When it comes to defining the sound of modern European pop and hip-hop, few artists have left a mark as deep and lasting as Stromae. The Belgian singer and rapper, born Paul Van Haver, has captivated millions of listeners worldwide with his genre-blending style that fuses electro, hip-hop, African rhythms, and French chanson into something entirely his own. Whether you are just discovering his discography or are a longtime fan looking to revisit the greatest Stromae songs, this list covers the tracks that define his legacy across three landmark albums — and beyond. If you enjoy exploring the best songs from iconic artists, be sure to browse our full songs collection for more curated music guides.
Why Stromae Stands Out in Global Music
Stromae is not simply a musician — he is a storyteller, a cultural commentator, and a visual artist rolled into one. His music tackles themes like loneliness, family trauma, social media addiction, mental health, and societal pressure with a disarming blend of catchy production and deeply emotional lyricism. His ability to deliver profound social commentary in French while still resonating with audiences who do not speak the language is a testament to the universal power of his music. His three studio albums — Cheese (2010), Racine Carrée (2013), and Multitude (2022) — each represent a distinct chapter in his evolution as an artist, and together they form one of the most consistent and celebrated bodies of work in contemporary music.
Alors On Danse
Released in 2010 as part of his debut album Cheese, “Alors On Danse” was the breakout hit that introduced Stromae to the world. The track blends a hypnotic electronic beat with sharp social commentary about the endless cycle of work, debt, and stress that modern life imposes on everyday people. It reached number one in over a dozen European countries, a remarkable achievement for a debut single in French, and it remains one of the most recognizable Belgian songs ever made.
Formidable
From his Grammy-nominated album Racine Carrée, “Formidable” is an emotionally raw ballad about heartbreak and the vulnerability that comes with losing someone you love. The song was famously accompanied by a viral music video in which Stromae appeared drunk on a Brussels street, confusing passersby before the nature of the performance was revealed. It became one of the best-selling French-language singles in recent memory and cemented his reputation as a deeply human and emotionally intelligent artist.
Papaoutai
Arguably his most powerful song, “Papaoutai” — a phonetic play on “Papa, où t’es?” meaning “Dad, where are you?” — confronts the emotional void left by an absent father. The track draws heavily from Stromae’s own life, as his father died in the Rwandan genocide when Stromae was a child. The music video, which won numerous awards, tells the story through a haunting visual narrative involving a motionless mannequin father figure that brings the song’s theme to life in a heartbreaking way.
Santé
Released in 2022 as part of Multitude, “Santé” is a joyful and warm tribute to the workers who keep society running — cleaners, nurses, truck drivers, and others who are often overlooked. The song features an Afrobeat-influenced rhythm and an uplifting chorus that invites listeners to raise a glass in honor of the people who deserve more recognition. It was the lead single from Multitude and marked Stromae’s triumphant return to music after nearly a decade of relative silence.
Carmen
“Carmen” from Racine Carrée is a biting critique of social media addiction, written as a dark reimagining of Bizet’s famous opera of the same name. Stromae uses the metaphor of a toxic love affair to describe how platforms like Twitter trap users in a cycle of validation-seeking and emotional dependency. The song’s theatrical production and clever concept helped it become one of the most talked-about tracks of 2013 and a staple of discussions about digital culture in music.
L’enfer
One of the most deeply personal songs of Stromae’s career, “L’enfer” (meaning “Hell”) is a frank and painful exploration of suicidal thoughts and mental health struggles. Released in 2022 as part of Multitude, the song was preceded by a live performance on French television that left the country speechless for its emotional rawness and honesty. Stromae has spoken openly about his own mental health journey, and this song serves as both a confession and an invitation for listeners to acknowledge their own inner darkness without shame.
Tous les Mêmes
A sharp and witty observation on gender dynamics and relationship clichés, “Tous les Mêmes” translates to “All the Same” and skewers the complaints both men and women level at each other in relationships. The music video features Stromae presenting as both male and female, visually reinforcing the song’s message that these frustrations are universal and human. It was one of the biggest hits from Racine Carrée and remains a fan favorite for its clever writing and infectious rhythm.
Ave Cesaria
A deeply moving tribute to the legendary Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora, “Ave Cesaria” combines morna rhythms with Stromae’s signature electronic production to create something that is both mournful and celebratory. Released on Racine Carrée, the song reflects on fame, vulnerability, and the loneliness that can accompany public life, themes that Évora herself embodied in many ways. It stands as one of the most artistically ambitious tracks in his catalogue and showcases his deep appreciation for global musical traditions.
Mon Amour
Released in 2022 on Multitude, “Mon Amour” is a groovy, playful song about the frustrations of a long-term relationship where affection has grown cold or routinized. The song features a lively Afrobeat-inspired production that contrasts beautifully with its somewhat melancholic lyrical content about romantic disconnection. It was accompanied by a colorful music video and quickly became a crowd favorite during his return to live performances.
Te Quiero
From his debut album Cheese, “Te Quiero” is a danceable, Latin-influenced track that shows the range Stromae was already demonstrating at the very beginning of his career. The song mixes French and Spanish lyrics with an energetic beat that makes it impossible to stand still. It showcases the multicultural influences that would go on to define his entire discography and laid early groundwork for the global appeal he would later achieve.
La Solassitude
“La Solassitude” is one of the standout introspective tracks from Multitude, exploring the paradox of feeling lonely even when surrounded by people. The word itself is a blend of “solitude” and “solasse” (a Belgian dialect word for sadness), perfectly capturing an emotion that many people feel but rarely have language for. Stromae’s ability to name and articulate such nuanced emotional states is one of the qualities that sets him apart from his contemporaries.
