Matthieu Chedid
A French rock shapeshifter who built a wildly imaginative universe around his guitar-wielding alter ego, -M-.
Born 1971 (age 55)·French musician·Birthday: December 21·Generation X
Biography
Matthieu Chedid, known to the world as -M-, didn't just inherit musical talent from his singer father; he exploded it into a fantastical cosmos of his own. Emerging in the mid-90s, he quickly shed any simple singer-songwriter label, becoming a flamboyant stage presence with a signature towering afro and elaborate costumes. His music, a virtuosic blend of rock, funk, chanson, and pop, is delivered with a technical mastery of the guitar that feels both effortless and deeply passionate. More than a musician, Chedid is a total artist, crafting his album aesthetics, videos, and live shows into a cohesive, whimsical experience. He has become a pillar of the French music scene, collaborating across genres while maintaining a unique voice that celebrates joy, melody, and sheer creative freedom, inspiring a generation to embrace artistic eccentricity.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matthieu was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthieu Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Matthieu's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a record-tying five Victoires de la Musique awards for Male Artist of the Year.
- Composed the score for the animated film 'The Triplets of Belleville,' which was nominated for two Academy Awards.
- His 2003 album 'Qui de Nous Deux' sold over a million copies in France.
- Headlined the massive Stade de France in 2009, a landmark for a French artist.
- Collaborated with a vast array of artists from Brigitte Fontaine to Sean Lennon and Johnny Hallyday.
Did You Know?
His stage name, -M-, is pronounced 'M dash' and was chosen partly because it resembles a musical note on a staff.
He designed his own signature guitar, the 'M Guitar,' with a distinctive asymmetrical body shape.
He provided the singing voice for the character Tulipe in the French version of the film 'Moulin Rouge!'
His daughter, Billie Chedid, is also a musician and has performed with him on stage.
He once performed a concert dressed entirely in a suit made of mirrors.
“I try to make music that is both popular and demanding, that speaks to the child and the adult in everyone.”
