Released 13 May 2013 Recorded 2012 Length 3:53 | Format 7"
CD
Digital download Genre House
Eurodance Label Mosaert | |
"Papaoutai" (Papa où t'es, French for "Dad, where are you?") is a song written and performed by Belgian musician Stromae. The song was released as a digital download in Belgium on 13 May 2013 as the lead single from his second studio album Racine Carrée (2013). The song peaked at number one in Belgium and France and became the best selling single of 2013 in Belgium. A remix of the song featuring Angel Haze also appears on the album.
Contents
The song was performed live at the 2013 NRJ Music Awards, where it featured will.i.am. The song is also featured on the 2014 dancing game Just Dance 2015 for PAL regions only (it's available as DLC for NTSC regions).
Music video
The music video accompanying the release of "Papaoutai" was directed by Raf Reyntjens and released on YouTube on 6 June 2013 at a total length of three minutes and fifty-two seconds. The video shows a young boy trying to interact with his unresponsive father (played by Stromae), who sits motionless, his expression and body resembling that of a mannequin, while outside, other parents and children dance together. In the end, the son joins Stromae on the sofa, assuming a rigid, lifeless position identical to his father's. It refers to the absence of Stromae's father, who was killed in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. The video has received over 410 million views on YouTube.
Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis, one of the creators of Krumping, appears in the music video as a parent dancing together with his son.
Covers and parody
A translated English language cover by CUT_ titled "Papaoutai (Stromae Cover)" was released in April 2014 charting in SNEP French Singles Chart.
A cappella group Pentatonix and violinist Lindsey Stirling covered the song on Pentatonix's album PTX Vol. 3, released on 23 September 2014.
Lamaoutai (Llama, where are you?) is a spoof created in November 2013 about the kidnapping of Serge the Llama from a circus in Bordeaux.