice Bonifassi

| alias =

| birth_date = {{circa}} {{birth year and age|1971}}

| birth_place = [[Nice]], France]]

| origin = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada

| genre = {{hlist|[[Jazz]], |[[blues]], |[[trip hop]], |[[electronica]]}}

| occupation = Singer-songwriter<br, />[[Sessionsession musician]]

| instrument = Vocals

| years_active =

| label =

| associated_actspast_member_of = [[DJ Champion]]<br />[[Deweare]]<br= />[[Beast (Canadian band)|Beast]]

'''Béatrice "Betty" Bonifassi''' (born {{circa}} 1971) is a Canadian vocalist based in [[Montreal]]. She has a deep, [[contralto]] singing voice, sometimes referred to as "masculine",<ref name=CHYZ>[http://www.chyz.qc.ca/fr/artsetspectacles.php?id=001171 Bernier, Sophie. ”Beast”, ''CHYZ FM'', Mar 7, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115122038/http://www.chyz.qc.ca/fr/artsetspectacles.php?id=001171 |date=15 November 15, 2008 }} (French text) Retrieved Nov 5, November 2008</ref><ref name=METRO>[https://archive.today/20110523005337/http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/entertainment/article/111390 McMahon, Rob. "Beast’sBeast's creepy sound",''Metro'', Oct 17, 2008] Retrieved Nov 5, November 2008</ref> which has been compared to that of [[Shirley Bassey]].<ref name=BETES>[http://www.montrealmirror.com/2008/031308/music6.html Charpentier, Lorraine. “Bêtes de scène >> Montreal’s Beast pairs a famous singer with a beatsmith to the stars”, ''Montreal Mirror'', Mar 13 – Mar 19, 2008, Vol. 23 No. 38] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205055511/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2008/031308/music6.html |date=December 5, December 2008 }} Retrieved Nov 5, November 2008</ref><ref name=CHART>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074656/http://www.chartattack.com/news/53559/beast-emerge-from-the-champion-camp Leijon, Erik. “Beast"Beast Emerge Fromfrom Thethe Champion Camp”Camp", ''CHARTattack'', Apr 9, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074656/http://www.chartattack.com/news/53559/beast-emerge-from-the-champion-camp |date=June 7, 2011 }} Retrieved Nov 5, November 2008</ref><ref name=SUN>[http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/music/2009/01/29/8184501-sun.html MacNeil, Jason. "Collaboration brings out the Beast", ''Toronto Sun'', Jan 29, 2009] Retrieved 6 May 6, 2011</ref> Bonifassi has performed music of many styles in both English and French—from [[jazz]], to [[traditional music]], to [[blues]], to [[electronica]]. In 2003 she gained international exposure when she provided the singing voices for the title characters of the animated film ''[[The Triplets of Belleville]] (Les Triplettes de Belleville)''.<ref name=BEN>[https://www.ledevoir.com/2004/07/09/58672.html Cormier, Sylvain. “Ben"Ben et Betty voient triple”triple", ''Le Devoir'', Jan 9, 2004] (French text) Retrieved Nov 5, November 2008</ref> She has collaborated with composer and saxophonist, François D'Amours<ref name=GIROUX>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/emissions/document.asp?docnumero=3973&numero=1354 Bonifassi’s interview with Monique Giroux of Radio-Canada, Sep 13, 2004] (French text and audio) Retrieved Nov5 November 2008 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205002722/http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/emissions/document.asp?docnumero=3973&numero=1354 |date=5, December 2008 }}</ref> and has performed and toured with musician Maxime Morin (also known as [[DJ Champion]]).<ref name=NME>[https://www.nme.com/news/nme/24951 “Oscar nominee headlines M For Montreal”, ''NME news'', Oct 31, 2006] Retrieved Nov 5, November 2008</ref> Bonifassi appeared as a guest vocalist on [[Deweare]]'s album ''High Class Trauma'' (2006),<ref name=RUPERT>[http://www.montrealmirror.com/2007/030807/disc.html Bottenberg, Rupert. “Viable"Viable geometry, instant poetry >> French transplant Deweare finds momentum in Montreal”Montreal", ''Montreal Mirror'', Apr 19–25, 2007, Vol. 22 No. 43] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205055505/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2007/030807/disc.html |date=5 December 5, 2008 }} Retrieved Nov5 5,November 2008</ref> and she is one half of the [[electronic music]] duo [[Beast (Canadian band)|Beast]].<ref name= CHYZ/><ref name=MONDO>[https://archive.today/20130222025546/http://www.mondomagazine.net/?p=2433 Shenker, Jake. “BEAST"BEAST in concert”concert", ''Mondo Magazine'', Oct 1, 2008] Retrieved Nov 5, November 2008</ref>

