{{Short description|French new wave/rock band}} {{About|a musical duo from France|the singer|Niagara (artist)}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2011}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Niagara | image_upright = [[File:NiagaraDuo.jpg|NiagaraDuo]] | caption = | background = group_or_band | years_active = 1984–1993 | origin = [[Rennes]], [[France]] | genre = {{hlist|[[Synth-pop]]|[[New wave music|new wave]]|[[rock music|rock]]}} | label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] | past_members = Muriel Moreno<br />Daniel Chenevez<br />José Tamarin (†) }}
'''Niagara''' was a French rock band that achieved popularity both in [[France]] and [[Canada]] in the 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name=Allmusic>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/niagara-mn0000330945|title=Niagara Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> The band, who was known under the name '''L'Ombre jaune''' from 1982 to 1984, was formed in [[Rennes]], [[France]] by vocalist Muriel Laporte (later known as {{Interlanguage link multi|Muriel Moreno|fr}}) and keyboardist {{Interlanguage link multi|Daniel Chenevez|es}}.<ref name=duo>"Duo makes Ottawa debut: New generation of rockers successful French export". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', July 30, 1991.</ref> Early on, the band also included guitarist José Tamarin, although he left before the release of their first album.<ref name=rfi>[http://musique.rfi.fr/musique/20020911-annees-niagara "Les Années Niagara"]. [[RFI Musique]], September 11, 2002.</ref>
Evolving from a [[New wave music|new wave]] and [[synth-pop]] style on their earlier albums to a more [[rock music|rock]]-oriented style on their later ones, they were frequently compared to the British duo [[Eurythmics]].<ref name=Allmusic/>
==Biography== The band originally took their name from the 1953 [[Marilyn Monroe]] film ''[[Niagara (1953 film)|Niagara]]''.<ref name=duo/>
They became famous in France when they issued in 1985 their first single, "[[Tchiki boum]]" (a Top 20 hit),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Niagara&titel=Tchiki+boum&cat=s|title=Niagara - Tchiki boum|website=Lescharts.com|access-date=25 May 2023}}</ref> which was followed in the summer 1986 by their second single and Top 5 hit, "[[L'Amour à la plage]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/search.asp?todo=notfound|title=Les charts français|website=Lescharts.com|access-date=25 May 2023}}</ref> 200,000 copies of each single were sold in France. Driven by Laporte's charisma and vocal style, the duo released their debut album in 1986, ''[[Encore un dernier baiser]]'' which included their first two successes and two new singles, "Je dois m'en aller" and "Quand la ville dort" (both also reaching the Top 20).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Niagara&titel=Je+dois+m%27en+aller&cat=s|title=Niagara - Je dois m'en aller|website=Lescharts.com|access-date=25 May 2023}}</ref>
Their second and most popular release was the album ''[[Quel enfer!]]'' in 1988; the video for its single "Soleil d'hiver" received frequent airplay in Canada, leading to the group forming a following in North America. This song was also a hit in France, reaching n°12,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Niagara&titel=Soleil+d%27hiver&cat=s|title=Niagara - Soleil d'hiver|website=Lescharts.com|access-date=25 May 2023}}</ref> and two other singles from the album ("Assez !" and "Flammes de l'Enfer") entered the French Top 50.
Their next album, ''[[Religion (Niagara album)|Religion]]'' (1990), introduced a harder-edged sound to their music. Its singles "J'ai vu" and "Pendant que les champs brûlent" became minor hits in central Europe and reached the French Top 50.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Niagara&titel=J%27ai+vu&cat=s|title=Niagara - J'ai vu|website=Lescharts.com|access-date=25 May 2023}}</ref> <br /> Around this time, they received some interest from record labels in the [[United States]], but declined a deal as it was conditional on the band recording an English language version of the album.<ref name=duo/> However, their tour to support the album included their first major concert dates in Canada, including five shows at [[Spectrum (Montreal)|The Spectrum]] in [[Montreal]],<ref>"Niagara no average French band; Street-wise rockers have made-for-U.S.A. sound". ''[[Montreal Gazette]]'', July 24, 1991.</ref> one at the [[National Arts Centre]] in [[Ottawa]],<ref name=duo/> and one show in [[Toronto]].<ref>"Sexy, compelling sound brings Niagara fans to feet". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', August 1, 1991.</ref>
They released their fourth and final album, ''[[La Vérité (Niagara album)|La Vérité]]'', in 1992. They toured Canada again in 1993 to support the album, playing eight dates in [[Quebec]] and [[New Brunswick]] including a show at the [[Montreal Forum]].<ref>"Cracking U.S. market holds little appeal for France's Niagara". ''[[Montreal Gazette]]'', July 23, 1993.</ref>
Following ''La Vérité'', the band and the real-life couple of Laporte/Moreno-Chenevez separated. Both musicians went on to solo careers.<ref>[http://www.programme-tv.net/news/musique/82048-que-deviennent-les-membres-du-groupe-niagara/ "Que deviennent les membres du groupe Niagara ?"]. ''Télé-Loisirs'', March 20, 2016.</ref>
In 2002, a compilation entitled ''Flammes'' was released as a double CD and DVD, containing all the band's hits.<ref name=rfi/> It hit No. 1 for three weeks on the French Compilations Chart.
==Discography== ===Albums=== * 1986 : ''[[Encore un dernier baiser]]'' * 1988 : ''[[Quel enfer!|Quel enfer !]]'' * 1990 : ''[[Religion (Niagara album)|Religion]]'' * 1992 : ''[[La Vérité (Niagara album)|La Vérité]]''
===Compilations=== * 2002 : ''[[Flammes]]''
===Singles=== * 1985 : "[[Tchiki boum]]" * 1986 : "[[L'amour à la plage]]" * 1986 : "Je dois m'en aller" * 1987 : "Quand la ville dort" * 1988 : "Assez !" * 1988 : "Soleil d'hiver" * 1989 : "Flammes de l'enfer" * 1989 : "Baby Louis" * 1990 : "J'ai vu" * 1990 : "Pendant que les champs brûlent" * 1991 : "Psychotrope" * 1991 : "La vie est peut-être belle" * 1992 : "La fin des étoiles" * 1993 : "Un million d'années" * 1993 : "Le minotaure"
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{discogs artist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niagara}} [[Category:French alternative rock groups]] [[Category:French new wave musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1984]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1993]]
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