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Hello Ben, this is brief biography of Anggun.....
the article was taken from: http://www.french-music.org/

ANGGUN
HipHop/R&B,Pop



Biography
Anggun’s destiny has followed a musical, spiritual and geographic path. Her father, a writer, introduced her to the power of words and poetry. At an early age, dancing, singing and piano became her natural means of expression, and the stage an extension of her playgrounds.

Indonesia – her land of 13,000 islands – was captivated by her and watched her grow. A child mascot at first, she came to embody the fascination of her country’s youth for the West and the elation of rock. Her records sold by the million and her concerts filled stadia. Southeast Asia fell under her spell… but as the child became a woman, she was already dreaming of new horizons.

Crossing the ocean, finding the courage to start all over again… London first, then Paris and key meetings that would lead her to sign with a major French record company in 1997. The first fruit of this new life was “Au nom de la Lune” (the title of the international version was “Snow On The Sahara”), released in 1998. Her second album, “Désirs Contraires” (international version “Chrysalis”) came in 2000. Both were silken showcases for the singer’s voluptuous sensitivity.

She scored a significant success in France with “La Neige Au Sahara” (the most widely-played single on the radio in 1998) and a Double Gold for the album. More than thirty-five countries were conquered by her charm. America and its dreams were close. Her exotic soul tinted with a very French elegance was triumphantly received in Italy. The figures speak for themselves…

The first album was certified Triple Platinum Export (more than 900,000 copies sold), Double Platinum in Italy, Gold in France, Gold in Switzerland, Gold in Singapore, Gold in Finland, Platinum in Malaysia, Triple Platinum in Indonesia, etc. The album even entered the Billboard HeatSeekers Charts Top 20 in the USA! The single “Snow On The Sahara” (the English version of “La Neige au Sahara”) was certified Gold Export, reaching No. 1 in Italy, No. 1 in Spain, No. 5 in the UK Club Charts, etc.

The second album was also a major success, certified Platinum Export. It went Gold in Italy in just a week! The first single reached the Top 5 in Europe.

Of course, her success involved many concerts and events abroad (World Music Awards, MTV Awards, Silver Screen Awards, Top of the Pops, Women Inspire Awards, concert for the Pope at the Vatican, etc.). Her continual, endless journey took her away from France. However, a total of nearly two million albums sold internationally in less than 5 years made Anggun one of the great French-speaking export success stories, up there with groups such as Air, Manu Chao and Daft Punk.

In certain Asian countries, her new life as a French citizen encouraged many young people to learn French, especially in her native Indonesia. Her success – not purely commercial, but cultural too – naturally won Anggun recognition at the Midem 2003 in January. In the presence of Jean-Jacques Aillagon, Minister of Culture, she received a Diamond Record for her sales outside France.

More recently, Anggun has featured on the original soundtracks of two Scandinavian films, “Anja & Viktor” and “Open Hearts”, produced by cult Danish production company “Dogma Films”. She was even nominated in the “Best Song” category at the 2003 Danish Film Awards for “Open Hearts”. A few months ago, her duet with Italian rock star Piero Pelù (“Amore Imaginato”) topped Italian playlists for 10 weeks running.

This year, Anggun has received the prestigious honour of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the French Minister of Culture, in recognition of her international success and services to French culture. A short time ago, she agreed to act as a spokesperson for the United Nations in the field of targeted programmes aimed at eradicating underdevelopment.

A woman of two cultures, a messenger of musical fusion, Anggun is sometimes wounded by absence, but more often revitalised by adventure. She is unique in both her career and her talent. France welcomed her warmly and she opened her heart to the country. For her millions of fans, she conveys the image of a free woman, touched with the grace and complementarity of French and Asian culture.

After several years of absence, Anggun is finally back. Her first single, “Être Une Femme”, is surprising and explosive. With urban accents, a staccato rhythm and hard-hitting words, Anggun again weaves her spell in an unfamiliar area. “Être Une Femme” is the first single taken from “Luminescence”, her new album, scheduled for release in January 2005. It is a milestone record, featuring Tété, Lionel Florence, Jean Fauque and others, as well as a new version of “Être Une Femme”: a duet with Diam’s!

