19 Facts About Faudel

Faudel Belloua is a French rai singer and actor of Algerian descent.

Faudel released studio albums, notably Baida, Samra, Un Autre Soleil and Mundial Corrida and the live album 1,2,3 Soleils jointly with Khaled and Rachid Taha.

Faudel started to cover the popular tracks by Cheb Khaled and Cheb Mami at 12, after which he soon fronted the popular band Les Etoiles du Rai.

Faudel then went on to appear at clubs throughout the Paris suburbs, performing covers of Khaled, Zahouania and Mami's greatest hits, accompanied by a pre-recorded backing tape.

Thanks to Momo's guiding hand, Faudel soon built up his own repertoire and began collaborating with different artists, and playing in a few Cheb Mami and MC Solaar concerts as well.

Faudel went on to study accountancy and metallurgy, but his passion for Rai soon led to him taking up a professional singing career.

Faudel has acted in a few roles, including Happenstance with Audrey Tautou.

Meanwhile, Faudel embarked on a new series of concert tours while Momo set about getting his young protege a recording deal.

Faudel soon caught on with the French media too, journalists and music critics dubbing him.

Faudel then went on to continue his successful national tour.

Faudel's 1997 music video called "Tellement Je T'aime" featured Ukrainian born, model and actress, future "James Bond's girl" Olga Kurylenko.

Faudel triumphed at the award ceremony that night, when television viewers voted him Best Newcomer of the Year.

Faudel's career continues to go from strength to strength as his modern Rai sound attracts a whole new following of fans.

On September 2,2003, Faudel released Un Autre Soleil, his most mature album so far.

On Mundial Corrida, produced by Fred Chateau and Volodia, Faudel affirmed his double French and Algerian identity, celebrating his two cultures on "Mon Pays", the first single release which received extensive airplay.

In 2017, Faudel recorded the bilingual Arabic and French language single "Rani" as a duo with singer Mohammed Assaf, who was the 2013 Arab Idol winner.

Faudel played a Tunisian student working as a supervisor in a French high school.

In 2004, Faudel made a comeback on cinema screens, starring in Merzak Allouache's film Bab el web alongside Samy Naceri and Julie Gayet.

Faudel played the role of a young man from the Bab el Oued neighbourhood in Algiers.