Catherine Ringer, a French singer known for her dynamic blend of rock, pop, punk, funk, and techno, died on September 14 in Paris at the age of 68. The cause of death was cancer. French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Ringer, describing her as a creative and irreverent artist who transformed her voice into a theater and her songs into expressions of freedom.
Ringer rose to prominence in the mid-1980s as one half of the duo Les Rita Mitsouko, alongside guitarist Fred Chichin, who passed away in 2007. Their breakthrough hit, "Marcia Baila," released in 1984-85, combined eclectic musical styles with a tribute to Ringer’s Argentine dance teacher, Marcia Moretto, who had died. The song achieved substantial commercial success, selling over one million copies in France and becoming a radio staple. The music video, directed by Philippe Gautier and showcasing outfits by designer Jean Paul Gaultier, reflected France’s emerging multiculturalism during the era of President François Mitterrand.
Les Rita Mitsouko produced seven studio albums and were known for fusing diverse influences, both musically and culturally. Their repertoire included notable songs such as "Andy" and "C’est comme ça," and featured collaborations with international artists like Iggy Pop and Sparks. Ringer drew comparisons to a wide range of performers, including Edith Piaf, Maria Callas, Lou Reed, and Georges Brassens, and was praised for her vocal range and unpredictable stage presence.
Before her musical career took off, Ringer had a varied background that included theater, dance, television, and work in the adult film industry during the late 1970s and early 1980s. She spoke openly about this period of her life, framing it as a personal choice and a form of "military service" that required courage. This honesty occasionally sparked controversy; a 1986 televised exchange with French pop icon Serge Gainsbourg saw her defend her past against his insults.
Born on October 18, 1957, in Suresnes, a suburb of Paris, Catherine Ringer was the daughter of Sam Ringer, a Polish-Jewish Holocaust survivor and painter, and Jean-nine Ettlinger, an architect. Her family history informed some of her later work, including the 2000 song “C'était un homme,” inspired by her father’s experiences.
Ringer and Chichin met in 1979 and quickly developed a close artistic partnership marked by experimentation and boundary-pushing performances. Despite their initial challenges, including an unsuccessful debut album, the pair became one of the most distinctive acts in French music over the following decades. After Chichin’s death, Ringer continued to perform solo and occasionally collaborated with their son, Raoul Chichin.
Catherine Ringer is survived by her son Raoul and daughters Ginger Roman and Simone Ringer. Her legacy endures as a defining figure in French popular culture who embraced a fearless, genre-defying approach to music and performance.