Bonifassi was born in [[Nice, France]], to a [[Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]]n mother and a father of [[Niçois]]-[[Italian people|Italian]] descent.<ref name=GIROUX/> Raised in a bilingual household, and having studied foreign languages at University, she became interested in other cultures and their traditional music.<ref name=LEBLANC>[http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/indicatifpresent/chroniques/39721.shtml# Bonifassi’s interview with Danielle Leblanc of Radio-Canada, Sep 17, 2004] (French text and audio) Retrieved Nov5 5,November 2008</ref> She has been singing and writing music for two decades.<ref name=UMM>[http://www.umm.ca/articles/article.php?article_id=514&sid=0b82d729dc54ef1fe86581f31e3e2e11 Sasseville, Andreanne. "Beast", ''Urban Male Magazine'', 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004195716/http://www.umm.ca/articles/article.php?article_id=514&sid=0b82d729dc54ef1fe86581f31e3e2e11 |date=4 October 4, 2011 }} Retrieved Nov5 5,November 2008</ref>

In the late 1990s, Benoît Charest and Montreal DJ and musician [[Maxime Morin]] became co-owners of Ben & Max Studios – a company specializing in [[jingles]] and soundtracks. In 2001 Morin sold his share in the company back to Charest in order to continue his own musical career under the pseudonym [[DJ Champion]], however he remained in contact with Bonifassi and Charest: Morin performed bass and percussion on the song "[[Belleville Rendez-vous]]", from the 2003 animated film, ''[[The Triplets of Belleville]] (Les Triplettes de Belleville)'' and he also performed this song live with Bonifassi and Charest at the [[76th Academy Awards]] ceremony—Morin played percussion on a bicycle during the performance.<ref name=DEVLIN>Devlin, Mike, "Laptop loaded, DJ hits the road", ''Times Colonist'', Mar24 24,March 2007</ref><ref name=BENSON>Benson, Denise, "Champion & His G-Strings", ''Eye Weekly'', Nov23 23,November 2006</ref>

In 2004, Bonifassi collaborated with Morin once again (performing as "DJ Champion") on his 2004 debut album, ''[[Chill'em All]]''. The album included the hit single "No Heaven" which is a soulful and bluesy song set against heavy dance beats and noisy guitar riffs. Inspired by ''Negro Songs of Protest'', Bonifassi sings a plaintive tune reminiscent of the [[work songs]] sung by the [[chain-gang]]s of the [[American South]] in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.<ref name=RUPERT2>[http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/012705/cover_music.html Bottenburg, Rupert. “Personal Best >> Montreal’s Champion goes for gold”, ''Montreal Mirror'', Jan 27 – Feb 2.2005 Vol. 20 No. 31] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203170928/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2005/012705/cover_music.html |date=3 December 3, 2008 }} Retrieved Nov5 5,November 2008</ref>

