Released as the first single from Racine Carrée, Formidable is a powerful exploration of human vulnerability, a poignant moment where art meets the rawness of real life. The video concept originated from a simple, yet profound, encounter Stromae had with a homeless man who asked him, “Do you think you’re handsome?” From this candid moment came a profound reflection on vulnerability and humanity, woven into a performance that blurred the line between fiction and reality. To bring his vision to life, Stromae transformed into a drunken, broken man wandering Brussels’ bustling Place Louise.
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Multitude le film
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Fils de joie
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L’enfer
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L’enfer – TF1
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Santé
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Quand c’est
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Formidable
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Papaoutai
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Alors on danse
The Solitude Symphony
- The projectLe projet
- InsightsInsights
Filmed with hidden cameras, the video captures unfiltered reactions from passersby and police, revealing what could happen to anyone: losing one’s footing and confronting the indifference of onlookers in the sometimes-cruel solitude of a big city. As Stromae sang about despair and alienation, he became a magnet for stares, smartphone cameras, and judgment. Yet beneath this apparent chaos, his performance remained masterful, turning unpredictable moments—like police interventions and viral curiosity—into powerful storytelling. The result was so raw and convincing that many believed it was real, sparking both controversy and reflection.
The clip, released just days after filming, became an instant media phenomenon. It won Best Video at the 2014 Victoires de la Musique, cementing its place as both an artistic triumph and a thought-provoking commentary. The hidden cameras exposed how the cruelty of solitude can be amplified by the spectacle-driven culture of today. In Place Louise, more smartphones were raised to record his supposed fall than hands extended to offer help. The video confronts us with a pressing question: how do we respond to the struggles of others—with compassion or from behind a screen?
Through Formidable, Stromae offers a masterful performance but also a sobering critique.
Découvrez une collaboration révolutionnaire où l’art et l’ingénierie s’unissent dans une exploration poétique de la lévitation. Cette campagne innovante allie brillance lyrique et design de pointe, créant un récit enchanteur qui élève l’ordinaire au rang d’extraordinaire. Plongez dans un monde où l’imagination défie la gravité et où les rêves prennent leur envol, mêlant art visuel et auditif dans un voyage à couper le souffle.
- CreditsCredits
Jérôme Guiot – Director
Thomas van Cottom – Executive Producer
Quentin de Villers – Video Shoot
Gabriel Bertrand – Video Shoot
Lucien Keller – Video Shoot
Bertrand Monette – Video Shoot
Jean-Marc Panis – Video Shoot
Roland Voglaire – Sounddesign & Mix
Pascal Oberlin – Editing
Wild English – Translation
Bold At Work – Graphics
paul van haver (stromae) — co-director
luc van haver — co-director
coralie barbier — co-director
julien soulier — co-director
auguste bas — producer
lou bardou-jacquet — production coordinator
giuseppe conti — producer be
gaëlle birenbaum — communication & project manager
evence guinet – dannonay — executive assistant
gaëlle cools — content & community manager
roxane hauzeur — textile product manager
diego mitrugno — office manager
félix lambot — line producer be
mathieu perez — 1st ad
benoît debie — dop
letizia giorgi — 1st camera assistant
cyprien rigaud — 2nd camera assistant
glauke vankeirshilck — camera trainee
bao debie — camera trainee
simon moirot — dit
emilie sornasse — qtake operator
xavier servais — key grip
nicolas baquet — grip
lucas gonzalez — grip
nathan meynsbrughen — grip
marco viera — grip
jérémy tondeur — grip
arnaud hock — gaffer
kilian delcorte — consolist
thibault doens — electrician
michael stolz — electrician
abdel mousshin — electrician
alicia dubois — mua
thomas ruelle — location manager
mustapha amzir — craft
justine debekker — painter
thibault flament — painter
kgs — grip
grip on — moving grip
tsf — light
lites — camera
flo catering — catering
studio monev — permissions
david le bozec — storyboarder
laurent ferrante — storyboarder
gaëlle champion — artistic direction
abyssal executive — production belgium
royal post — post production
jonathan trebois — post production manager
cindy durand paucsik — post production
vincent amor — grader
julien laudicina — set supervisor & graphic designer
alicia boinot — 2d graphic designer
quentin mesureux — 2d graphic designer
robin deriaud — 2d graphic designer
ronan dusmenil — 2d graphic designer
terence nury — editor assistant
hadrian kalmbach — grading assistant
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In the same category
Multitude le film
Fils de joie
L’enfer
L’enfer – TF1
Santé
Quand c’est
Formidable
Papaoutai
Alors on danse
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