Anggun (born Anggun Cipta Sasmi, April 29, 1974 in Jakarta, Indonesia) is a singer. Her name means "Grace born out of a dream".

Her father, Darto Singo, was a singer and producer in Indonesia. Her father did not want her to have a conventional education, so Anggun was sent to a Catholic School where she learned to speak English.

Anggun decided to follow in her father's footsteps to become an entertainer and began singing at the age of 12. She became one of Indonesia's best-selling rock singers.

She had done a number of extensive tours throughout Asia and it was while on tour in Borneo that Anggun met future husband Michel Georgea, (a French engineer). Her parents at first did not approve of her marriage but finally relented. Eventually they divorced. Anggun is now married to Oliver Maury.

At 19, she left Indonesia in search of broadening her musical horizons. First she and her husband moved to London but found themselves uncomfortable there. They then moved to Paris, France where Anggun met producer Erick Benzi . Benzi was quite impressed by Anggun's talent and immediately offered to work with her on a new album. Benzi also persuaded Anggun to move away from her original rock influences and experiment with a more sensual, romantic sound. Anggun's smooth new style would prove an immediate success in France. Her first French album, Au nom de la lune not only skyrocketed Anggun to fame in France, the album was also a major hit in her native country of Indonesia. Her second album Desirs Contraires proved to be a hit worldwide as well.

In 1998, Anggun toured in "The Lillith Fair Tour" with Sarah McLachlan and others. And in 2000, Anggun received an invitation from the Vatican, asking her to appear at a Christmas concert where she performed her rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for The Pope.

Her recent duet with Italian rockstar Piero Pelu, entitled 'Amore Imaginato' reached #1 in the National Italian Airplay Charts for over two months. Anggun was also part of the charity driven project 'Gaia'. Anggun was also awarded by France's Culture Minister the prestigious distinction of "Chevalier des Arts et Lettres" for her worldwide achievements and her support to the French culture. She has also accepted the role of Spokeperson for the UN (United Nations) 'Year of Microcredit' to create awareness and help the needy all over the world.

Anggun is now fluent in French, as well as English, and her native Indonesian.

Anggun splits her time between Montreal (Canada) and Paris.

News

Être Une Femme : The New Single From Anggun

Anggun's first single from her forthcoming album, Luminescence will be release on 01/02/05 across France. The video for the single was shot in Barcelona, Spain and already made it's debut on French TV screen end of last year. Other tracks included on the CD are "Être Une Femme" featuring Diam's and "Voir L'envers". The new album and single is distributed by Heben Music, a division of BMG-Sony Music Entertainment France.

Anggun Breaks The Silence

After four years of silence, Anggun is back with her third French album, Luminescence. It's first single "Être Une Femme" had already received airplays across France. The album, to be released in February features Anggun collaborating with France's top songwriters and singers such as rapper Diam's for the track "Juste Être Une Femme", Lionel Florence, Jean Fauque and Tété.

Prior to the release, she will be staging a concert in Paris at L'Européen on 14, 15, 16, and 17th of March. As for public appearance, she is scheduled to appear in a concert organized by Printemps de Bourges on 20th of April and followed by La Fête de l’Espoir in Genève, Switzerland in May.

Anggun appointed as the ambassador of Audemars Piguet

• [The Official Audemars Piguet Site]

Cover

Céline Dion covered one of Anggun's song "Tu Nages" in her French album "1 fille & 4 types", and Sarah Brightman covered Anggun's "Snow on the Sahara" as a bonus track in the album "Live from Las Vegas."

Discography

• Dunia Aku Punya, in Indonesian (1986)
• Anak Putih Abu-Abu, in Indonesian (1991)
• Nocturno, in Indonesian (1992)
• Anggun C. Sasmi... Lah!!!, in Indonesian (1993)
• Yang Hilang, in Indonesian (1994)
• Au Nom De La Lune, in French (1997)
• Snow on the Sahara (1998)
• Desirs Contraires, in French (2000)
• Chrysalis (2000)
• Anggun (2000)
• Open Heart Original Sountrack (2002)
• Luminescence (2005)

Singles

• Neige au Sahara (1997)
• La Rose des Vents (1997)
• Au Nom de La Lune (1997)
• La Ligne des Sens (1997)
• Snow on Sahara (1998)
• A Rose in the Wind (1998)
• Un Geste D'Amour (2000)
• Derriere La Porte (2000)
• Still Reminds Me (2000)
• Chrysalis (2000)
• Summer in Paris with DJ Cam (2002)
• Deep Blue Sea with Deep Forest (2002)
• Être Une Femme (2005)
• Cesse les pluies (2005)

External links

• Official site
• Unofficial fan site
• Anggun ~ Luminescence : a fan site
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