With the success of ''Chill'em All'', Bonifassi toured for over two years with "Champion & His G-Strings".<ref name=VOIRBETTY>[http://www.voir.ca/publishing/article.aspx?zone=1&section=8&article=56463 Robillard Laveaux, Christian. “Bonifassi… Do”, ''Voir'', Feb 7, 2008] (French text) Retrieved Nov5 5,November 2008</ref> In 2008 the pair recorded a version of 1957 [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]] hit "[[I Put a Spell on You]]" to be used as the theme song of the Québécois film ''Truffe''.<ref name=RHEAUME>[http://www.showbizz.net/articles/20080416104207/truffe_sortira_salles_juillet.html Rhéaume, Julie. "Le film «Truffe» ouvrira le festival Fantasia le 3 juillet", ''Showbizz.net'', Apr 16, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821044340/http://www.showbizz.net/articles/20080416104207/truffe_sortira_salles_juillet.html |date=21 August 21, 2008 }} (French text) Retrieved Nov5 5,November 2008</ref><ref name=CINEMA>[http://www.lecinema.ca/nouvelle/7740/ "Truffe au Festival Fantasia", ''LeCinema.ca'', Apr 16, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407095253/http://www.lecinema.ca/nouvelle/7740/ |date=7 April 7, 2010 }} (French text) Retrieved Nov5 5,November 2008</ref>

Bonifassi joined forces with percussionist, record producer, and fellow French [[Expatriate|expat]], [[Jean-Philippe Goncalves]], to form the band Beast. The bandThey released their first album in November 2008.<ref name=UMM/>

Beast's sound has been compared withto [[trip hop]], only with a bit more aggression.<ref name= CHYZ/><ref name=CHART/><ref name=VOIRBETTY/> Bonifassi's vocal stylings also lean more towards [[Rapping|rap]] and [[spoken-word]]. Bonifassi is the main songwriter and the music is composed and produced by Goncalves. Canadian singer-songwriter [[Simon Wilcox]] also assisted Bonifassi (whose native tongue is French) with Beast's lyrics, which are all performed in English.<ref name=BETES/><ref name=SUN/>

Beast's debut album was made available on [[iTunes]] as of November 4, November 2008; its official commercial release was November 18, November 2008.<ref name=MONDO/>

At the end of 2010, Bonifassi and Goncalves announced that they would be taking an indefinite break from the Beast project.<ref name=CANOE>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130101030653/http://fr.canoe.ca/divertissement/musique/nouvelles/2010/11/24/16292301-jdm.html Coudé-Lord, Michelle. "Beast prend une pause de plusieurs mois", ''Canoe.ca'', Nov 24, 2010]}} (French text) Retrieved May 6, May 2011</ref><ref name=VOIR>[https://archive.today/20130101083104/http://www.voir.ca/publishing/article.aspx?zone=2&section=6&article=74609 Léveillée, Antoine. "À la prochaine, si Dieu le veut", ''Voir'', Dec 9, 2010] (French text) Retrieved 6 May 6, 2011</ref> Although when asked in a June 2011 interview for ''[[Voir]]'' whether her break from Beast was a final one Bonifassi replied: ''"Disons que le retour de Beast n'est pas dans mes plans actuels"'' ("Let's say the return of Beast is not my current plans.")<ref name=VOIR2>[http://voir.ca/musique/2011/06/16/beatrice-bonifassi-une-rencontre-realiste/ Robillard-Laveaux, Olivier. "Béatrice Bonifassi - Une rencontre réaliste ", ''Voir'', Jun 16, 2011] (French text) Retrieved Sep12 12,September 2011</ref>

Goncalves stated in an interview that the split was not due to any sort of quarrel between himself and Bonifassi.<ref name=CANOE/> Citing lagging album sales, frustration with the record industry, the tiresome effects of touring, and familial commitments (Bonifassi's son was 9 years old at the time of the split), the bandmates said they would be working separately on their own local projects.<ref name=CANOE/><ref name=VOIR/><ref name=VOIR2/>

During an interview with Danielle Leblanc of [[Radio-Canada]] in 2004, she discussed an album she was working on with the composer Francois D'Amour. She described the album as being very "multi-ethnic, with lots of electronic machines" and that she was hoping to find a major record label for its release. On September 24 September of that same year, she performed some of these songs during a live solo performance at Montreal's Cabaret Music Hall.<ref name=LEBLANC/>

