Renaud ‎– Mistral Gagnant (1985, Virgin)

Media VG+
Sleeve VG+

Format : LP
Cat N° : 70425
Style : Chanson

If you’re looking for Renaud’s best album, his magnum opus, look no further: it’s this album. Renaud himself classified Mistral Gagnant as a “restless” record, but it stands out as one of his most mature works, despite a few lighthearted tracks. The album’s content is a mix of joyful, rhythmic, and light-hearted songs, along with darker, disillusioned, and melancholic pieces. The iconic “Miss Maggie” opens the album, criticizing Margaret Thatcher while celebrating women worldwide. Renaud’s talent shines through in many of the album’s tracks, like “Mistral Gagnant,” a touching ode to childhood. Other songs tackle subjects like war, drug overdose, and the quirks of life. The album concludes with the poignant “Fatigué,” expressing Renaud’s weariness with the world. Mistral Gagnant is unfortunately brief, running about 41 minutes, but it undeniably stands as Renaud’s masterpiece, a level he never quite reached again.