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The Rodeo is the stage name of French-Vietnamese musician and singer Dorothée Hannequin. Born and raised in France to a French father and a Vietnamese mother, Dorothée is also known as a talented actress, costume designer, and film producer.
A portrait of the female singer from The Rodeo.
In 2023, Dorothée became one of the winners of the Villa Saigon residency program of the French Institute in Vietnam. She will undertake a six-week residency in her homeland, having the opportunity to collaborate with local artists and tour five major cities in Vietnam in June 2023.
The Rodeo's wild pop-rock night will be held on June 16th at IDECAF, Ho Chi Minh City.
“At first glance, it's a mixed Asian-European beauty. At first listen, her songs are like a pop candy with an irresistible tangy flavor. And then, after enjoying both sides (of the candy), you're mesmerized by this brunette singer.” [...] - Live interview on the En sol majeur program of the Francophone International Radio RFI.
The Rodeo is highly regarded by many prestigious music and entertainment publications in France. Dorothée's compositions bear a certain influence of European pop music from the 60s and 70s. However, "Say Tình" (Drunk on Love), one of her hits, evokes memories of the golden age of French pop, especially the legendary duo Michel Berger and France Gall. "The Rodeo's songs 'Say Tình' and 'Cơn giông' (Storm) embody all that is most captivating and wonderful about French pop," - Rolling Stone.
From a scientific article or a news story he overheard, Dorothée could find inspiration for his works. Works like "Let My Memories Live On" and "Hibernation" were born in this way. While "Let My Memories Live On" is based on the story of a Canadian researcher who invented a therapy capable of erasing part of a memory, "Hibernation" is inspired by the story of a terminally ill girl who wants to be "frozen into hibernation," hoping that one day modern medicine can cure her.
The lyrics used in Dorothée's songs surprise many fans with their unique meaning and multiple layers of symbolism. Her third album, *Thérianthropie Paradis*, speaks of the ability of humans to "transform" into animals or vice versa. "Transformation" is the aspect the artist wants to emphasize in this album. It's "transformation" because the album begins with cheerful songs and ends with melancholic blues. It's also "transformation" in emotion, because when immersed in "love," humans are more easily drawn to animals. It's a dreamlike world where one no longer knows whether good or evil reigns, or both…
While their first two albums were sung in English, The Rodeo switched to French for their third (Thérianthropie paradis) and fourth (Arlequine). This proved to be a breakthrough for the band: "I realized that French wasn't a barrier, but (on the contrary) could be an advantage for me when performing abroad..."
With his latest album, Arlequine, Dorothée has feminized the image of Arlequin, transforming the character into a multifaceted, intelligent, and sensitive figure. “Arlequine represents a series of portraits of women, both realistic and surreal… The women depicted in Arlequine are sometimes melancholic, sometimes strong, or passionately in love: all these characteristics can perfectly coexist in the personality of the same person.”
Were you a fan of France Gall and couldn't stop listening to Hotel California? The Rodeo will surely captivate you with their smooth vocals and sweet, blues-infused melodies!
The tour in Vietnam will take place in 5 cities:
June 16, 2023 at IDECAF, Ho Chi Minh City
June 18, 2023 at Pho Ben Doi Creative Studio, Da Lat
June 21, 2023 at Polygon Music – Complex 01, Hanoi
June 22, 2023 at Trung Vuong Cinema, Da Nang
June 23, 2023 at Hue Academy of Music