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Anggun is the spokeperson of UN's Microcredit Program
the article was taken from: http://www.un.org/



Press briefing on International Year of Microcredit 2005

The International Year of Microcredit 2005 will be officially launched on Thursday, 18 November, at Headquarters, Henriette Keijzers, Deputy Executive Secretary and Officer-In-Charge of the United Nations Capital Development Fund, announced at a press briefing this morning. The General Assembly designated the Year by its resolution 53/197 of 15 December 1998.

Financial leaders and microcredit entrepreneurs will be among the speakers at the launch, at which international recording artists Anggun from Indonesia, and Souad Massi, from Algeria, will perform. The two artists were introduced at the briefing. Ms. Massi, a folk singer now based in Paris, recently released her second album. Ms. Anggun, who also lives in Paris, is known for her 1998 debut album “Snow on the Sahara”.

Ms. Keijzers said micro-finance was not about charity, but about giving poor people a chance to get out of poverty, through creating businesses. The Year was also about celebrating micro-finance entrepreneurship. The United Nations Capital Development Fund provided capital assistance to least developed countries.

Since it operated through business lines -- micro-finance and local development -- the General Assembly resolution designated the Fund, together with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as the focal points to coordinate the activities of the United Nations system during the preparations for and observance of the Year.

Ms. Anggun, responding to questions, said she had been touched by the microcredit programme and hoped to help spread it in her native Indonesia, where the difference between rich and poor was enormous. The programme gave poor people the tool to realize their dream.

Ms. Massi said she was proud to be part of the effort to promote microcredit in the African and Arab worlds. The situation in the two regions was very hard, particularly for women. The programme gave women possibilities to work, be creative and to help their families. She was happy to be here, she said.

The General Assembly resolution requested that the observance of the Year be a special occasion for giving impetus to microcredit programmes throughout the world. It invited Governments, the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations and other civil society bodies and the private sector to highlight the role of microcredit in poverty eradication.

Click here to see the TV ads for Microcredit Progam: Microcredit Ads

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Anggun is also the ambassadress of Switzerland's watch, Audemars Piguet, together with Michelle Yeoh
the article was taken from: http://www.audemarspiguet.com/



A charming visit to the Brassus

Her name is synonymous with beauty and grace. The distinctive tone and bewitching sound of her voice have won listeners’ hearts the world over. Her generosity and her commitment on behalf of the underprivileged are exemplary. As a talented and charming ambassadress for Audemars Piguet, Anggun took advantage of a trip to Switzerland to visit the Manufacture in Le Brassus and to discover its entirely renovated museum.

On Monday August 29th, the Vallée de Joux was a picture of verdant greenery to welcome Anggun, the singing princess from Asia. Fascinated by what she witnessed, the Audemars Piguet ambassadress took genuine delight in admiring the marvels to have emerged from the company workshops in Le Brassus. She showed great interest in both current models and the creations on show in the Museum showcases. This visit also gave Anggun a chance to become better acquainted with the Swiss press, specially invited for the event.

The big-hearted singer is pursuing her commitment to humanitarian causes. As United Nations spokesperson for the Year of Micro-Credit, Anggun will also be present in Geneva on October 8th for the 60th anniversary of the UN, at which a grand concert will be organised to raise public awareness regarding the fight against malaria.**

In the course of her year’s activities to date in representing Audemars Piguet , Anggun has graced several gala evenings held by the Manufacture with her luminous presence. After Geneva in April, she thrilled the brand’s friends and partners in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, as well as at all the Femmes du Monde events. Audemars Piguet is particularly proud to be associating its name and its models with this exceptional personality.

**Click here to see her accoustic performance in Geneva: Saviour in Geneva

This post has been edited by heartshapedbox: Apr 26 2006, 08:37 PM