Cali

by Jason Ankeny
Folk-jazz singer/songwriter Cali emerged as one of French pop's biggest new stars when the listening public adopted his 2003 debut single, "C'est Quand le Bonheur?" as an anthem for post-adolescent disillusionment. Born Bruno Calicuri in Perpignan, France, in June 1968, he initially dreamed of a career as a professional rugby player before a 1984 U2 concert shifted his priorities to music. A self-taught guitarist, he soon emerged as a staple of the local live circuit, and after a series of short-lived band affiliations, he joined the group Indy in 1994. After two LPs and more than 200 live dates, Calicuri joined the band Tom Scarlett, issuing a self-financed album to scant attention in 1998. After dissolving the project, he abbreviated his name to Cali, and in collaboration with Tom Scarlett, guitarist Hugo Baretge began a lengthy residency at the Perpignan club Le Mediator. Opening dates in support of superstars including Bénabar and Brigitte Fontaine earned attention from audiences and critics alike, and a celebrated July 2002 performance at La Rochelle's famed Francofolies festival proved the turning point of his career, earning a record deal with the Labels imprint. Cali's debut LP, L'Amour Parfait, hit stores in mid-2003, immediately earning comparisons with rival singer/songwriter Miossec, leader of the so-called "chanson réaliste" movement. "C'est Quand le Bonheur?" (When's Happiness?) struck a profound chord within listeners of Cali's post-revolt generation and earned him a nomination as Best Newcomer of the Year at the annual Victoires de la Musique Awards. In late 2004 Cali released Plein de Vie, a live DVD ing his May 26 performance at Paris' Le Bataclan, and in January 2005 headlined the legendary music hall the Olympia. Cali's sophomore effort, the much-anticipated Menteur, finally dropped that autumn. The following summer, he co-starred in the film musical Magique!