Daniel Xavier-Marie Balavoine (French pronunciation: [danjɛl ɡzavje maʁi balavwan]; 5 February 1952 – 14 January 1986) was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and inspired many singers in the 1980s, such as Jean-Jacques Goldman, Michel Berger, who was his closest friend, and the Japanese pop-rock group Crystal King; he was also a part of the original cast of the rock opera Starmania in 1978, which was written by Berger. He took part in French political life and is known for a 1980 televised verbal confrontation with then-presidential candidate François Mitterrand.
In the French music-business, Balavoine earned his own place with his powerful voice, his wide range, and his lyrics, which were full of sadness and revolt. He is considered empathetic, and his songs dealt in themes of despair, pain, and death, although hope was present as well. He sold more than 20 million records during his career.