Ta Fête
A rousing, euphoric anthem from Racine Carrée, “Ta Fête” was written specifically for a Belgian national day celebration and captures a sense of collective joy and pride. The song features an energetic brass-driven production and lyrics that invite everyone to the party regardless of background or circumstance. Its uplifting spirit made it an instant classic in Belgium and an example of how Stromae can write for grand communal moments without sacrificing artistic depth.
Pas Vraiment
From Multitude, “Pas Vraiment” (meaning “Not Really”) is a smooth, understated track that deals with emotional ambivalence and the difficulty of expressing one’s true feelings in a relationship. The production is characteristically layered and intricate, with Stromae’s vocal performance carrying a sense of quiet resignation that makes the song linger in the mind long after it ends. It is one of those tracks that reveals new details with each listen.
Bâtard
One of the more lyrically clever songs in his catalogue, “Bâtard” from Racine Carrée plays on the double meaning of the French word, which can mean “bastard” but also refers to a type of bread. The song explores themes of mixed identity, cultural belonging, and the complexities of growing up between worlds — a subject deeply personal to Stromae given his Belgian-Rwandan heritage. It is sharp, witty, and deceptively layered.
Quand C’est?
A profoundly moving meditation on cancer and mortality, “Quand C’est?” (meaning “When Is It?”) from Racine Carrée was written after Stromae was diagnosed with malaria while filming a music video in Africa, an experience that prompted reflections on illness and death. The song is built around a haunting, sparse beat and lyrics that ask an unanswerable question about when illness will take hold. It is one of the most emotionally heavy pieces in his discography and one that resonates deeply with anyone who has faced serious illness.
Fils de Joie
From Multitude, “Fils de Joie” — a deliberate twist on the French phrase “fille de joie” (a euphemism for a sex worker) — is a compassionate and non-judgmental song about the lives of people in the sex trade. The song’s gender-flip in its title is intentional, challenging the stigma and encouraging empathy rather than condemnation. Stromae has said the track came from a desire to humanize people whose stories are often ignored or sensationalized.
Bonne Journée
A gentle, almost deceptively simple song from Multitude, “Bonne Journée” (meaning “Have a Good Day”) reflects on the small rituals and goodbyes of everyday life and the way ordinary moments contain great emotional weight. The production is warm and soft, and the song functions almost as a lullaby for adults navigating the complexity of modern relationships. It is a beautiful reminder of Stromae’s ability to find poetry in the mundane.
Riez
“Riez” (meaning “Laugh”) from Multitude is a track that encourages finding humor and lightness even in the darkest of times, a message that feels especially powerful coming from an artist who has been so open about his own struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. The production is lively and almost theatrical, giving the song a music hall quality that underscores its message. It is one of the more uplifting moments on an album that otherwise deals with heavy emotional terrain.
Mauvaise Journée
A counterpart in spirit to “Bonne Journée,” this Multitude track deals with the flip side — the bad days, the low moods, and the moments when everything feels wrong. Stromae’s production choices throughout the album ensure that even the darker tracks feel engaging and sonically rich rather than oppressive. Together, “Bonne Journée” and “Mauvaise Journée” offer a beautifully balanced portrait of emotional life.
Peace or Violence
Closing out this list is “Peace or Violence” from his debut Cheese album, a track that showcases the sharper, more politically engaged side of early Stromae. The song grapples with themes of conflict, human nature, and the thin line between peaceful coexistence and aggression in society. It is a reminder that even at the very beginning of his career, Stromae was asking big questions — a quality that has defined every phase of his artistry since.
How to Listen to Stromae’s Greatest Hits
Stromae’s music is widely available across all major streaming platforms, and his discography rewards listeners who take the time to explore beyond the singles. His three studio albums — Cheese, Racine Carrée, and Multitude — are each self-contained artistic statements worth experiencing front to back. For music lovers who care about how songs sound as much as what they say, pairing his music with quality audio equipment makes a real difference — check out our guides to compare headphones and compare earbuds to find the best gear for your listening experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stromae’s most popular song of all time?
“Alors On Danse” is widely considered Stromae’s most popular and commercially successful song, having reached number one in over a dozen European countries when it was released in 2010. It remains a defining track in the history of French-language pop music and introduced him to a global audience.
How many studio albums has Stromae released?
Stromae has released three studio albums: Cheese in 2010, Racine Carrée in 2013, and Multitude in 2022. Each album represents a distinct creative phase in his career, and all three have been critically acclaimed and commercially successful across Europe and beyond.
What language does Stromae sing in?
Stromae primarily sings in French, though he occasionally incorporates words from other languages including Spanish, English, and African dialects in certain songs. His use of French has played a major role in revitalizing interest in French-language pop music on a global scale.
What is the meaning behind “Papaoutai”?
“Papaoutai” is a phonetic rendering of the French phrase “Papa, où t’es?” meaning “Dad, where are you?” The song is a deeply personal exploration of father absence, inspired by Stromae’s own experience of losing his father — a Rwandan man who died in the 1994 genocide — when Stromae was very young.
Is Stromae still making music?
Yes, Stromae returned to music in 2022 with his third studio album Multitude, ending a nearly decade-long hiatus. The album was met with widespread critical acclaim and confirmed that he remains one of the most important and original voices in contemporary music.
What genre is Stromae?
Stromae’s music defies easy categorization. He blends elements of electronic music, hip-hop, Afrobeat, chanson française, cumbia, and more into a signature sound that is instantly recognizable. This genre-blending approach is one of the reasons his music resonates with such a diverse global audience.