Vive la Fête

Influenced by 1980s electropop and French pop music—especially the work of Serge Gainsbourg— Vive la Fête was formed in 1997 in Ghent, Belgium, by Danny Mommens (guitar and vocals) and Els Pynoo (vocals). Mommens, then the bassist for the band dEUS, began recording with Pynoo on a project that combined synthesizers, distinctive guitars, and French lyrics. The name chosen by the duo means “Long live the party.”

Following the EP Je ne veux pas (1998), the duo released their debut album, Attaque Surprise (2000), on the Belgian label Surprise Records. The album was followed by République Populaire (2001). During this period, Vive la Fête gained significant prominence in the fashion world, earning the admiration of designer Karl Lagerfeld and providing the soundtrack for Chanel fashion shows.

Released in 2003, Nuit Blanche further boosted the group’s popularity and became one of the most memorable albums of their career. In the wake of this success, the band made its Brazilian debut in 2004, performing at the Abril Pro Rock festival in Pernambuco. The duo would return to the country on other occasions, including performances in São Paulo in 2006 and a national tour in 2008.

Their discography continued with Grand Prix (2005) and Jour de Chance (2007), maintaining the formula of danceable electronic music and rock energy. This was followed by Disque d’Or (2009), Produit de Belgique (2012), and 2013 (2013). In 2018, the duo released Destination Amour.

In 2021, Vive la Fête released Viva Alternativa, a project featuring covers, reinterpretations of their own repertoire, and remixes. The album expanded on the material from the EP Feux d’Artifice (released the previous year) and included interpretations of classics such as “Amoureux Solitaires,” “Porque te Vas,” and “Fade to Grey” (the latter renamed “Devenir Gris”).