Quick Facts
Biography
Mélanie Georgiades ([melani ʒɔʁʒjad]; born 25 July 1980 in Nicosia), better known by her stage name Diam's ([djams]), is a French rapper and singer of Greek Cypriot origin.
Early career
In 1998, when she was just 19, Diam's signed a development deal with BMG Music Publishing France. With the publisher's help, Diam's worked on her craft and signed with Universal Records in 1999. She appeared in a song on DJ Mehdi's 2002 album "(The Story Of) Espion".
2003's Brut de Femme was her breakthrough, reaching gold and spawning the top 10 single "DJ." In concert at the 2004 Dour Festival in Belgium, people threw objects at Diam's when she began singing. In 2005, she cemented her importance as a songwriter with "Ma Philosophie"—a huge number one hit for Pop Idol star Amel Bent.
In 2005, she collaborated with Indonesian singer Anggun for her song "Juste Être Une Femme" (Just to be a Woman), which is featured on the French version of her studio album Luminescence.
Dans ma bulle 2006
Dans ma bulle (Inside my Bubble) was released in February 2006, debuting at number one on the French album chart selling 50,000 copies in its first week. Diam's first single from Dans Ma Bulle, La Boulette (The Moron) gained immense popularity and airtime. It stayed at number one on the French music charts for 6 consecutive weeks. Her second single Jeune Demoiselle debuted at #4. Ma France à moi and Confessions nocturnes with Vitaa also proved to popular. Dans Ma Bulle went on to be the biggest-selling French album in France in 2006 and reached diamond status (1,000,000 copies sold). Diam's won the award for Best French Act at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards.
Personal life
Diam's is known for her political activism in both her lyrics and her public persona. She converted to Islam in late 2008 and wears a Jilbāb.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Premier mandat | ||||
| 2003 | Brut de femme | ||||
| 2004 | Ma vie / Mon live (Live album) | ||||
| 2006 | Dans ma bulle | ||||
| 2009 | S.O.S. | ||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "DJ" (music video directed by J.G Biggs) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | "Incassables" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | "Évasion" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | "La boulette (Génération nan nan)" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | "Jeune Demoiselle" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | "Ma France à moi" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | "I am somebody" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | "Enfants du désert" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | "Coeur de bombe" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | "Peter Pan" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As featured artist | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | "Un peu de respect" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | "Promise" (music video directed by J.G Biggs) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | "Relève la tête" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | "Les mains en l'air" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | "Non c'sera non (omri omri)" | ||||||||||||||||||||
Digital Downloads
Recognitions
| Year | Award-giving Body | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Victoires de la Musique | Rap/hip-hop album of the year (Brut de Femme) | Won |
| 2006 | MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 | Best French Act | Won |
| 2007 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Album of the Year (Dans Ma Bulle) | Won |
| 2007 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Female Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2007 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Song of the Year (La Boulette) | Won |
| 2007 | NRJ Music Awards | Music Video of the Year (Jeune Demoiselle) | Nominated |
| 2007 | L'Année Du Hip Hop | Best Song (La Boulette) | Won |
| 2007 | L'Année Du Hip Hop | Best Rap Artist | Won |
| 2007 | L'Année Du Hip Hop | Best Album (Dans Ma Bulle) | Won |
| 2010 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Album of the Year (S.O.S.) | Nominated |
| 2010 | NRJ Music Awards | Francophone Female Artist of the Year | Nominated |