After Bonifassi and Goncalves announced that they would be taking an indefinite hiatus from the Beast project in late 2010,<ref name=CANOE/><ref name=VOIR/> Bonifassi began to focus on solo projects including a performance at the ''Festival Montréal en lumière'' on Feb24 24,February 2011—making it her first solo performance since her break with Beast.<ref name=BRANCHEZ>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727135051/http://www.branchez-vous.com/info/article_culture.php?id=66087&section=quebec Rhéaume, Julie. "Montréal en lumière: Carole Bouquet, coprésidente d'honneur", ''Branchez-Vous'', Dec 1, 2010] (French text) Retrieved 6 May 6, 2011</ref><ref name=RUE>[http://www.ruefrontenac.com/spectacles/musique/33747-montreal-lumiere-betty-bonifassi Rezzonico, Philippe. "Le laboratoire de Béatrice Bonifassi", ''Rue Frontenac'', Feb 17, 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218213428/http://www.ruefrontenac.com/spectacles/musique/33747-montreal-lumiere-betty-bonifassi |date=18 February 18, 2011 }} (French text) Retrieved 6 May 6, 2011</ref> Her performance included renditions of songs by [[Édith Piaf]] and Berthe Sylva, as well as a song by the Franco-Monégasque composer [[Léo Ferré]].<ref name="RUE"/>

Bonifassi performed at the 2011 [[Les FrancoFolies de Montréal|''FrancoFolies'' festival]] held in Montreal, first as part of a performance dedicated to [[Serge Gainsbourg]] on June 15 June, then in her own solo performances on the 17th and 18th.<ref name=GAZETTE>[https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Deep+talent+lineup+includes+past+greats/4598913/story.html Rodriguez, Juan. "Deep talent lineup includes nod to past greats", ''Montreal Gazette'', Apr 12, 2011] Retrieved May 6, May 2011</ref><ref name=CANOE2>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115125255/http://fr.canoe.ca/divertissement/musique/nouvelles/2011/04/11/17952291-qmi.html Gendron-Martin, Raphaël. "Programmation en Salle Des Francofolies", ''Canoe.ca'', Nov 4, 2011]}} (French text) Retrieved May 6, May 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.francofolies.com/artistes/artiste.aspx?id=9233 Betty Bonifassi's profile on the ''FrancoFolies'' website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726074117/http://www.francofolies.com/artistes/artiste.aspx?id=9233 |date=26 July 26, 2011 }} (French text) Retrieved May 6, May 2011</ref><ref name=VOIR2/><ref name=CANOE3>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115090632/http://fr.canoe.ca/divertissement/musique/nouvelles/2011/09/09/18664796-qmi.html Cyr, Jean-François. "Béatrice Bonifassi: charmant délire à la française", ''Canoe.ca'', Sep 9, 2011]}} (French text) Retrieved Sep 12, September 2011</ref>

In 2018, in collaboration with [[Robert Lepage]], she created ''[[SLĀV]]'', a show based on those songs, which launched at the [[Montreal Jazz Festival]]. The show caused public protest on the basis of accusations of cultural appropriation<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/article-montreal-jazz-festival-cancels-apologizes-for-robert-lepage-and-betty/ ''The Globe and Mail'': Montreal jazz festival cancels, apologizes for Robert Lepage slave-song show]</ref> and was subsequently canceled by the Festival on Bonifassi's decision and out of concern for public safety.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nouvelles.equipespectra.ca/blogue/?p=22076&lang=en|title=Statement by the Festival on the cancellation of performances of SLĀV.|website=nouvelles.equipespectra.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-11 July 2018}}</ref>

[[Category:CanadianFrench femaleemigrants singersto Quebec]]

[[Category:French emigrantswomen to Canadasinger-songwriters]]

[[Category:MusiciansSingers from Montreal]]

[[Category:PeopleMusicians from Nice]]